Revival History

Among the great many episodes of brutality during the Civil War, the Great Hanging at Gainesville stands out as one of the worst.  There was considerable Unionist sentiment in North Texas following that state’s secession and widespread objection to the Confederate Conscription Act that went into effect in April 1862. Opposition to the draft led to rumors of a Unionist plot to seize state arsenals. In response to the rumors, Texas militia entered Cooke County in late September 1862 and arrested over 150 suspected Unionists, charging them with treason and insurrection. A “citizens court” was convened in Gainesville to try the accused. During the first ten days of October, the vigilante “court” convicted and hanged seven of the accused, and two were killed while trying to escape. Meanwhile, the proceedings had attracted an angry mob to Gainesville, and on October 13 they seized and lynched 14 of the defendants, without benefit of trial. The following week, under pressure from the mob,...

 Among the many episodes of horrific brutality during the Civil War, the Great Hanging at Gainesville stands out as one of the worst.  There was considerable Unionist sentiment in North Texas following that state’s secession and widespread objection to the Confederate Conscription Act that went into effect in April 1862. Opposition to the draft led to rumors of a Unionist plot to seize state arsenals. In response to the rumors, Texas militia entered Cooke County in late September 1862 and arrested over 150 suspected Unionists, charging them with treason and insurrection. A “citizens court” was convened in Gainesville to try the accused. During the first ten days of October, the vigilante “court” convicted and hanged seven of the accused, and two were killed while trying to escape. Meanwhile, the proceedings had attracted an angry mob to Gainesville, and on October 13 they seized and lynched 14 of the defendants, without benefit of trial. The following week, under pressure from...