The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1864-02-20
For The Cecil Wing
CAPTAINS SAWYER AND FLYNN
An Incident in Libby Prison
BY REV. JOSEPH T. BROWN.

On Monday, the 9th of last July, the
lots that were to seal the fate of Capts
Sawyer and Flynn, we're drawn in Libby
PriSon-so SAID the Rebel officers, but
in this, as in many incidents man may
propose, but not always dispose. 1t was
warm, but pleasant day in July, each
prisoner was enjoying himself in his own
peculiar way. happy as be could be I'M
der the circums auces. At two o'clock,
P. NJ, came AN order from Captain Tur-
ner, the commandment of the prison, for
all The Yankee Captains then in prison,
to appear below stairs. Every counte-
nance was lit up. parole parole 70 ran
through he prison. Down stairs they
went, two and two, until they numbered
70 in ali. Then came another order,
calling for thee Yankee Chaplains:
Rev. McCabe, OF the l22d Ohio Rev.
Brady, of the / IL Ohio; aud Rev. Jos.
T. Brown, Of the 9th Md. Regiment
The excitement now changed FROM pa
role to u query, what's up? Down
stairs we went. and were met on the first
floor by Turner, who read 20 US the order
OF Gen. Winder, to the effect that two
of their men had been executed by Gen.
Burnside. and, in re a]iation two of our
Captains had to suffer death ; and that
We we're called down to draw the los, or
to witDass the ceremony Of The drawing
We were tuen taken to an adjoining
room in he prison, where stood our Off
l,n oe ha ,f
which they were as Je. ignorant A la
bic, at which Capt. Turner stood, was
placed in the Ell of the room and
the prisoners were arranged in square
about it. The roll was then called by
he clerk. Turner then read the order
OF Gen. Winder, and info, med the pris-
oners that they were at liberty to select
one of their own pumbcr, or, one of
their Chapiains. They selected the wri-
ter; the na;nes of the officers we're each
written on separate slip of paper, which
was folded over to present a b ank eXte-
rior. The los were then put IN wood
en- box IL inches by i'll width, and the
first Two names drawn out would desig-
nate the two doomed 10 suffer dea h
Oh. the solrnnty of that hour! a
dea'h-ikc stiffness pervadcd the place
the writer erped forward, and, with u
trembling hand. drew, in succession, wo
lots the first bore the name of Capt.
Henry W. Sawyer, of the First New
Jersey Mounted Intan ry the second
the maine of Captain John Flynn, of the
DIST Indiana Infantry. The doomed
men were ordered to step forward the
rest were marched back to heir quarters
They were then taken to Captain Tur-
ner's office, and from thence to the Office
of General Winder, who returned them
to the prison, under commitment to
close confinement in the cell, until the
day of execution; but their ay in the
cell was of short dtra ion-the voice of
this government was heard and felt in
Richmond saying to the Rebel author.
tiles execute Sawyc or and Flynn, and
We will execute Lee and Winder. How
soon the whole thing changed Sawyer
and FLYNN were released from heir loa,h-
some cell, and permitted to enjoy the
society of their fellow prisoners. The
editors Of their papers muttered and
growled over lie action this goverumen
had AIKEN. Thank God it was deci-
s.ve ac ion-one that MOI only released
the doomed men from their dark and
loa hsome cell, but one that broke in
pieces the determination of the Rebels
to execute two innocent men, for two
that were executed inside of our lines
rs spies.