The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1863-04-15
Iac First Execution Of a Deserter
in The VHeSt


The indianapolis journal contains the fol.
lowing particulars Of the execution of Ro-
bert GayrG member OF Comnanv ID. Seven-
ty>first. Indiana Volunteers, who was shot
by order Of couct. martial, near Camn Nor.
ton, at indianapolis, on the 26th ult, for
desertion:
The coffin, OF plain black walnut with +,
fiat lid, was brought out and land in ths omen
end Of the square some distance up from the
centre. An officer stepped off slowly .
space ofsome twenty five or thirty ieet from
the cofia TO fix the.line to be occupied by
the firing party, and the southwestern angle
of the square opened, and the firing party Of
twenty men, two from each company, march.
ed in and formed in two ranks on this line.
Thus stood the man who was to die, and
the men who were to kill him. Happily for
the latter the army regulations provide .
way to keep etery man who fires from
knowing whether he shares in the death or
not. The twenty guns are loaded, ten with
ball and ten with heavy blank cartridges -. q
The soldiers " ho are to fire do not see the
loading done, and draw their guns, as they
come, out OF a confused heap, so that no ono
can tell whether his gun contains q ball or
not. Thus each manis furnished a reasona.
BILE probability that lie has no part in the,
blOodshed.
Adjutant Brown, of the SEVENTY first Reg
iment, stepped forward and read clearly and
distinctly the order of the execution. Then
Col, Biddle stepped from the right oil the
firing party, and said, Gay, il you have
anything to sayyou can say it now.' The
prlsoner.witheut changing his attitude, with
his soldier cap hanging in his right hand, as
he pulled it off when the reading OF the or
der began. with his plain uniform coat but.
toned over his breast, and his we'll worn blue.
pantaloons tucked into his red topped boots.
without qaiyer in his voice, OF the wrench.
ing of a muscle in his lace, he said
"Fellow soldiers: am about to die for the
crime OF dcsertion. have done wrong.
know have done wrong. But did 1t nm.
thoughedny. Il can call God to witness, be.
fore whemI must appear in lew minutes,
that did not mean to commit crime. II.
man ever tells the truth it is when he is
about to die, and. Itell the truth when saw
that meant,no. wrong. When | took the
oath ofailfgiance intened only to get homo
SO that might stay, for did not Ieel able
for service. My heath was bad. 1t has al
ways been poor. | am in better health 10.
day than have ever been in my life. I
meant TO stay at hrme and not 10 ioin the
enemy. lnever intended to sert INV coun>
try. But what did was wrong, and con.
less it, | never realized the iate that awais
ted me till my sentence was read TO me-
Then felt that had to die. cannot tell
you how have striycn with the spirit in the
time since thai sentence wss read to me,
feel that am about to die sinner.
Take warning by me, and prepare for
death while there istyet time. Labor to oh.
tain that religion which is more precious
than anything on this earth. Try to recon.
ciie yourself to God, and i've as your duty
requires. suppose my death is needed a.
an example. lfit will serve my country
and warn you'll will. die cheertully. for
give all my enemies and everybody on earth.
have DO malice against any living being
4 forgive those who are to fire at me. There
are those who thirst for my blood, but for,
give them, too. Those WHO will fire at me
! would say, take your aim we'll Fire at
my breast(laying his hand with the cap in it
on his heart, that is the place. Hold on
the spot firmly. ! want to die uuickly.-
Don't let me suffer-, Hold steady on the
spot and shoot at my brest. Again forgive
WV yuouJ anu hah tBOs6 W uUIu nave llluE-
ed to forgive me,'
The sergeant~major led him to the coffin,
and seated him upon it, facing be firing par.
ty, with his back to the east. The sergeant.
major tied the band of black cloth round
his eyes, and stepped rapidly off to the right
and front. out Of the range Of the guns. A.
whisper lrom Lieu ,enant Sherfey to the fir.
ing party brought all their guns to a "rea~
DIP" "Lord God,p in low tone, as il part
OF his prayer, was heard, and the crash / the
guns followed Instantly AT tho explosion
he fell straight back over his coffin, without
sound or struggle.
lie gasped for halt minute spasmodically,
not breathing, and was dead lie was lit
ed into the coffin, the bandage taken off his
eyes, and his little blue cap put upon his
head. There was eight shot-holes in his
coat, seven ofthem in the breast, any one of
which would have killed him almost instant.
ly. One struck him right in the heart
But there was not drop of blood visible
The bullet-holes were as clean as IL cut with
a pair Of SCISSORS. One shot struck him in
tho throat, and mother grazed his shoulder.
All ten of the balls struck him, an exlraor>
dinary proof Of the coolness and steadiDess of
the men.