From the Richmond Dispatch, 1/31/1863, p. 2, c. 2

Execution of a Deserter. – Another military execution took place yesterday at Camp Lee, near the city – the party being John Mulligan, of company C, 5th Virginia Cavalry, convicted of deserting on several occasions from his company, and sentenced to be shot. The various reprieves granted the prisoner expired on yesterday. Mulligan started from Castle Thunder at 11 o’clock in a hack, being accompanied by two spiritual advisers and two detectives, two of the latter also riding by the side of the conveyance. There were about 1200 soldiers present at Camp Lee, including 200 of the City Battalion, under Major Elliott, the whole being drawn up in three sides of a square. On the arrival of the condemned at the camp, the hack containing him was driven to the place appointed for the execution, where the squad detailed from the President’s Guard to carry the sentence into effect was also assembled – Mulligan throughout bore himself quietly and coolly, and seemed to be wholly unembarrassed – After a few minutes spent in conversation with the priest, during which time the guns of the firing party were loaded, Mulligan was asked if he had any request to make or anything to say. He replied “nothing” to both interrogatories. The bandage was then tied around his face and he knelt down. The firing party had been brought to a “ready” by a wave of the hand of the officer in charge of the guns, when the culprit fell on his face, dead. He was struck by five balls, three entering his breast, one passing through his heart, and one through his mouth. The spectacle being had for the sake of example, in accordance with military usage the troops on the ground were marched by the body in slow time, after which it was put in a coffin and given in charge of the undertaker.

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