The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-06-23
A NOBLE HERO
Who Was Murdered bv Order of
Gen. F. P. Blair.
OF SERMAN'S ARMY.

a Lucid and thrilling Account OF One
OF the Many Uncalied for Crimes
of the Great Incendiary While
RIaranding in this State
During the War.
To the editor Of The Sunday News:
have read with interest the articles
of Mr.. Ford and others in recent issues
Of The Sunday News, in reference to
the shooting of James Miller by Sher-
mans army, in March, 1865, In retail
alton for the killing of a Federal sol
dier by supposed bush whackars. Mr.
Miller lived near Jefferson, in Chester
field County, S. O.. and 1 knew his
brother, the late Major Jno. S. Miller
and many OF his neiRhbors and friends
among them some Of those who partl.
cipated with him In the casting OF lots.
Some years ago newspaper was placed
In my hands by 4 son in law OF James
Miller, In which was an account Of the
shooting OF MIR. Miller, purportiDg to
nave been written by an officer con-
nected with the affair and present at
his death. l have forgotten the name
or the c1icer, and OF the newspaper,
which l think was F.. blished, In Ian
caster or Chesterfield, S. c., ana re.
produced the article from Western
paper. This paper was in my port.
folio, which was miSlaid, S or stolen
about two years ago.
EXCUSE FOR MILLER's MURDER.
1t stated that the dead body of a
Federal soldier, belonging to West
ern cavalry regiment, l thiek from
Michigan, was found where he had ev-
identity been murdered by bushwhacK-
ers, that the Federal commander had
determined to resort to retaliation to
prevent such killings, and Gen Francis
Z, Blair, who commanded the 18th
army corps, issued orders for the cast.
Ing OF lots for one man to be put to
death for the killing of the cavalry.
man aforesaid.
My informants did not know all who
participated In the casting Of lots, but
among them were Mr.. B. r. Clantop,
now living In Chesterfield County, Mr..
Robert Griffith and others who knew
James Miller. 1 have talked with and
corresponded With others about ltHS
cruel tragedy and from them and the
account by the Federal officer before
mentioned my information was OBJ
tanned.
DRAWING LOTS TO DIE
Ore or more OF the participants said
IL came as great surprise to all who
were made to cast lots, and one of
them declared that he never before or
after found it such task to stretch
lorth his right haad to draw a little
piece OF paper out of hat. James
Miller drew the fatal lot. He was a
man between forty-ti and fifty years
OF age and had been captured a day or
two before some distance west of Che
raw, while on his way home on fur
Tough from Florence, S. c., where he
mad been engaged in guarding prison.
ers. lie protested that, while he sym
patn,Zed with his State In her strup.
sle. ana mad given OF his means for
the support OF the Cause, he was over
aye for active service, and had not fir
cd gun In the war. But he was told
that the order was imperative. He beg
ged To Ge allOS eel to communicate with
nis wife and children, but this prlvi-
lege was denied him. He then asked
TO confer with such Of his neighbors
and friends IS were cap,ives with him
sell. 10 those he gave directions for
his wife, asking that she be told he
was not Ginning home, and advising
her about his farm AID about the chill
oren, just as II he were going Fl on a
Journey to be absent for time.
MILLER's LAST REQUESTS.
He then made some re euues,s of those
| who were about to shoot him. He
asked, In the first place, that he be- not
| oounn either hand or foot, saying lie
was not goirg to .un, that he was pre-.
pared, and not afraid to die. He then
asked that he be not blindfoldad. say
Ing he wished to look into the eyes of
tAose who were to shoot him. And
lastly, he begged that he be not shot
In The lace, declaring that God had
given him his face, and that in all his
life he had never done anything OF
which he was ashamed His last wish.
eS were respected. He was marched
OH snort distance, The firing squad
drawn up, the guns discharge d Us one
and James Miller lay dead, as much a
hero as IL he had died at the cannon's
mouth at Gettysburg, in the charge
up Snodgrass Hill at Chickamauga, OF
at the bloody angle at Spottsylvania
Don't shoot me in the face, for
God gave me that, and In all my life
l have done nothing to be ashamed
off,
What sentiment, what model.
MILLER'S HUMBLE GRAVE.
AT Five Forks Methodist Church.
In Chesterfield County. on the road
from Lancaster to Chesterfield Ccurt
House, and half way between the two,
Is the little mound that marks the last
resting place Of James Miller. | have
passed there few times, but never
Without dismounting and going softly
with uncovered head to the spot and
recalling the manner and cause Of his
death. Chesterfield County has pro
duced some OF the great men OF South
Carolina, but she never gave birth to q
purer patriot or more unostentatiously
brave man than James Miller.
HOW A NEGRO SERVED HIS MASTER.
But the Federal cavalryman, fol
whose killing Mr.. Miller was shot, was
not killed by Confederate or bush