The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-01-10
Execution Of Lanaghan for tho Muir der
Of Major Lewis.


Of Major Lewis.
FREDERICK, Dec. 28.-The approval oil
the sentence of court martial in the case oil
Lanaghan, for murder, the order for his
execution and the date thereof were forward
ed by Gen. Mcclellan on Thursday last,
requiring from Gen. Banks only to name
the place and the hour. The gallows was
planned and erected by carpenter from
Baltimore, who has had experience in such
matters.
The circumstances of the murder were
as follows The forty. sixth Pennsylvania
Regiment was on its way from Washington
to Pleasant Hill.
At Rockville several of the soldiers pro.
cured liquor and became intoxicated. AT
Muddy Branch, Lanaghan, being under the
influence of liquor, had quarrel, and Maj.
Lewis ordered him to be tied to the rear of
wagon. During the progress of the
march Lanaghan got united, and taking a
loaded musket from one of his comrades,
swore he would shoot the Major. The lat
ter, being in advance, heard of his release
and rode to the rear, where he met Lana,
CHAN and ordered him to give up the gun.
Lanaghan took aim and shot Ma jor Lewis
through the heart as he was in the act of
dismOunting.
During his confinement, before and after
the trial, your correspondent had free access
to the prisoner, and paid him frequent Wis,
its. From the first he was calm and re.
signed to his fate, and being fully sensible
of the enormity of bis crime, and equally
willing to expiate it by his death. BY the
kind ministrations of Father Dougherty, of
rockville, he embraced the promises OF the
Saviour, and protested assurances that be
would be forgiven in Heaven.
visited him an hour before his execu.
ton. His confessor was with him. On my
entering, be advanced, with cheerful smile
right hand
Lanaghan-Good morning, Mr.. -,
am glad to see you. You have not been
here for long time.
Correspondence have been absent on the
Upper Potomac for several days.
Lanaghan--I thought you were away.
(Smilingly) My hour has come.
Correspondent--SO | am sorry to bear,
John. l wish it could have been otherwise.
Are you all right here? (placiDg my hand
on his hearty
Lanaghan--By the love of God. am. I
am not sorry to die now. owe it to God
and man and cannot be better prepared.
Death is only change from one state to
another and takes but moment.
Correspondent--Is there anyth ing you
wish to say to the world through the press?
Lanaghan-But very little. committed
the murder, and am willing to die for it.
Say to the people pray tor peace. pray
for them as hope they do for me. die
in peace
After requesting me to be present at his
execution, l bade him final adieu. Dur
ing the whole interview he spoke in firm
but subdued tone. Not muscle or nerve
quivered, but a cheerful smile at times lit
up bis countenance. The beauties of reli-
gion and repentance never were more beau.
tifully developed.
At noon Lanaghan was placed in CO.
vered wagon, with his spiritual adviser and
his coffin. He walked out with firm step,
and took his seat with but slight assistance.
The procession was formed as follows:
The Provost Marshal and Assistant Provost
Marshal.
Band of the Wisconsin Third.
A Platoon of the Provost Guard,
Wagon with the Prisoner and Priest
Platoon of the Provost Guard.
Hack with the Executioner in Disguise.
The Wisconsin Third.
The Third Brigade, General Williams, to
which Lanaghan's regiment is attached, was
upon the ground. Lanaghan viewed the
preparations without the slightest apparent
emotion, and assembled the scaffOld with an
unfaltering step.
The Adjutant of the Provost Marshal
read aloud the charges and specifications on
which he was tried; the finding and sen.
tence of the court-martial; the approval
and the order for his execution by the Com.
mander.in- Chief. The priest then repeated
brief prayer. The Assistant Provost
Marshal inquired if he had anything to say.
He replied: mo, 1 have nothing to say, 1
am ready to die"
The cap was drawn over his face, and the
rope adjusted on the neck by the execu.
toner. Those on the platform then de.
scended, and on the signal by the Provost
Marshal the executioner pulled the spring
and the drop fell. A slight contraction of
the muscles Of the arms and legs was the
only motion that indicated the departure of
life. His neck was broken.
So calm was his death, and so systemati-
cally had all the arrangements been perfec>
ted and executed, that the solemn scene was
Invested of its usual attendant horrors.
Not shudder was noticed in the vast
crowd OF spectators and soldiers.
From early in the forenoon until an hour
after the execution, and particularly at the
solemn moment, the heavens seemed waging
war upon the earth. A freezing wind, with
snow and hail, chilled the bodies, and almost
blinded the eyes of all present.
Lanaghan's cody was taken charge of by
bis Catholic friends, to await the arrival of
his relatives.
From Fortress Monroe.
RELEASED PRISONERS ARRIVING.