Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-03-15

AN old survivor Of An1ersonville, in
a talk with representative Of the Erea-
ing Post, says:
There was an episode during my life
at Andersonville that stands out in nv
memory against all others. No one can
conceive of the decentralization that will
come upon men confronted on all sides
with so much misery. While Anderson
vile developed examples Of as noble
heroism and self-sacrifce as the world
has ever witnessed, it served also to
bring out on the part of some of the in
mates some of the most abhorrent and
despicable traits Of human nature. The
greatest luxury that could be enjoyed
by prisoner was warm blanket. Yet
men were found among the prisoners
base enough to rob their fellows of even
these comforts. A gang of robbers was
organized, who went around the camp
at night, and tore the blankets and the
clothes off from sick and dying men,
kicking and beating those who made any
feeble resistance. Money was also ta-
ken from the prisoners, or anything of
value that could be found upon them.
In little while the robberies became
so frequent as to be the worst of our
troubles. y perfect reign of terror ex-
listed, and we did not know what to do.
Finally, after consultation, we asked
permission of Wirtz to investigate and
see who were the perpetrators of these
outrages, and punish them He granted
it, the only kind act he ever did, | be-
lieve. for the Union prisoners there, and
| thank him for it this day. We picked
out six men for trial before a tribunal
OF our own selection. 1t sat outside of
the stockade under confederate guard,
A judge, jury, prosecuting attorney and
clerk were appointed, together with a
counsel for the defense. Evidence was
heard from many of the prisoners, and
the accused were all identified as among
the parties guilty of the robberies. 4
verdict OF guilty was found, and they
were sentenced to be hung, and the en-
tire proceedings approved by Wirtz, who
for scaffold. We built one sufficient
for our purpose in few hours. 1t con-
sisted simply of a cross-beam supported
by two uprights. A platform was con-
structed about 3 feet from the ground,
the first plank laid at right angles with
the uprights and parallel with the cross
beam directly above it, being so adjust
ed that it could be withdrawn from it's
position at a moments notice. The six
condemned men were escorted to the
scatfold by guard of prisoners, armed
with sticks and clubs. They were
placed on this plank In lieu of the
customary black cap, we encased their
heads in -four sacks
Notwithstanding this absence of GER
emOny the scene was an impressive one
The gallows stood near the top of the
hill, and nearly all the thirty eight
thousand prisoners were gathered to
witness the execution. They maintain
ed perfect silence refraining from any
insults to the condemned, but their ho1-
low eyes, pinched faces. their savage ex-
preston OF countenance, were suf
ficient indication of their determination
that not one should escape The ropes
were carefully adjusted, and the knot
in each case under the left ear, and, by
signal, the board withdrawn from be-
meath them. There was drop of two
feet, and the bodies swung about foot
HUN VIC SlOuuu ali UuU UIle. lit
sixth man, a former sailor in the navy,
was perceived to have fallen to the
ground. The rope had broken
In an instant he was on his feet. He
started to run down thes hill. The
crowd comprehending his intention to
escape, followed with wild yell in pur-
suit. 1t was a fight for life. He had a
start by few seconds, and he made the
most OF it. never saw man run as he
did. He went down to the morass with
nearly $4,000 men close upon his heels.
Not finding him there, we looked up and
saw him running up the side of the 9TH
er hill. We followed He made for
one of the huts or sheds, but, as he
heard us coming, he got down and start
ed on the run. Widening the distance
between us he again sought refuge, and
second time had to abandon it as we
came up. 1t was twenty minutes before
we had him fast. He begged piteously
for his life but we had no mercy, We
had to drag him down the hill, through
the swamp, and up the other hill to the
scaffold. He was held by three men on
the platform, while the moose was adjust
ed the second time, after we had spliced
the rope. He trembled in every limb.
At the given moment the man was push
ed from the scatfold, and he swung clear
from the ground two feet. The robber-
les never occurred again"