The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1864-11-09
[Frnm the 81. Lonis RernhIicsn.l ]
[From The st. Louis RepnbIican.J
The Murder Of Major wilson
Summary RetaIiatiOn-T Ia e
Shooting of Six Rebeis-One
More 30 be Executed.

More so be Executed.
In accordance with the orders-issued in
| pursuance of tes timony published elsewhere
! 10 this plper-six Confederate prisoners OF
! war were yesterday executed, by shooting, in
retaliation for the murder Of Major James
! Wilson and his six comrades, evidence OF
their summary execution having come to the
knowledge of the Provost Marshal General
| in such shape as to leave no doubt Of the
fact OF their having been shot by the rebels
and left in the woods.
IT, names Of the men so led to execution
were James W. Gates, Sd Missouri cavalry,
| {. s. A., Harvey H. Blackburn, company
! A, Coleman's s regiment Arkansas cavalry,
! &. S. A.; John Nichols, company q, I'd
! Missouri cavalry, G. S. A.; Asa V. Ladd,
company A, Burbridge's Missouri regiment
! of cavalry c. s. A., and George T. Bunch,
company b, Sd Missouri cavalry.
About half past one o clock the process
! sion started from Gratiot street prison, and
under escort Of detachment of the 10th
| Kansas, arrived on the ground Of execution
| about half past two. There were, including
| SELLERS and citizens (the former largely pre-
! ponderatiug) about 5000 persons on the
| around, With the guards and escort. The
| firing party consisted of ffty.four men-tor-
tv-four of the 10Th Kansas, and ten of the
| fist Missouri -thirty-six being detailed to
| Ere. eighteen being in reserve. When the
prisoners arrived on the ground, they were
marched promptly to the places fixed for the
execution, these 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
appearances 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 CALCULATIONS
! in a subdued tone of voice, soon after being
seated which he kept upNntil the. bandage
was tied over his. eyes after that his only
remark was, Boys, when you shoot, kill
me dead. Nichols made no remarks, but
kept weeping from the time Of taking his
seat until the bandage was placed over his
ewes. I.add and Bunch exhibited some
slight evidences Of detection; but not a word
escaped them during the whole sccne.--
Blackburn sat still and stolid upon his scat,
and throughout was as imperturbed AS a
statute. No muscle OF his face qulvered-
there was no wildness in his eye--not move
ment that denoted the slightest uneasiness
in his manner.
Gates who was only twenty-five years OF
age. and perfectly beardless, at first mani
tested most singular indifference. He had
the manner of young man just the least
embarrassed upon the introduction to q comz
papv of strangers. Yet withal, there was
no fear in the expression of his features, but
rather a manifestation of self confidence, as
| r Il. E,l md ~
to perform, but who felt himself equal to it..
| Towards the end, however, he began to
manifest emotion, and, speaking to one OF
the attending physicians, who was standing
near by, asked, Don't you think there is
any hope that it will be postponed?.' and on
being answered in the negative, he moaned
occasionally, and at intervals made use OF
the following expressions: on LORD nave a,
mercy upon me. ,,Oh, to thlhk OF ihe
news that is to 90 to father and mother. -
We'll, | amt the first and | don't reckon
! Iii be the last. d" Lord have mercy upon
me- '"To lie tied to stake and shot; |
tell you its awful."
After he Lad b. en- tied to the stake and
Chaplain McKim had prayed with him, he
said addressing the e'guard, Boys, hope
if any Of you are over shot, you won't be
SuOt dS lllIlOCCIil tlS l. dlll
Chaplain Mckim having said prayers with
each prisoner, and bid them good bye, Col.
Heinrchs read the order Of execution, after
which he informed the prisoners thatit they
desired to say anything they could have an
opportunity. There was no response except
from Mnniken, who said Il would like tc
say few words. y He then, with firm
and distinct voice, aud rapid utterance, said:
Soldiers, and all who hear me, ia ke warn.
ing! | have been a confederate soldier fol
four years, and as such have served my
country faithfully. And | am taken out
now and shot for what men have done that
| know nothing about, and for what L had
nothing to do with. | never was guerrilla
and am very sorry that have to be shot
for the acts OF men that | never had any
thing to do with, and for what | am moi
guilty of, Ii | had taken any of you col
diers prisoners, would have treated you as
; such never would hurt any body. | hope
God may take me to his bosom after / an
dead. o, Lord, be with me.
Each prisoners eyes were then bandaged
Whenthe seargcant approached Minniken tc
put the baudagc on his eyes, the prisoner
said: Sergeant, don t blame you; / hope
III meet you in another world; hope Il
meet you all in heaven. Lord have mercy
on my poor soul!'' Bunch and Blackburn
gtill remained silent, and almost motioDless
Minniken said; Lord have mercy on my
poor, sinful soul Gates said: "Johr
Nichols, we are going to die. Farewell. "
Minniken replied: Farewell; we viii
meet in better world" Gates responded
Farewell to all the boys.
Nothing further was said, and the CON-
mand to make ready was given. There was
momentary suspense, and then further
command. Zone, two, fire and the entire
volley was discharged almost as one gun. In
stantly the blood spurted from the breast oI
each prisoner, and quiyering for moment
their heads fell upon their shoulders, and
then their bodies lurched to one side, and
fell as near the ground as they could with
their arms pinioned to the stakes. In this
position the blood streamed from theil
wounds, which were nearly all ih the breast,
and in one or two places formed little pools
upon the ground fhe attending physicians
examined the bodies as soon as the firing
ceased, and found no signs of life in any cx.
cept Black burn. lnfye minutes from the
time the volley was discharged they were all
dead.
Gates, after he was shot, uttered the ex.
clamation, ''Oh, and Blackburn cried out,
"Kill me quick but in an instant latel
they we're evidently insensibc
After this, the bodies were placed in good
plain coffins, and taken in charge by the Gov
ernment undertaken, Mr. Smithers. Then
the crowd dispersed, and the soldiers return
ed to their quarters,
In this connection it is proper to publish
the following testimony, in addition to that
presented elsewhere, taken before the Pro
vost Marshal, in regard to the death Of Ma
ior Wilson and the mon whose bodies were
found with him. We learn, too, that as
soon as rebel Major has been captured he
will be executed in like manner for the death
Of Major Wilson, the six men having been
4 executed in retaliation for the killing Of. the
Ipriyates captured with Major w. The or