File:Rebel barbarities in Texas-from sketches by Fred. Sumner LCCN2004665358.jpg

English: Title: Rebel barbarities in Texas--from sketches by Fred. Sumner

Abstract: The print was published with the following text (trimmed from the Library's impression): Our series of views, illustrating the barbarities of the Confederates in Texas, are from sketches by Mr. Frederick Sumner, himself a victim of their cruelty and oppression. Mr. Sumner was a leader among the union men at Sherman, Grayson County, and when the troubles began these braveloyal men defied the secessionists and kept a fine Americanflag, presented by Mr. Sumner, floating over their Court House. After the war opened the case of the Union men began to growdesperate. Twiggs had betrayed the United States troops intothe hands of the Confederates, and but little hope remained ofimmediate help from the government. The murder of Mrs. Hillier showed them what was coming. Her husband had been brought before the Vigilance Committee of Clark County, and ordered to enlist or prepare to be hung; but though he submitted, an incautious word of his wife led to her arrest. Six of the Vigilance Committee, dressed in women's clothes, went to her house, dragged her out to the nearest tree and, regardless of her cries for mercy and deaf to the pleadings of her children, hung her. The individual vignettes (clockwise from upper left) have keyed titles below: the hanging of Mrs. Hillier by men in disguise; (large central scene) the hanging of thirty Union men; bringing in Union men; hanging and flogging; prison in Little Rock; (across the bottom) cages of Little Rock Penitentiary; and "the stocks." The central scene, the hanging of thirty Union prisoners, appears in the smoke of torches which appear at bottom center, bound together with whips, chains, and other instruments of torture. The print probably appeared in the spring of 1864, since the Library's impression was deposited for copyright on April 25. The title on this impression is in letterpress on a pasted-on label. The print was also published under the title "Confederate Barbarities in Texas. Physical description: 1 print on wove paper : wood engraving with letterpress text ; image 38 x 52.2 cm.

Notes: "Entered ... 1864, by Fred. Sumner ... N.Y."; Harley, del.; Published in: American political prints, 1766-1876 / Bernard F. Reilly. Boston : G.K. Hall, 1991, entry 1864-5.; Title from item.