Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1862-01-30
Last Words Of two Condemned
Soldiers.

4 an account of the execution OF
iCorkeran and OBrien, shot The
other day by order of a court mar
tiaI. An officer of the regiment
to which they belonged, encamped
at Camp Florida, Army of the
/ Potomac, sends us the following
letter dictated and signed by them
both, previous to their execution:
/ Felloo Soldiers: We are standing
upon the eve of eternity; in a few
short hours we will have learned
the hidden mysteries of the un-
known world; may God in his IN
finite mercy accept our humble,
heartfelt repentance as an atone
ment for our past sins. And may
the rendering up Of our lives prove
a benefit TO the souls Of our COM
panions and a lesson to all to guard
against the vice of drunkenness.
We are to suffer death in vindica-
ton of laws outraged while we
were under the influence of rea-
son-destroying liquor. We ac-
knowledge the justice Of our sen
tence, and from our hearts freely
forgive those whose sworn duty
it.was to try our case, and also all
others who were in any way in
strumental in our condemnation.
Oh, brother soldiers! let this our
unexpected and untimely end
prove warning to you; and should
it be the means Of saving one Of
you from the soul destroying vice,
we will not have died in vain.-
Here we are to bid a last adieu to
our beloved and brave officers Maj.
G.. r. Wheat, Lieut.. L. w. Adrian,
and Lieutenant Edward Hewitt.
They have leo us in the thickest
of the fight, and as we speak these
our last words of farewell, we ask
them to do justice to our memo
ries, and give us a soldiers epi-
taph. To our spiritual adviser,
we simply say, Father Shoulders,
Holy Father, through your instru-
mentality we have been led to
seek pardon for our sins, and we
feel within that God, through the
intercession of the blessed Saviour,
will not shut the gates of mercy
against us. Father, with our
dying breath we bless thee, and
when we meet cur Judge we will
bear witness of your labors in our
behalf. We die good Catholics,
placing our reliance upon a mer-
ciful God, whom we hope will par
don all our. sins and permit us to
enjoy an eternity OF bliss.
One of us has three brothers
in the army, and when they learn
of his untimely end let them think
that although called upon to suf-
fer for violation Of military law,
we die a soldiers death; and al
though we would rather have
died upon the field of battle,
fighting as we have done for our
beloved country, yet in dying thus
noignominy is attached toour death
and we cheerfllly yield our, lives
a sacrifice upon the altar of mill
tary order and discipline, without
which we could never hope to gain
the glorious liberty for which we
fight.
To our beloved mother and dear
sister, far away, a long heartfelt
farewell. The God of the widow
and the orphan will strengthen
them in this their hour of trial.
Dear mother and sister, we shall
meet in heaven-farewell.
And now to our companions IN
arms, our friends; Boys, do us JUS.
tice. Speak of us as you knew u.s.
We fought side by side with you
upon Potomac shores; and on the.
blood-stained field Of Manassas.
I We have mingled in, intimate
connection with you all for some.
months past, with some for years;
forgive ris all our faults as we SIN
icerely forgive all who have grieved
us. Look upon our death as a
means of salvation to our souls,
and a service to the cause in which
we have all been engaged. And
now, our dear companions and
friends, let us exhort you to alb
stain from liquor, act as we know
! rou Will. subordinate TO your su-