Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-01-13
CHAPTER xxx.
A DAY OF BLOOD.

DAY Vi BLOOD.
Tho 18th of Juno was a bright summer
day. Our party in the jail wero making
merry with games and songs, utterly I'M
suspicious of immediate injury. But one
of our number, looking out of the win
dow, saw a squadron of cavalry approach
ing and called attention to it. There was
nothing unusual about this, for we often
noticed bands Of troops on the streets;
but they now halted ct our gate and sur
rounded cur prison. This was unusual
and startling.
The doors Gown stairs opened. We
heard the shuttle of feet in the hall and
the clink Of officers sabers as they
assembled the stairway We held our
breath in painful attention, while they
paused at our door, unlocked and threw
1t open, and then one of the number,
stepping before the others, read the names
of the seven tried at Knoxville. They
were ordered to respond and stand in
line before HIM, which they did. Robin
son was sick with fever but n guard as
sisted him to rise and he stood with the
rest. Then they We're all told TO follow
over into the opposite room, while the
TcnnesscCaus there We're brought in re
turn to Us.
With thrObbng hearts we asked one
another the meaning of these strange pro-
ceedlnGS. Some supposed our comrades
were about to receive their acuuittal:
others, still more sanguine, that they
would be paroled, preparatory to an eX-
change. But we had no confidence in
these suggestions even while we made
them. 1t would not have been necessary
to surround the prison for such purposes;
and the faces of the officers who had en-
tered our room were solemn and stern.
| was sick, too, having suffered good
deal recently with malarial fever, but
rose to my feet oppressed with unutter-
able fear-the most deadly | ever remem-
Der feeling. A half witted fellow who
had been put in with the Tennesseeans
came to me and wanted to play game Of
cards! had been fond of the game, but
never played it after this day! Now |
struck the greasy pack from his hand and
babe him leave me.
From over the way we heard the sound
of voices, mufiled and indistinct because
of the two non doors between; then the
opening and shutting of doors, the passage
of several persons up and down the stair
way, and last the sound as of solemn
reading.
A little while after-I cannot Judge of
the length of time spent in such fearful
agony-the ministers in the other room
think ii must have been more than an
hour-thc door opened and our comrades
came back, one by one; but the change in
them was fearful. My own friend, George
ID. Wilson was leading, his step firm, his
form erect, but his hands firmly tied, and
his face pale as death. What Is itt'i
some one asked in whisper, for his ap-
pearance silenced every one.
I'VE are to be executed Immediately"
was the appalling reply, given in low
tone, but with thrilling distinctness. The
others followed him into the room, all
tied ready for the scaffold The officers
were standing in the door, and barely
granted them the privilege OF taking us
once more by the hand before death.
Then came the farewells, hopeless In this
world. IL was moment that seemed an
age of measureless, heart breaking sorrow.
What had occurred in the other room
while we were separated The narrative
of the ministers will make that plain.
ReN. W. j. Scott was requested by Col.
q. j. Foreacre, then provost marshal in
Atlanta, to visit some Federal prisoners
at the city Jail who were about to die On
his way Nh Scott called on Rev. George
e. \. MacDonell and asked him to 90
"iN't' ~ INC jan Iicy were taken INTO
the room where our comrades were.
Scott says;
''They impressed me at once as a body
of remarkably fine looking young men
| could but notice also their cheerfulnesS
under such painful environments. lie
told them that he was the bearer OF I'M
welcome tdings. This arrested their
attention, but they We're still unprepared
for the blow that followed. Then Scott
with the brevity which was the best kind
ness, with few questions answered
gave the full truth, every word being like
an added stab, telling them that they
had been found guilty at KnOXvlle-of
being spies-that they were to die-to die
by hanging-and at oncel Their natural
and indignant protests were waved aside
rs something with which the ministers
had nothing to do; their only business
was to help the doomed men by PRAYER
and counsel to prepare for death, and the
hour was mt hand. Anxiety and even
horror was in an instant depicted on every
countenance. When they asked, Glow
soon;' he answered, "In less than two
hours" This was probably merciful
overstatement. The hearts Of the preach
ers, upon whom had been rolled the fear
full task of first communicating this ter
rible Intelligence, were very heavy. Scott |
adds: "They We're gallant men, who |
would have stood mistaken in the immi- |
nent deadly breach, They were picked |
men, chosen for their soldiery qualities;
yet in moment every cheek blanched to |
the lily's whiteness lnanother moment. |