Worcester daily spy., 1861-12-21
GN0rtester 9alIp Spy,
From the New York Evening Post.
THE DESERTER'S FATE.


Wm. IL. johnston aged 23 a member of the
Lincoln cavalry, delib, rately drove beyond
the picket lines O our army OF the Potomac,
into what he supposed to he the enemy : LOun.
try Fortunately, Col. Taylor OF the 3D. New
Jersey regiment, who had been on Il scout
with small number of men, met linn aud in,
geniGusly eitrapped him iutU a tu.l disclosure
of his design which was to 20 over to the Ie.
bells and give them many details OF the strength
aud position ot our army. After hearing his
dastardly plans, Col Tay lOr, whom he had
presumed 10 be rebel officer, promptly re-
nauded him to his camp, wnere he was irOned
and placed in close confinement.
On Wednesday last a court martial was as.
seuibled by order OF the cOumander3fr-cliet
for the trial of johnston. The case was a
plain one and there could be but one result.
The proof OF this guilt was conclusive, al d
the sentence Of death passed by the court was
confirmed by General Mcclellan, who said
For simple d,sertiOn the penalty is death
for deserton coupled with such trrachpry
there can be no nolCy."
Johnston made a iu confession Of his crime.
His project was to 90 to New Orleans, where
he was born, and where his mother still re-
sides, and then to join the rebel army There
was story OF his insanity, bur several cOmpe
tent physicians made examination, and pro-
nOunced it without foundation in truth On
Thursday night visitors to his prison found
him in good Spirits and apparently Indifferent
to his impending fate. Friday at 81 o'clock
and on an expansive field on the Leesburg
turnpike near to the Fairfax Theological Spln-
mary, were chOs, n by Cen Franklin to whose
division Johnston belonged, as the time and
place of his execution. In accordance with
military custom he had been ordered to be
Shot dead by musketry," and the entire di.
vision, consisting Ot the brigades OF General
Slocum, Newton and Kearney, in all ten thou
sand men, WAS to be assembled to witness the
sorrowiul scene.
The afternoon was beautiful beyond descrip-
ton. Mild and mellow as in summer time
tie sun and skies conspired TO make the coun.
try sngulurly cheerful for the season. The
regiments came up in good order, and were as
by magic formed into line. An hollow square
OF some thirty or forty acres was surrounded
by the troops in double column, and the ut
most decOium was observed by all. Shortly
after three O'Clock procession, headed by
Capt. BOYD, the provost marshal of the divis-
ION, and consisted of a troop OF mounted caval l.
ry; twelve eXecutiOners on foot wagon con-
ta'nlng coffin, another with the prisoner and
priest, and an additional company OF mount
ed cavalry, entered at the right and PASSED
through the entire lines, the bands PLAYING the
Dead March as the mourniul train moved
slowly on. The prisoner wore flat felt lat
and military overcOat, and leaned upon the
arm OF bis con1cssOr, who was earnestly coun-
selling HIM The men chosen to act as the
firing party were one from each company in
JohnsIon's regiment selected by lot, and arm
ed with carbneS. Their faces were painfully
solemn, and gave evidence that they keenly
felt the melancholy nature Of the task imposed
upon them.
When the procession had gone the rounds
II ft ha lnll
The coffin was removed from the wagon and
placed upon the ground; johnston sat upon
it, in tuii view OF the entire asso mbage. The
trembling mark of all eyes lie was too near
the confines of eternity to be affected by out
ward circumstances and did not lift his head.
The tests performed final service. The
doomed man calculated few words OF con-
tessiou and warning TO lis fellow soldiers the
marsha covered his eyes wili-a handkerchief,
and eight nn drawn mp at six PAGES, were
ordered III disclaige then caIbines.
There was brcathltss silence while the
provo,t marshal went UP TO Johnston to as
certain The fleet ot the shots. Several bullets
had entt red his body but lite was not 'Xtlnct.
The prisoner C!asred his arms upon his hro asst,
ard his grOans were frequent and terrible.
For moment lie retained his sitting position,
then fell heavily across the coffin Death
would probably have cnsued with htte delay,
uulj OIutI 10 uidhe IL u TldIIi, lIe louT GS-
naming executions were ordered up and lev
cling their carbines at lis head, literally scat
tered his brains upon the surrounding sod y
ball tore one Of his eyes from its socket, an
other penetrated his jaws. decorating them in
shocking manner, and a third crashed TIN Ough
his heart, letting out It's warm blood in Il cup-
GUS stream. There was convuI>ive Shulder
OF the body, ghastly coGtnrtiun OF the face,
gasp;ng groan, and all was over. The poor,
mulilatcd body, from which every vesiige CT
life had gone, iell upon the soft grass and sank
in its own cotteA blood. The deserler, the
traitor, the culprit had paid the awful penalty
due to offended justice and an outraged coun-
try.
The bandage was removed from the eyes,
the body stretched beside the c, fin, and soon
the long lines OF soldiery began 10 file past
with slow and silent steps, All saw the man
gil form OF him who had so lately lived and
moved in their ranks, and all seemed paned
and impressed with the sight. There was no
levity, no indifference, no cruel joking, as is of.
ten tile case at civil executions aud there can be
little doubt that the lesson which the COM
nander in chiei sought to impress upon the di-
sion 10 which johnson belonged had the de-
sired effect.