Union soldier William Johnson, 23, stands on the gallows moments before his execution for the attempted rape of the wife of a rebel soldier during the Siege of Petersburg. Roughly 500 soldiers were executed on both side during the American Civil War, most for desertion (Virginia, 1864) [1255 x 747].

>”On June 20, 1864, Private William Johnson, 23rd USCT, was hanged, although the execution is not included in the List of US Soldiers Executed by US Military Authorities during the Late War that was produced in 1885. According to a Harper’s Weekly article, dated July 9, 1864, the facts known about Private Johnson were that he deserted and…’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 breastworks about Petersburg on an elevation, and in plain view of the enemy. A white flag covered the ceremony.”

When Johnson was arrested, he had denied his guilt and given a false name. After his conviction, however, he made a full confession.

>”When Johnson was arrested by some cavalry, just after his crime, he stoutly denied his guilt, and gave his name as Robert Henry Hughes, and said he belonged to the Quartermaster’s Department, but after being sentenced, acknowledged his guilt, and gave his real name, confessing also that he enlisted in Baltimore on the 3d of March, in the 23d U.S. Infantry, that he was 23 years of age and had deserted. He also said his punishment was just, and hoped others would take warning by his fate. He appeared quite collected during the whole time, meeting his fate with great resignation, and died apparently very easy, although his neck was not broken by the fall. His pulse ceased to beat at the end of seven minutes. His body was left hanging until afternoon, and then was buried near the spot.”

The precise statistic of executed soldiers is disputed:

* The statistic only includes executions of soldiers after a court-martial
* It was higher than 500
* It was way higher than 500 if all executions by both sides against the other are counted
* It was WAY higher than 500 if extrajudicial executions are counted

For example, after the [Battle of Kirksville](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kirksville) in 1862, Union Army Colonel [John McNeil](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McNeil) learned that 15 of the Confederate soldiers now in their custody had been taken prisoner before. Each of them had been paroled on the condition that they not take up arms again against the Union. As such, McNeil ordered that they be court-martialed for violating the terms of their parole. All 15 prisoners were shot at dawn of the next morning.

McNeil’s actions, while controversial, were entirely legal.

Each prisoner had previously entered an agreement in which they were released after promising to lay down their arms. In breaking it, each of them had inherently accepted the risks of being captured again. That they were captured by someone who was willing to punish them for violating the terms of their agreements was their tough luck.

Two months later, McNeil also ordered the less legal [extrajudicial executions of 10 Confederate prisoners](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmyra_massacre) in reprisal for the kidnapping and murder of a Union sympathizer.