The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-02-07
ALoTrERY OF DEATH.
Confederate Measures of Isefnlia.
lion for the Hanging OF Spies III
KenfuclkY.

Confederate Measures of Isefnlin.
lion for the Hanging OF Spies III
Kentucky.
General z. s. ETthcott IN Philadelphia TlmsL
In the early part Of the year 1868, Cen
eral Burnside, who was in command OF
the Federal forces in Kentucky uppre-
hended two Confederate capiain', whom
on investigation, he adjudged TO be spice,
and executed them by hanging. The Con-
iederate Government when it came TO q
knowledge OF the execution, averred that
the two captains who had thus been sum.
mariIy executed by General Burnside
were not spiep, and resolved upon meas
ures Of retaliation ~ hanging two Fed.
eral officers Of equal rank. Shortly after
this Captain Samuel Mckee, Of the Four.
teenth Kentucky (FederaD Cavalry, was
captured md confined in Libby prison,
and the CouiederRtca refused TO parole
him for exchange, announcing that they
would hang him rs an oii.et TO one OF the
spies hung by Burnside. Subsequently
a large number Of Federal officers were
csptured at Rome, Ca, and Winchester,
Va. These were all confined in Libby
prison, Richmond, Va. After tue Con.
iederales had obtained possession Of all
these officers there was an order issued
by General Winder, Provost Marshall
OF the Coaiederacy, that all the Federal
captains then prisoners Of war, should
draw lots to ascertain which two Of the
whole number should be executed by
way OF retaliation for the Kentucky spies.
On the morning OF the 9th OF July,
1868, the three hundred officers in Libby
became almost jubilant over the news
that a flag oi.truce boat had arrived At
CITY Point for the purpose OF conveying
the Federal prisoners TO Annapolis.
This good news was soon followed by an
order for all the captains in the prison
10 report in one OF the lower rooms.
This following 80 close upon the news OF
the arrival Of the flag oi.truce boat, was
regarded as still more encouraging. The
prisoners concluded that the captains
were ordered down for the purpose OF
being paroled preparatory to being con.
yeyed 10 the boat, and that other officers
would soon follow. The officers who had
heel, left were In state Of intense ankle.
~ 10 learn what disposition was to be
made of the captains. They waited
above an hour in this state Of suspense
when all the captains returned except
two-but not in the same high spirits in
which they had left; but, on the contrary,
in the deepest gloom. They had been
forced 10 draw in lottery in which the
prize was death. Two Of their number
had drawn this prizs. These were Cap.
tain Henry W. Sawyer, Of the First New
Jersey Cavalry, and John D. Finn, OF the
Fiftv.first Indiana Infantry.
When the captains bad reached the
room designated, the commandant OF the
priSon informed them that he had very
painful duty to perform; that he had
been ordered that all the captains should
draw loil 10 ascertain which two OF them
should be hung, BY way Of retaliation for
the apiea hung by General Burnside. AZ.
ter he had written the name OF each on n
small slip Of paper and deposited it IN a
boz, he then informed them that they
couid select one Of their own number TO
draw two numes from tue box, aud that
the two thus drawn would sntier deathby
hanging. After consultation they con-
cluded that the lots shonld be drawn by
Rev, Mr.. Brown, the venerable Chaplain
Of the Filth Maryland Infantry, who was
accordingly sent Tor and consented to per-
form the solemn work, and the result
was that Captains Sawyer and Finn drew
the prize OF death. After this all the
captains, save Sawyer and Finn, wero re.
turned TO their former quarters. The
latter were escorted to General Winder's
headuuar,erS, where sentence OF death by
hanging was formally passed upon them,
TO take place at some time and place 10
be named by President Davis. They we're
returned to the prison and confined to the
cells for some days, but alter a time they
were permitted 10 remain with the other
officers during the day but fastened in
cells during the night.
The authorities Of the Federal Govern.
ment upon learning Of the condemnation
OF Sawyer and Finn, and believing the
condemnation to be groundlesS, imme.
diately ordered General FiiIhugh Lee
and Captain Winder, son Of General Win
der, who were then Confederate prisoners
in the hands Of FederalS, into close con.
finement, and informed the Confederate
authorities that II Sawyer aud Finn were
executed Lee and Winder would suffer
death In the same manner. When the
Confederate authorities learned this they
modified their treatment Of Sawyer and
Finn, aud placed them on the same foot
ing with other Federal prisoners. After
this but little was ever heard OF the mat