Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, January 13, 1864
Execution of Charles turner, of the 114th, for Desertion
We mentioned last week the trial and sentence of Charles Turner, of this place [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], a member of Company C, 114th regiment, for desertion and other offenses against the military law. An arrival from New Orleans since then brings the following account of his execution. The particulars will be read with melancholy interest.
From the New Orleans Era, Dec. 29 [1863]
We briefly mentioned in our evening editions of yesterday the execution by shooting, of Chas. Turner, a deserter from the New York 114th Regiment. He forsook his regiment at Port Hudson. Forty days after he was arrested and court martialed for desertion and several smaller offenses, being found guilty upon each charge. At the battle of Camp Bisland, he fell out of the ranks and took refuge in a ditch, but says he had the permission of his Captain to do so; that he only followed the example of others in taking refuge. The sentence of death by shooting was approved by the Commanding General about the first of this month, and was carried into effect yesterday morning at the Vicksburg Press, before a large military force. The culprit bore his fate with more fortitude than was to have been expected. He was attended during his last hours by Chaplain C.B. Thomas, of the University and St. James Hospitals, his own chaplain being out of the city. Turner told the Chaplain that he slept the night before about as usual with the exception of an occasional awakening, when he addressed himself to prayer. He was particular in requesting the chaplain to see that his name was properly placed upon his coffin and a prayer said over his grave. He was anxious that the odium of dying in the manner he did, should not attach to his wife and child. His last request was for Chaplain Thomas to write to his wife ant he believed God had forgiven him, and that he died in a reasonable hope of mercy.
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