Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-04-06
Ghuite sstistellauu.'
lrrom the Atlantic MoThly for March ]
At Andersonville.

U
travelled from there to Andcrsonville, six
dsys by rail on four crackers a day and as
conseore, CO 1T ratiOns came IN due course
, Of time to a general sense Of emptiness, and
an incor,isibla tendency to think ot roast
beef, boiled chicken, tried oysters, and 9th
! er like dainties; and many OF the pris,ifers,
after battling awhile with emptiness and
the mental tenderc}. fell down exhausted,
aud we're sto we'd away 10 the wagons follow
inu on in the rear OF tho train. But lal-
colt, though with youth and the Drawn
and musce and lusty craving vitality
of nm athlete arain.t him in the cracker
pnin, OF view. possessed likewise mighty
will. aud \ stubborn. tenacinu- endurance,
nnwise weakened by the discipline Ot two
years of camp aud battle; and not only
marched with courage and elasticity, but
actually set himself, out OF the ahnndanc'
of his resources, to spur the fleelng spirits
Of his comrades, as they hudd!ed IN dhcon-
soIate conclusion about the little station at
Andersonvile.
Boys" said our orator, "the rebels Keep
their best Generals for their Home Guard
Lee and Early, and the rest Of the crew. are
lambs and sucking doves to Generals star
vation, Wear en- out, and Grumble. .-es-
pecialy that last-named fellow, who Is the
worst of the three, because he comes under
our own ceors, and we are shy about hrins
on our own men. believe we are all apt
! to think that muscles are the vital forces,
and that man lives by beef; but, boys
muscles are only hammers, and 1t takes a
thought to raise them; and though beet Is
good eating, and we should all like slice
uncommony, let me tell you, when 1t ism
to he had. that backbone is the next thing
to it, and it is surprising how long man
can live on it. For it is the brain that is
the commander in chief, and does the STRAIT
egy and the planning Tor this precious lie
that we all set such store by.-the brain,
that used to think lazy hummer, that
lived at the stomachs expense; and when
the uuartermaster-that's the stomach
telegraphs up that he's fairly cleaned out, not
a halfration left says our little commander,
cool and calm, Serve out grit and backbone
to the troops, and send out the senses on
scout And, men, if you We got the grit,
and keen on the sharp lookout, you are
likely to get on; but shut down on grumb-
liuy.-that'sa luxury for fellows that get
three meals day; for while you are busy
about that, Starvation and Wear. EN- out
will sail in at you, once you get weak
in the knees and limp in the back and dizzy
in the head, you're played out. Re
member, we aren't going TO Belle Isle
don't know anything about Anderson
ville. but it can't be so bad as that hole" !"
The men cheered. Up came an officer on
the double quick
What's the row about now? You Yam
KEGS are always chattering like crows"
$50 YOU scarecrows come to look after
u.s." retorted Drake, quick as light; at
which poor piece Of wit the soldiers were
pleased 10 laugh vociferously, the irrlta'
ting laugh that assumes your defeat, with
out granting you hearing, before which
the man in authority, not having the art OF
looking like fool with propriety, retreat
ed, reddeung and snarling, but turned on
the platform of the cars, and flung back
this Parthian arrow at the laughing Yam
kses:-
You're had lot Of men, saucy as the
Devil; but reckon you'll get the lmpn
dence taken out of you here id quick !!
at is all you have l>ft Of them to take
ANYHOW" said a voice,-and That's so,
chorused the crowd; and the whistle sound
Ing, the Captain, whose reign was over de
narted. hard hit and growing. but left, sc
to speak. his sting behind him; tor the las
part of his speech had one terrible merit
it was true.
The prisoners, over thousand strong
were formed in line and ordered to march
As they trampel along the dusty road the!
strained their eyes eagerly, but furtIvely
for the first show of their prison. Seems
tents on the left, there was little sti
among them, but that proved to be rebe
camu: then some one spied heights topped
with cannon, and Now" said they, "w'
are close upon it," and stopped short 10
wander. for here the road ended, ran but
against the wall of huge rootiess inc!o
sure. made of squared pines set perpendlc
ularly and close together in the ground.
as i. pen?" asked one, doubtfuily.
"Yes, yours" retorted one OF the guard
with prin,-'the Stockads Prison.
The word ran down the line like shiver
and the men stood mute, eyeing each oth
or deubttully. And now, IT could, woui
get at your hearts, you who read thus; an
YOU should not read mlstily, and hoid IN
story at loose ends as it were, but feel o
the answering throb within yourselves VIVA
thoughts gnawed at the hearts OF these me
under show OF indifference Tor though thes
be facts, facts written are disembodled, ah1
like spirits, have no power to speak to you
unless you give them the voice OF your syn
OathV. anu WITHOUT tilat, quNo'i"" ""'N
touchss YOU most deeply, thousand rat
following the Pied Piper Of Hainelin an
wondering, as he nesred the wharve'
where the deuce they were going, or tn
thousand Union soldiers standing stunnc
before gate from which should have wal
, cd forth, as they filed through, "Lcdre a
!. hope behind" ;, H.,
D scramble, and cry of ''Rstiens! and
came numbering train ct wagons, orlngin
: the days supplies. There were ut this tin
under torture, twsnty-eight thousand, PR
: oners,-mere than the population OF Har
ford; and as the Southern Contederacy'
Christian association, and conducting ltst
! with many appeals to Christian priucipl;
believes the wind is tempered to the sho
lamb, and SO shears the Yankees as close
possible, these men had all been formal
ieeced of such worldly gear as blanke
> money and extra clothing. Some furth
,hearine there had been also, but lrregula
l. depending chiefly on the temper OF the ca
% tors,-stripping them sometimes to sh
and drawers, leaving them occasional
Jacket and shoes, SO now most were bal
. footed, most in rags, and some had note
rags. They had lain on the bare cart
sodden with damn, or caleined lnto-du
and borne storm OF heat helplessly, Titho
even the shelter Of board, till they We
burned and wasted to the likeness OF hi