The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-14
TALES FROM WAR PRISONERS
ANNUAL DINNER or TIE NATIONAL
UNION or THE SURYITORS.
Letters, Speeches. and Reminiacences-UOw n
Color Sergeant Saved the HeEimentai Flag
"A Negro Emancipation Song Recalled.

Letters, Speeches. and Reminiscences-How n
Color Sergeant Saved the HeEimental Flag
"A Negro Emancipation Song Recalled.
The National Union Of Survivors of An
Jacksonville and other Southern military prisons
held its annual reunion yesterday at the Ross
more Hotel. Nearly ono hundred members OF
the organization were present Robert II. Ke-
logg. President OF tho association opened tho
business meeting with an address. They were
met. he said. not with any spirit Of revenge, and
most assuredly not for any political ends. but
simply because they were drawn together by
the strongest feelings OF comradcshp those
born OF a common devotion to their country.
common remembrance Of bitter suffering, and
common thankfulncss for having been spared
the fate that beiell so many Of their brethren in
the Southern prison pens.
Letters and dispatches were road from
number of absent comrades Ono OF these.
from Chicago. averred that thoro were three
thousand prison survivors in Illinois alone.
members OF this fraternity. Ezra u. Ripple Of
Scranton. one OF tho former Presidents Of tho
association. wrote: &C. Do not waste any time In
passing resolutions OF Cancellation. II has not
paid in the past and think some OF the reso-
lutions should come from the other side. The
Blue and the Gray sounds we'll. but l notice
the gray stands Just about where 1t did eighteen
years ago. II We can judge anything from
what we sec and hear" Tho expression was
received with hearty applause.
The ncxt annual reunion was fixed TO take
place in New York on the first Tuesday in June.
1880. The following officers were elected for
the ensuing year: President. J. w. Merrill Of
New York. Vice President Ezra II. Ripple Of
Scranton Pa. Recording Secretary. Il. f.
Bakeslee OF Hartford. Conn; Corresponding
Secretary and Treasurer. Hiram ,i3uckingham
81 Chester. Conn.,; Toastmaster. W. l.. Goss OF
Mr.. Burnham wardwen introduced himself
MS one who. though excluded from membership
in the association by reason OF not having been
n soldier when confined IN Southern prison
pens, WIS fully in sympathy with II, for. as
glance to the Confederacy he had been arrested
in Richmond. NL-whcrc he had lived for thir-
teen years previously-nnd had been kept in
lals and prison pens for many months. until
he escaped and joined tho Northern army. in
which he served two years He had. during
his Imprisonment closed the eyes of ffty-two
good and truc men. who suffered like himself.
for their devotion 70 the old flag. and whose
fictcd upon them. When he was given the
choice Of imprisonment and probable death, or
OF taking the oath of allegiance 10 the Conted-
| eracy and chose the former. his wife applauded
| ms resolution, and. IN bidding MN farewell.
| dicrs Of the North and We shall meet again
| BY unanimous consent. Mr.. Wardwen was
| elected an honorary member Attention was
| called TO the woman. Caroline :. Wilson, who
| goes about the country collecting money. on the
plea that she has rendered important services
| 10 Union soldiers confined in Southern prisons.
| A resolution was adopted denouncing her as
| fraud.
| the association and few invited guests par
| took Of n banquet served in the dining room Of
| the Rnssmore Hotel II WAS expected that SEN
| ator Blaine would he present. but ho failed 70
| appear. The dinner was very fine one. There
were no toasts. but at the point Of the proceed
| ings where tOasts would have been In order
| speakers were introduced. DR.. A. c. Hamlin.
Mayor Of Bangor. Me-. speaking Of the ntroci-
ties perpetrated upon prisoners, said that he
did not blame the entire people OF the South Tor
| them. but only the merciless cRbal at Richmond
| who ruled the Confectionery. Yet 80 true were
| the brave men conlped there that out OF seven
| teen thousand registered sick only twenty
| five took the oath of allegiance to the Conied-
| eracy TO save their lives.
But there were some amenities shown TO tho
| prisoners. which should also DO remembered.
| ciples OF Christianity wherever they had
| chance TO reach the prisoners. Many Georgians
north OF Andersonyille c2mplained bitterly Of
the medical profession. be i recorded one sur
| geon was brave enough TO write to Jefferson
| Davis a vigorous protest against the inhuman-
| ity OF the treatment OF tho Andersonyille pris-
oncrs. but without any effect In producing "a
mitigation Of their sufferlngs.
Mr.. Warren Lee GOss OF Norwich. Conn. said.
reierrps 20 th use HrsGnsrs who took the Gn
| 100 did so altogether. and only thirteen Of hem
| from the prison pen outside the hospital. He
| told story Of a color sergeant who, when taken
prisoner, had wrapped about his body. beneath
| his clothing. TO conceal u from the enemy the
| flag OF his regiment and when he died in the
| AndersonVille prison pen. his comrades. in
| burying him found the nag still secreted upon
| him and buried It with him.
| Mr.. Mardwell rotated some moro OF his remit
| niscences He told Of the reply Of n Union sol
| der to him. after he escaped from the prison
| pen and looked about rs badly rs q man could
| when he enusively expressed his Joy that tho
| Northern army was coming down TO save him.
| The soldier replied: We'll. old man. | don't
| know ms YOU are worth saving. but. by God. We
are going 10 whip the rcls" When the news Of
| the emancipation proclamation reached the
| South the Speaker WAS he said. IN rebel
| prison. In the yard adjoining which werc three
| hundred negroes. who were kept at work in tho
| daytime upon fortihcations. In some way the
| darkies learned Of the proclamation. and ono Of
| them constructed n song which they used TO
| sing-the verses very softly Tor icar OF the
| guard but the chorus very loud-and II went in
| this wise:
Massa Ilnkum, he's done said II,