The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-11-07

was stricken from the death roll and that of oeors,
| l.. Bunch, OF the Third Missouri cavalry, was sub
| sl'uted The men were not informed of their fat.
until the day OF execution. The St. Louis Democrat
| gives the following details of their murders
AT about two O'Clock on Saturday afternoon the
| % sA %nsh were taken from the prison. placed in q
t wagon, and escorted TO the place of execu-
| ol py detachment OF the Tenth Kansas folloxed
Dy number OF other soldiers and by a f.x c;t;1ens
rolt no. t. short distance south of Iafayette PaTp
was seteeted as the place Of execution ana to that
point the procession marched without musie
On the west side of the fort SIX nosts had b., .
~ ~ sne eaen with seat attached and each
tled with strip Of white cotton cloth, afterwarda
USED In oandaging the eyes of the prisoners Eiftv
four men We're selected as TIA executjoners farty
four OF them belonging to the Tenth kansas ara
ten TO the Forty-hrst Missouri. Thrty-six OF these
conip9seo me mont hTlng party, eighteen being re-
ally. Wv '
About three o'clock the prisoners arrived on the
ground % and sat down, attached to the posts. They
lE appeared TO be more less affected, but con-
sldering the circumstances remained remarkably
nffn. Father Ward and Rev. Mr.. McKim spoke to
the men in their last moments exhorting them 10
put their trust in God. The row of posts ranoe5
north and south, and at the first on the north wa
Asa " ladd, on his left George Nichols. next
harvey IL Blackburn, George T. Bunch Charles
W. Minnken and James w Gates IadJ ava
BLACKBURN sat with perfect calInness with tbe;r
eyes nxfd on the ground, and did not speak Mich
ois gave no sign OF emotion at first, but sat with
seeming indifference, serapins the ground with h5
heel: He asked one of the surgeons If there wss
any hope OF postponement, and being assured that
there none, he looked more seTious and fres
qusntly calculated. Lord, have merry on my poor
soul" Again he said: so, to think OF the news
that will 90 to father and mother"
After the reading of the sentence by Colonel Helm
nchs, Mlnniken expressed desire to say few
words. He said
Soldiers, and all Of you who hear me, take warn.
ing from me. have been Confederate soldier four
years and have served nv country faithfully INN
now to be sl0t for what other men have done thatI
had no hand in, and know nothing about never
was guerrilla, and sorry TO be shot for what
had nothing TO do with, and wha; am OF guilty Of
When took prisoner always treated him kindly
and never harmed atter he surrendered I
hope God will take HE To his bosom when am dead
Lord be with me-"
While the sergeant bandasins his eyes Min
niken said" Sergeant, don't blame you hope
We will all meet III Heaven. Boys, when you kill
me, kill me dead"
The eyes of all being banjagea, they babe each
other farewell. g. Good bye, George said one
" Farewell, Niehoas,' said another; "Good bye,
uttered several; and two OF three. Of
them said, Boys farewell TO you all the Lord
have mercy Oh our poor sOuls'
The firing party was about ten PAGES Off Some of
the Kansas mon appearedto be reluctant fre upon
the prisoners, but Captain jones told Them il was
their duty; that they should have hesitation as
these 1nen had taken the life Of many Union man
who was as innocent as them msotves.
At the word the thrty-six soldiers fired simulta-
neouSly, the discharge soundinp like single expl5-
sion. The aim OF every man was true. One or two l
of the victims groaned and Blackbu cried out /
" Oh Kill me Quick, In tive minutes they wero ali /
lead their heads falling TO one side and their bodiac
;" iiSing around to the sde5 Uf tire posts and being
kept from falling By tha pinioIs on their arms =
tiSe OF th6m were shot through the heart and the |
sixth received three balls il his breast DIVING al
most instantly