The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-14
IMPORTANT FROM WASHINGTON
Views of the Administration on the
Late Foreign News.
-g>~-~>>~-s~~>-,~>~s~><-~~~-
The First Military Execution
for Desertion.
A-r.-ree-o-~>e~-~~-~~~~~
Shooting Of William H. Johnson, of the
Lincoln Cavalry.
.>@~~~>,=--N~~~~---~-~~-.e,-->
CONFESSION OF THE PRISONER.
Another Reconnaissance from General
Smiths Division.
&c, &C., &c.
CONFESSION OF THE PRISONER.

FAIR.
Our government entcrtains the fullest confidence tn
the natural but temporary Indignation manifested
some portions Of tho English people reference 10 I,
seizure OF tho traitors, Mason anu Sdell on board Of
British vessel, will DO aayed, and tina
upon calm reflection and u coInpeto UNDERESTIMATE
ri the facts aud the law, ana they viii above q
dictates Of passion and prejudice, The President a
Cabinet are agree3by surprised to-day the mild toi
assumed, and the sensible view taken OF the subject
the " Thunderer, and expressed by the speakers at Il
Cotton Mart meeting rs announced BY thu arrival OF Il
steamer Hama from Bremen They perceive in these
dicators OF appreciation u right and Of j
tice of the act, which must overcome all the pr
JUDGE which at FIRST caused the AFFAIR TO b
regarded outrage the British Has.
The danger Of interruption Of the amablu relation
shstistng between this government and Great Britain
daily decreasing. The immediate prospect Of the reaump
lion of the expectation of cotton, under the auspices
The federal government cannot fail 20 produce reac
tioaary feeling towards the United States among tn
British masses ana the candid ackuowedg cement o
Ecsh iuriss that Commander Wilkes only did right il
boarding the Trent and arresring the rbel Com nssoor
viii give correct tone to public feeling there the sub
jet
gAaAL, CONVICTION AND EXECUTIONS Of PRIVATE
WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON.
painful interest has pcrvaied the Army Of the poto
To-Day INC Nrsl military execution tlAG ms taken
place the Of the rebellion vas wit
messed this afternoon under the most solemn and eur
gestve by all The troops in General Frank
bus division
William Henry Johnson, private III Company y. First
New York cavalry, known the lincoln Cavalry in that
division, ed for having deserted from the ma
tona army with the avowed intention Of giving nforns
ton 10 the enemy The fragrant one, and
loudly demanded tie penalty which the court de-
creed and which the Provost Marshal of the Alexandria
division faithfully executed.
he facts in relation the deserou apprehension and
trial Of the offender furnished detail in the follow
ing Official report OF the proceedings the court martial
by whcrhe tried and convicted. The testimony IL
rel out in f1 and the finding Of the Court confirmed
md the sentence pronounced by the General command
ing
PROCEEDINGS GENERAL COURT NAKrl,1 CONVENED Ar CAMP
nASIIls, VA, ~ VIRTUE or TIE FOLLOWING ORDER VIZ
HEnQusE1ERs ARMY THE f0Taa.c, }
WASHINGTON, Nov. II, 1861.
SPECIAL uKphg--sn J4I
general court martial is hereby appointed so meet at
the cimp o General Ffankins division at ten O'Clock
~ on Friday, the 18th day OF November 1861 for the
trial O! such prisoners Us may be brou.At BEFORE it,
tBTNL FeR TIE corer.
Col. y. J. Jackson, filrh Maiuc Volunteers
Lieut.. Col r. II Richardson Twenty sixth New York
Volunteers.
Lieut.. Col a. u, Adams, rwen,y.seyenth New York
Vol ntcers.
CAPS IL. Achilles Tweniy,aeyen,h New York vo
Ina ors.
Capt G. \. Blackwell. Twenty-sjzrh New YORK Va.
jmteers
tppt J. /. stetson Sixteenth New York Volunteers
Lieut. s G. Nelder, Sixteenth New York Volunteers
capt H. G. 10 igers, Twenty seventh New Yor, yolnn-
tees, ludse Advocate.
No other officers than those named can be assembled
without manifest injury TO the service
BY command Of Mat,r GEN MCCLELLAN.
;, WILLIAMS, Assistant bdutant General.
NINE o'1ocR, A. NJ, Dec. 10. 1861
me court met pursuant 10 adjournment. Present.
fFfVH " ~ tdfk50U, lieutenant Colonel r. n RCha 2 a.
son, lieutenant Colonel \. D. Adams Captain H. T. Ach
les, Captain 6. A. Blackwell Capta,nJ / S,alson I ipn
tenant $ G. Veddcr: Captain H. C. Rodgers Judge 3dvo
cate ftiyate William T. son. Company t. FIRST
regiment, Now York Volunteer cavalry accused also
reseA Tn Judge Advocate having read the order cp-
ven's The court asked the accused private William
johnson II he had any objections any member named
ihecc'n 20 which he replied, have not"
TOE court was duly sworn by the Judge Advocate and
Tho Judge advocate duly sworn by the resdfnr OIL
Ger Oh inc court IN the presence OF the accused Tie
pis'afF YVES ton arrasned aud tried upon the follow nr
charge aud specification
CHARGES AND SPECIFICATIONS PREFERRED AcslssY rplvArU
VIZ. n JOHNSON, COMPANY D, sesT REGIMENT NEW yoes
VOLUNTEER CAVALRY.
