Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-02-12
AnderSOnviIIe To- Day.

The first thing that strikes the traveller
as be approaches this memorable place, is
the old flag suspended $50 feet in the air,
waving gracefully to the breeze, standing
sentinel over what rema rs of 1916 de-
parted faithful soldiers of the Union.
L have made it my business to make ex
tenslve inquiries before reaching this place,
and have heard condemned in unmeasured
terms the course pursued by Writ and
his small ring who, they say, were not ac-
tuated by any love for the lost cause, but
by desire to profit from the misery of
those under their authority. Every soldier
that came into the camp had money, and
many watches and rings, all of which
found the way into the hands of a few
outside the stockade. Principle never
governed Writ. There was total want
of moral sense. He never knew a gener-
GUS emotion; cold and heartless, he
thought only of gain and selfish grati6ca-
ton But he is dead; peace to his ashes.
The cemetery is under the Immediate
charge Of John Maloney an Irishman,
who, in one year, will have served in the
army, under the stars and stripes, quar-
ter OF a century. He was among the faith
tul betrayed by Twiggs in Texas. He
loves the old flag as he loves his life. 1t
does one good to see this old veteran sui
fused with tears as he recounts his hopes
and fears during the severe struggle
through which we have just passed.
The cemetery is beautifully situated
just north from the stockade, on gently
rolling land, embracing in the inclosure
thirty-seven acres of ground a neat sub
stantlal fence surrounds it, and within this
an Usage hedge is being cultivated, tha
will ultimately serve as fence, and also
add much to the beauty of the place.
Fine carriage avenues are being construct
ed, many of which are completed; trees
are planted and are growing finely on the
side of them, and in few years the tops
will meet, creating dense and cool shade,
making delightful drive. Five thousand
five hundred feet of surface drains have
been laid among the avenues. The soil
washes so easily here that brick drains are
necessary. There are employed here,
besides the superintendent, four colored
laborers and two mules, all of whom are
kept perfectly busy. A comfortable house
is erected at the entrance gate for the
superintendent, where he always keeps a
spare room for any chance visitor who may
happen to pass this way, which is not very
often, as the place is too secluded and re-
mote from the great lines of travel, and
then, Southern Georgia with its chills and
| G.
even the native citizen. The dead were
laid IN trenches side by side, and if they
had any article Of clothing worth wearing
our own men would take it to cover their
nakedness, to keep out the chilling blasts
OF winter-no coffin, no clothing, nothing
often land nearly always) but their naked
frames. A neat headboard made of wood
now markes their resting place, with name,
age, regiment and company. And vet
there are many marked " unknown" and
will always remain so until the great
muster day in that eternal world above.
The first man buried here was j.
Swaner, a German. Company II, I'd New
York Cavalry died February 81, 1868.
The last man that died was Il. Ransom,
Company F, 1st Wisconsin. Infantry; died
April Is, 1861 period of fourteen
months. During this time 1916 brave
soldiers passed away, Dearly 1000 a
month. The largest number dying Iany
one day was on the 26th day of August,
1864, when 166 were buried. The most
painful spot to visit was the grave of those
executed in the stockade by our own men,
for the murders and violence they had