The Princeton union., 1881-03-10
A LOTTERY OF DEATH.
A Chastity Story of Mosbys Command

A CHASTITY Story Of Mosby's Command. :
The following story Of the hanging,
by the Confederate Col. Mosby, of
seven Union prisoners in retaliation
for like execution by the Federal gov
ernment is told in the Philadelphia
Times by a member Of Mosby's guer-
rlllas: On arriving at Rectortown,
Va. we found Col. Mosby with full
command drawn up in line and he
himself in consultation with his prin-
clpal officers. One of these finally ad-
vanced toward the squad which
guarded the union prisoners and gave
orders to draw them up in line. The
adjuthnt then rode forward and read
an order stating that seven of our men
having been recently hung by the
enemy. 1t was determined that seven
OF the prisoners should be hung in
retaliation, and that lots for these
seven would Immediately be drawn.
A scene ensued which will be i'm
pressed upon my memory until the
day Of my death. A cry of anguish
and CONSERVATION arose from the un-
fortunate prisoners. Some implored
the guard to inJercede with Col.
Mosby and have them excluded from
the drawing, two of them declarin g
that they were merely suffers, and
not.tightlng men, never having fired
a gun at a southern soldier. Others
said they had been drafted into the
federal army contrary to their wishes
and were friendly to the south. Others
again expressed willingness to de-
,sert that army and join our standard,
While this tempestuous appeal for
life was going on among these poor
fellows, 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
placed a number of wads or balls Of
paper, corresponding with the num-
ber of prisoners. Seven of these wads
were marked. The drawing then
commenced, the officer with the hat
requiring the right-hand prisoner to
take out a bali, which when drawn he
handed to the other officer in atttten-
dance, who on opening pronounced it
to be either a blank OF otherwise.
At first several blanks were drawn,
then came a marked ball, which was
drawn by a cavalry soldier of Clusters S
command and hailing from Michigan.
This man very coolly remarked that
he was prepared to die for his country.
Six men have now been drawn ,
cried the officer with the hat; 'cne
more must come
The next ard last victim was drum
mer-boy. who upon being informed of
his fate, uttered the most piercing cries
and, throwing himself upon the ground,
exlaimed that he was only a drummer
with neither father or mother, and
begged to be spared. So great was the
pity Of the officers excited that they
Immediately applied to COL Mosby to
spare this boy. He promptly replied
that he did not know there was a boy
among the prisoners, and ordered that
he should be removed and the drawing
taken over again. This was done, and
on the second drawing my friend, a
lieutenant, drew a marked ball. was
shocked by this, and he was greatly
distressed, but exhibited a courageous
resignation tohis fate. Calling to him
a soldier of his company, who had also
been taken prisoner, he requested him
to take to his wife an empty pocket
book and pencil-case, 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
if he was a Freemason, to which he
replied in the affirmative, Immedi-
ately after this the guard was ordered.
to march off with the seven men who
had been condemned. We proceeded
with them q being one of the guard)
only a few hundred yards, when we
were ordered to halt and await further
orders, and in few moments a freshly
mounted squad Of fifteen men, com
,manded by a lieutenant and equipped
for raid, approached us, with orders
from Col. Mosby that we should be
relieved from care Of the prisoners.
Among the number Of this relief guard
was an intimate friend of mine,a to
whom related the circumstances in
connection with the lieutenant, and
also informed him that he was a Free
mason. Being anxious to learn thier
destination, questioned him about
the recent order, and he informed me
that they were commanded to take the
prisoners across the mountains and as
near to Sheridan's headquarters as
possible, and there to hang them. He
promised me he would do all that he
could consistently with duty3 in
behalf Of the conde demned officer. They
then proceeded on their way, and sew
eral days elapsed before / heard any
thing of their movements. On meet
ing with my friend, he gave me the
following particulars
They reached Paris on the same
night after leaving and were there
met by Capt. Mountjoy, who was
returning from the valley with batch
of prisoners. Being a friend Of
MOnntiOv'S he took the first. onn0f.