Battlefield Dispatches No. 214: 'Death Rides a Pale Horse Part 1'

Death rode into Fort Scott on Pale Horse on May 13, 1863 and absconded with the soul of a Union soldier. In this context, "Death" was one of the "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse."

Death was riding a pale colored horse because that was often the color of a corpse then and now. The other three horsemen were normally depicted riding horses of different colors symbolizing the following; "White" for Pestilence, "Red" for War and "Black" for Famine. This particular soldier did not die of a disease, an accident or a gunshot wound which are all common causes of death in war.

The death of Private John Summers, Co. E, 2nd Kansas Volunteer Cavalry was the result of one of two public military executions in Fort Scott during the Civil War. Both of these executions were in May of 1863 and were very deliberately public in nature. Summer's crime, for which he was convicted by a General Court Martial, was DESERTION! He didn't desert from the Union army just once! He did it THREE times after which he was caught and brought to Fort Scott for his trial. How was this possible? Not only was Pvt. Summers a deserter he was also a "BOUNTY JUMPER!"

At the beginning of the Civil War, after the patriotic enthusiasm of enlisting had waned in the north the "Union" army offered and paid cash bonuses or bounties from $ 100 - $200 to induce a civilian to enlist. Pvt. Summers figured out that this was a way to make some easy money. So he enlisted in three different regiments, deserted from each regiment and received three separate bonuses and was caught before he could enlist again. The "Union" army took a dim view of such behavior and Pvt. Summers was captured sometime after his 3rd desertion on October 14, 1862.

The date of Pvt. Summer's execution by a firing squad was May 13, 1863 and he was executed on the open prairie southeast of Fort Scott across "Spring Branch" or "Buck Run." His execution was open to the public and it was required attendance for all the soldiers stationed Fort Scott ["To Witness Punishment"] except those who were on special or detached duty that day. The crime of the prisoner was read to him and the entire audience as a deterrent to keep soldiers from deserting or civilians from enlisting and becoming "bounty jumpers."

The following is a transcription of the official "Order of Execution" for Pvt. Summers and is located in the "Order Book" of Co. E, 12th Kansas Infantry Volunteers which is housed in Old Military Records Branch of the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

"Headquarters, Fort Scott,

May 9, 1863.

Orders No. 1 Extract

I. In obedience to General Orders No. 13 dated Hqrs. District of Kansas, Fort Leavenworth, May 1, 1863 promulgating the sentence of a General court Martial assembled at Fort Scott, Kansas on March 11, 1863 in pursuance of Special Orders No. 45 from the Hd. Qrs. Of the District: Private John Summers, Co. E., 2nd Regt. Kansas Vol. Cavalry will be PUBLICLY SHOT TO DEATH in the open space south of Fort Scott & East of the Military Road on the 13th Day of May inst. between the hours often o'clock a.m. & twelve o'clock p.m. of said day.

II. At half past ten o'clock a.m. of said day, the troops comprising the garrison of this post will be formed in full dress [uniform] and under arms on the parade ground of the 12th Kansas under the direction of the senior officer present and march to the place of execution, preceded by the guard and criminal.

III. The execution of the foregoing order will be superintended by the officer of the Day.

IV. The A.Q.M. [Assistant Quartermaster] will make the preparations for the interment of the remains.

By Order of Major C. W. Blair

Commanding Post."

The following letter describes the execution of Pvt. Summers & was written by Pvt. Christen Isley, Co. F, 2nd Ks. Vol. Cavalry and is housed in the "Special Collections at Wichita State Univ.

"In Camp, Fort Scott, Kansas,

Thursday May 14th, 1863.

Mrs. Eliza Isley,

My dearest Love.

We did not get started at the expected time & so I will avail myself of another opportunity to write to you my own cherished wife. We took our horses to the Blacksmith Shop [on Carroll Plaza] yesterday morning to get them shod, but up to ten o'clock nothing was done toward shoeing any of them & there was no likelihood that any would be shod before noon, as another company had got in before us in the morning. A crowd began to gather around the guardhouse to see the sentenced victim appear. The twelve men that had been detailed to do the fatal work marched up in front of the guardhouse and halted; their gun's were taken from them into the guardroom and loaded. Some with blank cartridges so that no one knew who had a fatal charge in his gun.

Meanwhile 2 ministers with some others in the criminal's cell were engaged to sing & pray with the criminal & give him his last spiritual advice. After some detention the poor fellow appeared in the door with a Minister on each side. He in front of the detail with a Guard of four Cavalrymen on foot preceding them. A fifer and two drummers were on the advance of them all & and thus they marched up a street to the west side of the town, to the camp of the 12th Kansas Regiment where all the troops of this post were formed in line. The guard and detail took the victim to the head of the column; when the whole column wheeled into platoons and thus marched off back to town through the principle streets.

Thence they marched out in a south-easterly direction, across a little brook through a beautiful grove to a fine Prairie slope; where the column halted and formed a line; the victim then was marched back to the center of the column; thence filed right & marched straight to the front till he had reached the distance of about 50 yards in front of the column. The column's right & left wing closed in on his right & left & formed a square open only in front. Two field officers then went up to him & talked to him, then they took off their caps (all but the criminal) and knelt down upon the beautiful green carpet, of nature's own production, when one of the Ministers offered a most effective prayer, that moistened many eyes and caused many hearts to throb. After the close of the prayer his sentence was read by a Major.

Then his coffin was placed a few steps to his front & after the Minister had given him yet a few words of consolation all those that were with him; Officers, Ministers & Guard shook hands with him. He spoke solemnly and kindly to all & then faced the detail (that were only about 15 yards behind him) & fell upon his knees with his body perfectly erect, then one of the Guard approached him to blindfold him, but he said it was not necessary and then he spoke & motioned to the detail. "Brother soldiers, I am now ready to die, he said & laid his hand on his left breast and told them "to aim right here."

Then the order was given; "Ready-aim-Fire," when no less then 6 bullets pierced & riddled his once throbbing heart. He fell motionless forward & all was over!

But Eliza my love! Since I am in the army I have never been more solemnly impressed than yesterday. It was to me a most solemn occurrence. I wept silent tears & I think many a thoughtless ones received a lasting impression.

The best of all is yet to be told. He was truly penitent & willing & prepared to die. He prayed much all the way to the place of execution, he looked everybody firm in the face, he was pale as death & solemn as the tombs. He often raised his head to look at the sun. There was not a smile on his face and he seemed quite done out. He had not taken food for some time, to better prepare himself for the world to come. He was young (about 20), slender & apparently very intelligent.

Your Own True,

Christian."

The remains of Pvt. John Summers were buried in the Prisoners Plot on the south side of Fort Scott's National Cemetery and of course the WAR WENT ON!