Dcscrtion.
IN ihis, hat he, tha said private VIM II Johnson OF
Company y, First regiment New York Volunteer cavalry
having been duty enlisted and mustered the service
of The United States eeou the twenty Gra day OF
August 1851 and having received pay the service Of
thc United states dd desert the said service on or about
the fourth day OF December 1861 from ha post picket
duty Benton Tavern the Little River tnrnp,kc
III Fairfax county. Virginia, and the same day
arrested while Oh his way to oln the enemy
ANDREW I. MeREYNOLnS,
Colonel First New York cavalry
wine9ses-CaIonei L. W. Taylor, THIRD New Jessev
'aptain u. Fl. Hswkns FIRST New York cavalry. Lieut.
James A. Duay, Ft,t New DIRK cavalry sergcan, T. r
iofkey First New York cavalry; private John W Mans
1eid, FIRST New York cavalry: George Premier Firs
New York cavalry; Adiuiant $. G Sprague First New
cavalry mastering officer
The charge and specification then read aloud b,
the Judge Advocate to which the accused private Wli.
il. Johnson, peaded folows;-To the specification o
the charge mot guilty, and 10 the charge, NO
guilty"
Colonel Andrew I. McReynolds, witness OF the par
of the prosecution being duly sworn, says In CON
mind o. aRc First regiment New York cavalry; know
prisoner mustered in number Of recruits in Ney
1ort cty August IL 1861 aud among The number i'm
the name Of william n. Johnson; he now belongs
roy regiment; l visited him in the euirdhous
he was apprehcndei company witt
captain HsJkins lieutenant lack son also there
the prisoner said he left for the purpose o. going down
New Orleaps 10 SEQ his mother who rested There;
asked him that MAS his native place he sad II was;
then asked Inn 81 he had so represented il VIII he on
ltaG he sad be did not for tho reason that he had toc
tof H. me raprcsHnted IL he would not have heei
reresPcd into the service; Itnea asked hiz II Il hat
been his iut ation Leave IL that way Snen he frs
ZONES the regiment he sa. lie expected 20 get dow
South IN hat NAY b. joining the regDent then sad l,
MIN, II motive was ~ ccl Down South, why did
y3e cGmmHanss with oiicsr whom you suppose
40 hei1ug the ehrng the mos emeUts Oh tofces
an ue P%aaa Oh our phsH't@' he replied
he haa nut Gison much ia,ornati BE- had
bi'H Hlh'l iertQNS ny tie 0lfscr anu tul1 Nifu Ne
thghGht Eoaid Ss very hard TO sc; hnd of lckes
he beiet is they the enemy thought ~ecld 10
better lcs him "a give them Information at yod
lead them To suppose At+he sympas4fxed with them
Inlurco he iva 3eeu driDea to this course ny bad
tGAu nj - The Officers o. hi regiment. he si
he had not; tnen ssid Johnson you LAVE not opQ o.
lated your os'h to sHW9r1 the pjvs nment bu. Won
added 10 the sloriuy 81 ahs 8ne y ey, sing I'M, m
uon o! our fgrtes: @ rcFhed tlat Le k,ew he bn dove
wrong, that DC hat donc 1t ,rith9u renrrticn =, 4
that ne eouss not DO 3nduccu 10 DO 81, APR.
J toll Inn %as veT sorry for hir- INT r,;sG
DO nothing tRiore kUp daring The coryers,,inr
in connection WIFI going south, he said lie cd not kro
but hat lie pi.ht bn able 10 get some ufcEati IN
the eDsgoy which might be Of vs. ihS confessIou
was On rcy voluntary l.e part 81 Inc pris3eer theg,
were tire Inducements heb on 70 him ubl ali,
bs crresou: IGmt know anything 0. III geAs raj cha
re.ler prev ieus r. lis apprehension.
captain Iapiel II. israiny beng auly sworn, says;-
am ia eoinlsand OF Company u, tlls New York cavalry
know tic piisoaer he Is member - my company
hss since about Se ODD Of August 1851 he has
ce,Ted pay )roE the United states the FIRST pawn nj
paid hial ays Il; thig Payment WIS ~ q Atg 81 81
1851 Wsft 10 the guard house 10 500 the ptisone,
trout tn. 5th or slh Of December 1861; toione
Gksynods and jeu,sIanf Jackson were present al the
tins he sel5 We had not senior beard from BIS mother