Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-04-22
THE EVENING NEWS.
SUPPLEMENT
Strangely Branded.

The dead body Of white man was found
on the levce yesterday, by the police, and
brought to to the First District lookup. On
the breast were branded the letters ~. S. D."
which is supposed to mean that he was de-
serter from the United States army, but We
never heard Of more than one instance i'll
which punishment Of this kind was inflicted
upon Il deserter from our army. During the
Mexican war the traitor and desrrter Reilly
left the army previous to the declaration O!
war, while Gen. Taylor forces were racamped
on the banks Of the Rio Grarde. He joined
the Mexican forces, md being an excellent
artilerist, was made Colonel Of battalion
OF desertcrs known as the st. Patrick Legion.
At Melino del Rcy the surviving remnant OF
the battalion was captured. They were tried
by court martial, and all who were proved to
have deserted after the commencement Of
hostilitics were sentenced to be hung, while
Reilly and the others who had deserted
before the war actually opened, were sentenced
TO receive thirty lashes, and 10 be branded on
the check with the letter 3D." The sentence
was executed to the very letter, and this is
the last instance of branding VIC have heard CT.
Thirty deserters were hung at this time.
Gen. Harvey had charge Of their execution.
The army had advanced upon the Mexican
works which crowned the heights Of Chapul-
tepec. The glorious rifles were in advance.
On 4 high hill in full view Of the conflict,
Gen. Harvey mad taken his station to super
intend the execution. The thirty cu!prits
were brought out, each in 4 baggage wagon
drawn By four mules. An extended GaLOws
had been erected By placing beams upon posts
twenty feet high, from which dangcd thirty
ropes with thirty hangmen's nooscs. The
wagons, with the victims in them, were driven
under the beams, and formed IN line, with
their talboards under the ga!lows. The ropes
were adjusted round the necks Of the desert
crs, and all being prepared, the faces OF the
doomed thirty were turned towards Chapu.te-
nee, where the battle was at its hight. Gen.
Harvey then addressed them as follows:
"You Internal scoundrcls-do you see that
fac fying from the summit Of Wonder noun
tain: 1t is the Mexican flag, whichyOu have
so we'll served. The moment the Star Span
Cled Banner, which you have so bascly be-
traved, takes its place, YOU die like dogs, as
you deserve to die" There was 4 moment OF
intense anxiety--but it was only a moment,
for the gallant rifles had stormcd the works,
and the Young Cadets OF the Mexican AcaG"-
nv, the flower Of her chiyalry, though fight
ing calamity, were defeated and driven back.
Young Underwood hauled down the banner
rcd, white and green, and the ever glorious
red, white and blue soon took its place, and
floated proudly over the Mexican stronghold.
True to his promise, Gen. Harvey gave the
order to the tcamstcrs. They cracked their
whips; the mules started, and the next nc
ment the thirty dcserters were hurled into
etcrnity-with victory to the American
arms photographed upon the rctina Of their
diving eyes. Reilly and the others were brand
ed and drummed out OF camp, and with re-
spect to his future history we are IN the dark.
He had previously deserted from the BRUSH
army. The body found on the levee yester'
dav we do not think WAS Reil!y's. but il may
have been one Of his companions. On his
arms were tattooed with india ink the initials
MW S C.n-Nec Orleans Era.