The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-01
PART III. rha Raldera Cantured.


 The expedition had originally consisted of twenty-five men and one citizen, be- sides Andrews. Two of these men never reached Chattanooga; foreseeing that capture and detection were inevitable they joined the confederate army, from which they afterward deserted. This they had been instructed to do in such an emergency by Andrews. A third man was never heard of after he left Shelby vile. Two more reached Marietta than participated in the raid. they were not awakened in time to join Andrews and the rest. They made their way to camp of instruction at Big Shanty, ap- piled for enlistment, and were assigned to the Ninth Georgia battalion. Their identity was discovered next day and they were sent to prison with the rest. This left only twenty men, including Andrews, on the General when it was abandoned. Five of these were captured almost at once; five were picked up next day (Sunday) three, including An drews on Monday and the balance in squads of two and three the following week.
 The news of the raid had spread like wild fire throughout the surrounding country, and many were captured by citizens. Some may have been run down by track dogs-not bioodhounds, as our northern friends are so fond of alluding to as being used by southerners in chas- ing prisoners and negroes. The writer or this sketch was born and reared in the and xU bloodhound in his life. The dogs used for the pur- pose mentioned were ordinary fox hounds trained to track men instead of animals, and are anything but ferocious.
 Subsequent Fate of Raiders.
 As fast as they were captured the raiders were sent to Chattanooga and put In prison, where according to their statements they endured great sufferings and hardships. But the writer having himself had taste of federal prisons, IS prepared to affirm that no act of indig- nifty or cruelty of which they accuse the confederates Is without a parallel in his own experience or observation.
 At Chattanooga Andrews was tried and sentenced to be hanged as a spy. He afterwards made his escape but was speedily recaptured. After about three weeks Andrews and the entire party were removed to Madison, Ga, on account believe of some demonstration in Chatta- nooga by the federals, but were returned to the latter place after few days.
 Later twelve of the party were sent to Knoxville for trial. They were ably de- tended by Judge o. P. Temple and Col onel Baxter men of ability who have since attained prominence in their pro- fession. It was decided to try them one at time and as 1t required a day for each trial the process was somewhat tedious For some cause only seven were tried and then the entire twelve were re- moved to Atlanta before the verdict of the courtmartial was made known to them. Death of Andrews and Seven of His
 Companions.
 A few days before the arrival of the Knoxville party, those left in Chatta- nooga were also removed to Atlanta and Andrews was hanged-the execution talk ing place on June T. short distance to the right of Peachtree street about two miles from the center of the city. As has been stated the sentence of the seven men tried at Knoxville was not made known to them, and from several sources they had received so much en- couragement to hope they would be ac- uuitted or at least only be sentenced to imprisonment. that they were in excellent spirits Their horror can therefore te ina gined when on the afternoon of the 18th of June the death sentence was read to them, their execution to take place that very day. do not know who was responsible for this apparent brutality. Col G. J. Foreacre was provost marshal and 1t became his duty to have the sem tence carried into effect, but he was only obeying the orders of his superior. He sent for the Rev. w. J. Scott and he and the Rev. G. N. Mcdonald did all in their power to comfort the doomed men.
 Old residents of Atlanta who were pres ent at this execution, still speak with admiration and sympathy of the brave manner in which these men met their fate They were heart-broken, of course. as they had not had time 10 recover from the fearful shock of their sudden sen tences, but they mounted the scaffold with firm steps and with uncovered faces and steadfast eyes gazed upon the enemies who surrounded them.
 George D. Wilson, the oldest one of the party (and he was only thirty-two) acted as spokesman and requested per- mission to say a few words before death, which was freely granted. He was a born orator and his speech is said to have been eloquent to the extent of bringing tears to eyes of most of his audience. He said that though they were condemned to death as spies, they were not spies, but soldiers in the performance of their duty; that they did not regret dying for their country, but regretted the manner of their death, which was unbecoming to a soi- dier. He even spoke kindly of his enemies saying that he knew the people of the south to be generous and brave, and believed they were fighting for the right, but that they were mistaken. Becoming