In a St. Albans courtroom on June 30, 1865, damning testimony emerged against Bennett Young, the Confederate agent who led the Civil War’s northernmost military action. A witness took the stand to recount the terrifying moments when Young opened fire during the infamous raid, providing crucial evidence in one of the war’s most audacious operations.

Three Shots in the Street

The witness described the chaos that erupted when Young drew his weapon. “Young fired three shots,” the testimony began, painting a vivid picture of violence on Vermont’s quiet streets. Morrison, the victim, cried out in pain as he staggered from Miss Bentica’s shop steps, bleeding from his wounds. The witness and another man, Mr. Ison, rushed to catch Morrison as he reeled from the gunfire.

“theyve shot Morrison get a doctor,” the witness recalled shouting as they carried the wounded man into Dutcher’s back room and laid him on a bed. Dr. Sherman arrived quickly to tend to Morrison’s injuries while the Confederate raiders continued their brazen operation in broad daylight.

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theyve shot Morrison get a doctor

— The Vermont Transcript, June 30, 1865

Twenty Men and Stolen Horses

The witness estimated that “twenty or twenty-one men” participated in the raid, determining their numbers by counting the horses stolen from local stables. Young himself rode “a government black horse that was kept at the American House,” while his men made off with seven horses from the witness’s own stable. The entire violent episode occupied approximately twenty minutes before the raiders fled northward toward the Canadian border.

The testimony revealed the calculated nature of the Confederate operation. Young and his men had planned their escape route carefully, heading directly for the safety of British territory where they could avoid Union pursuit. The witness later traveled to Canada and positively identified Young, confirming the Confederate agent’s role in the shooting.

Cross-Examination and Certainty

Under cross-examination by Mr. Bailey, the witness remained firm in his identification. “It was I think Bennett H Young that shot Mr Morrison,” he testified, despite the chaos and confusion of the moment. This eyewitness account proved crucial in establishing Young’s direct involvement in the violence that accompanied the raid on St. Albans.

The St. Albans raid had been a carefully orchestrated Confederate operation designed to bring the war to Northern soil and fund Southern operations through bank robberies. Young’s band had stolen over $200,000 from local banks before attempting to burn the town, though their incendiary efforts largely failed.

Justice Across Borders

The St. Albans raid established important precedents for international law and extradition that influence modern cross-border criminal cases. Young’s eventual release by Canadian authorities despite clear evidence of his crimes helped shape diplomatic protocols still referenced in contemporary extradition treaties between the United States and Canada.

Sources

• The Vermont Transcript, June 30, 1865 — Library of Congress