Military Units at the Arsenal on July 7, 1865

[Rsmyth]

Hi Betty. Back to your original question. A few years ago I visited the great, great grand daughter of Jacob Keller who lived in Bloomsburg, PA. He was originally with the Co. C, 9th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Cavalry and then reenlisted with the Co. C, 2nd Regiment of U.S. Volunteers. I read his diary and during the execution he was standing on the wall overlooking the scaffold.

[STS Lincolnite]

The portion of Jacob Kellar's diary relating to the execution day is available online. I am at work (SHHH!) but will post a link to it when I get home this evening for those interested.

[BettyO]

Thanks, STSLincolnite!

[STS Lincolnite]

Here is the link to an excerpt (from execution day) of the Keller diary.

http://colcohist-gensoc.org/wp-content/u...keller.pdf

[MaddieM]

(07-07-2014 05:10 PM)STS Lincolnite Wrote:  Here is the link to an excerpt (from execution day) of the Keller diary.

http://colcohist-gensoc.org/wp-content/u...keller.pdf

Interesting how witness statements vary. I thought Powell was down as struggling in death for nearly five minutes. Hardly a short time. Perhaps the sense of time on that day was distorted. I should imagine 5 minutes would feel like five hours in that predicament!

[L Verge]

I always thought Powell struggled more also. Aren't there references to him jerking his legs upwards trying to relieve the pressure on his neck?

I wonder where Keller's unit was stationed since he talks about having marched about ten miles that day. That would put him in a radius of five miles from the Arsenal, but five miles could cover a good distance in D.C. of 1865.

[BettyO]

According to most reports, Powell struggled for 5-8 minutes; drawing his body up, etc. He struggled horribly against the rope as most reports state.

I think that this recollection errs somewhat -

[RJNorton]

(07-07-2014 03:08 PM)LincolnToddFan Wrote:  Is it true that Annie Surratt-like Mary Lincoln-sharply deteriorated mentally after the tragedy and was considered insane by the time she died? I read that a few days ago in Wikipedia. I certainly would have gone mad if I'd had to watch a hangman put a noose around the neck of my mother.

Thanks-

Hi Toia. I hope Laurie chimes in here. I don't recall hearing this either. I just checked Roy Chamlee's book, and there is no footnote for his statement regarding her "bordering on insanity." I do not recall either Bettie Trindal or Kate Larson mentioning this in their books.

[BettyO]

I'd rather Laurie answer this - but I have read that Anna suffered pretty much what would today be defined as a nervous breakdown - When she was interviewed re: Hancock in 1880, it was said that she suffered from what was described as "nervous prostation." I've never read where she was considered "insane."

[L Verge]

I agree with Betty. From what several of her descendants have told me, she suffered from "nerves" most of her life - and I think we can all see why after what she endured at a young age (22 in an era when 22-year-olds had not been exposed to worldly conflicts). One of the descendants was her great-grandson, whose grandfather had nursed his mother in later years when she suffered from renal failure. Absolutely no mention, however, of insanity -- and this descendant was of the modern age when the illness was discussed more readily.

From the descriptions that I have seen of the suffering she went through on the last day of her mother's life, however, I can see where someone might think that she went crazy - and stayed that way.

[Susan Higginbotham]

I remember seeing some newspaper articles in her file referring to her as bordering on insanity, but I also remember seeing an article stating that this account of her was hugely exaggerated. She apparently worked as a teacher for some period before her marriage, so she must have been more resilient than she's given credit for.

In the Evening Star interview with Anna published on July 2, 1880, the reporter writes, "Of all the Surratt family she has evidently suffered most, and most deeply feels the effects of the terrible tragedy which ended in the death of her mother. She lives quietly at her home, 118 Eager street. Baltimore. In appearance she Is not unlike her brother John, and would easily be recognized as a relative. She is rather tall, and her thin, small pleasant face is plainly marked with lines of severe suffering. She is easy in her manners, and has a clear, yet subdued voice. Her hair, which was once an auburn color, is slightly streaked with grey, although she is but little over 30 years old. When she responded to the summons of the Interviewer two bright little children, between 5 and 8 years of age, followed her and hung nervously about her side. Since Hancock's nomination a flood of interviewers have besieged the house, and any quantity of letters and telegrams have been received, asking the position of the family in relation to the democratic nominee. This revival of the fearful events which resulted in the death of her mother has made her extremely nervous, and she cannot talk upon the subject even to her intimate friends, so all inquiries are referred to her husband."

[LincolnToddFan]

Wow...how sad. Thanks Susan!

Also thank you Roger, Betty, and Laurie for the information and replies-

[Susan Higginbotham]

(07-08-2014 10:09 AM)LincolnToddFan Wrote:  Wow...how sad. Thanks Susan!

Also thank you Roger, Betty, and Laurie for the information and replies-

You're welcome! Anna at least seems to have been fortunate in her marriage to a man who appears to have been both protective and supportive.

[L Verge]

P.S. In 1880, Anna would have been 37 years old (born on January 1, 1843). She died when she was 61.

[John E.]

(07-07-2014 11:48 AM)Susan Higginbotham Wrote:  

(07-07-2014 05:46 AM)BettyO Wrote:  Supposedly, Annie Surratt watched at a window in the upper part of the prison and then fainted dead away when they put the noose around her mother's neck. She was watching from the room of one of the trial recorders. I forget his name, but will try and find the article.

It was Doster who recorded Annie's watching from the window (see pg. 276).

Another person who served as one of Hartranft's aids/clerks (Alfred C. Gibson) claimed that Annie was in his room on the 3rd floor watching the execution.

Gibson also claimed:

1. He wrote the prisoners names on vials that HE placed in the pine boxes with the condemned. (Watts claimed to have done this as well and Capt. Rath backed him up on it).

2. Stood front and center just feet away from the gallows during the execution. (If so, how did he know Annie was in his room and fainted?)

3. Pitched quoits with the prisoners. (Maybe)

4. Wrote Hartranft's notes that were sent on to the War Department for Hancock's review. (Maybe)

5. Told Gen. Grant that he could not smoke his cigar in the penitentiary building. (Makes for a good story. Maybe it happened)

I personally don't believe a word he said, even though some of it may actually have happened. He seemed to be nothing but a braggart who served on the periphery and placed himself in the action for notoriety's sake. He certainly wasn't alone.