The National tribune., 1905-11-09
FATHER" LOCKE.
Others ImpersOnafed the SinEer and
Were Executed.

Editor National Tribune: Looking
over some old books recently, / came
across one entitled Three Years in
Camp and Hospital by l.. w. Locke.
published in Boston in 1870. / find in
one chapter an account where the au-
thor left the Army of the Potomac
i'm the Spring of '63 for a visit to the
Western armies. On his return, in "a,
he was greeted by the men of the Sixth
Corps with unexpected enthusiasm, and
much to his surprise, as one risen from
the dead. In the following extract
from the book he gives the reason or
explanation, and which accounts for
the erroneous stories Of his having been
hung as spy:
previous to leaving the Eastern for
the Western Department l had given
parting entertainment with most of
the organizations, telling whittier / was
going and my intentions of returning in
q. few months Twas scarcely out of
the army when man from Baltimore
Il think his name was richardson
conceived the plan of taking up my
occupation. He knew that / had free
range within the lines, and that was
the very privilege that he coveted. Pro-
curing copies of my songs, he had an
edition of them printed, giving the
words only, while mine contained the
music us well as words; procured
and commenced business on a limited
scale. He gave no concerts or enter
tainments, offered but few songs for
sale, made no special visits to this or
that regiment, was never seen in hos
pital. But why did he take all this
trouble? You shall see. He had been
spy from the first and thought that
by having songs and stamps and piay-
ing my role in part he would be able
to see all that was going on without
suspicion. While the army was pass
ing through Maryland toward Gettys-
burg the cavalry picketed all the roads
leading to Virginia. This man attempt
ed to pass the guards. He had a pass,
and it is said, though / cannot vouch
for it, that it was in my name. He was
arrested and searched, but nothing of
suspicious nature was found on him.
Gen. Fitzpatrick not being satisfied, or
dered that he should be searched more
minutely, and yet nothing to criminate
the man was found. At last his saddle
was cut in pieces, and in it was found
all the documents that a spy would
naturally have. He made immediate
confession. and begged for mercy; but
MS trial took place at once, lasting but
few minutes, and he was hanged at
the limb of a tree just outside Fred
erick City. After the battle of Gettys-
turg the returning troops marched in
sight Of the tree and body, for 1t re-
manned In its suspended position for
eight days, and every member of that
army returned to Virginia believing
that he had seen my body hanging to
tree In Maryland, and very kind
hearted man went with sorrowful coun-
tenance to break the tidings to my fam
lily. Though it seemed incomprehensi-
bic to most Of the troops that their old
singer should prove traitor, yet they
thought Southern gold might have done
the work, and the verdict was, Served
him right II he was q traitor But
why did not some Of the men examine
the body sufficiently to determine it's
Identity? They tried their best to do
this, but not seeing it for a number of
days after death it had become SO black
and swollen 1t looked as much like one
man as another"
Mr.. Locke goes on to narrate another
incident Of similar nature which took
place after his departure from the
Army Of the Cumberland, an incident
much like the preceding, except that
the spy was shot in an attempted es-
cape: "A few hours only was needed
to spread the news from division to di-
vision that the Army Poet and Ballad
list was shot as spy. Army correspond
ents sent the news to their papers, and
so of them told the strange story to
million readers. Strangely enough it
was months before it came to my ears,
for | had gone to still another depart
nent. My friends had published con-
tradiction, but while the falsehood went
with lightning speed, the truth scarcely
got out OF Tennessee in six months"
AS the stories and erroneous reports
about Mr.. Locke have apparently
aroused considerable interest among
your readers recently, 1 trust that you
may find room for this in your columns
at an early date.-H. M. Greggs, West
brook, Me