1                        Bucks County Intelligencer,  Shot for Desertion.  July 5, 1864  Page 3  Col. 1                        1

 

Shot for Desertion.—On the 10th of June, private

John Smith, of the 41st New York Regiment was shot for

desertion at Hilton Head, South Carolina.  Brig.-Gen. Hatch

was prevented by illness from attending the execution, and

the command of the troops devolved on Col. W. W. H. Davis

of the 104th P. V., now commanding a provisional brigade,

and the next ranking officer.  All the troops were formed in

a hollow square, in the field.  At 10 o’clock a procession left

the Provost Marshal’s, consisting of the Band, playing a

dead march, the escort with reversed guns, the firing party,

from the 104th P. V.  On arriving at the field the culprit

dismounted, and was escorted around the front of the troops,

accompanied by Father Hasson.  He walked erect and

showed no signs of fear.  On arriving at the centre of the

square, where an open grave was visible, the coffin was

placed near it, and the condemned man halted before it. 

The order for the execution was read by Major Edward L.

Rogers, A. A. A. G. of the District, and the last religious

rites were performed by Father Hasson, the doomed man

joining with much fervor.  His eyes were bandaged by Capt.

Hennessy, and the firing party then took their position in

front.  At the signal from Capt. Hennessy they fired the

fatal volley, and the condemned man fell over towards

them, his body bent up, seven bullets in his breast.  His

heart was not touched, and the pulsations continued for

Some twenty seconds, when he was pronounced dead.