Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1862-04-01

Address of q Soldier Coz demned to be Shot.
Two soldiers, Michaei o Bren and Dennis Cor
coran, members Of the .sLouisiana Tigers, !" were
condemned to be shot for characterization. Be-
fore they Were shot, Dennis Corcoran addressed
his fellow soldiers. Hs address has been fur
nsheJ Us for publication by Mr.. ii. j. Digney, q
meaber OF the sanie company, aud IS as follows !:
Fellow SoLDI. RS We are standing upon the
brink Ut eternity In lew hours We Will have
entered the hidden my sterlos of an unknown
wo.ld May God IN His infinite mercy receive
our humble, heartfelt repentance as an atO0e-
ment Tor our past sins, aud may We, in the rem
teriDg up Of our lvcS, prove a benefit TO the
sous OF our companions, and lesson TO all to
GUARD against tue vice drunkenness. We are
TO suffer death iu vIudlcdtion OF laws outraged
while We were under the influence Of reason de-
stroying liquor. We acknowIed e the justice of
our sentence and from our hearts freely forgive
those whose sworn duty 1t Was to try our case,
and also all others who We're Instrumental in our
condemnation. Oh! brother soldiers, let this
our unexpected ana untime.y end prove warn
ing TO you and should it be the lneans OF saving
one of you from the soul-destroy ing vice, we
wh net have died vain Here we are to bid a
last adleu to cur beloved and brave otti ers-
Maj. e. Il. Wheat, Lieut.. T. W. Adrian, Lieut..
Edward Hewitt. hey have led US in the tlick-
est ot the fight, and as We speak these our last
words ot fa.ew I'll, We ask them to do justice to
our memories aud give Us soldiers epita.h.-
70 spiritual advisers We simply say, Father
Shoulders, Holy Father, through your instru-
MENTALITY, We have been led to seek pardon for
our sllls, and feel within that God, through
the int recession Of the blessed Saviour, will not
smut tile gates vi mercy against US. Father, with
our dying ureat, We bless thee, and when we
meet our Judge We Will bear witness of your la
uors our Dsnalf. We die good Catholics, plac-
:ng our reliance upon d Merciful God, whom We
hope will pardon all Our sins and permit us to
| chi y an eternity OF bliss.
One OF US has three brothers in the army, and
when they learn OF his utimey eud, let tn N think
that although called upon to suffer for viol ton
OF military law, we die soldiers death; and,
although would rather nave died upon the
field of Datiie, fighting, as We lave done, for our
beloved country, Yet IN dying thus no lgnomy is
attached to our DEATH aud cheerluily yield
our lives sacrifice upon the ait r OF military or
Der and discipline, without which We could never
hope to gain the glorious liberty for which we
light.
To our beloved mother an dear sister, far
way, a long, heartfelt farewell. Tue God of the
W dow and the orphan Will strenst then them in
this their hour Of trial. Dear mother and sister,
We shall meet in heaven-al ewell.
And now to our companions in arms, our
| friends Boys, do US Justice. Speak vi us as
you knew US. We fought side by side with you
upon Potomac shores aud the blood stained field
| vi Manassas. We have mingled III intimate CO
nectlon with you all ior some months past, with
| some for years; forgive US Tor all our laul
we sincerely forgive all who have gIIeved US.
LOuk upon cur death as a means OF salvation to
our souls, and service to he cause III which We
| have all been engaged. And now, our dear COM
panions and friends, let US exhort on to abstain
from liquor. Act as We know you will, lsuuoI di-
| nate to your officers, fight well the good fight,
and our dying prayers are for the triumph oi Lib
/ u,.d m. n.Ik
Hoy Father, officers, companions, brothers, SIS
| ter aud beloved mother, may meet US in That
bright and happy land where there is no war and
| no dying.