The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-12-26
MILITARY EXECUTION AT, PORT ROYAL,
SOUTH CAROLINA. +

g. r pts-As3E 81 " LLlfg19- Z OH
HmroN HEAD, Dec. i, 8e2.-Private
VIM. W. Lunt, of company I, Ninth Maine
Volunteers, met the, just fate Of deserter
at noon to-day. In the presence of the
entire command he paid with his life the
fearful forfeit of his folly and his crime.
The offence, in punishment for which
private Lunt was this day ignominiously
shot to death, was committed at Fernan-
dina, Florida, on the 9TH of April last.
Leaving the picket station where he had
been posted, he crossed over to the rebel
lines and gave himself into the hands of
the enemy. Undoubtedly he revealed to
them the whereabouts of our forces, for but
few nights subsequent to his escape,
party of rebels surrounded dwelling oc-
cupied by Union pickets, killing one and
capturing seven or eight Of the number,
and the movements of the enemy were
thenceforward directed with an evident
knowledge Of our locality.
The spot selected for the execution was
an open field, outside the int enchments,
about quarter of mile from the south
Gill l1CIC vi OcIl
Terry was drawn up in line, the flank bat
lions being wheeled inward, thus forming
three sides of square. In the centre the
General and staff, with many other
prominent officers, were stationed, and op-
posite this point the procession halted. At
sign from Captain Eddy the condemned
man alighted, the coffin was placed upon
the ground, and the prisoner took his seat
upon it. Then, while the assemblage list
ened with uncovered heads, Lieutenant
Galiaher, Adjutant of the Provost Guard,
read the death-warrant of the doomed
man. As he concluded, Major Van Brunt
addressed the prisoner, informing him that
nothing now remained but to carry out the
sentence of the military tribunal, but that
few moments were yet spared to him, in
which he was at liberty to make such re-
marks as he saw fit. After moments
hesitation the prisoner rose slowly to his
feet, and looking around upon the military
array, exclaimed
Fellow-soders, want you all to take warn
ing by me, and seek the Lord before it is too
late. l am not guilty Of the crime am char
ged with, and for which I am condemned to
death.
Everything was now ready for the last
sad scene. The prisoner, in compliance
with Major Van Brunt's request, removed
his hat and coat and knelt upon his coffin.
With white bandage the sunlight was for
ever shut from his eyes, Chaplains Butts
willingness to die, took kindly leave of
him, and with the Provost Marshal he
exchanged last farewell. Calmly folding
his hands, lie awaited the swift messengers
OF death. At signal from the Provost
Marshal to ''nake ready the clear, sharp
click of the muskets freighted the air with
ominons sound. At q wave of Capt. Ed
dy's sword the firing party took their aim,
and az the spoken command, Fire."
twelve pieces were simultaneously dis
charged. As if by magic appeared upon
his breast the marks of the deadly slugs
for q single instant his form was poised,
and then the dead body of private Lunt
fell heavily forward. His death was in
Simultaneous. He uttered no sound, and
made no motion after he fell, save the
simple expiration Of air from the lungs,
which nature requires when any life is
taken.
The twelve men whose pieces had been
discharged fell back, and their places were
occupied by a reserve Of equal strength
Happily there was no need Of their ser
vices. As soon as the surgeons in atten-
dance had pronounced life extinct he was
placed in his coffin, and borne in the pres
ence of his command to the ambulance,
which was at once removed to the place
Of burial. Then, with many sigh of re-
lief, the troops formed in column, and
marching slowly over the spot where he
fell, returned to their camps.
Thus ended the second execution for the
crime of de ertion from our army since the
present war began. 1t has melted a Just
punishment for an offence which, although
the most henious in time of war, is new
ertheless painfully frequent among our
forces.
To Major Van Brunt great credit is due
for the admirable system with which the
execution was conducted. Every arrange
ment was perfect. From the prison to the
field no word was spoken. The regula-
tons prescribe no form on an occasion of
the kind, and in the details of the sad duty
the Provost Marshal was left to follow
such customs as tradition had preserved,
or to exercise his own discretion. The
COuf CHtlOuoA CCl CIuOhy VI ming CuO SOl-
diers past the dead body were dispensed
with, and the troops who had been COM
PEELED to witness the shooting of their for
mer comrade were spared this painful spec
tacle. As it was, lieutenant, who COM
manded one of the companies on the
ground, tainted as the fatal volley was
discharged. The usual custom of loading
one of the twelve muskets with blank
cartridge was adhered to, as the possibility
that the piece SO charged may be in his
own hands gives to each soldier more nerve
and greater confidence than he would
otherwise possess.
1t will be remembered that at the exc
cution of Private johnson, for similar
crime, at Alexandria last year, through the
nervousness of the firing party the criminal
was not killed at the first volley; and in
the absence of any reserves it was neces-
sary for the Provost Marshal to execute the
sentence with his own pistol. Private
Lunt, on the contrary, received nine
u-oupJc M Loco %boy, aipbf Of which wprn