The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-04-21
A MILITARY EXECUTION.

do not believe that there were fewer than four
or five thousand men in the plain that day, inclu-
ding of course the division of unarmed marines the
general and squadron of horse artillery. We were
formed along three sides of square, the fourth sde
which looked towards the being open, that is to
represented to gaze only three graves, with
with three coins, which lay side by side, upon the
wound Of earth that had been cast up from the centre
one Our division, with some regiments of the line
that were brought | know not whence, occupied
1 narallel fronts of the square. The marines were
paced so as to Immediately face the graves of which
| we were in some sort on the flank In front OF the
| un.rmed mass again were two or three parties of
armed men, all marines in this order-forty stood
with ordered arms, about fifteen yards apart FROM
the coffin and their right flank, though space or
two removed from them, was single sergeant car
rying fusee. He wore neither pouch nor side arms
nor belt but seemed to be equipped in every respect
like one from whom some sudden display OF activity
was to be expected About fifteen yards to the rear
of these forty stood sixty more, ALL like the foremost
detachment, armed, with all marines Next came
two field pieces, which the artillerymen loaded in
our sight with grape, and beside which they kept
post with lighted fusees in their hands, Whiie last
of all, was troop of horse, mounted, with swords
drawn and ready, as it seemed on gwen slgnai, 70
hear down the first movement towards mutlny.
Moreover observed that as single sergeant hanked
the more advanced of the armed parties SO ne In turn
was supported by other sergeants two standing on
level with the flank of the second line, and SIX more
succeeding them The whole of these, be Observed
fus e, while all were disencumbered of every thing
which might affect the rapidly of their movements
The purpose for which they were placed puzzled US,
of course, good deal when we first beheld them
but the event proved that the disposition was wise
one We had been the ground, perhaps, half an
hour when the shrll notes of the fife, and the low
roll of the mued drums, caused us to turn our eyes
in the direction Of the citadel. There, winding slowly
down the road we beheld armed party on the march,
in the midst Of which moved three Marines with their
cled tOpefher. The CuDrItS, tor such
hey were, appeared to be men in the prime and VI
gor of their days. TALL stout fellows, with no paPable
mark of the traitor about them and their counenances
though pale exhibited they approached our ranks,
few traces of dependency, even unmanly terror.
Their dress was of course, the ordinary fatigue dress
of their corps and their heads were foraging caps
but they appeared to have taken great pains with
themselves for it was impossible to be more clean,
or TO carry about them air more decidedly pro-
Cessonal They were conducted to the collins, where
a corporal struck off their irons and the guard fal-
ling back left them to converse with priest, who
had accompanied them from their cells. ltw long,
and apparenty an interesting scene while the mode
in which it was carried on affected us greatly Two
ont of the three soon knet down upon their collins,
as if their confessions were made and their souls
shrived The third continued for some time in an
clapsed in his Poor fellow there was a surmse
prevalent in the camp to the last that he protested
his innocence of the crime with which he had been
charged and that his conference with the priest had
for its object the vndicaon OF his character after
his fate should have been sealed. l cannot tell how
much of tr lh was in tins rumor; is it for me to
cast shadow of reproach the finding and sentence
of the court that tried him but perfectly recollect
that the interval of his conversation with the clergy
man was to all of us exceedingly distressing and that
though it could not have lasted more than five mi
nutes at the utermost, began by degrees to fear
that it would never terminate. At last, however, the
generals Impotence broke forth into words. | be-
lieve he was quite as much affected as any of us.
Who, indeed can be otherwise than affected while
watching the conduct of fellow creature who, in
perfect health, is preparing for immediate death
But he felt presume that it was his duty to shorten
this irving scene as much possible. Accordingly
he called aloud to the priests to withdraw and threat
eped in case he did not attend to his warning, that
the party should fire upon him also The priest had
fulfilled his part as became him and, having once
more pressed the culprit's hand and committed HIM
to Gods keeping he retired behind our lines. Then
knelt the unhappy down in his place, WIN
cheek that blenched not and eye that never ios'
its brightness and, the signal being gwen the orty
marines who composed the executive parry came 70
the present and fred There was something more
than commonly startling in the result Inc companions
of the object Of intense interest dropped on ne
instant thew never moved limb, but died upon the
spot. He who seemed SO reluctant TO part WIN h
| escaped without wound yet he rose not from ms
| kneehng position nor was moment granted nun lot
rising. The sergeant who stood alone on the tank
| Of the party saw that their voey had faied ana, "
hed;ence to the instructions which placed him where
| bc was he FASTENED to atone for the failure, ~
| snrang towards the condemned man. ciaPP. H.
muzze of the fusee to his head ana III s IL bonobt
U.s. a,Ip 80 an untmely end had been Implicated ~
''o CO. h obstruction not only OF the oarracks o,
~; a;r;son but of every man, woms" s 80
.her 9 dns within the walls.-Gleigs VHeTa"