The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-02-13

with citizens of Kentucky, however, they
were not able to carry out this fiction,
and they then told a straight story
claiming that they were soldiers of the |
United States army, detailed to special |
service, and entitled to be held as prison
ers of war. The confederate authorities |
charged them with being spies, and
ordered them to be tried by a court
martial. They were given able counsel,
Judge Baxter of Tennessee being in
charge of their case. Before the trial
opened, Andrews, the leader, who was
never put upon the same footing with
the others, was carried before a court
martial and condemned to be hung as q
spy. The witnesses against him were
the men from whom he had stolen the
train, though his own admissions we're
held to be sufficient to convict him. A
scaffold was prepared for him at Chatta-
nooga, but the near approach of the
federal troops caused his removal to At
lanta. just before his death he made a
daring attempt to escape, and succeeded
in making his way nearly through the
lines. He was finally discovered, naked
and nearly starved, in tree, by some
little children who we're playing in the
woods. They reported his presence, and
he was speedily surrounded and cap
tured. He was then hanged almost inn
mediately. His scaffold was erected
short distance outside of Atlanta, about
the centre of what is now cotton field.
He died very bravely, protesting against
the manner of his death, and claiming
that he was executed in violation of law.
He was magnificent specimen of man.
hood, and was engaged to be married to
a beautiful young Kentucky girl within
few days of the date of his hanging.
There were no unusual circumstances
attending his execution. He died quick
ly, and apparently without much suffer
| ing.
! When the trial of the rest of the band
had begun, it was discovered that the
court martial had determined to make a
! difference between the men who had
been promised share of the $50, 900, to
be given at the close of the expedition,
and those who were simply detailed for
service without knowing the precise
nature of the expedition. The prisoners
relied upon the fact that the whole
twenty men were detached for this
service from the same brigade, and that
their raid was hence military expedi-
ton, and not the work of spies. They
defended their having adopted citizens
dress by citing instances where Nor
gan's raiders having been captured in
suuadrons in civilians clothes, were
treated by the federals as prisoners OF
war. The trial was lengthy, tedious
one, and the decision was reserved foI
some days.
One day the men were in their prison
PLAYING checkers upon the floor and
singing quite merrily, when some one
called attention to the fact that large
body of horsemen had halted in front OF
the Jail door. 1t was noticed that al
immense mass of people was collected
in the streets near the prison. The
door was thrown open and an officer
standing in the doorway called fol
William Campbell of Kentucky, Geo. D.
Wilson, Marion A. Ross, Perry G. Shad
rack, Samuel Slavens, Samuel Robin
son and John Scott of Ohio. The mel
arose as they were called, except Robin
son, who was very ill with fever, an(
had to be raised to his feet and sup
ported while he stood. The officer com
} manded the men to follow him, and the.
, left the room with him. The prisoner
of uncertainty. They did not knoV
| whether their comrades had been carries
l out for exchange or parole or death. N
intimation of the decision of the cour
had been given. At length they re
t turned, headed by George Wilson, who
a with face as pale as death, said: Boys
s we are to be hung Immediately"
e The guards came in with the mer
and tied them hand and foot. Durin
s this preparation, the condemned me
t took a last farewell of their comrades
: Wilson, who had been for years an III
e believer, turned to Pittenger, con
II rade who was quite religious, and said
: "Oh, Pittenger, know that you al
right" and then, turning to his friend
n he said "Boys, when you come
e die, try to be better prepared than al
n now |" Shadrack, who had been the W
W of the party, but profane and recklei
in man, said elf were only prepare
e to meet my God, 1 would be satisfied
- He was urged by Pittenger to calm hin
u Iii, and think of Heaven, but he r
l. d 1T is too late, now-but I'll TT.
ii I'll try I" Slavens, who was a man
10 immense stature, turned toward h
IS friends, and said "Oh, boys, tell n
r wife and children |" and then broke cor
<, pletely down, and could say no NOR
re Young Scott, who was married only thr
IN days before he left for the army, new
le said a word from the time his senten
ID was announced. His lips were draw
Mt tight across his mouth, and his han
lr clasped in front of him. Henever spol
is word. Ross is said to have been Il
ii firmest of them all. He said " Boy
ly if any of you escape, tell them 1 died f
ne my country that 1 died like a man, al
ut do not regret it." Robinson, so i'll tn
I'd he could hardly speak, and could n
r. stand, had to be carried from the rooI
o, Only about three minutes were consum
mn in the preparations. The men we
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