Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1863-08-08
For ne Telegraph.
ARMY coRREsPoNDENCB.


The quetude OF Corinth was the other day
disturbed by q scene that has but seldom been
witnessed in the army Of the south.west-a
military execution. Some six weeks ago man
by the name OF A. @. johnson made bis ap.
pearauce at this post aod profered his services
to the Government as q soldier and was receiv.
ed into Co. d, OF the lst Alabama (Union)
cavalry fAbouttwo weeks after his enlistment,
when placed on picket johnson deserted bis
post. taking with him his horse and all the ac'
coutremeuts so recently furnished him. Moth.
Jog more was heard OF him until the 10 th inst,
when scouting party sent from this post cap
tured q party Of guerri'las about miles out
and among them was johnson. at.
On the 2lst a drumhead court was called
and johnson was found guilty Of desertion and
other offences, aud was senten ced to be shot on
| the 23d, at 10 o'clock A. N. This exciting news
spre ad as by magic through oil the camps and
| the town.
BY o'clock, on the mo rniug Of the 23d, the
military began to move from the various regi-
ments and batteries toward he open field where
the execution was to take place. And by %
o'clock the entire military force Of this post had
formed three sides Of hollow square Of about
ouebalf of a mile long on each side On the
S. side and portion of the W. side was the
Cavalry. 10 three columns, packed as closely as
the horses could stand. On tie remainder OF
the west side the Infantry was massed in pa.
toons, and on the north side was the Artillcryi
all Of which made the most imposing military
display that it was ever the fortune OF your
correspondent to witness In addition to the
military there were q goodly number Of cit
sens, yet beside this army Of soldiers their num-
Der appeared Insignificant.
Soon after the lines were completed pro-
ccssen was observed moving slowly from town
And, desiring TO get MS good view ss possible,
of the prisoner rode in company with friend
to meet them. And as this whole region 10
without fences large portion Of the citizeOs
that were on horseback gallopped across the
Geld and formed line on each side Of the road
over which the prisoner was passing. AS he
passed along within twenty yards OF US we
had view Of his features although they were
partially obscured by his handkerchief
which he held to his face. Heseemed picture
ofdejectiou and sorrow. And then his sadness
was apparently heightened, about the time we
met them, by the band that marched before the
plain wagon that boro the prisoner, sitting on
bis coffin, striking up the Dead March, that
} ssddest and most mournful of music. Follow.
iug the wagon, were the soldiers that wers to
perform the severe task of firing upon the VIC
tim doomed to death.
When this procession arrived at the south
west corner OF the hollow square, the prisoner
alighted from t he wagon his coffin was taken
and borne by four soldiers, before him, follow
ing the baud, and these were followed by six.
, teen men with reversed arms. To the tune OF
the d" Dead March, this company 1.-THE prisoner
walking beside tie ohnplaip) slowly marched
upon the Outside OF the south line Of the square,
and then back again on the inside OF the same
line, aud thus they continued until they had
passed before ali the regiments. and they ar
rived at the northeast corner Of the square,
when they wheeled and marched diagonaly to
the center, where the fatal volley was to be
, fred that in n moment was to send q man TO the
eternal world.
, The coffin was placed upon the ground wheu
all except the chapi ain, who had accompanied
the prisoner 10 this, the saddest march that
had ever Witnessed, stepped forward about 2C
PAGES. The prisoner then kneeing upon hi'
If coffin, the chaplain, 10 prayer. besought fc
n him coDtrition and pardon and cancellation.
& At the close of the prayer, brief state
|. ment Of the trial Of the prisoner and bi
e sentence, was read at the head OF each regi
ii ment. The officer in charge then stepped for
y ward. bludfolled the prisoner, aud desired hin
- - to kneel or sit on his coffin. But, poor man
+ he stood and begged for his iife! II on!
o for one day And the officer Of the law had al
le most to compel him to sit or kneel on his cof
te 6n. He finally yielded, aud sat down. In {
n few seconds the fatal volley was fred, and seve
o. balls took effect, passing through vital portion
'n Of his body. He fell so senseless that scarce
III y muscle moved after bis fall Suci is III
penalty that military law has ordained for de
;n serton. In this case there were importar
reasons why IL sh oud he rioorousiv executed