Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-12-17


who had been designated as executiOners, a
wagon containing plain coffin, and another
N which johnson rode, accompanied by q
priest, Chaplain of the Thirty-frst Regiment
New York Volunteers, moved slowly
through the open columns of the troops, the
bands of the several regiments playing the
lead march. ....s
All eyes were fixed upon the doomed man.
His countenance indicated severe depression,
but he sat steadily and composed, apparently
intent upon the counsels of the priest. His
features were not indicative of his great crime,
and it is said that his character has not here
tofoIe been stained by any marked misdeeds,
During an interview last evening with
several officers, he was in excellent spirits,
and appeared to have no realization of his
fate. Indeed, it was the general
impression in the army that he would be re-
prieVed, especially when it was rumored that
he was insane. General, Franklin having
telegraphed the circumstance to the Com
mander. in. Chief he Immediately directed
three Of the best physicians in the army to
make a medical examination. Their report
is as follows:
GENERAL FRANKLN's HEADQUARTERS, I
December l3, l86l-l2H p. NJ.
"SIR: In pursuance of your order, we, the
undersigned, have made careful examina.
ton of the prisoner, William II. johnson,
under sentence of death for alleged attempt
at desertion, and respectfully report that we
find him of sound mind.
FRANK H. HAMILTON,
"Brigade Surgeon and Pres't of Commission
"ALEX. N. DOUGHERTY,
brigade Surgeon.
"GEORGE BURR,
"Brigade Surgeon, Gen. Slocums Brigade"
The procession having gone the rounds, it
was drawn up in the center of hollow
square which had been formed by the mill
tary. The coffin was removed from the
wagon, and johnson seated upon it, in full
view of the whole aRsemblage.
The priests performed a last mass, and the
death-warrsnt was read to the prisoner by
the Provost Marshal, as it had been to the
several regiments by the Colonels Johnson
being 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
distance of six PAGES from the condemned,
made ready to fire, and at similar indica-
tion eight of them discharged their carbines
johnson clasped his hands over his breast,
and hurriedly exclaimed several words,
which were rendered indstinct by his groans.
Some of the balls had taken effect, but none
were likely to prove fatal, and after an ex-
animation of the prisoner the Provost Mar
shall ordered reserve of four men to fire.
The result was fatal, ball literally tearing
one of Johnson's eyes from its socket and
scattering his brans and another shattering
his jaw in frightful manner. The dead
body rolled from the coffin and fell heavily
upon the sod.
The deserter had suffered the awful penalty
due to his terrible crime. A shudder rsr
through the vast array of witnesses, and al
was painfully still. In few moments the
entire division, headed by Gen. Franklin
took up the line of march, passing in vie v
the corpse. Every soldier had a chance tC
look upon the bleeding victim of his own i'm
prudence, and it is safe to presume that thC
sight will long be remembered and go far Il
prevent future desertions.
The General Order read in the case is a
follows:
BEAD QUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoroMAo,1
WAsHINGToN, Dec, IL, 81 J
GENERAL Orders, No. So Before a Genera
| Court martial of which Col. n J. Jackson
9TH Regiment Maine Volunteers, is President
which was convened at the camp of Gen
| Franklin's division, by virtue of Special Or
der No. l4l from these head quarters of Nov
| IA, 1851, was arraigned and tried VIM. H
| johnson, Co. D, lst Regiment NewsYorl
Volunteer Cavalry, on the following charg
and specification.
CHARGE, DEsERTIoN.
Specifcdtion.--In this, that he, the SAT-
| VIM. H. Johnston, Company D, First Regi
ment New York Volunteer Cavalry, havin
been duly enlisted and mustered into tn
service of the United States, on or about tn
2lst day OF August, 1861, and having receive
pay in the service of the United States, di
desert the said service on or about the 4t
day of December, 1861, from his post o.
picket duty near Benton's Tavern, on th
Little River Turnpike, in Fairfax County
Va, and was on the same day arrested Will
on his way to join the enemy, to whic
charge and specification, after due delibsra
ton on the testimony adduced, the Cour
found the prisoner guilty of the charge, an
thereupon did sentence him, the said privat
VIM. II. johnson, Company. D, First Ney
York Volunteer Cavalry, to be shot to deaf
by musketry, twO-thirds of the members {
the Court concurring in the sentence.
Second: The sforeRoing proceedings Of th
Court martial have been carefully examine
by the General Commanding. The case
marked by every circumstance of aggrava
tion. The accused is shown to have enter
tained for some time the intention to deser
nay, if he is to be believed, he enlisted wit
that intention. He left his camp on Decem
Der 4, 1861, passed our lines and meetn
with small body of United States forces
whom he mistook for rebels, proceeded I
give to them all the information in his powe
among which was statement intended {
facilitate an attack on an outlying picke
belonging to the National army. For Simpl
desertioD, the penalty is death. For desel
tion, coupled with such tEeachery, there ca
be no mercy. The proceedings, findings an
sentence Of the Court, martial are confirmed
and Private William II. Johnson, Compan
D, First Regiment New York VolunteC
Cavalry, will accordingly be shot to deaf
with musketry on Friday, December l3, 1856
at such hour and place as the Division Con
mander may designate.
By command Of Msor- General McCLEL
s. WILLIAMS, Asst Adjutant General.
| T0HiciaI1 yoavpu KtpUTaNn n n