Posted on 03/01/2021 11:48:35 AM PST by CheshireTheCat
On this date in 1864, a Union officer frustrated of a design to raid Richmond during the U.S. Civil War hanged a local African-American guide whom he thought had intentionally misled him like Susanin.
The account of an army chaplain attached to the 5th New York Cavalry explains:
The guide, a negro, had misled us during the night, and, to obviate the delay of retracing our steps. Col. Dahlgren, on the representations of the negro that an excellent ford was to be found at Dover Mills, concluded to cross at that point. After two hours’ halt we again moved on, and soon reached Dover Mills, but only to meet disappointment.
The negro had deceived us, no ford existed at this point nor any means of crossing the river. He then stated that the ford was three miles below: this was obviously false, as the river was evidently navigable to and above this place, as we saw a sloop going down the river.
… he came into our lines from Richmond … [and] was born and had always belonged in the immediate vicinity of Dover Mills, was very shrewd and intelligent, and it would seem impossible that he should not know that no ford existed in the neighborhood, where he had seen vessels daily passing. Col. Dahlgren had warned him that if detected acting in bad faith, or lying, we would surely hang him, and after we left Dover Mills, and had gone down the river so far as to render further prevarication unavailing, the colonel charged him with betraying us, destroying the whole design of the expedition, and hazarding the lives of every one engaged in it, — and told him that he should be hung in conformity with the terms of his service....
(Excerpt) Read more at executedtoday.com ...
He was not “hunged.” He was hanged.
Either way, the result was the same.......Sheesh
“Dey said you was hung.”
“Dey was right!” </Blazing Saddles>
Where does the (non-)word “hunged” appear in the article? I couldn’t find it.
A Loyal Southerner who died for the Southern Cause.
A Loyal Southerner who died for the Southern Cause.
A Loyal Southerner who died for the Southern Cause.
Martin Robinson did take Dalhgren’s people to where there was a ford
Unfortunately cloud burst rains upstream raised the water level five feet
The Yankee cavalry were freaked
Reb home guards out in force and regular CSA cavalry coming behind with an unfordable river in front
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