Friday, August 31, 2012

A Military Execution


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

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