This letter written by Michael Brady, Company A of the 192nd Ohio Infantry, gives a graphic description of the capture and execution of bushwhackers near Rood’s Hill, Virginia.  The letter gives a long firsthand account of perusing the Bushwhackers, an ambush killing a member of the 5th New York Cavalry and the execution of the Bushwhackers after they were captured!  The letter is written in ink, 6 pages and is in fine condition.
 

·         “…Our whole Co. was detailed to go along with a battalion of the 5th New York Cavalry
to a place in the mountains called Minata Gap to arrest a lot of bushwhackers that had
robbed some of the cavalry a few days before…”

·         “When they got to about 50 rods, five of the bushwhackers rose up from behind a fence
and fired on the cavalry killed one and wounding two.  The cavalry returned the fire
wounded one… Two of them came into the woods we were stationed and were taken
prisoners… The one that the cavalry wounded was laying on the grass shot through the
hip.  He was laying there swearing and cursing the Yankees.  One of the cavalry walked
up to him and shot him through the head.  The cavalryman that was killed was an
Irishman named John Shields.”

·         “…within a half a mile of camp the Colonel met us there and ordered the Captain of the
Cavalry to shoot the prisoners that evening.  One of the prisoners was a Captain and the
other a sergeant.  The sergeant was to be married last Friday after the Capt. had orders
to shoot them.” 

·         “He had them blindfolded and made them kneel down, he then picked 16 men out of our
Co. to shoot them.  After the men were picked out, their guns were taken one side and
loaded, some with ball cartridge and some without so no one could tell who shot them.
After the guns were loaded, the men were drawed up twenty yards in front of the
prisoners.  The Capt. then told the prisoners that they could have ten minutes to say their
prayers in.  The Capt began to pray and cry, the sergeant began to beg to let them live
long enough to send for their friends.  There was a good many of the soldiers there that
had tears running down their cheeks.  It was enough to draw tears from a stone to listen
to the men begging for their lives.  After the ten minutes were up, the Capt. ordered the
men to aim, he then asked the prisoners if they had any requests to ask.  They said... only
to not be shot through the head.  The captain then ordered the men to shoot.  They all fired
together and the men went out of pain, one with five balls through his breast and the other
with four through him.”

The Colonel who shot the one Bushwhacker in the head and ordered the others executed was Colonel Francis W. Butterfield.  The 192nd Ohio was only in the field for 6 months and our letter provides an account of the only battle action they had!!  An exciting firsthand account! 

#L205 - Price $950