The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1864-11-18
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Communicated
Executions in Kentucky.

The second and third days of November,
1864, will be long remembered by the peo-
pie of Frankfort, or ought to BIZ so remem-
oered. At half-past three o'clock, p NJ,
of the I'd, a company of soldiers from Lex
ington, with eight prisoners, each ironed
with ball and chains, were marched
through the ceutre OF the town, across the
bridge on the Louisville road, and, Just
in the'suburbs on the south side, four of
the prisoners were shot to death The
other four were brought back to town, put
into Jail, and this morning (the 3d) taken
away to some other point to be killed
When they passed across the river, the
foremost prisoner was unable to carry the
ball attached to him, on his shoulder, and
had to drag it on the pavement. A hu-
mane soldier carried the ball attached to
another prisoner, far gone with consump-
ton.
An eye witness informs the writer that
the prisoners, thirly clad, wele taken into
a lot just in the edge of the town, and
there kept waiting for some time in cold,
damp atmosphere. by the Captain charged
with the duty of killing them. \ humane
citizen asked the soldiers if he might talk
| to tho prisoners a moment, and they said
no, he could not. The Captain came,
pulled out piece of paper, and command.
ed the prisoners whose names he should
call to stand to the front. lie attempted
to read the order, but could not. The
order was to take the first four on the list
to Frankfort, aud to shoot them to death
in the vicinity of the town. The order
did not state what for The gentleman
then asked the officer if he might see if
the prisoners had not some request to
make, or message to leave. The officer
replied he might, but che must be Cd
ID quick about it," He went up to
them, aud they inquired of him if it could
be possible they were to be shot.
He told them yes, and then took hasti-
ly their last request. As LIE turned away,
one of them asked if there was no one
present who would pray for them. The
same gentleman said he would. He and
the prisoners knelt down on the damp
earth, and he prayed for them fervently
and feelingly. While he was praying an
old man, said to be from Kenton county,
slipped the irons from him and started to
run The soldiers, without order, began
to fire on the other three, as well as on
the old man. One of the three fell dead
the other two fell over but were not
killed. The Captain made them stand
up, cursing, and damning the soldiers for
firing without orders. They requested to
be allowed to turn their backs, and they
were so allowed. A volley was fred and
both fell. One groaned after he fell,
when soldier put his pistol to his head
and fred into his brain
The old man ran some hundred yards
or more, the soldiers bowling and firing on
him. He received sixteen shots from
them. What motive there was, except as
cruelty, to take the other four to witness
the death in store for them no one can
tell.
This morning the other four were car
ried away between two files of soldiers
whereto has not yet TRANSFERRED. Doubt
less before this hour their spirits are where
there are righteous judgments administer
ed 10 all.
ought to have said that the old man
who was shot was political prisoner
His name was I.atferty.
The soldiers who killed the prisoners,
or rath the officer, said he had done all
he was ordered to do, when be killed the
men, and the citizens might bury them
On an appeal being made to the State Of
hcers they sent detachment of men and
had the odies buried.