Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1898-04-06


bad been erected
Note from my fathers diary the
Glowing:
.May 18th, 1S64.-La,t might've OF
our officers, who wher IN the inter
cell. Compton. Dorsey, Shearer, Lamar
and Gubbins, made their escipe by
cutting hole through the roof and
getting over the parapet."
Aud on the 25th of May the follow
ing:
Twas awakened from my slumber by
the noise Of large body Of armed men
drawn up in hollow square around
the gaIlows erected to lang Capt. W:
B. Compton, who made his escape q
few days ago. In moment discoy-
cred he victim was L. opold, a Con-
federate officer tried and C hvicted by
q military commission held al tn place
last February, since which, ii e h as
be6 confined in cell. lea ned h
sentence was read to him this mo NJ |
lust before they brought hiu out to |
ascend the scafold. Our officers were
All aroused from their beds to witness
the execution. Leopold assembled the
scaffold firm and undaunted. He said
be died IN defence Of his country, for
which he was willing to part with his
| life without pang. He trusted that
God would yet give her Independence
and liberty. He then pointed to Gen.
Morris, who was present on horseback.
and said that the old gray headed
| gentleman there was The cause OF his
death, that he was about to suffer
| felon's death, but God was Judge ne
| was not. that be forgave Gen. Morris,
and hoped to meet him in heaven. de
waved bis handkerchief twice>\o the
Confederate officers, offered prayer to
God and then told them he was ready.
Elijah Grown, OF the 22nd United States
| Infantry Company y who had volun-
teered ss the jack-ketch, adjusted the
rope, went down and touched the
sprine. and at $50 o. m. he was landed
into eternity. He died bravely and
without struggle. He was allowed
to hang thirty minutes, when he was
taken down and carried to the dead
house. Gen. Wallace and staff, who
had como out from Baltimore remained
| on the ground until the body was taken
down. Gen. Morris rode off as soon
| as the trap door fell. Leopold died az
a brave man should do, praying hrs,
| for his country, then for his widowed
mother and family, and lastly for him
self"
Andrew Leopold was q gallant young
soldier from The vicinity Of Shepherds
town, and enlisted in the beginning o
the war in 20. F. LIST, Virginia Cavalry
Col. Morgan's company. His mothe
il still alive and resides now In Wash
Iington county Md. After his execu
ton, his body was taken to Shepherds
town and is inferred in the Confedei
. ate lot in the cemetery there.-ls
strange that Gen. Lew. Wallace tie
= SO precipi ately at Monocacy? II
ghost Of murdered Leopold, no dout
= appeared to him there.
On the day following our landing
Foft McHsnry, some eighteen officer
exclusive Of our Fort Delaware CO
tingent, were put down in a hole Of
boat bound from Baltimore to Norfo
with lot Of our men suffering w
smallpox, and not allowed to pass abo
This preeaution was evidently taken
prevent the passengers IN hoard fr
knowledge Of the condition OF
prisoners below.
On our ARRIVAL at Fortress Mon
my cousin, Col. Thos. G. Baylor, OIL
nance officer at that Fort, came abos
took me out Of the hole into the c
tain's cabin, and INTRODUCED me to
Captain, who soon had prepared
msia royal feast. which was dou
onioyed, as I was without breaks
Sortly afterwards the prisoners "
-, placed on an exchange boat, where
remained several days before going
to City Point. Ny cousin accomp.
vsd ed me to the exchange boat, introd
on. ed ma to Col. Milford. Federal C
hi . missioner; Of exchange, and ! was |
, to mittsd . State-rocm and treated I
ion, great civility. During my stay II
on my cousin gave me every atten'
Tins possible and made my stay sxceedir
by comfortable Although he occupit
the position of trust in the. Federal ar
rom having graduated from West \
ow- just preceding the war, he was Is,
ex- genial and kind as knsman could
he and / felt as much at home with
as when years before, lat my faith
s6S, ws had played and hunted togethe
and was on one Of his visits On this
arty sion / met, for the first time. my
alti7 little cousin Kate, his daughter,
'irg wife OF a prominent sergson in
cut. srmA stationed at Hot Springs,
lsde Blood is thicker than water notv
me nd;rc IN. b;tterners Of the con