Virginia statesman. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1828-1829, 1828-06-11

iJ NAN~AADiAOC ~ NNlAONA IA tLlC oJAlllOls
hat, without such examples in cases Of de-
scrion, mutiny, sc. the country would
have continued 10 suffer a succession of
such as those that marked the
character Of the greater part Of the first
two years of the war.
The first execution which / witnessed
was near Frankhnton, In the State Of Ohio,
in May OF June, 1913, while under the
command of Major General Harrison.
Three or four deserters were convicted
and one of them shot upon that occasion;
the others were pardOned. In the course
of the campaign, in the following Sep
TENDER, two or three other deserters were
executed upon an island, near Put-in-Bay
ON Lake Erie.
The next executions Witnessed by me
were at Sackett's Harbour in Februaryor
March, 1914, ] am under the impression
that SIX or seven deserters were shot at one
time, and two at another time, In the lat
ter part of the winter or spring Of 1914,
at Sacket's Harbour. The exact number
I may not distinctly recollect, but | think
there were seven, eight or nine. / was
at the time Of the executions, near Putin
Bay, and az the first mentioned execution
at Sacbett's harbor, Adjutant General,
prepared the orders, after very full and
deliberate consultation with the Major
General, and at Sackeu's harbor read the
orders to the troops and the offenders at
the place Of execution.
These executions were principally II not
exclusively, confined TO deserters from
the regular army. Much to the credit Of
the militia. there were comparatively few
deserti0ns from this description Of force IN
service with me on the northern frontier.
Had there, however, been many cases, Of
deserion among the militia, / feel warrant
ed by the opinions Of many respectable
officers, such as Gen, Porter, and those
under bis command, IN surprising that eX-
amples. would have been made Otthe prin-
cipal offenders.
I had ofenin the year 1913, cOnyersed
with Major Gen. Harrison, and IN 1914
with Gen. Brown, upon the policy and ne
cessity, of such punlshments, as | did at
forwards, IN the year 1915, with Gen. Jack
son. and ann convinced that there was
scarcely q shade of difference Of OPin-
ion between them on the subject. They
each deplored theeyiI ofdesertion, as most
demoralizing and disastrous in its conse-
0nences to the character and physical pow
en- of the army, and fraught with ncalcu-
liable mischief TO the resources aud reputa
ton of the people of the United States. i
am strongly under the impression that they
deemed il an act of mercy Father than Of
cruelty, to make examples Ofhardened Of
tenders. particularly at the commence
ment or In the progress Of an active cam
paign against the enemy, iIasmuch as
the principle of mercy enters into human
efforts 10 preserve from the rayages Of war
theinnocent and helpless women and chi
dren, and the faithful citizens and soldiers
who remain at their posts true to their
trust, but who, abandoned by their unwor-
/ thy associates. become an easy prey to
/ the opposing foe; inasmuch as 1t Is an act
/ ofmercy to protect the innocent when thus
situated, and when thut protection can be
/ effected only by furnishing the deserters,
. traitors or their country, 1t cannot be denied
that It is anact Of mercy to shoot a COW
ardly deserter.
Previous TO the executions at SacketPS
harbor. In the year 1914, It was reported
and believed that near 1000 men had de-
serted from the army in the preceding Is
or 20 months. Now | think It will not be
questioned, that with 1000 we'll instructed
men, added to Gen Browns division
when under my command at Erie, IN Au-
gust 1914, the crippled army under Llut.
Gen. Dummond would have been des-
troyed, captured or driven from Upper
Canada-with 20O0 well instructed men
ut Bladensburgh on the 24th August, 1914
our beautiful capitol would have been pre-
served; and though last not least, with
1000 well instructed men added to the force
under Gen. Jackson, at New Orleans, on
the Sh Of January, 1915, the shattered
remnant of the British army, seeking the
Beauty and Booty of that noble city,
must have been destroyed or captured.
EDMUND P. GAINES.
TO the Hon. II. L. White of the Senate,
and the Hon j. a. Polk of the II. Il.
TWO DAYS LATER FROM EUROPE.
Nc5 York, May 30
The packet ship Corlnthian, Capt.
Chadwick. arrived last week from Liver
pool and brings London papers to the E.
yeningof April Both, inclusive. The fol-