Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1909-08-12

been understandable TO the human eye.
The second incident is OF stirring ad-
venture that befell John E. Boyd, OF
MartinSburg.
In January, 1861 an upper room, in a
building still standing in Winchester, Mr..
Boyd sat upon the coffin which was pro-
vided for his own burial, with but five
minutes between himself and the hour
which had been set for his execution as
spy. Every effort made in his behalf had
failed, and for him all prospect Of life had
vanished. He waited on his own coffin
for orders TO begin the march TO the scat
fold, where he was to be hanged, when a
messenger came from General Sheridan
changing the sentence OF death to SEN
tence of Imprisonment at Fort McHenry.
Mr.. Boyd was a scout on the staff of
Gen. Fitzhugh Lee. He had made his
way from a point up the valley to his
home at Bunker Hill. A negro woman,
who had been one Of his fathers slaves
sent her husband to report to Federal SOL
ders at StephenSon's depot that Mr..
Boyd was there. In one of the rooms on
the first floor there was atrap door which
gave access TO passage under the house,
which was concealed by large old-time
chair-settee. But the federal soldiers had
surrounded the house before any member
of the family was aware OF their presence
and Mr.. Boyd could not reach this hiding
place. From IA bureau in the room up
stairs where Mr.. Boyd was, the drawers
had been removed without altering the
appearance OF the front. There was an
opening in the back. Mr.. Boyd concealed
himself in this bureau, when the soldiers,
under the command of Captain lnwood,
began the search Of the house. When
they came to the bureau, il was locked.
An aunt OF Mr.. Boyd'S volunteered to go
down stairs and get the key if they de-
sired TO open it. Captain lnwood told
her to get the key and he would come
back after he had searched the garret.
When they had all left the room Mr..
Boyd got out Of the bureau and hid him
self in closet in one of the rooms that
had already been searched. When the
soldiers came back the bureau was opened
and finding nothing, they started to- leave
the house. In the hallway downstairs,
they met they met the negro woman, who
was surprised at the failure of finding Mr..
Boyd, and told them that he was certainly
in the house. The search was then re-
newed and Mr.. Boyd was found in the
closet. He was taken at once to Stephen
sons depot, where the night was spent.
The next morning he was taken to VIM
chester where he was confined in the
building on Loudoun street, which has re-
Gently been occupied by ]. William Miller.
Orders had been issued by General
Sheridan, who was at the time in COM
mand at Winchester, that all Confederate
soldiers captured within the lines, should
be considered as spies and hanged.
Shortly after Mr.. Boyd's arrival in Win
chester, the death sentence was read to
him in the room where he was being
guarded. The hour for the execution was
set for II O'Clock that day. Shortly be-
fore II deprieve was granted until II the
next day. A petitions was circulated
among the citizens of the town and pre-
sented TO the general praying that the SEN
tence be committed TO imprisonment. One
OF the men who signed the petition was a
Union man. This means failed to pro-
duce any results and other efforts were
brought 10 bear upon Sheridan, but ne
could not be induced TO repeal the order
OF execution. Then it was that Mrs.
cambridge went 10 General Sheridan and
interceded for Mr.. Boyd's life. Mrs.
Dandridge's father, Gen. Zaeariah Tay-
lor, and her first husband, General Bliss,
had both been West Pointers. General
Sheridan was West Pointer, 100, and It
is supposed that this fact caused him ID
yield to the pleading OF Mrs. Dandrioge,
and grant the reprieve. This spirit of
Fraternity likely had its influence, but the
charming personality Of the lady who
made the plea exerted an Influence Of
equal potency.
The coffin which had been provided
fokShe burial Of Mr.. Boyd was at first
placed in a room between the one in
which he was confined and in which the
officers were. The door to this room
was opened and the coffin was plainly
visible to Mr.. Boyd as he passed the door
when he was taken before the officers TO
be examined.
A few minutes before twelve, the hour
for the execution, the coffin was removed
10 the room occupied by the relief guard,
situated in the rear Of the room in which
Mr.. BOYD was imprisoned. Mr.. Boyd
was conducted to this room and COM
manded TO take his seat on the coiiln I'm
ill orders should come to begin the march
10 the scaffold. This structure had been
erected on the Berryville pike at point
a little beyond the location Of the present
Union cemetery.
At five minutes before twelve, while
Mr.. Boyd was still sitting on the coffin,
the repfieve came, and he was removed
to Fort McHeny. He was afterward ia
ken to Richmond TO be exchanged, but
was released on parole, and Ehad reached
New Market, Va, on his way back to his
home, when the news OF Lees surrender
reached him.
MIR. Boyd speaks in the highest terms
of the treatment he received at the hands
Of Captain lnwood, by whom he was ar
rested. 1t is his opinion that his pres
| eura in fho htjreau Wac cffcracfpd hy In