The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-06-30

north side, and among the Union people,
they would in all probability have es-
capped. Upon alighting from the engine
each took to the woods on his own hook
1t was Saturday, the twelfth day of
April, and the day set apart for a general
mastering of Confederate volunteers.
This was against them, for as soon as
the alarm was given the woods were
filled with men in pursuit The South
eTn C0ntederGcy, a newspaper then pub
lished in Atlanta, speaking of this affair
at the time, said:
Had they succeeded in burning bridges the
enemy at Huntsville would have occupied
Chattanooga by Sunday night. Yesterday
| they would have occupied Knoxville. and
thus have had possession of all East Tennes-
see. Our forces at Knoxville, Greenville and
Cumberland Gap would have fallen into the
hands of the enemy. Lynchburg would
have been moved upon at once. This would
have given them possession OF the Valley of
| Virginia, and Stonewall Jackson would have
been attacked in the rear. 1t is not by any
means improbable that our army in Virginia
would have been defeated, captured or driv-
en- out of the State this week. Reinforce
ments from all the eastern and Southeastern
portions of the country would have been cut
off from Beaurcgard. The enemy have
Huntsville now, and with all these designs
accomplished his army would have been eff
fectually cut off.
Such was the view of the case taken
by the Confederate authorities and news
papers at the time. Hence the extraof-
binary preparations and eXertions to capt
ure these daring raiders after they fed
to the woods near Graysville. 1t was re-
solved that none should escape-the
whole country was aroused. Regiments
were divided up and sent into the woods
in squads. Bloodhounds were brought
to track the fugitives. The result was,
every one of the twenty-one was taken,
some of them upon the banks of the
Tennessee River at the very door of safe
ty, for the Union people in the mountains
north of the river would have piloted
them through. But they were all capt
ured and confined in jail at Chattanooga.
They did not expect to be executed, as
they claimed to be soldiers detailed for
special duty. But for Andrews, the
leader, their worst fears were aroused, as
he had been in the lines before as spy
and taken the oath of allegiance, and
this was proved against him.
One day an officer came in and handed
Andrews his death warrant. He was
separated from the others and put into a
lower room, which was reached through
a trap-door. They determined to effect
his escape at every hazard. Inthe night
they cut around the bolts of the trap
door, raised it and drew him up by a
rope made of blankets. They cut an
other hole in the ceiling and lifted An
drews out on top, just at dawn Of day.
He reached the ground again with the
blanket rope, followed by one other
! prisoner, when they accidentally knocked
out some bricks, and the alarm was
given. But they were out, and Andrews
struck for the woods up the river, breath
ing again the air of liberty, as it were,
upon the very brink of eternity. 1t was
now daylight, and he climbed tree
about mile from town, to remain for
the day. He heard his pursuers, but
they did not see him. That night he
stealthily swan the river, but found the
other side protected, the enemy 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 " big bunch" in that tree which
looked like a man. Andrews heard
them, and no course remained but to try
and cross to the main shore. When mid.
way a canoe shot out from the bank, and
the unfortunate man was captured. He
was taken to Atlanta and immediately
executed.
The prisoners were now separated,
twelve being taken to Knoxville for trial
They were tried before military COM
mission and allowed counsel The
charge was for " lurking in and around
Confederate camps as spies, for the pur-
pose of obtaining information" Their
plan of defense was to make a clean
breast of the whole matter, and claim
the protection due to prisoners of war
They said they were regular soldiers de-
tailed for special military expedition,
and had not at any time acted in the ca
pacity of spies. The trial of seven of
them was concluded when a Federal ad-
vance upon Knoxville caused the whole
party to be removed to Atlanta. Shortly
after arriving the seven were Informed
that they had been convicted as spies,
and would be executed Immediately.
Then came the sad farewells with their
companions, and the fated seven were
marched out and hanged. A Confederate
cavalryman, who was one of the guard
at the execution, describes the bearing of
the men as heroic. They marched up
the scaffold with unfalterng step, and
died like heroes. They simply protested
that they were not spies, and begged
that their companions in the expedition
might not meet like fate.
After the hanging of the seven men
the rest thought it death anyway, and
they resolved 10 escape. They had plans
laid, but doubt began to arise as to
whether they would, after all, be hanged
One day report came that dispatch
from Richmond had ordered their execu-
ton. This was enough; they resolved to
escape or die in the attempt. The plan
was to seize the jailer, when he came to
carry out the bucket in which breakfast
was brought, take his keys, unlock the
other cells, dash out, knock over the guards
seize their guns, and fight whoever and
whatever gotin their way. The jailer was
thrown down, his mouth stopped, and the
few guards knocked over and their arms
taken before they recovered from their
establishment. But the alarm was given
and Immediately the Jail yard was full