, 1863-03-31
EXECUTION OF A DESERTER.
SHOOTING A DESERTER AND
TRAITOR.
The First Execution for a Like
0Gense in the West.
A TERRIBLY IMPRESSIVE SCENE.

Robert Gay, member OF company - f19s
Court Martiui, near Camp Morton, in this
civ. for desertion. We believe this Is the
tirst EXECUTION for such an ofense, Or any null
Va1y oHensc, in the West: and the near ap.
proach @ ot tie limit of le1licncy & extended led by
re President to deserters, rs well as the co.
1e'nnity Of the occasion itself, makes 1t pecu-
ifarly Impressive and important. Ine oraer
Of EXECUTION sets forth the offensc, and the
action Of the Court and authorities, 50 fully
tfot ne need do no more than reproduce 1t
here.
GENERAL ORDERS No. o.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT or THE Omo.}
C1Sc1SSAT1, March q, 1868.
At the General Court Martial which convened at
Indianapolis, Ind, on the 9Th day Of December,
eeber e. is o tIeae neaaquarefs ed and
OF which Brevet Brig Gen. Hens, Van Rensselaer,, |
lnspeeto5 GeHe1a! s = s Army is President was
D, 71St Regiment Indiana Volunteers.
Chdrge-Dceertton.
Stec.Hcation-In this that Private Robert Gay, |
aer@e1f r 5sns P n d d eastsa
nittesed into the service OF the United States,
did, on Or about the 9Th dag CT Sep
regiment, md the service of the United Sstatss,
aud did take the oath Of allegiance to serve the enc
ny, towit: the Confederate States eo-ealled, and
or oppoHers whomaoyer. All this at or near Rich
mond, Ky., on OF about the 9Th day Of September,
5sSsa t. wPise eh,5ee and specification the prisoner
Finding and senf<ncs.-The Court finds the
prisoner guilty az .eha5ged aaa does therefore sen
71st Regiment led. Vols. TO bc shot to death, at
such time and place as shall be fixed upon By the
Major General Commandins the Department Of the
Ohio, twothir1s Of lhe members OF the Court con-
| curing therein.
This case, which was referred for the action Of
! the President Of the United States, having been
returned for fNh1 nrtinn unfHr fhn Hf
passed at its recent session. authorizing the pun
ish1aent awarded 70 those found guilty Of being
tkc approval Of the Commanding General IN the
| field, the finding and sentence approved; and
| the sentence that Private Robert Qey, Of Compsuy
| D, list Regiment Indiana Volunteers, Be shot to
death, will b. carried into execution On Friday,
the eth day Of March instant. under the directions
of The officer in command Of the Post At Indian-
Major Gen. Wright.
It may not be improper to add that Gays
confession Of bis guilt does not convey full
idea Of its hcinousness. III. requested the
privilege Of taking the oath If allegiance to
the Confedcr.cy, and came back i4omc with
the written oath sewed into his clothes for
perfect concealment, showing that he knew
exactly the nature of his act and the impor-
tance Of evadiDg detection. When arrested,
Gen. Carripgton searched him and found the
fatal document concealed in the leg Of his
paptaloone. There is. therefore, no room for
=
fully guilty, and fearfully has he cxpiated his
crime. He was NIL intelligent man, and Of
fair attainmente. He was, Consequently, en-
titled to less consideration than an Ignorant
or stupid man who might be supposed to
know less Of the real nature Of his ot1ensc.
In bis last speech he urged in cxtcnuation Of
his conduct that his health untitled him for
soldiers duties, and he was at that moment,
just on the brink Of death, in better health
than he had ever been in his life. uc said he
I g. 1-5.1 Ina t.4n 1Rr$rv
oath of allegiance to the Coufcderacy In order
that he might not, as parolcd prisoner, be
exchanged md forced to return to the service,
but get a chance to stay at home. His guilt
he admitted, but said 1t was the result Of
thougLt1essness, and not Of deliberate pur-
pose TO desert his country, and VIC may chari-
tally allow that he told tic truth, without in
the least imrairirg the justice Of his sentence
aud death.
HIS LAST HOURS AND HIS coMrosrRE.
Some days previous to his execution GAY
was sent from the Soldiers Home, where he
had been kept after his sentence, to the county
1ail. His conduct, both in the guard house
: learn, was unexceptionable. He was visited
il the latter place with comnendable zeal By
! the Chal]Iin uf his regiment, Rev. Mr. Grif'
it'll. and YESTERDAY, previous to his departure
10 the scene Of the execution, lie was attend
cd by Rev. Mr.. Day, Of the Baptist Church
marked and good effect, as he frc4ucntl,
l spoke with great feeling to his fellow prison
! cls Of their way Of life, and the necessity o
reformation. Deputy Sheriff Cramer in
G them all, including several 'sstreet walkers
5 Of the yilcst class, around him, and spoke 81
+ feryent}y and forcjbly that he moved them Il
: tears. Even those abandoned, but We ma.
