Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-02-04
mILTrARY

The army correspondent Of the Charleston
Courier, writing from kinsion, n. c., gives the
following account ola military execution Which
took place there last week:
KINsToEs N. c., January Is, Ie63.-sinee ny
last the monotoATef Kinston has been relieved
by one Of those terrible scenes incident to army
organization, and, unfortunately Of too frequent
occurreuee-a military execution. A morbid
curiosity to seek aud witness whatever is re-
voting, is common to all natures that have
been Hardened by the associations Of camp and
accordingly when a mournfnl c0rtege consisting
Of a rude wagon drawn BY q pair Of mules,
a sad looking prisoner with bis hands lied be-
him, and q dozen troopers as . guard, passed
through the streets, it soon gathered in its train
8 motley crowd Of black and white, who fol-
lowed in procession 10 the place of execution.
The name Of the culprit was Michael Bry-
ant, of the 631 regiment Of North Carolina
cavalry; his age, about thirty-sixi and his Of
fsBse, deseTtiOn-nOt however, 10 the ranks Of
the enemy. Arrested, be was duly tried by 5
court martial. and il being necessary that Sd ex-
ample should be made to check a growing evil
in the army, be was sentenced to DO "shsi 10
death" II was not until the morning Of bis
execution that the poor fellow become aware
Of the day or hour that was to terminate his
career. but he had evidently been prepared for
The crisis, and when the fact was announced,
it fell upon a heart nsrved to brave death come
in what shaps it might. And this composure
never lot him.
Reaching the plaza of execution, which was
in q fed adjoining the e-neampment of his old
command, the cortege halted in front Of an ON
nous looking black eofiB, behind which was 8
stake. The guard alighted, and the prisoner,
strong and buoyant as if he was TIE least among
the actors Of the drama, also leaped lightly from
the vehicle and took his seat upon the narrow
box that was SO soon to enclose him forever.
An officer then advanced and bound him by the
arms firmly with his back to the stake. I now
had an opportunity Of observing the prisoner
more closely. He was clad in an everyday
suit Of citizens clothes, with his pantaloons care
lessly tucked in the tops Of his boots, and as he
sat there, watching the preparations for the
tragedy, looking upon the faces of his old con-
rades with whom be had been associated n
camp aud field, alone and helpless, with the
agony Of death 50 near, and eternity already
opening to his vision, the acatest observer
would have failed to detect the faintess indies-
tons of tTemoT on his person. Stern, strong,
calm as q statue he waited until the regiment,
on foot, was fed into position before him
After 9 lapse of six minutes, came the squad
Of twelve, who were to act IS his executiOneTs,
and stood twelve PAGES distant. The Adjutant
of the regiment then read the verdict Of the
cosYt martial This done, one of the guard ap-
preached to tie a handkerchief over She face Of
the prisoner. Then, fer the first time, did Inc
tice anything il his bearing which seemed TO In
dicste that he was not already totally dead 70
feeling. a glance of his eyes 10 the heavens,
as if be was invoking the divine mercy, q barely
perceptible change of countenance, and an ex-
preston Of unutterable sadness, told Of a fear
ful struggle that was going on within. A mo-
ment's pause and the officer in command, in q
low tone, gave the order, Ready aim twelve
rifles, six with blank cartridges. were bearing on
the prisoners heart. and the click of the twelve
triggers left but a second between life and
DEATH fire -
Hardly had tho smothered word issued from
the lips when the body of the unfortunate man,
pierced by six balls, shrunk convulsively from
The shock, the heed dropped upon the breast,
and q deep sigh told Of an ebbing life. Tbs
surgeon of tie regiment now advanced to feel
the pulse, and at the same instant the colonel
exclaimed, " Attention Half = minute had
already elapsed, but at the word the dying man
raised bis bandaged head, aud, as if he was
piercing the darkness to take along last look st
the fading world, slewly turned it from side to
side. Then dropping it upon his breast, it
rested there for several seconds, while the awe
stricken spectators looked on with a silence that
was disturbed only by the rusiling wind. Again
ib arose and fell, and again, and again, until
the short spasm0dic gasps, succeeded by adeath-
lks repesa, slowed that the soul of the deserter
had returned TO tie God who gave il.
On examining the body 1 found that enc ball
had entered al ihe bass Of the neck, two tire
left AID three the right side. The coffin was
hen opened, the body inciosed, and, in half an
hour, all ihst remained OF Michael Bryant was
six feet under ground.