Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-04-10
rnE LOTTERY OF DEATH.
Drawing for the Card which Called for =
File OF Musketeerrand a Quick Bullet.
C,ounci, RlnHs N,nn,risl

T1A0O VI A6vccTS Nuu q UOuCA nulteVs
Council Bluffs Nonpariel.
There appeared in the miscellaneous
reading matter published In The Nonpareil
Of Friday morning last . very interesting
sketch of the imprisonment of several hun
dred union soldiers in Liberty prison dur
ing the late unrleasantness between the north
and south. This article bore the caption
"A Lottery Of Death," and went on to give
an account ofthe drawing of two Union Of
ficers out Of 9 number of imprisoned cap
tains, for the purpose of executing them as
an Offset for two confederates who had been
executed as spies by the union army: The
order for this lottery was made by rebel au-
morning ofJuly 9Th, 1858, at Liberty prison.
citizen Capt. J. NJ. Imbrie, passed through
that terrible drawing ordeal, and feeling
that something further in regard to the
matter from himfWould be Of local Interest
to cur readers, We interviewed him on the
subject.
Mr.. Imbrie states that on tue morning Of
the drawing he was confined 10 the prison
with a number of other union prisoners.
He remembers the date very distinctly, both
for its importance and the fact that it WAS
his birthday anniversary. At the time of
this lottery there had been no exchange of
prisoners, except specials" and on the
morning Of the 9Th the unfortunate union
men learned that a flag of truce boat had
arrived in the city an! they expected an
exchange would that day be made. While
waiting thus in suspense the prison door
was opened and all orderly appeared order.
ing ali the captains to an adjoining room.
They all followed the officer, our friend
Imbrie among them, each expected to be
Exchanged" But. imagine their horror,
when the officer addressed them thusly:
gentleman, l have a very painful duty to
order in question that two officers be chosen
for execution. The order further stated
that the authorities would make the selec
ton. or they could choose one Of their mum
Der to perform the duty if they desired.
Captain Henry w. Sawyer, who acted in
the capacity Of spokesman for the union
side, said he would nominate Father
Brown" as he was called, a glay-headed
chaplain, who was also confined in prison.
To this the rest assented. and the Rev.
Brown turned around and bowed his head
as though in solemn PRAYER. The names
were meanwhile written 90 slips of paper
and placed in box, Mr.. Brown stood
with his back to this box and turned part
~ around and reached into 1t, taking there
from one name. This he laid on the table
without looking at ii, and the clerk called
out the name Of Captain Sawyer-the
spokesman! The reverend gentleman
turned as before and took out the second
name. This was the name Of ]. NJ. Finn,
r 1t will be seen that these initials are the
same as MI. Imbrie's, and as they were
; slowly called off, the friends Of the worthy
E captain in the Third Iowa infantry glanced
F. hurriedly and anxiously at him, but the
. last named changed their glance to the un'
fortunate Finn, and the effect upon him
was SO great, Captain Imbrie assures us, tina
his hair turned gray within a few days
8 The e union boat brought his wife and
: beloved family to the place but they were
refused admitance, and they left believing
J. that they would never again see the loved
. father and husband. The execution, how
ever, never took place, as the reader of the
: article will remember, a. the men were
saved through the interference of the secre
3 tary Of war, who informed the rebel author
tiles that for every union officer executed
the United States would execute a confeder'
4 ate officer of high rank, and the names o
General Fitzhugh Lee and Captain Winde'
f were given a. the one who would be execu
! ted for Sawyer and Finn if they were no
saved.
; Capt. Inbrie and others, after the exciting
i. drawing, were taken to Macon, Ga, wher'
they were kept two months, when they wer,
!. taken to Charleston, and from there to Co
lumbia, South Carolina. At this place tn,
prisoners were placed in that trying position
under the fire Of union batteries for tn,
; purpose Of saving the city from being burned
! BY union shells, it having been frequently
, set on fire therefrom. Mr.. Imbrie say
while occupying this mo- overly desirabl,
position, = piece Of a 300 pound shell, weigh
ing about 80 pounds, came crashing through
the crowd of unfortunate men, and cut dowr
one who was standing near him. Shertl,
afterwards, Capt. Imbrie and eight othel
prisoners escaped and travelled to Dalton
Georgia, being thirty.ive nights on the way
He says that during this terrible trip the
were shown kindness only by negroes. Thre,
Of the nine were recaptured before they go
safely within union lines.