The Camden confederate. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1861-1865, 1863-09-25
Military Execution i'm Gen. Lees Ar
nly.-A Solemn Scene.

tcrs from the Sd North Carolina Infantry, of
General Geo. III. Stewards brigade, Jolnsons
division, Ewell's corps, arrived at IT, camp Of
the division, near Orange Court House, va,
under charge of a guard from Richmond. At
the same time there arrived at the hcaGuuar-
ters of tho division an order from the Depart
mcnt of Henrico directing that those men,
iutant Mallett, be executed at snch time and
place The division commander should direct.
From t.ivlsion headquarters and order was I'M
m"dlate'v issued TO have the execution take
half past 3 O'clock on the afternoon of The 9Th
the troops of the division ere promptly formed
on three sides OF square, with side arms and
without colors, whilst ten stakes ranged IN
cution would take place. \ few minutes later
the prisoners arrived upon the ground,
preceded by the officer ofthe day, the music
OF the brigade playing the dead march, and es-
cortcd by a detail from the brigrde guard. The
bearing of the prisoners was calm and sclfpos-
scssed, and they marched to the place of their
execution with step as accurate in its cadence
that Of the guard who conducted them.
On arriving upon the grounds the prisoners
here fronted to the division, who had been pa
radeG to witness their death The officer Of
the day read the orders recitng their Offences,
their sentences, and the time and place of their
execution. This ceremony concluded, the
Chaplain of the Sd n. G. infantry kneeled with
the prisoners, and in u most fcrvcnt manner
read the ritual OF the Episcopal service for the
condemned. The prisoners joined in the act
of devotion with fevor. The soldiers who were
there to witness the execution of their comrades,
used as they were to the blood and carnage Of
twenty battle folds, bchcld with uncontrolla-
BILE emotion the solemn preparation for the ex-
ccution of the condemned, and seemed to be
penetrated with the solemnity of the religious
services which were being carried on. The
services over, the Chaplain blessed and affec-
honatciy bid adicu to each prisoncr-thc non.
commissioned officers OF the ten different firing
parties rapidly carried the prisoners each to
hs own stake, where, after knecling, their arms
were pinioned behind the stake, and their eyes
bandaged to shut out the sight of the muzzes
of the muskcts lcvccd not more than ten PAGES
from them.
AT this part of the proceedings, and whilst
the firing parties were being deploycd into one
rank, the more ctfectually to deliver their fire,
the prisoners kroke out into loud and fervent
appeals to the Almighty to have mercy on their
souls and pardon their sins The preparations
being concluded, the officer CT the day gave
command "rcadyw and the clicking of the
locks alone broke the silence that prevailed:
"aim J" and the muzzlcs of The guns were
pointed with uneerring aim at the breasts ofl
the miserable condemned, and the very breath
ing Of the crowd seemed stepped in terrible
suspense; 'fre" and the corpses of ten men
hung in the horrible relaxation of death to |
the stakes where they were pnioncd.
The troops of the division filed by the dead
bodies in melancholy procession, and the field,
being vacated by all but the detail for burial,
was as silent and solemn in the evening gloom
as the painful scene of which it had been the
theatre. SO perish those who Wcuid bctray
their conutry in It's hour OF need and peril |
The sentence of these men as just as their
execution was prompt. Necessity demanded |
their blood-justicc approved, and even tear
Iu mercy sanctioned it
lMpoRrANr ASNorNcEMENT.-Wc are graft