394
●
(MILITARY—CIVIL WAR.) EXECUTION
The Hanging of Private
William Johnson, 23rd Regiment, United States Colored Troops.
albumen photo-
graph, 4
1
⁄
8
x 7 inches, on the original mount; matted and framed. [together with] A modern
8 x 10 photographic enlargement of the hanging from the Library of Congress Files
together with some Xeroxed pages from William Gladstone’s book “Men of Color.”
(WGC)
Petersburg, VA, 1864
[4,000/6,000]
ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS AND DISTURBING IMAGES OF THE WAR
.
Private Johnson
deserted and while away from camp attempted to “commit and outrage on a white woman at
Cold Harbor.” “Considerable importance was given to this affair, in order that an example
might be made more effective. Johnson confessed his guilt and was hung at Jordan’s Farm,
Petersburg, Virginia on June 20, 1864. The hanging took place within the outer breastworks
about Petersburg and on an elevation in plain view of Confederate troops. A white flag covered
the ceremony.” (Harpers Weekly, July 9, 1864).
