The Express.
London, England, 1862-12-26 00:00:00

EXECUTION OP AN .AMERICAN DESERTER.

The correspondent of an American paper gives
the following acammt of the execution of Private Wm W.
Lunt, of Company 1, 9th Maine Volunteers.
The offence is puniahment for which private Loot was
ignominiously shot to death was committed at Fernandina,
Fla., on the 7th of April last Lesi.og the picket station
where he had been posted, be crowed over to the rebel
lines, and gave himself into the heeds of the enemy. Un-
doubtedly be revealed to them the whereabouts of our
forces, for but • few nights subsequent to his escape a
party of rebels surrounded • dwelling occupied by Union
pickets, killing one and capturing seven or eight of the
number; and the movements of the enemy were thence-
forward directed with en evident knowledge of our locality.
Daring bus sojourn in the Coatedemay, Lunt ommiessed
• career of crime, which was not long in exasperating his
newly-made friends. Various stories are told of hi ex-
ploits. It is said that when the rebel mijor before whom
us wee brought made au examination of his person, Lunt
abstracted from that officer's pocket his gold chroaaneter,
and. slipping it beeciath his waistband, allowed it to fall to
the ground, and buried it In the deep sand with his heel.
On the day after his arrival he perpetrated a highway
robbery, stealing from Mi. Ellen Manning, who resided
near the railroad bridge called Lof too, on the Fereandiaa
and &kiwi') road.• sum of money amounting to 268 dole.
To such a degree did his continued peccadilloes annoy the
rebels that they at length returned him to one of our gun-
boats in the St Mary's river, 'ad gave him back to us for
punishmentHe was soon after arraigned before
• court-martial at St. Augustine, mid isonvieted of
desertion and highway robbery, aid sentenced to be shot.
When the certainty of his fate beams known to the con-
demned man, he was, is all respects, I think, one of the
mint depraved wretches of whom it is possible to conceive.
Up to that time he had been confined in a cell in the "Rep
Baps," as the provost guardhouse is familiarly termed ; but
in order that be might the better St himself for death,
Major Van Brunt, Provost Marshal, assigned him to a tent,
which he occupied by himself up to the morning of his ess-
ential. For some days, even' after the preparations for his
melancholy fate had Omen commenced, he spoke lightly of
them. In his depravity he made them the "abject of hie
jokes; and with regard to his destiny, professed an indiffe-
rence which was an armour against ordinary sympathy.
The faithful services, however, of Chaplain Butte, of the
Forty-seventh New York, and of Chaplain Hill, of the Third
New Hampshire, were not long in effecting a change in
, the mental modition of the unhappy man, and
through
their kindly ministrations he was led to believe truatt
bad an interest in Christ, to feel that his sins had been
forgiven, and to trust in the completeness of hisat prepare-
time for death and for eternity. This morning, the re-
quest of the unfortunate man, I visited bias at his teak
He wanted to say to me that while be protested is hie
innocence of the crime of desertion, he wee yet willies to
dies • warning to others. Upoe lay expreemeo of surprise
at so singular a statement, be said tUt area Wan bed be
been ready to die, sad that be considered it tar better to
leave the world while he was prepared, and before be should
have added anything farther to his long list of Mama.
That I might communicate them to the public, began se
some incidents in his career. They convinced me that his
whole life had been one of reckless criminality, sad that
the sentence under which he rested was not unjust. He
was born in the State of Maine, of respectable and well-to-
do parents; but, tiring at an early age of the restraints
of home, be ran away to link his fortunes with
a circus company. Here he formed aseociatioes
sad acquired habits which led him into many
difficulties, until at length be was convicted of ham
stealing, and sedum' a term in the Sato prima, from
which he was released but a few days prior to his whet-
meet. His conduct in the regiment, up to the time of his
desertion, as I learn, was as fur as that of the greater part
at his fellows. Within the past week Loot has written •
narrative of what he calls " the great tragedy." It is sim-
ply an endeavour to fasten the ones of his guilt upon his
superior officer, whom he charges with having sent him on
an improper errand. It has an abundance of unnecessary
words, but they are not fit for publication. Tim but para-
graphs that he penned, however, are given herewith, in
compliance with his wish. With its orthography and punc-
tuation corrected, this is the document he handed me, as I
bade him farewell
"Hilton Head, & C. Dec. 1, 1862. .
"I am about to suffer death. lam willing to bar the
punishment, fora warning to others who may be led astray
by bed company. Fellow-aoldiers, you should take warning
b. me, and keep out of bad company and &hue everything
that hl.bad. Keep good company, and you will be respected
by your worst enemies. Seek the La& Repent! repent
repent ! Oh, may God bias the officers of the Forty-
warmth New York Regiment for the bedlam they have
shown to M. a waked Maser! They have done everything
that was is their power, sad they brought we trate to reed,
and religious papers, that led me the right road to my
Saviour. Oh, may God help and sustain them through the
peril of the loathe, that they may oome out victorious in
them all! And God speed the time when peace shall once
more be, sad the Mende here at war will be going home to
their families—Aumwr W. Lurr."

