The National tribune., 1878-02-01
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE.

pied by the camp having ben cleared for the purpose of
its location In the midst of this abundance and with
the full knowledge Of the highest officers of the confeder
acy Union prisoners of compelled raw food
and perish for want of ireand shelter.
Inside OF the socade parallel with its lines and about
twenty feet distant was tie lead line marked by scant
ling nailed upon upright lDsts which planted in the
ground at regular intervals 1t indeed the line of
death TO pass to ecroach upon the fatal precinct
beyond brought the penaLy of death to all without dis
tncon The purpose of Is establishment to guard
the line OF the sockade against the approach of the prso
nes either sngy i'll numbers The rule of prohibition
was applicable to all and s violation met with instant and
lnexorable punishment. The penalty inflicted with
out discrimination mercy 1t fell alike upon the totter
ing sick and the strong and we'll the sane and the
demented, the staggering wretch whose falling limbs
made lm the unwilling victim, and the suffering maniac
who neither knew nor dreaded his danger The burning
thirst of the evered prisoner which mpeled him reach
beneath 1t for drop OF water purer than the stagnant
pool was quenched in death by the relentless rifle of the
guard while the ignorant prisoner freshly captured and
who had not learned its dread significance fell by the
mercess hand under the standing orders of the officer in
charge The weauthentcated of these ndiscrimi-
nate ana unlustlable murders will be found in the follow
ing naraons with the names of many innocent victims
who were thus sacrificed
Although situated in southern latitude the climate of
Andersonve showed wide variation of temperature
ranging from 1S 12 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade
In the 1854 counted hundred and eight rainy
days, which fell than four aud half feet of rain
Around it and IN its immediate vicinity flowed score of
clear healthy streams abounding delicious water while
the neighborhood is remarkable for its crystal springs
whose translucent waters invite and crafty the of
man. 1t was here that the 9th of November 1868
young Winder planted the prison of Andersonvile Re
ectlng the inviting localities which had been provided in
the immediate vicinity by the benecent hand nature
and most admirably adapted by all their surroundings for
the dwelling place of the unfortunate prisoners Of war
among them the Magnolia spring twelve miles distant
from Amerieus-the rebel officer and agent selected the
site describing.
slave was at once brought into requston 81 hundred of
them being impressed for this purpose by Howell Cobb
then commanding the district in which Andersonvile was
situated The first instllment of capvesconssting of
the soldiers of New Hampshire, Connecticut and Mch
gan, numbering in all some eight hundred men-reached
the prison the 10th day of February 1864 They
met with the eers and taunts of the gaping crowd
posed of all classes who tocked from the surrounding
country gaze upon these invaders of the soil These
early visitors Were the representatives of that public sen
ment of mingled hate and contempt among the
rebels which led themto uphold and vindcae officially
and individually the terrible that have rendered
the of the confederacy reproach and kissing the
history of the world Unquestonab they regarded these
unfortunate unfit TO live and treated them accord
ingy With this sentiment of the people SO often
pressed the officers of the prison found be
perfect accord AS the captured Union flowed week
by week into the jaws of Andersonvie they sub
ected system of punder naugurated in the pureus
of the rebel capital and robbed of be found
upon their persons There here shallow pretenses
berry being the rule adopted especially with those of the
newly arrived prisoners who came fresh and amply clothed
from the weurnished depos of the northern recruiting
stations
In April of 1854 John H. Wnder the personal and
trusted FRIEND partizan, and willing tool of Jeer-
Davis arrived at Andersonvie There is ample evi-
dence that the president of the confedeacy his init
mate friend and protector When his crimes had driven
others to protest against his retention IN the service of
confederacy, the influence of Davis saved him from
mova and disgrace. The relation which this bore TO
the chief and head of the rebellion well described by the
witness Philip Cashmyer, as follows:
For the last four years was detective officer under
General Winder. | with General Winder from the
time he commenced his duties provost marshal until he
died. was his special confidential detective. Well my
duties any important matters such detectives have
to attend TO | attended to for him; such examining
prisoners and making reports upon them and matters
that sort. | admitted into his family also. The
ations existing between him and Mr. Jefferson Davis
very friendly indeed very confidential. often heard
General Winder say | often him 20 there and
come from there [ remember when an effort was made
by Generals Bragg and Ransom to have him removed Mr.
Davis-President Davis-was his special friend then.
When the order relieving General Wndev from the
department, he took it and went up to Mr. Davis.
The order relieving him from duty in Richmord. He
took it and went and President Davis and he in
dorsed it, well as recolect, that it
trely unnecessary and uncaed for After that General
Winder was sent TO Goldsboro North Carolina to take
he ha WAS a or and an