The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-07-08


rsoined commenting upon the distinction between ths
civil and military Jurisdiction, showing the utter mpos
hbity Of fighting battles carrying war, maintaining
the government in times Of war; &C., By process o law
HER SPIRITUAL ADvIsRRs SEEK 70 GET HER AZ
PRIBvED.
Fathers walter and wiget, her spiritual advisers
called upon the President this morning with request
from the Bishop Of Baltimore that the execution Of Nn
surrat might be postponed for 1t least three days,
the formulas for repentance and preparation prescribed
by tho Church In such cases could not be complied
with in less time. They were met with decided
refusal and assured that her had been carefully
considered, and NO earthly power could change the
deciaion.
ANXIETY TO WITNESS THK EXECUTION. laa
There great anxiety to witness the executions
and all sorts OF devices and entreaes resorted
FOR the purpose Of obtaining cards OF admission These
were seldom successful however, the number issued
necessarily very limited The public generally were
therefore obliged TO wait until the newspapers should
furnish the accounts Of the solemn scene.
THE APPROACH TO THE ARSENAL.
Very little time elapsed after nine O'Clock this morning
before the rapidly increasing asscmbage of carriages
hacks at the foot Of ahaf street. front of
the entrance to the yard Of the Arsenal building
betokened that the public already upon the alert
for the great execution and eager to obtain early
to the grounds upon which it TO transpire AT
precisely ten o'clock the gates opening the extension
grounds north OF the arsenal unbared and from
that time the passage Of individuals bearing tickets OF ad
mission to the awful spectacle that forthcoming
tinued uninterrupted
III
The number Of troops guard estimated about
three thousand and made up Of four regiments Of
infantry from Hancocks corps, who posted upon
the walls Immediately overlooking the prison yard,
where the scaold had been erected upon the grounds
leading TO tho doors and gates Of the Arsenal building
and again about the Of approach 70 the main gate
at tho foot Of Four-and a-han street. This force
under command Of Lieutenant Colonel Ledbeater. In
the immediate neghborhood OF the cells in which the
condemned confined, and patrong every corridor
leading thereto well the ground upon which the
scanold STOOD were posted the Fourteenth and Egh.
tscnth regiments Veteran Reserves under command OF
Captain wakenshak. Of the latter regiment Both de.
tachments were from General Giles brigade command
ing the troops employed In garrsoning the city Of wash
ington.
EPFBcrINo AN ENTRANCE.
All the arrangements for the reception Of the privileged
characters from the hosts OF people desiring attend the
finale Of this great secession drama admirably per-
fectcd and very satisfactorily applied For the distance
Of seventy hundred feet outside the Threshold
Of the entrance from the street to the Arsenal grounds
double lines Of soldiers, facing each other, had been
posted through which the applicant for admission was
ushercd to the presence OF officials who had the cxamn
ing of passports In charge TO whom the admission Ticket
which reads as below, was shown
HEApQUARrEns MrppLs MILITARY D,yrsroy
~ I.IxyH lSAG
Major General HARrRAssr Military Governor Mill
Admit - to the military prison this day;
aF Major General U. g. " commanding.
This secured the visitor to the arsenal grounds
only and not to the prison. which stands upwards Of
quarter OF mile to the southwark. Arrived at tho
arsenal the major part Of the crowd admitted to
the inner yard which is little than huge open
court the north and western sides being overlooked by
the high walls Of the prison. and the other enclosed
by vail twenty feet high and between three and four
feet in thickness Through tho gate upon the end
Of the enclosure few friends Of the prisoners general
officers and members of the press allowed to enter
the building and remain in the ante until the hour
Of execution when they yassed into the yard through
the corridor by which the condemned were subsequently
led forth.
now MATTERS STOOD WITHIN.
Such visitors allowed the enfre6 Of the prison
building ushcred into hall about ten feet wide
upon tho left Of which lay rooms the front apart
ment being occupied by General Harranft Provost Mar
shal Of the Arsenal building and such officers as were TO
assist In the execution The other had been kindly
opened for the accommodation Of reporters Of press
and artists in the employ Of illustrated papers The
windows In the latter commanded full view Of the
scaold and nearly the whole OF the yard In which It
STOOD thus making especially adapted to the use Of
Al. "a l.th
innermost end Of the hail. which not more than
forty feet In length, door studded with massive
rIvets and bolts, which opened into a passage leading
into the yard and which also gave insress to the hall
upon which the cells Of the condemned prisoners
located, on the sroond noor
AT bafpast ten O'Clock there very considerable
assembagc either Il the antc.rooms alluded to- the
yard in which the execution TO take place.
not anticipated that there woud be very large turnout
General Hancock had only issued two hundred tickets
Of admission last night, and beyond fifteen or twenty
that issued this morning This was the entire num-
Der cut when entered the building at the honr
above named the senries were pacing in front Of the
door leading within the cells gentlemen grouped
about their inclination prompted discussing the scene
that to be before them, and tho members OF
the press swiftly and silently sketchlng the
rcundings and appointments without and within. There
was no commoton whatever, and though all wore look
Of expectancy there only subdued murmur Of
versation prevalent in the hall adjacent apart
mcnts.
oFFIcERs AND MEN ON DUTY
By order OF the President Major General W. s. Han
cock charged with seeing the order for the execution
OF the criminals carried into effect and to Major General
J. r. Hartranf Provost Marshal Of the arsenal building
belonged the duty OF It's personal supervision In the
disagrecsbe work OF this memorable day the latter
officer aided by the following members Of his staff
Colonel J. A. Dodd.
Lieutenant Colonel Mccall.
Lieutenant Colonel q. W. Frederick.
Captain G. Roth.
Captnin Watts
Lieutenant Geisinger
Together with Surgeons DR. Otis, United sts,cs vouu.
tecrs; DIR. Woodward, United States Army, and DR..
Porter United States Volunteers. The regiments and
detschments on duty have already been named