Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-01-23
Andersonville To- Day.

The first thing that strikes the travel
Ter as he approaches this memorable
place is the old flag suspended $50 feet
in the air, waving gracefully to the
breeze, and standing sentinel over what
remains OF l3, 7l6 departed faithful sol
diers for the Union.
have made it my business to make
extensive inquiries before reaching this
place, and have heard condemned in un-
measured terms the course pursued by
Wirz and his small ring, who, they say
were not actuated by any love for the
lost cause, bnt by a desire to profit from
the misery Of those under their author
ity. Every soldier that came into camp
had money, and man, watches and rings
all of which found its way into the hand.
Of n few outside the stockadc. Princi-
pie never governed Wirz. There was
total want of moral sense. He never
knew generous emotion: cold aud
heartless. he thought only OF gain and
selfish qualification. But he is dead:
peace to his ashes. The cemetery j. un-
der the Immediate charge of John Ma
loney, an lrishman, who, in one wear.
will have served in the army, under the
stars and stripes, quarter of a century
ne was among the faithful BETRAYED bv
Twiggs in Texas. He loves the old flag
a he loves his life. 1t does one good to
see this old veteran sufruss with tears
as he recounts his hopes and fears dur
ing the severe struggle through which
we have just pass ed.
The cemetery is beautifully situated.
just north from the stockadc, on gently
rolling land, embracing in the inclosure
thrty-seven acres of ground neat
substantial fence surrounds it, and with
in this an Usage hedge is being cutivat-
ed, that will ultimately serve as a fence.
and also add much to the beauty of the
place. Fine carriage avenues are being
constructed. many ofwhich are complct-
ed; trees are planted and are growing
finely on the sides of them, and in a few
years the tops will meet, creating
dense and cool shade, making a delight
ful drive. Five thousand five hundred
feet OF surface drains have been laid
along the avenues. The soil washes so
easily here that brick drains are neces-
sary. There ce mployed here, besi de
the superintendent, four colored labor
crs and two mules, all OF whom are
kept constantly busy. a comfortable
house Is erected at the entrance gate for
the superintendent, where he ALWAYS
keeps spare room for anv chance
visitor who may happen to pass this way,
which is not very often, as the place is
too secluded and remote from the great
lines OF travel, and then Southern Geor-
gia, with its chlls and fever, has no at
fractions for visitor, or even the native
citizen. The dead were laid in trenches
side by side, and if they had any ar
ticles OF clothing worth wearing our own
men would take it to cover their naked
ness, or keep out the chilling blast of
winter--nO coffin, no clothing, nothing
often (and nearly always) but their max
ed frames. A neat headboard made of
wood now marks their last resting place,
with name, age, regiment, and company.
And yet there are many marked sun
known, 'and will always remain so
until the great muster day in that eternal
world above.
The first man buried here was j.
Swarner, a German, company II, I'd
New York cavalry, died February 81,
1868. The last man that died was r.
Ransom, company F, 1st Wisconsin in
fantry; died April %, 1565-a period of
fourteen months. During this time l3,
7l6 brave soldiers passed away, nearly
1000 month. The largest nuAber dy-
ing any one day was on the 26th OF Au-
gust, 1864, when 166 were buried. The
most painful spot to visit was the graves
OF those executed in the stockade, by
our own men, for the murders and vio-
lence they had committed. The gall
lows is still partially standing, an ad-
ditional monument of the accumulated
miserics our men suffered. The SUPER
intendent is making good use of Virus
bath tub; filling it with dirt he is prop
agating flowers to ornament the
graves.
Alter visiting the graveyard we went
to the stockade. It's fast falling into
decay, and in year or two will all be
down, and everything that marked the
suherings of our soldiers will have pass
ed away. The grounds within the stock
ade, that was sncs 70 bare Of every
| shrub, and even root (for was informed