The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-04-14

A writer in the Philadelphia
Weekly Times relates the following
story of the war, as told to him by
a soldier of Mosby's command:
"On arriving at Rectortown, Va,
we found Colonel Mosby with full
command drawn up in line, and he
himself in consultation with his
principal officers. One of these
finally advanced toward the squad
which guarded the Union prisoners,
and gave orders to draw them up in
| line. The Adjutant then rode for
ward 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-
one9s should be hung in retaliation,
and chat lots for these seven would
immediately be drawn. A scene
ensse6 which will be impressed
upon my memory until the day of
my death. A cry of anguish and
CONSERVATION arose from the unfor-
tunate prisoners. Some implored
the guard to intercede with Colonel
Mosby and have them excluded
from the drawing, two of them de-
cIaring that they were merely sut-
tiers, and not fighting men, never
having fired a gun at a Southern
soldier. Others said they had been
drafted into the Federal army con-
trary to their wishes, aud were
| friendly to the South. Others again
Expressed a willingness to desert
that army and join our standard.
While this
| TEMpEsTUoUs APPEAL FOR LIFE
was going on among these poor fel-
lows, the main body of prisoners
heard the awful sentence with deep
detection but sullen resolution. In
the course OF twenty minutes, two
officers approached, one Of them
holding a hat, in which had been
lplaced a number of wads or balls
of paper, corresponding with the
number of prisoners. Seven of these
lwads were marked. The drawing
lthen commenced, the officer with
1.-THE hat requiring the right hand
Iprisoner to take out half, which
when drawn he handed to the other
lofilcer in attendance, who on open
4 ing pronounced it to be either q
lhlank or otherwise. At first scv
Ieral blanks were drawn, then came
| a marked ball, which was drawn by
cavalry soldier of Clusters COM
Imand, and hailing from Michigan
This man very coolly remarked that
he was prepared to die for his
lcountry. six men have now beer
ldrawn," cried the officer with thu
That; .one more must come. Tht
/ next and last victim was a drum
imer-boy, who, upon l"ing inform
| ed of his fate, uttered the mos
\ piercing cries. and, throwing him
self upon the ground, exclaimed
that he was only drummer boy
with neither father nor mother ant
I
BEGGED TO BE SPARED.
So greatly was the pity OF tn
officers excited that they immediate
Ily applied to Colonel Mosby to spar
this boy. He very promptly repllet
THAT he did not know there was
boy among the prisoners, and order
!. ed that he should be removed AM
the drawing taken over again. I'M
was done, and on the second draw
ing nv friend Lieutenant, drew
marked ball. was shocked 2.
flthis and he was greatly distressed
: hut exhibited courageous resigna
ltion to his fate. Calling to him
soldier of his company, who ma.
also been taken prisoner, he request
led him to take to his wife an emp
Ity pocket-book and pencil-cass
saving these we're the only souvenir
he had left when condemned to es
, lecution, and that his last thought
were with his wife and mother.
/ was deeply affected ct bic fate, an
desired to assist him II possiol.
WhisperinR to him, ] asked him