|
Original marker and new interpretive panel marker.
Stephen McAteer - Director of the Arkansas Military
Museum
Ladies of the Camp White Sulphur Springs Soldier's
Society:
Donna Hutcheson, Lisa Wisner, Karen Elrod
David Gruenewald, major benefactor in bringing the new
interpretive panel to Little Rock. Mr. Gruenewald spent countless
hours on this project working on design, content, location and financing
.
Stephan McAteer and Dee Lois Lawrence unveiling the
new panel.
1st ARkansas Re-enactors at MacArthur Park.
Younger Civil War enthusiasts.
Left- member of the Jefferson Guard, right- Jake Elrod
A moment of prayer - Jake Elrod
Marjo Dill, David O. Dodd Chapter #212 UDC
Representing the Navy
Representing the Sons of Confederate Veterans
Stephan McAteer with the Civil War Roundtable of
Arkansas: Stephan McAteer, David Gruenewald, Richard Brannon, Pris
Weathers, Rick Meadows, Unknown, Unknown, Jan Sarna.
Ladies of the Camp White Sulphur Springs Soldier's
Society:
From
left- (front) Dutchie Wilson, (back) Kayla Kalkbrenner, Dyan Bohnert,
(back) Elisabethe Kalkbrenner, Lisa Wisner, Dot Hardage, Karen Elrod,
Ellen Lewis
Sons of Confederate Veterans - Col. Robert G. Shaver
Camp 1655: M. Ray Jones, W. Danny Honnoll, Unknown, Unknown.
United Daughters of the Confederacy - General Thomas
J. Churchill Chapter #1373:
Mrs. Cindy Sommervell, Mrs. Dora Ball, Mrs.
Kay Tatum, Mrs. Bernice Brakefield
Bobbie Barnett
No cars... no cameras...just a moment of rememberance.
David O. Dodd stained glass located inside the Little
Rock Arsenal.
In December 1863 and January of 1864, Little Rock was a Union-occupied
town. During this period David Owen Dodd, a boy of 17, was involved in a
series of events that led to his hanging as a spy. As a result he became
known as the "Boy Hero of the Confederacy."
Dodd lived in Camden and came to Little Rock in early December to
conduct family business. During his return journey Union soldiers
discovered information regarding troop dispositions in Little Rock in
his possession. Dodd was arrested, given a brief military trial, found
guilty of spying and condemned to death by hanging.
Known today as the Old Stage Coach House, it is located on the road that
was the main route to southwest Arkansas. It served as a Union outpost.
After his capture, Dodd was initially confined and questioned here.
Believing that the information that convicted him was too detailed for
Dodd to have obtained without help, Union General Fredrick Steele
offered leniency if he would identify his source. Dodd repeatedly
refused. His hanging occurred on January 8 at a site on the grounds of
St. John's College.
Reports from the time vary widely in the details of the hanging. Some
reports claim the hanging was conducted ineptly. There are no known
photographs of the execution available. It is known than an elaborate
scaffold was not used, but rather a hastily constructed gallows. The
tail-gate of a wagon was used as the hanging platform. A reprint of an
article in the Arkansas Gazette State Centennial Edition, printed in
1936, stated in part: "There were about 5,000 spectators present to
witness the execution. Besides the spectators there were present four
Battalions of Union soldiers - so placed as to form a square, with the
gallows in the center.
"Do not weep for me for I will be better off in heaven. I will soon be
out of this world of sorrow and trouble. I would like to see you before
I die but, let God's will be done not ours." - David O. Dodd in a final
letter to his family.
General Steele required that Dodd's funeral be conducted in a simple
manner so as not to inflame the passions of the citizens of Little Rock.
A brief service was conducted in this house that stood near the corner
of Fifth and Rock Streets.
Early on January 9, a small cortege of mourners accompanied his body
across town where he was buried in a donated grave in Mount Holly
Cemetery.
The adjacent granite monument was erected in 1926 by the United
Daughters of the Confederacy to mark the hanging site. It was
approximately 500 years east of this location. In the early 1960's, the
monument was relocated because of Interstate construction. the
interpretive panel a short distance to the north of you regarding the
Little Rock Arsenal has a map which shows the hanging site and St.
John's College in relation to this panel.
House where the funeral was held for David O. Dodd.
Final resting place. Mount Holly Cemetery,
Little Rock, Arkansas.
|
