The new South. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1862-1867, 1862-12-06
EXECUTION OF A SOLDIER.

PhlN ATE Nhs W. LCSIS NlNlh hAlSt<y yS1<t<k ~ hno1
SHOT FOR observation-disclosures or TIKI TRAGIC
seENE--LAsr WORDS OF TaE PRTseESR, &c, &c.
The awful doom presc, bed by military law for
the crime of desertioa to the en- my was this
morning meted to William W. Lunt, late private
in Co. /, 9th Maine Volunteers. The offence WAS
committed in Florida soon after the occupation oI
that place in April last by the United States
and the prisoner was returned to our lines by the
rebels on the ground that man who would desert,
could not ba trusted at ALL and they sent him back,
hoping that any of their soldiers who should act In
q similar manner, would receive like treatment at
our hands. OF course while there was no in
tention OF following the enemy's suggestions in
this respect nothing left but to take the prs-
oner, who was soon afterwards tried before Court
Martial convened at St. Augustine, of which Gen.
Terry, (then Colonel of the 7th Conn. Regt) was
President, upon the following charges and speci-
fcations:
CHARGE 1-Dssri,n.- n.-SpeoiA caHon-In this, that the
ssid private William w. Lunt, Company o. 9th Maine
alleged crime was committed, did desert from the U. s.
Army. and go the enemys lines without arms and ac-
coutements This at Fsrnandina, Fa on or eoout the
CHANGE n-Haaway R0ss:ry.- -specihcaton-In this,
that the sad william W Lant Company 9th Maine
NJ sd running from FernAndna TO Baldwin, Fla. did forci
bly, take from Miss Ellen Manning money 70 the amount
at Fernandina Fla OF or about the Sth OF April 1852.
OF both the charges and their specifications
Lunt was found guilty and he was sentenced &c to
be sot to death al such time and place as the Cem-
naming General may direct
In accordance with an act Of Congress-, passed
at its lasts ession requiring that the IN
cases of condemnation for capital offence shah
De submitted to the President before the execution
Of the ntence, the evidence and findings of the
Court were forwarded to Washington. Within
two weeks Gen Brannan received an order from
the War Department to the effect that the proceed
ings of the court had been approved by the Pres
dent and directingthat the sentence should be ex-
ecuted
There was then no further hope, and Monday,
Dec was decided upon as the day for carrying
out the decree of tn, military tribunal.
Lunt, for some weeks, had been an inmate Of
cell in the prison of the Provost Marshal at Hilton
Head, having been brought up from st. Augustine
last September, but as soon as his fate was decided
he was placed in separate tent by Major Van
Brunt, the Provost Marshal, in order that he might
fit himself for the great change soon to come over
him. From his own confession, the prisoner had
been areckless, wayward youth, comm ting crimes
which had brought him into the meshes of the law,
and up to the time when his certain doom was an
nounced, he gave no evidences of repentance, even
for day afterwards speaking lightly of his fast.
approaching end. Soon, however, through the
earnest mnistrations of Chaplain Butts of the 47th
New York Volunteers, who from the first took
christian pastor interest in the case, the unhappy
man was brought to seek the consultations of reli-
gion, and for the past few days became feren
creature. Realizing bis condition, he prayed for
the forgiveness of God, and died protesting his
faith in the mercy of the Almighty.
During the last four days he preserved remark
able composure Of mind, acknowledging his readi-
ness !, die and expressing himself at peace with
himself and the entire world. Fromirst to last he
persisted in-deelaring his innocence Of the crime
of desertion, asserting that he had been sent out
side our lines by one Of his superior officers, upon
an improper errand, and while in the performance
of his mission was c,ptured by squad of the enc.
my scavalry. The witnesses upon whose testimo-