St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-06-22

Andrews struck for the woods, up the
river, breathing again the air of liberty
as it were, upon the very brink of eter-
nifty. The anxiety of the condemned
man to get away can be imagined. 1t
was now daylight, and he climbed a
tree about a mile from town to remain
for the day. ..
He heard his pursuers, but they did
not see him. He thought if he could
cross the river and get to the Cumber-
land mountains, few miles beyond, he
could reach the Federal lines. That
night he stealthily swan the river, but
found the other side protected, the en-
emy rightly surmising what would be
his course. He recrOssed to an island
and hid in tree. There he was seen
by boys who gave the alarm, saying to
some soldiers that there was a ''big
bunch" in that tree which looked like
man. Andrews heard them, and no
course remained but to try and cross to
the main shore. When midway a canoe
shot out from the bank, and the un-
fortunate man was captured. He was
taken to Atlanta and Immediately exc
cuted. Thus perished this brave man,
the leader of the expedition, and who
deserves a monument if ever hero did.
The prisoners were now separated,
twelve being taken to Knoxville for
trial. They were tried before a military
commission, and allowed counsel. The
charge was for ''lurking in and around
Confederate camps as spies, for the pur
pose of obtaining information" The
Indictment was silent as to the engine
adventure, the purpose being to con-
vict them as spies, if possible. Their
plan of defence was to make clean
breast of the whole matter and claim
the protection due to prisoners of war.
They said they were regular soldiers
detailed for special military expedi-
ton, and had not at any time acted in
the capacity of spies. Their trial SEEM
ed to take a favorable turn, as their
counsel was able to cite instances where
Confederate soldiers had penetrated the
enemy's country in disguise, and, upon
being captured, held only as prisoners
of war.
The trial of seven of them was con-
cluded, when a Federal advance upon
Knoxville caused the whole party, both
from Knoxville and Chattanooga, to be
removed to Atlanta. Shortly after ar
irving the seven were informed that
they had been convicted as spies, and
would be executed immediately. Then
came the sad farewells with their COM
paniOns, and the fated seven were
marched out and hanged. Not long
after | met Confederate cavalrymar
who was one of the guard at the exc
cution. He describes the bearing OF
the men as heroic. They marched NJ
the scatfold with unfaltering step, anC
died like the heroes they were. They
simply protested that they were MOI
spies, and begged that their companion.
in the expedition might not meet {
like fate.
The Confederate authorities were new
er agreed as to this matter. Their,
were strong protests against the execu
tlon of the men, aud many high il
authority thought they should be treat
ed as prisoners of war, or at least no
executed. And no more were executed
although they expected to be. Afte
the hanging of the seven men the res
thought it would be death any way, ant
they resolved to escape. They haC
plans laid, but a doubt began to aris,
as to whether they would after all, b,
hanged. One day report came that
despatch from Richmond had ordered
their execution. This was enough; the!
resolved to escape or die in the attempt
The plan was to seize the jailor, whel
he came 10 carry out the bucket il
which the breakfast was brought, TAX
his keys, unlock the other cells, dasI
out, knock over the guards, seize thei
guns and fight whoever and whateve
got i'll their way. The jailor was throw
down, his mouth stopped, and the few
guards knocked over and their arm
taken before they recovered from thei
astonishment.
But the alarm was given, and i'm
medlately the Jail yard was full of sol
diers. This cut off the retreat of six
who were up stairs holding the iailo
and guard but eight had got down
out of the yard, and ran as men Onl,
can to escape the gallOws. Singularl,
J enough the eight made their way out
part reaching the Federal lines a
: Corinth, Mississippi, and part making
the coast line near Savannah. Thos
f who took the westward way had mos
perllous experience. They were thirt
) days on the road, subsisting mainl
: upon berries and roots in the woods
AZ OuC bliIlc IIty NtIc S6NCii udyS Will
| ont Il mOrsel of bread, and only KEEP
! from perishing by lurking around field
t where negroes were at work and steal
| ing their dinners. They were withou
5 guide or compass, and dare not trave
3 in the roads. The heavenly bodie
| were their only pilots.
The six who failed to escape nOI
] thought their doom was sure If ther
was doubt of their being hung before,
t was dispelled. They resigned them
! selves to their fate, but their surpris
E was equalled by their delight as tn
] days rolled by and no preparations wer
made to swing them. Nor was thei
] treatment worse. On the Sd of Decem
Der they were sent to Richmond, an,
2 the following March exchanged as pris
| oners of war-ahout one year after the
set out upon the perilous adventure.
! Thus ended this remarkable expedi
| ton, the most remarkable and heroic i
: many respects undertaken during tn
civil war. OF the twenty three VIII
5 met in Chattanooga, April 10, and wen
down the road that night, two were lef
, i'll Meritta Through no fault of thei
J Own), seven were executed, eight es
} capped, and six were exchanged-th
latter returning to their families afte
( having been mOurned as dead.
His True Story.