MCCWRT Discussion Group on Benjamin Butler-- Part 3: About W.B. Mumford and Butler's Illicit Cotton Deals

**  W.B. Mumford of New Orleans tore down the U.S. flag after the city's surrender and was hanged by order of Benjamin Butler (BB).  However, BB took care of Mumford's family after the war.

**  The Confederates offered a $10,000 reward for anyone shooting and killing Butler.

**  BB and Confederate spy Belle Boyd.  Grilled her at Fortress Monroe but let her go.  Forced her to leave New York City and go to England.

**  Lincoln would repurpose generals like in the case of Gen. John Pope who he sent to Minnesota to clear out the Indians to clear land for soldiers.

**  Butler was very wealthy.

**  BB was very well known in New Orleans before the war.

**  Andrew Jackson Butler, BB's brother, made the deals for them.  BB's textile factories needed cotton and BB certainly got a lot of cotton in areas he had military command.  Lincoln knew about this illicit cotton trade, but didn't do anything.

--Old Secesh

Last Year It Was A Planned Confrontation At the Confederate Monument in Chicago

The Camp Douglas  Camp #516 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, with members throughout Chicagoland, has been holding a memorial service at the Confederate Mound in Oak Woods Cemetery in Chicago for many years and, until last year, there has never been a problem, even though this cemetery is located deep within a black neighborhood.

It has been a peaceful commemoration with much solemnity.  That is, until last year.  At that time a group arrived on the scene, supposedly to have a service at the grave of Ida B. Wells, but in reality the reason they were there was to break up the Confederate service and provoke a confrontation.

They had never been there before and neither Ida B. Wells' birthday or death occurs in April.  They had loudspeakers and were chanting right in the middle of the Confederate proceedings.  Strange that it would happen in this time and age.

But, if you read my three previous posts before yesterday, you will see it is all part of the bigger movement to bury and disgrace all things Confederate.  It is so sad that some people can not allow  others to commemorate their heritage.

And, I also believe that Ida B. Wells deserves to be better known than she is.  She was one brave woman to go after the horrible lynchings that took place in the South during her time.  And the fact that she was a black person and a woman, made her going to the South a very dangerous trip.  I'd support a statue at the cemetery or on a public space.

It is too bad that it took the opportunity to cause a confrontation to get the other group fired up enough to go out and do something for a real hero, Ida B. Weells.

--Old Secesh

Chester County and Chester (S.C.) At the End of the War.

In an earlier blog yesterday, I mentioned that the midshipman of the Confederate States Naval Academy, guarding the Confederate treasury in April 1865 as the government fled south (also with Varina Davis, wife of Jefferson Davis) and they went to Chester (called Chesterville back then) before moving on to Abbeville, S.C..

I found a lot of good information about Chester at the Southern Fried Common Sense & Stuff blog.

As Sherman left the wreckage of Columbia, S.C., he decided on a feint toward Charlotte to the north, while his real destination was Fayetteville and then Goldsboro, North Carolina.  This took him toward Chesterville.  His main force went north to Winnsboro, 25 miles south of Chester before turning so he never actually entered Chester County, although scouting parties and his bummers did.

THE HANGING OF BURRELL HEMPHILL

In front of the  Hopewell Reformed Presbyterian Church in southern Chester County is a small stone monument  for Burrell Hemphill, a slave of Robert Hemphill who owned 2200 acres.  When Union forces passed through, the Hemphill family fled and left Burrell in charge of the estate.

Burrell buried the family silver in  the woods but was caught by Union bummers on his return.  He refused to tell them where he had buried the silver.  This angered them and they dragged Burrell to a spot near the church and hanged him and then lowered him several times, then rehanging him again but he continued to refuse to tell them.

He eventually died from the torture.  The Union soldiers then used his body for target practice.

--Old Secesh

MCCWRT Trivia-- Part 3: What Were Hub Wafers?

**  Give the names of four Civil War leaders who have had their picture on U.S. current or past currency.  (The first two are easy, but man those last two.)

**   How many Confederate generals were killed and wounded at the Battle of Franklin?

**   Hub Wafers were eaten by Union soldiers.  What are they known as now?

**  Name the four Lincoln conspirators who were hanged.

ANSWERS

**  Lincoln on the $5 bill, Grant on the $50 bill, McKinley on the $500 and Salmon Chase on the $10,000 bill.   In case you're wondering, the biggest bill, $100,000 had the face of Woodrow Wilson on it.

**  6 died, 7 wounded

**  Necco Wafers   In case you're wondering, Neeco stands for the New England Confectionary Company.

**  Lewis Powell, Mary Surratt, David Herold and George Atzerodt.

Just All Sorts of Learning Going On.  --Old Secesh

John Beall's Hangman's Noose-- Part 4: Gordon Found Guilty, Sentenced to Hang

Of the 897 slaves,  172 were grown men and 162 were women.  The rest were children, preferred by Gordon because they were too young to rise up against him for his cruelties.

The Erie was captured by the USS Mohican on August 8, 1860.  The slaves were taken to Liberia, the American colony established in West Africa by the American Colonization Society.  It was a settlement of free Blacks from the United States.

Nathaniel Gordon was taken to New York City to stand trial for slave trading and piracy.  After one hung jury, he was found guilty November 9, 1861, and  sentenced to death by hanging on February 7, 1962.

After his sentence was announced, his supporters appealed to President Lincoln for a pardon.  Lincoln was known for his compassion and issued many pardons during his presidency, he refused to grant one to Gordon, even refusing to meet with his supporters.

What Lincoln Said Next.  --Old Secesh

John Beall's Hangman's Noose-- Part 3: Nathaniel Gordon

From Wikipedia.

NATHANIEL GORDON

One of the four people hanged using the noose that ended John Yates Beall's life.

February 6, 1826 to February 21, 1862

Was the only slave trader in the United States to be tried, convicted and executed "for being engaged in the Slave Trade," under the Piracy Law of 1820.

Gordon was born in Portland, Maine, and went into shipping and eventually owned his own ship, the Erie.

On August 7, 1860, he loaded 897 slaves aboard his ship, the Erie,  at Shark's Point, Congo River, West Africa.

--Old Secesh

John Beall's Hanging Noose-- Part 2: The Others

The other three men hanged with the same noose as used for John Yates Beall's execution:'

Nathaniel Gordon  referred to as a pirate and slave trader.

Albert W. Hicks referred to as the last person executed for piracy in the United States.

William Henry Hawkins for the murder on the high seas as Captain Adams.

I found articles in Wikipedia for the first two men.

--Old Secesh

About Beall's Noose-- Part 1: It Was Used to Hang Three Others

On October 22 I wrote about the noose used in John Yates Beall's hanging was the same one used to hang the slave trader GORDON, HICKS and the Negro HAWKINS for murder on the high seas.

Who were these people?

I had to look into it further.

See What I Found.  --Old Secesh

Beall Was First Spy Execution in Area Since Major Andre in the Revolution

From the February 25, 1865, New York Times.

On the execution of John Yates Beall.

"As far as we recall, this is the first execution of a spy in this department since the hanging of Maj. ANDRE, of the British Army, by order of GEORGE WASHINGTON."

Major Andre of the British Army was involved with the Benedict Arnold traitor situation.

John Andre was not hanged at Fort Columbus, though, but in Tappan, New York.

--Old Secesh

The Charges Against Beall

From the February 25, 1865, New York Times.

CHARGE 1--    "VIOLATION OF THE LAWS OF WAR"

Specification 1:  Seizure of steamboat Philo Parsons near Kelley's Island, Lake Erie. September 19, 1854.

Spec. 2--  Seized and sank  steamboat Ocean Queen near Middle Bass Island, Sep. 19, 1864.

Spec. 3--  Found acting as a spy near Kelley's Island, Sep. 19, 1863.

Spec. 4--  Found acting as a spy near Middle Bass Island, Sep. 19, 1863.

Spec. 5--  Found acting as a spy near the Suspension Bridge, New York, Dec. 10, 1864.

Spec. 6--  Undertook "to carry on irregular and unlawful warfare, as a guerrilla, and in the execution of said undertaking, attempted to destroy the lives and property of peaceable  and unoffending inhabitants of said State and of persons therein traveling, by throwing a train of cars and passengers in said cars from the railroad track, on the railroad between Dunkirk and Buffalo, by placing obstructions across said track" on December 15, 1864.

--Old Secesh

The Gallows At Fort Columbus Where Beall Was Hanged

From the February 25, 1865, New York Times.

"The gallows, the same used at the execution of GORDON, the slave trader, is not built with a drop, but furnished with weights and pulleys, by means of which the condemned man is jerked into the air with a sudden motion which instantly dislocates the vertebrae of the neck.

"Around one of the uprights, an inclosure of rough boards is erected, and the weights and pulleys, as well as the executioner, are thus concealed from view.  The noose is separate from the main end, and is provided with an iron ring, which hooks on to the gallow's rope.

"This horrible instrument of death was erected on the southerly slope of the island, facing southeast."

"The noose is the same one used to hang HICKS, the pirate GORDON, the slave trader, and the negro HAWKINS, who was executed for murder on the high seas."

Confederate Major General W.H.C. Whiting of Fort Fisher was at this fort at this time. I have to wonder what he thought of all this.

A More Humane Gallows?  --Old Secesh

The N.Y. Times Reports Beall's Death-- Part 2: The Gallows

PREPARATIONS FOR THE EXECUTION.

Beall's Personal Appearance.

The Death March.

 Under the Gallows.

The Executions.

His Last Words.

Death.

--Old Secesh

The New York Times Reports Beall's Execution-- Part 1

From the February 25, 1865, New York Times.

""MILITARY EXECUTION:  Execution of John Y. Beall, the Lake Erie  Pirate and Rebel Spy.

Details of the Crime, the Trial, and the Punishment of the Culprit.

His Conduct During His Last Hours.

The Antecedents of Beall.

His Arrest and Trial.  His Trial.  A Temporary Respite.

MILITARY EXECUTION.

His Last Hours.    The Morning of the Execution.  The Gallows.

--Old Secesh

John Beall's Last Letter to His Brother-- Part 2: "I Die For My Country"

Remember me kindly to my friends.  Say to them I am not aware of committing any crime against society.  I die for my country.  No thirst for blood or lucre animated me in my course.  For I had refused when solicited to engage in enterprises which I deemed destructive but illegitimate, and but a few months ago I had but to have spoken, and I would have been red with blood, and rich with the plunder of the foe.

But my hands are clear of blood, unless it be spilt in conflict and not a cent enriches my pocket.

Should you be spared through this strife, stay with mother, and be a comfort in her old age.   Endure the hardships of the campaign as a man.  In my trunk and box you can get  plenty of clothes.

Give my love to mother, the girls, too.  May God bless you all now and evermore, is my prayer and wish for you.

John Y. Beall

--Old Secesh

John Y. Beall's Final Letter to Brother William: "But Only Crime Can Make Dishonor"

From "Lincoln, Beall & the Gallows" by Jim Surkamp.

Written from his cell while awaiting his execution.

Fort Lafayette, Fen. 14, 1865
 Dear Will:

Ere this reaches you, you will most likely have heard of my death through the newspapers, that I was tried by a military commission, and hung by the enemy, and hung,  I assert, unjustly.  It is both useless and wrong to repine over the past.

Hanging, it was asserted, was ignominious, but crime only can make dishonor.  'Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, and I shall repay,' therefore do not show unkindness to the prisoners -- they are helpless."

More.  --Old Secesh

The Trial of John Yates Beall

Same source as last two posts.

**  Major Bolles, Judge Advocate of the Military Commission.

"There was nothing of Christian civilization and nothing of regular warfare in Beall's operations."

**  From General John A. Dix."The Proceedings, finding and sentence are approved and the accused John Y. Beall will be hanged by the neck till he is dead, on Governors Island, on Friday the 24th day of February, 1865.  --  General Orders No. 17, February 21, 1865.  Case of J.Y. Beall."

--Old Secesh

John Yates Beall-- Part 2: Privateering, Johnson's Island, Hanged

In the meantime, he began a series of privateering missions along the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay.  he was captured in November 1863, and imprisoned at Fort McHenry in Baltimore.  This led to reprisals by the Confederate government.

On May 5, 1864, he was formally exchanged.

With Beall's own initiative and without government support, he returned to Canada with his original aim of liberating the prisoners held at Johnson's Island.

On September 18, 1864, Beall and a small group of men captured the steamers Philo Parsons and Island Queen.  However, he was unable to get to Johnson's Island because of a mutiny in his followers.

Wearing civilian clothing, he was captured in civilian clothing at Niagara, New York, on December 16, 1864,   Tried a a guerrilla, he was found guilty and hanged at Governor's Island, New York, on December 24, 1864.

--Old Secesh

Dakota Indians Remember War Executions-- Part 2

Back in December, some Dakota are made a 300-mile trip on horseback in really cold temperatures to revive the memory of the incident.  This annual trek began back in 2005.

Said Sheldon Wolfchild: "It was just a terrible trauma that they had to endure, and we continue to endure this generational trauma to this very day."  The ride began Dec. 10 in Crow Creek, S.D., the reservation to which the Dakota were exiled (during the winter) after the hangings.  It ended Dec. 26th with a ceremony to remember the hangings.

Some ride the entire route and others join as different points.  Support vehicles follow them.  Gaby Strong lives in Morton, Minnesota, near the site of a key 1862 battle in the U.S.-Dakota war, said the ride helps develop bonds between the Dakota Sioux, especially the young.

One of the riders is 18-year-old Vanessa Goodthunder who is majoring in American Indian studies and history at the University of Minnesota.

A Sad, Almost-Forgotten Event.  --Old Secesh

Hangings in Kinston-- Part 3

General Peck was outraged and would not let the hangings drop.  He reported them to his superior, General Benjamin Butler, who approached Grant, who was reluctant to act.  Farther deliberations determine that General Pickett alone is culpable for the hangings (many of the men had not sworn allegiance to the Confederacy and had been in state militia units.

After the war, George Pickett flees to Montral, Canada, where he lives with his wife under the name Edwards.  His case goes before Congress, but Grant intercedes saying his surrender terms at Appomattox exonerates any criminal acts done during the war.  However, some Confederate officers were tried.  Some believe it was Grant's friendship with his fellow West Pointer that saved Pickett.

Pickett returns to Virginia where he lives until 1975, selling insurance.  He is snubbed by Robert E. Lee.  Noted for his hard-drinking, Pickett died at age 50 in a Norfolk hospital.  His body was brought to Richmond where he was interred at Hollywood Cemetery.

A Sad Thing.  --Old Secesh

Hangings in Kinston, NC-- Part 2

On Feb. 15, 1864, another 13 are hanged.  Six more are put on tial .  Two are sentenced to have the letter "D" for deserter branded on their left hip and sent to hard labor with ball and chain.  Another avoids the death penalty and is sentenced to hard labor for "extreme youth...physical disability and mental imbecility."  A fourth, William Clinton Cox is found not guilty because he was a railroad guard in the North Carolina Bridge Guard Company and technically never in the Confederate Army (he had also betrayed many of his fellow soldiers).

Two more receive death by hanging.  In all, Pickett has 22 hanged.  Their Union Army careers are cut short.  None lived 90 days past enlistment and none received the promised bounty for signing up og $300.

The remaining 31 prisoners captured at Batchelder's Creek end up in Confederate prisons in Richmond and Georgia.  Twenty-five die of disease and malnutrition within two months.  Three eventually receive a parole and three are accounted for.  The railroad guard dies of fever at Andersonville Prison in Georgia.

A Sad End to North Carolinians.  --Old Secesh