Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-12-24
r.he Execn,,on OF a Descrter.

first military execution of the war, on FRI
day week last The main facts have all
been given in cur special dispatches from
Washington, bat tie Herald adds more ad-
diiional items Of interest:
There was an unusual stiffness rrevail-
ing all the morning in the camps through
out the whole division The Importance of
the ceremony abcut to be performed had
evidently been dseIlY impressed on the
mind Of every soldier. Orders for the for
nation of the line had Teen read in every
regiment, and every man was busy rrepar.
ing 10 attend tile execution:
johnson remained in the Chaplain's
tent until the hour arrived for him to take
his place, the most conspicuous one of any
in the mournful funeral procession. The
spot chosen for the impressive scene was q
spacious field near the Fairfax Seminary,
short distance from the camp ground of the
division. The troops fell into line. forming
three sides Of square. IN the order desig-
mated in the programme, precisely at three
o'clock p NJ.
"ln the meantime the funeral procession
was formed at the quarters of Capt. Boyd;
Provost Marshal Of the Alexandria district
near the headquarters of Gen. franklin
Shortly after lhree O'Clock it reached the
, fatal field.
The Provost Marshal, mounted and
wearing crimson scarf across his breast,
led the mnurn;ul co:tege. IIe was imme-
diately followed by the buglers of the reg
iment, four abreast, dismounted. Then
came the twelve men-one from each COM
Jany in the regiment, selected by ballot
who constituted the firing party. The
arms-Sharp's breech loading rifes-hai
been previously loaded under the direction
Of the Marshal One was loaded with
blank cartridge, according to the usual Gus
tom, so that neither of tue men could pos
itively state that the shot from his rife
killed the unfortunate man. The coffin,
which was ono Of pine wood stained, aud
without any inscription, came next, in a
one horse wagon. Immediately behind
followed the unfortunate man, in an open
wagon. About five feet six inches in
height, with light hair and whiskers, his
eyebrows joining each other, johnson pre-
scented most fcrlorn spectacle. lie was
dressed in cavalry uniform, with the regu-
latIon overcoat and black gloves. lie was
supported by Father McAtee, who was in
constant conversation with him, while
Father W lie: rode behind on horseback-
The rear was brought up by company c.,
Of the Line 10 Cavalry, forming the es-
curt.
ARRIVING on the ground at half-past 4
, o'cl eek, tie musicians and escort took
position little b the left, while the GRIM
/ inal descended from tie wagon. The coffin
/ was placed ou the ground, and lie took his
/ place beside it. The firing party marched
~ within six PAGES nf the prisoners, who
/ stood between the clergymeu.
The fiaal order for the execution was
then read by the Provost Marshal. Is con-
ciudes as follows:
THE foregoing proceedings Of the court
martial have been carefully examined by
the Major General Commanding. The case
is marked by every Circumstances OF aggra.
vation. The accused is shown to have en-
tertained for some time without any cause I;
the intention To desert. Nay, if il lie to be
believed, be enlisted with that int ntiOn.-
lie left his camp on the 18th of December,
! 1851 passed our lines, and meeting with q
small body Of United States fOrcss, whom
he mist0ok for rebels, proceeded 70 give
them ali the information in his power,
among which was statement intended TO
facilitate an attack on an ouflaying PICKET
belonging to the national army.
For simple desertiCn the penalty is
death for desertion coupled with such
treachery there can be no mercy.
The proceedings, findings, and SEN
tence of the court martial are confirmed,
and private VIM IL. Johnson, company ID,
First Regiment New York Volunteer Cav
airy, will accordingly be shot to death with
musketry, on Friday, the 18th Of December
1861, at such hour and place as the division
commander may designate.
GEORGE MCCLELLAN,
2 E.,nr.,1 ~ TT,1taH
Army"
while this order was being read John
son stood with his hat on, his head littIe
inclined to the left, and his eyes fixed 10 O
, steady gaze on the ground. Near the close
of the reading one Of his spiritual attend
, ants whispered something in his eaf.-
johnson had expressed desire TO say q few
final words before he should leave this
woIlI and appear before his Maker. lie
was conducted close TO the firing party, and
in an almost iraudible vcire, spoke Us fol-
, lows:
".BoYs-I ask forgiveness from Almigh.
, I ty God aud from my feilJw men for what
have done. ] did not know what / was
doing. May GJd forgive me. and may the
Almighty keep all OF you from all such
sim
"IIe was then placed beside the cOfEu
again. The troops were witnessing the
whole Of these proceedings with the intens.
est interest. Then the Marshal AMI the
Chaplaibs be gan to prepare the culprit fo
his death. lie was too weak to stand. III,
| sat Down on the foot Of bis coffin. Captain
Blvd then bandaged his e-es with a whit.
handkerchief. A few minutes Of painful
suspense interviewed while the Catholic
: clergymen were having their fnal inter
i view with the inf .rtunate msn. All be
Jag r,Gdy the Marshal waved his han 1ker.
chief IS the signal, and the firing party
discharged the vDliey. johnson did no
move, remaining in q sitting position fol
several seconds after the rifles were dis
e charged Then he quivered little. anS
o fell over beside his cofin. he was stil
r al We, however. and the four reserves wer
r called to complete the work.
. Ii IGs found that two Of the firing D ir'y
Germans, had not discharged their Pieces
! and they were Immediately put in irons
johnson was shot several times 10 the hear
by the first yOlley. Each If the four shot
u fred by tn. re. erve took effect 10 his head
i and he died instantly. One penetrsted hi
e chin. another his left cheek, while two en-
tered the brain Just above the left ~ brow
lie died Mt precisely a quarter 10 four o.
click.
THE troops then all marched round, an
each msn looked the bloody corpse Q
q his late eomrade who had proved traffic
t. his curry.
CONFEDERATE SESAToRs.-George Davi
5 mi William Z D1rtcL are the Confisdera,