The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-10-02

mercy and compassion upon him-to for
give him tie error and transgression of his
past life-to accept his death in atonement
and when his soul parted from his BODY to
receive it into His heavenly kingdom. He
earnestly invoked a blessing upon his
father and mother, his brothers and sisters.
upon all who knelt with them in prayer.
and upon all mankind.
Elliot next made public profession of
his faith as an EpiscopaliaD, and then, with
upllfted eyes and clasped hands, poured
forth his soul in gushing prayer. The chap
lains then joined them in prayer, and con-
cluded by reciting the Lord s prayer.
Some dinner was now brought to them.
Eastman refused taking any. Elliot ate a
little. The fatal hour was now approach
ing, as the sentence was to be carried out
before four o'clock p. NJ, and it was now
within half an hour of the time. The door
was thrown open, and the two prisoners,
leaning on the chaplains' arms, walked to
the ambulance that was to carry them to
execution.
THE PROCESSION.
From our elevated position we could
plainly see the troops forming in line
around the graves. The roar of the can
non along the Rapidan seemed to chant
their death dirge.
The procession now formed. In front
was the band of the 18th Connecticut,
playing the dead march; after these the
shooting party of sixteen, selected from
the Provost Guard of the Division, and
belonging to the Tenth New York bat
talon.
After these followed the coffin bearers,
eight conscripts of the First Delaware.
Next, the ambulance bearing the prison.
ers, the chaplains and myself. followed by
4 guard.
The procession moved along slowly and
solemnly, the prisoners all the time read
ing the Testament or cOnversing with the
chaplains.
AS the Third brigade was out on picket
duty, only the First and Second were pres
ent. They were drawn up in the following
order: The Second bri gade formed two
lines of the square, while the First formed
the other line.
As the procession reached the square,
the prisoners alighted from the ambulance
and the band fell to the rear. Here the
bearers took up the coffins on their shout
ders, in front Of the prisoners. The pris-
oners cast a timid, troublous look at the
collins, and then moved on, leaning on the
chaplains. The collins were placed beside
the two graves, which were dug about five
feet deep. The Rev. Mr.. Murphy ad-
dressed the prisoners and the troops pres
ent in feeling language, exhorting all to
join in prayer to God to have mercy on
the two souls so soon to appear in His
presence. He strongly exhorted others to
take warning by the tragic fate of the
prisoners, and not desert their country's
service, and then baptized the prisoner
Eastman.
The Rev. Mr.. Stevens knelt down, tax
ing each Of the men by the hand, they and
the Rev. Mr.. Murphy knelt beside him
and joined in fervent prayer. Capt Fields
now came up and bandaged the prisoners
eyes. Elliot sat back on his coffin; East
man knelt in prayer. His voice was aud
ible above the click and sound of the guns
as they were brought to "present." The
word fire " having been given, Elliot fell
back gently on his coffin, only wounded,
while Eastman jumped up and tore the
bandage from his eyes, evidently I'M
touched. The reserve was ordered up.
Eastman appeared as if electrified, and
placed his hands before his eyes to shut
out the horrid sight. The men again
missed. The Provost Marshal during this,
in mercy, pulled out his revolver and shot
him through the head; he also fired an
other bali through Elliot's head. After
the two unfortunate men were pronounced
lifeless the troops were marched by the
corpses. The Provost Guard had some
conscript prisoners in charge, and as they
passed the bodies they were seen to change
color and tremble.
hope this fearful lesson will be warn
ing to those misguided men who can
shrink from the duty they owe their coun-
try nv the base AFT Of 6aSortion