The National tribune., 1889-05-23
and among their deadly enemies. who cried

and among their deadly enemies, who cried
for their blood like savages.
1t will be remembered that when these seven
brave heroes stood on this scaffoid the noble
George d. Wilson spoke to the rebel officers who
had charge of the execution, asking of them
the privilege of speaking few moments. 1t
was readily granted, as they supposed he would
reveal some military secrets, but in this they
were very much mistaken. In substance he
said he did not regret to die for his country,
only the manner of the execution, which was
unbecoming soldier.
He further said: 1--WE harbor no malice
against you, but you are all wrong, will soon
be defeated and the old Union restored and
the flag of our common country wave over the
very ground occupied by this scaflold."
This address was delivered in such an elo
quent and pathetic way as even to move the
rebel officers to tears.
Greater was my surprise still when the widow
brought me the very fnger-ring and breastpin
with her picture in that he had on when he
was executed, and which the rebels respected
enough to leave on his person and was buried
with him. The ring was small, discovered,
as | placed it on my fourth finger, with the
serious thought that perhaps it was on the up
lifted hand of this noble hero as he predicted
the speedy downfall of the Confederacy.
Shortly after the fall of Atlanta the remains
of this noble band of heroes were taken up by
some of our men, when this ring and breast
pin were found on the person Of George d.
Wilson and were sent to the Governor of this
State, who finally sent them to the widow
Mrs. Wilson, it seems, has fully realized that
in her case at least the old saying is correct
that misfortune never comes single-hauded, for
she told me that few months after she heard
of the execution of her husband her little
daughter took sick and died Last Fall her
only remaining child, worthy son. who had
q position as baggagemaster on the Baltimore
81 Ohio Railroad, was mangled, killed out
right in horrible railroad collision, and now
her cup of sorrow is full. As the poet says:
When sorrows come, they come not as single
But in battalions."
Before / left she asked me if I thought her
husbands grave could still be identified in the
National Cemetery at Chattanooga, Tenn,
where he is buried now. | told her l sup
posed so, but would at once write to the Super
intendent there, which have done, and have
just received kind letter from him stating
that this noble band are III section by them
selves, lie in semicircle, and all have head
stones except the leader, brave Andrews, whose
remains were brought there from Atlanta, Ga,
Oct. 10, 1887. The inscription on George d..
Wilson's headstone reads-George ID. Wilson,
Ohio. Number OF grave, IL, 17S.
The Superintendent kindly sent me for the
widow souvenir in the way of small bunch
of flowers gathered from the grave of her
husband
The State of Ohio has at last recognized
what this noble band of martyrs suffered for
their country's sake, and an appropriation has
just been made by the General Assembly of
$1,000 for the purpose of erecting a suitable
monument over the graves of this heroic band.
SOLOMON RoUscULp, Co. K, l26th Ohio, Sec
ond Brigade, Third Division, Sixth Corps,
Thornviie, Ohio.