Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-10-03
An ACCOUNT OF THE
pyrrTTIOy OF THE NILIIIi-MEN,


EXECUTION OF THE MILi1INMEN
~ The Rev. srLA PAINE, Chaplain 20 the Reg
Tho ,,v before they were executed, my du-
49,. in The army 50 claimed my attention IN the
".,noon that could not visit them uii some
dark. then { 1t weary, and II was
I'll. difficult and something dangerous, pass
IAN, nd in through the lines al night, yet
,"S J,,ir. to he with those men, |" feel with
n, ,h.ir distress, and to wreslle with them
Co.. mercy Of their souls; but while SAT ior
,,ome,,. hesitatiug in my mind, mentioned
', avorc;ses 10 some Of the officers, and they
;n,nsIi,,ely commenced exhortlngme by all
u,asns 10 20. This strengthened and grain q
=, -. ,he decided interest that every officer
.1,,ysd IN their behalf. Hook chaplain from
'au,ber REGIMEN, with me, and found my way
:" ,hoss unfortunate men again. When ar
.;,,d At the fort, found them earnestly en-
.,,, A IN religious exercises; number oil per-
9oHs wee shading around in silent and solemn
,Lon,L,ruln,ss, much a, have often seen a.
,oun5 he altar at ! camp meeting, 'hen there
i , nowsrCul and solemn work Of God gong
On, But the moment entered the door they
all rose, aud for some Time Was Obliged To
yiye myself up IN them, whilst they hung up
IN me in the most aHecionate manner until
rhsir strong excitrmeuI had subsld~d little.
then introduC ed the other chaplain 10 them,
aGer which we united in prayer unr,i their feel
mrs became calm. then endeavored TO com
noSc their mi DIS as well as could, AID called
ihrm to take an opportunity TO speak Of what
ever they wished In relation 10 themselves, their
families, or whatever was on their minds, that
,b,y would wish 10 mention before they ltit
,he world They then spoke with composure
and freedom, one after the other, I'LL each one
had, in ,olcm manner freed his mind. they
,poke Of Themselves, lheir families and con-
nrxions, descending to particulars in various
INSTANCES. Blu. in all this no reflection was cast
IN any one in r, latIon TO their con'i, ton, nor
any in ima,iun that they rhoush their sentence
unjust. Although my object in calling them
10 this particular conversation, was, in The ab-
s.rce of all The rest Of the world. keep, ont
other chaplain, that they mig say 10 me a,
his uyiog hour whatever lay on their minds
They seemed to have con6d nee in me. Alter
wbi,a we again engaged IN prayer TO God, and
continued he struggle ill late al night. Ii
was the last night they were To have on sar'h
and their convictions for so seemed To be Gle r.
rational and strong. They iamcn ed heir .ns,
and impo,ed the pardouing mercy 81 c d TO
lhrir souls These exercises were continued
until gained tina hope Of the grestest, or
NAV saw Of nearly all OF them, hat il was well
with their souls, which has been source Of
great consolation to me, until tins day, when
have thought OF it. Thy appeared MT 10 re,
gard diving, 1t was no part of their concern ap.
parently one Of them, Lewis, siid-"I had
thousand times rather have a pardon from Je,
suS, than all the reprieNes Grn. Jackson can
wfite. MIR. Harris, who had be n preacher.
asd before tins time told me he wished 10 /. we
some pap'rs with me, To be used as nv own
discretion might dictate, after his death Blu,
y expected to have opportunities with them
in the morning, did not take Them that nigh,
But as all the troops on the station were lax n
on the ground 10 witness the execution. ,xcen,
such as were on duty, the time was so taken
up that the hour of execution had come, by
The time the uno2s were on The grounl SO thai
every thing else was dispensed with, and the
eNe,ution took place immediately, and | did
ho' OBTAIN the paper, in consequence oft As
had been requested 10 preach on the occasion
! needed the morning TO make some pre,ara.
lnn Tor II, and Of course bad TO omit yisi,in,
mem In the morning. was present, and saw
'he execution. The instant the pla,oon fred
ne CRIMINALS all fell and remained no,ion,.,s
whit The whole army had passed by them, when
some one observed that Lewis was no, dead
Upon this observation being made aliehted
~ rom my horse This was the iirst motion of
"'s mat had b:en noticed. He immediately
,s'Hed, and said shall not die if they don't
s.OOt he again. spoke 10 him, and asked
I'm Inn Il he knew me. He wiped the blood off
as a., lace with his hand, and looking up Said YES,
you prayed for me yesterday and las, nigh,
, pray ior me still. l replied pray for your
IN 'iS"Is, while you have breath to breathe;
NJ, On god for mercy. He said do and
49, anu then repeated shall not die if they do
m,. sno0! me again. SAID to him, however
n, s ~as De maintain tina, nubly superior regard
y. wv, soul which you manifested last night.
r.r;I su do, but would be glad TO live, if the
an officers will have mercy on me.
IA ~ " an enemy to my country, and never was
ash. ,Nn spoke of officers that were as guilty
h, was vas and said il it had not been for them,
,,L;Os'a no! have acted as he had. While
70 sbOo, :" inns manner, he said they are going
on ri, g.. Tue again, and placed both his hands