The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1863-04-24


nooga. their prison was opened, and
the death sentences of tho seven
who had been tried At Knoxville
were read to them. No time for
preparation vas allowed them. II
They were told to bid their friends
fer,well and to be quick about II.
They were at once tied md carried
out to execution, Among tho scvcn
was private Samncl Robinson, Co.
X 33d Ohio Volunteers, who was
TOO i'll to walk. lie was, however,
pinioncd like the rost, and in this
condition was dragged from the floor
on which he was lying TO the scat
fold. In sn hour or more the cav
airy escort, which had accompanied
them, was seen returning with the
cart, but the cart was empty--the
tragedy had been consumated!
On that evening aud the follew-
ing morning, the prisoners learned
from the Provost Marshall aud guard
that their comrades had died, ~ all
true soldiers OF the Republic should
die, in the presence Of lie enemies.
A mong the ruvelting incidents which
they mentioned IN connection with
this cowardly hatchery, was tho fall
OF two of the victims from the break
ing OF the ropes after they had bs.u
'or some time suspended. Ga their
being restored TO consciousnsss, they
begged ior On hour in which to prey
AMI to prepare for death, but this
was refused them. The ropes were
readjnsted and the execution at once
proceeded.
Among those who thus perished,
was privte Alfred Wilson, Go. G.
21st Ohio Volunteers. Ho was a
mechanic from Cincinnati, who, in
tho exercise of his trade, had travel.
sl much through the Ststos OF the
North and South, and who had Q
greatness Of soul which sympathiz
ed intensely with our struggle for
n ational life, aud was in that dark
hour filled with joyous convictions
of our final triumph. Though sur
rounded by q seowling crowd ,impa-
lient for his sacrifice, be did not he's
ilate, while standing under the gal
lows to make them Q brisf address
lie told tnem that, though they were
sll wrong, he had no hostils feelings
to wards the Southern people, ba-
lisving that not they but their lead
ers were responsible for the rebel
lion; that be was no spy 90 charged
but u soldier. regularly detailed fol
military duty; that be did not re-
gret to die for his country, but only
regretted the manner OF bis death
aud he added, for their admonitiou
that they would yet see the tim,
when the old Union wonld be res
tored, and when its hag would wsv'
over them again. And with those
words, the brave man died. HI
like bis comrades calmly met th'
ignomininious doom OF felon-bu
happily, ignomlninious for him an
for them only. so far 10 the martyr
dom Of the patriot and the hero Cal
! be degraded by the hands OF ruflian
. and traitors.
b., The remaining prisoners, now re
duced to fourteen, were kept close
t confined nnder special guard, in th
i Jail at Atlanta, until October, whe
0 overhearing q conversation betwee
!, the jailor and another ofiicor, the
j. became satishei that it was the pu
= pose OF the authorities 20 hang thel
@ as they had done their conpaniop,
- This led them to form plan II
! their escape, which they carried iu
J to execution on the evening OF th
= next day, by se'Eing the jIilor whe
;. he opened the door to carry ava
n the bucket in which their suppe
t had been brought. This was fol
lowed by the seiznre also OF seve
Q guards on duty, and beierc tb
alarm wss given, eight Of ths iugi
= tives were beyond the reach Of puI
= suit. Ii has been ascrrtaincd thi
six OF tlose, after long. and pa.ieI
l. wanderiDgs, succeed in reaching o.
z Ines. OF the tate OF the other TIVE
y nothing is known. The remainip
six of the fourteen, consisting OF Ih
d FIVE witnesses who have deposet
s and Mr.. Mason. were recsptured All
8 confined in the barracks until DE
D cember, when they were shut up
r. room in ss,Ie Thunder, whc
70 hly shivered through the Winfe
lr without fire, thinIy clsd, and vii
a but two small blsnkets, which the
/ had saved with their clothes, to Co
Al er the whole party. So they re
maincd until few deys since, whs
t. they were exchanged: and thus
e ,le end Of eleven months, termiua
s. ed their pi,iless prosecutions 10 Il
rt prisons OF the souta-p9rsecntiol
> bozun and con inued anil ind gn
m ties and suff:riBRs ON their psr
y and atrocities on the part Of the
8; traitorous fors, which illustrstn I
10 mora faithfully than sny humsu Ia
?. gusge could express ii, the demon
ir nc spirit of a revolt, evofy ,hrob
n whose life Is crime agsinst u
N very race 20 which We belong.
G. ]. HOLT,
y Judge Advocate General.