The hanging of eight men who may have been guilty of nothing more than carrying a hefty amount of cash by an armed troop of 25 Confederate soldiers, and making them watch as they were hanged one by one is one of the most revolting incidents of any time in history, but yet, no one was ever held responsible -- that was the worst tragedy of all! We are determined not to let this story be buried under the sands of time!
Amazingly, I believe we have uncovered BRAND NEW information on the identity of the Mr. Van Winkle, whose first name was heretofore never documented in the story -- and have tied it to our own relatives in Texas. Melanie Hester posted a message at Texas Escapes website under the Bandera Hanging Tree Tragedy link that has led us to connect with her line. She has identified him as Andrew Jackson Van Winkle. Mr. John Smart, who is also buried with him under the tree, was his uncle, the brother of AJ's mother, Elizabeth Smart Van Winkle, the wife of Thomas (Hart) Benton Van Winkle. This takes us back to THB's parents, Jesse Van Winkle and Mary Ann Bra(e)den, who were also the parents of our ancestor in Texas, David Lawson Van Winkle. The brothers, David and Thomas, were both born in So. Carolina, but one headed for Indiana, and the other to Mississippi, and only resurfaced in Texas years later. However, they were separated not only by 16 years in age, but by location, since David wound up in Hill County, while Thomas was living Coryell (later Lampasas) Co.
We recently visited the grave, which is on private land, but accessible upon calling ahead. The hanging tree -- the only silent witness -- still stands behind the mass grave, its bony branches stretching out as a grim reminder of that awful day, July 25, 1863.