Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-04-29

dogs and that they would probably attack them
du1i I Ct the night ; they then said that they
would sleep in an out house he told them
We had tobacco house that had hay
aad fodder in it, they said they would
then 60 and sleep 10 that. He carried
them to it, opened the door and they went
in; he then came 10 the house, but becom-
inc uneasy for fear these men might get up II
the night and take our horses and 60 OFT, he and |
his brother concluded that they would take
their blankets and 20 and sleep in corn house
that was between the tobacco house and stable, |
ard guard their horses; but fearing these men
might get up and endeavor to get the horses,
and az they we're heavily armed, they mlght
have some difficulty with them, they conciud-
cd thew would lock the tobacco house outside
and keep them in until the morning. They
then went into the corn house to sleep.
About O clock, a. NJ, | was aroused by
my dogs barking very fercey got up, went
to my window, and saw that my house was sur,
rounded by cavalry | Immediately drew on
nv pan!aloons, and without putting on the
balance of my clothes, [ opened my end door to
my close porch, and when did SO, three men
rushed in, one Of whom presented q pistol at
nv breast and asked me it there were not Two
men in my house. told them there were not;
he then said unless you tell us the truth, you
will be dead man in a minute. l. told them
these men we're here in the evening about the
time they passed the road, but went to the
woods and afterwards came back and gut their
suppcrs, but that did not know then where
they were. One OF the men called to one that
was in the yard, to hand in a rope, that they
would hang me, os l. was not telling them the
truth. ...... -.-...-. - - . .... o..
About this time my son John NJ. came 10 at
the door and said, Pa, these soldiers arc in pur,,
suit OF the two men that wcro here; we had
better tell where they are. One OF the otilcers
said who arc you and where did you come from.
tIc told him that he belonged to The place
The officer ordered him at once to say no more,
but 60 and show them the house in. which
| these men we're, upon peril of his life. They
then put me under guard at my door and kept
me there until after the man Boyd was shot.
| They surrounded the tobacco house, and the
officer in command (Col. Conger) made my son
| open the door and 60 in the house and demand
| the arms Of the two men, and their surren-
| der lie told Colonel Congcr that he was
afraid to 20 in, bat he threatened him I'M
| less he did, he would shoot him; he then
went in and said, Mr. Boyd there is u force Of
fifty men around this house who demand your
arms and your surrender. He ordered my son
away and seemed 10 be in the act OF drawing
his pistol, and he ran out. One OF the officers
then demanded their arms and surrender, and
said he would give them five minutes 10 de-
| tcrmine, and if they did nOt TO it, the house
would be fired. Boyd alias Booth, said, cap
tain, give nc Il chance, withdraw your men
fifty yards from the house, and / will come out,
but don't burn the mln' $ house, he is lnnOccnt,
he knows not who anl Col. Congcr then
ordered my son 70 pile brush outside OF the
house for the purpose Of firing it, and while
doing 50, Boyd, alias Booth, came near the
place and said, young man you had better not
come here again, for you will be in danger
Soon after this the house was fired, and then
through one OF The spaces between the pIankS
one o(thc officers sergeant Corbit) shot Booth.
He was gotten out of the house directly, and
brought 10 my dwelling and laid on a mattress
in my front porch, and died about I o'clock
His corpse was taken soon after by the Cavalry
in a cart and carried to landing on the Pot0
mac river, and from thence to W ashlpgtOn
city. llcrold, tho other man, surrendered, and
was also taken by the soldiers to Washington.
After Booth was shot, William Jctt (who the
officers had arrested ut Bowling Grccn) was
brought to my house, and my sonJo ohm NJ. and
| both, had conversation with him, and told
him that he ought TO tell the officers all about
his bringing Booth to. my house, and OF our
knowing nothing OF who he was. he SAID he
had told them all about it, and that they knew
We were innocent rs to any knowledge Of the
Identity OF the man. This was the first time
my son had ever spoken to Jet. Col. Conscr
said he would either have to take INC or my
son to Washington, and he supposed L had
better go, as the boys could do more labor than
| could at home; but upon the representation
Of my bad health, he concluded to take them.
They were carried to Washington and put in
prison in close confinement and kept there for
two weeks, alter which they were taken out OF
prison, but kept in Washington two weeks lon
ger, before they were allowed to come home.