Wheeling Daily Intelligencer
December 8, 1864
Execution Of A Deserter. - A letter from Harper's Ferry, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, gives an interesting account of the execution of William Loge, alias French Bill, which took place on Friday last. Loge deserted from the 60th New York Volunteer Regiment immediately after the battle of Gettysburg, and joined Company A, of the notorious rebel guerrilla band of Capt. White. French Bill has been a terror to the Union people of Loudon and Jefferson counties, Va., for a long time, in company with the noted thief, John Mobley, a member of the same band. He has been prowling within five miles of Harper's Ferry for many months, committing depredations upon citizens and straggling soldiers who fell in his way. He was captured on Wednesday, 30th ult., at Johnston's distillery, Loudon county, where they had cornered him under a feather bed, by Corporals Latham and Tritipo, of Captain Grubb's Loudon County Rangers, but not until he was unharrowed, and received a severe stroke on the back of the head with the butt of a revolver.
The execution was witnessed by about three thousand soldiers and citizens, and, to their shame be it said, several females were watching the scene with evident gusto. One of these feminines was mounted on horseback, wearing a Major's should-straps and bedizened with copper lace. She was accompanied by an officer, apparently, although he wore no straps - perhaps he had loaned them to his companion.
Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood: December 1864