The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-01-25
Ghsqntellfgetrceo:
The Debate on the Amnesty iii,
why Jeff Davis Is Linuc III"
Execution TO its Provisions


Itibnow very evident that the horrors
Of the rebel prison pen at Andcrsonviile
were never so fully understood and ap-
nreci,,od bv tho people Of this country Us
since the debate on the amnesty bill In
III. uou.e a. Washington: The facts
noror comc out all in lump as they have
n ,bis debate, especially in Gen. Gar
g.Ii. great speech, which, by the way,
i. thickly interspersed with rebel official
documents, some OF which clinch his state
mcnts, and those Of other union men, be-
yond the possibility1of doubt. Those
who have, read the testimony OF Mr..
Richardson before the Committee on
the Conduct OF the War will re-
member his graphic picture OF the
incredible horrors suffered by the Union
prisoners in that awful den Of filth and
wrctchcdness. Ben. Hill undertook to
Jiscredit that account in his late speech
bystating that there were trees in this pen,
and also stream OF pure water running
through it. Gen. Garfield produced the
official testimony Of D. r. Chandler, AS
sistant Adjutant and Inspector General
under the Confederate Government, to
show what sort Of a place it was and what
sort Of n stream ran through it. Chand-
ler's official report to the JEFF. Davis
Cabine, at Richmond was as follows;
ASpERsoSvILLE, Jan. 5, lS64.-CoLo-
MEL; Having in obedience to instruc-
lions of the 18th ultimo, carefully in
spected the prison for Federal prisoners
of war and post at this place, respect
fully submit the following report: The
Federal prisoners OF war are confined
within n stockadc l5 feet high, ot rough
ly.hcwn pine logs about s inches in diam
eter, inserted feet into the ground in-
closing, including the recent extension,
nm area of $40 BY 26O yards. A railing
around the inside OF the stockadc, and
about 90 feet from it, constitutes the
|dead.liue," beyond which the prisoners
are not allowed to pass, and about D!
acres near the centre Of the inclosure are
so marshy as TO be at present unit Tor ocu'
nation, reducing tho available present
area to about 23A acres, which gives
somewhat less than 6square feet TO eact
prisoner. Even this is being constantly
reduced by the addition to their number
A small stream passing from west to cas-
through the inclosure ut about l5O yard'
from It's southern limit, furnishes the
only water for washing accessible TO tht
prisoners. Some regiments OF the guard
the bakery, and the cook-house, being
placed Oh the rising grounds bordering
the stream before it enters the prison
renders the water nearly unfit for use be
fore it enters the prison.
D.. CHANDLER.
Asst Ad't and Inspector GenraI
Upon this Confederate official repor
General Garfield commented as follows
"IIere is an official exhibit Of the man
ner in which the officer detailed by JEFF
Davis chose the place for health, and
running water, and agreeable shade. liz
chose piece Of forest ground that had
miasmatic marsh in the heart Of it and q
small stream running through ii; but the
troops stationed outside OF the stockade
we're allowed to defle its pure water be-
fore it could reach the stockade, and then
"a il the very refinement OF cruelty, rs i
tomake n mOckery OF the order quoted BY
the gentleman from Georgia, he detaileC
men to cut down every tree and shrub II
the inclOsure, leaving not a green leaf Z
show where the forest had been. And sub
sequently, when the burning sun oil JUL
was pouring down its fiery heat upon the
heads Of these men, with but six SQUARE
feet OF ground to q man, pilcous petition
was made by the prisoners to Windcr t
allow these poor men to be detailed to s.
outside under guard and cut pine iron
the forest TO make arbors under which
they could shelter themselves, and the.
were answered, with all the loathsom
brutality Of malignant hate, that the.
should have NO bush to shelter them; ant
thus, under the fierce rays oi the Southern
sun, they miserably perished."
A Confederate planter named Ambros
Spencer, who resided near AndcrsonvillC
testified as follows in regard to this loath
some prison pen:
Between the lst and 18th Of December
1858, went UP to Andersonvillc with "
s, Winder and four or five other gentle
men, out OF curiosity, to see how the pri:
on was going to be laid out.
Ssked him il he was going to erect bar
racks or shelter OF any kind. lie replic'
that he was not; that the damned 1an
kess who would be put in there would hav
no need Of them. l asked him why h
was cutting down all the trees, and Sug
Ves,ed that they would prove shelter L
the prisoners from the heat OF the sun a
least. He made this reply or something
similar 10 it: "That is just what an
going to do; I am going to build pei
here that will kill more damned Yankee
than can be destroyed in the 'front.'" Thos
arc very nearly his words, or cquivaIcn
10 them.
Col. Chandler subsequently made an
other report TO the Rebel Cabinet, il
which he recommended the removal @
the monster Gen. Winder, the commnn
dant, in the following words:
ASDERsoNvILLE, Aug 5, lSG4.-CoL
oSEL: My duty requires me FesPeC'
fully to recommend change in th
officer in command Of tho post, Brig: Ger
J.H. Winder, and the substitution in hi
place OF some one who unites both energ.
and good judgment with some feeling o
humanity and consideration for the vel
fare and comfort (so far rs is consisten
with their saIe.keeping) Of the vast mum
ber Of untor,unates placed under his con
troll; some one who, at least, will not ad
vocate deliberately and in cold blood tn
propriety Of leaving them in their presen
condition until their number has bceI
sufficiently reduced by death to make tn
present arrangement for their accommo
dAtion answer; who will not consider
a matter Of seli.laudation and boastinI
that he has never been inside Of the stock
ade, a place the horrors Of which it i
difficult 10 describe, and which is di.
grace TO civilization, the condition @
which he might, by the exercise Of a lii
tie energy and Judgment. even with III