New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-14
SCOUTING FOR REBELS.
THE REBELS LARGELY REINFORCED.
They are Reported Preparing to Advance


WASHINGTON Friday. Dec. 10, 1851.
MILITARY EXECUTION.
William II. johnson, private of Company ~,
lst Regiment Volunteer Cavalry, court-mar-
tailed ard sentenced TO death for desertion,
was shot at o'clock this afternoon, in pres
ence of the whole Of Gen. Fralklns division.
The ground chosen (on the Leesburg turnpike,
near the Fairfax Theological Seminary for
the execution was such Us to afford all in az
tendance a view Of the solemn proceedings.
The troops were marched to the spot to fu-
neral music, and formed into hollow square.
The display was unusually imposing, aud
the utmost decorum characterized the move
ments of the men.
Everything being in order, procession,
headed by Capt. Boyd, Provost Marshal of the
division, and consisting Of a company of mount
ed cavalry from the regiment to which the
prisoner was attached, followed by the twelve
men on foot from the same regiment who
had been designated as oxecutoners, wagon
containing plain coffin, and another IN which
johnson rode, accompanied by priest, CHIP
.
teers, moved slowly through the open columns
of the troops, the bands Of the several res-
ments playing the dead march.
All eyes were fixed upon the doomed man.
His countenance indicated severe depression,
but he sat steadily and composed, apparently
intent upon tho counsels of the priest. His
features were not indicative OF Lis great crime,
and it is said that bis character has not here
tofore been stained By any marked misdesds.
During an interview last evening with sew
eral officers, he was in excellent spirits, and
appeared to have 10 realization of his impend-
ing fate Indeed. it was the general impress
sion in the army that he would be repgieycd,
especially when it was rumored that be was
insane. Gen. Franklin having teiegraphed tie
circumstance to the COMMANDMENT Chief, he
Immediately directed three of the best pbysi-
clans in the army to make a medical examine
ton. Their report is as follows;
Chs. FHAEXIrE's Ifrtpcr rrrH,
Dec. lJ. lotl-IZ. y. IA. !
/ SIR: In pursuance Of your order, We, The under
signed have made careful examination OF tie rTis-
oner William Ii. johnson, under sentence OF death
for alleged attempt 1T and respectfully report that
FRANK II. HAMILTON.
Brigade sugeon sd PIe.ideui o. C9mnl,sion
ALEX. y. DOUOhEhII.
GEorGE gTRR
Brigade Surgeon, Oeu. slJclLa'H BRIGADE.
| The procession having gone the rounds, It
was drawn up in the center Of hollow
square which had been formed by the military.
/ The coffin was removed from the wagon. and
johnson seated upon it, in full view Of the
whole assemblage.
/ The priests performed last mass, and the
death.warran. was read to The prisoner by tie
Provost Marshal "a il had been to the several
regiments By the colonels johnson being told
that be might speak if he had aught to say,
exclaimed, in tremulOus tones:
"Boys, ask pardon Of Almighty God and OF all
men for What l did. May Almighty God pardon me,
and keep Ill Of you from all such SIN"
! At a given signal by the Proyost-Mtrshal,
the executioners, who had been drawn up at
distance Of six PAGES from the condemned,
made ready to FIRE, and at similar indication
| 6 of them discharged their carbines. johnson
clasped his hands over Bis breast, and hurriedly
exclaimed several words which were rendered
indistinct by his grOans. Some of tie balls
bad taken effect, but none were likely to prove
fatal. and after an examination Of the prisoner
the Provost Marshal ordered reserve Of four
men to fire. The result was fatal, ball lite.
rally tearing one of Johnson's eyes from its
socket and scattering bis brains, and another
SCATTERING his jaw in q 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 ran
through the vast array of witnesses, and all
was painfully still. liz few moments the en-
tire division, headed by Gen. Franklin, took
up the line Of march, passing in view of the
corpse Every soldier had n chance to look
upon the bleeding victim of his own impru-
dence, and it Ii safe to presume that the sight
will long be remembered and 60 far to prevent
future des3rtons.
The general order read in the case is as fol-
lows:
HsApQuAETERs ARHT OF rHE PoIosAc
W.sH1sGroy Dec. II, 1901 !
GEsERAI ORDERS, No. 52.-Beiore n General
Court Martial Of which Col. N J jackson, 5th Reg
ineut Maine Volunteers, j. President, which was
convened ct the camp of Gen. Fnuklns division,
by virtue Of Special Order No. l4l from these head,
quarters Of Nov. IL, 1901, was arragned ana iiiea
VIM. II. johnson, Co. ID, Let Regiment New-iork
Volunteer Cavalry, on the following charge and
specification:
CHARGE, DFsERrioN. ~
Specifcdtion.-ln this, that be, the said WIN: II.
Johnston, Company -, let Regiment new ioIh
Volunteer Cavalry, having been duly enlisted and
mustered into the serviee Of the United Sta,es, Oh
or about the 2lst day Of August, 1861, and having
received pay in the service Of the United States dic
desert the said service on or about The am DAY o.
december, 1861, from his post on picket duty near