The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-06-02

From The S;bdiiern, IN BiackWoodi
Edinbbeg Magazine.
THE DESERTER'S EXECUTION
l had ridden towards the front ono
morning. Tor the purpose Of visiting
n friend in the 9Th division. when
Karat that three men had been seiz-
I'd a few days before. halfway be-
tween the two chains Of posts, aud
that one OF them had confessed that
their intention was TO desert. A
eou;t-martlal was Immediately or
dercd the prisoners We're ordered 10
be Shot and this was the day on
which the sentence was 10 be carried
into execution. | consequently found
tie division, on ihy rival. getting
under arms and being Informed of
the circumstances. ] determined af-
ter short struggle with my weaker
feelings, To witness the proceeding.
II was. altogether, most solemn
and impressive spectacle. The SOL
dicrs took their tations, and formed
theirranks." Without apeakinga word !;
aud they looked ut one another with
that peculiar expression, whieh.with-
out seeming 10 imply any suspicion
oil the improperly of the measure,
indicated great reluctance To become
spectators Of it. The same feelings
evidently peIaaded the minds of the
officers. Indeed you could almost
perceive the of shuddrr which ran
through The frames OF MI who were
on parade.
The place appointed for their ex-
ecution Was little elevated plain. n
few hundred yards in front of the
Camp. aud near the picquet from
which the culprits had deserted Iii.
ther the different batalions directed
their steps, and the whole division
being formed into three sides of Il
hollow square, the men grounded
their arms, aud stood still. At the
vacant side of the square, n grave
was dug. the earth which hid been
excavated being piled upon its oppo-
site. bank ; and this, az the event
proved. was the spot to be occupied
by the prisoners.
We had stood thus about five min
utes, when the muillcd drums Of the
corps TO which the culprits belonged
ware heard beating the dcad-nnreh
and they themselves, handcu0cd and
surrounded by their guards, made
their appearance. One was fine
young man, tall and well made a
nothcr was a dark, thick set little
man, about forty years OF age; aud
the third had nothing remarkable in
his Countenancc, except an express
sion Of deep cunning and treachcry.
They all moved forward with consl-
derable tirmness, and took their sta
tions on the mound, when attention
being ordered, a staff officer adyanc-
cd INTO the centre Of the square, and
read aloud the proceedings Of the
court. BY these, sentence Of death
was passed upon all three. bat the
most misunderstanding among them
was recommended to mercy. on the
score Of his having added the guilt
Of trcachcry to his other crimes.
As soon as the reading was finish
ed, the prisoners were commanded
10 khcrl down upon the ground, and
a handkerchief was tied over the
eyes of each. Whilst this was doing,
1 looked around, not SO much from
curiosity as to give relief to my own
excited feelings. upon the counter
ance of the soldiers. They were,
one and all Of them, deadly pale,
whilst the teeth of the many were
set closely together. II was altoge-
Their most narrowing moment.
The eyes Of the prisoners being
now tied up, the guard was with
drawn from around them, and took
post about ten yards in their front.
As soon as this was done, the
same staf-oiIicer who had read the
proceedings Of the trial, calling to
the intormer by name, aud ordered
him to rise, for that the commander
of the forces had attended to the re-
communication Of his Judges, aud
spared his life. But the poor wretch
paid no attention to the ORDER
question, indeed, HhC.,her he heard
it for he knelt there as If rooted to
the spot, Ill! file of men removed
him in a stare Of insensibility. What
the feelings Of his companions in
crime must have been at this moment
know not. but their miseries were
Il ehnt.t lnrafinn fnr a sirnnI he