The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-09-11
Here they encamped about


giment went up the valley of Virginia to-
wards Fredericksburg. When we were
twelve miles from Bolivar, he continued,
Lieutenant Ropes, Of my command, gave
me permission to fall out of the ranks and
get along the best way could, as my feet
were sore and my head ached On going
to citizens house I saw number of our
soldiers. They advised and persuaded me
to desert, and gave me information how
to cross the river and the direction to
take when was on the other side.
con account of my father, who is
seveuty-fve years of age," be continued,
'as well as sister who is thirty-fve, and
are not able to take care of themselves,
deserted, and reached my home at North
Brookfeld a few days after. Here 1 re-
NAMED until the middle of June, when
was arrested by policeman named Chas.
Ruggles, of Worcester. He bad an order
from the Provost Marshal for my arrest.
was taken under guard from there to Wash
ington, and from Washington was taken
to Harper's Ferry, where our corps then
was, and given in charge of the provost of
rhe.. Second division"
Gen. Hill and Smith petitioned General
Webb for an extension of their sentence
for few days, the former giving as a
reason that he wishe! to have more time
to prepare to meet his "just God ;" and
the latter, if he had time, could prove
that he was not guilty of "wilful deser-
ton" General Webb answered that both
had committed the crime of desertion, had
been fairly tried before court martial,
found guilty, and sentenced, and that the
whole was approved of by the command
ing general. of the army, and that even if
he had the will he had not the power to
grant the request. Hill said that ''the
next time that court martial is to be
held here new set of officers should be
called, as it would be very beneficial
thing to these innocent volunteers, as I
think it is not right to shoot them by way
of Furnishing them, and as an example to
stop these conscripts and substitutes from
Deserving" He hoped, however, that his
death would prove a warning to all his
fellow soldiers. Both men spoke we'll of
the Judge Advocate, Captain Francis Wes-
sells, and requested me to thank him for
them through the columns of the Herald
for his kindness and good advice.
Hill bore bad character amongst the
officers OF his regiment, all refusing to in
tercede in his behalf, and even the officers
OF his own company declined interfering
to mitigate his sentence.
THE FUNERAL PROCESSION
AS soon as the Third brigade had passed
where the condemned were, the following
procession walked forward with steady
step:-A sergeant and sixteen men of the
Andrew Sharpshooters (Smith's former
colnrades), in double lines, two coffins,
each borne on the shoulders of four men
guard of honor eight men and sergeaLD
and deployed guard of eight skirmish-
ers, with loaded muskets and fixed bayo-
nets, the latter acting for the double pur-
pose of preventing the escape of the
prisoners and keeping the crowd, which
followed behind, from pressing too closely.
When opposite the barn the procession
halted, and in another moment the conf
mander of the provost guard, Lieut.. Black,
advanced, followed by three men. The
centre of the party was the Rev. Mr..
Collins, chaplain of the Seventy-second
Pennsylvania, who so faithfully attended
the unfortunate Jesse Mayberry from the
time of his sentence to within moment
of his death. On each side of the Chris
tan man were the condemned. Both
walked with slow and steady step, Smith
having his right arm through the chap
lain's left, while Hill walked on the other
side unsupported The three stepped in
the open space between the coffin and the
guard of honor, when the provost COM
mander took his position few PAGES in
advance of the rifemen. The band of the
brigade to which the prisoners belonged
had halted on the rise of the hill. Capt.
Wood was in the advance of the band, and
when the party arrived within few PAGES
of the latter the whole line moved for
the funeral procession was now complete.
AN IMPRESSIVE sCENE-THE RIFLES LOADED.
Just before reaching the brow of the
hill halt was ordered, the collins were
lowered upon the ground, and before the
eyes of the prisoners and the hundreds
around the following impressive scene was
enacted:
The sergeant of the Sharpshooters
stepped behind his men, and Lieut.. Black
marched to the rear of him, the Sharp
shooters, in two lines of eight each, stand
ing motionless as statutes, their faces
fronting the brow of the hill, ordered
arms. The sergeant then quietly took
one gun at a time and handed it to the
officer, who as quietly loaded it, when it
was returned to the sergeant, who gave it
into the hands Of the owner This cere-
mony was gone through with until the
whole were returned to the men, one of
rifles receiving blank cartridge. This
explains the mystery of the ceremony; for
each man can indulge the hope that it was
his gun that received this cartridge. Four
teen out of sixteen only were ordered to
fire, two being held in reserve.
"THE DEAD MARCH ~ ENTERING THE
SQUARE.
At motion the collins were raised
again upon the shoulders of the bearers,
and as the order to march was given the
band struck up the solemn notes of the
"Dead March," Still the prisoners walk
ed on with firm step and erect heads,
Smith occasionally speaking to the chap
lain in low voice, or casting a quick
glance around. Hill made no motion of
any consequence, and from his counte-
nance nothing more than usual could be
read.
II Il