The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-12-21

attached; followed by the twelve men on
foot from the same regiment, who had
been designated us exccutioners, a wagon
containing plain coffin, and another in
which johnson rode, accompanied by a
priest, chaplain of the 3lst Regiment
New \ ork Volunteers, moved slowly
through the columns of the troops, the
bands of the several regiments playing
the dead march.
All eyes we're fixed upon the doomed
man. Ills countcnance indicated severe
depression, but he sat steadily and COM
posed, apparently intent upon the coun-
sells of the priest. Ills features we're
not indicative of his great crime, aud it
is said that his character has not hereto
fore been stained by any marked mis-
deeds.
During an interview the previous
evening with several officers, he was in
excellent spirits, and appeared to have
no realization Of his impending fate
Indeed, it was the general impression in
the army that he would be reprievcd,
especially when it was rumored that he
was insane. General Franklin having
tclegraphed the circumstance to the
Communicating Chief, he immediately
directed three of the best physicians in
the army to make a medical examination
They did so accordingly, and reported
that they found him of sound mind.
The procession having gone the rounds,
it was drawn up in the center Of a hollow
| ,rI,i ali, hol ~,
military. The coffin was removed from
the wagon, and johnson seated upon it,
in full view of the whole asscmblage.
The priests performed a last mass, and
the death-warrant was read to the pri-
soner by the Provost Marshal, as it had
been to several regiments by the colo
ncls. johnson beng told that he might
speak if he had aught to say, exclaimed,
in tremulous tones
" Boys, | ask pardon of Almighty
God and of all men for what did
May Almighty God pardon me, and keep
all of you from all such SIM"
At given signal by the Provost
Marshal, the eXecutioners, who had been
drawn up at IL distance of six PAGES from
the condemned, made ready to fire, and
at similar indication eight OF them
discharged their cirbines. johnson
clasped his hands over his breast, and
hnrrlcdly exclaimed several words which
were rendered indistinct by his groans. -
Some of the balls had taken effect, but
none We're likely to prove fatal, and after
an examination Of the prisoner the Pro-
vost- Marshal ordered reserve Of foul
men to fire. The result was fatal, a
ball literally tearing one Of Jonson's eyes
from its socket and scattering his brains,
and another SCATTERING his jaw in i
frightful manner. The dead body rolled
from the collin and icil heavily upon the
sod.
The desertcr had suffered the awfu
penalty due to his terrible crime. \
shudder ran through the vast array
of witnesses, and all was painfully still
In few moments the entire division
headed by General Franklin, took u,
the line of march, passing in view of Tx
corpse. Every soldier had. a chance tc
look upon the bleeding victim of his owl
imprudcnce, and it is safe to presume
that the sight will long be remembered
and 60 far to prevent future descrtlons.
/. ----- -
" nroincr Against Brother"
The divisions in distinguished Ken
lucky families, caused BY the recent
necessity for the citizens of that Stat,
to choose between loyalty and treason
! are remarkable.
Hen. John j. C,ittcnden, for example
has nephew, (Brigadier General Thos
i. Criitenden,) loyal like himself, nov
commanding the important division OF
the Green river, which constitutes tn,
right wing Of our army in Kentucky
while son Geo. Crittenden) is major
general in the rebel service, command
ing an invading column in his nativ,
State.
SO the eldest son of Nentucky's crca
advocate for the Onion was recent,
arrested for treason, while his brother
Thos. IL. Clay, is stated to have pre-
, ferrcd the complaint on which the ares
, was made, and while nephew, voun,
Henry Clay, is an assistant adjutant gen
era in our army in Kentucky.
Prominent among the leaders an,
,, organizers of the Union party in Ken,
lucky has been the wcll-known Gcore,
d. Prentice. His son Clarence Prenicc
, is an officer in the rebel army, which ha
!, threatened that its first work in Louis
, vile, after taking possession of the CITY
shall be to hang the father.
Ex-Governof Helm was recently ar
= rested for treason. His cousin is one O
the most reliable Of the Union men nov
assisting the central column of our arm,
by their knowledge of the country an,
the people.
The venerable Robert J. Brcckinrdr
, but the other day published a mastcrl
|, defense of the Government, and crush
: ing denunciation of the traitor leaders O
the rebellion. Among those traitors hi
! scarcely less dis inguished nephew ex
Vice President John G. Breckenridge
has prominent place as brigadier gen
cral, and is now at the head of a brigade
( with the avowed object Of subjugatlng hi
9 native State.
, Ex-Gov. Wickliffc has urged the ex
pulsion from Congress of collcagu
charged only with sympathy With rebels
| His own son, we are told, is in thc robe
army.
I And so the list might be cxtcndc