The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1881-04-27
A LOTTERY OF DEATH.
A Ghns,Iy story OF no.by's Command.

| a GhAuy story OF Hosoy . SonnAAn~
A writer in the Philadelphia Weekly
Times relates the following story of the
war as told to him by asoldier OF Mosby's
command:
"On arriving at Rectorville, Virginia,
we found Co. Mosby with full command
drawn up in line, and he himself in con-
sultation with his principal officers. One
of these finally advanced toward the
squad which guarded the union prisoners
and gave orders TO draw them up III line,
The adjutant then rode forward and read
an order stating that seven Of our men
having been recently hung by the enemy
it was determined that seven Of the pris-
oners should be hung in retaliation, and
that lots for these seven would be i'm
mcdiatcly drawn. A scene ensued which
will be impressed upon my memory I'M
til the day Of my death. A cry OF an-
glish and CONSERVATION arose from the
unfortunate prisoners Some implored
the guard TO intcrccdc with Col. MOsby
and have them excluded from the draw
ing, two Of them declaring that they were
merely suffers, and not fighting men,
never having fired II gnu at Southern
soldier. Others snil they had been
drafted into the Federal army contrary to
their wishes and were friendly to the
South. Others again expressed will
Encss to desert that army and join our
standard While this tempestuous APP
peal for life was going on among these
poor fellows, the main body OF prisoners
heard the awful sentence with deep de-
lection but sullcn resolution.
In the course Of twenty minutes,
two officers approached, one Of them
huliuga hat in which had been placed
II number of wads or balls OF paper cor
responding with the number Of prisoners,
Seven OF these wads were marked. The
drawing then commenced the officer
with the hat requiring the right hand
prisoner 10 take ont Il ball, which when
drawn hc handed to the other officer i'll
| attendance, who ON opening pronounced
it to De either blank or otherwise. At
first several blanks were drawn, then
came II marked ball, which was drawn
by cavalry soldier Of Clusters command
and lailnG from Michigan. This man
very cool y remarked that he was prepared
to die for his country.
"'Siy men have now been drawn,
cried tine officer with the hat; 'unc more
must come
"lhc next and last victim was drum
mr-huy, who, upon being Of his
lnt", uttered the most pcrcingcrics, and
throwing himself upon the ground, cX-
claimed that he was only II drummcr-boy
with neither father nor mother and
begged to bcsparcd. So greatly was the
pity OF the officers excited that they i'm
mcdiatcIy applied to Co.. Mosby to spare
tins boy lie very promptly replied
that he did not know there was u boy
among the prisoners, and ordered that he
should be removed and the drawing
taken oycra&ain. This was done, and on
the second drawing my friend, IL lienten-
ant drew marked ball. was shocked
by tins, and he was greatly distressed,
but exhibited courageous resignation
to his fate. Calling to him n soldier Of
his company, who had also been taken
prisoner, he requested him to take to
his wife IN empty pockct-book and pen
Cil-cnSr, saying these were the only
souvenirs he had left when condemned
to execution, and that his last thoughts
were with his wife and mother. was
deeply affected at his fate, and desired
to assist him If possible. Whispering to
him, | asked him il he was II Precursor,
to which he replied i'll the affirmative.
Immediately after this the guard was
ordered to march III with the seven men
who had been condemned. We pro-
cccdcd with them Il being one of tho
guard only few hundred yards, when
we were ordered to halt and await fur
thcr orders, and III few moments II
! irrshl y-mUuntcd squad Of fifteen men,
commanded hya lieutenant and equipped
: for II raid, approached us, with orders
from Co.. MOsby that we should be re-
; licvcd from care Of the prisoners. Among
the number Of this relief gaurd WAS an
intimate friend of mine, TO whom | re-
lated tho circumstances in connection
vain iIr lieutenant, and also informed
linn that he was u Frcrmasun Il ,inp
} anNlJ5 10 learn their destinations |
questioned him about the recent order
and he Informed me that they had been
commanded to take the prisoners across
the mountains and aS near to Shcri,lau's
headquarters as possible, and there to
hang them, He promised me that he
would do all that he could consistently
with duty i'll behalf Of the condemned
officer. They then proceeded on their
wny, and several days elapsed before |
heard anything Of their movements. On
meeting with my friend, he gave me the
following particulars:
"Thcy reached Paris on the Same
night after leaving and were there met
by Capt Mountjoy, who was returning
from the valley with batch of prison.
ers. Being friend Of Monntioy's he
took the first opportunity of informing
him of the situation Of the lieutenant
aud also informed him that no was n
Frccmason, and requested that he would
try to save him. Upon hearing this
Mountioy requested m interview with
the officer and Immediately aftcrward
he crossed the street to where he kept
his own prisoners, and returned with
them. These he presented to the officer
III charge Of the prisoners rs two OF
Clusters men, whom he wished to sub
,ttutc for the lieutenant. After some
| hesitation, and with the condition that
Mountjoy should assume all RESPONSE
bility, the exchange was made.
The officer, after returning earnest
thanks forhis life, was hastily transferred
to II batch of prisoners under the care Of
a sergeant, who was told to make all pos
slblc haste TO Gor,lonyillc, and specially
tn get ont OF 'Alosby's dumuions before
the break of day. The others met their
fate.