John H. Norwood

NORWOOD, John H. - The following account is taken from the Arkansas Historical Quarterly. “Four guerillas (A.J. Copeland, James H. Rowden, John Norwood and William Carey) were scheduled to pay the ‘extreme penalty of the law for murder and violation of the Civilized Rules of Warfare.’” The men had been tried and convicted by a military commission for the murder of eight Federal troopers of the 1st Arkansas Cavalry (Union) near Prairie Grove, Arkansas on April 17. In Company with twenty other partisans, the condemned, clad in Union uniforms and pretending to be members of the 14th Kansas, had approached their victims. Suddenly opening fire, the guerillas gunned down the soldiers. Shortly thereafter, they had murdered John Brown, a well-known unionist.

When the sentences of death were first read to the culprits, they seemed to be indifferent, one of them remarking, with an air of bravado, “Well, all right.” As the time for the execution approached, however, they began to realize their awful situation, and requested the services of a spiritual adviser.

Early on the 29th, the prisoners were visited by Chaplain Francis Springer. After religious services, the men’s irons were removed. Escorted from the prison, they were placed in wagons, each one seated on his coffin. Chaplain Springer was with two of the condemned in the first wagon and Chaplains Wilson and McAfee with the other two in the second vehicle. The “solemn procession” was then formed.

Reaching the place of execution, south of town and just beyond the rifle-pits, the prisoner’s were placed in a line, each one by the side of his coffin. Three sides of a hollow square of infantry had been previously formed to keep the “multitude of spectators at a proper distance, leaving the side next to the prisoners open.” After the Judge-Advocate had read the charges and findings of the military commission, the prisoners knelt with the Chaplains, while Reverend Springer offered a short prayer. At the conclusion of the prayer, the officers and others gathered around the condemned, shook hands with them and bid them farewell, except the judge advocate, who remained till their eyes were bandaged and hands tied. At length all the preparations were completed. In another minute, 48 muskets were aimed at the guerillas. One moment more and Captain Jeremiah Frankhouse commanded “Fire!’ There was a crashing volley and “four lifeless bodies lay stretched on the ground.”

Editor Dell of the Fort Smith New Era informed his readers –“The whole terrible scene, from beginning to end, was conducted with the propriety due to a transaction so awful!”

Fort Smith New Era Aug. 6, 1864 – On the evening in question, the partisans had approached the mail station at the foot of the mountains near Prairie Grove. As they were wearing Union uniforms, they were permitted to advance to the gate fronting the station. There were ten men of the 1st Arkansas Cavalry (Union) and one citizen at the station. Most of the Federals were in the house. After a few words had been exchanged, the partisans opened fire. Some of the victims were mutilated. News of the barbarous act was at once conveyed to Colonel M. La Rue Harrison at Fayetteville, who sent Major Charles Galloway with a detachment of cavalry in pursuit. The Major’s patrol soon struck the guerillas trail, overtook and killed several, and captured four.

Fort Smith New Era Aug. 6, 1864 – District Provost Marshall C.O. Judson of the 6th Kansas and his staff took the lead. The Captain and his party were followed by the band and the firing squad (64 men from the 13th Kansas Cavalry commanded by Captain Frankhouse), two wagons with the condemned and the chaplains, and then the guard.