, 1863-05-19
Ql)lrago Qribnne.
Execution of CorbIn AMI Marratx on
johnson Island, Lake Erie.

The sandusky (Ohio) Register, Of Saturday
morning, contains full particulars Of the exc.
cntion at johnson Island, on Friday last, of
William Corbin and 7. P. Mngraw, convicted
By Court Martial at Cincinnati Of recruiting
for the Confederate army within our lincs,
carrying rebel mails, and being spies:
At twenty minutes past one the prisoners
accnmlauiedl By their escort and Chaplain
left the prison and proceeded to the place Of
execution. The prisoners rode in two
horse wagon, Eeated upon one Of their coff1ns
their spiritual adviser, Rev. r. McCune, chap
lain OF the post, sitting between them, aud
the band playing dead march. So soon as
they. reached the place Of execution on tile
beach, Oh tue other side Of the island, and
they were taken from the wagon aud seated
on tLeit cotfins in front Of the battalion, tho
battalion Immediately furmcd q hollow square,
nc execution party. under command Of Lieut.
Hc1lcnbcck. acting Provost Marshal, occupy
ing position Immediately in front Of the
center facing the prisoners, thcis escort and
Chaplain attending them, Minor McPlerson
ana stat ocGun, Ing position to the right.
Adlutant Bailey then read the proceedings,
findings and sentences Of the court martial,
when the Rev. R. McCune stepped forward
beside the condemned and said:
s. am desired By these unfortunate men, to
return their thanks to the Commander Of the
post, and to all the officers aud men with
whom they hare bad intercourse, for the kind
ncss and sympathy they have received since
their arrival here. I am also charged by them
TO say to all in attendance, that they die for
gi1l1 E Ill enculies and accusers, and in love
and CLARITY with all men, be1iering in the Cos
pei Of Jesus Christ. aud that they have been
thus ftr consolcd and Sustained by its truths,
md that. trusting in the mercy of God
th5onsh 19g Christ they haVe good hope Of etvr-
The Chaplain then, in an earnest, impas-
Eloncd md feryent hummer, invoked the
Throne Of Grace iur the unfortunate crinli-
malls.
The prisoners were then blindfolded, the
Provost Marshal gave the necessary command
to thc execution party, and McGrIW nnd Cor
bin paid the penalty of tilcir acts. The firing
was instant 'ancous, 70 that the sixteen mus
kcts seemed to make but one report. The
mtn both fell back upon their collins and died
without q struggle. Corbin did not move a
mns seie-AlcGEaw gaBpeG Twice.
The bodies were examined By the Surgeons,
and life belrg found extinct the Battalion
again formed in line Of battle, broke into COL
unln right in front and marched iu common
time, the band playing the dead march, past
the dead bodies, and thence to the parade
ground, where 1t WAS dismissed.
81 order If Gen. Burnside, the bodies we're
delivered to ftiend Of the deceased, who
was here to take them in chargc-Mr. Cal.
DeMces, Of Flagg Spring, Kentucky.
The execution party consisted of 90 men
divided into four sauatls, being reserve The
sixtten shots fired, sht at each man, seemed
rs the shot Of one 1nan. In the sixteen mug
kets there were fourteen balls, and forty 1.-TWO
shot for each Of the condemned. Upnn ex-
animation Of the bodies it WIS found that Is
Of the balls and shot had taken effect in the
breasts ofeach, within circle of few inches
Immediately previous to proceeding to the
place Of execution, the condemned men hand
I'd tn Rev. r. McCunc 4 brivf memoranda ot
the1rbirth, age, &c. We give the essential
facts.
William G. Corbin was born March Stf,
lSG3. IN Campbell county, Ky Hc. Joined tue
Iasonic order when 81 years Of age and the
Christian Church {Disciplcs} the next year.
He Joined the rebel army in O.tobcr, is y,
came to kentcky in February, 1861. and was
taken prisoner on tue night Of April sth Last.
At the time of Lis deat b lie WAS an elder iu the
s'Chrietaiu Church, at Flagg Springs, Ken
lucky.
T. z. McGraw vas born in Harrison county.
Ky, on the Ssh Of june, 1920. In $50 be
moved to Campbell county, Ky, where he
lived at the time 1ie enlisted in the rebel array,
In April 1862, in the 5th Kentucky Vn'un-
tccrs. IL February, 1858, he was sent to Ken
tucky by General Humphrey Marshal, to r.
cruit . company fOI his command and was
taken prisoner, April9,h last. He concludes
his memoranda rs follows: II joined the
Christian Church at California, Ky, in ls5;,
anu leave mother, two sisters, brother, and
friends to mourn my loss. But their loss is
III. gain. Prepare to meet me IN Heaven. l
freely forgive all men, Us God, for Christ 4
sake, LAS forgiven me-"
The whole affair Of the execution was man.
aged most cxccllently in every respect, and
reflects the greatest credit upon Mlior Pier
son and his officers and mcn. There was nc
jar, or irFrgularity Of my kind IN the whole
fearful programme.
There remains were Immediately taken it
charge BY Il detail Of men, and kindly and care
fnlly prepared for the narrow house. They
were cnf1lned and boxed and brought over OF
the Eastern to he conveyed to their friends it
Kentucky 1or interment, by Mr. De3foss.
The five other prisoners condcmacd te
death and the execution fixed for Friday, tilt
..s!'1h inst, on Johuson's leland, arrived las1
evening. We repeat their names Thomas
Perkins, alias Thomas Hawkins, George r
Sims, William s. Burgess. and John r. Lyle
all Of the Confederate army and convicted a.
spies, sentenced to be hung; aud John G
Shore, Of the 10oIh Illinois, Convicted on hi
own confession Of deser:ion, sentenced to b
shot. They were met at the depot By the re
| mains Of the men executed yesterday aftcrno u
which Was certainly most fearful reuindc
Of their coming f.le.