! hope not lost, women, gave way freely t
: feelings that must have long been strangers tt
:. ffrfr han+4A ennvarsn1 rIurh 11nfTf
d 1igion with all visitors, and with the officer
) Of the Jail, and expressed his trust II
e the mercy Of the Almighty, and hi
: hope Of salvation. He was taken from jai
i in close car fiagc to the ground. On his va,
t out hc retained his composure- completely
+ conycrscd freely about his conduct and life
and seemed quite cheerful Once he looke'
out Of the coach window, and, turning, with
If should jump out Of the door, could escop
!. | from yon?" :" rather think not" said th
. officer, and he went on with his conversation
IS THIS composurc he retained to the last, and
# formed d striking--we had almost said won
e derfnl-featuTe Of the terrible scene. Whe
e taken out Of the carriage and walked to th
IS place Of execution, as he stood before the fl
ri If men who were to kill him, he showed n
p mark Of trepidation. Indeed, SO pezfectl
@ uErEflcd his features, that several spectator
ar never knew that lie was the doomed man III
if His dying speech was uttered without IN
" treIuulonsness Of tone, and without any (
ID that incebtrence which the most inteliiget
ID | nltn If cn exhibit under such circumstance
It His voice was clear and distinct, his wore
- / utnally well chosen, and his sentences VIC
r. constructed. His itleas never became confuses
er II it WAS not wonderful selfcontrol, it WE
us | insensibility to death equally wonderful
he such man. So perfect was his self-ulastcr.
ed or Indifference, that It WAS not til he $
a. ~ !,
b. he was about to die. His calmncss seemed
ri dissipate the sense Of peril entirely, and
ne required all effort, after looking at his stcat
C. eye, pale, unmoved face. aud unchangi1
attitude. TO bring back the appallil
9oxd Tf 20 oreS I'll ns na peah s
lst the very act Of snatching that man fro
ng earth. Even when he sat down on his cof11
nc and the Sergeant Major was blindfoldi1
ito him, he calmly drew bis knees up so as to 5
he steadied himself on his terrible seat, as il
W was fixing M attitude for photograph. I
ed heard the clicking Of the cocks Of tic guns
lse the firing party. preparatory to their feagt
n duty, but cren then, though not second l.
between him and eternity, his audible pray
,;s | Voice or limb. We have heard Of composu
ys. and calmness in the face Of death, often, b
..re we never saw such an exhibition Of 1t betol
he and We doubt if the world can show NC
IT. remarkable one.
in TIE PREPARATIONS.
ter The preparations for the execution were
g, | mirab1y made, both by Gen. burlington q
ne [ Col Bidd1c. In few minutes after the arran!
10 ments were completed, the esd came up vi
an an drums beating, and marching right past
ne carriage containing the prisoner, who lean
&C. his head partially out Of the window to wat
x X them, formed on the south side Of the squa
lie Tue cavalry were placed On the outside Of
63d, and the artillery on the west and moi
| sides. Thus = compact mass Of soldiers Of
en-. | nrme was formed, leaving little vacant 50:
nst in The middle, with the feanully suggest
Ire opening at the eastern side. No time was Il
lck af!er the preparations we're completed.
md THE EXECUTION.
,ieS The coffin Of plain, black walnut, with q
,1,a lid was brought out and laid in the open
~ ~ Of the square some distance up towards
@ n;s c, ntre, An officer stepped of slowly
m s|aee Of some twenty five or thirty feet fl
Nv the coffin to fix the line to be occupied by
mi firing party, and then the south western au
~ Of the square opened aud the firing pa
Of twenty men, two from each compal
na' chcd in and formed in two ranks on t
ght line. The spectators inside the square mo,
rlcs oyer to the Left Of the line. The soldiers,
the passive is statues, changed no featuIe or III
on. Gle, but all seemed to draw long breath
I it fonr men walked in at the open space, 9
stood in front Of the coffin. Tie one on
}. right carried a small cord, and band
black cloth, In bis hands, and was the s
was to bind and blindfold the prisoner. S
ces- ! to him was the prisoner, SO uumored, :
ern calm, that everybody had to ask (which
| the r1rfsnuer 4ss