Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-08-23

virtue, detail what met my sight on the occasion
refer 70. viii not pollute any page save the re-
cords OF the courts that must try the cuprt for the
crime Of torture by disease and filth with the details
OF that carsvansary Of horror Intentional slaughter
For fear that some may think have exaggerated,
an episode here will perhaps, dispe such illusion.
Convicted by the horrible fact that was stencil In
his nostrils, Gen. Wnder, then Commissary General
Of Prisons, but having his headquarters at Ander-
sonville was forced by decency, not humanity, for
this he himself asserted TO ask the aid of the Pre-
siding Elder Of the Methodist Church Of the circuit
70 adopt some means TO alleviate the miseries and
oothe the wretchednes of the poor inmates Of that
AndersonYille hospital The gentleman invoked
the cooperation Of the woman Of Sumter county,
who responded with clothing and necessaries only,
for these alone are allowed, 20 the amount Of four
wagon loads. Upon the day appointed, four ladies,
accompanied by their husbands, went 10 the prison
and sought from the Provost Marshal pass, to take
their benefsctons 10 the sick prisoners. It was re-
fused with curse! The party proceeded 10 Wind
er's headquarters, where Henry VERT was in COM
pany with the General. The demand for pass was
repeated Understand the ladies were present, and
the reasons given why the party were there in ac-
cordance with Winders special request. To their
astonishment they were met with this reply: Cd
d-n you, have you all turned Yankees here?'
No, General, responded the spokesman of the
party, Il am not, as you know, are any here
present; we have come as you requested us through
Rev. Mr. D. 10 bring necessary articles for the Fed
eral hospital and ask pass for the purpose Of de-
hyering them
It's id lie! l never gave permission for
anything of the kind Be of with you, all of your
As this fearless display Of martial vsloT and gen.
tlemanly bearing was not sufficient, Henry Wertz
essayed TO and did eclipse his General in profanity
and indecency-and here assert that if the lowest
sinks Of the most abandoned parts Of your city
cleaned they could not surpass the rbald Vulgarity
and finished profanity of this slor 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 alleviate the fortunes of
the dying Union soldier, they gave their loads of
clothing and food 10 & passing column of Federal
prisoners on their way TO another place-Millen.--
They at least had the satisfaction Of knowing that
some were benefited, even if they had failed in
their efforts for those who most needed their assist
ance.
During the last winter-which was unusually cold
for Georgia, when the ice made an inch thick-no
shelter, no blanket clothes, no wood was provided
for the wretched inmates Of that prison. Squads
were permitted, to the number of thirty to go out
daily for one hour, without or any cutting TOOLS
TO gather the refuse ard rotten wood in the forests
and if they out-said their time they were tried by
drum-head court-martial, charged with violating
their parole and if found guilty were hung! l my
self saw three bodies hanging who were thus eXecu
ted. Poor fellows, l thought, God has taken pity
upon you and given you delverance from your cruel
iailOr. When you and meet, at another Judgment
seat woe TO him if his authority be found insult
cent for the taking Of your lives, wretched though
they be.
NV house was the resort-oF l 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 al iron
heart. l must close my hurried account Of what l
have seen. II is far from full; not one-half has
been told; by far the most has been kept back for
very shame, and IN respect TO your readers. have
not embellshed. Tho pictures were too rough, the
characters too forlorn for the flowers of rhetoric to
bloom in their presence. Broken hearts, crushed
spirits and manhood trsmpled on, may answer as
fitting subj ecs for the romancers pen, but the hOr
rible reality so seldom seen, burns its image upon
the beholder's SOUL that no other impressions can
eTsee, and they remain life pictures indeed.