The real name of the unfortunate mat differs, as will
be seen, from that under which be enlisted and was con-
demned. Last night the prisoner was engaged in religious
devotions, speeding the hours till three o'clock this morn-
ing in prayer and in listening to the reading of the Scrip-
tures by his chaplains. After • few boars sleep he rose,
apparently much refreshed, and dressed himself for the
gloomy ceremony in which be was to play so fearful •
part. Shortly before 11 o'clock he was led out from his
teat, and walked unaided toward the ambulance which was
to oarry him to his grave. Hs wore the usual army uni-
form, with thee:caption of a low-crowned black felt hat,
beneath whose broad brim his features found some abetter
from the gaze of the curious multitude. In his firm step,
his calm, undaunted eye, his unmoved features, he betrayed
nothing of the emotion for which they looked who scanned
him as he entered the vehicle and seated himself with
folded hands upon his coffin. The firing party, consisting
of 24 men of the Provost Guard, under Captain Eddy, took
their places around the ambulance ; an escort of 40 men
from the 47th New York preceded it ; behind it were the
representatives of the press, the religion, attendants of the
unhappy man, and the surgeons whose presence wee
required at the final scene. To the measured beat
of muffled drums the solemn corteoe moved. The prisoner
alone seemed unagitated by any emotion. With his cheek
calmly resting on his hand, he quietly met the scrutiny of
the crowds who premed forward, eager to catch a glimpse of
his features. There were no team for the crimes he had
committed ; no Meta for the life with which he was toped ,•
no tremors of apprehension
se to the fate which awaited
him. His whole manner was that of a man utterly re-
signed to his destiny.
The spot selected for the execution was an open field
outside the intrenchments, about a quarter of • mile
from the southern sallyport. Here the command of Geo.
Terry was drawn up io line, the flank battalions being
wheeled inward, thus forming three sides of • square. In
the centre the General and staff, together with many other
prominent officers, were stationed, and opposite this point
the procession halted. At a sign from Captain Eddy the con-
demned man alighted, the coffin was placed upon the ground,
and theorem:ler took his seat upon it. Then, while the as-
semblage listened with uncovered heads, Lieut. Gallaher,
Adjutant of the Provost Guard, reed the death warrant of
the doomed man. As he concluded, Major van Brunt ad-
dressed the prisoner, informing him that nothing now re-
mained but to carry out the sentence of the military tribunal,
but that a few moments were yet spared to him in which
be was at liberty to make such remarks ea he saw fit. After
a moment's hesitation the prisoner rose slowly to his feet,
and, looking around upon the military array, exclaimed
" Felloweoldiers, I want you all to take warning by me,
and seek the Lord before it is too late. I am not guilty of
the crime I OM charged with, and for which I have been
condemned to death." Everything was now ready for the
last sad scene. The prisoner, in compliance with Major
Van Brunt's request, removed Iris bat and coat,
and knelt upon his coffin. With • white bandage
the sunlight was for ever shut from his eyes.
Chaplains Butts and Hill, to whom he again professed
his willingness to die, took kindly leave of him, and
with the Provost-Marshal he exchanged a last farewell.
Calmly folding his bands. he awaited the swift mementos of
death. At a signal from the Provost-Marshal to " make
ready," the clear, sharp click of the muskets freighted the
air with ominous sound. At • wave of Captain Eddy's
sword the firing party took their aim, and at the spoken com-
mand, "Fire, t we've pieces Wire simultaneously discharged.
As if by magic appeared open iris breast the marks of the
deadly slugs ; fora atagle blatant hie form was poised, and
then the dead body of private Lunt fell heavily forward.
His death was instantaneous. He uttered no sound. and
made no motion after he fell, move the simple expiration of
air from the hums which nature requires when any life is
taken. The twelve lose whom pieces had been discharged
fell back, and their pions were occupied by • nerve

