Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-01-01

geon; on the next day he was permitte'
to be in our room. and We resolved Il
make our escape that night. Andrew
was again put in the dungeon-and
he determined for us to mske our es
cape that night. he would give us th'
signal BY asking us to sing "CarrieI
Dove;" when we were to cut the trap
door loose and let him out Of the dun
geon. About dark, we received th,
signal to sing. We did so; and cutting
the door loose, soon rescued our brave
leader. He and one Of the boys ther
passed through the opening in the cell
ing and commenced working hole
through the brick gable end of the jail
they succeeded about daybresk. We
made rope of our blankets. attsch-
/ ing II to a rafter Andrews passed
down safely and undiscovered, another
one also passed down; but at that juno
ture. the guard made the discovery and
gave an immediate slarm. The boys
both escaped. Andrews was caught on
the third day. and John Wollam on the
eighth or tenth day. The remaining
number deemed it prudent not to at
tempt an escape after the discovery, as
the guard was some thirty strong.
This attempt proved rather reverse
to US. We all again were put in the
dungeon: Mr.. Andrews was brought
back and imprisoned With US. We re-
msined here until the 7th day OF June,
when we were removed TO Atlanta, Ga,
arriving there in the evening of the
sane day, where our brave leader, Mr..
Andrews, was executed about one and
half hours after we arrived. The re
mainder of US, eight in number, were
lodged in Jail; on the I4th, those who
were lsft at Knoxville were brought
here and lodged with us.
On the 18th Of June, they executed
the seven who were tried at Knoxville,
to wit: Geo. D. Wilson, P. G. Shada-
rack. Marion Ross, William Campbell,
Cd Ohio Reg; John NJ Scott. 9lst Ohio
Reg I; Samuel Slavens, Samuel Robert
cOhS OON ShiO AScBts
This was the most heart rending
scene ever witnessed. At 2 O'Clock
p. NJ. about 200 Cavalry collected
around the Jail. The officers then
came into the Jail. calling the namesiof
the seven who had been tried. putting
them in separate room, and had two
Southern preachers to read their sem
tence and pray with them. This being
done, they were ordered to put on their
clothing. While this being done, a
contemplate wretch I think Provost
Marshal, stood with watch in hand hur-
rying up the unfortunate men. They
permitted them to ceme into our room
to bid US a final adieu. The poor fel-
lows. though brave men, were consider
ably affected. One of them entreated
us. for Gods sake to let this be a warn
ing to US, and hoped we would be bet
ter prepared to meet our God than he |
was. While shaking hands with anoth-
er, I remarked. "This is hard" "Ah |
yes?" he replied, "aDd I don't feel pre-
pared to CO." Certainly it was
enough TO move the stoutest heart, to
think that these poor men, U. S. sol.
diers. must be taken out, and without
an hours warning, hung up like dogs
ushered into an awful eternity, deny
ing them time to make any prepara
ton for the future world. A Just God
will not suffer such wicked perpetrators
to go unpunished. They were taken |
out about three quarters Of an hour
after receiving knowledge of their
doom. We were told BY some rebel
soldiers who saw them executed, that
two OF them bruke the rope and fell TO
the ground; recovering they asked for
water which was given TO them. They
begged for their lives, which of course
was not granted; they then asked for
two hours to spend in prayer, which
was also denied them. They then
walked up on the scaffold firmly.
They kept the remaining IA of our
party. and Capt David A. Fry, Of East
Tennessee, confined in the same room
until Oct, when we learned from reli
able source that the Secretary of War
Of the G. S. A. had ordered us 10 be
executed. On the reception Of this un-
welcome news. we mutually resolved to
20 out Of that Jail. or die in the attempt.
Accordingly We most solemnly appoint
ed the 18th Of Oct. as the time for our
exodus. The day arrived, it being
rainy we deferred it one day. On the
eve Of the 10Th. after supper. while the
door was open and the negroes were
getting our supper pans and giving us
water for the night, we took possession
of the jailor. took the keys from him,
unlocked another room, let out 6 pris-
oners. these rushing on the guard. 7 10
number, took 8 OF their guns, two Of
which were loaded, four Of the guards,
whose guns were not loaded, rushed to
the gate ol the board fence enclosing the
jail-charging bayonets. We quickly
climbed over said fence, nine feet high,
and made our escape to the woods. III.
G. Hawkins and myself associated and
made good our escape. We think all
Of our party escaped to the woods
Whether any were afterwards caught
by the rebels we know not.
We travelled BY star light for nearly
three weeks; not trusting for some time
to travel in day time. After FL days
Of fatigue and hunger--living most of
the time on corn and persimmons-oc- !
casionally few raw sweet potatoes or