The Hanging of E.S. Dodd

Rome, Georgia
March 4th, 1864

It is proud reflection for an old Ranger to look around and see so many of his comrades promoted to positions of honor, trust and usefulness. But with all our success, there is now and then a painful circumstance which throws a melancholy sadness over all our spirits and clouds our joy. The death of E. S. Dodd, Co. D, who was hung in Knoxville on the 8th day of January, under the charge of being a spy, brings to the heart more bitterness than any calamity which has overtaken us.

He was captured about the 17th of December in Sevier county, some eighteen miles from Knoxville. He was brought to that city and confined in the county jail in which Confederate prisoners are kept. It seems that he lost his horse in the Middle Tennessee raid, and, unwilling to remain in the wagon camp, he had followed us into East Tennessee, and, getting a horse, he was making his way through the lines of the enemy; for we had fallen back, leaving him in his lines.

It appears that during his confinement, it occurred to the authorities that charges might be preferred against him, and a court martial could convict him. It seems there was a gallows on which one or more bridge-burners, during our possession of East Tennessee, had been hung by the civil law, and it was the expressed desire of Brownlow and others of his kind, that some rebel should die upon the same spot.

Here was a Texas Ranger in their power, and it would be double gratification of fiendish delight to execute him, but they must have the semblance of martial law to cover up the infamous deed.

In the first place Mr. Dodd wore the blue pants and overcoat which Gens. Rosecrans and Burnside had declared an offense punishable by death. Then on his person was found a private diary, in which were noted two points 1st, he mentioned having passed himself for a Yankee; and 2nd, that he had gained all necessary information with reference to enemy's pickets. In regard to the clothing, he plead that he had worn them from necessity, and not from choice, which is true, not only in the case of Mr. Dodd, but with many others in our army; for the Yankee quartermasters furnish us with most of our clothing. In reference to the items in his diary, he plead that, as to the first, he was accidentally inside of their lines and among a Union population, and he passed himself off for a Union soldier in order to get lodging and provisions and to avoid detection; then, as to the second, he was working his way through their lines, and his inquiries were in reference to the pickets in order that he might avoid them and escape capture. But no explanations, denials or protestations were of any avail: he was the selected victim, and judgment was to go against him.

Accordingly, s he declared to those with whom he conversed, without anything like a fair trial, he was convicted of being a spy, and sentenced to be hung on Friday, the 8th day of January. As an evidence of his innocence of the charge, he wore when captured and to the hour of his death, his Mexican blanket, his sombrero and Texas star (I believe he always wore on his hat the printed star, with "Terry's Texas Rangers" around it, together with a small silver star, which is recognized through both armies as the badge of a Texas Ranger) which are singular marks for a rebel spy to wear within the enemy's lines.

In the letters which he left directed to his father in Kentucky, to his grandfather in Mississippi, to Mr. Maxwell, near Austin, Texas, and others he gave an account of his trial and condemnation, the visits of ministers to him in his cell, and sent messages of love to the parties addressed, and, in view of his execution, declared that "he was as innocent of the charge of being a spy as an angel of light." The three Federal chaplains, and Rev. Joseph H. Martin, pastor of a Presbyterian church in Knoxville, since sent through our lines, all believed him innocent. The guards who were with him were of the same opinion.

Mr. Dodd was a "bright Mason," a worthy and efficient member of the "Terry Lodge" connected with our regiment, and, as was his privilege, he sent word to the Masonic fraternity in the city, and was visited by several of them. As Masons they believed him innocent, and some of the Federal officers who belonged to the order, were so thoroughly convinced of his innocence, that they applied to the commanding general for clemency in behalf of the prisoner; but he replied, in substance, that he had been tried and found guilty by a court martial, and therefore the sentence must be executed.

Accordingly, on the appointed day, shortly after ten o'clock, Ephraim Smith Dodd was taken from the prison, and led away to the place which was to be the scene of his slow and fiendish murder. He met his fate like a hero: there was not a muscle moved, nor an indication of fear. At 11 o'clock, the drop fell, but the rope, which was slender, broke, and his body fell upon the ground. The shock was very severe, but not sufficiently to render him unconscious, for after falling to the ground he was heard to say. "release me if you please." At once the crowd of unfeeling soldiery gathered around him, and after rolling and rubbing him for fifteen minutes, he had sufficiently revived to again walk up upon the scaffold, his head meanwhile rolling in agony, and with some assistance to stand up until the rope was adjusted to his neck, and the second time, the drop fell and at half past 11 o'clock, the gallant Ranger was pronounced dead!

His body was taken down and removed to a burying ground immediately north of Gray Cemetery and there it was deposited with its mother earth. A friend followed his remains to the grave and directed that his name be put on the headboard for future identity.

Thus a cultivated, honorable gentleman, a true friend, a sincere Christian, a "bright Mason," a faithful and brave soldier, has been murdered publicly murdered in cold blood. His record is preserved and in due time it will be produced. The letters were handed over to the Federal Chaplain, but will doubtless be suppressed by the military, for they were the plain utterances of an honest man and an honest soldier of the Confederacy.

Robert F. Bunting

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