The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1865-08-15

! York Ereniag Poa an account more
shocking in some respects than has
before been pubiisbed. There IS no
doubt tha, il IS plain staiemans oi
facts, Sibou, The slightest exagera.
ton. We quote the material portion
Of it,
The position Of the prisoners camp
was selected by Capt. Wiuder, a son
OF Gen. John A Winder, who was
sent from Richmond TOR the purpose
IN the latter part Of 1868. When il
was suggested to him by disinierest.
ed but humane spectator Of bis oper-
a,ions that il would perhaps be better
10 leave the trees standing within the
proposed stockade, as they would at
ford shade to the prisoners, he reph-
ed "That was just what he was
not going 10 d.; be was going to make
a pen tot the d---d Yankees, whore
tliey could rot faster than they could
be sent there And admirably dad
be accomplish his mission.
At first il was customary TO send
| a wagon into the stockade every morn
| ing at 10 o'clock, loaded with the ra-
iions for the day, bacon and corn
bread, nclhlng else; but as The num-
ber OF prisoners inereased and the
greed Of gam grew upon the trio
above mentioned, the corn bread was
reduced IN ITS quality, being then
manufactured Of equal proportions OF
ground field peas and corn, unbolted,
unslited, uueieaosed indeed, from the
/ dfi AID trash which peas naturally ac-
I puHuae and at last when the mum
U,i 81 prisoners increased to over
lthrly-seyen thousand, the meat ra-
lions per week were reduced TO a
piece OF bacon for each man about
three inches long and two vide, with
one pound Of the bread above iescrib-
ed pei day. Then also the custom of
carrying the prisoners food into the
stockade in wagons uas abolished.
They drove up TO the gates, which
we're slightly ope ,rd, and the scanly
food, tool and unhealthy as II was,
was thrown inside by the guard 10 be
scrambled for by the wretched prison
rrs, Tie strongest and those nearest
| the gate getting the largest share, the
weak and sieky getting none.
| have mentioned The small brock
which rams through the lower part Of
the stockade, and which supplied the
water for drinking and washing. This
4 brook has its Use In swamp not far
IRON the prison, and at no time, cer-
tanly not for a heightened period,
was the water suitable or healthy;
but when the flih, the drainage Of
the whole camp Of prisoners, came TO
be superadded to the natural unf;ness
Of the water for drinking or cleansing
purposes, my readers can judge what
thirst was assuaged, or fever cooled,
or throbbing temples washed, by this
floating stream Of filth and disease
At any time under the most rigid by
gienic restrictions it is difficult to
maintain health and cleanliness
amongst large body Of men; what
do YOU think was the condition Of 37,-
! 600 half.naked, half.staryed men,
without any police regulations, under
no moral or restraining influences
II the remnant who were finally allow
ed TO pass on Of this military Golgo-
tha we're not wild beasts, unwashed
befouled devils, no thanks are to be
given TO Henry Wertz for lack of ef.
fort to produce such a consummation.
When II rained, as it does in that cli-
I mate almost continual, during the
spring and full months, the soil with
in the enclosure was one mass OF soft
, mud, at least fifteen inches ii depth
through which stalked and staggered
, The gaunt, half clad wretches thus
confined. The stencil lro.u the pris.
! on could be perceived .or two miles
and farmers living in The neighbor
hood began TO fear for the health Of
tier families.
Gen. Nnder, then comm,safy
general OF prisons, but having his
headQ a. Andersonvilr, was
tore, d by tecency, uoi humanity, tor
this he himself asserted, to ask the
) ald OF be presiding elder oi The Meth.
gdist church u that Circuit 10 adopt
some means 10 alleviate the mis-, rles
and ,optHC ine sretcueduess 0t The
p0or inmates of the Andrr,onville
l.o pltlL hs gentleman invoked
the co-opets .oh u women ot sum
ler county, an0 responded with cloth
ing and nrce,sarivs only, for lhest
alone were allowed TO the amount OF
four wagon loads. Upon The day APP
pointed, tour ladies, accompanied by
their husbands, went TO The PRISON.
and sought from the provost marshal a
PASS to take their beneiactlons Il tie
sick prisoners. II WAS refused with a
curse Tue party proceeded TO
Minder's headquarters, where Henry
Meyiz was in 10 company with the
general The demand Ior pass was
repeated. Understand, The ladies
aere present. and the rrasons given
Why the party were there, ~ accord
ance wib Ninder's special request
10 their aaonahment they were met
with this reply: ed d---n you,
have you al turned Yankees here
No. General. responded the spokes-
I man ~ sHa raztv = I .rn moi a. Won