The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-08-10
The Last Murder by Hnntcr.

The Cet,o4 Presbyterian gives the particulars of
this coid-blooded decd Mr.. Creigh was very
prominent citizen Of Greenkrier county, and an
elder in the Presbyterian church. While Crooks
command near Lewisburg last year, Mr.-creigh,
upon returning homo day from the field, found
a Federal soldier there insulting the ladies of the
fuTnily and breaking open the trunks, drawers, &C.,
iii the house. Upon demonstrating with him, the
Yankee nsoently told him to bring him the keys
to the trunks, and them fired upon him After
short struggle Mr. Creigh killed him with an axe
As a Federal army was in the neighbofhood the
deed was not made public, hut an ifishnan working
ON the farm betrayed it, and whfsI the Federal army
under Aycriu returned to Grcenbrier in June, me-
gro gave them information of the deed. The Pres
5yfsrjaa gives the further history Of the affair:
Search was made and the remains found. Mr..
Cieigh made a candid statement OF tho whole occur
renee TO the military authorities declaring that he
considered himself Justified in what he had done,
and that he would DO the same thing to any OF them
or II any soldier, Federal Confederate under the
same circumstances. After his arrest they took his
wife and two daughters, about ten O'Clock at night
very dark compelled them to ride behind their
guard horseback four miles to headquarters
They did not, however, ask them a question, nor
they permitted even To see Mr.. Grelgh. lie
requested that his excellent friend and neighbor,
Mr. john W. Dunn, should appear as witness
They sent for him, but would not permit him to
single question.
They departed from the ncighboiliooi Of Lewis
burg tic noxt day, leaving Mrs. Creigh and her two
daughters to 60 foot to that place, four miles dis
Lant. Nj. Grcigh they marched on foot to Staunton
q distance Of one hundred miles, and where the
forces under AveIill were joined by the army under
HunIsr. lie wrote q short letter to his wife, IN
which be speaks Of his entire Ignorance OF his desti-
nation, 5upposng, however that II probably
Stanton. lie exhoit4 her 20 bear up under the
ttial hoping to meet his family again earth
at all events, in better world. This is about all
Ii.
the time Of his end. The few facts known concern
ing his murder We now proceed to relate:
The army of General Hunter left stanton Oh
Friday, June the 10th, proceeding up the Valley to-
wards Lexington ny various roads. On Sunday
evening, the 18th, General 1AveIill encamped on
Hays creek, about two miles below BrownsburS.-
The spot selected was the home OF our childhood
the farm owned by our father, and ever since his
death By his son-n-law and successor pastor of
New Providence church, the Reverend James Nor
1ison. The tent OF General AveIill pitched III
his yard About dark rather elderly-looking per-
son knocked at the door, announcing himself the
Reverend Mr. Osborn, from UniontOwn, Pennsylvas
MA, chaplain Of the Federal army. He requested
10 see Mr. Morrison, stating that they had with the
amy citizen OF ureenbIiGr county, whose name
vas Creigh; that lie Was under sentence OF death,
and was about t. b executed, His doom had just
| been announced 10 him. lie also said Mr.. Creigh
had mentioned that he wcll acquainted with
Mr. Morrison; had often heard him preach end
that, III the Immediate prospect OF death, he had
sent to ask an interest in has prayers. He stated
tthCr, answer to enquiries on that point that
communication with the priS0nerwoud be permitted.
He was kept under strict guard in negro cabin
close by, and though repeated efforts made
thet night 70 visit him, they i'll vain. 1t was
It. this aWtul hour, and immediately afIr knowing
his fate, that Mr. Cregh wrote has beloved wife the
following letter, from which We omit only few mat
| ters relating 10 his private ttfa'is;
| ''JU&E lr 1864.
| ''Dt..t Emily l arrived this evening at the Rev
| Mr. James M1rTi5o's, III Rockbrdge county. After
eating nay supper, was taken into house and the
| sentence pronounced that Twas to be hung. was
| not permitted any counsel in my case.
- wish You, lny dear, beloved wife, to bear NJ
under this dreadful beieayen.cnt you and all tht
children bear up under this we'll rs they can, and
al try 10 rleet mo III Heaven. em meeting death
with ratIUncss, believing and trusting in the Lorc
| Jesus Christ tue SAVIOUR OF Sinners. Ny sincere
wish Is, that al my brothers and sister; may meet
| ma IN Hrtyen.
