New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-10-21


contains valuable information in which the people are
interested and d. doubtiess. be appreciated hy tie
relatives and friends those who have given Their lives
20 their country:
ASSISTANT QUAR1FRNAsTTR's OFFICE
DEPARI INT OF WAsHNGTON
WASINGTON. ID. G., sept. %. leo1
Brero Major GIN. NJ. {. MEGs QaarterndstSr- General
Up,tsd S.oto /rtqy Washington, d. c.
GESTEAL: In accordance With Special Orders No. 10
Qnartermsster-Generars Office, dated June ~, leo5,
directing me 20 proceed 10 AndersonyAe. Ca Tor ne
purpose OF marking the graves Of Union soldiers fol
future Identification and inclosing tie cemetery,
have the honor u report, as follows;
] lef Washington on the -th of July last, with
mechanics and materials for the purpose abOyemen-
toned.
On nv arrival at Savannah ascertaiaed that there
was 40 railroad communication whatever 20 Anderson
vile the direct road 70 Macon being broken and that
from Augusta via Atlanta also in the condition.
endeavored 20 procure wagon transportation but was
Informed by tie General commanding the Department
Of Georgia that sufficient ngmber OF teams cCuiG
Dot be had in the state 10 hanl OF ny stores
and tie rOads bad aud the distance more than
400 miles abandoned al idea OF attempting route
through country difficult and tedious under more pro-
Tie prospect Of reaching Andersonville at this time
was by no means favorable, and nearly one week bad
elapsed since ny arrv az Savannah. had telegraphed
20 Augusta, Atlanta and Macon almost daily end re-
ceiyed replies that tie railroads were not yet com
plcied
AT length on The lorning Of the 18th OF July the
gratifying telegram from Augusta wGs received an.
nouucng the completion OF the Augusta and Macon
roaf TO Atlanta when at once determined 70 procure
boat and proceed 10 Augusta BY the Savannah River.
The dcs RED boat was secured and in - hours after
the receipt of the telegram alluded TO- was on my way
with men and material for Augusta. On nay arrival
there found the railroad ted 90 Macon and that
from Macon 70 Andersonyie, having never been
broken. experienced little difficulty in reaching ny
destination where arrived July g. after tiresome
trip occupying six days and nights.
At Macon MaioT-Gen Wilson detailed one company
Of the Fourth United States Cavalry and one from the
18TH Regiment United States COored Troops 10 assist
me member Of the former company was killed on
the 9Th Of August, at "a station named MOntezlmD, on
tie Southwestern Railroad.
The rolling stock of all the roads which tray-
eled is IN a miserable condition and very seldom a
greater rate Of speed Oh aimed than twelve miles
hour. AT toe different stations along the rOute tie
object OF the expedition was wei known and not IN
freqeuty men, wearing The gGIb Of Rebel soldiers,
would the and discuss the treatment Of
prisoners at AndeTsonvie. all OF whom candldy ad-
mitted IL shameful aud blot tie escutcheon OF
the South that years would not efface.
While oncnmped az AndersOnville was daily visited
by from the surrounding country, and HAD an op
pOrpny Of cleaning their feelings toward the Govern
ment and, with hardly an exception, found those who
had been in the Rebel army penitent and more kindly
disposed than those who have never taken part and
anxious 20 again become citizens OF the Government
which they fought 20 hard TO destroy.
On the morning of the Goth of Jnly the work Of den
tifylng the graves painting and lettering the head
boards, laying out The walks and nclOsDg the Gene
terry was commenced. and on the evening OF August
toned
The dead were foCnd buried in trenches on site se-
ected by the Rebels about 800 yards from the stockade
The trenches from two 70 three feet below the
face and IN several instances where the rains had
washed away the earTh, bat a few inches Additional
earth " as, however thrown on the graves. making
them OF a still greater depth.
So close were they buried without collins the ordi-
nary clothing 20 cover their nakedncss that not more
than IL inches vas allowed to each man indeed TIE
little tablets marking their resting place measuring
hardly 10 inches in Width almost touching each other.
United States soldiers. while prisoners at Anderson
Vile hid en- detailed INFER their companions and
by simple stake at the head Of each grave which bore
a number CORES spending with similar numbered name
upon the AndersOnyie hospital record, was eRabed
10 identify and mark with Ioat tablet similar to those
in the cemeteries mt Washi IN, the number, name
rank rcriment etc, and date ofdeah Of ~ 46 graves
there being but 4J which bore the inscription IN
known L \ Soldiers
One hundred and twenty thousand feet Of pine lumber
was used ia these tablets alone.
The cemetery contains 50 acres and has been divided
b. one main avenue running through the center and
subdivided into blocks and sections in snch manner
that. with the cid of the record which am hay
ing copied for the superintendent the visitors viii eN
perience no difficulty in finding any grave
A force OF men is now engaged in laying out walks
and clearing the cemetery OF stlmps, preparatory to
planting trees and flowers.
have ALREADY commenced the manufacture OF brick,
and will have sufficient number by tie Is; OF October
to pave the cutters throughout the cemetery
the clay in the vicinity Of the stOckade being we'll
adapted for the purpose Oi hrickmaklng.
ground and have endeayOred, as far as my facilities
would permit TO transfer this wide. unmarked and IN
honored graveyard into tit place of inerment FOR tie
Nations gallant dead.
AT the entrance the words National Cemetry An
dersonville Co." designate the City of the Dead.
On the morning Of the 18th OF August at sunrise the
stars aud stripes were hOised in the center of the
cemetery. when national salute was fred and several
national songs sung by those present.
The men who accom- panied me. and 10 whom ! am
indebted for the early completion Of my mission worked
in min
late az night, although suffering intensely from the
effects Of heat bnacclmated as they were, one after
another was taken sick with the fever incident 10 the
country and IN brief period my force OF mechanics
was considerably lescucd obliging 10 obtain others
from the sidents ia Different parts Of the state. An
my men. however recovered with the exception Of MI
Eddy Watts. etercr who died on the 10th OF July Of
typhoid fever after q sickness Of three weeks. /
brought MS body back with me, and delivered 1t 10 his
family in this city.
Several OF the United States Cavalry. detailed bv
Gen. wilson died Of the same fever shortly aftei
joining their command nt Macon
Apdersonvu'c is situated oI the Southwestern Rail
road 90 TuIcs rom Macon. There is but one house IN
,he place except those erected by the soca.led Con-
fcdcrate Government as hospitals officers quarters
and CJmu.ssarf and quaTtermaster buildings. twas
formerly known as Anderson, but since the Mar the
vile has been added.
The country is covered mostly with pines and hem.
locks, and the soil is sandy sterile and uni, for cult
Walton and Uuiike the section OF country few miles
north and sou;r OF tie place. where the soil is well
adapted for agricultural purposes. cotton wen Is
com IS extensively raised
IL is said 70 be- The most unhealthy part OF Georgia
and Was probably selected depot lor prisoners ou
account OF this fact At midday the thermometer IN
the shade reaches frequently no. and III the the
heat Is almost uubearanle
The inhabitants of tas spaTccy settled locality are
With few exceptions. Of the most ignorant class, aui
from their hagCaId end sa.low faces The effects .. ch
and fever axe distinctly visible.
The uOted prison pea Is $50 feet long and 20 feet
wide and contains = lie dead Inc j. H. fees
from he si0ckade, and TIE sentry boxes ere 80 yafGs
apart Tie inside Stockade Is Is feet high tho outer
one - ce Zee. b. ia, and TIE distance between the two
4. lear font