The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-06-07
FROH TIOKsBURG.
Execution OF Negro soldiers for Apr.
der. -

Correspondence otths Memphis BaIlstinl
VICKsBURa, May 20.
This day has been set apart for the ex-
ecution Of the negro soldiers convicted for
the murder Of the Co family.
The negroes, twelve in number, had been
tried and convicted of numbering q womsn
and child. The trial was fair, ard the
punishment just according to military
and civil law. They were soldiers in the
service of the country ; they had left camp,
on the night in question, without authori-
~, and for the purpose OF robbery. They
9 directly to the house of Colonel Cook,
and demanded of him his money! He
begged them, for Gods sake, not to kill
him. A shot was fred and he fell he
lay . lew minutes, snn then, on his hands
and knees crawled out of the house to q
barn near by. The murderers then rushed
at his wife, demanding her money and
jewels. She refused to give them up, and
old them to go about their business. They
told her she mutt die. A child, about five
or six years of age, hung to her dress and
begged in vain for the life of ana" The
child's innocence and ~plesdings could not
move them. The fiends then, in cold blood,
butchered mother and child. They then
sacked and fred the place TO wipe out the
last trace of their crime. This is the last
story of their crime. Now we will give
the scene of retribution-the lsst these I'M
fortunate men ever gazed upon on earth.
The stores we're all closed by military Or
der. The invinciOls militia was orcered
out and, led by feeling of morbid curios-
ity, Thousands hocked to the scene. The
place chosen WAS near the machine shop,
and outside the inner fortiications. A hol-
low square was formed, surrounding the
gsllows-s rude wooden structure about
twenty-five feet high, platform about thir.
teen feet from the ground. The following
regiments formed the square surrounding
the gallows: It'll Tennsssee cavalry, dis.
mounted, Liebs Heavy Artillery, LIST and
I'd Militia Regiments, and SD us O. l.,
the regiment these men belonged to At
IL o'clock the preparations were all com.
pleted. The negroes were asked if they
had anything to say. The first came for.
ward, be was q light-colored, likely-looking
uegro, about twenty-eight years of age he
wore q uniform and 3 eorpOrsPs stripe on
his arms. He spoke in q bod, clear voice,
he said he had been fighting for two years
for his country, bu+, "DeYer did think my
services would be rewarded by the gsllows /;
my friends, never did l think to meet you
here: 1 have been a good soldier, and
many of you know me, but before yoH l
declare myself not guilty." He then
stepped aside, and the next said q few
words. He said he was absent from camp
at the time he had heard there were some
rebels out there, and went with the rest Of
the boys he had been taught to hate
rebels" snd here he was checked from
making some remarks Abouta Lieutenant
HgThis IS sh I have got to say, 1 went after
rebels" The third came forward, and be
Ryerred his innocence, and said he had re-
signed himself to Jesus; He was his friend.
BE then told all his friends Jesus wss
their friend. The others followed in very
near the same strain, each declaring him
self mot guilty" They then sang 8 hymn,
and the chaplain made q short prayer The
corporal seemed quite nervous sl the time,
and wonld frequently, in a loud voice, say
he was 'not guilty" and he never thought
he would have TO die on the gslloWs tor
serving his country. The negroes were
then requested to sit down while their
hands were tied behind them. After this,
each man rose to his feet, and the execu
TONER passed around, placing the rope
around esch mans neck, and adjusting the
caps over their heads. The word was Civ
en-, the traps descended, and the bodies Of
Ghe5e unfortunate men we're left swinging
with the coils Of the rope, darg ing between
the earth and heaven. Thus they passed
away, with scarcely s struggle, while a
Wild murmur Of the black women and
children rang from hill to hill. The band
struck up, the troops began to disperss
and the curious multitude began to seek
their homes. .-E~