The National tribune., 1890-09-11
HANGING GUERRILLAs.
An ohIo Man,s sar Ahont ths Reea,. nam AnaIr

r..
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: To the writer
OF the article on tho execution Of Capt. Sum-
mers and Scrgt Kuntz near Reeds Hill, Va.
june q, 1865, ! would say that after tho with
drawal Of the United States troops from the
Valley Of the Shenandoah the Ohio Brigade or
Second Brigade, Army Of the Shenandoah, was
left in charge Of almost that entire country
AS Col. BnttorGeld commanded, Lieut. Col.
| Hussoy was sent south, with headquarters at
Reeds Hill. Two companies under Lieut.
Harpstcr were detached TO Harrisonburg aud
81 men under tho writer of this article were
stationed at New Market
Any soldier who remained In the Valley any
length Of time during the war or near its close
knows full well the character and reputation
OF many of its sO-caled chyalry. That Sum
mers had been a bad man he admitted himself
Kuntz was his confederate, SO called, at the
time and not denied
Mississippi, tho scout, had turned murderer
was tried, proven guilty, sentenced TO be hung,
but got his reprleVe on the way To the scafiold.
lie escaped from Fort Delaware, and returned
at once TO the scene of his former depredations
He was seen by a scouting party from Harrison
burg snder Lieut.. Jennings, and in his attempt
to escape was shot through tho leg and bled TO
death.
Summers Kuntz and Mississippi all operated
In the same way and all met death, not by tho
arbitrary orders Of Col. Hussey. but by the
stern DEGREES from the Department of War
myself have had TO do with some of that
class of mon, and know many things that / might
relate TO show their character. Why did the
citizens not arrest and punish the murderer of
Rev. elmo? | answer, because a Union man
died. Why were bayonets fixed on sticks and
planted like pixies in tho water of Smiths
Creek, so that my men, diving, would impale
Themselves / answer, because wo were not
wanted there. Other bad men than those
named eluded arrest and punishment Let
any soldier or citizen Of Virginia sit in sack
cloth over the reckless numbering of Union
soldiers, and weep over our bayoneted wound
ed at Bull Rum ere he calls for the arrest of
Lieut. Col. Hussey.
have not seen the Colonel since the war,
but remember him kindly. lie was q refined,
cultured and temperate man. reserved in
manner, but every inch soldier. He only did
what any other good officer would do-obey
orders.
/ feel sorry that Capt. Summers and the
others fell rs they did ptied that old father,
and do still. have pity yet, after these many
years, for the family, relatives and friends The
remark That the officer of the cavalry who
caught him was rival for the hand of the fair
lady, and sought that opportunity To end the
career of tho Captain" is not true in any sense
In defense of the regular Confederate sol
diery, we know they did not indOrse murder or
robbery.
Further, hope no Union soldier will in any
way attempt TO throw the vail Of innocence
over record Of past crimes and follies.
That Lieut.. Col. Hussey should be accused OF
murder is absurd to anyone who has sustained
the relations with him Of the writer himself
Again, the 22d N. Y. Cav and 2d Mass simply
did their duty. V. STEWART, Sergeant Co.
q, 1921 Ohio Lima D.