River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-03-28
CONDEMNED BY THEIR COMRADES


| n Eseminfscence of AnGersOaylfIe, Told
by prisoner.
| An old survivor of Andersonville in a
| talk with representative of the EDening
| Post says: There was an episode during
my life at Andersonville that stands out
in my memory above all others. While
Andersonville developed examples of as
noble heroism and self-sacrilice as the
world probably ever witnessed, it served
also to bring out upon the part-of some OF
| the inmates many 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 these COM
forts. A gang of robbers was organized
who went around the camp at night and
tore blankets and clothes off from sick
and dying men, kicking and beating those
who made any feeble attempt at resistance.
Money was also taken from the prisoners,
or anything of value that could be found
upon them. In little while the robberies
became so frequent as 20 be the worst of
our troubles
A perfect reign of terror existed, and
we did not know what to do. Finally,
after consultation, we asked permission OF
Writ to investigate and see who were
the perpetrators of the outrages, and pun
ish them. Writ granted it, and I thank
him for it to this day. We picked out
six men for trial before the 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 defence. Evidence was
heard from many of the prisoners, and
the accused were all identified as among
the parties guilty of the robberies. A
verdict of guilty was found, and they
were sentenced to be hung, and the entire
proceedings approved by Writ, who or
dered the lumber to befurnished us for a
scaffold We built one sufficient for our
purpose in few hours. 1t consisted
simply of cross-beam, supported by two
uprigbts. A platform was constructed
about three feet from the ground, the first
plank, laid at right angles with the up
rights and parallel with the cross beams
directly above it, being so adjusted that
it could be withdrawn from its position
at moments notice. The six condemned
men were escorted to the scoffold by a
guard of about three hundred prisoners,
armed with sticks and clubs. They were
placed ON this plank. In lieu OF the Gus
tomary black cap we encased their heads
in flour sacks.
Notwithstanding this absence of cere-
mony 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 maintained perfect 81
lence, refraining from any insults to the
condemned, but their hollow eyes, pale,
pinched face, their savage expression of
countenance, were sufficient Indication
that not one should escape. The ropes
were carefully adjusted, with the knot in
each case under The left car, and, by a
signal, the board withdrawn from beneath
them. There was a drop of two feet, and
the bodies swung about foot from the
ground-all but one. The 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 the hill. The crowd,
comprehending his intention to escape,
followed with wild yell in pursuit. 1t
was flight for life. He had the start by
a few seconds, and he made the most of
it
| never saw man run as he did. lie
went down to the morass with nearly
thirty-eight thousand men close upon his
heels. Not finding him there we looked
up and saw him running up the side of
the other hill, We followed. He made
for one of the huts or sheds, but as
soon as he heard us coming got out and
again started on the run. Widening the
distance between us he again sought ref
uge in dugout, 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 sand, thence
through the swamp, and up the other hill
to the scafiold. He was held by three
men on the platform while the rope was
adjusted the second time, after we had
spliced the rope. He trembled in every
limb. At the given moment the men
pushed him from the scaffold, and he
swung clear from the ground two feet.
The robberies never occurred agaln.-St
Louis Erenenq Post