Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-11-12
Dra,Uing Lots for Death.

Col Henry w. sawyer, VINO mas la'ely
been appointed superintendent of the life
saving apparatus on the New Jersey
coast, once passed through a very peril
Gus adventure. He was among the Fed
cral prisoners in Libby Prison ut the time
when the Confederate Government deter
mined 10 retaliate in kind the execution
of two rebel officers by one of the Federal
Western Generals. Mr.. Sawyer was at
that time captain in TIE lst New Jersey
Cavalry. and was one of the grade OF
officers from whom selections were TO be
made for the victims 10 Confederate ven
gcance. The officer who was in charge
of the prisoners ut that time was KIND
hearted and agreeable man, and was re.
garded by them with feelings ofgratitude
and affection On the morning in quci-
ton this officer entered the room whore
the prisoners were confined and told all
the officers TO walk into another room.
This order was obeyed with particular
alacrity. ~ the prisoners were daily ex-
pecting TO be discharged. and il was sup
po,ed that the order had arrived, and that
they were about To exchange their prs
on quarters for home and freedom. After
thcy had all gathered in the room. their
countenances lighted up with this agreed
Jle hope, the officer came in among them
and with very grave face took paper
from his pocket and told them that he
had a very melancholy duty to perform
the purport of which would be better un-
derstood by the reading OF the order he
held in his hand, which he hal received
from the War Department. lie then pro-
ceeded TO read To the amazed and horl-
fed group an order for the immediate
execution OF two Of their number, in re-
talintion for hanging two Confederate
officers. As the reader ceased the men
looked nj each other with blaDehed faces,
and silence like death prevailed for
some minutes iu ihe room. The con!Gd-
crate officer then suggested that perhaps
The better way wond be- 10 place num-
Der of slips Of paper equal to the whole
number OF officers from whom, the VIC
Tins were 10 be selected in 4 box With
the word death" written on two ofthcm,
and the rest blank-the two men who
drew the fatal slips to be the doomed men.
The drawing then commenced, the men
advancing and taking out slip, and II 1t
proved TO be a blank. taking their places
in another part Of the roonr
The drawing had proc eded for some
time and fully third Of the officers had
exchanged gloomy looks Of apprehension
Tor u relieved aspect they could not AVOID
showing, after escape from such peril. be-
fore q fatal death slip had been drawn.
At the end OF about this period, however
the first slip was drawn, and the name OF
Captain Henry W. Sawyer of tho first
New Jersey Cavalry" was called out ~
the unfortunate nan. The captain was.
of course, deeply agitated. but did not
lose hi, sclf-pos-ession. lie immediately
began revolving in his mind some plan
Tor aycrting, or AZ least postponmg' the
immediate carrying out Of the sanSulnary
edict of the Confederate Government,
and by the time he was joined by his COM
panion in misfortune. who turned out to
dc Captain FIyn, OF an Indiana regiment
he hail resolved upon his course. The
officer in command, 10 socn A. the draw
iny was ended, ordered the two men 70
b. taken out and Immediately executed.
Capt. Sawyer, however, demanded. as
a request, that no civilized nation could
refuse under such circumstances that nc
should have permission to write to his
wife. to inform her OF the terrible late
that awaited him, and to have her como
nm and bid him an eternal farewell. Re
spite for day or two Was thus Obtained
and Sawyer subsequently, obtained an IN
teryiew with the Sccetary OF War ana Sc
cured permission to write 10 his wlie'
which he did. His object In writing TO
her was principally lor the Federal Gov
eminent to be nl,,le acquainted With the
predicamcnt in which the officers were
placed. and To secure hostages ana threat
am retaliation should the orders OF the re-
bels be carried out. IL turned out pre-
cisely as Sawyer hoped and expected.
Our Government WAS informed OF the
condition of affair.", and promptly seized
the son of Gen. Lee and one of some
other prominent rebel, and threatened to
hang them if the Union officers were ex-
ecuted BY this means the lives ot the
two doomed men were saved rs The Con-
federate Government did dare to carry
ont their threats After few months
more confinement Capt. Sawyer was eX-
changed. Capt. Flyn. his companion in
misfortune, came out of the ordeal with
his hair as white as snow, turned gray by
the mental sufrerings he endured. Capt.
SAWYER served through the war.
AS lawyer and doctor were walk
ino arm in ann, wag said to irieno'
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