Largest mass lynching in American history to be remembered
They called it the Great Hanging.
And for 145 years, Gainesville has tried to forget the largest mass lynching in American history.
Now, it is remembering those 14 deaths plus 28 other men executed amid the political tension of the Civil War.
A city park filled with 42 tiny crosses was dedicated Friday to remember the 1862 deaths. Most of the men were convicted and hanged as Union sympathizers. Fourteen were hunted down and lynched outright by a renegade mob angered by anti-war dissent.
"For the first time in nearly 150 years, we are remembering the sacrifice here," said Leon Russell, 78, of Keller, a Cooke County native opposing the "cult of secrecy" around the hangings.
The lynchings -- and, depending on your political point of view, the trials -- are considered among the most shameful abuses in the Confederate States. Yet they are rarely taught in local history lessons.
Read entire article at http://www.star-telegram.com
And for 145 years, Gainesville has tried to forget the largest mass lynching in American history.
Now, it is remembering those 14 deaths plus 28 other men executed amid the political tension of the Civil War.
A city park filled with 42 tiny crosses was dedicated Friday to remember the 1862 deaths. Most of the men were convicted and hanged as Union sympathizers. Fourteen were hunted down and lynched outright by a renegade mob angered by anti-war dissent.
"For the first time in nearly 150 years, we are remembering the sacrifice here," said Leon Russell, 78, of Keller, a Cooke County native opposing the "cult of secrecy" around the hangings.
The lynchings -- and, depending on your political point of view, the trials -- are considered among the most shameful abuses in the Confederate States. Yet they are rarely taught in local history lessons.