In NY sentence it was read that the house Wa.
- be burnt TO the s:oai-I but the genlesnn that
brought m this paper aid that part Of the sentence
I would moi ho carried out hope,i that w0ultOncC
-. see sou all on earth, but it j. deoI'rd other
m, have 10 submit. | wish my remains /,
wise AIM, laid by the side Of our ftthoI'a ans
h. ,,,u,tL.al a ~'nvsuicnt.
ln,tip e'' an "a place in few minutes
- h" eyHnitiC. VIII Ia. 4"' ''i' ''''''
me i;sF i q. OaUo.u a4s pr,
commenced writing
vo5
' sent foe him t}li, minute. aJlihce,,s t3.p,
-H'iS'}a tame III together: ana the Provost Marsh
"a4 .tlllorl1C6 - say the execution if I uisbnS
. ,a2"l9 not take Place until daylight, which ac,
uit i,ne!t more time 10 otter up PRAYERS 10
Tod Tor myself Gni dearly beloved wifa ami ctd,,
-3ll 10 meet in heaven
NY de,r brother Lewis, know how this viii at
i'Ct va. lcu EGow all about my business
wish ny beloved son, CytllE. If n. j. sr,,,,7
iDu3l tiS Gfei.aloi-wir. 10 nlJu-Se INV business
WIN Your SslSIce-as dutil,il L ,, "a, ever lived
''io mast say - for all my sons anl daughters
i1" ltts" yUu, tF1us, Thomas, Charles Ruf1ia pa
va IhFl&tophel iOeiltut, Egb,it Margaret lI,ry
t.lh isiiIG,th, leave You with Your ChIi,tiar mo-
tn'f. God be your stay Gnd SUPPORT trusting in
""'t ana lnelann8 to meet me III Heaven
"DANIp S. CREtGR."
The nezt morning, a little after s,nt,;s. h.. u-,s
Drought o4t under guard, put inio a WAGON. and
ESSta up " htt'e Val" IL spot about quarter of
q Hl1e holth oi the uiise, ana III tull view of il =
-''l1 upon tiec close by fountain known as lhr
.o!5'pntis,' W&s this most infamous deed u Ic-
.Pi'' ~ tiiS shape ot men pcIetratcj ard thrit
mfhoc gIJGlrd.
NOV . tho chaplain again knocked at the door Ioen-
iulI whether the family aware OF the s.le,nn
eFFht which had taken place He cxpr,.ss.d tha
strong impressions he had received of NJ, t,.;rh |
'riiG good man, AMI bore testimony to The m rtt1
,oihPosqsc and Christian spirit with which he mel
M utat!i. t7o!ne oi the private soldiers took o,-
'loh - declare them opinion that the execution
90 20 pettei ttiiiIi murder that N killing the soll
Yer hishl'i done no more than he bound to do
TIE stated also that II was his request that hs Ie-
i..Is might be left that his friends could obtain
cit hanging on the tree might be taken down This
vas accordingly done. The wits Of the venerable
minister lhe being il very feeble healthl did not
iE't" Win Such aSslatanCe could be command
o. 10 attend 2t once 10 this lnoufuful office The
oay was taken down, wlappes in a blanket ard |
'ut INTO grave, dug on the spot, until better ar
aiiSeneItts could be made. In the disturbed con-
ltiol gf the communI>y y-nearly all the male po,- |
ION BENG absent it was nor until Thursday that
e"hih could be procured !iy that time one OF the |
,3 ol ar siti9!, N General Brct kniids's army,
''lh9 heard OF the fate OF his father, had come
Yer ana was present when the remains Of this |
9oa man were suitably laid in The graveyard OF
Inc Presbyterian, in editorial adds
v men Hunters amy in their ilishtilo avenging
l9Ite were passing like vast pa,k OF famshed
oiies through urecHbiicr county, this cha aplain
allied upon DIR. McElhennY the interview; as We
eI6ttnd, having reference TO the tragcal fate of
is beloved friend and cider Upon being invited at |
> close 10 paItake of dinner Ia comfort presumed |
, have been greatly needed he dcciihed the hsspi-
1ity, saying that after what had taken place he
oafd not eat IN q Southern mans house, and that
royidence had seemed to be against them ever
nee"
GENERAL POLK
A fash from the edge Off hostile trench
a pull OF sInoke-a