The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-04-29
yonert Ford-Mrs. Grecn-nick
Turner. 81

Hon." Mr.. Shanks writes to Fornoy's
w. WASHINGTON, D. c., April 81, 1869.
n the Editor Of the Chronicle:
Another victim Of rebel barbarity has
P' Rober, Ford "a colored many fell dead at
h;s most of duty in the Treasury building
to-day.
s,rnct;on Of Mrs. Abigail Green, Of Rich.
mond, gave information, measurements,
cs to the Union prisoners in Libby prison,
~ which l09 of them were enabled to
s: ~ from their place OF death, for which
Tord was arrested, and, under order of the
nn,or;ous Gen. John H. Winder, whipped
nv the notorious Dick Turner, of Libby
Prison no,oriety, with five hundred lashes.
Ford was laid across barrel, face down
VOID and while four chiyalric scoundrels
Kid his hands and feet the infamous Dick
Timer, with strap fastened to staff, in
4;ctcd the full sentence on his barred back.
Innr before this barbaric work was accom-
-l;s6ed the victim was wholly insensible,
Knit with chivalric courage these tools of
tyranny applied the lash upon his senseless
form with undated vigilance and valor
until the five hundred were all admins
tered.
Ford was raised at Frederick, Nd. was
. teams,er in General Bsnks's command,
ard was captured at Strasburg, Va. and
instead of being treated as prisoner of
war was put on duty as laborer in the
stables attached to Libby prison and,
,ouched with the Infamous treatment of
our prisoners, his sympathy prompted him
n risk life itself for them, and under the
advice Of Mrs. Green rendered the assist
sncs to the prisoners which secured their
escape and his terrible punishment and
snbseouent death. From that hour Ford has
never been we'll. He lay six weeks helpless,
and then made his escape to Washington,
which took him six weeks more-during
which time he was several times arrested and
rompellcd to work with his back lacerated
from his neck to his hips with the lash, but
did not dare complain, for the condition of
his person would have compelled On expla-
nation and On arrest and return to certain
death. His back has never healed parma
Dentlv, nor his health returned. Ford bore
il ALL and though sometimes compelled to
travel back toward Richmond until he
could again shape his excuses and his
course, be finally reached Washington.
Congress gave him $500 for his services and
suffering in the Union cause, and recently
be was employed as laborer in the Trea-
sury building. Ford never saw well mo-
men; since his cruel treatment at the hands
Of that Richmond rebel, and to-day died,
and added one more to the vast number of
victims to rebel cruelty.
Ford was prisoner Of war, and entitled
to be treated as such but the Confederacy,
founded upon crimes against Ford's race,
became his executioner, through j. &.
Winder, who died before Ford did, and
Dick Turner, who is drunken sot, pre-
sen,ing the worthlessuess Of the inebriate
as his only virtue, as it is preparatory to
Judgment where he will soon meet Ford,
with Winder for the only witness in his de-
fence in court where the character Of the
witness and defendant are both well known,
and where Robert Ford, the poor but honest,
charitable negro man, standing on his SIN
Gle integrity, will condemn them both.
Ford and the facts connected with the
cause Of his death are to me well known;
the nation owes him debt of gratitude.
JOHN 2. G.. SHANKS.