, 1863-11-21
Execution of Illinois DeseYtors.
Correspondence Cincinnati Gazette.1


Valentine Bs1jamin, Co. G, 4tth IninoIs,
and Eras.us Daily, Co. D. ssth Illinois, botli
Of sheIidan'e division, were to-day executed
for desertion. The other four who vera in
cluded In the eame sentence with these, and
Ehoee names forwarded you il previous
letter, have been pardo1ed. Benjamin was d
carpenter, deserted as Camp Gira1deau, No.,
taking With him the regiments tool-box to
Canada,. where he remataed for some time.
He frally returned, was captured at Chicago,
end brought to his command. He is q Ger.
man by birth, forty.tlye years Of age and
leaves . wife and several children. Ds::::7 ;Tes
o ratiVe of Illinois, thirty years old, single,
and has mother living at Polo, in his native
state. He had only been 10 the service few
months, Was Tery unfaithfal soldier, ire
quently 1nsnhordinate, and almost constantly
railing against the Government. 4 eult of
citizens clothes MAS found In his valiee,
which led to the conclusion that he had en-
Listed for the bounty, and with the intention
Of dese1tlng.. He Waa captured at Per1yvll,e,
The execution was most solemn aud im-
press1Fe one. The charming autumn skya2d
balmy air Of Indian summer we're lust such
as make life very dear and hopeful-such as
transport the absent one back to Innocent aud
happier daye.
Sheridan's whole division WAS brought ont,
with all the pomp and circumstance Of war,
to witness the sad but necessary tragedy, and
near as the officers would permit them. A
hollow square Was formed into which the
procession moved, a little after tvalya
o'clock, in the. following order: First,
brass band, playing dirge; next, eight men
Carrying the two cof11ns, behind which we're
the prisoners, accompanied BY their religions
advisers following these were the soldiers
who had been selected to do the work Of
death. When arrived at the appointed PLACE,
tbs cotf1ns were set down about SIX feetapare,
the execnioners we're stationed ten paeea
back, and the prisoners knelt for moment
with their adVisers-Fathers Neells and
Christie, With Benjamin, who was Catholic,
and Chaplain Ha5gn, Of the Seth Illinois, with
Daily. The former looked constantly In his
pray er. book, and was very earnestly engaged,
even after bis eyes were ba1daged and ha mas
placed on his coffin; the hitter, however,
arose from his knees, turned and looked at
bis coffin, and read the epitaph on the head
board with comparative Indifference. He
then seated himself upon bis coffin, opened
his shirt bosom, and tapped his fingers on his
their aim. At 1890 the signal was given.
Sixteen guns faahed simultaneously, and the
unhappy men fell back, each pierced by no
lets than half dozen balls. -Four rifles Hera
loaded with blink cartridges, 80 that
hone knew .,whoee gun did the fatal
work. Four others Were kept in reserve, but
Of course, there was no aniahing stroke re-
quIred. One ball passed through Benjamin's
lead; the others struck near his heart. There
were five holes In Daily's breast very near the
tpot be had directed the m,rEamen to aim at;
ore bullet, however, passed through his neck,
emitting the jugu1ar vein, from which the
blcod flowed plofuse1y. But enough Of the
sickening sight! 1t may be some cocsola.
ton to their friends to know that the prison.
e1s had both expressed themselves prepared