The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-06-24

Horrible Butchery OF Fourteen Men
for DESERVING the Traitors.

Horrible Butchery OF Fourteen Men
for DESERVING the Traitors.
From the Tri-weekly South Carolinian, Maya
A correspondent of the Atlanta Confed-
eracy gives the annexed account of a mill
tary execution which recently occurred at
Dalton:
81 have witnessed scene, the horror
Of which can never be forgotten. 1t was
the execution of fourteen men by the SEN
tence of court martial.
"When l arrived on the ground, found
the division of Major General Stevenson
drawn up in lines, forming three sides of a
hollow square. In front were fourteen
stakes, with coffin at the foot of each,
and in the rear of these long line of
yawning graves.
In few moments afterward, the arri-
val OF four wagons containing the unfortu-
nate men filed slowly through the lines,
and approached the fatal spot.
The men, with one exception, ap-
preached unmove3, and calmly looked
around as though they were unconscious
of the fearful end which they were ap-
preaching.
"By direction of Gen. Reynolds they
were drawn up in line, and a number of
Chaplains approached them and besought
them to give the few remaining moments
of their lives to prayer, which was followed
by the reading of the Twenty Psalm,
and an eloquent prayer, which affected
the prisoners very much.
"Gen. Reynolds then asked them if they
had anything to say, and addressed them
in an impressive manner for few minutes.
Two of them said they had no intention of
deserving the service; one said he was cut
off from his command at Mission Ridge,
and did not know where to go, and so
went home; the other said he deserted on
account of his family.
Several of their regimental and COM
pany officers now came forward and babe
them farewell. The men, with one excep-
ton, were very excited, several having lost
all control of their feelings.
seen. Reynolds turned to them and
said: May God have mercy on your
souls, and turned hastily away. The guard
stepped forward, and, taking each one to
stake, tied them fast, and then bound
cloth over their eyes.
All began to pray, and some were
shouting and clapping their hands. Austin
made no demonstration. save the swaying
back and forth of his broad whitish lips,
which moved as in prayer.
The shooting detail, consisting of one
hundred and twenty men, were marched in
front OF them, and an officer stepped aside
and raised handkerchief; then the omi-
nous clinking of thelocks was heard, which
thrilled through the bystanders, and caused
the unfortunate men at the stakes to shud-
der and tremble as though galvanic bat
terry had been applied to each.
"One moment, and hundred tubes are
leveled at their breasts. We hold our
breath in suspense, and a sickly faia.ing
feeling takes possession of US. While our
eyes are riveted upon the handkerchief
the fall of which is to send these unfortu-
nate men to an untime'y and dishonored
grave-the officer turns from the con-
demned to the detail, hurries along the
line, drops the handkerchief, and turns
away.
GA ragged voley followed by struggling
shots, and two of the men are lifeless;
Others are screaming in their agony, and
imploring and beseeching the men to fin
ish the work so badly begun. A few strug-
gle to half reclining position, suspended
by the rope which confines them to the
stakes, and expire. A young soldier rush
es up to shoot poor wretch who is crying
in agony for death, and presents his gun,
but, sickened with the horrid sight, turns
away then wheels and quickly aiming his
gun, sends ball through his breast. At
last the provost guard arrived and dis
patched the few who were yet struggling.
"With sad sickened heart l turned
away, aid even after I had mounted my
horse heard a shot fred at some poor
fellow who had fingered ten or fifteen min
utes.
"The affair was badly managed, and the
horrors OF such scece were made revolt
ing by the laundering manner in which the
execution took place No reserve was on
hand to finish the horrible work, and in
stead Of dropping handkerchief as sig
nal, the regular command should have
been given: the men who were to fire
watched the handkerchief, and when it
dropped, the men fired without aiming
their pieces.
''Let us hope that this fearful example
will prove of lasting benefit to our men,
and that such scene may never occur
again during our struggle for independ.
onco