The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-09-11

head Of the former, and parallel with the
line in front. Here the prisoners advanced,
the chaplain still between them, and the
two former sat side by side upon the cot
fin, while the guard of honor halted at a
short distance.
ORDERS AND PRAYER
In moment Captain Wood dismounted
and stood between the rifemen and the
condemned. The latter stood up, and the
reading of all the orders took place. The
chaplain then read from the Scriptures the
fourth chapter of the Second Corinthians,
commencing with the seventeenth verse
and continuing to the fifth chapter and
sixth verse.
A short prayer then followed, Smith
taking off his cap and holding it reverent-
ly to the left side of the head while Hill
kept his on.
After this the chaplain shook both the
prisoners hands warmly and passed to the
right about ten PAGES.
THE PRISONERS BL1NDFoLDED.
Lieutenant Black now advanced with
two white handkerchiefs; approaching
Smith first, he commenced to bind one Of
them over his eyes, as 10th men laid their
caps upon the coffin. While Lieutenant
Black was thus engaged, Hill quietly un-
buttoned his coat, took it off and laid it
upon the ground. By this time the hand
kerchief was tied over Smiths eyes, and
Lieutenant Black commenced to fasten
the other over Hills, and whilst he was
doing this Smith unbuttoned and took off
his coat as calmly as the other.
THE EXECUTION OF THE SENTENCE.
The men now knelt before the collins,
when Lieut.. Black shook them by the
hand, and hastily turned few PAGES to
the left, at the same time giving the COM
mand, "Read y-aim"- then instantly,
before the word ''fire' could be given, the
rifles had belched forth their contents in
one report, and the same instant the two
unfortunate men fell forward, Smith on
the left and Hill on the right. The for
mer lay motionless on his back at full
length, with his arms partly folded over
his breast; the mouth opened and shut a
few times, heave and sigh followed,
and he was dead. Between the time that
Lieut.. Black shook him by the hand and
the firing of the volley, he raised both his
arms to heaven, and, casting up his face,
exclaimed twice, ooh! God, have mercy
upon us!" Hill said nothing that could
hear at this time.
" TO BE SHOT TO DEATH WITH MUsKETRY."
For a few seconds after the volley he
remained perfectly still, and, it being sup
posed that both were dead, the military
were about moving off, when he COM
menced to writhe, and This continuing for
over minute, one of the reserved Sharp
shooters was ordered up. He presented
his piece and shot him through the head,
the ball passing through, and causing the
brain to ooze out on the grass He still
continued writing, when the other was
ordered to fire. He did so, and another
ball passed through his head and, strange
as it may seem, it was full two minutes
before life was extinct
And now will close with warning to
those now in the army and those who may
enter it. Take Smiths advice, "Do not
desert, no matter what your intentions
are tor doing So" for the sentence for de-
sertion is always death.
Though nearly every deserter that is
known up to the present time has been re-
prieved, it has now become the duty and
determination of all officers to inflict upon
deserters and others the full punishment
of the sentence.
To the substitutes who have before de-
serted, have only to say that they are
running fearful risk. There is a constant
search for these men in the army, and
once recognized their fate is sealed; for
no one has any sympathy or mercy for
those who have once deserted and again
enter the army as substitutes. Their SIN
tence is death and no reprieve