Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-04-22
An Akron Veterans Version of an
Old Story.
Two Soldiers We're Sentenced to be Shot--.They
Escaped Execution to Meet Death In
the Ranks.

| was ordered out to do picket duty on
| the Maryland side of the river a mile
above our camp. Scott was placed
on duty in a lonely spot by himself
and at - o'clock the Grand rounds, ~
as we called them then, found him fast
in the arms of Morpheus, obliyious to
his surroundings. He was at once
placed under arrest, sent back to camp
and to the guardhouse, where he re.
| mained until he was court martialed
and sentenced to be shot on Sept. 80,
81. On the 3rd of September, '61, the
brigade crossed Chain Bridge into
Virginia. and upon the bluffs we built
fort and breastworks. On the 24th
of September we removed the brigade
camp to Camp Ethen Allen, a few
miles further south, where we re-
mained until October 10, 81.
1t was at this camp that the order
came to have Scott shot.
l want to diverge little from this
story in order to show my reasons for
knowing SO much about a comrades
history who did not belong to my
regiment or even to a regiment in NV
State. l was n member of Co. E,
33rd New York " l., and was as [
before mentioned, in the brigade TO
which Scott belonged.
On September Bird, when our brigade,
crossed Chain Bridge into Virginia,
we left our tents and other camp
equipage behind, guarded by 10 men
under Lieut.. Col. Walker, who re-
mained with the equipage until Sept.
10th, when the guard and eouipage
arrived at Camp Advance. 1t WAS
noticed that the Lieutenant ColoneI
carried one of his eyes in sling.
When that was removed it was seen
that the eye was beautifully draped
in mourning. The Colonel's explana,
tion was that Private Cornelius Dona-
hue, of Co. *, 33rd N. Y. V. l., had
become intoxicated; that in fact the
whole guard of 10 men were more or
less under the influence of liquor and
the men started in to hold q wake.
Having no corpse to make it the real
thing they proceeded to put the Col
onel in shape to represent the corpse.
Donahue was under arrest, charged
with striking an officer. In time of
war the punishment for that offense
was death. He was courtmartialed
and sentenced to be shot September
30, 81. The morning of Sept. Both
was as beautiful as the most critical
could wish to enjoy. AT 10 o'clock
long lines of troops were seen march
ing toward the drill grounds. w. f.
Smith, who was the Colonel of Scott's
regiment, the Third Vermont, had
been promoted to division general.
He rode at the head of this grand
cavalcade of soldiers who marched
that steady funeral tread. They form,
ed square, leaving an opening at one
end. In that opening two coffins We're
standing side by side.
Then came drum corps, behind It
marched Scott and Donahue, behind
them a guard. They walked them up
to where the collins stood, and placed
them at the head of the caskets. The
firing square of II men We're placed
so feet away. Six guns were loaded
with balls and six with blanks. None
knew what their guns contained. AS
the order was about to be given to
fire, a horse covered with foam, rid
den by an orderly, galloped into the
square and waving a paper in hand,
asked for the commanding officer
General Smith was pointed out to him,
and he rode rapidly towards the Off
Ger of the firing square, shouting;
Don't shoot those men, they are