About three o'clock in the afternoon
The court is now opened again , the prisoner brought in , and an awful and deep silence prevails . The members of the court all put their hats on , and are seated ; every one else , except the provost-marshal is uncovered . As soon as the judge-advocate has read the sentence , the prisoners are delivered to the custody of the provost-marshal , by a warrant from the president , and he has charge of them till the time for the execution of the sentence . About three o'clock in the afternoon , I received a message from one of the prisoners , saying , he wished much to speak with me . I followed the master-at-arms down to the screened cabin , in the gun-room , where the men were confined with their legs in irons . These irons consist of one long bar and a set of shackles . The shackles fit the small part of the leg , just above the ankle ; and , having an eye on each end of them , they receive the leg .