Execution of a colored soldier

June 20, 1864

From "War Memories" catalog: In the month of June, 1864, a colored soldier in the Union army in front of Petersburg, attempted to commit a rape on a white woman whose house chanced to be within our lines; the woman's husband was absent from home, serving in the Rebel army. This colored soldier, named Johnson, was caught, tried by court-martial, found guilty, and sentenced to be hanged. A request was made of the Rebels, under a flag of truce, that we might be permitted to hang Johnson in plain sight of both armies, between the lines. The request was granted, and this is a photograph of him hanging where both armies can plainly see him.