The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-09-11
THE WEEKLY PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT
Execution of Five Deserving Substi.
tutes.
IN the New York Express, August 81.

From the New York Express, August 81.
The execution of five deserving substi-
tutes from the 18th Pennsylvania, Ohas.
Walter, Emile Lai, John Reanese, G.
Kunn and John Folaney, took place on
Saturday afternoon, within the lines Of
Col. Sweitzer's brigade, before the entire
9th corps OF the Army of the Potomac.
The condemned were paraded with
hands manacled behind, accompanied by
their priests, before each regiment in
turn, preceded by their collins and by a
band playing dirge. On reaching their
graves each man was seated on his coffin,
and Capt. Orme, Provost Marshal Of the
1st Division, read the several sentences,
preceded by long and tedious charges
and specifications. Through this trial of
patience the agonized men appeared re-
signed. Their eyes were vacant and
glazed, with general idea that mar
shaled host of men was before them, and
that few stood near by. They fixed
their vision on no one person or thing.
They were absorbed in their fate Walter
was Jew, and was attended by the Rev.
Mr.. Sold, Rabbi of the Onebskalon Con-
gregation in Baltimore, Lai and Reanese
were Catholics, and attended by the Rev.
O. L. Egan, of St. Dominick's, Washing
ton, in lace canOnicals Kuhn and FOlaney
were German PrOtestants, and were ad-
ministered to by the Rev. William O'Neil,
Chaplain of the Hundred and Eighteenth
Pennsylvania. Walter, much agitated, stood
up and recited i'm Hebrew after the Rabbi
the Penitential Psalms and Voices of the
Pentateuch, swaying his body rapidly
backward and forward. The rest .knelt
while their priests knelt, and prayed. At
the close the Rabbi kissed Walter; Walter
kissed him in return, and crossing over to
Folaney, with whom he had been init
mate, also kissed him. The men again
sat on their collins. Their eyes were
bandaged with white cloth. Fifty men in
two ranks stood before them. A rapid
''ready, aim, fire - was given, and they
simultaneously tell backward in the cof-
fins, placid Jumps of clay. Reanese, Kuhn
aud Folaney rolled off and fell upon their
faces The two former breathed for
few moments. The men fred at each, one
of the ten muskets being unloaded, as is
customary. An argument for precedence
in the procession took place between the
Rabbi and the Catholic priest. The latter
claimed the first rank asrspresenting what
they considered the first of churches. The
former asserted his right as acting for the
eldest of faiths. The Provost Marshal
decided in favor of the Rabbi. Another
took place between Generals
Sykes and Griffin. The court martial Or
dered the execution between the hours of
two and four. The troops of the 9Th
Corps had not all arrived till long
after three. General Griffin, in whose
division the transaction was to occur,
said that if four O'Clock struck before
their arrival, he should feel himself to be
them to allow their death.
Sykes, commanding the corps, did not see
the Joint in the same light The tarrying
regiment, however, came up before the
time had elapsed. Four Of the culprits
were married. Folaney was single. Wal
tors wife lives in New York, and interce-
ded with the President, but to no pur-
pose. The families Of the rest live in Eu-
rope. They all had hopes of pardon till
the procession commenced.