The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1906-03-08

circle around me. We stood up in the
cart so when It moved nwny we would
dangle between the earth and sky and
In this way our existence was to end.
No courier from the bishop was In sight
and the suspense was terrible for us
to bear. The Confederate officer took
out his watch and Informed US that
while his Instructions were to have us
executed before noon he would wait
until one minute of IL and then II there
was no sign Of courier the cart would
be driven away and the arbitrary or
ders Of the war department Of the
southern Confederacy would be obeyed.
"Half.past II arrived and yet no
signs of any courier from the bishop.
Our legs became SO weak that we could
not stand any longer, so we requested
that We might be permitted to sit down
In the cart until the time for us to be
executed arrived. Then we would stand
up and the ropes could be adjusted to
our pccks and the execution concluded.
The ropes were then united and we
were permitted to sit down ON the sldo
Of the cart. Ten minutes more passed
In dead silence, and yet no eye could
detect any signs OF n courier. At the
end Of another ten minutes we stood
up and the ropes were adjusted to our
necks and the Confederate officer was
raising his sword as sign to tina
driver to move away when cloud Of
dust was observed in the distance and
the Confederate officer hesitated for n
few moments, when horseman white
with dust and his horse covered with
foam dashed up to the officer and hand
ed him dispatch. He opened 1t and
quickly read: Captains Sawyer and
Finn are reprleved for ten days
never felt so happy in my life, and
Finn and I embraced each other and
cried like babies. The ropes were then
united and the cart started slowly back
for Libby prison. Our comrades were
greatly rejoiced to see us return alive
and made many inquiries concerning
the postponemcnt of the execution"
1t was not long after their return to
Libby prison that word was sent back
home by the captains that they had but
ten days to live. As soon as the word
was received Captain Sawyer's wife
went 10 Washington and personally re-
ported the matter to President Lincoln.
To the knd-hearted president, who
loved his people dearly and who ever
was ready to help one in trouble, the
news was both startling and shocking.
After studying the matter over during
that night he told the woman next
morning to return to her home and that
he would do what he could.
And he did do what he could. He
saved the lives of the two condemned
captains
Knowing that the two Confederates
who had previously been executed by
General Burnside, and because of which
execution Captains Finn and Sawyer
were to be executed, had really been
deserving OF their fate, and knowing,
too, that Captains Finn and Sawyer
were innocent, he delivered n message
to the Confederate agent for the eX-
change of the prisoners to the effect
that II the two men were hanged he
would at once order that General w.
|
Lee and then a federal prisoner, would
be immediately executed.
The order created CONSERVATION
among the Confederate authorities.
But 1t had its desired result. Word was
at once sent to Libby prison to the
effect that Captains Finn and Sawyer
were not to be executed.
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lives.
Following this the captains were con-
fined in the dungeon of Libby prison
for twenty days, when they were re-
leved and placed upon an equal foot
ing with the other officers who were
imprisoned.
TheJ remained thus prisoners until
March of the following year, when they
were exchanged for General w. Fl. Il.
Lee and Captain Il. ii. Tyler, of the
Confederate army, both of whom had
been federal prisoners for several
mcnths.
After that Captain Finn returned
to his company and served until the
close OF the war, when he was mus
tered out with his regiment. The great
struggle ended. the captain returned to
his home in Sbclbyville, Ind. For the
next few years until his death, Aug.
8, 1872. he was familiar figure in and
around Shelbyvllle. At the time of his
death he was forty years old. He left
widow and one daughter. The daugA-
ter died several years ago, but the
widow Is still living in Indana
cago Chronicle.