Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-03-24
THOMAS COUCH
STATE Of Tennessee, franklin Cou,,,

'suina,anoe Attending the trla and exrcui, .
Of John Woods, al Fort Stroller, Jurin s' ..
la!e war in the Greek y alton, hereby c4,;c "I
tha! John Woods joined the army al F.
Vile, about the 22l January 1914 a, Snt.'
ute in place Of VIII. Roger, who was ""'
unteer, and continued from tka, tine n,,,T,
was arrested 10 mess with me IN the san,r 49,,
Woods was abou, eighteen years old At ~,
time, and was the youngest child of hi, .o.'
parents, who were lBcp, and had been far g.,
time, living near neighbours TO me | b,,s
seen and examined the certificates of Tbom.
Couch and Robert Ferguson relative 10 IN,
same matter. was not present at the olson.
which took place between Major Csmn ,nl
Woods, but immediately afterwards heart n,
circumstances detailed by various Der,,r, !,
The same manner as stated by Mr.. Couch and
Mr.. Ferguson. Ailer the time of the op,r,.
was in TIE fort near the ten. of Gen. Jack,or
and was present when a runner came from NJ
Jor Camp to inform the General, lha, man
had mulinicd, the General immediately ,u,h.j
out OF The fort and followed him; when our /,
commenced cursng and swearing, and a,ht
which Was The man; and Woods was pcir,,.
out to him, who was walking in s,rai, di,e,.
ton 10 his guard 6te; Jackson sill con,rg,l
cursing and repeatedly, aud in grea, rage, Il.
uerated, shoot The damned rascal! shoot III.
damned rascal. Woods by this time wa, an.
preaching near 10 his guard 6Ie, wien I.css,
commanded The guard, still in glea: rag, e
blow ten balls through the damned ra,csln-
As soon as Woods approached the g.at
he gave up his gun and surrendered basel
mr. h.. 81 Il.
bused The Officers Of the guarI for no o3cy,
ing his order. Woods Was Immediately ~,
IN irons, & conveyed 10, and kept under gusrl
in the 39,h Regiment, but was not kept ons
Ironed as understood. After some days tn.
friends Of Woods, among whom was bis 5yo
Their, became uneasy al his deten ton in con
fnemen', but without any apprehension Of The
the sad catastrophe which was to follow
i was requested 10 speak TO Gen. jackson
and accordingly | did SO, ano requested Tia,
his rial might be brnuphr on euon. a. We w,.
al Gesiious, as he was mere youth, that be
might be placed among his friends again, and
ii there was 10 be any punishment, let him re.
ctl'e II and return to duty. The General re,
Piled that the case was a serious one bu, h
could have the opportunity Of ensling. re-
turned and consulted with his FIRE abou. t,
AMI they all opposed the idea very strongly
aiier some further delay heard part Of Con
'ersalion betweeh Gen Jackson and an ofh.r,
who believe wcs Captain OF the Rsngr
Capt. Hannard, in which CONVERSATION the
icheral Told him that he mus, be in order On,
;ertaln Gay 10 Set on the CONT Martial ia
GLOW who had muIinled, and who he expecct
would have to be shot. The officer appear,d
cry reluctant 10 ac'; neither did he SIT on tue
rial. From hearing this conversation IN'
anne very uneasy, and got leave Of the Officers
II his guard 10 Garry Woods his vcruals ,whI:5
vas generally cooked in our mess; while WIN
Woods persuaded hIm to enlist as Nn
earIul Of the event frpfa what had hcard;l&
prisoner appeared to acquicsce and left Lin,
VI when | told his other fren Is whit
al done, they opposed it ,iolcntIy, stating lbi'
ackson knew that he could not be hurt ia'
'hal he had done, and only wanted Ia scas
i'm to enlist, and crafty their spite in that
ay. From this time until his trial took 1at.
othng particular transpired. and our g'estH
neasincss was at his lonGconfnemcnt. TIN,
was on the 18th day OF March Ina, | head
IS trial was progressing; went 10 the spo,
1t was moi permitted 10 enter within the lives
The guard, The Court Martial wa, IN s's.ioa
tween TWO tents, and Woods was scaIso e,Sh
ten steps off On some logs withou aOy friend
adviser or counsel to defend him.
Col. John Williams of East Tenresse. was
Ting as understood, as Judge Advocate .,
inst him, as he was making speech ana
aiding passages from books; and thu"
icut's Parish, Davis and Ensign Hall were
e Court Martial; if there were any wlln''"
lied in TO testify in his behalf do moi kn''
neither do believe it; after looking On
lille my heart yearned for VIVA, ] then coz
lered was the Lerilous SITUATION Of the boy,
d turned away and left rhe place, and lear"
thing more Of his fate, until the next DAY
'm ten 10 twelve O'Clock; it was read III g'n'
al orders that Woods was TO be shot, al !;
clock next day (l4th) Soon after ih'
;eived intelligence that Woods wished nsw
and stay with him, until he left the wot.'
t before went in con junction with Do''
re & others handed about petition LOT
rdon, which was signed as thought sn'
lieved by most OF the officers Of the arm,
L | understood also by part OF The CoD'
arIal; was present when these petition VS.
nded TO the General, but whether they "s'
nded by myself or some other person ~
recoIect. After some general con'Hs.,
n On the subject, l approached the "e0.,yI
told him that The prisoner had rsqpe,t
10 go and stay with him until his oe."I
81 4 .c.,