The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-03-09
ALottery OF Death.
A STORY OF MosBY's COMMAND.

A STORY OF MosBY's COMMAND.
A writer in the P Philadelphia Times
relates the following story of the wa
as told him by a soldier of Mosby'
command:
son arriving at Rectortown, Va.
We found Colonel Mosby, with full
command drawn up in line, and h
himselfin consultation with his prin
cipal officers. One of these finally
advanced towards the squad which
guarded the Union prisoners anc
gave orders to draw them up in line
The adjutant then rode forward anc
read an order stating that seven o
our men having been recently hunf
by the enemy it was determined
that seven of the prisoners should
be hung in retaliation, and that lots
for the seven would Immediately bC
drawn. A scene ensued which will
be impressed upon my memory un.
til the day of my death. A cry o.
anguish and CONSERVATION arose
from among the unfortunate prison.
ers. Some implored the guard tc
intercede with Colonel Mosby and
have them excluded from the draw
ing, two of them declared that they
were merely suttlers and not fight
ing men, never having fired ashot al
a Southern soldier. Others said that
they had been drafted into the fed
eral army contrary to their wishes
and were friendlyto the South. 9th
ers again expressed willingness to
desert that army and join our stand
ard. While this tempestuous appeal
for life was going on among these
poor fellows, the main body of the
prisoners heard the awful sentence
with deep detection but sullen reso-
luton.
I'm the course of twenty minutes
two officers approached, one of them
holding a hat, in which had been
placed a number of wads or balls OF
paper, corresponding with the num-
Der of prisoners. Seven of these
wads were marked. The drawing
then commenced, the officer with the
hat requiring the right hand prison
ers to take out bali. which when
drawn he handed to the other officer
in attendance, who on opening pro-
nounced it to be either blank or
otherwise. At first several blanks
were drawn, then came a marked
ball which was drawn by cavalry
soldier of Clusters command and
hailing from Michigan. This man
very coolly remarked that he was
prepared to die for his country.
"sSix men have now been drawn,
cried the officer with the hat; 'one
more must come
"The next and last victim was a
drummer boy, who, upon being in
formed of his fate, uttered the most
piercing cries, and, throwing him
self upon the ground, exclaimed
that he was only drummer-boy
with neither father nor mother, and
begged to be spared. So greatly was
The pity of the officers excited that
they Immediately applied to Col.
Mosby to spare this boy. He very
promptly replied that he did not
know there was a boy among the
and ordered that he should
De removed and the drawing taken
over again.
"This was done, and on the sec
md drawing my friend, a heuten-
mt, drew marked ball. / was
shocked by this and he was greatly
distressed, but exhibited a coura-
,eous resignation to his fate. Calling
% him a soldier of his company,
Who had also been taken prisoner,
le requested him to take to his wife
IN empty pocket book and pencil
,ase, saying that these were the only
he had left when con-
lemned to execution, and that his
asst thoughts were with his wife and
| was deeply affected at his fate
md desired to assist him if possible.
Whispering to him, l asked him if
le was a freemason. to which he re-
,lied in the affirmative. Immedi-
Itely after this the guard was order
d to march off with the seven men
Who had been condemned. We pro-
.eeded with them q being one of
he guard) only a few hundred
rards, when we were ordered to
lalt and await further orders, and
n a few moments a freshly mounted
quad of fifteen men, commanded by
! lieutenant and equipped for q raid,
approached us with orders from
colonel Mosby that we should be
from care of the prisoners.
Among the number of this relief
vas an intimate friend of mine, to
shom l related the circumstances
n connection with the lieutenant
md also informed him that he was
freemason. Being anxious to learn
heir destination, l questioned him
bout the recent order and he in
ormed me that they had been COM
handed to take the prisoners across
he mountains and as near to Sheri-
lar's headquarters as possible and
here hang them. He promised me
hat he would do all that he could
consistent with duty in behalf of
he condemned officer. They then
proceeded on their way, and several
lays elapsed before l heard any
hing of their movements. On meet
ng with my friend he gave me the
particulars:
"They reached Paris on the same
hight after leaving and were there
net by Captain Mountjoy, who was
eturning from the valley with a
,atch of prisoners. Being a friend of
dountjoy's he took the first oppor-
unity of informing him of the situ-
ltion of the lieutenant and also in
ormed him that he was afreemason
md requested that he would save
lin. Upon hearing this Mountjcy
an interview with the Of
icer and inmadiafelv afferward he