Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-01-23
Hanging Of David S. Creigh, Esq, of Green
brier, by Gen'I Hunter. in June. 1854.


We have received . pamphlet containing the
circumstances ofthe hanging Of David S. Creigh,
Esq, Of Greenbrier, by Gen'l Hunter in June
1864, and a biographical sketch of the life Of
that estimable and worthy citizen and Christian
gentlemen prepared by Dr. VIM III Syme, of
Lewisburg, Grcenbrier county We publish
below so much Of the pamphlet as will be read
with most interest by the public generally 4
more unjustifiable and shocking case of judicial
murder was never perpetrated. It is one of the
bloodiest pictures in the blood-stai volume
of the late terrible war;
The following is from the Central R-esbyte,fi-
an Of August the 4th., 1864: 80
''In the early part of Nov, lS64, and while the
lrarmy of General Crook was in the vicinity of
Lewisburg, Mr. David S. Creigh, whose sel' resi-. i
dence was about two miles from the town, rpon
entering hls house one day, was informed, that
a Federal soldier, man of dissOlute habits, was
Within engaged In the work of robbi4g the
house, and also using very insulting and abusive
language to his wife and daughters, that he was
at that very moment UP stairs breaking open
drawers and trunks. It is proper to State in
this connection that the supposed Federal sol
der was not soldier at all, but a thieving
which makes the conduct Of Gen'l Hunter the
more unjustifiable Ed Spec ;, Mr.. Creigh,
having small pistolin his pocket, went upstairs,
where he saw the contents Of his daughter S
trunks scatteredover the floor, and some of them
Haunted in his wites face. The soldier soon
! tried to break open the trunk of young lady,
who was employed as teacher in the family
Mr.. Creigh requested him to desist from the
attempt, stating at the same time that it was
the property Of lady under his care The vii
lam, rising from the trunk, Immediately dreW
exclaImag, go out of this room What are
you doing here? Bring me, the keysp' Mr..
9. drew his pistol, and snapped it at the fell
low, he, at the same instant, firing his pistol,
and the ball, grazing Mr. Creigh' face, passed
into the wall Mr. Creigh then seized him,
and In the scuffie which followed was pushed by
him out into the passage, and thrown down the
stairs at the front door of the house, the soldier
falling upon; him. They rose together, and in
the attempt to Wrest the pistol from the Yan-
kee's hands, it was accidentally discharged, and
the first discovery of its effects upon his person
was from seeing the profuse flow Of his blood
He struggled into the portico, where he again
fired his pistol at Mr.. c. the ball going into the
upper part of the front floor. A negro woman
standing at the door with an axe in her hand,
cried, Master, he will get up, and begged
him to strike him with the axe; which was ta-
ken from her hands, and this Infamous robber
forthwith despatched
The Federal army were in the country: To
have the case Judged by the civil court was i'm
possible Should Mr. Creigh carry it before the
enemies Of his country? He determined not to
do this. After consultation and advice, the
body was disposed of in private manner. We
mean by this that the matter was not made g
public spectacle
! The very same motive was upon Mr. Creigh
that influenced Moses Of old when the Egyp-
tian, he had slain was hid in the sand. An
Irishnian about the house, hired Iaborcr, told