AMERICAN CIVIL WAR SOLDIER WILLIAM JOHNSON IS EXECUTED IN PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA, IN 1864 WILLIAM WAS A NEGRO SOLDIER. HE WAS ACCUSED OF DESERTION, AND WAS HUNG.

 American civil war soldier William Johnson is executed in Petersburg, Virginia, in 1864  William was a negro soldier.He was accused of desertion, and was hung.

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WILLIAM JOHNSON, a col

ored soldier. He deserted from the twenty third United States colored troops, and on the 8th attempted to commit an outrage on a white woman at Cold Harbor.

Considerable importance was given to the affair, in order that the example might be made more effective.

JOHNSON confessed his guilt and was executed within the outer breast works about Petersburg, on an elevation, and in plain view of the enemy, a white flag covering the ceremony.

Johnson also had confessed he had deserted from another unit, but that unit was not stated.

You are viewing unusual images of Petersburg, Virginia, vicinity. The execution of William Johnson, Jordan's farm. William was a negro soldier.

He was accused of desertion, and was hung. This image was taken after the trap door was sprung, and William is shown hanging by the neck. It was taken in 1864 by O'Sullivan, Timothy H., 1840-1882.