The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-12-06
Drawing Lots at Richmond.

The jeff. Davis Government has deter.
mined :hat, for every convicted traitor
who shall be executed at the North,
Federal prisoner OF equal rank shall sui.
fer the same fate. A letter from Wm. II.
Merrill, one Of the prisoners at Richmond,
dated Nov 18Th. and published in the
Rochester Express. thus describes the
scene in the prison when the core mony Of
drawing lots occurred:
Las, Sabbath, Gen. Winder called the
commissioned officers together, and read
to them the following order:
c. S. A. War DEPARTMENT,
RICHMoED. Nov, 1851.
SIR: You are hereby instructed TO
choose by lot. from among the prisoners
Of war OF highest rank, and who is to be
confined in cell appropriated to con-
victed felons, an! who is to be treated in
all respects as il such convict, and to be
held for execution in the same manner as
may be adopted by the enemy. for The ex.
ecution of the prisoner Smith, recently
condemned to death in Philadelphia
You will also select thirteen other pris.
oners OF war, the highest in rank of those
captured by our our forces, 10 be confined
10 cells reserved for prisoners accused OF
Infamous crimes. aud shall treat them as
such SO long as the enemy shall continue
to treat the like number OF prisoners OF
war captured by them at sea, and now
held by them in New York as pirates.-
As these measures are intended 10 repress
the infamous attempt now made by the
enemy TO commit Judicial murder on the
prisoners Of war, you will execute them
strictly, as the mode best calculated 10
prevent the commission Of SO heinous a
crime. Your obedient servant,
J. p. BENJAMIN,
Acting Sec'y oI War.
To Brgader General John Winder,
Richmond, Va.
The reading of this order was listened
10 in silence. and with deep sensation -
After ihe reading OF this document, Gen
Winder called upon the Hon. Alfred E y
TO draw the names, which, in his own
language, WAS very unpleasant task"
The names Of SIX persons were placed
in n can. The first name drawn was thai
of Colonel Corcoran, SO h Regiment, N
Y. S. NJ, who is The hostage chosen &c
answer Tor Smith. Mr.. Ely was very
much affected when the name Of his friend
and messmase was drawn by his owr
hands.
In choosing thirteen. from the highes
rank, 10 be held 10 answer 70, like mum
ber OF prisoners oi war captured by lh,
enemy at sea, there being only ten tielc
officers, it was necessary 10 draw by lo
three Captains. The list now stands
Colonies Lre. Cogswell, Wilcox. Wood
ruff and Wood LIEUT.. Colonies Bowman
and Nef; Majors Potter, Revere auc
Vodges; Caprains lockwood, Bowman
and Keffer. During the reading Of thu
above order, and ,he drawing, the mos
profound silence prevailed. and grea
anxiety on the part ol the officers who's
names were in the can to be drawn from
Those whose names were drawn, vii
/; soon be removed from here TO the Jail
there 10 await with anxiety, the action O
, the United States Government regardin!
the priValcers held by them. These un
, fortunate officers have endeared them
y selves 10 their fellow prisoners. The,
: take with them the heartfelt sympathy c
their brother officers, and their esrnes
/, prayers will be for their safety. Thei
late is in the hands OF their own Govern
. menl, and upon its action il must depend