The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-11-20
SUMMERS AND KOONTz.
ylrElnial's Account Of Their Execution.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Kindly per-
NIT me to make a hrief and unbiased state
mCht of the execution Of Capt. Summers and
scrg't koontz near Rude's Hill, Va June p,
1865.
! have seen several incorrect sketches Of this
unfortunate affair i'm previous issues Of TIE
NATIONAL TRIBUNE, aud / feel that il is due
the memory OF MY lamentcd friend and kim
drCd, Capt Summers, that a brief and unbiased
statement of thls sad affair be made known 10
the public.
was n Second Lieutenant In the same com
VaEY Capt Summers commanded; be was also
my first cousin. At the time oil GEN Lees sur
render VIC fought our way through the lines Of
investment, reached lyuchburg, held conn
CT, and concluded 60 return 20 our homes
Thus you sec we had not been parolcd, as
stated IN 4 former article Capt. Summers,
Serg't hOontz and two privates Of the same
company happened 10 be near the Valley turn
pike when a detachment OF Union cavalry
passed down the Valley with Gov. Letchcr as a
prisoner. They came out into the road as the
rear-guard was passing, and captured four or
i've o. the latter, without doing bodily harm,
however, 10 a single one. They took their
horses, arms aud accoutermeGts and turned
the soldiers loose. As soon rs the parents Of
these Confederate soldiers learned what had
transpircd they Immediately told them they
44ttN AAtfN NAoAAEs aLA AGtlI CApAulAh HANilNAAg
must be returned. Capt. summers father
who had been lifelong Union man, and the
father Of one Of the other boys went over TO
Col. Butterfell's camp and 10 him made an
honest statement Of the whole affair. They
asked him Col. D. D If lie would drop the mat
ter il the property should be returned, and
this Col. Butterfeld agreed 10 DO. The prop
erty was returned in fall, and the Colonel Civ
Ing receipt for the same, everything was sup
posed TO be settled as per agreement; but un-
fortunately for the poor, cOnfiding boys the
klnd-hearted Colonel was removed and this
Col. ilussey placed i'm command aud in few
weeks a detachment Of Union cavalry came in
tho dead hour Of night, arrested Capt. SUM-
mcrs and ScrEt koontz, tho other two making
their escape. Capt. Summers's father gave the
Union soldiers their breakfast and treated
them with his characteristic hospitality.
Capt Summers al one time was left alone with
q single guard, aud this guard lay down aud
went 10 sleep. Capt. 5. told his father lac had
notion TO make his escape, but his father told
him TO do nothing of the kind, bat TO 90 and
stand his trial. as he need fear no danger, and
that the day following he would go over him
self and inform Col. Hussey Of his agreement
with Col. Butter6cld.
Capt. $. yielded 10 his fathers request, AMI
in a few hours the detachment Of Union SOL
diors returned and took the two prisoners
across the mountain. as they rot to within
few miles of headquarters they halted, and
told their prisoners they must prepare for death.
They begged that they be taken 10 Col. Hu5
scy's camp and tried, bat no amount Of plead
ing could avail anything. 1t is proper and
just 20 state that the cavalry positively refused
% do this bloody work, and a file or two OF in
faDtry was brought from camp to stain their
hands in innocent blood.
Capt. Summers father, true to his promise,
came over next day aud found his fond and
only boy lying upon the ground, cold in deaths
embrace. The shock which he met On this sad
occasion he never entirely recovered from, and
passed to an untimely grave. A detailed and
unbiased account Of this unfortunate affair was
written by this kind father, and is now in
possession Of II. n. Mcdonald, Berryville, Va,
who is writing a history Of ROsser's Brigade.
Ola, yes, Serg't Stuart, you admit that you
"pitiod that poor old father" Your pity will
sink deeper into your heart as time rolls on.
You may talk about the "bayonetcd wounded
at Bull Run and Mississippi. the Scout"
and Capt. Summers being bad mar" -; you
may corjare mp these thoughts 90 give you
temporary relief but that deed will cling like
the ieprosy Of Gehazi to you and your seed
forever. JOHN Ii. CoSEELL, Second Lieu
tenant, Co ID, 9TH Va Cav, Coleville, Cal.