The National tribune., 1898-12-01
The Killing OF Capt. Dwight.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Some his
torians know good many things that are not
So l read in history OF the Ninteenth Corps
as to the kill of Capt. Howard Dwight,
brother of Gen. VIM. Dwight, on MAY A, 1858;
that he "was surprised and cut eff at a
sharp turn in the Bayou Boeuf by party
OF armed men on the opposite bank. Having
no reason to apprehend danger, the little
party was proceeding along the road without
precautiOn. At the moment OF the enc0un-
ter Capt. Dwight was quite alone concealed
by the turn in the road from the ambulance
and the few orderlies that were following at
leisure. Armed only with his sword, and
seeing that escape was hopeless, he instantly
declared his readiness to surrender. Sur
render be - cried the guerIillas, and
firing voley shot him dead"
Now, let US see. There was no sharp turn
in the bayou at that point, and he was not
surprised and cut Off by armed men"
However, he was shot and killed by an al
legged guerrilla with rifle, from the other
side of the bayou-a narrow stream with a
road on either side, and opposite house and
small outDuildings, behind which the as
sassiL was concealed until his opportunity
came to pick off a commissioned officer.
The guerrilla could have hit one OF the
1900 - N'A"'S Ae'A'SiJ JN@c 90 IVA -
was between the rear OF the battery and the
advance of regiment of infantry that the
Assistant Acknowledgement, Capt. Dwight.
was killed. The column was not well closed
up, and there was quite a distance between
our battery and the regiment III our rear,
and it was while passing over that distance
that the fatal shot was fired
Some of US heard the report Of the rife
and saw man mount his horse and ride
away. Gen. Dwight at once ordered troop
to cross the next bridge above, three or four
miles, aud another to cross the next one be-
low, to capture him is possible. The his
torian does not mention that, neither does he
tell US the result Of the efforts to capture the
guerrilla, nor anything more about HIM.
The cavalry captured him in short time,
and delivered him TO the Provost g uard, and
the writer aud many others of the battery
saw him and heard him talk. He was a
fine-looking specimen OF physical manhood,
very boasttul and defiant, although he denied
the act with which he was charged. We
halted earlier that evening, and it was said
that the prisoner was being tried by drum
head y court-martial, so called, and it was re-
ported officially that he would be shot tho
following morning at sanrise. However, 1t
was considerably later before it occurred.
Inc brigade started cut Oh tie march. and
soon came to halt in column. The prisoner
was brought forward to section OF slide
bars ia tho fence. 1t happened to be just
near the leading gun OF the battery to which
the writer belonged. The guard placed the
prisoner few rods out in the field. The
charges, specifications and findings and
sentance of death were read to him. He
was directed to kneel down, white bandage
was placed over hi5 ewes the order tn fire
was given, and the tragedy was at an end.
There was no formation of troops no undue
ca element. / think every man of the bat
terry present for duty saw the execution OF
the guerrilla. ! believe his name was Glaze,