Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1864-1865, 1865-02-02

S44stii A4O" hAtNsifib ~ - fNtt a. =
nopsiS OF the huge mass OF testimo.
ny given in the case. One instance
only of savage and brutal atrOcity.
abundantly established by the evi
dence, have | zine to give.
THE MURDER OF CAPTAIN soMERs ANn
MEN.
On the 10th of June last, it will
he remembered. our forces suffered
IN overwhelming and most humilia-
sing defeat ut the hands of the reb-
els, under the command Of Forrest,
at Brices Cross Roads, Miss. Our
army was demoralized and broken
into fragments, and fed from the
I field more like q mob than an organ
lied troop. On the retreat many OF
the infantry threw away their KNAPP
sacks and cartridge boxes, and broke
their guns, to enable them TO make
more speedy their flight before vic
torious and pursuing enemy. Neither
company nor regimcntal formations
we're kept Up, bat 10 considerable
extent every one thought only of his
own personal safety. and sought 10
secure it by flying speedily 10 the
defcnces at Memphis.
During this retreat, and on the 18th
day OF June, Captain Somcrs, Ser
geant Mitchell, privatcs Panky.
Parks, Guernes and two others whose
names are unknown, all OF whom be-
longcd to Illinois regiments, had
reached point on the Memphis and
Charleston railroad, two miles west
OF Colliersviile, and within twenty
four miles OF the city. They were
Warmed, foot sore, almost famished
by hunger and exhausted by march
of over hundred miles. They had
almost reached . place Of safety. and
hope was buoyant within them. They
expected soon, no doubt. TO bivouac
on their old camping grounds under
the protecting shadows of the guns
OF Fort Pickering. and there recount
with their comrades who had escaped
from that bloody and disastrous field,
the story Of their adventures, their
flight and thcir escape They little
dreamed of the dread doom thst
awaited them-that five OF their little
band, in brief hour from then.
would lay dead in the thicket by the
roadside. and the sixth he crippled
and manned for life. But | must
pass 10 the sequel. just before them
lay Dick Davis and his band in am
bush. and 5 these weary and worn
soldiers passed, they were greeted
with a volley and yell that, to them.
sounded rs if :. Pandemonium had
opened wide its internal gates and
turned loose on earth hundred
fiends. No shot took effect, but they
were at once charged upon by the
guerrillas. Being unarmed, over
powered by numbers, unable to run,
no alternative was left Captain Som
crs and his men but 10 surrender
This they did, thinking, doubtless,
they had fallen into the hands Of a
generous and magnanimous enemy,
by whom they would be treated IS
prisoners Of war.
After their capture they were i'm
mediately hurried into the wood,
robbed Of their money, rings, coats
and hats. This accomplished. Their
captors took them, hy by path,
to place in thicket of wood some
two miles south OF the railroad,
where the party halted. The cap
tiyes. with the exception Of Captain
Somers-who laid down on the
lcayes-took their seats side by side
on log. Here Dick left them under
guard OF two men, and with the
rest of his band retired n few PAGES
and held some kind Of consultation.
The brutal purpose of that consulta-
ton was soon made manifest. Hc-
turning to his prisoners, Dick or
dercd Captain Somcrs to take Il seat
on the log beside his comrades.
which was Immediately done. Step
ping before them. he said TO them
but n few brief words. but they were
words of dreadful import The
heartless and piratical words. Boys.
YOU must all 20 overheard, was
the laconc sentence Of death passed
10y the Guerrilla Chief upon these
helpless and dcfencelcss men. The
protestations. piteous supplications
and entrcatios Of the poor soldiers
failed TO touch any chord OF sympa-
thy in the robber heart. An elderly
man. of his own hand-one Of those
who had guarded the prisoncrs--at-
tempted 10 interpose in their behalf,
but to no purpose. In n moment ten
grim executioners were in front OF
the doomed. and with rcvolvers. nj
the short distance of three PAGES.
; poured volley Of lead into their
very bosoms. Somers. Panky. Mitch
ell. and the two unknown soldiers
fell forward. dead But He who
shapes the destiny Of the Universe
by a mysterious providence. permit
ted Parks and Gucrnes 20 live. rs II
it was His divine purpose that they
should be instrumental in bringing
this human monster TO merited pun
ishment. At the moment the com
manG 1re" was given, Parks threw
himself backwards over the log and
escaped unhurt, and at the same IN
stant Guernes started 10 run. bat
was less fortunate than his comrade,