, 1864-08-16
MfLiTAIkK EXECU TIDN.
AhoottDE Of Barney Gtbbfnx, De-
AeFxeF4

I MILRTAKY EXECUTION.
shooting Of Barney Gtbb1n*, a De
AeEter.
lFsom the St. Lohis Democrat. August 1a1
At eleven o'clock Yesterday morning, Bar
Infantry, vas shot ut Fort Mo. !, In accord
ance with the sentence Of court martial
before which he had been tried and fount
guilty OF the crime OF deserting from tht
Federal army, and joining the standard o
the rebels in arms against his country.
yolved upon Major E. D. Nash, superInten.
| GENT OF Military Prisons, and bY order OF
Colonel B,ker, Post Comuan1ant, ali the
troops IN the city not on duty were present.
tns troops. to the number Of seven or
elght hundred, on arriving at the place Of
s: eaecuuop' formed . hollow square on the
vest Side OF the fort, with an open face on
1ae east. i squad OF sixty men Of the 10Th
hansas, commanded by Lieutenant Wood.
conducted the prisoner from Myrtle street
prison to the place Of execution. Tho pris.
oner Was convey ed In black covered wagon.
oss.!!99nelng TO Mr. smithers, tho undertaken,
sitting on bis coffin BY the aide of the olficla.
I ting, PIIest, Rev. Father santots, Of the St,
Lcofs University, who had visited him in the
| prison and baptized him in the Roman Cath
Ole Church on Wednesday last. Gtbbips lad
lever received the benefit Of a religious ed
| ucation, having been left an orphan at an
ear!y age; and It was through the teachings
of Father santols In prison that be was ia.
tianlty. - ~.A4'-
Ths preparations being completed, the
priest md the prisoner got out Of the wagon
and knelt on tie ground in front of the post
which had been placed in the ground on the
"est side OF the fQrt, and for a fuw moments
engaged In prayer. Rising up, the doomed
man stepped forward to The post to which
hs was to be tied, and to which seat Was
attached. Tne cofao was placed on the
ground cloze BY, and the attendants brought
forward the rope and white cap. Fifteen
teet from the post were sIx suldlers Of the
'ioth kaness, and just behind them four
mere of: the same regiment These were the
executtont rs. Tho guns OF the first six were
all loaded with bali and. cartridge, txceot
one, SO that neither Of them could say with
certainty that he had caused the prisoners
death rs 1t Was not known which one car
ried the gun loaded with blank cartridge.
Inc prisoner now stood up, facing the ex
eeutlohtrs. He appeared calm and IN.
moved, as though determined to meet bis
"an ~ years Of age, about FIVE feet nine
incbes IN height, with sandy whiskers.
brown hair and dark blue eyes compac.ly
built, with broad shoulders and full chest
and regular features. Tie was In bis shirt
sleeves; with his pantaloons turned up at the
Seeing the attfndauts handling the rope.
LIE said, Il prefer not to be tied.n BE tden
eat tie seat against the post, and waving
bis bands, said, Farewell, farewell"
No}or Nash came forward and read the
nndftes and sentence Of the court martial,
alter which he asked the prisoner If he had
anything to saY.. Gibbins replied in a calm,
nEm voice: II have; but l wish to ask II
ihc president Of The United States signed
Major Nash replied ayes" and Gtbblus
proceeded He said he did not deny that be
kad deserted; but he did not desert With the
intention Of joining the enemy. His com
psry had marched from Arizona to New
Mexico and having travelled all night, he was
exhausted and worn ont, and fell out Of the
Ianks, and hid down on The ground and went
70 sleep. while asleep, the rebels under Slo.
deceived BY them and induced to join their !
fanks: lie then gave au account Of bis e.. |
cape from the rebel ship Sachetn, ut Sabine
Iaes, ard finding Lis way on board Of the t
ntce1ni r. .a b'oekading steamer Princess Royal.
ne eaid: thl1k 1t the most unjust scu. |
tence ever passed upon man. an sentenc-
60 to be shot, and 1suppose oy that escort"
looking at the exccutionors,) SEEING some |
reporters present, be said: :. A1y friends, DO |
not NaLt that put in the papers; my name
ao @oA1 AaA <1oob1. rave no parents,
they .haying died wien WINS verY youoe, but |
l brve brothers and eisters. and do not
want them to know it'' BE paused II mo-
ment and said: "1f there is man named
kichaTn i'I!: ID {. Day present, wonld like to see
my company BE waited for Dsy to appear.
but Msjor Nash told him b. WAS nat preseut,
DaE is the witness upon whose testimony
Gibbins was convicted. He said he died In i
the Catholic faith, and thanked Father Sau-
toiB for his kindness.
:, The prisoner having concluded, Father
-, :. ! ou are soldier, aud now you must die
like soldier and Christiau."
Zip b5fps then took a seat on the chair Of
denth, AID the White cnp was dra un. over his
head While this was being done, be said,
,.! - %ould +. :t Iatber not be bound; think can
After the cap was drawn down over his
head, he eaid. II have word more to says"
and 10 notice being taken OF his request, he |
waved his hand as II fsatisded, and hts arms
~.1e plntoned to the post. Lieut.. Wood
thcu gave the order :
" "Ready-aim-fire!f
Aid simultaneously six rifles were dis
charged, four bulls entering the body Of the
victim near the region Of the stomach, and
'ne striking the bluk Of earta behind hin.
The stout frame Of the prisoner quive.ed
and he 1s; eFisd I' out In anguish
Lieut.. Wood Immediately ordered the re-
serves to tire, and their. aim being more &C.
,ufate, the deserter's frame relaxed, his head
dropped Oh his shoulder; his hozom heaved
and In lew nomeats life was
:xttnct. /
HIS arms were unbound; be WAS laid on
he g ound on bis back, and Surgeons Dnd-
ey md 4ounEhlood, Of the army, examined
he body and decla1 ed thut life was extinct.
'ix or seven balls bad entered his body, Que