The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-04-10

From the indianapolis Sentinel, March %.


the list Indiana Regiment, to be E'shot to
death" at such time and place as the Gen.
eral commanding the Department of the
Ohio might direct, was carried into effect
yesterday afternoon at o'clock, on the
parade ground in the rear of Burnside
Barracks. ,.i,... ..ft
The time fixed for the execution was
known to but few, and yet it did leak out,
and great many citizens were present.
There was no rush or jam, as there would
have been had it been generally known,
but, in addition to the soldiers on and off
duty, several hundred spectators of the
awful tragedy were present.
The list Regiment, to which the unfor-
tunate man belonged, first marched out to
the parade ground, and formed on three
sides of a square, the opening to the east.
The cavalry drew up in line on one side,
and battery Of artillery on the other.
The troops had hardly formed when a
carriage, followed by squad of cavalry,
was seen approaching. A coffin was lifted
from an express wagon and placed at the
east or open end of the square, and fir
ing party Of twenty men took position
about twenty PAGES to the west of it, fac
ing east. The carriage drove in, and
Sheriff Robinson, the prisoner, and two
others got out. The officer commanding
the firing party read the finding and sem
tence of the court, the approval by the
President, and the order of Gen. Wright
to carry the sentence into effect between
the hours of 2 and 5 o'clock, on Friday,
the 9th day Of March, 1868, and the Or
der of Gen. Darlington, naming the place
and hour at p. M.
The prisoner appeared firm and COM
posed. He was apparently less affected
than those around him. There was moth
ing defiant or reckless in his look or de-
meanor, and yet nothing to show that he
felt any dread of the rapid approach of
death. He was rather fine looking man,
nearly or quite six feet high, with mag
nificent head, and clear open counten-
ance, dark brown hair and blue eyes. As
lie stood before the men selected to exc
cute the sentence f the law, erect and
calm, with the Thoughtful shade across his
face, no one who looked upon him could
keep back a pang of sorrow. Addressing
the soldiers present he spoke in substance
as follows:
He said he stood before them sentenced
to be shot to death, and that in few min
utes he would appear before his God, and
that it now became him to tell the truth,
and he would do it, He had acted wrong,
very wrong indeed. What be had done
was unthoughtedly DONE He was charg-
ed with being a deserter and a spy, but
he was not a spy, nor had he ever intended
to desert his regiment or company. He
had done what he did foi the purpose of
getting ont of the service, having ascer-
tanned that his health would not enable
him to perform the duties of a soldier
He had been recently in a military hospi-
tai, but was from there taken to the jail,
where his health was improved, and his
health was better now than it ever had
been He then appealed to the soldiers to
seek the consultations of religion He had
strOve, none knew how long, with tine
Spirit, but he felt that he was yet sinner
He admoniShed the soldiers not to put off
the day of grace, for religion was worth
more than all the world beside.
He had hoped that his punishment would
be milder one, but he presumed it was
necessary to make an example, and, if his
death would help the cause he was will
ing to sacrifice his life.
"Not my will, but the Lords will be
DONE He freely forgave every body and
hoped he would be forgiven There were
those who probably sought his blood, but
he appealed to God to judge that he had
no malice-he forgave all.
He placed his hand on his breast, and
appealed to the firing party to take sure
aim. That was the spot He did not
wish to linger and suffer.
He said that ever since his sentence, he
felt sure it would be carried into effect,
and had striven to prepare for death, and
in few brief moments he hoped to be in
heaven.
When he concluded, soldier approach
ed to tie his hands behind his back. He
expressed desire to be left free, but sub
mitted A black silk handkerchief was
then tied over his eyes, and he was seated
upon his coffin. He remarked quietly that
he would =" like to see DEATH" which were
the last words he uttered.
In moment after, by a signal from the
commanding officer, the twenty rifles
cracked, and Robert Gay fell back across
his coffin dead-without struggle Nine
balls passed through his breast. One
ball, it is said, passed directly through his
heart. He was raised up and placed in
his coffin-the band struck up-the drums
beat-the troops commenced marching off
by companies, and the solemn scene was
over.
Some evil disposed person, whose sole
business it seems to be to create uneasiness
in the public mind, had circulated reports
that rescue would be attempted and the
women and children in some sections of
the city were alarmed in consequence. 1t
is needless to say that no such thing was
ever dreamed of, at least by the Demo-
cratic party, and it only shows to what
straits the party striving to keep itself in
power is driven for capital There was
feeling of regret that such means were ne
cessary toSpreserve the discipline of the
army, but that was all. The whole affair
passed off quietly, and with a solemnity be-
fitting the occasion, at least so far as the
ceremonies on the parade ground were
concerned.
"A late number of the Richmond En-