Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-08-05
Captain Henry Washington SawyeE-A
Brave Mans Letter.

ment by lot on the 9Th of July, to be ex-
officers executed by General BURNSIDE for
recruiting for the rebel service in his mill
tary department. When the facts became
known to Captain SAVERS friends in
Philsdelphia-as we learn from the Press
they induced c. tain WLMoN WHILLDIN,
long associated with the steamboat interest
in that city, to visit Washington to ascer-
tain the policy of the Government in re-
gard to the inhuuan threat of JEFFERSON
DAVIS. He was kindly received by the
President and the Secretary of War, and
carried back to Philadelphia, from them,
the assu1 snce that the Government will
adopt such d course as would possibly
prevent The execution of Captains SAWYER
and Finn, eud at all events punish it fear
lessly and promptly. The Press adds:
When Captain Willdin reached this
city, the wife of Captain Sawyer received
8 letter from him in which he stated that
the rebel government would permit her
and their children to visit him before his
execution. In company with Mrs. Saw
yer he Immediately started for Washing
ton, and having received the authority of
our government, went to Fortress Mon
roe, where they are now waiting a flag of
truce to go to Richmond. We have been
permitted to take copy of Captain Saw.
yer's letter 10 his wife, which we subioin.
1t requires no compliment at our hands.
1t is the letter of brave and patriotic
man, and will be read with pleasure and
pride by all loyal citizens:
PRovosT GENERALS OFFICE.
RICHMOND. VA, July 6, 1868.
My DEAR WIFE | am under the ne
cessity of informing you that my prospect
looks very dark. This morning all the
captains now prisoners at the Libby mill
tary prison drew lots for two TO be exc
cuted. 1t fell TO my lot. Myself and Cap
tain Finn, OF the Fitty-first Indiana in
santry, will be executed for two captains
executed by Gen. Burnside.
The Provost General J. II. Winder as
sures me that the Secretary of War of the
Southern Confederscy will permit your
self and my dear children to visit me be-
fore l am executed You will be permit.
ted to bring an attendance. Captain Whill.
din or uncle W. ". Ware, or Dan, had
better come with you. My situation is
hard TO be borne, and | cannot think of
dying without seeing you and the children.
You will be allowed TO return without
molestation to your home.
| am resigned to whatever is in store
for me, with the consolation that / die
without having committed any crime. l
have no trial, no jury, nor am | charged
with any crime, but it fell to my lot. You
will proceed to Washington. My Govern
ment will give you transportation TO For
tress Monroe, and you will get here by a
flag of truce, and return the same way.
Bring with you shirt for me.
My dear wife, the fortune of war has
put me in this position. Ii | must die a
sacrifice TO my country, with Gods will |
must submit; only let me see you once
more, and | will die becoming a man and
an officer; but, for Gods sake, do not dis
appoint me. Write to me as soon as you
get this, and go to Captain Whilldin; he
Will advise you what to do. | have done
nothing to deserve this penalty. But you
must submit to your fate. 1t will be no
disgrace 70 myself, you, or the children
but you may point with pride and say, g.
gave my husband - my children will have
the consolation to say, =" | was made an
orphan for my country" God will pro-
vide TOR you, never fear. Oh it is hard
to leave you thus. l wish the ball that
passed through my head in the last battle
have been So KY mind 6dpt Is # so Mf2 Ra4t t9
tiuenced, fer it has come so sudden on me.
Write to me as soon as you get this leave
your letter open and | will get it. Direct
my name and rank, by way of Fortress
Monroe. Farewell farewell and hope
it is all for the best. l remain yours until
death, Ii. W. SAWYER,
Captain First New Jersey Cavalry
NEGRO TROOPS IN THE SoUTH.-The
New Orleans correspondent of the New
York Times says, that while the surrender
OF Port Hudson amounts to a yielding of
the State of Louisiana, it cannot be held
without additional troops. A great many
of nine months men have gone home, and
there is great danger that BANKS army
will be further weakened seriously by dis
eases of the climate. The following is the
TINES solution of the difficulty
I" How then are we to hold our acduisi-
tons down herel BY the easiest process
IN the world: by garrlsOning eUery post
as Jest as ace S5eze 1T, by BLACK TROOPS,
while our white soldiers are removed to
climates more congenial and wholesome
for them. Had the time we have spent
IN smothering down the absurd preiudices
against the negroes, and stupidity arguing
whether they could fight or not, been
zealously spent IN recruiting them and
putting nauSketS into their hands, who is
to convince that we should not have had
force sufficient TO hold Brasheur from the
enemy, as well as the whole country re-
Gently overrun by Gen. Banks, but now to
be reconquered! That Gen. Banks is
fully alive to the vast Importance of this
question nobody doubts out if every one
knew as well as those do who have an in
side peep into the construction of our ar.
niles, what vast amount of unreasoninc
and ridiculous prejudice commanding
General hes to overcome in his subordi-
mates, the wonder would be, not that Gen.
Banks has not done<nore, but that he has
been able to do anything at all toward
organizing the colored regiments, upon
which our strength down here will be I'll.
found to depend almost entirely.n
The same correspondent, writing of the
capitulation of Port Hudson, has the fol- |
lowing paragraph fearfully suggestive of
rebel barbarity:
L am sorry TO say that rumors are afloat. |
borne out, unfortunately, too strongly bV |