The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-07-29

following, which shows how affairs were
conducted at Gen. Burbridge's headquar-
tiers.
"MAYsv1LLE, Ky, April II, 1868.
"My name is b. D. Nixon. When the
war broke out was living near Owings-
vile, in Bath county. entered into the
Confederate service in 1862. and served
for time on the body guard Of Gen. H.
Marshall. / afterwards Joined Thomas
Johnson's battalion. ! was regularly en-
listed, never belonged to any band Of gner-
Iillas or partisans, and in what I did in
furtherance of the Confederate cause act
ed under the orders of my superiors. Late
in the Spring or early in the Summer of
1854 | entered the State of Kentucky with
John Morgan's command when he made
his last raid into this State. was at the
battle of Cinthiana, and was there cut off
and separated from my command The
vigilance of the Federal soldiers prevented
me from Immediately rejoining my COM
lnand or leaving the State, and spent sew
eral weeks in Scott and Owen counties
while watching an opportunity of leaving
the State. During this time participated,
in no acts of hostility against the Govern
ment, nor did modest any private citizen,
nor did have any connection with any
pedatory bands. In July an opportunity
was Afforded me for leaving the State, and
in going out stopped to see my family,
whom l had not seen for eleven months.
l had been only two. days at home when
was captured by Lieut.. Denton, and was
taken to Mt. Sterling and made to work
on the Notifications for two weeks. was
then sent to Lexington and placed in mill
tary prison No. 3. Afterwards / was ta-
ken to prison No. 2. had been in Lex
inston several days when soldier of a
Michigan regiment entered the prison.
measured my height, weighed me, and took
general description of my appearance.
On the same evening an old gentleman
from Franklin county was placed in prison,
who informed that he had been before the
Provost Marshal and heard the names o!
myself and fifteen Others rs read under
sentence of death. On the same evening
was ironed. The next morning I was Ia
ken before the Provost Marshal, Major
Vance. He cursed me and abused me as
q thief and robber, said I ought to be
hung, and that he would have me shot in
thirty six hours. 1t was evidently the in
tention that should be executed. I de-
Tended my character, and, seeing Major
Downey in the room, discovered myself
to him as Freemason, and he Immediate
ly clasped me by the hand and interceded
in my behalf. Through his intervention
my life was saved:~ was then transferred
to prison No. 4, and kept hand-cuffed for
five weeks. At this prison met the fif-
teen men who were condemned. These
men were kept ironed, and taken from the
prison in irons. They never returned to
the prison. The guard told me they had
been shot. have never heard of any of
them since, aud my belief is that they were
all executed. None of these men were
guerrllas, but all belonged to the regular
Confederate army. Some of them had
been taken through some form of trial, and
may have been sentenced as guerrillas, but
none of them were. remember the names
of some of them. Two 1inkenpelters,
Berry, and Lieut.. Hamilton, all of whom I
knew. was released on the 18th day of
October, and sent north of the Ohio, where
l remained until had obtained permission
from Gen. Burbridge to return to Ken
lucky. B. d. NIXON"
The above was dictated by B. D. Nixon
in my presence; it was then. read to him
aud he understood it perfectly. He then
signed it in my presence as his own state
ment and as the truth.
~ w, p. BALDWIN.