Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1863-05-22
From the Sandusky Register.
EXECUTION OF CORBTN AND HIeEHAW
ON IOHNADN,S ISLAND.

hsAEOOAlON OE COkHNN AND WCENAW
ON JOHNSON's ISLAND.
Yesterday afternoon the sentence passed upon
VIM. Corbn and T. p. McGraw, convicted by
court martial assembled at Cincinnati, Of recruit
ing Tor the Confederate army within the lines of
the United State forces aud Of CARRYING ,nails
and information to the rebels, was executed on
Johnson's Island depot of prisoners Of war
near Sandusky. The execution was strictly
military, none being allowed on the Island ex.
cept the soldiers, officers Of the Government and
reporters for the press.
In the morning the Island was picketed by
Lieut.. Wells and the prisoners in the yard re-
strctcd 10 close quarters about the buildings
occupied by them, by Lieut.. Carver officer OF
the day.
At one P. NJ, the battalion formed under COM
mand Of Capt. I. H. Hinnell aud marched by
flank from the parade to the South side Of the
Island, fronting the bay, and formed in line Of
battle. At 20 minutes past one TIE prisoners,
securely bound and under guard Of the oxecu-
tion party, accompanied by their escort and
Chaplain, left the prison and proceeded to the
place Of execution. The prisoners rode in a two
horse wagon, seated upon one of their coffins,
their spiritual adviser Rev. II. McCune, Chap
lain Of the post. sitting between them, and the
band playing dead march. So soon as they
reached the place of execution on the beach on
the south side of the Island, they were taken
from the wagon and seated on their coffins in
front Of the battalion. The battalion immedi-
ately formed hollow square, the execution par
ty, under command of Lieut.. Hollenbeck, acting
Provost Marshal, occupying position immedi-
ately in front Of The center facing the prisoners,
their cescort aud Chaplain attending them, Mai.
Pierson and Staff occupying position to the
right
Adjutant Baily then read the proceedings
findings and sentence ofthe Court Martial, when
the Rev. r. Nicotine stepped forward beside the
condemned and said:
81 am desired by these unfortunate men, tc
return their thanksto the Commander Of thi.
post and to all the officers and men with whom
they have had intercourse for the kindness anC
sympathy they have received since their arriva
here. / am also charged by them to say 10 al
in attendance that they die foTgiving all enepel
and accursers, and in love and charity with al
men, believing in the Gospel of Jesus Christ
and that they have been thus far consoled AMI
sustained by its truths and that, trusting in the
mercy of God through Christ, they have goot
hope of eternal life."
The Chaplain then, in an earnest, impassionec
and fervent manner, invoked the Throne ol
Grace for the unfortunate criminals.
The prisoners were then blindfolded, the pro-
vost martial gave the necessary command to the
execution party, and McGraw and Corbin paid
the penalty Of their acts The firing was instan-
taneous so that the sixteen musl1ets seemed to
make but one report The men both fell back
upon their coffns and died without a struggle
Corbin did not move a muscle-McGraw gasped
twice.
The bodies were examined by the Surgeons,
and life being found extinct, the Battalion again
formed in line of battle, broke into column right
in front and marched in common time, the band
playing the dead march, past the dead bodies,
and thence TO the parade ground, where it was
dismissed.
By order Of Gen. Burnside, the bodies were
delivered to a friend of the deceased, who was
here to take them in charge--Mr. Cal. DeMoss
of Flagg Spring Kentucky.
Allthe proceedings attending the Execution
were peculiarly solemn and impressive, and re-
fleet great credit upon the officers and men to
whom the carrying out of the sentence of the
Court was committed. Nothing occurred to
derange the order or mar the solcmnity or inn
pressiveness Of the occasion. The firing was
worthy of note. The execution party consisted
of 30 men, divided into four squads, two of the
squads being reserve. The sixteen shots fred,
eight at each man, seemed as the shot of one
man. In the l6 muskets there were fourteen
balls and forty-two buckshot, being seven balls
and twenty zone shots for each of the condemned
Upon examination of the bodies it was found
that 25 of the balls and shot had taken effect in
the breast of each, within a circle of few in
ches. t
Both prisoners appeared perfectly composed
several days previous they had given up all
hopes of reprieve or pardon. They ate their
meals regularly and slept well. Each of them
took cup of coffee but little while before his
execution. They manifested a great deal of
gratitude for the Kindness that had been shown
them by the Chaplain ofthe Post who has been
unremitting in his attentions, and for the Rev.
Mr. Hildreth, in consideration of his visit to
them the morning oftheir execution.
Immediately previous to proceeding TO the
place OF execution, the condemned men handed
to Rev. K. McCune brief memoranda of their
birth, age, dc. We give the essential facts.
VIM. g. Corbin was born March 9th, 1888, in
Campbell County, Ky. He joined the Masonic
order when 81 years of age and the Christian
Church (Disciples) the next year. He joined
the rebel army in October, 1862, came to Ken
lucky in February, 1868, and was taken prison.
er on the night of April 9Th last At the time
of his death he was an Elder in the "Christian
Church" at Flagg Springs, KY.
I. p. McGraw was born in Harrison Co., KY,
on the 9th of June, 1929. In 1850 he moved TO
Campbell Co., KY, where he lived at the time
he enlisted in the rebel army, in April 1862, in
the 5th Kentucky volunteers. In February
1863, he was sent to Kentucky by Gen. Hum
phrey Marshal, to recruit company for his
command, and was taken prisoner, April 9Th,
last. He concludes his memoranda as follows:
Il joined the christian Church at California,
KY, in 1885, and leave mother two sisters, a
brother, and friends to mourn my loss. But
their loss is my gain. Prepare TO meet me in
Heaven. l freely forgive all men, as God for
Christ's sake, has forgiven me-" ..