Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-11-18
RETALIATION FOR THE MUIR
.DER OF UNION SOLDIERS.
Shooting Of Sia' Rebel Soldiers at ST.
Louis. .


1
six comrades, evidence of their summa-
~ execution having come to the knowl-
edge of the Provost Marshal General in
such shape as to leave no doubt of the
fact of their having been shot by the
rebe's and left in the woods.
| The names of the men so led to exc
cution were James w. Gates, Sd Mis-
souri, cavalry, &. S. A.; Harvey III.
Blackburn, company \, Colman's regi-
| Nichols, company G, I'd Missouri caval-
ry, c. s. A.: Charles w. Minniken,
company A, Crabtree's Arkansas cav
airy, G. s. A.; Asa V. Ladd, company
A, Burbriuge's Missouri regiment of
| Missouri cavalry, G. S. A., and George
T. Bunch, company b, Sd Missouri cav
airy.
| About half-past one o'clock the pro-
cession started from Gratiotstreet prison,
md, under escort of u detachment of the
10th Kansas, arrived on the ground of
Execution about half past two. There
were, including soldiers and citizens,
the former largely preponderating
about 5000 persons on the ground, with
the guards and escort. The firing party
consisted of ftty-four men-forty-four
If the 10th Kansas and ten of the 4lst
| -thirty-six being detailed to
ire, eighteen being in reserve. When
| The prisoners arrived on the ground they
were marched promptly to the places fix
Ell for their execution, there being six
| upright pine posts set in the ground with
square board seats attached for each
man to sit upon. They took their places
upon their seats, each with comparative
| calmness, and nearly all with appear
ances of resignation to the dreadful fate
that stared at them so immediately
| But little emotion was displayed by any
| OF the six except Nichols and Minniken.
| The latter commenced prayerful ejacula-
! tons in Subdued tone of voice soon
after being seated, which he kept up un-
til the bandage was tied over his eyes
after that his only remark was Boys,
| when you shoot me, kill me dead."-
| Nichols made no remarks, but kept on
weeping from the time OF TAX ing his seat
until the bandage was placed over his
eyes. Ladd and Bunch exhibited some
slight tokens of detection but not :;
word escaped them during the whole
scene. Blackburn set still and stOii1
upon his seat, and throughout WAS as
| imperturbable as a statue No muscle
OF his face quivered-ti,ere was no Wild
ness in his eye-not n movement that
denoted the slightest uncasiness in his
| manner
Gates, who was only twenty-One years
of age, and perfectly beardiess, at first
manifested Il most singular indifference.
lie had the manner of a Young man Just
the least embarrassed upon the introduce
ton to II company OF strangers. Vet,
Withal there was no fear in tile express
sion OF his features, bat rather IA mani
! iestation OF Seit-contjdencc, as of one
| who had q great and dangerous duty to
perform, but who felt himself equal to
it. Towards the end, however, he began
to manifest emotion, and, speaking t.
one OF the attending physicians. who
was standing near by, asked, Don't
you think there is any hope ,hat it will
! be postpOned:' And on being answer
ed in the negative, he moaned OCCASION
ally, and ut intervals made use OF the
! following expressions: "Oh, Lord has 6
me- cy upon me- 'Oh, TO think OF the
news that is TO so to father and mother"
well, I amt the first ana | don't
reckon I'll b. the last. Lord nave mer-
cy upon me-" $50 be tied to a stake
and shot; l tell YOU it's awful"
After lie had been tied to the stake
and Chaplain McKim had prayed with
him, he said addressing the guard j
Boys, hope if any OF you are ever
shot, You won't he shot as innocent as
am"
/ Chaplain Mchim having said prayers
with each prisoner, end bid them good,
bye, Col. Heinricils read the order of
execution, after which he informed the
prisoners that it they desired 10 Say any
thing they could have an opportunity.
| There was no response except from Min
:niken, who said: II should like TO say
a few words" He then. with firm and
distinct voice, and rapid utterance, said:
"So!diers, and al! who hear me, take
warning. have been a Confederate
J: L,
served my country faithfully. And [
am taken out now and shot for what
men have done that ! know nothing
about, and for what had nothing to do
with. | never was Il guerrilla, and ]
ann very sorry that have to be shot for
the acts OF men that / never had any
!. thing to do with, aud for what am not
guilty Of, Ii ! had taken any OF you
soldiers prisoners, ] would have treated
you Is such-i never would have had
you shot. | never would have hurt
: anybody. L hope God may take me to
! His bosom after am dead. o, Lord, be
with me-
! Each prisoners eyes were then band
AGED. Nhe!, !hc sergeant approached
/ ninnikeu 10 put the bandage on his
! eyes tie prisoner said :! Sergeant |
+ don { rialue Vnu ; hope III meet YOU
IN another world | hope III rect Won
ali IL NeaEan. O Lord, have mercy on
+ my poor ssy..i Bunch and Blackburn
! still remained silent and almost moti0n-
! less. Ninniken said: Lord have
mercy on my poor, sinfn! SOUL Gates
said: John Nichols, we are going to
die. Farewell"
! ,!innixen replied = Farewell: we
will meet ina better world Gates re-
| sp0ndei - Farewell to all the boys"
! Nothing further was said. ANA the
command to make ready was giVen.-
There was momentary suspense, and
then & further command, Zone. two,
fire." and the entire voley was dis
charged almost a. one gun. Instantly
the blood spurted from the breast of
each prisoner, and, quivering for a mo-
ment. their heads fell upon their shout
lers, and then their bodies iurched to
one side, and fell as near the ground rs
they could with their arms pinioned 10
the stakes. IN this position the blood
=. strea.nefi from their woiinCs, VIII icil
were nearly al in the breast and in
one Or two places formed little pools up
on the ground. TIE attending physi-
clans examined the bodies so soon as
the firm: ceased, and found 40 signs of
life in any except Blackburn In five
minutes from the time the voliey was
discharged they We're all dead.
| Ta'eFs. after he was shot, uttered the
exclamation "Ohn' and Black burn
cried out 8 Kill me quick" hut in an in
slant later they were evidently insensi-
BILE. .raa,,,.,
After this, the bodies were placed in
good. plain collins. and taken in charge
| by the government undertaken Mr.
| 5n:ittiers. Then the crowd dispersed.
nd the soldiers returned to their quar-
ters.
| 'ars,s. EsEI.sSnY Txnsrnsga