The Memoirs of Jarvis Hanks General Winfield Scott   Jarvis Hanks - biography Memoirs Continued Part 1: Early Life and the Decision to Enlist Part 2: The Harsh Reality of Army Punishment Part 3: An American farmer's greed; battle in a Canadian farmer's field Part 5: At the Battle of Lundy’s Lane Part 6: The siege of Fort Erie Part 7: Very Close Shaves Part 8: PEACE! Drummerboy Jarvis Hanks' account of the Battle of Lundy's Lane Boys at War

Part 4: Drilling in Winfield Scott's camp at Buffalo After remaining in our barracks till about the middle of February 1814, we were ordered to march to Buffalo so as to be ready for the campaign in that quarter early in the summer. We continued here until July under the command of Major General Jacob Brown. Captains drilled their companies from 11 to 12. And at 1 or 2 o'clock P.M., the whole brigade, with all its officers, musicians and privates, under the command of General Winfield Scott, the most thorough disciplinarian I ever saw, were drilled from three to four hours. These exercises, continued daily for more than two months, could not fail to make us well acquainted with our business as soldiers and fit us for the contests which were expected during the summer in the enemy's country. During the time we remained at Buffalo, five men were sentenced to be publicly shot for the offence of desertion. They were dressed in white robes with white caps upon their heads, and a red target fastened over the heart. The army was drawn up into a hollow square to witness the example that was about to be made of their comrades who had proved recreant to the regulations of the service. Five graves were dug in a row, five coffins placed near them, also in a line, with distance between coffins and graves to enable the criminals to kneel between them. About twelve men were assigned to the execution of each offender. Their guns were loaded by officers, and they were not permitted to examine them afterwards until they had fired. All things being in readiness, the chaplain made a prayer, the caps were pulled down over the eyes of the poor culprits, and the word of command given: "Ready! Aim! Fire!" They all fell! Some into their graves, some over their coffins. One struggled faintly and the commanding officer ordered a sergeant to approach and end his misery. He obeyed by putting the muzzle of his piece within a yard of his head, and discharging it. This quieted him perfectly! At this time one of the condemned slowly arose from his recumbent position to his knees and was assisted to his feet. His first remark was, "By God, I thought I was dead". In consequence of his youth and the peculiar circumstances of his case, he had been reprieved, but the fact was not communicated to him until this moment. He had anticipated execution with his comrades, and when the report of the guns took place, he fell with them, though not a ball touched him. The platoon assigned to him had guns given to them which were not charged, or at least had nothing but powder in them.