The Boy at the Hanging

[Ole Miss]

@BrianB is correct in identifying John Collins as the young boy in the photograph. In researching this topic, I found this web site A LITTLE TOUCH OF HISTORY AN AWESOME TALKS PROGRAM*

In this article WHO WAS THE BOY AT THE HANGING (Lincoln Conspirators Execution Photos)
March 07, 2009: Barry Cauchon

This statement is found"

"...letter, dated May 10, 1897, he said his brother " . . . was present and saw the execution. Capt. Doherty I believe let him into the yard. He was only a boy at the time and was enlisted in the Regt as he was too young but he staid with the Regt. for about 18 months and was a general favorite with all the Officers and particularly Capt. Doherty. Col Switzer (Colonel Nelson B. Sweitzer) of the 16th N.Y. Cav. was determined to have him educated and sent to West Point at the close of the war, but he wanted to come home with the rest of us and did so." '
This web site has many interesting articles for those of us who are mesmerized by the fate of the Lincoln Conspirators.
Regards
David

*https://awesometalks.wordpress.com/2009/03/07/3381/

 

[CavRTO]

Here's a tidbit. According to a small biography on Rath, he is the one who tied the knots on the four. The men all had 7 knots and Mary Surratt only had 5. He also placed the hoods (not handkerchiefs) on the four. As hangman he was responsible for preparations. He is said to have performed a "clean" execution but I still point out that Surratt and Paine possibly choked and died of asphyxiation because the knots was behind the necks and not under the ear like it should have been.

Oops! No do overs.

 

[midnitelamp]

Mary and George died quickly.

 

[RPLANT]

It's likely impossible to say for sure if the boy in the picture was John C. Collins, but it's worth pointing out that there is some confusion regarding his age. The first census he appears in is the 1855 NY State census, which has him at age 4, and the 1860 US census has him at 9, so the September 1850 birthday is likely correct. But the 1875 NY state census has him at 22 (so born circa 1853), which lines up more closely with what he said in the "Recollections" article, where he claims to have been 12 at the time of the execution. People weren't as precise about ages back then, but he definitely identified as a "boy" -- it's worth noting, too, that boys as well as girls in the mid-19th c. experienced puberty later than today, so they may appear younger to our eyes than they actually were. But I think the bigger point is that underage boys were ubiquitous in military camps during the Civil War. Many were officially enlisted (and not just as drummer boys), and others unofficial were "camp followers," as was the case with Collins. We discuss this at length in our recently published book Of Age: Boy Soldiers and Military Power in the Civil War Era. https://www.amazon.com/dp/0197601049/?tag=civilwartalkc-20

 

[archieclement]

Ugggghhh. Long enough afterwards that the soldiers assigned to knock away the supports are no longer nearby. But soon enough that all four of those being hanged are still struggling.

When I posted it, from the movement/blur thought it might been initial drop. Wasn't paying attention or noticed the support removers had time to completely remove from picture..............

 

[R. Porter]

It wasn't always just the grotesque sight of a hanging sometimes there are gaseous emissions and a gurgling sound is put forth by the one being hung.In this case 4 "gurglers". Maybe the crowd was trying to pinpoint a sound?
He is the executioner Christian Rath. Some say captain Rath.

So, is that guy to the right of Rath, wearing the same type of hat and looking at the gallows in the first picture, wearing sunglasses? It seems to me that there was a mention somewhere online that people wearing sunglasses in Civil War movies was an error, like leaving your Starbucks coffee cup on the table in front of you when shooting a scene for Game of Thrones

 

[Lubliner]

Probably complaining there was no Popcorn served for this show!

Looked like a nice day for hanging out in the sun!
Lubliner.

 

[Tennessee Union Gal]

Looked like a nice day for hanging out in the sun!
Lubliner.

Too soon?

 

[Pollaco]

So, is that guy to the right of Rath, wearing the same type of hat and looking at the gallows in the first picture, wearing sunglasses? It seems to me that there was a mention somewhere online that people wearing sunglasses in Civil War movies was an error, like leaving your Starbucks coffee cup on the table in front of you when shooting a scene for Game of Thrones

I'm not really sure which picture you are referring to. I haven't located any sunglasses (yet). Maybe I'm looking at the wrong picture. Some time back a pair of tinted lenses were dug up near Vicksburg, I think. So there were tinted glasses during the Civil War. They really weren't much protection from the sun, if any. These were not too common from what I understand.

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

When I posted it, from the movement/blur thought it might been initial drop. Wasn't paying attention or noticed the support removers had time to completely remove from picture..............

A miserable way to die. But I think there would be some swaying of the bodies for some time resulting from the initial momentum of the drop, not to mention involuntary muscle twitches after the loss of consciousness. Uggg is right. Not something for children to view by today's standards, but who knows what the boy had already seen traveling with an army?

 

[R. Porter]

I'm not really sure which picture you are referring to. I haven't located any sunglasses (yet). Maybe I'm looking at the wrong picture. Some time back a pair of tinted lenses were dug up near Vicksburg, I think. So there were tinted glasses during the Civil War. They really weren't much protection from the sun, if any. These were not too common from what I understand.

In the first crop of the first picture by lelliott19, the guy to the right of the man in the duster and above the soldier in the kepi looking left; at the top of the drawn yellow circle.. He is wearing a white hat

and looking toward the gallows. He appears to have dark shapes where his eyes are, as if he is wearing dark glasses.

 

[Lubliner]

Too soon?

A rather creaky thought!
Lubliner.

 

[Pollaco]

You got better eyes than me, I'm not seeing it.You got me when you said the man looking at the gallows. The man you later point out seems to be looking away from the gallows.I suppose he could be wearing his hat backwards, notice his hatband on the left.

 

[bayonet]

Looked like a nice day for hanging out in the sun!
Lubliner.

That Boy is too young to be "hanging" around there at such a morbid event. He should be off playing on a "swing" somewhere.

 

[bayonet]

I imagine when the "trap door dropped" most eyes were on Mary Surratt simply for being the first women to be executed by the Federal government. As far as those looking at Powell and without getting too specific and as delicately said as possible (you can goggle to find more detail) perhaps the young boy was watching Powell's body for the physical changes that happen when men are executed by hanging.

Yes that poor woman, I'm all "choked" up over what happened to her.

 

[Ole Miss]

Sadly many young boys like the one by the gallows saw far worse sights in camps and battles! Children grew up fast and hard in the Civil War environment.

I have some pamphlets titled"Peek Inside the Walls" which have info as to participants who sees the hangmen and the ID of Captain Rath and will look for them tonight
Regards
David

 

[Ole Miss]

The supplements I mentioned "A Peek Inside the Walls: The Final Days of the Lincoln Conspirators" are very informative and a need for serious study about the details surroud this sad event of American History.

Barry Cauchon and John Elliott, the authors, have amassed a large amount of information and answers for many questions that surround this affair. Their web site* listed below has information about each of the 3 supplements. I have also listed another site titled WHO GAVE THE SIGNAL TO SPRING THE TRAPS?**

I belive this sites will answer many of the questions mentioned in this thread, but if not good luck hunting for the ones you are seeking!
Regards
David
PS Here is their Facebook page***

*https://awesometalks.wordpress.com/...s-the-final-days-of-the-lincoln-conspirators/

**https://awesometalks.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/who-gave-the-signal-to-spring-the-traps.pdf

***https://www.facebook.com/ITW1865/