The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1905-12-02

when a horseman covered with dust
and his horse covered with foam, dash
led up to the officer and handed him a
despatch. He opened it quickly and
cad: Captains Sawyer and Finn are
1reprived for ten days" Mine Colt!
Jim, I never felt SO happy in my life;
and Finn and embraced each other
nd cried like babies. The ropes were
lntied and the cart started slowly back
for Libby Prison. We never learned
the name of the officer who was detail
lgreatly rejoiced to see us return alive
, nd made many inquiries concerning
he postponement of the execution.
Eight days later, We are told, the
matter was in Lincoln's hands, and
then
He could hardly credit the report that
the Confederate Government had de-
termined to execute two Union officers
without trial by court-martial, or
a judge, or jury, and yet there was
the positive evidence clearly stated
in Captain Sawyer's letter. 1t was a
new phase Of war which startled him.
for it was fraught with dire consequent
|ces, and was dangerous precedent to
establish.
He revolved over in his mind what
course to pursue in order to save the
two gallant officers from the gallows,
and yet not establish a precedent which
could not be justly and honorably de-
Tended before the whole civilized world.
He felt that the Confederate Govern
ment had erred, and that it could not
maintain such a position, for the two
spies who had been executed by General
Burnside We're guilty beyond question
of doubt, and as all nations in time Of
war give spies but short shrift, he felt
confident that the Confederate Govern
ment would recede from such an I'M
fortunate position after having given
the matter due reflection but while
ure must be conceived and resorted to
that the lives of Captains Sawyer and
Finn might be saved.
The next morning when Captain
Whilldin and Mrs. Sawyer called, the
President informed them that he did
not make up his mind and did not ar
rive at the final decision in the case
until o'clock in the morning, and af-
ter that time he slept peacefully, and
felt greatly refreshed, for he believed his
plan would save the two gallant men
who were at that moment fighting the
rats and vermin in Libby Prison.
Presidents plan in substance was
that If Sawyer and Finn were executed
Brigadier-General w. H. F. Lee, son
of Robert 3. Lee, and another Confed-
crate officer would be hanged in retail
iation, and orders to that effect were
sent to the Confederae authorities. To
quote again:
Sawyer and Finn were fed on corn
bread and water in the dungeon, which
was so damp that their clothes mil
dewed. The 18th came at last, and
with great anxiety they awaited all
day for the coming Of their execu-
TONERS, but the long day passed and
they We're not molested After remain
ing twenty days in the dungeon. thew
were relieved and placed on the same
footing as the other officers. They re-
NAMED in Libby Prison until March
1864, when at last the prison doors
opened and they We're conducted to a
wagon, and thence to a boat on the
James river, and then, and not until
did it dawn upon them that thew were
to be exchanged. The boat steamed
down the river to City Point, the place
! for the exchange of prisoners, and as
Captain Sawyer and Captain Flinr
were being assisted from the boat (fo,
they were greatly emaciated and toe
weak to walk), they met General w
II. f. Lee and Captain Robert H. Tyler
coming on the boat General Lee and
captain Sawyer exchanged greetings
and congratulated each other on their
escape from being hanged. Genera,
Neal Dow and Captains Sawyer and
rum were exchanged for General w
II. r. Lee and Captain R. H. Tyler,
General Fitzhugh Lee in a recent
communication states that when Gen
eral George Washington Gusts Lee
an elder brother of General w. H. F.
Lee, heard what was contemplated nv
the Federal Government, and being a
bachelor and his brother married
man with children, he sent a commun-
ication to the Federal authorities stat
ing that if they would release his broth
er he void come down and be shot in
his place. General George Washington
Gusts Lee was then an aid-de-camp
on the staff of Mr.. Jefferson Davis"
The sad affair was ended. The
prophesy of President Lincoln that he
believed his plan would save the lives
OF the doomed men had proved true.
Captain Sawyer returned to his New
Jersey home, but he never fully re-
covered from the privations he suf-
fered in Libby Prison.
! Founder Of the Aruentine Navv.