New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-01-23
rsnuy ipg OF "a spy at EnoxvfiIc-A fEorri.
ribIc Scene at the Gnltows-The Prfs-
epcr Protests his Iunoccuce--kris Manly
Hcrriug CIR the scafoI6.
Fso.n Cur Special Correspondent.
Knnrur1rr Il II Ian I'M


! In my letter of Yesterday forwarded gen
cral order from Department Headquarters containing
tho finding of special Court Martial in the Of e.
s. Dodd Co II. 18th Texas Cavalry who was arrested
on the 18th Of December In Sewer County, Disguised
is alleged in Union uniform, and who after lengthy
and patient Trial. in which it is presumed the rights of
the accused were fully protected condemned as q
spy and sentenced To be hung. This sentence was car
RED into execution today at II O'Clock H. near this
cy and was witnessed ty about 1000 persons, citizens
and soldiers.
The unfortunate man native Of Kentucky
and tweniy.four years Of age. His fa.cIs name ID
! Traverse Dodd who lives in Richmond. Madison
County Kentucky. ibe prisoner enlisted IN inc iebei
Army during The fist invasion Of Kentucky ana was
sworn In II Shiloh. lie at the battle OF Belmont
and has uI some time been attached TO The ein Ie1as
Cavalry pert Of Gen. Wheelcr's command. He was
about feet inches IN hight OF dark complexion, VIII
dark eyes aud hair worn rather long and hight fard
and moustache. lis countenancc Indicated something
more than the usual intelligence and was marked by
that irmncss shioh he exhibited IN most remarkable
degree throughout his neao ration and tai and par
ticasy upon Tie scaiold. Not having access Ia the
evidence adduccd against him upon the Iia can only
meuilnn Mhas nus plOhc! liIhphtu 81 iis SAsV' "ii
give you his own statement he chieI points, as
which led Ia bis conviction were the fact
that he wore Mon uniform az the time Of his arrest
that he had upon his person diaI! IN which were en-
tered his own movements from time To time and some
particulars of forces pchets and that by this
]
of Union soldier. He WAS o1ostod IN an outbuiid
ing SeyierlilC In company with two otter Rebel
soldiers in Rebel uniform, who are heid ns pre-,
ono.s Of wGr. Doed SAYS that he mad Loot ms
horse, and Vas in pursuit Of another, and,
at the time 81 his capture, Was trying TO set up
the country" "a Iungstioct which he expected a. DO
safely by Keeping close up Ia the mountains ard avoid
ing Knoxville. Wheclers cavalry had returned west
ward % join Bragg after the defeat Of Wheeler by Col
Byrd at Kingston. about the 10Th Of November Dcdd
says he had abundant opportunity TO have destroyed
his diary, IL he had desired 10 do and asserts that
the book merely contained memoranda Of his own
daily movements for his simply aud that There
mention in il If any picket. Of The position Of
our forces The entry concerning his passing himself
Union soldier. he says Ioads. NJ the house Of "a
certain lady Ia SEVER County i passed as nnkoe
soldeT"-not ihst he passed himself NJ one. One 81
the witnesses however understand testified tho; Dodd
called 1T certain Union mans house nj night ana on
being asked d" Who was there 3" answered a Union
soidior.'
Respecting hls blue uniform, Dodd states that he
obtained the pants from n comradethe blue rosscrs
being part az the tOnfedefaie uniform. and the
coat he fays was issued tO him.
We give Bis statement merely. without Affirming or
denying anything e. u trustworilincss
Dodd com planned that he had no; he'd a ssir trial
rshe1 rehearing, and osser,ed that he could # per
tence. Major Smith 81 the Rebel amy made personal
application Ia Headquarters for say Vi the scntnoe.
bus filled in the application.
