Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-03-30
The Execution of Rober. Gay.

The sentence of the General Court Martial,
condemning Robert Gay, a private Of the list
regiment, to be 'shot to death, !" at such time and
place as the General commanding the Depart
ment of the Ohio might direct, was carried into
effect yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock, on the
parade ground in the rear of Burnside Barracks.
The time fixed for the execution was known
to but few, and yet it did leak out, and a great
many citizens we're present. There was no rush
or Jam as there would have been had il been gen
orally known. but in addition to the soldiers on
and of duty several hundred spectators of the
awful tragedy were present.
The list regiment, to which the unfortunate
man belonged. first marched out TO the parade
ground, and formed i'm three sides of a square,
the opening to the east. The cavalry drew up in
line on one side, and a battery of artillery on the
other. The troops had hardly formed when a
carriage, followed by q squad of cavalry, was
seen approaching. A coffin was lifted from an
express wagon and placed at the east or open part
Of the square, and a firing party of twenty men
took position about twenty PAGES to the west of
it. facing east. The carriage drove in, and Sher-
if Robinson, the prisoner and two others got out.
The officer commanding the firing party read the
finding and sentence of the court. the approval
by the President, and the order of Gen. Wright
to carry the sentence into effect between the
hours of 2 and 5 O'Clock on Friday, the 9th day
March, 1864. and the order of Gen. Darlington
naming the place, and the hour at 3 P. NJ.
The prisoner appeared firm and composed. He
was apparently less affected than those around
him There was nothing defiant or reckless in
his look or demeanor. and vet nothing to show
that he felt any dread of the rapid approach of
death. He was rather a fine looking man, nearly
or quite six feet high. with a magnificent head
and a clear. open countenancc. dark brown hair
and blue ewes. As he stood before the men Sc
lected to execute the sentence of the law, erect.
and calm. with the thoughtful shade across his
face, no one who looked upon him could keep
back a pang of sorrow. Addressing the soldiers
present he spoke in substance as follows:
He said he stood before them sentenced to be
shot TO death, and that in n few minutes he wonld
appear before his God, and that it now became
him to tell tie truth, and he would do it. He had
acted wrong, very wrong indeed. What he had
done was unthoughtedly done. He was charged
with being a deserter and a SPY, but he was not n
spy, nor had he ever intended TO desert his regi-
ment or company. He had done what he did for
the purpose of getting out of the service, having
asccrtaIned that his health would not enable him
to perform the duties of n soldier. He had been
recently in a military hospital, but was from there
taken to the Jail, where his health was improved,
and his health was better now than il ever had
been. He then appealed to tie soldiers to seek
the consolation of religion. He had strove, none
knew how long, with the Spirit. but he felt he was
yet n sinner. He admonished the soldiers not to
put off the day of grace, for religion was worth
more than all the world beside.
He had hoped that his punishment would be a
milder one. but he presumed it was necessary to
make an example, and if his death would help
the cause. he was willing to sacrifice his life.
Not my will but the Lords will be done" He
freely forgave everybody and hoped he would be
forgiven. There were those who probably sought
his blood, but he appealed to God to Judge that
he had no malice-t.e forgave all.
He placed his hand on his breast and appealed
to the firing party to take sure aim. That was
the spot. He did not wish to linger and suffer.
He said that ever since his sentence he felt sure
il would be carried into effect, and had striven TO
prepare for death, and in a few brief moments he
hoped TO be in heaven.
When he concluded a soldier approached to tie
his hands behind his back. He expressed a de-
sire to be left free, but submitted. A black silk
handkerchief was then tied over his eyes and he
was seated upon his coffin. He remarked quietly
that he would like to see death" which were
the last words he uttered.
In a moment after. by a signal from the com
handing officer, the twenty rifles cracked, and
Robert Cav fell back across bis coffin dead
without a struggle Nine balls passed through
his breast. One ball, it is said, passed directly
through his heart. He was raised up and placed
in his cofin-the band struck up-the drums
beat-the troops commenced moving of by com.
panies, and the solemn scene was over.
some evil disposed persons. whose sole bust
ness it seems to be to create uneasiness 10 the
public mind, had circulated reports that a rescue
would be attempted, and the women and children
in some sections of the city were alarmed in con
sequence. 1t is needless to say that no such thing
was ever dreamed of. at least by the Democratic
party, and it only shows to what straits the party
struggling to keep itself in power is driven for
capital. There was a feeling of regret that such
means are necessary to preserve the discipline of
the army. but that was all. The whole affair
passed off quietly and with a solemnity betting
the occasion. at least so far as the ceremonies on
the parade ground we're concerned.