Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1885-08-20
RANDOLPH A. SHOTWEIL
A BRIEF SKETCH OF AN EVENT
FUL CAREER.

A BRIEF SKETCH OF AN EVENT
FUL CAREER.
A Soldier at an Early Age; An Ed
itor Whose Paper Welded a Pow
erf,.l Influence.
From the Raleigh Chronicle.
Randolph Abbott Shotwell was born
ia West Liberty, Va, December 13,
1874. He was the elder of three broth
ers, sons of Rev. Nathan Shotwell, OF
Virginia. His mother being Miss
Martha Abbott, of Massachusetts. AT
an early age Capt. Shotwell went to
Media College, Pa, where he pursued
three years course of studies, it be-
ing his fathers intention to prepare
him for the senior class at Princeton.
About the time he was ready to enter
Prlnceton-his fathers "alma mater, -
the war came on, when he Immediate
ly left school to join in the defence of
his Southern home. On his way back
to Virginia he met with numerous ad-
ventures, traded yankee picket out
of his skiff' in order to cross the Poto-
mac, was discovered, the boat shot to
pieces, but he escaped to an island,
where he was subsequently rescued by
a citizen. Met the Eighth Virginia
Volunteers just in time for the battle
of Leesburg, taking his life in his
hand while yet mere hoy-he joined
them and followed the Confederate
flag through seventeen hard battles.
He led the sharp-shooters of a brigs
ade-Pickett's division-in the fatal
charge at Gettysburg, and for his val
or and skill was rendered special
commission from Secretary Seddon by
order Of President Davis. Towards
the last of the war he was captured as
a spy. He made his escape from his
captors, but was recaptured by anoth-
er party, was taken to Fort Delaware
and confined as a prisoner of war un-
til three months after the Southern
flag was furled at Appomattox. Com
ing to North Carolina in 1S66-his
fathers family having preceded him,
they removing to Rutherfordton in
1858, he laid away the sword that he
had honored with his courage and
bravery, and chose as his future weap-
on of life's warfare-the Pen, which
he ever after welded in the interests
of those principles which he believed
to be right. He recognized that the
times demanded honesty and integrity
in character and in life. Moreover
that he should have noble life pur-
pose, not to labor for mere consistency,
but for noble end. He went to New
Berne, n c., and with Col. Stephen
d. Pool established tie New Berne
Journal of Commerce. After two years
he removed to Rutherfordton and
started the Vindieatsr, through which
he denounced in scathing terms the
Red Strings and Renegades, Of that
region, and here began the political
warfare that ended only after he had
suffered all the persecution that could
be heaped upon him by his political
enemies, aided and abetted by an un-
lawful army organized and maintain
ed for political purposes. Before his
arrest his friends urged him to follow
the example of others, and leave the
country, but he said, "No, l have done
nothing, nor said nothing, except what
l believed to be for the best interest Of
my people, and [ shall remain. and
defend my course with my honor, and
with my life, if need be-" Without
capias or warrant, he was arrested IN
July, 1870, and thrust into an iron
cage with three negro felons and three
white murderers, where he was kept
and tortured for two months, not even
allowed to have the delicacies prepar-
ed and sent him by friends and his
loved ones at home.
On bright September Sabbath.
when all civilization was at rest and
even barbarism should momentarily
cease, the depraves passions of his
lawless captors impelled or prompted
them to still greater and more shame,
full acts of violence and torture, before
the eyes of town full Of pleading
people, and in the face of his venera
| Bile father, who with tears in his eyes
and arms uplifted, was earnestly plead
ing against ssich unlawful and cruel
treatment-he was handcufed to 8
chain with six others and marched OF
foot to Marion, distance of 38 miles
with a hooting, swearing, jeering
sneering rabble of unprincipled white
men and drunken negroes, following
on horseback with instructions that in
case they were overtaken by rescu
ing party "to shoot the prisoners" ant
this in civilized country.
From Marion. he was brought t.
Raleigh, paraded through the princi
pal streets, while women wept ano
waved their handkerchiefs. He wa
again thrust in Jail, where he awaited
| the advent of the mock trial for ht
| was sentenced when he was captured
that di.graced the Senate chamber o
| North Carolina. Here he was defend
ed by the ablest members of the bar
| who volunteered their services. Blu
paid, perjured witnesses swore his lib
critics away. A jury selected for th'
purpose rendered verdict of guilty.
Before the assenblage his arms wer'
tied with ropes, and he was returned
to iail. On October the 9th he wa
again handcuffed and carried to Al
bany Penitentiary to serve cut sen
/ tence of six years imprisonment witt
fine attached of $4,000.
/ There he was subjected to treatment
even more severe than any OF his fei
low prisoners. The authorities think
ing that by making his prison life a a
| burdensome as possible, that he woult
s-lI.x e,,bya;f and aecert his reteuS