The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-11

himself until he was called to another part of
the field. Fear had no lodgment In that mans
breast.
A NARRATIVE OF ANDBRsoNvILJR drawn from
the Evidence ehcited on the Trial OF Henry
Wirz, with the Argument Of Colonel N. b.
Chipman, JudgeAdvocate. BY Ambrose Seen
Ger. Harper Brothers: New York. Philadel-
phia Agents: J. b. Lippincott Co.
Any book, however well 1t may be written,
unless It's facts are new, interesting, or insruc-
tive, is waste Of time, paper, cloth, and prin-
ters' ink. "Andersonvile" is such a waste.
Why Mr.. Ambrose Spencer. of Americus,
Georgia. saw ht to write book upon the evi-
dence elici,ed nc a trial, all of which was laid
before the public, Is TO us unknown. He gives
MS nothing new. His details we're all brought
out before the military commission. His
descriptions are of little interest and his
work only seems TO drag forth the smoul-
dering Goals and reklndle the horror
and the hatred winch such barbarous
tyranny caused. We had hoped to have sunk
into oblivion all recollectons of that earthly
hell, but they are once more presented, with all
the CLOSING and g!oahng destinations of a
yeritable Jenkins. The book can do no good,
IT will do harm; and " Mr.. Spencer of Amercus,
Georgia, had lett It unwrten, the roluctiou
Mouih htNtI uuNt Ittl ulISefu iIoLu NAlt llbtldig
world. The author himself is not blind to the
evils which will naturally follow his work, but
gives lie IN his preface the assurance that-''My
object in this publication is not 70 minister to
morbid curiosity, but TO place on record how
outrages and murders have been committed
under the fictitious plea of a struggle for lnde.
pendence" We have heard enough OF such
horrors, and we therefore deprecate the ex-
huming OF the buried hatchet.
AS, however, IT has been published, we must
give the author credit tor a perspicuous,
pleasing style, and good supply of imagery.
We will quote some of his passages describing
the very climax of the horrors in the prison:-
at Will reaolY be supposed that, unuer clrcum-
stances such as have been narrated where no re.
gard was had for the comfort health of the pri-
soners, and where the simplest and most obvious
laws OF hS giene not only overlooked but most
systematically disregarded, that q corresponding
effect Would be produced, ana EXHIBIT itself in the
conduct and IN the minds OF the prisoners
body OF men, counted by tens OF thousands destitute
of clothing destitute of shelter starving, unre.
strained by any authority bey Ond what was requ-
site TO Keep them penned up, except their own un-
regulated impulses, could not be herded together
Tor any great length OF time without manlfesing
some oil The very worst features of human nature,
and rapidly retrograde to the normal condition of
the species, and display all the characteristics of
saVages
such indeed, the effect produced by the
treatment OF these prisoners ut AndersonvIle. The
daily, hourly degradation to which they were
forced; the Withdrawal or Withholding of all morat
restraint; the filthy, grovelling lie winch they led,
uncheered py one solitary nope OF amendment,
slowly sunk them deeper and ueeper into despon-
deLcy, tn ned her manhood into apathy, and de-
Dased their courage into brutality. They were con-
verted into so many wild beasts, and each was AMI
mated but by one purpose-sought to accomplish
but one object-pro onglng their miserab lives by
"Wirz mad carefully marked the gradual develop
ment OF these dangerous tendencies, and was at last
satisfied that they had eliminated into the utter de-
ia haH ,taofc yh1nl In
controlled, and he began, coward he was to fear
their sudden exhibition towards himself Ills
to the inside OF the stockade never frequent,
now seldom made, and then with extreme precau-
tions for his own safety. He well appreciated the
danger OF thrusung himself INTO the midst of these
starving, maddeued, reckless men, for he knew
that his life would not be worth minutes purchase
IN the hands OF these unutterably wronged soldiers,
and he was, i'll cons quence, seen only upon the
platforms OF the sentInes, outside che walls He was
AFRAID OF any unusual assembage of the prisoners,
ana MS orders to the guards were imperative to
prevent Their congregahng together and to hinder
any combinations for an escape He kept viglant
watch TO rustrate attempts ut tunnelin under the
stOckade and patrols, armed to the teeth made fre-
quent explorations within tne prison for that
purpose -.
frequently eXcava ions and tunnels were discov-
cred, with channels leading from them, IN state
OF completion which would soon insure a free pas
sage TO the outside. One such was detected more
eaboratey accomplished than any pre- yIously at.
tempted, lhe throat OF the passage was begun under
cover OF vi he shantIes which some of the men
had erected Tor their dwelling. The orif flee was
aUOut lhree leet IN circumference. and was sunk
n, ariy twelve feet perpendlcuary, commencing
about 1oty feet from the side of the stockade posts
WI eIeit shot off at night angle towards the posts,
with slight inclination downward. The work had
advanced distance of nearly sixty feet, and had
extended under and beyond the stockade, whence
IL tegan gradually rising towards the surface
and wanted but twelve feet more OF excavation to
have brought II to successful exit above ground.
The interior OF the horizontal passage was nearly
six ieet in circumference and the earth removed
IRON 1t was so carefully bestowed, or Used for
plasterlng up shanes as to have escaped tue watch
tul eyes OF Wirz and his sentlnels. Inis work had
been steadily progressing for nearly three months
the only tools used beng scraps of tin from old
cups, buckets, and plates, with knives and their
hanOs. Only two men were enabled TO work a. a
time as II progressed, while others behind them
assisted In removing the debris to the throat others
carrying 1t away in blankets, and in the bosoms OF
helr shirts, and dlsposng OF 1t to the. best adVan
tage.
when the discovery was made, ,wirz was furious.
Inc greater poruon OF the garrison called 80
arms, the platforms overlooking the stockade were
ned win soldiers, each with forty rounds of ball
caiuluge, while four hundred were marched
ml,nln tue gates ana draWnup two deep, with arms
htaTeudy squad proceeded to the spot where
Tue excavation Was commenced and arrested all of
.ne PRISONERS VINO were near 1t and those who oc.
cup,eu lne sheter where II was begun, while
WorKmen ana teams were at once summoned 10
[eni ne ho!t, at when they labored night and day
"The investigation which followed failed IN elicit
| ahItnhg more an the 1act itself demonstrated;
Dut WlIz was resolved not to be baked in ms ven.
P PeaSce ~ upOn some Que lor such daring attempt to
eVaue MS grasp, ana IN default of finding the real
executors OF tue work. he arrested the proorietoTs
Of the shanty, anu proceeded TO punish tnem
IatnSs rheIe ers we're red%ooS SIX OF them Their meaqie
daily, with one pint of water; nothIng eise
| was siven them Tor twenty-one DAYS Ihsy were
placed IN tue lhcined stocks for thiriy-six hours
with no nernission for rest night or day; and Ior
the remainder OF their term OF punisnment n,na @
| teen Gays, theY were linked together with chain
and ball. Two of their number sank undas tha
/ DuUlshmanf md lso