The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-23 00:00:00

EXECUTION FOR DESERTION.

Robert Gay, a soldier of Company D, 71st Indiana, has
been shot, in obedience to the sentence of a corn t-martial.
Sh.rtly after the battle of Richmond, Kentucky, last sum-
mer, he deserted and took the oath of allegiance to the rebel
Government. Retuning to Clay County, in this State, he
was arrested last fail, and, when searched, a copy of the oath
of allegiance to the Confederate States was found sewed up
in his pantaloons. The sentence was executed in presence
of all the troops at this post, near Camp Morton. He made
brief address to the soldiers, acknowledging his guilt, but
saying that he intended nething criminal in what he hsd
tune. He never intended to join the rebel army, but took
he oath in the b 'lief that that would release him from ser-
vice in the Federal army, and enable him to return to his
nome. He de-ired to leave the army because he could not

.ndure its hardships; his health had been poor ; but he
added that his health was now better than it had
ver been in his life. He asked the soldiers not to let
him suffer, but shoot at his breast that he might die quickly.
['he sergeant .major then stepped up and began tying his
hands, which he placed behind his back voluntarily. He
stood silent f,,r a moment, aed " It I could only be
spared I would enter the regiment again, and do my duty as
well as any man in it, or (hesitating) tai well as L am able."
By this time his bands were tied, and he glanced round the
ranks, and up at the sun, as if to take a last look at earth
['he sergeant-major led him to the coffin, and seated him
upon it, facing the firing party, with his back to the east.
tie sat a second, drew his feet towards him, and settled
iiimselt back on the coffin, as if to brace himself against
he shock that was to come. The sergeant-major
ied the band of the black cloth round his eyes, and
.4 tepped rapidly off to the right and front out of the range
Hof the guns. Then the prisoner, being left alone, for the
first time, exclaimed, " Oh, that I could see my death I"
in a tone of deep sadness. A whisper from Lieutenant
Sherley to the firing party brought all the guns to a
" ready." The clicking of the cocks was heard all around.
The prisoner heard it Too, but he only showed his conscious-
ness of it by the movement of his lips in prayer, which be-
came audible, but not intelligible, as the guns were lowered
'o take aim. " Lord God," in a low tone, as if part of his
orayer, was heard, and the crash of the guns followed in-
stantly. At the explosion he fell straight back over his
coffin, without a sound or struggle. He gasped for half a
minute spasmodically, not breathing, and was dead. There
were eight shot holes in his coat, seven of them in his bream,
my one of which would almost have killed him instantly.
One of them struck him right in the heart. All ten of the
nails struck him. The sergeant, with his carbine in re-
serve, stood by the coffin to shoot him in the head and end
his misery if it had been necessary; but, much to his relief,
workshe
putinht aod
Undertakerbeen sut• surely
lvlydeoanve
vas eewsiwthaogugtonh, the troops wereim. The coffin
dismissed, and the most impressive and dreadful scene ever
witnessed in Indianapolis and the first military execution in
the West was over,—lndianapolis