Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1898-04-19
Execution Of Andrew Leopold.

Execution of Andrew Leopold.
The Shepherdstown Independent cop
les from Capt. George Baylor's recent
article in the SPIRIT OF JEFFERSON the
passage relating to the death of Andrew
Leopold, gallant Confederate soldier
who was executed as a spy and murderer
by the Federa1s at Fort McHenry, on the
25th of May, 1864, and in connection
Herewith reproduces the following pub
lished in the Shepherdstown Register
shortly after the close of the late war:
By request we publish the following
affectionate letter written by Andrew T.
Leopold, of Washington county, Nd, to
his mother, a few days previous to his ex-
ecution, at Fort McHenry, by the Gov
eminent at Washington City, upon the
charges of being Confederate spy and
murderer. His remains were afterwards
inferred in the soldiers cemetery at this
place. The letter is written in pencil
mark upon the fly leaf of book entitled
"Glimpses of Heaven, . presented him by
minister.
A. T. Leopold derives great deal of
condolerce from this little book. 1 hope
it may be sent to my mother. Any one
who will send this to mother will confer
a lasting favor upon a lover of religion,
and all that is good, She resides near
Sharpsburg. Washington county, Nd.
A. T. LEoPoLD.
May %, 1864.
"My Dear, Kind and Loving Mother.
1t is with the deepest sorrow that your
humble son has to report to you the sad
news of my unfortunate and much unex-
pected fate which is doomed for me by
man, but be of good cheer. have good
grounds to think and hope that go to a
better world, for have cast myself on
the mercies of our God, and look to the
Cross of His Son Jesus Christ, who died
upon the Cross that he might have ever
lasting life by believing on him. hope
to meet you and my two sisters in that
bright land where sin and troubles are no
more. My fate is that of a fe1on, but 1
know not the day of my execution. II
have the word of minister that 1 am
not to suffer death on hangman's day,
but that is poor consolation to you, but
it will be consolation to know that 1
feel willing and prepared to meet my
Maker. Moreover die as martyr for
my country and 1 willingly lay down my
life for my principles.
"Dear Mother, Sisters and Friends
Do not trouble yourselves about me for
hope to go to better world. Prepare
yourself to meet your Maker, and may
God have mercy on you all, and may we
all meet together in that blessed land
1 have been refused permission to write
to you, but write hoping you may get
this book, and hope the gentleman who
finds it may send it to you. May God
bless and be mercifu1 to you is the PRAYER
of your unfortunate son and brother.
A. T. LEOPOLD,
c. S. a"
In the same book he had marked the
following verses which he deemed appli-
cable to his situation:
'Let me go! for am weary
OF the chain which binds me here;
Let my spirit bend its pinious
To brighter, holier sphere
Earth, it's true, has friends to bless me
With their fond and faithful love,
But the hands of angels becken
Me to brighter worlds above.
Let me gol for earth has sorrows,
Sin and pain, and bitter tears;
All its paths are dark and dreary,
All its hopes are fraught with fears,
Short lived are its brightest flowers,
Soon its CHERISHED hopes decay;
Let me go! 1 fain would leave it
For the realms of endless day.
" Let me go my heart has tasted
OF my savior's wondrous grace;
Let me go where 1 shall ever
Sec and know him, face to face
Let me go! the trees of Heaven
Rise before me, waving bright,
And the distant crystal waters
Flash upon my failing sight.
' Let me go! for songs seraphic
Now seem calling from the sky;
'Tis the welcome of the angels,
Which, cen now, are hov'ring nigh.
Let me go! they wait to bear me
To the mansions of the blest.
Where the spirit, wan and weary,
Finds at last its long-sought rest"