Taissumani: A Day in Arctic History June 6, 1884 – The execution of Private Henry

KENN HARPER

I’ve written before about Adolphus Greely of the U.S. Army, who led the Lady Franklin Bay Expedition into the High Arctic in 1881, establishing his base of operations at Fort Conger. (March 27, 1935 – Adolphus Greely Awarded Congressional Medal of Honor). But space then did not permit me to write about a tragic event that occurred on that expedition in 1884.

In 1883, after two years without a supply ship, Greely and his men abandoned their base and began their desperate retreat south along the Ellesmere Island coast in small boats. Some boats were lost, and with them more of their ever-diminishing food supplies. Able to proceed no further, Greely established a winter camp at Cape Sabine, a location poor in game.

Over the winter food – what little remained – was carefully rationed. By spring-time everyone was starving. Everyone, apparently, except Private Charles B. Henry. He was the biggest man and had always been the heaviest eater of the party. Earlier, at Fort Conger, he had put on 25 pounds, and had startled some of his campmates by eating raw seal intestines with evident pleasure.

Greely and his confidants began to suspect that Private Henry was stealing food. The situation came to a head when half a pound of bacon went missing from a boat where it had been stored. That evening Henry complained of nausea and suddenly vomited into a pan. Sergeant Frederick examined the mess and declared it to be half-chewed raw bacon. The other men were incensed – Henry had been proven to be a thief. A trial of sorts ensued and Henry was put under close arrest and not allowed to leave the hut unaccompanied.

In fact, Private Henry was more than a thief; he was an imposter. His real name was Charles Henry Buck. Although born in Germany, he had an excellent command of English. Described as “splendid soldier material,” he had joined the 7th Cavalry in 1876, but was given a dishonorable discharge and a year of hard labour for passing forged cheques. After his release, he had killed a Chinese man in a barroom brawl, then reinvented himself by inverting his name to Charles B. Henry and joining the 5th Cavalry, Greely’s old outfit. He had then volunteered to serve under Greely in the Arctic.

By late spring 10 men were dead of starvation, and two more were on the point of death. The survivors’ meager rations were supplemented by the tiny shrimp that live in Arctic waters, seaweed, the occasional bird or fox, and leather from thongs, ropes and articles of clothing. The fragility of life was perhaps summed up in a part of Greely’s diary entry for June 4: “to sleep was perchance to die…”

And then Private Henry stole again. Greely’s summation of this revelation in his journal in almost matter-of-fact: “Henry acknowledged again to me that he had been stealing, and I had a long conversation with him, in which I told him that as he had no conscience he might at least have a little common-sense; that it was evident that if any of the party survived, it must be through unity and fair dealing, otherwise everybody would perish. He promised to deal fairly in the future, and seemed impressed with my caution that he would come to grief if he did not.” Doubting Henry’s sincerity, Greely gave three of his men an order to shoot Henry immediately if he were seen eating any food not issued to him or “appropriating any article of provisions.”

The following day was June 6. Sergeant Frederick caught Henry stealing shrimp from the messpot. Later in the day, Greely questioned Henry on the latter’s return from the old winter-quarters, and Henry admitted taking sealskin thongs from the stores there, contrary to orders. Greely noted that he was “bold in his admissions, and showed neither fear nor contrition.”

Greely immediately wrote out an order for Henry’s execution. Addressed to Sergeants Brainard, Long and Frederick, it read: “Notwithstanding promises given by Private C. B. Henry yesterday, he has since acknowledged to me having tampered with seal thongs, if not other food, at the old camp. This pertinacity and audacity is the destruction of this party if not at once ended. Private Henry will be shot to-day, all care being taken to prevent his injuring any one, as his physical strength is greater than that of any two men. Decide the manner of death by two ball and one blank cartridge. This order is imperative, and absolutely necessary for any chance of life.”

Private Henry was shot at 2 p.m. on that “fine, warm, clear day” on the shores of Ellesmere Island. A search of his effects revealed many hidden items of sealskin, items that could have been eaten in desperation, and should have been shared with others. The survivors agreed that Henry’s fate was merited.

After rescue, Greely duly reported the execution to his superiors, and asked for a court of inquiry. The Secretary of War, however, concluded that Greely’s order was justified, and declined to take any action.
Taissumani: A Day in Arctic History recounts a specific event of historic interest, whose anniversary is in the coming week. Kenn Harper is a historian, writer and linguist who lives in Iqaluit. Feedback? Send your comments and questions to kennharper@hotmail.com.