The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-02-16

| y" do III YOU StClHCtl, III Vic vi oil w
knew, to be not too dreadful to be liter
airy fulfilled and we waited in tortured
silence the result of this brutal battery
A CLASS CALL.
On the prison record an error had oc
Cured in my name, the letter T being
substituted for F. | was reminded OF
this as Major Turner read it in passing
in the slips which Father Brown was Sc
lected to draw Well do | recall his aspect
upon that occasion as he stood among us,
a man of 20 years. with long, snow white
beard and hair, and face of reverent
wisdom. Staunch in his loyalty to the
flag, he shared aud suffered our priva-
ton when he should have been in rest
and comfort with his children and grand
children about him. Friends" said
the old man gently, "shall I do this
thing?" and low "yes, yes, " down the line
formed the deep response. Stricken and
| feeble he stood there, with eyes tightly
closed and tears forcing their way down
his cheeks aud placed the hand of fate
among the slips, withdrawing two, which
we firmly believed meant certain and
speedy death to two among us. Then
Major Turner read Captain Henry w.
Sawyer, First New Jersey Volunteers;
Captain John T. great God it
| was my own name-an instant he paused,
then finished, FLYNN, Fifty first Indiana
Volunteers" and l saw the ignomiuous
death had for second feared, transfer
red to comrade, young and undeserving
the shame. Never till then did know
how much could be crowded into mere
second of time.
THE TWO DOOMED MEN.
The two men whose names had been
placed under strict guard. Major Tur-
ner then Informed us that the reason of
this order was that Burnside, having
found two Confederate officers, Captains
Corbin and McGraw, inside his lines, had
tried, convicted and shot them as spies.
This was the retaliation. Days of bitter
sorrow fell upon US and the impending
horror crushed out of our hearts much of
the courage which had babe us hitherto
keep a cheerful front. If ever Providence
interfered in the affairs of men, it would
this affair gave rise.
General Butler, in command at Fort
ress Monroe, made raid upon Rich
mond, and though not coming within 20
miles of it, he nevertheless made valuable
captures, namely, Fitz Hugh, son o! Rob
ert E. Lee, aud John W. Winder, Jr. In
all the Confederacy, not by choice could
two more suitable hostages have been Sc
lected. Warned by flag of truce of the
threatened retaliation upon Sawyer and
Flynn, General Butler notified the au-
thorities at Richmond that to fulfill their
threat would be to doom the two he held.
That settled it. We held full hand.
Onr opponents dared not call the game.
Father Blown, mentioned in the above as
having drawn the lots of the unfortunate
Sawyer and Flynn, was the Rev. Joseph
T. Brown, of Cherry Hill, Md.
Chaplain G. C. McCabe in letter to
w. L. S. Murray, PHI. D., says: g Yes !
l knew Chaplain Brown. He was a
grand man, noble old Christian soldier |
who never faltered in the path of duty. |
-. 81, L.. h.
when he drew the lots for Captain Saw |
yer. of the 1st New Jersey, and Captain |
Flynn, of the 51st Ind, to die. The names
of seventy Captains were written on small |
pieces of paper and put into boz.
Father Brown was selected to do the |
drawing. He lifted his eyes to heaven a
moment in silent prayer, then drew out
the little pieces of paper. 1t was a silence
that could be felt when Major Turner
advanced to the center of the group and
took them in his hands Father Browns |
presence in Libby Prison was benedic
ton to US all. We had prayers every
night. His voice rang out in the dark
ness often, and he bore us aloft on the
wings of his mighty faith. He bad the
profound respect of friend aud foe
The seven Chaplains VINO were asso
ciated with him in Libby Prison set a
time to meet and pray secretly for release.
Their prayer was answered for the con-
mand. Pack your knapsacks. Seven
Federals on exchange for seven Southern
Chaplains" came on the appointed day.
As his family knew nothing of his silence
Oh his arrival in Washington he dis
patched to James S. Crawford, of Elkton
Il will Re on the evening train" When
the evening train arrived his son Joseph |
G. Brown was in Elktou prepared to take
him home. On arriving at Cherry Hill
he found the entire Village Illuminated |
and about =, hundred people congregated
in and about his house to welcome him
home. AS he stepped from his carriage
DR.. K. G. Carter threw his arms about
him and kissed him. but he did not speak |
until he came to the front door of his |
house and met his wife when he broke |
down and for joy of heart he exclaimed
.home at last" The next day being |
Sunday he went to church and preached |
and sang at the close of the services the |
following hymn which he had learned |
from Chaplain McCabe while in prison:
HYMN.