Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1863-02-13
A MILITARY EXECUTION.

Inc name OF the cuprit was Michael
Bryant of tho G3d Regiment of North
Carolina Cavalry, his age, about thirty
six; and his offence dcscrtion, not, how
ever, to the ranks of the enemy. Ares
ted he was duly tried by Court Martial,
and 1t being necessary that an example
should be made to check growing evil in
the army, he was sentenced to be s'shot to
DEATH 1t was not until the morning of
his execution that the poor felow}became
aware of the day or hour that ws to ter
inmate his career, but he ha$ evidently
been prepared for the crisis, $d when the
fact was announced, it FELL fupon heart
nervcd to brave death csEe in villa, shape
him.
Reach 'g the plx orcxecution, which
WAS in IA field adfning the encampment
Of his old commj1d, the cortcge halted in
front Ola on6ous looking black coan,
behind which was stake. The sxsrL a.
lighted, and the prisoner, stropxSnd buoy.
ant as if | G was the least a,vsny the actors
Of the drama, also leaps<hyhtlr from the
vehicle and took l,S>fsa' up il the narrow
box that was x9IsSon to enclose him for
ever. A/>sfi:er then advanced and
eonn1|Ah' by the aths firmly with his
0k to.tLe stake. now had an oppor-
tun'ty OF observing the prisoner more close
~. lie was clad in an evpry day suit Of
citizens clothes, with4iis pantaloons car care.
iess'y tucked in tre top Of lis>5oots and as
be sat there, watsbiadansfe Preparations for
the tragedy, losJapSn the faces of his
Old mra1sssWith whom he had been as
socia.sJ'@ esppaml fell, alone and help
less'S%ith the agony of death so near. and
eternity alren{y-opcning to his vision, tue
acc"test obssztN would have failed ,otds
'ect the fa'ntcstfld;cations of treuor on
his person. Stern, strong, calm ka statue
he wai,ed'uhia The regiment, ~ foot, was
filed into position before l,I.
Alter lapse of five OIL. minutes, came
the squad Of twelve. VT were to ac, as
his exec"'ioners, anY stood twelve PAGES
distant. The Alntsnt of the Regimen,
'hc'' ;dvanc e>Land read the verdict orlhe
court "a1IM. This done, one of the
guard 9sp' cached to Tie handkerchief
oveIthc face of the prisoner. Then, for
~ h'>t time did notice anything in his
gearing which seemed to Indicate that he
was not already totally dead 10 feeling.
glance Of his eyes to the Heavens, AS if
he was invoking Divine mercy, n barely
perceptiolc change Of countcnancc aE1 an
expression OF un"ttcrablc sadness, lHL Of a
'earlnl struggle that was going onywi.hin.
"A moments pause, and the otlicsr in COM
m""d, in a low tone, gave ,Il order, Il.
l'e"dy aim twelve rifles sly with blank
cartridges, were bearing on Ac prisoner $
heart and the click Of 'hsTwolve triggers
left e', |" but " second bs'w1% life and dsa'h.)
Hardly had the %o,1:crc1 word ;s.no5
from the lips whSf the boIy Of the unfor-
t""a'e mao, pikccl by six balls, s!runk
eonvu'slvely from the shock, Tie head
dropped upon the breast. and dep sigh
told Of aYebbing life. The Surgeon ofthe
regiment now advanced to feel the pulse,
and atthe sane instant the Colonel es-
cl"'med,' Attention. II.lf a mute hid
already elapsed, but at that word the ,dy.
ing man raised his bandaged head, and, rs
II he was piercing through the da<kncss to
take a last long look a, the fYafng world,
slowly turned i, from side no side. Then
dropping it upon his LrszA, it rested there
for several secoOds, w|,ke the awc-stricken
spectators looked OF with a silence that
was disturbed offy by the rustliny wind,
Again it arose and fell, and again, and
gain, updl finally the short spasnodic
gaspE succeeded by Il deathlike reposc
showed that the soul cf the. deserter had
fe!urncd to the God who gave it.
On examining the body, found that one
ball had entered at the base Of the nA
Two 'he ieit and three the right side. The
collin was then orened, the body evelosed,
"nd' in half an hour, all remained IF Mich.
aei Bryant was six fee'uuder ground.
The following general order af the SUBJ
Ject las been published to da{
HEADQUARTERS CAvALRY1BR,c ADE,
January IL 1af3
General Orlcr.l
1t becomes the painful lduty of the
General Commanding to ANNOUNCE to his
brigade that yesterday, th l4th inst, in
accordance with The sentet tce of the Court
Martial: Michael Bryant, Company D, ,e3d
regiment North Carolina Cavalry, was shet
to death for desertion. He did not desert.
to the, enemy. He COZ [mittsd. no greater
offence than scores Of is brigade, now at
their homes o;,as co,I,;,,;,.s