When Gen. John Morgan’s band was within four miles of Jasper, Pike county, Ohio, they captured a number of citizens, among them a school-teacher, by the name of Joseph McDougal, aged forty-seven. The captured men were marched on the double-quick to the village of Jasper, allowed a few moments’ rest, and then double-quicked two and a half miles to Piketon, and there, with others captured, formed into line for parole.

Before the oath was administered, however, Captain Mitchell, of one of Morgan’s companies, ordered Mr. McDougal to step out of the ranks. After a little parley, this Mitchell ordered two soldiers to march McDougal to the Sciota river, a short distance off. Here he was placed in a canoe, facing Mitchell and his two men, and, at a signal from Mitchell, two shots were fired at the prisoner; one ball taking effect just below the right eye, the other in his left breast, near his heart. Death followed instantaneously. The wretches left their victim in the canoe. Prisoners who were with Mr. McDougal represent him as a gentle but brave-hearted man, the flag of his country being sacred to him above all earthly symbols.