of equal atreagth. Happily there was no need of Wit'
services. As Nue as the gorgeous in atheadanoe had pro.
Downed life extinct he ersa yhoed io big coffin and borne
in the presence of the command to the smbulenoe, which
was at once removed to the place of burial. Thee, with
many a sigh of relief, the troops formed in column, and
marching slowly over the spot where he fell, returned to
their camp.
Thus ended the second execution for the crime of de.
portion from our army since the present war began. It
hes meted a just punishment for an offence which, al-
though the most heinous in a time of war, is neverthehm
painfully frequeni among our forces. It enjoins a wii9le
scene lesson upon all who have sworn to serve their
country against its enemies, and indicates a wise determi-
nates, oa the part of the government no longer to trine
with those who forsake its service in the hoer of peril.
To Major Van Brunt great credit ie doe C.A. the adio;.
table system with which the execution wee conduct I.
Every arrangement was perfect. From the prison
the field no word wee spoke.. The regulative* prescribe
so form on so occasion of the kind, and in the details of
the sad duty the Provost Marshal was left to follow such
customs as tmditioo had preserved, or to exercise his own
discretion. The onvennotal unworn of filing the sol-
diers pest the dead body was &peaked with, and the
troop who had bees compelled to wither the Moans of
their former comrade were spared this *dal
As it Ina, a lieutenant, who commanded one of
panne oa the ground, fainted am the fatal volley was
charged. The usual custom of lending the of the twelve
muskets with a blank certridp was adhered to, DO the poi.
eibility that the piece so charged may be in his owe hatch
gives to each soldier more nerve and greater confidence
than he would otherwise possess.
It will be remembered that at the execution of private
Johnioa, for a similar crime, at Alexandria last year,
through the nervousness of the thin past y the criminal
was net killed at the first volley, aid an the &bunco of
say reserves It wag umessary far the Provost Manhal to
execute the sent race with his own pistol. Private Last,
on the amnesty, received nine wounds, so lees then eight of
which wan fatal. The shots took effect as follows :—One
tall through. the right clavicle, two through the upper
Mtof the right lung, one through the hue of the left
eer tie heart ; one through the liver, one through the
spleen, one la the menial line, two inches above the umbili-
cus, cutting off the aorta, severing the spinal cord, and frac-
turing the vertebra ; one through the right iliac region, sod
one through the untie line, two inches above the symphine
pubis. As ea instance of the depravity of the deceased, I
might mention the feet that the post mortem examination
revealed upon his bruit and venom other parts of his
woo& nnineroue sheath pictures, tattooed with Indian ink.
They were diegustiag and gietheing to coatemplete, sod
added volumes of testinany to the weight of Imittsmos
against him.

CHRISTMAS SVSRORERNR.

In the dark, cold mornings of Christmas week,
some two or three boors before down, whoa the pa lamps
are still &mmarthg through a misty ham, and link-boys are
Sitting about, like Will d' the Wisp, with dripping brace,
when waggons and horses loom large sad shadow=
when boyese sad sank muffled up is caps" and overcoat",
seem to be pulleg phantom.pipes every time they apse their
lips, many thinned bundles of holly sad mistletoe are dn.
posed of at Covent-garden, Ferviagdok and other vege-
table markets of the metropoli
s. But the purveying of
" Quietism* is not only dabbled in by the regular Waders
—that is, the men who can each beset of a lost habitatim
and a mums, end are always begging one to note their &Wren
—the chid part of the business is in the hands of the kw-
costernsongen, frame out gardeners, and that
ofstreet folk, who get their living " prornialins,"
sad vent all banally into their amok profession, or abode.
During the nen weeth el December some six or sewn hun-
dred men and boys, mainly recruited from the purlieus of
St. Giles and Seven Dials, are bully eeppd in reaping
the harvest of evergreens in the country round Loudon,
sometimes tsrempspg hook to townevery night, at other times
sleeping in barns and asthenia, and ocossioselly, after
lucky search, indulging in the luxury of a two-puny
" lodging for travellas. It will mot do to inquire too
=arty whence the supplies of evergreens with which we
our parlours and &nisi-rooms are originally oh.
tamed. In some comes the right to gather them has been
duly paid for ; but in ths m4erity of cues, it to be feared
that this formality is dammed with. Suburban gardens
ars may pillepd about this semen ; and way a worthy
citizen, pang his tries growth walks till the 'bus coma to
the doer, is &swayed to lad that hie pet bolly:bush has
been and stripped of all its bright array
al sestthetall=sleciaset lea mistletoe must, however,
be ended further maid, sad is attended with peeler riak,
es it involves thellkabing of high orchard walls, Mack fur
el tree scene nth broken Path end sometimes affrays with
dogs sad waniesna Neal" this Pent hes Moths so
of
that seventh dim be spent without disowning apy
of it. The moll is thatmer mistletoe is about double the pine
of holly. Aug to Mr. Mayhew's othalthises, about
60,010 breathe' of holly and 66,160 of mistletoe me sold is
London every semen. As emelt as 2001. worth of holly is
regain d for the sprigs which an stink into metropolitan
plum-puddings, and which, es every me knows, are essen-
tial to the true Christmas devour.—Once es Week.