Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-05-04

We are indeOttd ID Tue PoiltChoss -
a military friend for the following docu
ments. The first is cspy ofthe gene
ral, orders [by Gen. Wiikinson] for the
day of executions ; the last is az address
to his fellow soldiers, which the culPrit
wrote and requested to BIO distributed
through the camp.
EXTRACT OF A GENERAL ORDER.
Camp Pass Of Christian, Nov. Is, 1872
Called on to decide in case which
affects the life of fellow man, the gene
raj is deeply Impressed BY the solemnlsy
of the occasion, and whatever may have
been his respect for the Judgment OF the
general court martial, it was not until
he had sought the opinions of counsel
learned in the law, and had made reter-
ence to the national executive for sd-
vice that he found deEnitiye consiuslon
for his government. Willing to spare
the life of wretched man, yet reluctant
to shrink from an awful responsibility,
the general has paused, reflected, deli.
berately examined the enquiry, and n
nally determined, that although mercy
may weep, justice is ineSorable.
At general coust-martial, OF which
Colonel Covington was President, COM
menced at New Orleans the Eth of Au
gust last, and continued by adjournment
until the 18th, Patrick Ryan was tried
for ,lesertion from tho service Of the
United States, on or about the 2lst OF
April, 1919, when in confinement for
the charge of desertion, in forcibly and
violently snalching at and drawing the
sword Of scrjeant Jackson, of captain
Daniel Hugbes's company, then in the
execution Ct his duty, and witheut cay
prsvocatien whatever, running the same
III the BELLY of James Ven Camp, pri-
yate soldier in captain Daniel Hughes's
company, of which wound the said Van
Camp died.
"Tho court, after mature deliberation,
find the prisoner Patrick Ryan, guilty
of the charge exhibited against him, and
sentence the said Patrick Ryan to suffer
the punishment of death by shooting"
The general confirms the sentence,
s orders the execution Of 1t at 3 O'Clock
on "Wednesday the 25th instant, under
the direction and authority Of the COM
handing officer of the posts, on the
grand parade in front of the flagstaff,
and in the presence of the troops, who
are to be under arms.
The general will not conceal his deep
regret on this painful occasion, but while
he INDUCES the sensibility of a christian
man, and must deplo,e every act of
private soldier which may expose him to
meritcd punishment while he re loices
in the wisdom and humanity which de-
termined the national Legislature to abo-
ish the degrading, Vie, abomina5le pu-
nishment of a man vino wears the garb
of homer, by stripes and blows he con
siders it his duty to apprise the troops,
that although tic will ;src.e2 them "a :
ga,nst every act oil v;olence and outrage,
and will support them in the enjoyment
OF every legitimate rlght, it is his solemn
aad iniexiSle resolution never 10 spare
the life Of "a man who may forfeit it TO
his country by mutiny or dcsertion.
Pass CHRISTIAN, November %.
Hear the last words Of an unfortunate
Soldier.
BROTHER SOLDIERS,
You have all, no doubt, heard of
the crimes Of which ] have been accused
and for which / have been tried and am
now about to suffer the penalty of the
law, Il is very probable that busy ru-
nor has multiplied my crimes and ex-
aggerated my offences, and it is that
caase alone, tina, induces me to make
this statement in order to place the sub
icct in fair poin. of view, so that no
.nole turpitude may DO charged 10 me
than my offences really merit
have been charged with desertion, |
nutiny, and, oh my God murder. / |
was tried by court martial, found gull |
~, and the sentence of death proneunc-
ed on me.
Brother Soldiers-I freely asknow-
edge and confess the crime of desertion
but as for mutiny or murder, have
10 more knowledge or recol,ectionabout
hem than the child unborn, for shame
o tell, was in a state of intoxication,
nd every noble faculty Of the mind abb
;orbed in the diabolical and destroying
fleets of spirituous liquors, whom, it is
l unfortunately committed
hese abb minable crimes.
first got acquainted with the man
whose death am charged with, On the
I'D day of May. 1912, and on the 9th.
lay of the same month tho renoounter
nd rccident happened; ahd / must call
an accident ineemprehensible to man.
rbe deceased and myself were Uniform
y in friendly and intimate terms from
he FRS. moment of our acquaintance,
until the fatal moment in which it ap-
,sars he received, at my hands, his death