lie prisoner amer his sentence passed his tine In
writing % his friends and in devotional ond serious
eIercists INSISTED ly the Roy. Mr.. nydeI. Poa Chap
lain; the Rex Mr. T. Kent Of the 6Ji lnos. and tho
W
Martin. Hsoes Minister OF KNOXVILLE and otlexs visited
the o1ndsmYet and administered to his spiritual
fhaAifnly rocefi"d by tie prisoner, who Ircfee'ed
trlc penfslce sud finally strong ind unshaken con
hdencs in iuyiDg mercy His calmacss and orti'ndc
were sc snt3sct 81 general ruaTk. 10 toe ministers
be zaid. prepared a. meet my God. AID intend
&, dio Ike nan and toiaer.' Tho Rcys. Hyden aud
Martin Erys,a long ard fsrsen'y WIN nun IN me S a
Toe place Of execution
Precisely al 10 O'Clock this morning detechments Il
40. I'M
command Of Lieut. Col Kerr q the 18th, marched into
Main street and drawn up in ot Of and thu
prison. Al ioi tho prisoner emerged ron the don II
the jail in company win the clergymen and walking
"a wagon IN frurt climbed IN unssssted and TOOK Biz
seat upon his coffin The next moment the cayscade
moved passing with slow aud measured tread aOl
Gay street tie sound Of drum and fife. playing the
Death March 4 squad If soldiers with reversed anus
walked each side Il the wagon which was driver by
q cooIed man drawn by two grey horses.
4 oOnsidofa able procession. mounted ana on loot
filed up the streets and sidewalks all eycs being direct
ed toward the prisoner who generally preserved a
DOWN. ard look as " in deep meditation. At times be
took survey o. the eager crowd.
! From the death March" the music gradually Sid
into Mays Dream" Gnd then We were carried back
by the magic OF tho paintye notes 20 juvenile days 10
visions Of Sandy far at sea- and 20 the sal cadence
oi that fading refrain,
"wbcu soft and ov O voice she heard
| Saying, Mary. weep 10 more for me-
The solemn march, the wsing note. Of the &c, and
perhaps above ali tde calm, umOyed, manly bearing of
the prsoner-so thought-producod niournfll i'm.
The eaIth was covered by Hight fall u snow and
the prisoner projected nom The shsrp January air
by piece OF drugget thrown over his shoulders Ike
shawl lie wore a dress Of butternut pants and gray
short Jacket His hat was q PREDETERMINED wooden
one, with a star the frOnt each Of the five points
containing one letter Of the word Texas. The gaows
Of the od-lashOned, crOssbenm platform Kind, with
ascending steps and drop held up by spring. stood
the railroad truck not half mile from inc north
termination Of Gay street.
I Hiher the procession wended lis way. The troops
drew up around the gallows the vehicle containing
the condemned halted AZ the foot Of toe stain. The
clergy cOIyersvd few words with the prisoner
VINO said in finn unfaerng voice. "Nou lnve my
dying thanks" and 10 another lyon have ny dylng
love ior your kmdness and attention 10 me-" 10 the
Chaplain OF the llIth OHIO lie committed certain letter.
and shook hands With each in turn. Lieutenant j. T.
Wilson Of the Tooth Ohio 10 whose the prisoner
aad been committed nov approached. a9d requested
stepping down from the wagon walked firmly up TO the
platform followed by the Rev Mr. Hyden. where they
knelt and the prisoner engaged in silent prayer Cen
Garter, Proyo-tMai shal-Gcneral with his escort oc
eumed the opposite side OF the railroad cut and Wit
messed the execution.
the white cap drawn over ms face he ali the time being
engaged III brief calculations Of prayer which we're
heard by the officiating officers.
Az signal the bolt was row wiihdr6wn; The cuprii
fell, but the cotton rope broke by the sudden tension
and the man lay stretched and stunned upon the frozen
srOund below 4 Inuruur of horror mingled with a.
pressiOns Of pity ran through the assembled crowd.
RECOVERING for instant from the shockior his neck
was not bfoken-he sadpeInaps incOhereny, "release
quick, If YOU please" For Ten minutes the
fortunate lay tins upon biz back. without moving
muscle. Meantime the officers and men whose painful
duty IL 20 the execution Of the law. adjusted
this time parts Of the rope instead Of one ana
The hall conscious borne up the fatal steps
second time being partly supported upon The drop until
the double noosc had been adjusted. Not word or
sign OF suffering all this time escaped his lips. In
another moment the drop fell. and Inc prisoners form
now hung by the Deckfhe knot tettd me head. Death
finally ensued by stengualion. in ten inmates. Dr.
cOgswell the officiating surgeon pronounced life cs
tinct, aud the body taken down and buried.