HISTORY OF BROOKLYN. 329

and sent on board a man-of-war. The execution of Porter and Tench, notable as the only case of capital punishment for injuries done to citizens, was witnessed by the late General Jeremiah Johnson, who thus describes the scene: “The gallows was the limb of a large chestnut-tree, on the farm of Martin Schenck. About 10 A.M., a brigade formed a hollow square around the tree; the culprits, dressed in white jackets and pantaloons, and firmly pinioned, were brought into the square, and halters, about eight feet long, were fastened to the limb about four feet apart. Tench ascended the ladder first, followed by Cunningham’s yellow hangman, who adjusted the halter, drew a cap over the culpritÕs face, and then descending, turned off the ladder. The like was done to Porter, who ascended the ladder by the side of his hanging companion, in an undaunted manner, and was turned towards him and struck against him. They boxed together thus several times, hanging in mid-air about ten feet from the ground, until they were dead. The field and staff officers were inside the square, and after the execution Cunningham reported to the commanding officer (said to be General Gray), who also appeared to treat him with contempt. The troops then left the ground, and the bodies were buried under the tree.”

MILITARY PUNISHMENTS.—The British soldiers were punished by whipping or flogging with the “cat-o’-nine-tails,” executed by the drummers. The regimental surgeons were obliged to attend the punishments, which were usually very severe—sometimes as many as five hundred lashes being given. Citizens were allowed to be present at these floggings, except at punishments of the 42d Highland Regiment, when only the other regiments were allowed to be witnesses. Punishments in this regiment were, however, infrequent. The dragoons were punished by picketing; the Germans by being made to run the gauntlet. On these occasions the regiment formed in two parallel lines, facing inwards; the culprit passed down between these lines, having an officer before and behind him, and was struck by each soldier with rods. An officer also passed down on the outside of each line, administering a heavy blow to any soldier who did not give the culprit a fair and good stroke. Hessians were also punished by the gauntlet, while the band played a tune set to the following words: