Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 March 1881 — A Lottery of Death. [ARTICLE]

A Lottery of Death.

Union prisoners sn<i orders to draw them up tn line. The adjutant then rode forward and read an order stating that seven of our men having been recently hung by the enemy, it was determined that seven of the prisoners should be hung in retaliation, and that lots for these seven would immediately be drawn. A ecence ensued which will be impresaed upon my memory until the day of my death. A cry of anguish and consternation arose from the unfortunate Erisonere. Borne implored the guard > intercede with Col. Mosby and have them excluded from the drawing, two of them declaring they were sottiers and not fighting men, never having fireda gun at a Southern soldier. Others said they baa been drafted into the federal army against their wishes and were friendly to the south. Others again expressed a willingness to desert that army and join our standard. While tills tempestuous appeal for life was going on among these poor fellows, tne main body of the prisoners heard the awful sentence with deep defection but sullen resolution.

In the course of twenty minutes two officers approached, one of them holding a hat in which had been placed a number of wads or balls of paper, corresponding with the number of prisoners. Seven of these wads were marked. The drawing then commenced, the officer with the hat requiring the right-hand prisoner to take out a ball, which when drawn he handed to the other officer in attendance, who, in opening, pronounced it to be either a blank or otherwise. At first several blanks were drawn, then came a marked ball,which was drawn by a cavalry solder of Custer’s command and hailing from Michigan. This man cooly remarked that ho was prepared to die for his country. “Six men have now been drawn,” cried the officer with the hat; “one more must come.” « The next and last victim was a drummer-boy, who, upon being informed of his fate, uttered the most piercing cries, and throwing himself upon the ground, exclaimed that he was only a drummer-boy, witn neither father nor mother, and begged to be spared. So greatly was the pity of the officers excited that they immediately applied to Colonel Mosby to spare this boy. He very promptly replied that he did not know there was a boy among the prisoners, aud ordered that he should be removed and the drawing taken over again. This was done, and on the second drawing my friend, a lieutenant, drew a marked ball. I was shocked by this, and he was greatly distressed, but exhibited a courageous resignation to his fate. Calling to him a soldier of his company, who had also been taken prisoner, he requested him to take to nis wife an empty pocket-book and pencil-case, saying these were the only souvenirs he had left when condemned to execution, and that his last thoughts were with his wife and mother. I was deeply affected at his fate, and desired to assist him if possible. Whispering to him. I asked if he was a Free Mason, to which he replied in the affirmative. Immediately after this the guard was ordered to march off with the seven men who had been condemned. We proceeded with them (I being one of the guard) only a few hundred yards, when we were ordered to halt and await further orders, and in a few moments a freshly-mounted squad of fifteen men, commanded by a lieutenant and equipped for a march, approached us, with orders from Colonel Mosby that we should be relieved from care of the prisoners. Among the number of the relief guard was an intimate friend of mine, to whom I related the circumstances in connection with the lieutenant,and also informed him that he was a Free Mason. Being anxious to learn their destination I questioned him about the recent order, and he informed me that they had been commanded to take the prisoners across the mountains and as near to Sheridan’s headquarters as possible, and there to hang them. He promised me that he would do all that he could (consistently with duty) in behalf of the condemned officer. They then proceeded on their way, and several days elapsed before I heard anything of their movements. On meeting with my friend he gave the following particulars :

B“They reached Parison the same night after leaving, and were there met by Captain Mountjoy, who was returning from the valley with a batch of prisoners. Being a friend of Mountjoy’s he took the first opportunity of informing him of the situation of the lieutenant, and also informed him that he was a Free Mason,and requested that he would try and save him. Upon hearing this Mountjoy requested an interview with the officer and immediately after he crossed the street to where he kept his own prisoners, and returned with two of them. These he Bresented8 resented to the officer in charge of le prisoners as two of Custer’s men, whom he wished to substitute for the lieutenant. After some hesitation, and with the condition that Mountjoy would assume all responsibility, the exchange was made. The officer, after returning earnest thanks for his life, was hastily transferred to a batch of prisoners under the care of a sergeant, who was told to make all possible haste to Gordonvllle, and especially to get out of ‘Mosby’s dominions’ before the break of day. The others met their fate.”