By order of Col. REDFIELD DURYEE,
Walter Fitch,
1st Lieut. 6th Conn. Vols., Post Adj.
Official:
D. A. Woodruff,
1st Lieut. 6th Conn. Vols., A. A. D. C.
As soon as the time had been fixed for their execution they were visited by the Provost Marshal, who informed them of their fate and advised them to prepare for death. They seemed stolid and indifferent at first, but upon reflection they gave way to their feelings and desired to have a priest sent to them (they were both Roman Catholics), and Rev. Mr. Hasson, a Catholic priest who was in the department, was sent for and ministered to them. It was for a long time difficult to convince them that their case was hopeless, but Mr. Hasson’s arguments finally forced conviction, and, after hearing their confession twice, he performed all the rites of the Church that were practicable. The prisoners were taken from their cells at about two o’clock, placed in army wagons and seated on the coffins in which they were to be buried. The column was formed as follows:
Capt. E. S. Babcock, Provost Marshal, mounted.
Capt. J. P. King, Asst. Provost Marshal, mounted.
Drum Corps in two ranks.
Firing Party of 24 men detailed from 6th Conn.
The Prisoners in wagon seated on their coffins.
Ambulance containing Rev. Mr. Hasson, and Chaplain Woodruff, of the 6th Conn.; Rev. Mr. Taylor of the Christian Commission; the Surgeon of the Provost guard house, and the Surgeon of the 6th Connecticut.
The funeral escort, consisting of a corporal and eight men, marched to funeral music, with arms reversed.
Slowly the procession proceeded to the appointed place; the square was formed on three sides, and the victims were driven around once that all might see them and avoid their fate. They maintained a calm demeanor to all, except as they passed our regiment they took off their caps several times to their old comrades. On reaching the end of the square they were assisted to alight from the wagons, the coffins were placed on the ground, the culprits sitting down upon them while the Provost Marshal read the charges, findings and sentence. After a short prayer by the priest they were blindfolded and their hands tied behind them and made to kneel upon their coffins, facing the center of the square. The firing party came up and were halted at six paces distant, when, at a signal from Capt. Babcock, they fired and the victims fell upon their coffins. Schumaker was pierced with nine bullets and Stark with eight. They lay just as they had fallen till the whole command marched past them on the way to camp, when they were put into the coffins and buried.
On the 20th of April, Capt. Lewis C. Allen, Jr., died of disease. He was formerly a member of a militia company in Georgia, and afterwards removing to New Haven, was drill officer of the New Haven Blues. He went out as 1st Lieut. in Capt. Root’s company in the Third three months troops, and later as captain of the “Brewster Rifles,” Co. “F,” of the
Sixth regiment. He participated in all the battles of the regiment, and was looked upon as a brave and efficient officer by all the regiment and was much esteemed by his own company for his uniform courtesy and gentlemanly bearing.