The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-21 00:00:00

Six Confederate Soldiers Shot.

The St. Louis Republican contains an account
of the shooting of six Confederate soldiers at St.
Louis by order of the Federal General commanding,
in retaliation for killing Major White and his six
comrades by guerillas. When the prisoners arrived
on the ground they were marched to the. places
fixed for the execution, these being six upright
pine posts set in the ground, with square hard seats
attached for each man to sit upon. They took their
places upon their seats, each with comparative
calmness, and nearly all with appearances of resig..
nation to the dreadful fate that stared at them so
immediately. Bat little emotion was displayed by
any of the six, except Nicholas and Minniken—the
latter commenced prayerful Ejaculations, and in a
subdued tone of voice soon after being seated,which
he kept up until the bandage was tied over his
eyes—after that his only remark was, "Boys, when
you shoot me, kill me dead." Nicholas made no
remarks, but kept weeping from the time of taking
his seat until the bandage was placed over his eyes.
Ladd and Bunch exhibited some slight evidences
of dejection, but not a word escaped them during
the whole scene. Blackburn sat still and stolid
upon his seat, and throughout was as imperturbed
as a statue. No muscle of his face quivered—there
was no wildness in his eye—not • a movement that
denoted the slightest uneasiness in his manner.
Gates, who was only 21 years of age, and perfectly
beardless, at first manifested a moat singular in-
difference. He had the manner of a young men
just the least embarrassed upon the introduction to
starngers—yet, withal, there was no fear in the
expression of his features, but rather a manifests.
tion of self-confidence, as one who had a great and
dangerous duty to perform, and who felt himself
equal to it. Towards the end he began to mani-
fest emotion, and speaking to one of the. attending
physicians who was standing near by, asked,
" Don't you think there • is any hope that
it will be postponed ? " and on being an-
swered in the negative he moaned occasionally, and
at intervals made use of the following expressions :
" 0 Lord have mercy upon me ! " " Oh! to think
of the news that is to go to my father and mother."
" Well, I an't the first, and I don't reckon I'll be
the last." " Lord have mercy upon me!" "To be
tied to a stake and shot; I tell you it's awful."
After he had been tied to the stake, and Chaplain
M'Kim had prayed with him, ho said, addressing
the guard, "Boys, I hope if any of you are ever
shot, you %set be shot as innocent as I am." Chap-
lain M'Kim having said prayers with each prisoner,
and bid them goodbye, Col. Heiurichs read the
order of execution, after which he informed the prie
soners that if they desired to say anything they
could have an opportunity. There was no response
except from Minniken, who said, "I wcild like to
say a few words." He then with firm and distinct
voice and rapid utterance said, " Soldiers, and all
who hear me, take warning ! I have been a Con.
federate soldier for four years, and as such have
served my country faithfully. And lam taken out
now and shot for what I had nothing to do with. I
never was a guerilla, and I am very sorry that I
have to be shot for the acts of men that 1 had no-
thing to do with, and for what I am not guilty of.
If I had taken any of you soldiers prisoners, I
would have treated you as such. I never would
have had you shot. I never wou!d hurt anybody.
I hope God may take mo to his bosom after I am
dead. 0 Lord, be with me!" Each prisoner's eyes
were then bandaged. When the sergeant approached
Minniken to put the bandage on his eyes, the pri-
soner said, " Sergeant, I don't blame you, I hope
I shall meet you in another world ; I hope I'll meet
• you all iu heaven. 0 Lord, have mercy on my poor
i soul!" Butch and Blackburn still remained silent