The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-09-03
THE TIMES: RICHMOND. VA SUNDAY. SEPTEMBER


an invitation 10 attend. At the date or
my letter TO Sheridan. I did not Know
that any Of the condemned men had e.
capped. was really glad 10 hear II TOT
u increased the moral effect OF the act.
They could relate IN sherldan's camps
the experience they had with Mosoy
men. 1 did not execute any substitutes
IN their place, my object had been ac-
comphshed. If | had been animated by
vindictye feelings / would have Jet my
men shoot, or hang their prisoners quietly
until they were satisfied and then Ike Tor
bert, Merritt and Custer say nothing about
81. As / wished 10 make an example
gave all the publicity possible 90 the deed.
My letter 10 Siberian speaks OK another
one Of my men who was hung, shortly
after the hanging at Front Royal by
Colonel Powell Powell says In his re-
port, October 18th: Having learned OF me
wlllul and cold-blo0ded murder Of q United
STATES soldier by two men Chancellor ana
Myers. members or M0sby's gang OF cut
throats and robbers some two miles from
my camp "a few days previous, ! ordered
the execution of one OF M0sbys gang
whom I had captured the day previous
at Gaines Cross Roads and placing the
pIacard on his breast with the following
inscription: "a. G.. wills, member OF
Company G., MOsDy's command. hanged
by the neck in retaliation for the muir
der OF a United States soldier by Messrs.
Chancellor ana Myers" j also sent
detachment under command OF Captain
Howe. First West Virginia Cavalry, with
orders 20 destroy the residence, barn and
all buildings and forage ON the premises
OF 1lr Chancellor and 90 drive or an
stock OF every description. which orders
were promptly carried out As my men
had been hung at Front Royal, three
weeks before and there had been no sign
OF retaliation, no doubt Powell thought
the work could go Ola with impunity. But
he never dared 20 hang any more
FACTS ~ THE CAsE.~
Now the facts are these. A few days
before this occurrence man dressed In
citizens dress came TO the house or
farmer. Myers I'm Fauquier county and
asked for work; be said he was u deserter
from Snerldan's army. Myers did not
belong 10 my command. nor % any COM
mand. / never saw him. The man spent
several days with Myers. Chancellor was
a soldier who had come home on short
visit Go his father who was naighbor
of Myers. Chancellor was on his horse
about leaving home when Myers with
some citizens rode up with the progressed
Ceserter. They were sure from his ac-
tons that he was q spy fcignlng deser-
ton. They asked Chancellor 20 take MIN
out 20 the Confederate lines. Chancellor
agreed. If the man was spy 1t was
Cuauceilor's right TO hang him on Inc
SPOT. just as General Washington huns
Major Andre. If on the contrary he was
q deserter, then Powell would
have shot or hung him II be
had caught him. lie was not
entitled to the protection OF O. prisoner of
war: if be was O. spy he had dearly
forfeited his life 20 one side or the
other. But Chancellor was merciful and
gave the man tho benefit of the doubt.
lie started or TO deliver him as sus-
poet to- the provost marshal al Gordons-
Vile IL the motive had been cruelty the
man would not have been taken ten
miles across a river Tor the purpose OIL
shooting him. Tie would have been given
% hlsty burial in Fauqu.er The prisoner
tried several times 90 get away; chan-
cel0r warned him that the next attempt
would De his last. Tie tried AGAIN ana
was shot. Nobody viii dispute ihe right
OF a guard 90 shoot prisoner % prevent
am escape. For what puIpo s are guns
given to prison guards u nos 10 AHo't
When The man WAS Killed theE ha1
crossed the Rappahannock river ana
were at Teas fen miles from inc place IRON
which they bad started. This proves that
the killing was not premeiitaied Chan-
celior shot him running. MS desperation
in trying 90 escape confirmed the sus-
picion that he was % SPY. lie expected TO
Dee hung If la got 10 Gord0nsyiIe. If he
had been bona hle oesefler he W'nld
"a