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EXECUTION OF A SOlfilER.
PRIVATE KM. W. LUST, SIXTH MAINE VOLUNTKER9,
MiOT FOR DESERTION?INCIDENTS OP THK TRAOIC
SCENE?LAST WORDS OP T.lK PRlSMKR, ItC , 4.C.
The awful doom preset ibed by military law for
the crime of desertion to the en my was this
morning meted to William W. Lunt, late a private i
in Co. I, 9th Maine Volunteers. The offence w.i? \
committed in Florida soon after the occupation ot ;
that place in April last, by the United States forces'
and the prisoner was returned to our lines by the
rebels on the ground that a man who would desert,
could not bo tru-ted at all, and they sent hi.n back,
hoping that any of their soldiers who should act in
a similar wanner, would receive like treatment at
our hands. Of course while there was no intention
01 following the enemy's suggestions in
this respect* notbiug was left but to take tbe prisoner,
who was soon afterwards tried before a Court
x- Martial convened at St. Augustine, of which Gen.
Terry, (then Colonel of the 7th Conn. Regt.) was
President, upon the following charges and specifications
:
Charge Specification?In this, that the
ma private wuuim w. i^uni, company - x, nu ?wc
Regiment, stationed a-' Feruaiuluia, tk, at the time the
alleged crime ma committed, did desert from the V. 8.
Army, and go to the enemy's lines without anus and so-'
coutrement*. This at FcmanULua, Fia., on or about the
Ttb of April.
Chabgk IL?Ko^i^y-?Specification?In this,
that the said William W.. Lunt. Company " I," 9th Maine
Regiment, near the R. R. Rridge called Loftou on the railr>sd
running from Feroandina to Bsl.ivrin, Fia-, did forcibly
take from Miss Ellen Manning, money to the amount
of two hundred and sixty-eight dollars, more or less. This
' at Fern and ina, Fia., on or about the 8th of April, 1862Of
both the charge* and their specifications
Luat wis found gutltf *ftd he was sentenced " to
fct qfcot to death at such time and place aa the Coa*nan
ilhg General way direct
''WtWT Iq acconiance with an act of Congress, passed
at its lasts ession. requiring that the proceedings in
* eases of condemnation for a capital offence shall
be submitted to the President before the execution
of the sentence, the evidence and findings of the
- Court wore forwarded to Washington. Wk.an
* ? two weeks Gen Brannan received an order from
' the War Department to the effect that the proceed
ings of tbe v 'ourt had been approved by the President
and directing that the sentence should be executed.
There was then no farther hope, and Monday,
Dec. 1 was decided upon as the day for carrying
out the decree of th.* military tribunal.
Lunt, for some weeks, had been an inmate of a
i cell in the prison of the Provost Marshal, at Hilton
Head, having been brought up from St. Augustine
last September, but as soon as his fate was decided
he was placed in a separate tent by Major Van
Brunt, the Provost Marsha), in order that he might
fit himself for the great change soon to come over
him. From his own confession, the prisoner had
been areckless, way ward youth, c^mm tting crimes
which had brought him ioto the meshes of tbe law,
and up to the time when bis certain doom was announced,
he gave no evidences of repentance, even
for a day afterwards speaking lightly of his fast
approaching end. Soon, however, through the
earnest ministrations of Chaplain Butts of the 47th
New York Volunteers, who from the first took a
christian pastor s interest in the case, the unhappy
man was brought to seek the consolations of religion,
and for the past few days became a d ft'eren
creature. Realizing his condition, he prayed for
the forgiveness of tlod, and died professing his
faith in the mercy of the Almighty.
During the last four days he preserved a remarkable
composure of mind, acknowledging his readineas
t > die and expressing himself at peace with
himself and the entire world. From first to last be
persisted in-declaring his innocence of the crime
of desertion, assertng that he had been sent outside
our lines by one of his superior officers, upon
an improper errand, and while in the performance
of his mission was ciptured by a squad of the enemy
acavalrv. The witnesses uton whose testimo
ny he was convicted, he accused of perjury; but
while alluding to himselfas a deeply-wronged man,
he said that he cherished no ill-feeling towards his
persecutors. K is singular that a man on the
verge of the grave shouli obstinately utter sentiments
which, if human reason have any weig.it
fckuo. lUMAflka ... m,.nk ?
w wtw cici}tv m ill 4|w VI lugw^gutc 9v uiuvmm
_ variance with the truth, but instances are common
of eriminals denying their oflfoaces even in the
face of death, and in this case there appears to
have been no doubt of the prisoner's guilt.
short time before the pri oner was led out for
execution h* sent for the writer, and requested
that his protestations of innocence might be made
\ known ta rough the press " T?U my fellow soldiers,"
said ha, "that I bare been a hard boy, 1
> hi?T? ^ thia^^d they
i
jgSjgr
Girled astray by bud c mpany. I am willing to i
die, and it ift a great deal bettor to die innocent
than guilty and for the sake of my family I want i
H to be published that I am innocent'
Lunt s maimer was perfectly self-possessed
throughout the iuterview.and on our rising to leave, j
<0 w ^
after a long con vernation concerning the occarren-;
ces for which he was condemned, in which he endeavored
to explain away the circumstantial evidences
of his guilt, be handed us for public*, ioj,
the following:
Hilton Hxad,S. C. 1862.
