Army scenes on the Chickahominy

Army scenes on the Chickahominy
Harper''s pictorial history of the Civil War. (Chicago : Star Publishing Co. 1866)

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Sentence of Death for a Tiger





In a post on April 16th I promised I would explain the case of Charles Linton, one of the few casualties of the Pamunkey Heavy Artillery during the war. 
In short how, did he wind up being put up against the wall.

Sentence of Death.- On Saturday morning last Capt. Alexander, Assistant Provost Marshal, read the sentence of death, pronounced by a Court-Martial, on Charles Kelley, alias Charles Linton, formerly a member of the company I, 15th Louisiana regiment, now confined in Castle Thunder, for substitution and desertion. The accused, it seems, after being released from the 15th La. regiment, became a substitute in the Pamunkey Artillery, from which he deserted. The sentence is that the accused is to be taken to Chaffin's Bluff, on the 20th of June, and there shot to death by musketry. Linton denies being the man who substituted and deserted, and is getting up a petition to Gen. Elzey*, asking a pardon.

- Daily Dispatch, June 8, 1863


Execution of a Deserter.- Charles Kelly, alias Linton, who has deserted twice and substituted twice, was shot at Chaffin's Bluff Saturday morning. He met his fate very calmly, requesting the firing squad to take good aim at him. At the signal the squad fired, three balls piercing his heart and three entering his head.

-Daily Dispatch, June 22, 1863



*General Arnold Elzey, Commandant of the Department of Richmond





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