, 1863-05-21
FROM ROSECRANS' ARMY.
Execution Of Jultns MelEka-EcucraI
N5orgnns: D1vtsion-1srEef Mention OF
the Northwestern BoYH-Thc Front



EXECUTION OF JULIUS MEL1tSA.
The soldiers Of Gen. Morgan's division,
performing garrison duty In this city, were
raraded yesterday to witness the execution of
private Julius Mclika, who was By recent
court martial convicted Of descrtion and CON
demned to be shot to death. The sentence
Of the law was solemn}y enforced at precisely
one O'Clock, six musket balls planting square,
u into the breast OF the unhappy culprit,
who fell instantly dead.
Julius Melika was IN enlisted man of the
10th Michigan volunteers, who after repeated
dcsertions, was finally caught, tried and con-
yicted. He had ordinary intelligence, and. as
it appeared upon trial, had coolly and delib-
ernte1y and knowingly committed the several
dcEertions with which he was charged. He
had no sympathy whatever in the regiment,
so patiently Villianous had been his conduct,
Since conviction, the condemned has been
under the spiritual care Of the Rev. Herman
Eggcrs, a Lutheran minister of this city. The
Reverend gentleman has been unccasfng in
his attentions, and the culprit finally became
penitcnt, acknowledging his crime, warning
his comrades against his errors, aud profess
ing preparation for death.
The arrangements for the execution were
complete. The infantry, the artillery, and
the cavalry Of the command, were upon the
ground, the infantry drawn up SO as to form
three sides Of q "hollow square," the 2rtil-
lesy and cavalry to the rear, supporting Gen.
Morgan and staff. In line Of the uniformed
side Of the square appeared the open grave,
the mound Of fresh earth and the coffin, upon
which at approach OF the prisoner all eyes
were riveted. A short prayer In German and
brief interview preceded the immediate
preparations for the execution.
The condemned manifested perfect self.
possession. He protested, though yainly,
against being blindfo1ded, and prevailed upon
them to leave his hands unbound. He finally
took lis seat upon the coffin, facing the
troops, leaning slightly forward, and resting
bis two hands, which clasped a bible, upon
lis lap.
In the meantime, file Of twelve men had
been arranged, confronting the grave and its
grouping. These twelve men had been SC.
lcctcd, one from each company, by the diff
fcrent captains, as the best marksmen Of the
regiment, and until The moment their names
were called By the regimental officer Of the
day, were utterly ignorant Of the fearful duty
about to be Imposed upon them.
Twelve heavily loaded muskets stood stacked
before the file. The loads in the these mus.
kcts had been placed during the day. Tho
cartridges were especially prepared, six OF
them containing bulls and SIX Of them being
blank. The ssUlanks'' were extra charged
those with and without balls would lave au
equal rccoil. Afler being loaded, the gums
were thoroughly mixed, and as they stood
Stacked, no rtan knew which did or did not
contain the balls.
All things being in readiness, the last word
Of the prisoner having been spoken, the otf1c4J
Of tic camp guard stepped forward, holding
10 "taEc arms" This officer, By the By, on
occasions Of this Kind, is assigned the fright,
full duty Of finishing what the file of sol.
ditrs may by possibility fail TO accomplish
the deatl of The condemned. 1t is his duty
in case the yclcy CT musketry fills Of its
work, to step up, and with thu loaded pistol,
kill the wresched victim. III this case how.
ever, the accurate aim Of ELK Of the twelve,
rendered that officers presence unnecessary.
The muskets III hand, at the regular com.
mand, ''rcady, aim, fire ~ there came most
perfect yo1ey, not i shot ont Of place, and
the body Of the unfortunate tlesertcr fell back.
ward upon the fresh earth OF lis grave. Not
ill untecnly incident marrcd the Eolcmnity oi
the scene, the awful details Of which will live
in the mrmoricB Of the hundreds of spectators
for many u loEg year.
I am told that Melika, though admitting the
business Of his sentence, cu1ltcndcd to the last
that there were others in higher places who
mcritcd punishment for the same offence with
which he was charged.
GEN. MoRGAS's DIVISION.
As Is well known to your readers, the North
west is well represented III the division which
garrisons this city. It's veteran commander
IS himself Northwestern man, being a resi-
dent Of the State Of Illinois, who, since the
beginning If the rebellion, has been, withou,
a Days cessation, in constant, active service
first knew Gen. Morgan at Cairo, in the
spring Of 1861, he then bcing the Colonel O.
the 10.h Illinois volunteers. War was a 70
into Kentucky or into Missouri, was attended
with as much "posnp and circumstancc' Il
now uarks the move of the grand army
From lhe Culonelcy OF the 10th to Briga
dier ce11,"pding division, Gen. n. has Oh
taincd promotion by lair, honorable, and mos
valuable service, aud I All, well pcrsnadc
that lLcse is not IN officer in the Enile
States Amy who 1sIs given more raluc re
ceived for llis commission.
Gcn. NJ. 1,ow commands the post Of Nash
vile, . position exceedingly dist:steful II
him, AMI told, and one which is soon to b
reiiiquished for active tield duty. It is un
dc,stood that Brig. Gen 7, j. Mood, recent
commander of the lst Division Of the 21s
| Army Corps, will succeed him.
What is to becomr Of The division, whethe
it will accompany Gen. n. into ac i've ficl
duty, or remain garrisoning tue city depcnd:
| OF c.urse u1lou The will Of the Major Gtt1er
| commanding thu army, and il unkuowl
One thing certain, the division Is In tiuhtiu
condition, and will sustain it's reputatio
wherever assigned and whatever told to do.
Since the drutl Of Col Toler. the G}tf1 Ii:
Col Anderson, Lieut.. Col. 1Iess. and Mai,
Evans. now Weld authority. governing \,
justructipe. to The credit Of the rceime,
ard the profit Of the Governtucn
The 10th, commanded by Col. Tillson. stl
earrisons Fort Negley. Adjutant WaIla
Rice, Of this regiment, rns, 1 believe. fir
is one Of those officers who haye fairly earn'
their promotion. Tie entered the service
aprlSatc, and Tor over Year did faithful sc
vice as = clerk i'll the Adlntai,t's Office.
vacancy occurring, the yonng soldier, upt
the recommendation Of every officer In Il
regiment, was commissioned, and tod
wields the sword and pen of the Adjuta1
The 10th is at Edgefield, protecting Il
| Eoodly people Of TINT village from rebel inct
siors. Edgeticld IL juet across the river, 4,
may be considered part Of Nashville Lie.
smith (who. hy the by' is Tankiny Coloncl
1to statc1 ,cin1 n, t,,e hesd ~ - 5rigsde
NY S.a1Ss 1Ss.' petls ~ tte Hean " oIlEooS'
RIGS Of Ec1million, and Danyillc, with
| hunuTGQ 8sSQC41flOna. Is vet fttnculD lDGrj