New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-06-23
FR0u WEST TENNESSEE.
a Military Exceution-Thc Crime and the
Criminals.
From Our Special Correspondent


MEMrHTs June II, 1864.
The history of this city was yesterday marked
with tracica episode Three men. Jacob SHOWER John
Callahan and Thomas Johnson privatcs in the Cd New
Jersey Cavalry suffered tie extreme penalty Of military
law for the perpetraton OF that mos. henous of all
eriuesrape Tie details of tho atrocity have already
had even too great publicity which fact together with
consideration for tie feelings Of the afflicted family.
will excuse NE for not making particular reference
to it.
Jacob Shower was n member Of Company NJ, ana q
re- don't Of Worland County y. j., where lie leaves
wife and six children. lie man OF good standing
in the regiment, and was among tie las. that would
have been suspected Of snch oaense The only OK
osc he offered was that he was drunk, and while in
tat condition Influenced by Callahan During his
incarceration. he exhibited signs Of deep repentance
and WAS constantly attended by his spiritual adviser
tle Roy Wfl Poston. John Callahan was an Irish
man and although beyond doubt The most guilty OF the
three tie least affected by ms aWful SITUATION -!
his own confession he was the nsugaor OF me outrage
His character In the regiment was bad ana ne was re-
carled as a TINT would shrink from no crime ana
one who was unposscsscd a all manly principle lie
vaa unmarried but leaves parents living In NcWJer
scy Thomas johnson was an Intelligent looking young
man. ~ about - wears O ngo, ana Yorkshire tngsh-
man Dy birth lie less affected than SHOWER but
the expression Of his countcnance showed the deep and
fuwutuuus working Of his mind He was generally
liked n thc ogimcai, anil. Ike Saover wonld not out
for the evidence and his own confession have been sls
pcccd OIL having been implicated In such An atroeoas
olfrurc. Almost hs Inst words g. the Rev. Mr. HUB
bard who attended him. that Nc hoped his former
comrades would profit hy his example.
The hour 6ci f0r the execution VAS o'clock. About
p % wagon containing three collins drove up IN Iont OF
Irving Bioca Prison who're the pgrOncrs were confined
aud tho unfortunate men, properly attended, were
brought out and seated IN H. each on his o~n coin the
attending ministers placing Themselves opposite 70
ihcm In few minute tie gloomy oayalc3de siaTiea,
the wagon guarded by detachment OF tie IN Iowa
Infantry lclling and an immense crowd OF cltIehs Q
all ages and both sexes following. Moving a. funeral
pace che proc son with IL attendant crowd passed
Cont square and 80 on the lower snbcrbs Of the city
Arrived near the place Of execution the wagon was
halted and the prisoners dism0nntcd
CA the arge level extent Of ground In front Of Fort
Pickering the entire military force Of the Dltrici NOT
otherwise duty was drawn mp 50 "a to t0rfn three
sides 81 square the side Of Tho fort forming the iouih
Surrounding the three living sides OF this square were
thousands % citizens strangely curious 20 witness the
tragedy about 10 be- enacted.
The detachment Of 80 men detailed from the eth Iowa
firing party was formed without ne square, WIN
the prisoners between their ranks, stu attended by
their respective ministers. Next after them came three
squads of four mcn each. each squad bearing collin
In front II 4 placed tie band Of the eth iowa.
These dispositions being made, the procession was
a,san on, In notion the band playing solemn funeral
march, Entering the square the left the procession
nude the entire circuit 81 he incossre and hated near
10 and in front OF tie ort Tic three collins were no"
placed upon the ground. and 20 the 'front.' oi each was
lod tie man who in few minutes to be It's occu
Tho firing marty was ten divided into three squads
Of i2 each there being xix guns loaded with blank and
six uit hI cartridge ~ each squad. These guns are
loaded privately. and tie men nEctWard choose them
af random go thai man knows who fires fatal shot
IA little touch Of humanity that breaks the horrible
soomnity Of she hour Ike sunshine through storm
The squads then took position about 20 les. IN front OF
the men. Col. Geddif lrovost-Marshal, read the
Charge, finding sentence aud dCath-wgrrant in each
ease a urnycf was offered BE- the Chaplain Of tie "a
Now.Jcrsc, and the ltl uD-cat had arrived. No re-
sionsc Wns made when notice vas given the prisoners
tint they might speak II they had anything TO say.
Iach seemed to be engaged in payer snoyes praying
eudibly.
Handnrcs were tied over their eyes, and the attend.
nuts retired. Col Geddis waved hs Handkerchief AID
tie clicking OF 80 guns sounded With strange distinct.
mes. through the dead silence. An unusual sWayng OF
tie body was noticeable this Omn0us sound smcte
tue ears II the doomed men. Without andiulo com
mand the guns were aimed. Ihcle was moment OF
suspense, during wlcfhcarccly breath was drawn IN
TIE vast multitude WHOM the c0mLspd Fire J. rang
out with staitng emphasis An rnlroken explosion
followed and the men ilil dead Shower had received
Eve balls in tie body Callahan two IN the body and one
through the head, and johnson six, all in tie breast
Thus sped three lives that were pledged to their com
tr Defense but sacrificed On the altar OF their own
liquiy. j. L. u.