Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-10-06
Che Ohio 5tatelss,lra ~
HORRORS OF THE WAR
shooting Of Soldiers for DesoTt D35eT ton.
A TRAGEDY I'm LOUISIANA

~
the Potomac, says; it IN
"On yesterday the solemn and impressiv
scene OF shooting lEo men for deseTtion too
place In the 81 Division, commanded by QeE
Hayes. Sag. 2, t''.4 t'ff
"The unfortunate victims OF this tragic even
were two HubBtitutea who were sent ont iron
Boston few weeks ago 10 the l4lh Connecti
cut Volunteers. Their names we're Edwar
Elliott, company b, and Charles Eastman, com
pany l, both priyatea.
II Was admitted to see The prisoners, WIT
were In an out Office contiguous to the General
headquarters. On entering, Elliott was sittinl
at table writing letter to his mother. East
man was In deep conversation with the Chaplain
Rev. II. ]. Stevens, Baptist minister, 14th Con
necticut Volunteers On being introduced the,
both rose and shook me by the hand, and, afteJ
Q. few words of conversation, Elliott resumed
nis writing and Eastman hIa conversation on
religions aubjeota.
"While thus engaged had an opportunity Of
closely examining the two unfortunate victims
tiiiott was slight. intelligent, good looking
young man OF about 81 years OF age. He was
Oh medium height. wish thin regular features,
aho 'hick profuslon of fair hair. Thed0Wn OF
maSnood was ffesh upon his ohin, and he Eeeni.
"a ialiy sensible OF his awful position He
Freely answered any questions asked him. He
several times stopped writing, restine his head
upon his hand, and sighed heavily. HoansWeE-
Gu IN nervous, starting way.
2 "He stated that when he and his comradea de.
serted they thought the worst that would happen
them, if arrested, would be to be sent back to
their regiment and to have n few months nav
stopped. Had they realized the fearful fate thai
awaited them they would never have done it.
They wished me to warn others, through the
press, from similar fate and not to enlist unless
they intend to serve out their time. Elliott is a
native OF Boston, hts father resides in New York.
de feft very uneasy about how his parents
chiefly his mother--and his only brother would
ieel; he often exclaimed, My mother, my
brotherP -
Eastman was from Cornish, Maine, and obout
tWonty -lhree years oi age. He was rather stout,
with strongly marked features; he appeared
more composed than tho other. He wished to be
q Christian, but expressed strong doubts If God
would accept 90 sudden a conversion. but tbo
Jealous Chaplain exhorted him, and held forth
the example of the penitent thief and eeyeral
others. l should have stated that, on account of
the rapid marching Of the corps, the Chaplain
was unable to attend to their spiritual wants Tin.
til the morning of their execution.
"Eastmen expressed q wish to be haptized
and as the Rev. MIR. Stevens had cons cientious
scruples OF giving baptism unless by immersion,
he sent Tor the Rev. Mr., Murphy, Presbyterian
chaplain OF the First Delaware Volunteers. Rev.
Mr.. murphy wished that the prisoner should be
baptized atthepla of execution, when he wish
ed to make public confession of his sins. The
Chaplain asked permission of Gen. HAYES to do
so, which was at once granted l
when Elliott had finished vrititE and
handed over the letters to the Chaplain to be
to his friends, the tive Cheulsins
and myself knet with them In prayer. East
man poured forth an estemporaneni,sI rraysr
ipll OF resignation and attpng Christian feel
ing He heaought Col. to have oliSsdrc7 and
compassion npon him--to forgive him the er-
rof and transgressions of his past life, Ito sc-
cept his death In atonement, and when his aoul
parted from his body to receive it into HE
heavenly kingdom. He earnestly invoked
blessing upon his father and mother, brothers
and sisters, uron US who knels wi.h them IL
prayer, sndppons all mankind. S.'"' b
Elliot next i!made o. public DR. ofersion oil
bis faith as an EpiscopalsD; and tn 10. with
upliited hands, poured forth HE ecul IN gushing
prayer The Chaplains then joined them il
prayer, AID concluded BY reeititg iho lords
pray rlgaaA s.'@a t-iInI aEeiR ViSH -
:, Some dinner wac loY brought % them
!. Eastman refused taking any Elliott ate a
htus' The fatal hour was now 'sppso soachipg,
d the sentence vas to be carried out hefct e |
Ionr O'Clock P. M, aud it was now within half |
On hour OF the time. The door MAS thrown |
open, and the t1o prisSnefs, Ieeniog on the |
Chaplains' arm, walked 10 the smbulspoe that |
vas to carry them to execution. aAilt |
UAa thu nko "a L. Al
prisoners alighted from the ambulance, and |
the band fell to the rear. Here the bearers
took up the coffin on their shoulders, in front
Of the prisoners. The prisoners cast a timid. |
'ronblous look at the coffins. and then moved |
On, leaning on the ChaplaiDe.i The cofins |
we're placed beside the two graves, which we're |
aug about i've feet deep. The Rev. Mr. Mut-
phy addressed the prisoners and the trpops |
present In feeling language, exhorting them |
TO join in prayer to God TO have mercy on the
Two eouls 30 soon to appear In His prehence - 4
DE strongly exhoited others TO take warning
BY the tragic fate OF the prisoners, and noi
desert their countty's Service, and then hap-
tized the'prlsoner Eastmaqd hHhU -'' %
!" The Rev. Mr. s.svsps kneltaoulI, taking
eachsof the men By the hand; they and the
Rev. Mt, murphy kneh beside him snh Joined |
IN Ospb. ptoiue uOW came nDI
and bandsged the prisoners' eyes. Elliott sat
back on his coffin; Eastman knelt in prayer,-I
His voice Nas audible above theelick and sound
of the guns as they were brought to present
The word fire. having been given, Elliott fell
back gently on his coffin 6hly wnnhded, while
Eaatman iqtapod up and tore the bandsge from
his eyes, evidently untoucheiI The reserve |
wss ordered mp. Eastman appeared as il cleo
triAed, and placed his hends hetors his eyes to |
ahut ont ths horfid sight The mSn again |
The Provost Marshal then pulled out
his revolver and shot him through the head
be also fred Anbther ball through Elliott's
head After, sthe two unfortunate men were
pronounced lifaless the troops were marched BY
the cerpaes The PROVOST Guard had some con-
script prisoners In charge and as they passed
the bodIea they we're seen to. change color and
trembie.' s7 y -lEa''s vthrs 5ITL
,si0 ,s5 [oortssponasncs Of he Providence Press
v s;asa NEAR THIBopEAuxvLtE, Sept. l2.
L By lie time you will receive these llnea you
Will, sTdsuppose,y have heaid already that the
consolidation Of the 81 Rhode Island and the
lei Louisiana cavalry ID an accomplished fact.
From the first moment the consolidation Was
talked of, the excitement In eampWas intenae.
The men rinanimously resolved to lay dLwn
their arms, and not 20 10 the let Louitana pnlees
oo aroad . kha (nroa nf a,na IN th a n,opnto,,