150 years ago today a sight was seen in Washington for the first time during the war- a military execution. The man on the gallows was Michael Flanahan who had been convicted of murdering his sergeant, Joseph Brennan over a dispute while on guard duty. Today we’ll look at the events which unfolded on January 6th, 1862 and share some reactions to both the crime and punishment of Flanahan.
Brennan and Flanahan were both members of Company B of the 2nd United States Regulars. Their company was serving as provost guard for the Army of the Potomac, which would have involved many hours of guard duty for enlisted men. Regulars were regarded as being more disciplined and reliable than the state volunteers, and many found themselves at some point acting as headquarters guards or provost guard (1860’s military police). Very little biographical information is available on the two men, but their altercation and later Flanahan’s execution made many of the large northern newspapers. Here is how the New York Times reported the story. Note: The Times labeled the men as members of the 2nd New York State Militia (82nd Volunteers), but they were, in fact, in the 2nd United States.
“A second military execution took place to-day, at half-past 11 o'clock, in this city, on the Commons near Vermont-avenue, between O and P streets, Private MICHAEL LANAHAN, Company A, Second New-York State Infantry, was hung, in pursuance of the sentence of a Court-martial, for the murder of Sergeant JOSEPH BRENNAN, of the same company. BRENNAN was sergeant of the Provost Guard, at Georgetown, on the 29th of October last. The prisoner was private of the Guard on the first relief. When the hour came for posting that relief, LANAHAN was not at the guard house. As Sergeant BRENNAN was about posting another man in his place, LANAHAN came up. BRENNAN reproved him sharply for negligence, and ordered him to his place, at the same time giving him a slap. LANAHAN took his place on guard, and a few minutes afterward, as BRENNAN was passing by, fired and killed him. The prisoner loaded his musket purposely, as it was contrary to role to have it loaded while on guard -- thus proving that the murder was premeditated. The execution took place in the presence of detachments of four regiments of infantry, drawn up in a hollow square around the gallows. The prisoner mounted the scaffold unassisted, and with a firm step. During the half hour taken up with preliminaries, he stood composed and unmoved. Lieutenant DEVAUX read the order for the execution, containing a recapitulation of the facts, the finding of the Court, and the sentence. When the fatal moment arrived, the prisoner, in a loud and unwavering voice, said: "Good-bye, soldiers -- good-bye!" The black cap was drawn, the noose adjusted, and the drop fell. Death was instantaneous, and without a struggle.”
Probably surprised that such behavior came out of a regular regiment, U.S. Army General-in-Chief George Brinton McClellan released the following statement on the matter:
On the scene of Flanahan’s execution was sketch artist Alfred Waud, who made the following documentation of the hanging:
In his usual detail, Waud vividly captured the scene at the gallows:
Flanahan is seen with a black hood around his head and the noose around his neck. Guards with shouldered muskets were on the platform along with the priest, and the officers in charge of the execution.
This sketch was sent up to Waud’s employer, Harper’s Weekly, who featured it in their January 25th edition along with their own coverage of the hanging:
The scene at the gallows must have been a sobering sight to the soldiers who were brought in to watch Flanahan’s hanging. Sadly, however, the sight was miniscule in comparison to what the rest of 1862 would have in store for them at places like Malvern Hill, Manassas and Antietam.