Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-03-22
Death of Abrams the Traitor Military
Executions at Yorktown.

YORKTOWN, Va, March u Private Thomas
Abrams, of the l39th New York Volunteers, was
to day shot to-death, with musketry, in the
presence Of large portion of General Wisiars
troops, whom he had prevented from taking
Richmond on General Wistar's late raid, by his
treachery.
Now that the last act is over, there con be no
harm in relating the circumstances heretofore
but darkly limited at, which prevented the cap
ture Of Richmond aud the release of our prison.
ers by Gen. Wistars troops.
VIM. Boyle, private of the First New York
Mounted Rifles, murdered Lieutenant DisOsway,
Provost Marshal OF Williamsburg, some four
months since, under the most aggravatiDg cir
cumstances. During Tow in the streets OF that
town, Lieutenant Disosway, pursuing his duty
as Provost Marshal, came in collision with Boyle,
who drew his pistol. The provost guard, under
Disosway, instantly levellel their pieces at
Boyle, and would have killed him on the spot
but for the Marshal's interference, who was try-
ing to subdue Boyle by argument aud kindness,
when the latter bnsely shot him through the
heart. lie was Immediately arrested, tried, con.
Victed and sentenced to death, but before the
sentence could be executed the general order of
The President was issued, euspending the cxecu
tiOn oil all sentences Of death in the army till
further orders.
Under this order the execution was DELAYED
for several months Boyle being cOniiurd ia a
teht in double irons, aud uuder special scnli-
mel, until the 3d Of February last when Abrams,
the victim of to- days tragedy, came 10 regular
turn TO be the sentinel over the prisoner Tax
lug advantage Of u dark rainy night, Abrams
supplied Boyle with case knife, neatly manu-
iactured into cav, with which to cut lis irons,
and, under pretence Of conducting him to a sink,
permitted him to escape, and delayed giving the
alarm 10 the guard till too late to recapture him,
Boyle having long served at that point, had d
thorough knowledge Of the picket line, and
though challenged and turned back twice by the
piokets, finally succeeded in passing out Ii
was subsequently ascertained that he was nm
mediately captured by the rebel plckcts. ia
whom he communicated his whole story, and the
information derived from Abrams, hat we were
masslng cavalry at Williamsburg for some des.
perate enterprise
Inc heh plckeis sent him at once 10 Rich
mond by relays Of horses, where his arrival aI
Castle Thunder was announced in the Richmond
papers on the 9th, being the same day Genera
Wlstar LETT Williamsburg, together with hint o
the important lldlngs OF which lie was the bearer
The rebels instantly commenced the mos,
vigorous exertions for throwing up entrench.
lnents and forwarding infantry and artillery tc
Bottom's Bridge, where our troops must cross
Extra trains were placed on the York Rive,
tailrOad; negroes were impressed in large mum
bers, and with such energy were their prepara,
tions pushed that daylight on the 9Th disclose,
to our advancing column long lines Of ntrcnch
menh and rifle pits, abatis and felled timber il
the ford, and such extensive distractions, will
troops posted in rear, that our object was de-
feated, and after one or two Intellectual attacks
and some lois Of men aud horses, it became oh
vious that nothing more could then be done will
advantage, and our troops reluctantly retired.
Upon thorough investigation of the causeI
Of this failure by Generals Butler aud Wistar. tb,
foregoing facts, with much more Of detail, wer,
elected. Abrams was brought to trial before I
cOurt-martlal, and after full trial, convicted AMI
sentenced TO death, and hence the execution o
to-day.
The troops who had made their forced aut
exhausting march in vain, owing to the treach
cry and treason OF the condemned, were formed
in hollow squares near Yorktown, and with III,
usual ceremony of military executions, all pre-
lminaries having been gone through with, til,
criminal, sitting on his coffin, received the fir,
of the party OF eight men detailed for the pur-
pose every bullet passing through his body. II,
iell back instantly and Cred without struggle.
One traitor to bis country, at least, has met
late as prompt as it was righteous and deserved