Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-06-23
Hanging Rebel for Tearing Down the
American Flag.
From the New Orleans Delta.

From the New Orleans Delta.
Early on the morning of the 18th inst, it
was announced that William B. Mumford,
the man sentenced to death for tearing down
the United States flag hoisted on the mint by
commodore Farragut upon the occupation of
the city by the Union forces, would expiate
his offence on the gallows. Crowds were
soon vending their way towards the mint,
where all doubts were dispelied by the CHASTITY
spectacle of a gallows projecting from a win
dow in the second story of that building 'front.'
ing on Esplanade street, directly under the
flagstaff that had borne the colors in question.
On the evening of the 9Th inst, the order of
the execution was read to the prisoner by de-
putty provost-marshal Stafford, he being
charged with carrying into effect the details
of the execution, in consequence of the ill
ness of provost-marshal French. The docu-
ment reads as follows:
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF,
New Orleans, June s. 1862
SPECIAL ORDER No. 70.-William B. Mumford,
citizen of New Orleans, having been convicted,
before the military commission, OF treason and an
overt act thereof in tearing down the United States
flag from public building of the United States for
the purpose OF melting other eviminded persons to
further resis ance to the laws and arms of the Unit
ed States, after said flag was placed there by COM
modOre Faragut, OF the United States navy-it is
ordered that he be executed, according to the
ence of the said military commission, on Saturday,
June 18th inst, between the hours of A NJ. and IL
NJ, under the direction of the provost marshal of
the district of New Orleans and for doing this
shall be his sufficient warrant.
BY command of Major General BUTLER,
General Commanding
Mumford exhibited little emotion, and COM
forted himself with great GOODNESS and self
possession, At quarter before ten o'clock
A. NJ. the prisoner arrived at the mint and
alighted 1t was noticed his eye Immediately
sought out the scatfold. He gazed at it for
moment, and then naturally turning away his
head, entered the building through the porti-
co, and was Immediately conveyed by two of
fcers into a private apartment While sit
ting here he entered into conversation with
several gentlemen present. He stated that he
was prepared to die; that no doubt he had
committed many errors during his life, but he
hoped that they would be forgiven him. He
then, addressing the crowd, stated in sub
stance, that he was a native of North Caro-
lima, but had been a citizen of New Orleans
for many years; that the offence for which he
was condemned to die was committed under
excitement, and that he did not consider that
he was suffering justly. He conjured all who
heard him to act justly to all men, to rear
their children properly, and that when they
met death they would meet it firmly; he
was prepared to die, and as he had never
wronged any one he hoped to receive mercy.
Having concluded, his face was covered with a
black mask, his head enveloped in a large
hood, and the rope put around his neck; his
hands and legs were securely tied, and he
stood alone upon the platform. At thirteen
minutes before eleven A. NJ, after a mo-
ments pause, that seemed an age to every
one present, the signal was given, the plat
form, loaded with iron to accelerate its fall,
swung heavily down with sullen crash, and
in few minutes the soul of VIM B. Mum
ford passed into the presence of his Maker.
During all this time a vast crowd swayed to
and fro in front of the mint, and thronged the
levee, every eye fixed upon the awful scene,
while along the long line mounted men gal
Hoped, preserving order. Upon the consum-
nation of the sentence the assemblage quietly
dispersed to their homes. The crowd looked
on very quietly, and no demonstration of any
kind was made. Many were of opinion that
tbs execution would not take place, but that
the clemency of the commanding general
would be manifested in pardon, and large
number chung to this belief to the very last
moment.