I'm about to suffer death, which punishment I
am willing to bear for a warning to ethers which
inav be led astray by bad company. Fellow boU
diars y.,u should take warning by mo and keep out
of bait company and shun everything that is bad.
Keep good company and you will be respected by
your worst enemies.
Oh! may God bless the officers of the Fortysevtuth
2s'ew York' Regimen?, for the kindness
they have shown to rae, a wicked snin.r They
have done everything that was in their power, am!
Ihsy brought infracts to read and religions papers
that led me the right road to my Savior. Oh may
God help a-id sustain them through theporii of the
battles that th. y may come out victorious in them
all, aud God speed the titue when peace shall once
more be, and the f riends that is here at war will be
g >Lig home to tooir rauiuies.
ALB*.iT W. Lost.
It will be seen that the p hotter signed his Dame
Albert, although he enlisted and wan condemned as
William W. Lunt, but Albert was really hfc name.
He waa nearly 22 years of ago and w^s boru at
Hampden, Me., of respectable parents. In early
youth he became, restive under pareotal restraint
and ran oil' with a circus company, with which be
continued someytars. Subsequently he was convicted
of bort -stealiug, for which he served a term
in the State prison, and immediately foil -wing his
release he enlisted. Daring his connection with
the regiment his conduct had been fair on the average
until he committed the crime for which
his death was the forfeit. He was of remarkable
physique, being more than six feet in height and
of a frame proportionally large and musc lar.
At hal. past ten o'clock the prisoner was brought
** * * "?-A ?J ? - - -h ..A ah > MtAM/xn Kaiuruon
irom ou rem ,.nu spjpvKWN wc d?|wi ?? .???
a guard of two men, with side arm*. He was
ha cited in the usual blue army overcoat and wore
a black l'elt hat. lie st.ll retained his almost stoical
firmness of manner?not a muscle of Ma features
moved, not a limb trembled, as he quietly en
tered the wa^on and seatedhimself upon the coffin, *
de tined so soon to contain his mortal remains 1
1 he wagon was guarded by the squad of ok n who
were selected as the firing party under Capt Eddy
and was preceded by an escort ot forty men of the <
47th N. T. Vols, chaplains Butts oft he 47th N. V.
and Hill of the 8d New Hampshire, who acted as
his sp,ritual attendants, followed imm diately in ,
the rear?-together with those of the Medical De- !
part merit who were to assist in the proceedings all
mounted. As soon as the prisoner entered the
cart, Major Van Brunt took bis position on the
- - T - ? J r A
rig lit ana tne solemn procession iuuveu iumwu w
the sound of muffiei drums?the esco:t with I
shouldered arms and theguard with arms reversed
NothLig was negiecUdBUcb could add to tbe 1
solemnity of the occcsNiipmd make it as impres- 1
sive as possible. As thPprecession slowly made
its way to the intrencbments, the guards and sent.nels
aLug the route, presented arms and crowds
of hO.diers, civilians and contrabands pressed for- 1
ward eager to gratify a morbid curios ty and catch
a glimpse of the features of the doomed man.
Throughout the march the prisoner sat upon his j
cotfin, almost without motion hi. face resting upon 1
bis band?no moisture on his brow, no tear bedewin
it hias>hMAlr_ hi* whole manner hetoke .inir Derfect
ca mnesa and resignation, Tbc spot selected fur
the scene of the execution, was without the en- 1
trenchments and opposite the southern sallyport. ,
H .re the entire regiments . f the command we e
drawn up to witness the tragic scene, loaned in 1
three sides of a hollow square. N ear the centre .
of the square was stationed Uen'l. Terry and his i
staff, with several prominent officers. The procession
halted dirfctiy opposite the General and
his staff' and the cuiid. tuned man ahghted without j
assists ice The coffin was taken out and placed j
beside him, and hip sentence was then read to him '
in a clear and distinct voice by Lieut. Gsllaer, ,
Adjutant of the Provost Marshal's force, to which <
he listened without mani.eating the slightest emo- <
iAn kftMr tue raid or of the sentenoe. M. ior I'
Va.i Brunt addi eased a few words to hi in to The ]
effect that his s> nt*nce was about to be carried <
out, end if he desired to make any remarks 1
he was at liberty t<> do so. At tbe invitation the ]
prisoner arose and with a calm voice said: 1
? Fellow s Idiert, I want you to take warning )>y
me and seek sanation from the Lord before it is
too 1 to. I am not guilty of the crime lor which 1
hava haeo condemned death.1 j
qnired to knael upon his coffin. In this position
bis eyes wore bandsgcd with a white cloth and the
squall of twelve men we e siletiy motioned to
take their position d.rectly in front of him at 21)
paces distance, at the same time preparing
to aim Everything was now ready and
Chapla ns Butts and hill both went to the prisoner
to receive his parting words He expressed himself
as perfectly resigned to his fa e and ready and
willing to die. The ihaplains having retired, Major
Van Brunt shook the prisoner by the hand, and
al ter bidding him farewell stepped a few ]>aces
bick and with a wave of the handkerchief announced
that the fatai moment had come. \\ ith
ktfttinn iif hit aivorrl futrf Vrtrfv cnnmi ndtvi hi.?4
men to the position of? read)*?aim," and instantly
uttering the word "fire" there followed a fla>h
and loud report, and at the saint; moment the
wretched man fell forward, pierced with nine
balls. One cap exploded and the piece missed
fire; one shot did not take eflect and the twelfth
inusket contained a blank cartridge. At a sign the
twelve men moved aside andaresrve of twjve
more took their positions. But there was no
uo.dofthem. The surgeons pronounced the culpret
to be dead, lie could not for one moment
have suffered phys cal pain.
