The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-08-07
IS THIS TRUE ?
What Caused the Execution of E1-Rsbel soldIsrsI

What Caused the Execution or Ex-RebeI Soldiers
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
Three miles souGhward from Mount Jackson there
stands In an open field by the roadside "a small
wooden monument. The fact that no battle was
ever fought there awakeus curiosity. over in the
field it stands alone but one can read upon il the
following story for it is a story and what il not
told - easily imagined:
Capt. George w.
Summers and Sergt
n. kCOntZ Of Co. ID
7th Virginia Cavalry
were here executed on
June 9th, 1865, by order
OF Lt.-Col. Hussey, ly2d Ohio,
without the privilege
OF any kind Of tria1: they having
been arrested at their homes in Page
Co, brought here and shot.
Yes, II was on a beautiful Sunday morning they
say. while visiting the homes OF their parents In
adjoining counties that they were arrested-no one
ever knew upon what chaTge-and carried to
that little hill. The tragedy then occurred AT sun
down. And when the parents came over the next
morning no one was neag-this killing had attracted
attentiOEand they found but the lifeIez5 bodies
Of their boys. II was murder cold base rfevifisll
say the good people of Shenandoah; for their
sequel to II - that these three mculhe two killed
and the captoT commanding-gyere rivals for the
hand OF a beautiful Southern girl.
The above clipping is from the Philadelphia
Press. IL shows a most deliberate and outrage
Gus murder. We old soldiers of the Union
Army should at once take steps to bring this
outrageous murderer to Justice if he is still
alive. Although we were always ready to
fight for our country in time of need we do
not uphold murder and assassination, and
we should at once take steps to bring this
villain TO justice
Please tell us through The NATIONAL TRIB-
USE the great soldiers paper what you know
OF this affair and what has become of the mur-
derer-HESEY T. GAGE, Co. ID, 18th Mich,
Soldiers Home Va.
At the close of the war the I92d Ohio was
stationed at Reeds Hill, above Winchester, Va
Strict orders had been issued by the General
commanding the department that any lawless-
ness upon the part of the returning rebel
soldiers who had been paroled should be pun
ished with death. Col. Hussey. in command of
the l02d had large territory under MS COM
mand. The orders were so strict TO secure pro-
lection OF life and property that puuishment5
Tor crime were necessarily severe and summary.
All Offending persons were allowed trial and
counsel except party of four guerrillas who
attacked and robbed some Union troops after
the surrender, and two of them, a rebel Captain
and a Sergeant Were arrested and summariIv
executed on Reeds Hill, June 81 at sundown,
by order OF Col. Hussey. who was commanding
the post, under peTemptOTy instructions from
Army and Department Headquarters Two
others eluded arrest and were afterwards
pardoned. Col. Hussey is alive and is general
manager OF large manufacturing business at
Toledo q. He IS one of the gentlest hammered
men aud the last person whom any body would
accuse Of being a murderer. He simply carried
into effect the orders of his superior officer
The account of this execution is taken from
Whilelaw Reid's "Ohio in the War"-EDTToR
NATIONAL TRIBUNE.l