Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-01-28
Military Executions In the Con-
federate Army.

New Orleans States.l
During the late war there we're two
occasions on which men of the first
Louisiana brigade of the army of
northern Virginia were shot to death
with musketry,' alter trial BY court
martial. Thefrstoccurredin Virginia,
during the yelr 1861, when two mem
bers Of the tiger Rifles" of Wheat's
battalion, were executed, after having
been tried and found guilty finsubor-
dination and nutritious conduct. These
men we're most reckless and desperate
characters, and they enacted tho role
of braves even in the Jaws of death.
1t was one Of the first execution Of
the war. aud thousands assembled to
witness it. When the culprits, dressed
in their fashy, jaunty, picturesque
Zouave uniforms, were confronted by
their executioners, the firing squad,
they displayed the utmost indifference
and sang-iroid, smoking their cigar
cites and INDUCING in jooulsr, ribald
remarks to their assembled comrades,
even up TO the time when the order
was given which launched them into
eternity.
The other execution occurred in the
fall of 1853, while the brigade, under
General Hays, was 10 line Of battle on
Mine Run, where General Lee effect.
ually stopped General Mesd's mad
rush toward Richmond, Private c.,
Of the Sixth Louisiana regiment, had
deserted during the first valley cam
paign, and Joined the Federal army.
He was captured more than a year
afterward, at BristOw station, by a
detachment of his old regiment, tried
by court martial, found guilty. sen
fenced to be shot. and the 30th day OF
November appointed by General Lee
as the day of his execution. He was
about twenty years of age, had been a
new1hOy, and was employed on n o.
the New Orleans newspapers at the
time Of his enlistment in the army.
He was sullen and cross in disposition
and seemed to be utterly devoid OF
either pride or s%ensibility. The pris-
oner was brought to the lines securely
manacled and guarded. and a priest
proceeded to administer spiritual con
ISOLATION to him, but so callous and in
sensible was he to all moral and relig-
lious feeling that he disdainfully re-
iected the kindly Offices Of the mar Of
God.
At 5 pm while a lively skirmish
firing was going on in front, and an
occasional shell from the enemy cat
teries would come hurling over our
lines, the brigade was formed along
the top Of the breastworks, officers and
men bearing only their side arms. A
grave had been dug some thirty PAGES
in front of the center Of the brigade
line, at the head Of which the prisoner
was placed, his shackles having been
removed and his arms pinioned behind
his back. Ten PAGES in front of him
stood the firing party, consisting Of
twelve men, with a commissioned off
Ger Of the company to which he had
formerly belonged. The priest wal
by his side uttering prayers and hold.
ing before him a small crucihx, which
with difficulty he induced him to kiss
Alter the faithful father bad con.
, cluded the duties Of his Office, the
charges againstthe culprit we're read
as were the finding Of the court mar.
tial, the death sentence and the an.
proval Of General Loe--to all ofwhict
C. listened without betrayina tn,
loast emotion Of fear, regret or oontri.
iion. His insensibility was truly
wonderful in one 90 young; his eve die
not blink, his cheek did not blanch
his liz did not culver, but there b,
stood, on the threshold Of an iqno
minious death, sullenly, frowninely
de6antly looking into the faces of hi
executioners. All that he woulc
deign o say by way OF explanation
was that, though hehad deserted from
his regiment and joined the fedora.
army, he had never pulled @ trigge.
against bis old Louisiana comrades