Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-10-18
Military RxeeutioD in ggi,.opri.

a Missouri army correspondent of one Of the
Northern journals gives the following particu-
lars Of the murder of some partisans IN that
State
HUDSON, No, September 29.-After looking
around through very clean camp of some blue
capped recruits, and 8 very dirty camp Of an
old regiment WIN had been at Shiloh, 1 returned
to the headquarters, where I found the general
and his stat Just mounting, to &c to the sXsou-
ton ground. Presently came she solemn roll Of
the muttted drum, and then, appeared the head
OF q column Of soldiers moving over the hill st
slow pace. Going toward them, ] found it
was the execution party, with the CONDEMNED
men. First, the prisoneTs-hsrd, desperate
looking faces, yet showing intellgenee-then,
iie OF soldiers, six abreast, and so on down the
column, until the rear was brought up By the
regiment of infantry, the recruits, and soms
cavalry, clad in homsspun, that but for their
arms, should have supposed ware secssh pris-
onefs, but found they were militia Of Missouri,
called cut by their governor to put down guer-
rillss
The execution ground was about halt a mile
from the town, and when reached there found
the troops drawn up on thrse sides Of q square,
while the fourth was occupied by the condemned
sad the firing parties. long line of mounted
sentiHels kept back the too curious crowd but
word from the polite little major, who had previ-
oasly seen me at the headquarters, admitted me,
and / took my placs near the general and bis
staff, IN one corner Of the square. After some
time occupied ia the preliminary preparations,
the pris ner was bIindf0lded and knelt in ffent
Of his own execution party. A venerable look
ing grey beaded chaplain nov stepped out from
smOHg the stsa, aud IL a short, ferVeEt prayer,
commended the souls of these poor wretehes TO
the mercy Of the God before whom they would
shortly appear. Everything was stiil as death.
The perfect hush, il I may say so, was painfully
distinct, and I could see, even under the grave,
stern face Of The general a softening look, as if
he was still struggling between duty and mercy.
For a moment the silence was awful then
came the clear tone IF command of the officer
of the day Ready j" ''aim," ''frer rattllug
discharge puff of smoke a groan; aud ali
was over. Tie ten had paid the penalty of
their broken Oaths. For a moment al was
hushsd, as before, and then you could almost
hear the long drawn breath Of relief The
bright sun sL0ne as calmly and clearly IS be-
fore, but shOne on ten cUrses stiff and stark,
where moment before were ten men in the full
Aush OF physical health.
A surgeon stepped from the lines and walked
along, examing each body as be passed, then
stepped mp TO the general, with a stiff military
salute, "They are al dead, sir" "Very well,
sir" Not change Of muscle, not the slight
est relaxation Of that outward stsTnness, the
same gTimmaGe and yet l thought, a moment
ago, you might have saved their lives. Truly,
here Is a msn whose sense Of duty would carry
iio through anything, and felt disappointed
that he exhibited no more feeling. But mo
ment after, as he turned to mount his horse,
heard him say to one of his staff, "God in msr-
cy spare me such duty as that again, and Jet
mercy t. those men is the hardest cruelty to the
whole people of the State"