Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-01-12
CONDEMNED TO DEATH.
BY DARWIN c. PAvEY.

was apparent to the government forces
stationed at and near City Point, Va.
that an event of more than ordinary sig
nihcance was about to transpire. ofii-
GERS and orlerles hurried to and fro,
through the narrow streets and by-ways
of the place made famous rs Grant :
base of supplies. The members Of the
Hath PENNSYLVANIA. stationed near head
quarters. were sitting in their tents
Frightening their arms and accoutre-
ments, or gathered in little knots ineach
company street. were earnestly discus
sing the impending shooting Provost
Marshal General Patrick, the Calcraft of
the army of the Potomac. was here and
there, like bird on the wing, issuing
orders and dispatching orderlies with II
promptncSs that BODIED no good To the
poor fellow whose life was to pay the
forfeit Of an injudicious movement to-
ward home AMI friends, technically cali
ed deserion.
AT last. after hours of active prepare
ton by the troops at and near head
quarters and unceaSing meditation on
the part of the doomed soldier. the col
umn formed and filed away 10 the place
of execution distant from CITY Point
about two miles and directly in front of
the camp of the 10Th Reg, n. Y. Vol.
Engineers II seemed a. if nature had
chosen Alright in setting apart this place
for military executions. From the SPOT
where the grave had been dug directly
in front of an old gallows frame which
had been used few weeks previously
for ihc hanging of II spy the ground
a, IA.
forming rs it we're Il vast natural
amphithcater The day vas compara-
lively cloudes,. and although there was
little in the appearance of nature 20 in
dictate the approach of spring, the
weather was such a. Is common 10 May
in our latitude.
But the column has reached the place
of execution, and the slight elevation i,
already crowned with soldiers. ordered
out to witness the death of comrade.
The condemned charged with deserving
from the Sll Delaware. Il prepoSSesSlg
man of middle age. ali@h,S from the am
buancc. He exhibits no fear. 10 emo
ton, but looks and acts rs if he were re-
solved to die brayely. He engage, in
earnest conversation with the chaplain -
/. man considerably shorter and slighter
than he, while the regiment forms into
three sides of hollow square. and his
every movement i, earnestly comment
ed upon by the host of >ympathizin9
comrades surrounding him At length
all prelniinaricS are arranged. the two
lines Of soldiers are IN open order
facing inwardiy. and the mourntlil pro-
ccssion is started First come. the oili-
Ger in charge of the execution followed
by the band of the / 18th PENNSYLVANIA
IN zouaVe uniform. two men bearing up
ON stretchcr the simple obong box
in which the deserter is to lie, file OF
six soldiers. the condemned and his spi-
ritual adviser, and second lir of six
soldiers. Slowly the sad cortege moves
along; the sweet yet mournfltl muSic OF
the Death March is waited on the slight
breeze of the morning To the ears of the
soldier boys who stand like statues in
bold relief seemingly against the sky it,
self. The noble bearing of the we'll
formed desclter, elects remarks of all
miration as he incline> his head, in or
der that he may the better hear the last
words of the man of God. The funeral
cavacade is passing down the third side
of the square, and the condemned Keeps
mfaltcrirg step to his own death music.
How fast our hearts are beating now, rs
the prescribed march i ended, and the
procession is halted. The rude box
which viii serve rs II coffin, is taken
from the strctchcr and laid on the
ground by the side of the grave, and the
soldier dcSertcr brave in the face of
certain DEATHS asked If he has any
thing TO say. Stepping forward. With
out the least >cmblance of bra2gadoeio,
he makes a few remarks which are
plainly heard by the hundreds of sol
diers about him. and his concluding
words, 81 die in defense of my country
ring ont upon the air with an intonation
never to be forgotten by those who
heard them Meantime the cover has
been removed from the box, and he
seats himself upon the end The officer
advances ia apply the usual hnndagc To
his eve. but the brave fellow, true To his
determination to die rs bccometh Il
soldier firmly refuses to permit il. Six
soldiers are then drawn up few PAGES
in front of him, arms al u shoulder. 1t
is 4 moment Of the most intense dread
to every looker-ou. UNNECESSARILY So To
the man shortly is he ushcred into the
realm of the unknown. Ready, aim.
fire The six fire as one man, and the
condemned falls backward into his cot
fin, killed instantly, his limbs only Visi-
bic from his knees down The agony Is
over, and the man who dclicd military
law, in order to See the faces of those he
loved best on earth. has gone into the
presence of his supreme Commander 10
answer for the deeds done in the body.
The troops reform in solid column,
and to the notes of II >prightly in
strumental piece retracc their steps to
camp.
Seated in my little ~lUGy, lock nj :,
picture over the nantelo OF Il >moothfacad
soldier boy nineteen years old, in full
uniform: and my mind rcvertS TO the
scenes of sixteen years ago; the toilsome
marches by night and day, the midnight
alarm. the picturesque camp, on the APP
pomattoN, and the little tent not far
from the James river. in which the pie
ture was taken, while an occasional gun