DESERTERS ARE EXECUTED AND BURIED WITH A RABBI, CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT ATTENDING THEM
Important soldier's war-date A.L.S., 4pp. 8vo., Beverly's Ford, Va., Sep. 9, 1863. George W. Lewis reports on the execution of five deserters from the 118th Pennsylvania. The deserters included at least one Jew, one Catholic, and the balance Protestants, and as a result, an inter-denominational execution took place. Rabbi Benjamin Szold ministered to George Kuhne, and led the procession at the provost-guard deemed his religion the oldest. Lewis writes, in part: "...Two weeks ago five men were shot for desertion. We were all marched to the place of execution and our Regiment from having the most conspicuous dress were drawn in the nearest line to the prisoners. It hardly seemed right to make men sit on their coffins to be shot...thirty six men fired at them at 40 ft. distance they were killed instantly two of the party that fired fainted. One was a Jew two were Catholics and two Protestants and there was a Rabbi a Priest and a Clergyman to accompany them as they marched along. The drum and fifes played the dead march...". Very good. In an effort to have Kuhn's life spares, Szold met with Lincoln who heard his case and directed the rabbi to Gen. George Meade. Meade sympathized, but insisted that the execution be carried out for the sake of morale.