Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-02-20

sal Blair, who was then nm command,
that he issued an order, IN accordance
with an order of General Sherman of
ran earlier date, to the effect that for
every man of ours that was murdered
by bushwhackers two of the Con-
federate prisoners, of whom we had a
large number, should be shot in retalia-
ton. According to General Blair's
orders then, two of these unfortunate
Confederates would have to die. How
should they be chosen, and by whom
It.was decided, however, that the
prisoners should decide that point
themselves. They proceeded to ar
range that part of the programme in a
business-like manner and with con-
siderable dispatch, One old man
who must have been lat least
sixty years of age, for whom I had
written several letters, made me his
confdant and came to me- for advice
and consolation. He claimed that he
had been conscripted, and had never
fired gun at Yankee. I never
doubted his word, for hewas too simple
Ito lie, and too old to have volunteered.
Lots were to be drawn to decide who
should be the two men to be.shot to
atone for the crime Of some of their
more desperate comrades. Tho old
man before alluded TO came to the
writer as soon as he hid heard Of the
method of ascertaining the names of
the victims, and In great distress said
that be was sure he mouId be one of
fhen. I made light of his fears, and
told him to have courage, that the
chances were about ourShundred to
one In his favor. He then told nae that
he had few days previous presenti-
ment of his death, and knew that he
was doomed. Still / tried to dispel
the old mans fears, but with little sue
cess, and as last request he said he
would ask me to place him at the foot
of the line and having something to do
with arranging the line i, told him I
would do as he desired.
The exact number of the prisoners [
have forgotten, but for each one g. slip
of paper was cut, on two Of which was
written the word DEATH" Then all
were put into hat and we'll mixed up,
and then covered with another hat. It
was then stated to them by one of their
sown men that whoever drew, one of the
strips with the word DEATH written
upon it should willingly yield himself
to be shot, all Of which was understood
and assented to. A detachment. of in
fantry was drawn up in open order,
forming a chute, down which the pris-
oners marched in single file, the old
man at the foot. AT the lower end of
the two files of guards an officer stood
with the hat in which were deposited
the slips of paper that sealed the fate
iof. two men. The drawing commenced.
Some marched up boldly and with de-
fiant air, and thrust their hands into the
hatsGnd drew forth their slip and ,deliv- |
credit to an officer, who examined it, and |
were. allowed to pass on. Others came |
up with fear and trembling, and rever-
entlyuncoyered their heads while they
drew their slips, and were allowed to
pass also. About the middle of the line
] noticed a dashing, daredevil fellow
. Second Lieutenant, / think k-who |
was cursng and swearing, and made
himself highly disagreeable to his
comrades. the most of whom considered
it,a most solemn occasion. At last he
came to the hat to draw his slip, which
he did in o most unmanly way, and, |.
either by accident or design, drew two
Instead Of one. The officer told him to
put them back and draw again, but re-
fuaing to do so, he put one back and
handed the other to the officer, which
proved to be one Of the fatal slips. He
was told to stand aside, and was taken
u charge by aguard for that purpose. |
And thus the drawing proceeded until
III had passed Though but the old man,
who was found to be unable through
fear to advance and draw the last and
fatal slip of paper. He was brought
iorth by two Of his comrades and sup
ported while his death warrant was
placed In his hand, which was then
,old and palsied, and was really moro
lead than alive.
The Lieutenant who drew the first
atal slip marched boldly to the place
i execution, but the old man had to
,e helped in order to reach the place,
ghere the other had been bound to q
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