Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-12-20

Fincastle Rihes, Captain Anthony, were posted
as skrmishers on the opposite side Of the galows,
tho Clark Guard on the right and the Fincastls
Rifles on the lsft.
The Executive Guards Capt Hunter. were post
cd at the main gate TO the field DEATH supported
by piece Of Artillery, commanded by Lieut.
Evans. of the Alexandria Artillery.
Tho Ranger Cavalry, Captain Ashby. co.opera-
ted with the special guardin 10 preventing the ad-
mission Of persons within the area dssigneted by
the line Of sentinels.
Tho Black Horse Rangers, Captain SCOTT, detaoh-
cd platoon 70 act as advance and rear guard 70
the procession from the Jail the field Of execution
whilst the remainder Of his company were direo-
ted to patrol the streets Of tho town during the
time Of the execution.
Capt. Car.er's company Of cavalry were detail
cd to scout The outskirts of the town.
Tho troops on the held. not attached to the pris-
oners guard, were under command Of Col. Staurt.
INTERVIEW WITH THE PRISONERS.
Tho prisoners Cook and Coppic, were visited in
their cell this morning by the Rev. Messrs. Waugh,
North and Leech. previous TO their departure Tor
tho scaaold. They were engaged st the time Of
dressing themselves for death. and putting on
clean understanding. Captain Avis told them
that If they had anything to say they could now
say il in presence Of the fifteen or twenty persons
who were then present. Cook replied that he
was grateful for the kindness shown 10 him by
Sheriff Campbell Jailor Avis and his family, and
the guard lie also expressed his thanks to Rev.
Messrs. Waugh, North. Littell, Leech. and others
who had manifested such interest in his welfare.
Ho also spoke Of tho kindness he had rooeived
from Messrs. Joseph +. Blessing and John F.
Locke. as we'll tho citizens Of Charlestown gen
orally.
Al this point Coppio looked up and said
"Them's my sentiments too, gentlemen"
Cook then gave direotious with regard to one
or two articles. A breastpin hc wore no snid he
did not wish TO be broken of then or at the scaf
fold, he wished it TO be given to his wife or his
boy il he lived. Within his shirt bosom was a
daguerrotype, with a lock of his sons hair. which
he wished TO remain whore ID was, and after death
to be given to his wife.
They both requested that their arms be not
pinioned 50 tight Is to stop the circulation of
blood, which was complied with.
A blue cloth Talma was thrown over the shoul-
ders Of Coppio and dark one over the shoulders
of Cook Before leaving his cell Coppio gave an
old slouch hat TO a quaker gontcman from Ohio,
was present from Governor Willard.
During these proceedings Coppio was strug-
Cling to hide his feelings, and Cook was striving
to bo calm and collected. The quaker gentleman
remarked-"Itis 10 hard to de-" to which Coppio
responded-"lt 10 the parting from friends and
not the dread Of death that move u.s."
On tho way down stairs they were allowed TO
proceed TO the cell Of Stevens and IIazlett and
bid them farewell. They shook hands cordially.
and Cook said to Stovons "My friend good bye"
Stevens replied Good byel-Ohoar upl-givo my
love to my friends in the other world" Coppio
overheard. to which he roplied-"Never mind"
Both then shook hands with IIazott and bade
him good byo. but did not call him by name or
show any personal recognition Of each other,
The Prisoners oonversed on variety ofsubiocts
this morning. Cook said to a gentleman. That
ho was fully convinced that slavery was q sin,
aud believed that it would be abolished in Vir-
gna in loss than ten years. and that by the peo-
pie Of Virginia" lie was prepared to die in
such a cause" and thought he had done nothing
to regret. as far as principle was coneerned,
Coppic said that che feared that the affair was
not ended yet, that thoy had friends in the North
who be feared would not rest satisfied until they
wore avenged" lie hoped, however, chat the
affair would end here forever"
THE EXECUTIONS.
EXECUTION OF GREEN AND COPELAND.
AT hal past ton o'clock General Taliaferro with
his staff, numbering about twenty-five officers,
having given orders to prepare tho tow negro
prisoners, Shilds Green and John Copeland. for
execution, took their departur re to join tho main
body Of the troops on the field. The military then
formed hollow square around tho Jail, and tho
open wagon Containing the cofins Of the prisoners
drew up in front of the door. carriage to convey
Sheriff Campbell and hs deputies.
Tho crowd of citizens and strangers was very
great at least FIVE times as numerous rs on tho
occasion Of Browns execution, most of whom were
already on the field, whilst others waited to see
tho prisoners come out. The religious ceremonies
in the cell Of the prisoners were very impressive,
and were conducted by Rev. Mr. North. Preshy-
terian and Rev. Beverly Waugh, of the NJ. +.
Church
At quarter before I O'Clock the prisoners. &C.
companied by the Sheriff and Rev Mr.. North ap-
peared at the Jail door, and, with their arms pin
ionod, m,ved slowly forward towards the vehicle
in waiting for them. They seemed downcast, and
were of that calm and cheerful spirit eyinced by
Brown under similar circumstances. They were
helped orto the wagon and took their seats on the
coffin without scarcely looking to the right or the
left. The escort now commenced to move, and
the wagon was closely fanked on either side by
company Of riAemen marching double file, in
lock step.
At seven minutes before ii O'Clock the process
sion entered the field occupied by the military, and
the prisoners cast a shudderfng glance towards
the gaows erected ON the rising ground in its CEN
ter. In two minutes more the Wagon stopped at
the foot of the gallows, and whilst the prisoners
were alighting, the companies forming the escort
moved off to the positions assigned them IN the
field.
The prisoners mounted the sca6old with firm
step, and were Immediately Joined by Sheriff
Campbell and Rev. Mr.. North. After q brief
PRAYER by the clergyman, the caps were drawn
over the head of the prisoners and the rops affixed
around their neck. During the lew moments they
thus stood Copeland remained quiet. but Green
was engaged in earnest prayer up to the moment
the trap was drawn. aud they were launched into
eternity: Green died very easy. his neck being
bro ken by the fall. and the motion Of the body
was very slight Copeland seemed to suffer very
much, and his body writhed in violent oontortions
for several minutes. 4;T ifit ss9eg35t
They were accompanied on the ssllows BY Rev.
Messrs. Waugh, North, and Lehr. to whom they
bid an afectionate farewell, and expressed the
hope Of meeting than in Heaven.