Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-02-16

been married to a young wife. II
seemed deeply detected, and | cheere,
him as we'll as | could, not knowing
myself anything about the destiny 0
the prisoners.
SEVEN MEN TO BE HANGED.
"On arriving at Rectort0wn W,
found Colonel Mosby, with full com
mand, drawn up in line, and he him
self in consultation with his principa
officers. One ofthese finally advanced
toward the squad which guarded tn,
prisoners, and ordered them to b,
drawn up in line. The adjutant ther
rode forward and read an order. L
stated that seven of our men havin.
been recently hung by the enemy i
was determined that seven Of the
prisoners should be hung in %rotalia.
ton, and that lots for these would i'm
mediately be drawn. Upon the read,
ing of this order q scene ensued which
will be impressed upon my memory
until the day of my death. A cry O.
anguish and CONSERVATION arose from
am02g the unfortunate prisoners
Some implored the guard to intercedt
with Colonel Mosby and have them
excluded from the drawing, two oil
them declaring that they were merely
suffers and not fghtingmen never hay
ing fred a gun at a southern soldier.
Others said they had been drafted
into the federal army contrary to their
wishes, and we're friendly to the south.
Others expressed a willingness to de.
sert that army and join cur standard.
While this tempestuous appeal for life
was gOin on among these poor fellows,
the main body of prisoners heard the
awful sentence with deep detection but
swollen resolution.
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
we're marked. The drawing then
commenced, the officer with the hat
requiring the right hand prisoner to
take out a ball, whioh when he handed
to the other officer in attendance, who
on opening pronounced it to be either
a blank or otherwise. At first several
blanks were drawn, then came a mark.
ed ball, which was drawn by a cavalry
soldier of Clusters command and hail.
ing from Michigan. This man very
coolly remarked that be was prepared
to die for his country. The drawing
proceeded with various results. |
stood behind the young officer whose
lameness | have mentioned and was
much relieved when he drew a blank,
upon which | congratulated him. He
turned and seizing my hand pressed it
with warmth.
six 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 himself
upon the ground, exclaimed that he
was only a poor drummer boy, with
neither father or mother, and begged
to be spared. So greatly was the pity
of the officers excited that they imme-
diately applied to Colonel Mosby to
spare this boy. He very promptly
rel lied that he did not know there
was a boy among the prisoners, and
ordered thatS he should be re-
moved and the drawing taken over
This was done, and on the
second drawing, my friend, the lieu.
tenant, drew q marked ball. | was
shocked by this and he was deeply dis
tressed, but exhibited a courageous
resignation to his fate. Calling to
him a soldier of his company, who
had also been taken prisoner, he re-
luested him to take to his wife an
empty pocketbook and pencil case,
that these were the only SOU
be had left when condemned to
execution, and that his last thoughts !
we're with his wife and mother. l was
affected at his fate and desired
o assist him if possible. Whisper
ng to him, | asked if he was a Free
To which he replied in the
lmrmative. Immediately after this
he guard was ordered to march off
the seven men. who had been
condemned. We proceeded with
hem / being one Of the guards) only
few hundred yards, when we were
ordered to halt and await further or
lers, and in q few moments a freshly
mounted squad of fifteen men, com
handed by a lieutenant and equipped
or a raid approached us with orders
rom Colonel Mosby that we should be
'elieved from care Of the prisoners.
the number Of this relief
,uard was an intimate friend of mine,
whom | related the circumstances
n connection with the lieutenant and
Ilso informed him that he was a Free
Being anxious TO learn their
destination, | questioned him about
he recent order and he informed me
hat they had been commanded to
axe the prisoners across the noun
ain and as near to Sheridan's head
quarters as possible and there to hang
hem He promised me that he would
10 all that he could consistently with
in behalf of the condemned
,ficer. They then proceeded on their
way and several days elapsed before |
leard anything of their movements
IN meeting with my friend he gave
no the following particulars
SAVING THE LIEUTENANT.
They reached Paris on the same
light, and were there met by Captain
who was returning from the
with a batch OF prisoners. Be
ng a friend Of MountOy's be took the
irst opportunity of informing him Of
he situation of the lieute3ant, and
Ilso informed him that he was a Free
H.. - -.a "