Critical analysis; Gainesville
The two people I chose were John Crisp and William R. Rhode, two men who opposed the secession and were hanged for their “crimes” in 1863. John Crisp a Blacksmith by trade and a member of the church.1 Married to Alcey Hawkins in Cooke County, Texas with three children.2 John was a part of an organization that protected the lives and properties of its members. When the confederates found out about the organization, they captured the men involved and dragged them to Gainesville, where a court martial trial was held, the men along with John confessed to the court.3 In result, led to the hanging of 60 men.4 The second man was William R. Rhode, a farmer, who was married to Amanda Lindsey5 and had nine children in Shelby County, Republic of Texas.6 Just like John Crisp William opposed the secession and was captured. William was tried along with eleven other men who confessed at the gallows, and on the same day was hanged.7 The Gainesville hangings started when unionist formed a Peace Party as result of the Conscription act, where men between the ages of twenty and forty five were forced to join the confederate army.8 Afterwards when word got around about the organizations Confederate sympathizers they arrested 150 men, and set up a “citizen’s court” where the unionist were found guilty of treason.(Kenneth W. Howell et al, Pg.181) Therefore, led to what we know as the Gainesville hanging. This event came to be one of the greatest wartime atrocities toward American citizens in the U.S(Kenneth W. Howell et al, Pg. 181)“Confederate Barbarities in Texas” was a painting drawn by Fred Sumner. This painting illustrated twenty plus men on a single tree hanged for treason during the Gainesville hanging in 1863.9 Although, the victims were not all hanged at the same time, maybe the same day yes, but at different times. Fred Sumner drew it that way for propaganda. Newspapers spread the painting throughout South and North Texas which led to the...