Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-12-27
Led Out To Die.

1t is sight never to be forgotten to see
a man led out to execution by hanging,
yet the picture is softened great deal by
the surroundings. There are generally
two or three clergyman present-friends
and acquaintance who look their pity
hymn is sung and a prayer is offered
and if the executioner does not bungle one
can get through with it very well. But it
is the sight of man led out to be shot to
death which makes picture to haunt you
while you live. No man has ever seen it
who does not shudder at the recollection.
Desertions from the federal army had
become so frequent, and had so democrat
lied certain regiments and brigades. that
it was determined, in the winter of 1864,
to put a stop to them by inficting the pen
atty prescribed In army regulations. A
general order that this would be done was
read in every camp, and it, no doubt, sery-
as warning to some. There were others,
however, who were not to be intimidated.
and on the night of of the day the order
was issued man in my company coolIy
left u.s. He went out in a wagon of team
ster, and before roll call next morning was
far away. His name was Hardness, and
he could not even plead inconsistencies as an
excuse. He nad neither home nor near
relatives, but was rough young fellow of
two and twenty A week after his deser-
ton he got into some trouble In Washing
ton, the papers published his name, and
in that way he was locoted and brought
back He returned in defiant mood, ev-
identity having no fear that the sentence
would be carried out.
A court-martial was called. a trial had
and Hartness was convicted and sentenced
to be shot. The finding had to go to the
President for his approval, and it was
only when they had been sent away that
the condemned would admit that he was
worried. | was one drawn to act as
guard over him and saw him at least every
other day. About the time the verdict of
the court-martial was sent to Washington
the press was clamorous for some remedy
for desertion, and there was a public
statement from the President that he would
pardon no one duly convicted. This set
Hardness to thinking. and he was not
greatly surprised when the finding was re-
turned approved The day of execution
was set for week ahead. This was. |
suppose. that the matter might be generally
talked about In the whole army corps, and
so it was. At noon, when Hartness was
informed of his fate, he was red faced and
showed no trace of anxiety. Four hours
later, when | came on guard, L mad TO look
twice to be sure it was he. His face was
very pale, care-ines appeared here and
there, and his eyes were sunken. Had he
been i'll for month the change could have
been no greater 1t was the shadow of
death.
| watched him from day % day. and
every day there was a change. For the
first four days he was IN a state of dumb des
,5air. Then | saw strange light in bis
ewes. and we searched him to discover that
he had secreted knife and contemplated
suicide. On the morning of the day he
was led out to die HARNESS was as weak as
a child | believe he lost at least twenty
FIVE pounds of flesh within the week For
an hour or two he prayed and wept by
turns Then he got his nerve and braced
up for the inevitable Not one word did
he say as be marched to the place of exc
cution. He looked around az the soldiers
gathered there. but don t think he saw
a single face. | think he was stone blind
from fear. When bIind-folded he moaned
out in his agony Of spirit. but sat bolt up
right At The first low word spoken by
the officer IN command of The firing party.
Hartness fell over backwards. and when
he was lifted up it was found that he was
dead-dead ef sheer fright.