The Shasta courier., 1863-11-07
Execution of kellogg. the Western Spy.
The Richmond Enquirer of September %,

The Richmond Enquirer of September 90,
has the following:
At eleven O'Clock yesterday forenoon de-.
tail Of one hundred men. under Captain
Poots. from the ty battalion, marched from
Castle Thunder with Spenser Kellogg, the
recently condemned spy. in custody. The
cortere moved up Main street in t follow
ing order: Drum corrs on the right. follow
ed bv two companies ofmilitary: hack con-
tanning the condemned man. his spiritual
adviser. DR.. Burrows. and detective Cape
hart and another officer. The hack was
closely guarded bv mounted men. followed
bv two companies of infantry. The caval-
cade reached the scene of execution at half
past twelve o'clock. where, as usual. vast
crowd of people. of both sexes and all ages,
were congregated. After a few moments
spent in preliminary arrangements, the pris-
oner was escorted. under guard, from the
hack to the gallows. While seated in the
hack awaiting the perfection of the arrange
nents fox his execution, he conversed gailv
with the utmost nonckalance, with Dr. Bur
rows, frequently smiling at some remark
made either by himself or the minister Ar
irving under the gallows. Captain Alexander
read the charges perferred against the &C
cused, and the sentence of the Court Mar
tial-'' that he be hanged by the neck until
dead A short but impressive prayer was
then offered by the minister, at the conclu-
sion of which the condemned man. unaccom-
panied, mounted the scafold. In few mo
ments detective Capehart followed, and CON-
menced to adjust the rope over the neck of
the criminal, in which he assisted, all the
while talking with the officer. On taking off
his hat to admit the moose over his head. he
threw it one side, and falling off the scafold,
1t struck gentleman beneath, when the pris-
oner turned quickly, and, bowling, said
- Excuse me, sir" After getting the rope
on his neck arranged to his satisfaction, de-
tective Capehart commenced to pinon the
arms of the condemned, to which he submit
ted composedly, simply remarking-'' Amt
this hard, Captain?' His ankles were then
tied together, and his hat given to him, which
he held in his hand behind him. A negro
next came on the scaffold with ladder and
proceeded to fasten the rope to the upper
beam, the prisoner meanwhile regarded him
witt great composure. The rope being fas.
tened, the negro was in the act of coming
down when the prisoner, looking up at the
rope, remarked, "this won't break nv neck.
Tisn't mere than foot fall. Dr. wish you'd
come up and arrange this thing | don't
waI}t to have a botch job of it ~ The rope
was then arranged to his satisfaction, and
the cloth cap placed oyer his head. The
condemned man then bowed his head and en-
gagged a few seconds in prayer, at the con-
clusion of which he raised himself. and stand
ing perfectly erect, pronounced in clear
voice, - all ready" At five minutes to one
the drop fell and the condemned man was
launched into eternity. He struggled vio-
lently for about a second, the rope swaying
to and fro like the pendulum of a clock. He
was left hanging thirty minutes, when he was
cut down and pronounced g dead" by the
attendant physician. his neck having been
broken by the the fall. The body was then
placed in 4 coffin and sent to the burial
ground.
Kellogg was a man of ratherprepossess
appearance, about five feet eight or nine inch
es high, with sparkling light-blue eyes, san
dy hair and beard, and slight moustache.
His skin from long confinement some fifteen
months), had become as fair as a females.
He wore at the time of his execution, a dark
blue coat and brass buttons, light blue pants,
Il blue check shirt. and black wool hat. He
was apparently about thirty five years Of age.
The wretch had previously confessed his
guilt, the substance of which confession was
that he had hired himself to the Confederate
Engineer Corps at Island No. 10, with the
purpose Of gaining information for the bene.
fit Of the Federal Government; and though
at last detected, he died with the conviction
that he had furnished more valuable informa
ton in the character of spy. to that Gov
ernment, than any other ten men Ia the Uni
ted States service.