The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-02-23
EXECUTION OF DEsERTERs.

EXECUTION OF DESERTERS.
:, Extract of q letter from member of the I'd N.
C. Regiment, to his mother:
Oar leaders have taken method of stopping
desertion from the ranks, which highly approve,
and which will, Think, stop it in the future
That method is the death penalty-shot to death
with musketry There has been several execu-
tions lately, and have witnessed four of them
from our division. The day after 1 last wrote,
two deserters from. the SD North Carolina Regi-
ment we're shot In the presence of the division.
There was snow of four inches thickness on the
morning of the execution The whole division
formed, by brgades, three sides of square, and
IN front of thefopen side two stakes were driven
in the ground, close together. The culprits were
brought to the stakes the proceedings AID SEN
tence of the court martial read to them in loud
voice. A preacher chen approached them, and
knelt down and rehearsed a prayer, that was
scarcely audible to the, division, who uncovered
their heads in alteration of the Most High. The
s'amep' at last, the eulprits bad thier hands
tied behind them, and facing the troops were made
to kneel with their backs to the stake, to which
they were then fastened. A pause then occurred.
The time when they were to die lacked few min
utes of expiring. The officer experimenting their
execution had his watch in his hand while the
ticking minute hand quickly sped its round of
time. The troops were silent as the grave, and
add last look at earthly things, while the at
that moment peeped from beneath the clouds, and
making its rays dance and sparkle over the CRYSTAL
snow, seemed to appear for the express purpose OF
giving those doomed men a last lingering look OF
earthly beauty, they were ushered into that ocean
of eternity. Butthe fatal hour has arrived. The
officer puts up his watch, platoon of soldiers move
to the front few PAGES from the condemned,
handkcrchiefs are bound over their eyes, clear
ringing voice commands "Ready," and the click
of the musket locks gives sharp metallic ring.
"Am," and twenty muskets are concentrated to-
wards the victims; "Fire"-a rafting report of
firearms, whole volume Of smoke, and as it clears
away, the inanimate forms of two men lay in their
last commissions, while their feb blood rushed forth
from dozen wounds crimsoning the pure white
snow at their feet. A Surgeon steps up, places
his hand on their pulses, turns to the division, lifts
his hat, and that sign denotes that their lives have
departed, and the deserter is summoned before the
Command er-in- Chief of the Grand Army of Crea-
ton in Eternity. The whole division move by the
flank and pass the dead bodies as they proceed to
their quarters, while detail is left to bury them
in dishonored graves that have been previously
dug in the vicinity.
There are others to blame besides those poor
guided and erring victims. Sometimes it is a
wife who has thus murdered her husband as Eve
deceived Adam; sometimes it is false friends who
have persuaded them from their duty; very seldom
they prompted to desert through cewardce,
but by far the greater portion are Influenced by
that accursed faction in North Carolina, who try
to the people to despond, and openly attempt
to pursuade the people that the government is rot
ten, and on the eve of disruption Many widows
and orphans, afflicted mothers, griefstrcken Sis
tiers and brothers, and surrounding friends have
just cause to call on God to send down his wrath
on those vile and corrupt agitators and defamers,
who have robbed them of husband, son. brother or
friepd-aye-murdered him, and brought bis fam
lily to disgrace. Yesterday there was another exc
cntion in the presence Of the brigade. He was
from Randolph county, and left wife and FIVE
children. He belonged to the 4th North Carolipa
Regiment. l went with my Captain to visit him
on Friday, while he was under guard at Division
Fl Headquarters. He took his sentence hard. On
being questioned why he deserted, he answered
that be did not like the regiment, and said the
reason why he did not come back under the Prcsi-
dents Proclamation was because of the teachings
of the Standard that led him to believe that the
government corrupt and would soon 90 down,
and that North Carolina would return to the Un-
ion again. He has two brothers that are deserters.
He said he had written them to come in and de-
liver themselves up, and listen no longer to the
syren songs Of these arch traitors of their life,
honor and liberty. Our whole Division has re-en-
listed for the war for life There is no despon-
dency here in the ranks Determination to do to
the bitter end is the will of ALL