Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-02-07

brave man. yves, Lewis, saia '"1 No'o"ei'
Won have always behaved Ike brave man.
Other sentences were uttered, other eeciara-
tons were made, and other words OF comfort
snokep. but thew were lost on ms; my attention
saws an Eve Witness, being chiefly directed to
Lewis.
Six collins were ranged as directed. and on
each of them knelt one Of our condemned A.
merican Militia Men Such sight was hev.
er seen before! / trust in God 1t never will
be seen again! Six soldiers were detailed aud
drawn up 10 FIRE al each man. What an aw-
full duty! Their white caps were drawn over
the faces vi the unhappy men. Harris evi-
IDENTIFY trembled, and could almost persuade
myself that the heart Of Lewis enlarged,
and that his bosom rose with manly, courage
TO meet death. The fatal word was given and
they all fell.
As we approached, the scene Of blood and
carnage, Lewis give signs OF iife-the rest
were all dead-he crawled upon his cottin. Al
ter the laps of few minutes he said-i give
his very words, Colonel, am not killed, but
am sadly cut and mangled His BODY was
now exanained and it was found that but four
balls had wounded him. "Colonel, said he,
did behave we'll" eyes, Lewls"--said the
Colonel in the kindest lone Of voice, like a
man." "Well sir, said he, have ] not a,oned
for thi, offence? SHALL not live?' The Col
onel was much agita,ed, and gave orders that
the Surgeon should, if possible, preserve his
Ift. Thy did all that skill a'd humanity
could do, it was all at no avail. Poor Lewis
EXPIRE ssed grea, d"sre to live. "not," said he
a, one TIM, that fear death, bui would re-
penl me of some sins, and desire TO live yet a
little longer in the world" lie suffered lncon
Gel. sble agony, from his wounds, and died on
the fourth day.
Many soldier has wept over his grave. He
was brave man and much beloved. lie SUI
fered twenty deaths. have seer the big drops
chase each other down his forehead with pain
and anguish There was much sensihlity and
sympathy throughout the camp. would no'
have, uniustly and unnecrs ,arlly, sign'd this
death warrant for all the wealth OF all the In
dlas. The ,old,ers detailed TO shoot Lewis
had, from strong feelings OF sympathy, or
mistaken humanity, failed to shoot hlm-but
four balls had entered his body.
Gan Eve Witness" appeals 10 Col. Russell,
who he thinks now lives in alabama, Tor the
peri, C, truth Of this sketch. H. does not fear
but the Colonel will keenlv rscoIlrct and iaith'
fully depic, the horrors Of the day on which
six Americans were shot 20 death under his
command, but no. by his orders.
The order bears date the very day afjer
General Jazz kson returned in triumph 10 New
Orleans, and the day before he joyiully went;
under triumphal arches, TO the Temple of the
living God; where, says the historian, "they
crowned their adnred General with laurels."
The ortrr for the execution Of these six un>
happy men bears date January &c, 1915. His
crown Of laurcls had not yet wnhered, wien
blood, the life's blood Of his countrymen, Of
his fellow soldiers flowed Dlrntifuly bv his or
der. May tha, order add its consequences.
sink deep into the hearts of the American peo-
pie, and STEEL them against him who had no
flesh in his ohdurae heart; VII did not feel for
Man; in The midst Of Joy and Re, el'y, almost in
thr more immediate presen'e Of his Creator,
who Issued the fatal order To put his creatures
10 death, and to make their wives and children,
widows and orphans.