Year: 1863




Richardson, tke spy--Iuteresting Story Of
His capture and Execution.


An officer Of the Seventh regiment Of
New York city, furnishes the following
particulars Of the operations of Richard
sOn, the rebel spy, who was captured and
hung some time since in Frederick City,
Maryland. We give the story in the Off
GERS language: m aEA


at knew this Richardson from the very
beginning Of the war. When we were
/ FIRST ordered on to Baltimore he came into
camp just as he has done ever since, sing
ing songs and selling them. He is a man
Of about fifty years Of age, with long,
light-cOlored beard, very intellectual look
! ing, and with soft, pleasant voice in
speaking. He was well known in every
camp in the Army Of the Potomac, and
having an excellent voice he used to de-
light the soldiers with his songs.


"0n Sundays he distributed tracts, and
I recollect one day talking to him about
/ them. BE was an excellent draughtsman,
and got up an engraving Of our fort on
| Federal Hill Of which have some copies.
He was in and out Of all the camps con-
stantly, and vas rather fond Of asking
questions. The reason he gave for this
was that he was getting up a history of
the war.


"He was arrested while we were at Fred
eriek City. His questions appesred 10 be
rather too systematic and pointed. He
was arrested on this account BY three diff
ferent parties, but gave such plausible ex-
euses TO the first two that they let him 60.
| General Slocum was in command at Fred
erick City, and so strong was the suspi-
cion excited against him, both By his ques-
tieBs on this occasion and by the circum-
stances reported by many soldiers who had
for some time suspected him, and had pre-
viously called the attention of their officer
to him, that il was determined to try to
force some confession out Of him.


He vas put upon horse with his arms
pinioned behind him end rope around
his neck. The horse was led under a tree,
and the end of the rope thrown over a
branch. The rope was pulled tight and
the horse driven from under him He was
allowed 10 hang thirty seconds, and then
let down. When brought to he refused to
answer any questions. BE was hung up
again, and when revived a second time, he
answered some Of the questions asked.
The third hanging broughts full confess
sion. He had in his pocket a small brandy
flask. He told his captors to unscrew the
metal bottom Of this. On doing so they
found considerable hollow. In this hol-
low and in part Of the lining Of one Of his
boots they found plans of all our works,
very carefully and beautifully drawn, also
the exact position and numbers of each
regiment, and even the particular compa-
MES detailed for picket and other service.
Ten thousand five hundred dollars in
"greenbaeks were found upon him, be.
sides a quantity Of Confederate money.
This was all handed over to the five men
who arrested him.
He also told them they would find in
certain place a mulatto who was his neph-
eW (he himself was a white mani. His
only other accomplioe was his son. He
told them that this negro could guide them
to place where they could capture some
two thousand Of Stusrt's men. Richard
son was, it seems, in constant commuuioa-
tiOn with Stuart, and he confessed that he
had been furnishing the rebels informs-
tion all through the war.


Men were sent after the mulatto. He
was found, placed securely on a horse, and
a rope put around his neck to suggest the
consequences of playing false. The expe-
/ ditiOn was so far successful as TO capture
some Of Stuarts men. TIE negro was re-
tained by Gen. Slocum, and considered by
him most valuable servant. We were told
that the son would be hung as soon as he
was tried. Richardson himself was hung.
The body remained hanging for Eve days,
when it was cut down and buried.


Before he was cnt down I saw one cav
alryman ride up and attempt to cut off a
lock Of hair with dull knife. Not liking
the trouble, be coolly proceeded to jerk ont
what hair he wanted, utterly regardless Of
the disgusting body as it swung.