The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-14

sS"' WnOo OF night. lncee0, since the
DAY Of his condemnation he has been greatly detected,
ana his spiritual advisers say expected to be par
doned, but at the same time his outward appearance
would indicate that he did not fully realize the position
in which no was placed after the parting between him
and his fellow soldiers
In personal interview your correspondent received
from him the following statement Of his career and his
own version Of the circumstances preceding his arrest
which was read to him this morning and signed BY
his own hand
confession TlE PRISONER.
My nane is William Henry Johnson was born ia
New Orleans, and twenty three years Of age the
26ih Of August last have had sisters and only one
brother, rhomfs who is younger than myself. NV
father died when was child about seven years
Old Two years Afterwards, at Inc age Of nine years,
leaving my mother ant brother in New Orleans, | ran
away from homc embarked board schooner and
went to the city Of New York. FIRST / errnnd
boy for Dr. John Nelson about eighteen months Then
procured employment in the grocery store OF Elijah
Fisher, on the Of Beeckcr and Wooster streets.
remained with HIM about four years, then went for
short time to Norwich, Connecticut Returning 10 New
York, i got situation in the store OF Robert
Reed, corner OF Third avenue aud Eleventh street
who also engaged in the grocery business worked
for him between two and three years when went
Stonington Conn., and thence TO the western part OF
Pennsylvania After travelling there about two months
proceeded to New Bedford, Mass stad there motnh
aud then went TO The FIRST voyage made in
whaling vessel called the John Lawson. remained
board Of her fourteen fifteen mouths when she went
TO Bermuda and ! returned in schooner to
Now York. Shortly afterwards ! went 10 sea
again, and engaged during summer
in the ing business between New York aud
Southern ports and OF the West India Islands. I
back New York enlisted tho United States
Navy in the fall Of 1859 embarked board the United
States sloop ofwar Saratoga and went mouths'
cruise after slaves the West Coast Of Africa We cap
ared the ship Nightingale on the 10th Of April 1860 had
thccaastayef twice during the cruise that after return
ING II our vessel with the prize | discharged from
the service fr m New York travelled few weeks in
Connecticut and Massachusetts, pleasure and returned
once more 70 the city whore in August 1851 at the age
Of twenty three, enlisted private in the Lincoln
Cavalry with the same spirit that made enter the
riYy cined the army, 10 my country faithfully
but at the same time had hopes that when
the regiment would 80 South | would have an
opportunity Ct going 10 New Orleans 10 see nv
mother and brother. l remained with the reg
ment until the time Of my arrest. I had not the
slightest intention Of deserving few minutes before
started in the direction OF the enemy lines. The way
come 10 leave orr amy was his;-t was on the out
posis, and atnr dinner when watering my horse
th,aght would go 70 the FIRST house the Braddock
road and get drink Of milk. When rode mp 10 tho
honso I saw man and boy. asked the man for
SINE mix and he said lie had none and 10
my inquiry To where could get some he said he did
not know except should 20 some distance further on
SAID thought ii won be dangerous ro far and he
rena ked that none Of the rebels had been in that
vciaity Tor some time Il then that I conceived
IN idea 81 deserving. thought could ride right M TO
the rebel pickes aud INSIDE the oncnys line 90 and see
my mother in Nrw Orleans stay FOR few weeks in the
south, and then be able TO get back to our
regiment again, perhaps with some valuable in
formation never had any idea Of going
over 10 The rebels and II IL would rather hung on
Tree THIN 90 ana join tho rebel army. don't see what
under heaven put into my head q 50 away. I acted
foni tho impulse Of the moment when the man nj ne
NJ said none Of tho enemy La been lately that
vicinity laisca where il was that the two rebels bad
heard ot lad been scen some time ago aad ne saii II was
no road asked him where the road led to-
]Ie said 10 isptrsvHo, and | went that way
Riding song on The 2rsddcck road, some miles heyond
or pckets suddenly cano across colon" ay lor III,
Third New Jersey regiment, with his scouting party.
thought they wee the rebels bat AT first scared
the, d n"' anov what ID say. However asked him
who they were and he said they the enemy. said
I 10 bin. am al right than.r 'sWhy SOY SAID he
recuuse W are MI Il iends7 said ~ am rebel to-
want 70 50 d4wn to New Orleans 10 see my mother'
fhoa no assrd me how orr pic;o,s were stationed
! told him two OF our companies which had
H. ~ 81 Il osrht h. cou9 cenufe At OF them and
told Inn did net think lac could. He asked why and
rcniod that thero were number Of mounted riff men
around The head scout asked me what kind of he
Lincoln men received and NJ the said. '.Iet
me your pistol" handed him my revolver C,lo
mel Tuy % II, IN cooking said me- frismuunt
or / VIII now your bFaiis or,." / was 50 much
frightened | Thought my brains had hecn h'owr
but already dis,n, unts, delivered M nv belt and
sahe while at The sam time tn searched my pockets
Int 'fere nothrg ia ;hcm except piece Old
New York Lclse, hc,,cNc Thee re tied MY hands 10
hind and aeat nc Lack 10 Gsn in charge Of three
men, besides another who ioek ny horse. havo been
reared IN the II au Catholic attn, and at"sded he
cen since that time .ss been n church only two ar
three tinF, and twice went 10 Presbyterian
church never stopped people Oh The read and demand.
ed the caunterscn when was not guard Never cft
camp whn md il, and 10 Washington after
night ., business preudcia! 70 thu United States
ment WI. H. JOHNSON.
Tho following 10 lilo order 81 General Franklin N 70
gard 10 the drC4i,s o. the execution
GEsEeAL oRnEn.
HEsnQrstgEps SiENtNnRlA DIVISION, Dcc. 10, 1851.
The division viii hc formed 20 wines military
crt AZ three o'tsocN T. NJ. On friday the 18TH
Il vii form thee sides 81 square ana site OF he
snua,c cavalry vii b. formed d mounted and the
other size - artillery yin y torne also dismontcl.
Genera, hsRrirv' Brigade VIII be fos med Ii two ines
al right - General ccam and a right facing
west. I0Ecgai siacuins brFnd. VIII b, formed in Two
lines o. t.o Ircsllyg tnTnpila rear tie caup o he
riahtoenth New ork icg mert, iaci. ( noftt.
Ger e'al Neah" bflaso VII te torhtl ~ two lines
- s'r ''. ho,,, .t =, ; az ~ ~, =. "
will he twenty races The artillery VIII be formed on
tn right ol Gene a fca'ncy brigade, facing west.
tif' etsa' go ~ tx l'% ~ ~ ~ 2 ueh,," NeW,
oco,o ,ngn rom each compsry of lie First New yori
Volunteer Cavalry regiment. nn9rr Hard of ser
seas. WV, wv ."!it : ~. ., snNs' n'"en -
Nh ~ o.,ad IN inr the Sirf.or d. mo Iroys, arshni
out &C 1T Of the 6f0g par,v. lie viii at piece
= i9iea vain D'ft gatff f az. nc ichAdef WIN
% - :, In, ,,,,r,,,eI ,l,e liza r,,, -, i,.