Death of a deserter

The following story is copied word for word from the Ocean County Emblem
– Tom’s River, NJ Dec. 18, 1861

“Death of a deserter”

William H. Johnson, a private in Company D, 1st Regiment, New York Volunteer Cavalry, was shot for desertion last Friday.

The procession having gone the rounds, it was drawn up in the center of a hollow square which had been formed by the military. The coffin was removed from the wagon, and Johnson seated upon it in full view of the whole assemblage.

The priests performed a last mass, and the death warrant was read to the prisoner by the Provost Marshal, as it had been to several regiments by the colonels. Johnson being told that he might speak if he had aught to say, exclaimed in tremulous tones:

“Boys, I ask pardon of Almighty God and of all men for what I did. May Almighty God pardon me, and keep all of you from such sin.”

At a given signal by the Provost Marshal, the executioners, who had been drawn up at a distance of six paces from the condemned, made ready to fire, and at a singular indication 8 of them discharged their carbines. Johnson clasped his hand over his breast and hurriedly exclaimed several words which were rendered indistinct by his groans. Some of the balls had taken effect but none were likely to prove fatal, and after an examination of the prisoner the Provost Marshal ordered a reserve of four men to fire. The result was fatal, a ball literally tearing one of Johnson’s eyes from its socket and scattering his brains, and another shattering his jaw in a frightful manner. The dead body rolled from the coffin and fell heavily upon the sod.

The deserter had suffered the awful penalty due to his terrible crime. A shudder ran through the vast array of witnesses, and all was painfully still. In a few moments the entire division, headed by Gen. Franklin, took up the line of march, passing in view of the corpse. Every soldier had a chance to look upon the bleeding victim of his own imprudence, and it is safe to presume that the sight will long be remembered and go far to prevent future desertions.