NASHVILLE, MARCH 9.
On the 5th inst. I witnessed for the first time a military
execution. The circumstances are
these: At Camp Wickliffe, Ky., Michael
Connell, a private in the Twenty-fourth Ohio regiment, while intoxicated, shot
at a corporal of the guard. He was
arraigned, tried, and sentenced to suffer death. The sentence was carried into effect in presence
of the entire division. The sight was an
awfully impressive one. After the troops
had taken their position, closed in column, the prisoner was marched in,
preceded by four men carrying his coffin.
He was accompanied by a priest, who ministered to him in his last
moments. The solemn death march wailed
out from the band upon the cold winter air, and many a stout, brave heart
sickened. I saw eyes that are not given
to the melting mood brimming over with tears, and suppressed sobs were heard in
the ranks.
The prisoner, poor fellow, marched firmly up to the place of
execution, and faced the file of men that stood ready to fire upon him. General Nelson waited until the last moment,
trusting that a reprieve might come from General Buell, and even sent an
Aid-de-camp down the road to look for the messenger but in vain. The signal was at last given. A wave of the officer’s sword, the sharp
report of rifles, and Michael Connell’s body dropped upon the coffin, four
Minnie balls having passed entirely through him near the heart.
I have looked upon death in many forms, have seen scores of
men killed in battle, but, in all combined, never felt half the mortal terror
that this scene produced. I never wish
to witness another execution. Peace to
his ashes. – He died the death of a soldier, and a brave one too. –{Cor. Cin.
Com.
– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye,
Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 22, 1862, p. 3
No comments:
Post a Comment