Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-12-22
A Military Execution.

The following deeply interesting se-
count of military execution, We fad
in letter from Centreyille, Va, under
date of 11th, to the Richmond Dtspotca /:
On Monday, at II o'clock, two soldiers
belonging to the '' Tiger Rifles" were shot
by order of Gen. Johnston, after having been
tried by court-martial and convicted under
the 9th article of war. This reads as fol-
lows:
s.Art. g. Any officer or soldier who shall
strike his superior officer, or draw or lift
up any weapon, or offer any violence against
him, being in the execution Of his Office, On
any pretence whatever, or shall disobey any
lawful command of his superior officer, shall
suffer DEATH CT such other punishment as
shall, according TO the nature Of his offence.
be inflicted upon him by the sentence of s
court-martial."
These two unfortunate men were found
guilty of striking On officer while endeeYor-
ing to prevent them reseuin8 prisoner
then in his custody. Their names were
Dennis Corcoran and Mike O'Brien--Irish-
men by birth, but for some years residents
of New Orleans. AS the hour for the exc
cution arrived some ten or ffteen Thousands
soldiers arrived upon the ground, aud ue@s
formed on three sides OF the spot selected-
| The men were brought up in q wagon and
accompanied by q Catholic Priest. They
were dressed in = full suit Of Tiger 1ri-
| form, and being men Of fne manly SorHs
presented splendid apPearsuee. They
| bore the ordeal brsyely. Alighttns from
the wagon, each walked up TO the stakes
| prepared for them. and kneeled vh:lo their
hands were tied and the bendage ADJUSTED
over their eyes. Then came . moment OF
/ breathless suspense, and the next the enl-
| lets OF their own comrades sent their souls
| into eternity. Both were buried neer tse
spot OF their igIominiou5 death, and accord
ing to the rites OF the Catholic Church.
The most affecting pait of the scsne zss
| Immediately following t5s discharge Of
musketry. One Of the Hen has 8 brother
| in the crowd, who, before tie SMOKE Of the
| volley cleared from The spot, ran 20 his side
| and supported him So his life blood ebbed
away, and felt the laet quiver Of mortsiity
as the soldiers body fell into his arms. II
was heart-rending to sec the poor brothers.
agony. The life of dishonor md crime were
| forgotten as one thought Of that fire Of
brotherly love that had burned through
years of siu Tne death of the criminal
was borne with stolidity, but the eimpis
sight Of such heartfelt. brotherly grief
mo;stened every eye. Hos oflon 80 see
such scenes in real life, that chew how
| thoroughly love rules the world, and proves
the truth of Coleridge's assertion that sI
thoughts, passions, all delights arc but ss
| its ministers, and serve to feed the sacred
fame. I have seen the most dcprsTed snd
| reckless men weep over the sorrous OF sene
poor Camille, or sigh from the bottom Of
| their heart at the agony of some dyiHg
| Acuzens; and have seen men who march,
ed up to the csnnon's mouth
| won distinction on the Crineanfeld<-she
tears, during the opera of "Rigoletto." at
| the touching story Of that sad old man who
/ lost himself to all sentiments Of honor. still
| cherished in the inner chambers Of his hesrt
| the maintenance Of his daughters love.