Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-04-28
The Surratt Murder.

| was an OrOefly To UeueTal IlaTtTauit, Cou'
mauder of the Third Division of the Ninth
Army Corps. After the surrender We were
sent TO Alexandra to be mustered out of SER
vice aud take part in the grand review. While
waiting, detail OF officers and men was made
to superiotend the execution OF the consplra-
tors. The detail was all 'out Of the Third Dl
vision of the Ninth Army Corps and COM
prised General Hartranft, Colonel and brevet
L,ri.ad,cr Gen. Mccall. Col. Matthews, Of the
2O5th Pennsylvania, and the Lieutenant Colo
mel of the 2u7th Pennsylvania, a few captains
aud Iieutenunts, and twenty-five men from the
20oth Pennsylvania. These men did al! the
guarding and carried out all the orders connect :
ed with the execution. General Hartrantt had
personal supervision OF it, and rec lived his
orders from General Hancock. o. the moro
ing of the execution was handed a dispatch
by Colonel Mccall directed to Andrew John
son. President Of the United States.
was hen with the detail at the old Ar
srnal grounds at, " ashingtop. Colouel Mccall
told me to take it t. Ed win NJ. Stanton, Sec
rrtury of War, aud IL ride to the point of
breaking my peck. H. also told me to kill the
horse il necessary in bringing reply. Col.
Mccall was more excited than usual, and 90
need that his hand trembled as he handed
the dispatch to me. He then informed me that
it was petition from the officers having charge
Of the execution for Il reprleve Tor Mrs. Sur.
ratt, and that it was sent by General Hartrantt 3
ordt r., and hat he told me this as there was
80 damned much red tape about the business,
aud might appreciate the necessity OF haste.
This WIS about uiue o'clock 10 the morning, |
think. [ got on my horse aud rod: 10 a full
gaop to the War ID partmeut, and W ut lmms
diatcly to Secretary Stanton's office.
was met by an orderly who carried the dis
patch to Mr.. Stanton. After waiting about
au hour told the orderly to Inform Mr.. Stan
ton tha, the dispatch was urgent. f. (San
toni sent word back to attend to my own bu,l-
ness, or he would put me under arrest. After
waiting some time longer the orderly inform d
,uc that the reply would be sent to the Arse ual
grounds, aud when | arrived there the exeou.
ton had taken rlac,. could not go back un-
ill received official endorsement on my en-
yslope. The endorsement in this case WAS that
answer would b. sent. just outside 9th gate
of the Arsenal grounds | met a courier named
Walter Ruby, who told me he had been look.
ing for me; that General Hancock had lnstruc-
ted him to keep watch for a m ,uutei man.
When reported to Colonel Mccall he loo ked
al me moment, and with,u, saying word
turned abruptly ou his heel and walked over to
where Generals Hancock and Hartranft we're
couvcrsiug. This is all know of the circum.
stance.
Colonel Mccall afterwards told me when
tight that Andy johnson told him that the pc
tltiou never reached him. l QUO; asked Colo
ucl Mccall why he turned u Democrat, aud he
said 1t was on account OF the murder OF Mrs.
Surratt. He died from drink, and believe
the part he was forced 10 take 10 the execution
killed hun. When Hancock was canvassed tor
th. Presidency was up to see Colonel McCall
1T his homc, aud he told NE that stanton 8
solely responsible for the execution of Mrs. Sur
raft aud this statement he repeated at the
Harvest Home celebration in Manchester town.
ship, York county, Pennsylvania. From what
heard from the officers and men after the ex-
ccutinu | am satisfied that tho f.! qulrcr y artl.
Gle Yesterday morulog was the correct state
mrnt | AN confirmed III my opinion as to that
portion about Hancock by the orderly meeting
me outside of the gate.
Colonel McCall vas the man that sprung the
traps, and frequently heard him remark that
it was a d-p nasty business did once hea r
General Hancock remark that it was very
disagrccabc duty, and be wished it was over;
aud that he considered himself peculiarly un-
fortunate in being placed in the situation he
was. was about headquarters all the time,
and hcnrd great dcal but cannot recall any
other particular expressions OF opinion. | am
wiling to swear to this statement.
On my return to the arsenal grounds, after
the execution, n,ticed that all the oficers were
very pale; Gen. Hancock particularly So | an
satisfied III my own MUD that Stcry tary Stan
ton delayed ne for the purpose Of having the
cX cu!lon take place before he gave me au
answer. He knew perfectly we'll that | was
liable to court martial if | went back without
his endorsement ON the envelope containing the
petition.
The above statement is furnished by form
member OF Co. 4. Two Hundredth Peun
syvania Regiment, Third Division, Ninth
Corps U. S. a., now residing in Richmond, to
the ELuulrer of that city,