The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-12-28
Life or Death

The famous old Libby Prison In
Richmond, Va, so celebrated during
the war as the place of confinement OF
nearly sixty thousand Union soldiers,
has of late been recalled to mind by
the removal of the building. Much OF
what occurred within its walls has
passed into the pages of history, as
matter of more than passing Interest,
but of all it's scenes there were none so
pathetic as the following told by LIEUT.
r. H. Jayne in Our Holiday;
The most impressive incident In con-
nection with the history of Libby Fri
son took place on the 9th OF July,
1865, when by order of General Winder
the seventy-four captains drew lots Tor
two of their number to be shot IN re-
taliation for ihe shooting of Captains
w. F. Corbin and II. j. McGraw by
Burnside, at Sandusky, Ohio on the
18th of the preceding May. The OIL
ence of these men was that or recruit
inv in Kentucky for the Confederate
army. ,,oa
The Union captians were assembled
in room in the prison at noon py
CAPTAIN Turner, and after being formed
in q hollow square around liable, were
informed of the order Of General WIN
der. Seventy-four slips OF paper, each
containing the name of a Union cap
tain written on it, were carefully 1oid-
ed up and deposited in box on the
table.
"Now,n said CAPTAIN Turner, "you
may select one o, your own nnmoer 10
draw lots; the first two names taken
from the box will indicate the two that
are to be shot.
II suggest that the duty be perform,
ed by one of our chaplians,h remared
Captain Sawyer of the First New Jer-
sey Cavalry.
The proposition was acceptable to
all, and three Union chaplains were
called down from the upper story
The matter was explained to them,
and Rev. Mr.. Brown consented to per-
from the sad task. Amid breathless
silence, and with every eye fixed upon
the gentleman, he stepped forward and
drew forth one of the slips. With a
trembling hand he unfOlded it. and
restraining his emotions by great ef-
fort, pronounced the name-"Henry
Washington Sawyer, First New Jer-
sey Cavalry"
It was certainly singular that the
first name drawn by the chaplains
should have been that of the officer
who asked that the task might be con-
fided to him.
The colest man in that company was
Captain Sawyer himeelf. Every eye,
including those Of the Confederate
officers, was turned pityingly toward
him.
"Well," remarked the brave man
''some one had to be drawn, and l can
stand it as we'll as as any of you. .
Chaplain Brown once more reached
his hand in the box and drew out Sc
cond slip of paper and everything be-
came like the tomb again! captain
John Finn, 5lst Indiana"
This officer showed considerable emo
ton, and naturally was greatly depress-
ed. The two condemned were taken
to General Winder's office (the others
boing dismissed) and told they might
write to their friends. CAPTAIN Saw.
yer wrote q letter to his family and
read it aloud to a detective standing
near. His voice did not falter until
near the close, where he bade farewell
to his wife, to his mother and to his
children. Brave as he was, he was
unequal to this. II beg you to pardon
me-" be said to those standing around
and turning his head away he sobbed
like a child.
Finn said he had no letters to write,
and only desired a priest. The wishes
of both having been complied with
they were ordered to be kept In close