The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-09-12
From Kentucky.

40 COLUMBUS, KY, Sept. 9th, 1868.
Mr.. EDIToR:-.Thinking a few words
main would not be unacceptable, I dot
them down. The l4th is stationed here
now with a fair prospect Of remaining
and everything now looks like rest for the
weary. AS far as fighting is concerned the
District of Columbus is safe. The report
is Tying in military circles that Fores,
with his three thousand men is threaten
ing Union City, but l do not credit the ru-
NOR. Everything in and around this place
is as quiet as the most remote Southern
villages. This is disturbed occasionally by
now and then squad of rebel prisoners
being brought in by our troops from Fort
Pillow and other points, but they are never
in large numbers. All the rebels in this
] part of Kentucky are in guerrilla bands,
and they are fast disappearing. There has
been Court Martial and Military Com
mission in session here for the past five
months, and it is surprising at the number
Of cases tried before them. From the Court
| there has been great many sent to
Alton to labor for the good of their country.
Some have been sent North by the Com
| mission. But the most important case that
has appeared was that of the murderers of
the Beekman family, near Island Ten,
Tennessee. There was sixteen negroes i'm
| plicated in the affair. The murdered were
Mr.. Beekman, niece, and four children
His wife was not killed, as has been stated,
she having gone North few days previous
These inhuman wretches, after killing
them, mangled and disfigured the bodies
in a horrible manner, and then threw
| them into the river, after which they pro-
ceeded to the Island, where they were ia
ken prisoners and brought to Columbus to
board at Uncle Sans expense in the
'United States Hotels corner of Rhone
and Front streets. They were tried by the
>,DN ne, ~.
l4th, is President, and three of them SEN
fenced TO be hung. The proceedings OF the
trial were sent to Gen. Huribut, command
ing the Department, and by him APP
proved, and the order for their execution
accompanied the approval. The order was
received about dusk Thursday, and then
the condemned were told 10 prepare to
meet grim death on the morrow. They
prayed and howled in Il frTghtfQ, MANNER
HI night. On Friday morning the Provost
Marshal caused II gibbet 10 be erected. At
II O'Clock the crowd began to assemble
and the military coming up, formed hol-
low square around the gallows. At half
past eleven the prisoners arrived, to the
sound of the 1nuftsed drum, playing the
dead march. They were strongly guarded.
They came up in the old English style, in
@ wagon, seated on their ooffins. When
they reached the spot they were instantly
made to mount the scsffold, and our eff
Client Provost Marshals, Major Kerby and
Capt. Williams, also mounted and placed
themselves on each side of the PLATFORM
Then q Chaplain tcolored) came forward,
and, after singing doleful hymn, the
Chaplain and condemned knelt in prayer.
While he was praying the profoundest 81
lence reigned on the ground, broken now
and then by gronns from those who were
preparing for death. After the prayer was
finished the hands of the prisoners were
securely tied and the ropes placed around
their necks, and after drawing the caps
over their heads, the Marshals left the
platform. On going down. Capt. VIII
liams touched tho trap, something gave
way beneath their leet, and between heav-
en- and earth were suspended three of
the blacklist murderors that ever drew
the breath of life. A few stified screams
were heard from the women present. The
bodies were left hanging for twenty min
utcs, when DR.. Staples, Of the l4th Iowa,
examined them and found animation gone.
After hanginga few minutes longer they
were taken down and carried to the negro
burying ground. This execution was Wit
messed 10y at least 5000 people, and bad