Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-02-26
AN Act Of Retaliatory Inatioe.

In letter by the Rev. Thomas Smith, Chan
lain Of the Sd Regiment Mississippi (colorejl
Volunteers, describing the late reconnaissance u
the fazoo, We find the following account of an
act OF summary justice;
"soon after We went into camp 1t was discoy-
cred that, from one to two miles back, a squad
Of four Of the Rebel cavalry had come upon a
poor straggler-a colored soldier Of the Sd Mis-.
ssspp-Who had been unable TO keep up with
his regiment The Rebels murdered him in cold
blood. They took some Of his clothes and ac-
coutrements, rined his pockets, and left his body
lying by the side of the road. Some persons
living in house near the place witnessed the
whole transaction When the information was
communicated to Col. Wood, he resolved
upon retaliation, if the report should prove cor
rect. The Colonel said that it was not the first
I me that such brutality had been manifested
but On former occasions both officers and soldiers,
oil his fcglmsnt had been thus cruelty murdered,
". ".ine passed on, until the Colonel, having
satisfied himself that his mission to that place was
accomplished, gave orders to prepare to march.
But before leaving the place he told the two pri-
soners the Information that he had received re-
speciing the murder :, and assured them that II
1t should prove true they both must die upon the
spot where the deed was perpetFated. lie told
them that their time was shorti If they had any
business to settle, any message to send to friends,
or if they wished to make their peace with God,
they had better attend 10 those things at once
addiag also, that there we're two chapans pre-
sent, with whom they might consult if they de-
sired. little while longer aud the order to
march was given. Very soon we came up to the
place where the murdered soldier lay The col
umn halted. Surgeons examined tho body, and
pronounced the head both bruised and shot.
"Ihe Colonel, being satisfied that the report
which he at first received in relation to the mat
ter was correct, again told the prisoners that
they must both be shot And now the scene be.
came solemn. Our trOps were arranged 80 as TO
form two sides Of u square, facing the corps A
detail Of execution was made. The chaplsins
addressed few words to the prisoners, and Of
Jared prayer in their behalf. They were very
little moved, and did not seem at all to realize
the awful sOlemnity Of the occasion. One of
them asked the Colonel to pardon him, saying
that he would take the oath and never more raise
his arm in support of rebellion.
"The Cosnel was greatly affected. He wept,
md replied, 1T is OF no use to plead with me
now / am not acting for myself, but for those
men,-pointng to the soldiers Said he: 'Au
an individual, | would rather sacrifice my right
arm than take the life Of either of you. When
entered the service with these men, when en-
listed them into my regiment, promised them
protection and, as far as it lies in my power,
they shall have it, The prisoners then gave the
address OF friends at home to q chaplain, re-
questing him to write TO them and said one,
fell my wife that | died like a soldier They
we're then bllndtOlded, led to the corpse required
10 kueel, the command to fire was given, and in
an instant they fell, each pierced with several
bullets Great solemnity prevailed. The three
bodies were then all laid together in wagon
The troops again took their position in march
ing order aud the column moved on"