Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1863-04-17

s"S"' ANo 'iihS ioi PrePardtioh was aioWeu
them. They were told to bid their friends
farewell, "and to be quick about it." They
were at once tied and carried out to execu-
tion. Among the seven was private Sam
uel Robinson, Co. G, SD Ohio Volunteers,
who was tooill to walk. He was, however,
pinioned like the rest, and in this condition
was dragged from the foo- on which he
was lying, to the scaffld. In an hour or
more the cavalry escort, which had accom-
panied Them, was seen returning with the
cart, but the cart was empty--thc tragedy
had been consumma ed ir
On that evening and the following morn
ing the prisoners learned from the Provost
Marshal and guard that their comrades had
died, as all true soldiers of the Republic
should die, in the presence Of its enemies.
Among the revolving incidents which they
mentioned in connection with this cowardly
butchery, was the fall of two of the VIC
Tins from the breaking of the ropes, after
they had been for some time suspended
On their being restored TO consciousness,
they begged for an hour in which to pray
and to prepare for death, but this was re-
fused them. The ropes were readjusted
and the execution at once proceeded.
Among those who thus perished was Pri
vate Alfred Wilson, Co. c, 2lst Ohio Vol
unteers. He was mechanic from Cincin-
natl, who, in the exercise of his trade, had
travelled mucl, through the States North
and South, and who had greatness of
soul which sympathized intensely with our
struggle for national life, and was in that
dark hour filed with joyous convictions of
our anal Triumph. Though surrounded ty
scowling crowd. impatient fer his sacrifice
he did not hesitate, while standing under
the gallows to make them brief address
He told them that, though they were al
wrong, he had no hostile feelings toward
the southern people, believing that not they
bat 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 hi:
country, hut only regretted the manner Of
his death and he added, for thei: admoni-
tion, that they would yet see the time when
the old Union would be restored, and when
its flag would wave over them again. And
with these words the brave man died. He
like his comrades, calmly met the ignomin.
ious doom Of a felon-but happily, ieno
minious for him and for them only so fal
as the martyrdom of the patriot and the
hero can be degraded by the hands of ruf
fans and traitors.
The remaining prisoners, now reduced
to fourteen, were kept closely confined un.
der special guard, in the Jail at Atlanta
until October, when, overhearing con
versation between the Jailer and an officel
they became satisfied that twas the purpos,
of the authorities TO hang them, as they haC
done their companions. This led them te
form plan TO escape,which they carried into
execution on the evening of the next day, by
seiziag the jailer when he opened the door
to carry away the bucket in which Their
supper had been brought. This was fol.
lowed by the seizure also of seven guards on
duty, and before the alarm was given eight o.
the fugitives were beyond the reach OF pur.
suit. 1t has been since ascertained that six
of these, after long and painful wanderng'
succeeded in reaching our lines. Of the
fate of the other two, nothing is known.
The remaining six Of the fourteen, consist
ing Of five witnesses who have deposed
and Mr. Mason, were recaptured and con.
/ fined in the barracks until December, when
they were removed to Richmond. There
they were shut up in room IN Castle
Thunder, where they shivered through the
winter, without fire, thinly clad, and with
but two small blankets, which they ha''
saved with their clothes, TO cover 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 prosecutions in the prisons oi
the South-persecution begun ard contin-
ued amid indigni,ies and sufferings on their
mart. and atrocities on the part of their
traitorous foes, which illustrate far more
faithfully than any hnman language could
express it. the demoniac spirit of a revolt
every throb of whose life is crime against
the very race to which we belong.
yerv resnec,fi,Ily. your obedient servant