The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1865-08-29

in his nostrils, General Winder,then CON-
missary General of Prisons, but having
his headquarters at Andersonville, was
forced by decency, not humanity, for this
he himself asserted, to ask the aid of the
presiding elder of the Methodist church
of that circuit to adopt some means to
alleviate the miseries and sooth the
wretchedness of the poor inmates OF that
Andersonyille hospital.
This gentleman invoked the co-opera-
ton of the women Of Sumter county who
responded with clothing and necessaries
only, for these alone were allowed, to the
amount of four wagon loads. Upon the
day appointed four ladies, accompanied
by their husbands, went to the prison and
sought from the provost marshal pass, to
take their benefactions to the sick prison
ers. 1t acds refused UiM a curse ! The
party proceeded to Winder's headquarters
where Henry Wertz was in company
with the General The demand for a
pass was repeated. Understand the ladies
were present, and the reasons given why
the party were there, in accordance with
Winder's special request To their as
constituent they were met with the re-
ply :--"--you, have you all turned
Yankees here p
"No, General" responded the spokes
man of the party, IL am not, as you know
nor are any here present; We have come
as you requested US, through Rev. Mr..
Denver, to bring necessary articles for the
Federal hospital, and ask a pass for the
purpose of delivering them"
ats lie / never gave per-
mission for anything of the kind be off
with you, all Of you r.
As if this fearless display of martial
valor and gentlemanly bearing was not
sufficient, Henry Wertz essayed to and
did eclipse bis General in profanity and
indecency, and here assert that if the
lowest sinks of the most abandoned parts
of your city were cleaned they could not
surpass the ribald vulgarity and finished
profanity of this jaiIor, exhibited in the
presence of refined and "loyal' ladies.
Shocked, terrified, beaten to the very
dust with modification, the party retired
and foiled in their efforts to succor the
sick or alleviate the tortures Of the dying
Union soldiers, they gave their loads of
clothing and food to a passing column Of
Federal prisoner on their way to another
place-Millen They, at least, had the
satisfaction Of knowing that some were
benefited, even if they had failed 10 their
lefforts for those who most needed their
assistance.
During the last winter, which was un-
usually cold for Georgia, when the ice
made an inch thick-no shelter, no blank
cts or clothes, no wood was provided for
the wretchod inmates of that prison
Squads we're permitted, to the number Of
thirty, 20 go out under guard daily, for
one hour, without axes or any cutting tool
to gather the refuse and rotton wood in
the forests and fthey outstaid their time
they were tried by drum head court mar
tial, charged with violating their parole,
aud, if found guilty,were hung myself
saw three bodies hanging, who were thus
executed Poor fellows, [ thought, God
has taken pity upon you and given you
dellverance from your cruel iailor. When
you and hs mset,at another judgment seat
woe to him if his authority be found in-
sufficient for this taking of your lives,
wretched though they be.
My house was the resort, or should
say, refuge, Of most of the prisoners who
made their escape from the stockade, and
the tales of starvation and distress which
they told would have melted an iron heart.
| must close my hurried account of what
I have seen. It is far from fall; not one
half has been told by far the most has
been kept back from very shame, and in
respect to your readers. I have not en-
bellished. The pictures were too rough,
the characters too forlorn for the flowers
of rhetoric to bloom in their presence.-
Broken hearts, crushed spirits and man
hood tfampled on, may answer as fitting
subjects for the romauc-r's pen, but the
horrible reality, so seldom seen, burns its
images upon the bebolder's soul, that no
other impression can eface, and they re-
main, life pictures indeed" S.
4 certain minister making visit to
one of his sick Practitioners, who was an