Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-02-03

A Warning 90 DesereeFs and S,FaEgIers
''PeTsonne, the army correspondent of The
Charleston Courier, writing from Kinston, N. c.
uzder date Of the 18Th, furnishes an account Of
military execution which took place on the
l4th. The victim was Michael Bryant, mem.
Der of the 63d regiment of North Carolina cav
airy, his age about SO. and his offense, dessr-
sion-not, however, to the ranks sf the enemy.
Being tried BY Court Martial, and it being nee
esss1y that an example should be emade to check
a growing evil in the army, he was sentenced
to be shot to death.
The following IS the general order;
HEADQUARTERs CAVALRY BRIGADE, Z
General Order.l January IS, 1863
It becomes the painful duty Of the general
commanding, to announce to his brigade that
yesterday, the 14th inst in accordance with the
sentence OF the oourt-martisl, Michael Bryant,
company D, 63d regiment North Carolina cav
airy, was shot to death for desertion. He did
not desert to the enemy. He committed no
grester offeuse than scores of his brigade, now
at their homes, are committiuga,- Impressed
with the sacgedness of the cause we are de-
Tending, and the fact that success depends upon
the individual exertion of every soldier engaged
in its behalf the general commanding wishes it
to be understood that be will spare no effort in
bringing to trial all the base and eOwardly trai-
tors who, without the shadow of authority or
excuse have absented themselves from their
commands All officers and good citizens are
requestsd to assist in sHesting these men, so
that they can be punished as the law directs.
BY order Of 5. Fl. ROBERTSON,
Brigsdier- General.
While military execution, especially where
the victim Is one who has been an associate is
z terrible spectacle to witness, the time seems to
have arrived when our generals, acting in con
cert, have determined to resort to the bloody
necessity as often as circumstances may de-
mand. DeseTtioas have become an every day
occurrence, and commands are being rapidly
decimated from this cause alone. Struggling en-
the field is hereafter to be made punishable with
death and on the absentees, without leave will
fall the same awful doom. A general order on
this subject, prepared in the forcible language
OF Major Samuel w. Melton, of York district,
assistant s5iutsnt general of General G.. w
Smith, chief Of this department, has been pub
lished, and there is no doubt that from the Wig
oro1s measures provided we shall reap beneficial
results,
The following are the opening paragraphs of
the order; Our victories have, with tow excep-
tions, been rendered fruitess, the war prolonged,
and thousands Of lives sacrificed By the cow
ardly and disgTaoeful habit of Etragglizg, and
the slraggler has become traitor and an enemy
to his country, more deadly snd desnicable thaz
the vilest among the horde of invs,..-
We are about to enter upon. q campaign des-
psIsie ia she comparison Of numbers, and all
imsortant in the cause, in which every m an,
without exception, must do his duty. An ap-
peal 70 the brave aud constant is nncalled for
Tho coward and straggler viii abandon his post
at his peril.
Then follows the vaTiotls orders one Of which
is. that 4" in every instaree where an officer or
Blau on the battle 6e5d refuses TO return
promptly to bis post, the provost guard IS au-
thorizsd, aud the members there are hereby
paFemptoTily commanded to fire upon him. If
he escapes the Ere of the guard, be will be
brought to summary trial, and if found guilty
Of being absent without authority, will be pun
ished 10 death y