Every d tail was earned out in excellent order
Not a verbal command was given except the single
word " Fire ' '1 he firing party consisted of twenty
four men?twelve to fire first and twelve to act as
a reserve in case the first fire should not prove eff ective.
One musket in each twelve contained a blank
cartridge with a heavy wad, and as the loaded muskets
were ha ided to the men none could s y o
whom fell tue blank. At tb instant the unhappy
man fell the sur.eons approached nd examined
the body, finding the carotid irtery had ceased to
polsate and the spark of life was extinct. A few
moments sufficed to convince them of this fact,
and the body was then placed in the I la k cotfrn
and c nveyed to the burial-place, in charge of six
members of the Provost uuard with side anna,
lhe customary funeral honors of the soldier we.e
not accorded
'lhus ended the second execution of this kind
which has taken | lace in, our army during the war.
Gem Terry took the greatest care to make it appear
not so much an affair of retributive justice
as an example to the soldiers With this view
he wisely forbade the presence of all those whom
Lie curiosity alone would have prompted to attend.
?A letter from Snicker's Gap, Va , says: At
one fans house a venerable African asked < Is dat
all tff^anny o, de INorf?" "No" replied our
waggish surgeon, " the last eud is just coming
through Bangor, Maine." ' Bress my soul, w, ar
dey all grow T Masai Linkuni's got de biggest
pile dis time, any low.'
? Jerrold went to a party at whii h aMr. Pepper
had assembled all bis f lends. Jerrold said to his
host, on entering the room ?3fy dear Mr. Pepper,
bow glad you must be to me^att your friends
mastered!"
?"Thou art a little bjar, raidim," sal' a quaker
to a fashionable belle 'at an evening party.
<Slrl" ex laimed the diun.ned fair one. "A.
bout the shoulders, I mean," smilingly replied
broadbrim.
?A Cleveland paper says that the people of
that town are using mouse- raps old jack-knives,
and shirt buttons for stoall change.
REGULAB LINE OF PACKET8 BETWEEN NEW YORK
AND PORT ROYAL, 8. C.?The undersigned will-deeps
tch s vessel twice s mouth from each of the above named
ports. For freight or passage, apply to
JOHN PI1T8, Agent, Bay Point, 8. a,
B. H. BIXBY, 56 Greenwich 8L, N. York.
JU8T RECEIVED st the store under the PostOt&oe, s fresh
lot of fine letter and note papers, envelopes, pens, ink
and other stationary ; Military books, Novels in giest variptv
imivM nines. brushes, and a tins lot of and
French Gloves and other Furmiatm ^ Goods for the Army
Mid Navy,
The latest daily and pictorial papers for sale on each arrival
fin >m the North. Ajso, Thx New Socth every Saturday
morning.
American watches fob American soldiers.
The American Watch Company of Walt ham, Mass . give
notice that they hare lately issued a new Atvle of watch expressly
designed tor soldiers and others who deidre^W
tratcb at a m iterate price. These watches are intended to take
the place of the cheep anchors and lepines of foreign raanuEactnre
with which the market is flooded, and which, sa
every one knows, were never made to keep time, being reFuse
manufactures, unsaleable in Europe and sent to this
country for )nrke<rint- and iicitvih.i purposes only.
Our new watch is most substantially made, cased in sterling
silver, and is a reliable and secuvste time-piece. It ks
offered at a price but little above that which is asked for the
trashy anchors and lepines already referred to. We have*
-? .<-1- ? Wm VlUn mnA MB
anion una bow wiiwuv wvmmw '* ?. ?.? mv|
oiay be fouud at the stores of oar agents, Chauncey G. Robbins,
Beaufort; and Douglas, Steele & Co., Hilton Head,
For the American Watch Company-.
H. A. BOBBINS, General Agent
UR. C. G. BOBBINS, BEAUFORT, & C., is now sstaW
?EL lished on the corner opposite "8tcTena House." He
bas always OB Bind, for sale, the most desirable goods far
BjrijsslfiwettB unattfjodibt Anarusewtflfco lowest
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