New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-01-13
A.Descrter who Died Hard.

In September, 1858, the Third Di-
vision of the Second Corps, in camp
near the Rapidan River, had its first
/ execution: There. were two condemn
ed, both" bounty jumpers" who had
enlisted in a regimento OF this division
and had escaped after receiving the adj
vance bounty, hoping probably to re-
peat the game with some other regi-
ment. Early one fine. afternoon the
regiment marched out to the chosen
ground and formed three sides of q
hollow square, the fourth side being a,
little ridge. At:the foot OF the ridge
were two open graves about twelve
teet apart. The division, consisting
OF about 5000 men, resting in place
| until the notes of the. dead march were
heard. attention. was shouted by;
the bugles, and all was rigid silence as
professions composed OFT the provost.
guard surrounding two, ambulances
in each of which one of the
culprits sat on a rough coffin,
entered the square at one Of
the angles and halted near the graves
coffin was placed at the end OF each
grave, and the two deserters were
made to stand up in front Of the pro-
vost-guard, facing lifelong lines of at
tentive countenances of the division.
while the findings Of the eourt-martial
and the orders for the execution were
read. After religious services the two
were arranged sitting on, their collins,
their eyes bandaged, and their arms
pinioned behind. In front OF each q
firing party Of the provost guard took
position and the word; OF command
from the provost-marshal was given.
One OF the deserters fell back on his
| coffin, but only wounded, for he sat
up again. The other, who was rot.
hit, funded to his feet, burst his pin
ions, and snatched away the white
handkerchief from his, eyes. There
was a murmur Of disapproval through
out the division at the awkwaardness
OF the provost-guard, which was now
adding unnecessary. delay and tor
ttre to the ,penalty of the unfortunate
men. The wounded man was placed
again and his party, dispatched him
with it's next volley. He. Lay notion
less on his coffin. But the other seemed
almost invulnerable, for the second
volley from his party, though it may,
| have scratched him., left him still
struggling vigorously to free himself
a brilliant idea then entered the
! provost-marshals mind He brought
up his men one by one close to the
condemned to have them shoot him
successfully. But for some reason tho
muskets would not go Off; merely the
caps flashed. 1t had rained hard the
day before. yet that was no excusefor
the provost-guard, who had known
for some days what they had to do,
and ought to have had their muskets
clean by this time, rain or no rain.
Seven Or eight men went up one after
the other and presented their muskets
! within q foot Or two, OF the deserter's
head; but only to, snap caps. A low
growl OF Indignation ran along the
ranks :of.the division and became ]. rec
when ono OF the provost mems guns
went off finally only to wound the
poor fellow, who,sat there on his coffin,
squirming about under the slow muir
/ der. The General OF the division was
in a rage and sent his staff one after
the other galloping up to urge the
proyost-marshal to do the disagree
able. duty promptly and properly!
Minutes went by and still the repeat
ed efforts of twelve veteran soldiers
to kill, this sitting, blindfolded, pinion-
ed, helpless man we're all in vain A
superstitious feeling spread through
the division that he would not be
killed, because he could not be. Nearly
half an hour Of volleys and file firing
had passed, when the provost-mar-
shal,. placing the muzzle of his long
barreled seyen-shooter to the un-
fortunate mans head, discharged all
theloads. The victim fell back, and
at last all was overt. F. Galwey in
Chicago Tribune