Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-04-22

ing through Ashby's Gap, they were
met by Mosby, who, when informed
that they belonged to General Clusters
division, determined to retaliate upon
them for the death of the Rangers who
had been executed at Front Royal. He
therefore ordered them to be kept un-
der close guard until his return to Eau
quier.
In few days Mosby left Mountoy
with twenty-three men in the Valley,
and proceeded to RectortOwn to eEe-
cute his purpose Meanwhile, another
party of Clusters men had been cap
tured and left in charge of Jimmy
Chiffon, at the residence of a citizen
on the Blue Ridge. These prisoners
were confined in a school-hOuse, and
appeared to be comfortable and cheer
ful, expressing their surprise at re-
ceiying such kind treatment at the
hands of Mosbys men. One Of them,
especially, was inclined to talk. He
was young, handsome, intelligent and
gentlemanly in appearance. The con-
versation was 50 pleasant and friendly
that Jimmy quite forgot the bellige-
rent relation in which they stood to
each other. But soon the tranquility
of the scene was rudely and painfully
disturbed by the entrance of two rang
ers, who,without preliminary, demand
ed of the prisoners to whose command
they belonged. Several promptly re-
sponded:
eve belong to Clusters Division
"Then," said the men, "you are to
be hung. Come along.
The announcement produced a ter
rible shock and the prisoner to whom
reference has been made rose up and
with great calmness said
a understand the reason for this.
1t is in retaliation for the hanging at
Front Royal, and do not condemn
you for it. But I desire to make this
statement: Though now belong to
General Clusters command, yet l did
not belong to it when that deed was
perpetrated. I do not think, in JUS
tice, that l ought to be punished for
the action of that officer before had
any connection with him The case
was a hard one, but he was neyerthe-
less marched off with his comrades.
On the day appointed for the exc
cution, the battalion assembled at
Rectortown. About II o'clock a, m.
Mosby arrived, prepared to enter
upon his painful task There were
twenty-seven men left after Brewster,
the lawyer, was excluded from the
lottery, and on the list were the names
of two ofiicers-Capt. Brewster and
lieutenant of artillery. An officer
was detailed to superintend the sad
affair, and Mosby withdrew from the
painful scene, saying:
"This duty must be performed for
the protection of my men from the
ruthless Custer and Powell
The prisoners were drawn up in
single rank, and for each bit of paper
was prepared, but seven only Of them
were numbered. They were then all
put into hat, and each prisoner was
required to draw forth one Of them.
Those who drew blanks were to be
sent to Richmond as prisoners OF war,
but those who drew numbers were to
be hung. Various were the emotions
depicted on the countenances as each
man put his hand in the hat: Firmness,
with closed lips and unquailing eye;
stolid Indifference, and Fear, with his
ashen cheek and trembling hand, were
all there. Brewster, the lawyer, was
there, too, and with agonized looks
was watching the fate Of his brother,
while tears coursed down his checks.
AS each hand was taken from the hat
an expression of JOY and relief would
brighten the countenance, or a groan
Of anguish or cry of despair would
burst from the lips.
The condemned men were at once
set apart and closely guarded. The
officers had drawn blanks, but not 50
the drummer-boy. His appeals to
Captain Richards were now louder
and more eloquent than ever, who,
touched with compassion, interceded
with Mosby for his release. The aP-
plication was granted, for the boy, in
truth, ought never to have been SUBJ
iected to the lottery. But another
had to be substituted in his place, for
Mosby remembered the blackened
corpses of OVERLY and Carter, as they
hung in the parching wind.
The prisoners, in cruel suspense,
again stood in line, but now only one
death-warrant was in the hat. Capt.
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