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

Hailp Tirginiau.
Correspondence Of the Baltimore amcrcdR.
EXECUTION OF
c 0 p E L A N D AND G r Z Z N
THE ATTEMPTED ESCAPE.
EXECUTION OF
COOK AND COPPIC.
Military Operations.

Military Operations.
CmARLEsrowN Dec Is, 1889.
We have had an exciting time during tho past
twenty four hours, which hns Just closed with tho
execution Of the four prisoners. In order to
rect understanding of what has transpred give
you succinct narrative Of events since yesterday
morning.
ARRIVAL OF STRANGERS, &c.
Throughout the day yesterday thorc wasa great
influx of suanless aud citizens Of tho
county, who were nocking i'll to Witness the last
net Of the llarrer's Ferry tragedy Tho Inter
came thus early. fearing that they might be de-
tnlned at the outrosts. as was tho ON the day
of Browns execution Tho clouds which carly in
the morning darkcnod the horizon were soon dis
| persed aud the sun camo out in unusual brliian-
| cy and beauty for II December morning. AS the
hours advanced, groups were seen ON all tho street
corners. discussing tho all'absorbing topic Of the
| approaching execution. The afternoon trains OF
cars from Winchester and lIarpers Ferry brought
large numbers of persons. including delegation
| OF newspaper reporters from Northern ctiea.--
Am ing the concourse noticed tho Hon. Antho-
ny kimmcl', State Senator from the Frederick
district Of Maryland. The vigilance at tho depot
on the arrival of tho train, was not 50 stringent
rs ON the occasion of the execution OF Brown and
but little difficulty was experienced in getting III
10 tho town, although the difficulty was not SO
light in obtaining accommodations after ofeetng
an entrance
GRAND DRESS PARADE.
Shortly after the arrival OF the train in the nf
ternoon n grand military dress parade of ul the
companies IN attendance took place. The place
selected for the parade was tho immense field on
which Brown wns executed. and ON which the
gallows for the execution Of tho remaining prlso-
ncrs was being erected. Tho companies were
drilled into four batalions. follows Jefferson
Guards. Fncastle Guards and Richardson Guards
under command of Colonel John Thomas Gibson;
j. W. Rowan. Adjunnt. The Clarke Guards,
Wvthe Guards and Washington Guards. under
command Of Colonel c. +. Stuart, Adjutant Bolts.
The Woods Rincmen. Portsmouth National
Guards aud Mountain Guards. under Col Deems
The Petersburg Grays Petersburg City Guards
and Tenth Legion Artillery, under Colonel Brock
cu The whole were under command Of Colonel
Weiserger, of the Petersburg Regiment and Lieu
tenant Israel Green OF the United States Marines,
acting rs Adjutant Much praise ia awarded to
Lieut.. Green for the interest he has manifested in
the training of the raw material, which has boon
gathered together here from different sections of
the State, aud his appearance ON the field in uni
| form, was received with much favor.
The troops went through their revolutions with
great skill, and were reviewed by Gen. Taiicrro,
who was on the ground in full DIR css mounted on
asprited charger. Everything conspircd To make
the display grand one. The was shining
brigh ly, whilst the ground, which w"rc green
garb at tho time Of the hanging of Brown, wns
| clothed in n robe Of white. The mountains wore
the same green appearance, altogether the clear
cd ground in the vicinity was covered with snow
| The bright bnyonets and gay uniforms OF the sol
ders combindcd to perfect the picture. very
large crowd was in attendance, amongst whom was
large number Of ladies' who occupied their
handsome equpage- to the east Of the limo.
During the time the parade handsome com
pany ofhorses entered the town They came from
MI1Haburp IbndOn and n "a uu1,r nam
mand Of Capt, Carter. The men wcrc dressed
in black pants and red shirts and with their drawn
swords and mounted on fno horses made dccd
elly handsome appearance.
THE PRISONERS YESTERDAY,
The prisoners were visited yesterday afternoon
hy the Rev. Mcssrs. Dutton and North. of the
Presbyterian Church. and Rev. Beverly Waugh
Of tho Methodist Episcopal Church. The services
in the cells were Of an interesting and solemn
character, and were participate III by all Of the
condemned men. though it is now evident from
subsequent events, that Cook and Coppie Mt least
were playing rossuin. as their minds must have
been fixed on the hopes of life and liberty rather
than death and eternity, at the time they were
king outward protc.taione Of resignation. They
all yavo their unqualified ascent t. n conviction Of
rel sious truth, aud each expressed ,pe Of sal
ya;ion in the world to come. Cook and Coppc
were loudcst in tl.cir professions Of change of
heart and in the hope OF Divine forgiveness. They
their doom just one and that in the main they
have been treated with the utmost kindness by ALL
though they thought that some of the witnesses
were rather harsh in their testimony. The minis
tiers imagined that they discovered decidedly ia
vorable change in the condition Of Cooks minds
since his interview with his sisters. Up to that
tire, his calmness and bravery were regarded as
proceeding from IL lack Of feeling and on leaving
him Yesterday afternoon, they reported that he
had been led to<seek forgiveness for his sins as tho
only hope of salvation. Coppie was also equally
earnest in his proestations Of religious forgive
ness all of which was undoubtedly intended to
hoodwink their guards and facilitate their project
Of escape.
Cook has been visited throughout his imprison-
mcnt by the Rev. N. Green North, at the request
OF the prisoner as also of Gov. Wise and Willard
Rev. Mr.. North was present Mt the interview be-
tween Coppic and Mr.. Butler, IL Quaker gentleman
from Ohio who raised the prisoner. lie describes
the interviewas as an affecting one, and speaks high
ly Of Mr. Buffers Christian department and ad
vice to the prisoner. Mr.. Butler says that Coppie
was trusty but very wilful boy.
An uncle of Coppie of the snme name, from
Ohio, his fathers brother. visited him also yester-
day, the interview asting.over an hour He is an
elderly gentleman, and seemed in much distress
at the sad fate which awaits his relative
This was the condition of the town. the prison
crs and the military up to o'clock last evening.
All apprehensions of an intended rescue had long
since heen banished, and nothing was thought Of
but the approaching execution, whilst the over
flowing throng Of strangers were hunting quarters
for the night. The bar-rooms were oil crowded
with people. discussing the resignation of the pris
oners to their fate, and firmly had this convic
ton settled in the public mind that military duty
was regarded rs almost approached. The supper
tnhI af tar Ioug WI 1r