The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-10-10

EXECUTION OF GUERRILLAs.-The cores
pondent of the St Louis Republican at Macon
City, Mo-, has the following account of the re-
cent execution of ten guerrillas there:-
"On the 25th, one hundred and fory-four of
the Harris House prisoners were shipped by
railroad TO st. Louis, for imprisonment during
the war; and on the day following, Friday, ten
Of those left-the most depraved of the gang
were shot as Il punishment for their crimes,
and an example and warning to others of
their kind that are still at large. The ceremo-
MES attending this execution were exceeding
ly impressive. On the morning of the 25th,
the condemned were separated from their COM
rades, and confined in a freight car on the
Hannibal and st. Joseph railroad, and were at
the same time informed of the doom that
awaited them. They knew that they could not
inTeason hope for pardon, nor for anything in
fact short OF the punishment due for the triple
crime OF treason, perjury and murder. Every
man of them had for the third time been cap
tured while engaged in the business of robbery
and assassination among his own neighbors.
And all of them had twice, some of them three,
and others had four times made solemn oath
to bear faithful allegiance to the federal gov
ernment, to never take up arms in behalf OF the
traitors cause, but in all respects to deport
themselves as true and loyal citizens of the
United States. And every man of these ten
traitors had perjured himself as often as he
had subscribed to that oath. and at the same
time his hands were red with repeated mur-
ders.
"At IL A. M. on Friday, the procession was
formed, and the silent multitudes, civil and
military, moved at the signal of the muiiled
drum, toward the field of execution. The ex-
ecutioners were detailed from the 23d Missouri
infantry, and numbered sixty-six men. They
marched six abreast, with prisoner in the
rear of each file. A hollow square, or rather
parallellogram, was formed on slightly de-
clining prairie, a half mile south of the village
The executioners formed the south line of this
square, the balance of the Missouri 23d the
east and west lines, and Merrill's house the
north The executioners were divided off into
firing parties of six for each prisoner, leaving
reserve OF six that were stationed few PAGES
In the rear Gen. Merrill and staff were sta
TONED close within the northeast angle of the
square. The firing parties formed complete
line, but were detached about two PAGES from
each other. Each prisoner was marched out
ten PAGES in front, and Immediately south of
his six executioners. This order having been
completed, the prisoners were severally blind
ed with bandages of white cloth, and were
then required to kneel for the terrible doom
that awaited them. At this time every tongue
was silent, and nothing was more audible than
the heart throbs of the deeply moved and sym
pathizing multitude.
Ks At signal from the commanding officer
DIR. Lands then stepped forward and address
ed the Throne of Grace. His prayer was the
utterance of pitying heart, BRIEF but eloquent
and impressive. 1t was an earnert appeal for
pardoning mercy for those who were about to
step into the presence of their Maker And
then followed the closing scene of this impress
sive drama The prisoners remained kneeling,
while sixty muskets were pointed at their pal
pitating hearts. What fearful pause and o,
how brief! The signal is given, and the fatal
volley discharged. Behold the awful change!
moment since those ten men stood before
us in the perfection of life Alas what and
where are they now? Every lip is dumb
every eye is dim. every beam of intelligence
Is faded out forever! What swift exit from
time to eternity.