Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-04-16
TEAMS OF ADyERTIsINc !

Among the revolving incidents which they
mentioned in connection with this cowardiy
6utchery, was the fall Of two Of the victims
from the breaking Of the ropes, after they
had been Tor some time suspended. On
their being restored to consciousness, they
begged Tor an hour in which to pray and
to prepare for death, but this was refused
them. The ropes were readjusted, and the
execution at once proceeded. ,
Among those who thus perished vas pri.
vate Alfred Wilson, Company q, Twenty.
first Ohio Volunteers. He was a mechanic
from Cincinnati, who, in the exercise Of his
trade, had travelled much Though the
States, North and South, and who had
greatness Of soul which sympathized in.
tenseiy with our struggle for national life,
and was in that dark hour filed with Joyous
convictions Of our final triumph Though
surrounded by a scowling crowd, impatient
for his sacrifice, he did not hesitate, while
standing under the gallows, to make brief
address.
He told them, though they were all
wrong, he had no hostile feelings toward the
Southern people, believing that not they.
but their leaders, were responsible for the
rebellion; that he was no spy, as charged,
but soldier, regularly detailed for military
duty; that he did not regret to die for his
country, but only regretted the manner of
his death and he added, for their admoni-
tion, that they would yet see the time when
the old Union would be restored, and when
its bag would wave over them again And
with these words the brave man died. He,
like his comrades, calmly met the ignomin.
ious doom of felon; but, happily, ignom-
inious Tor him and for them only SO far as
lnartyrdom Of the patriot and the hero eau
be degraded BY the hands Of rufians and
traitors. ... e..
The remaining prisoners, now reduced to
fourteen, were kept closely confined under
special guard, in the jail at Atlanta, until
October, wheu, overhearing a conversation
between the jlilor and another officer, they
became satisfied that it was the purpose Of
the authorities to hang them, as they had
done their companions. This led them to
form plan for their escape, which they
carried into execution on the evening OF the
next day, by seizing the jailor when he
OPP n d the door to carry away the bucket
ia winch their supper had been brought
This was followed by the SEIZURE also OF
the seven guards on duty, and before the
alarm was given eight Of the fugitives were
beyond the reach Of pursuit. 1t has been
since ascertained that six of these, after
long and painful wanderings, succeeded in
reaching our lines. OF the fate Of the other
two, nothing is known.
The remaining six Of the fourteen, con.
sisting OF the five witnesses who have de-
posed, and Mr.. Mason, were recaptured and
confined in the barracks until December,
when they were removed to Richmond
There they we're shut up in Castle Thunder,
where they shivored through the winter,
without FIRE, thiuly clad, aud with bur two
small blankets, which they had saved with
their clothes, tocover the whole party.
| So they remained until few days since,
when they were exchanged and thus, at
the end of eleven months, terminated their
pitiless persecution in the prisons of the
South prosecutions begun and continued
amid indignities and sufferings on their
part, and atrocities on the part of their
traitOrous foes, which illustrate far more
faithfully than any human language could
express it, the demoniac spirit of revolt
every throb Of whose life is crime against
the very race to which we belong.
Very respectfully, .LGa 4t
Your obedient servant,
j. HoLr,
Judge Advocate General
Hon. E. NJ. STANTON, Secy of War.
The testim ony elected is too voluininous
to publish. ..te .r-,.s..e-.