Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-12-29
THE SENTENCE

The regiment WAS out on dress parade, wheI
he Was conducted, by g strong guard, to tn
Itvut and oeStG-- whPra the SANTIAGO was read
| He seemed much agitated during the reading
and frequently had recourse to bis handkerchief
as is caused him to weep. After the readini
no was conducted back again, aud placed in Ia,
doomed cell of the jail, there to remain uuti
brought forth to execution.
The Rev. John F. Wright, chaplain of OIL
regiment, was bis constant companion and spir
itusl adviser. From him learn that the young
man had, up to yesterday morning, thought hG
would be granted q respite, If not reprieved, ss
circular to that eject had been circulated and
received many signatures; even the men who
had bsen instrumental in causing the arrest!
aud preferred charges, signed it; but to no eff.
feet. He gave up oil hope Of life, and early
Ihuraday morning became calm, aud seemed to
ieel the near approach to death. He prayed
mosS terVently for Divine mercy and pardon.
THE PROCESSION AND THE EXECUTION.
The regiment was called ou. this morning on
dress parade, and the hour of execution read
three O'Clock, P. NJ, Friday, the 2Oth inst. Al
few minutes before the time, the Twelfth Ohio
Regiment, quartered above Charleston, march.
ed to this camp, followed by Gen. Cox and staff
and the First Ohio Cavalry. The brigade form.
ed three sides Of hollow square. At few
minutes after three, the ambulance with the
prisoner and his adviser arrived on the ground
aud drove to spot in the square, where, sur
rounded by strong guard of fifty men, the
prisoner alighted.
After placing the coffin and prisoner in the
proper position, squad of six men, with their
muskets previously losded-ihree blank and
three bali cartiidg6s-marched at "trail,''
and then stacked arms. The unfortunate man
was blindfOlded, aud hi5 arms pinicned, pre-
vious to his leaving the ambulance. Being led
to his coffin, he knelt and Joined Mr.. Wright In
prayer After leave-taking with his friends
and former officers, he knelt on the coffin, and
Capt, Spencer, Provost Marshal of Charleston,
made eignnl, and ak men marched to the
stack of arms, and each took their guns, and,
as he raised his hand, they capped them; at an.
other signal, the waving Of handkerchief the
six guns we're levsled at his breast. In that
assembly you could have heard whisper, SO
atill were the men; second signal, poor Dick
fell, pierced by three balls all close to bis heart
He died without struggle.
THE VICTIM,
When he was placed In his cOffn tne entire
brigade marched past the corpse, and had last
look at ono who had been but short time be
lore one OF tne gayeStO OF tuelr comrades, lne
deceased was native OF Louisville, KY, and
had wealthy and respectable connections there.
His mother is the only parent now living. He
was young man, 81 or 20 years of age, full of
lite and mischief, but not vicious, unless under
the influence OF liquor, heard him say, when
in life, that his father started him in business
by buying him 3 bar on one of the lower river
packets.
With such start, who can wonder at the
ending. There wns for while some fears Of
an outbreak, but moro orderly coDcourse
could not have been brought together. Tho ex-
ample will be lasting. An universal gloom per-
vades the camp Even the weather, which
heretofore has been like Spring, seemed to as-
sumo an appearance suited TO the OCCASION
Early this morning 1t clcuded up, and there has
been drizzling rain nearly ell day. Il has
ceased and is now quite cold
The regimnhts quartered hero are veil pro-
vided with the Sibley tents aud stoves, which
make quite comfortable quariere.
There is rumor that we will leave this val
ley and go into winter campaign. Tho off,
GERS and members sish Ii much will let you
know il there lie anything of the kind.
Yours truly, G. T. j.