The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1897-04-11

evidently did not belong to Gerrish's
regiment, and in fact, he leaves no
clew for their identity. Says he: I'm
the month of August, 1868, while our
regiment was encamped near Beverly
Ford, ON the Rappahannock, a report
was circulated through our corps that
five deserters had been arrested and
would probably be found guilty and ex-
ecuted. This caused quite a ripple Of
excitement in camp. Years before we
had read of deserters being shot and
our boyish hearts had been thrilled with
vivid descriptions given, but we had
never witnessed such spectacle. We
had seen death in almost every form but
this.
"The court martial found all the de-
serters guilty, and sentenced them all
to be shot. The whole Fifth corps was
paraded to witness the execution and
the regiments massed around hollow
square. The lines We're SO formed that
every man could obtain view, and for
some moments we awaited the arrival
OF the solemn procession Every detail
had been arranged with the special OBJ
ject Of making deep impression upon
the spectators. On broad level the old
Fifth corps, with it's bronzed veterans
and tattered flags, closed in solid col
umns around the square The silence
was not broken by a single sound. Each
line of soldiers looked more like a sec
I ton of vast machine than a line of
living men.
The silence was suddenly and sadly
broken by the sounds of approaching
music-nOt the quick, inspiring strains
with which we were so familiar, but
measured, slow and solemn dirge, whose
weird, sorrowful notes We're poured forth
like the meanings of lost spirits. Every
eye turned in the direction whence came
the sad and mournful cadences, and then
we saw the procession. First came the
band of music, with slow and measured
step; next a detachment of the provost
guard, numbering 60 men. The guard
consisted Of men detailed from the sew
eral regiments and i'll their selection
special regard was made to soldierly
qualities. This detachment, as we'll as
one of the same size bringing up the
rear of the procession, was composed of
the finest looking men that could be Sc
lected from the entire guard. Every one
was tall and erect i'll form All were
! well drilled and dressed i'll bright, new
and neatly fitting uniforms With the
precision of trained veterans they
marched in step with the slow and sol
emn music. This was the firing party
Next followed black coffin carried by
four men, and close after it came one of
the condemned; then another coffin, fol-
lowed by the second unfortunate, and
thus i'll regular order they came, the
rear OF the procession being made up of
the detachment Of provost guard. The
condemned were all dressed alike in
blue trousers and white shirts Each
mans hands were manacled behind him
and a guard was on either side. They
were marched to the center of the
square, where the graves had already
been prepared. Each of the doomed men
was accompanied by priest or chap
lain.
"Of what could those men have been
thinking as they marched to the gateway
of eternity? lean imagine how men may
face death under almost any circum-
stances, but to be thus marched to the
place of execution between the massed
columns of their own comrades and keep
step to the music of death must have
awakened emotions in their breasts that
can only be rivaled by the stern events
of the Judgment day. Four of the con-
demned men walked steadily and to all
outward appearance with perfect uncon-
Germ to the place of death. One was
weak and lettering and was evidently
leaning for support upon his attendants.
When the collins were properly arranged
at the graves, each prisoner sat down
upon the foot of his coffin in such a
manner that he would directly face the
detachments of the provost guard Then
followed a long, low conversation be-
tween the condemned men and their
spiritual advisers. 1t was a most affect
ing scene-fve men, beings of immortal
destiny, about to be hurled through the
gateways of death for crimes against
their country.
THE last exhortatiOn was given, the
last word spoken, and the clergymen
withdrew from the presence Of the con-
demned. Each of the doomed men was
then blindfolded with thick and heavy
bandage. The officers in charge then
stepped back upon the line with the sol
diers who were to fire. The so men
were ready to perform their sad duty.
One rife in each IL was loaded with a
blank cartridge, so that not one of the
firing party should know that he had
taken the life of fellow being. The
second detachment was placed i'll such
position that they could complete the
work if any of the condemned should
survive after the first fire.
CATER the bandages were placed upon
the eyes of the men there was moment
of awful suspense. TO the anxious spec
tators it seemed to be an age. Then
clear and sharp the voice Of the COM
manding officer rang out, Ready and
instantly each of the go guns obeyed the
command. Once more the officers voice
was heard, 'Aimp and go rifles were
brought into position, ~ being pointed
at the breast of each Of the condemned.
Intently we watched and listened.