Transcription by Abby Balderama

"BE FIRM, MEN, AND SHOW THEM HOW YOU CAN DIE FOR YOUR COUNTRY."

   Shortly before the war some men from the Northwestern States had settled in Northeastern Texas in one of the most lovely sections of our land, and had quietly opened their small farms, and were just arriving to a sufficient degree of prosperity, to reward them for the sacrifices they had made in leaving home comforts in the old States.  They had settled in either Kaufman or Van Zandt, but we are not positive.  They were mainly religious people, and among them was an old Baptist preacher.  It is needless to say that they were all Union men.  The war came along, and in 1862 they found themselves not only enveloped with the horrors of secession, but that the conscript law was about to take away, under the form of law, all option from fighting against that flag, which they had revered in youth, and admired in manhood.  Of course, they did not go forward to enlist.  It was true many Union men did take that course, as it was often the easier method of avoiding greater horrors.
   The course of these men was NARROWLY watched.  The "good citizens" who composed the vigilance committee had the case of these men up for action, and notwithstanding they were a stay at home, laborious set of farmers, it was solemnly resolved in committee that they were "dangerous," and accordingly "some of our boys" proceeded with the business.  The first thing those Northwestern farmers knew was that six of their number, and among them the old preacher, had been gathered up on horse-back by "some of our best citizens," and carried to the place of execution.  The scene was very tragic.  Arriving there, the fiends in human shape who were their captors improvised a gallows.  It consisted of a board stretched on two blocks, with a crotched stick at each end, across which a pole was stretched.  They then placed their victims on the board, and using their bridle reins and pieces of rope for halters, they adjusted them about their necks and tied them to the cross-pole above.
   Having thus arranged matters they notified their victims that they were arrested on a charge of being friendly to the United States Government, and that they had but fifteen minutes to live.  That if they had anything to say or wished to pray, that they had that much time in which to do it.  The old Baptist preacher replied:  "Yes, gentlemen," said he "we are friendly to the Union.  We love the old flag and its Government.  We have been raised under it.  Men," said he, speaking to his comrades, "it is idle for us to dissemble.  Let us all die firm in the faith.  Do not move a muscle or show any terror.  Be firm, and show these men how you can die for your country."  The old man then offered up a short prayer, at the end of which the plank was kicked out from under them and they were swung into eternity.  Their graves still lie near the place of their execution, but the voice of that old man is with us yet.  From information through a by-stander, we learn that none of them moved a muscle.  Not a tremor of fear shook their frames; they knew but their God and country; they had lived for one and expected a welcome from the other.  We have not their names; we wish we had.  Will some gentleman from that section please furnish them to us?  Such men should not die unmentioned or unhonored.  We ask our Republican friends in all the out places, who are braving local ostracism, to be firm, and show the world how you can live and suffer for your country.  You can not be put down.  If you are murdered, your voice will come up from the grave.  Your blood will plead before God, in the midst of the Heavens, for justice.  But to speak practically, what kind of men would these men make for juries or Judges?  What kind of a show would a Union man of to-day have before a jury composed of such men as those who hung those six Union men?  Or composed of those who winked at it? or composed of those who indirectly abetted it? or who justified it afterwards?  We wish to know and we call on all Union men throughout the State to be on their guard, and watch out for the organization of their juries.  Your persecution has drivelled down from lordly ruffianism into this sneaking form of decaying villainy.  That the word has been passed out, we have reason to believe, and we sound the alarm, so that you may fearlessly face and boldly frown down the villainly.