The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-01-21
RecOllectlins of the Rebellion.

There was once an episode during my
life at Andersonville that stands out in
my memory above all others. No man
can conceive Of the decentralization that
comes upon men confronted on all sides
with so much misery. The greatest lux
ury that could be enjoyed by a prisoner
was warm blanket. Yet men were
found among the prisoners base enough
to rob their fellows Of even these COM
forts. A gang of robbers was organized,
who went around the camp at night and
tore the blankets and clothes off Of sick
| and dying men, kicking and beating
those who made any feeble attempt at
resistance. In little while the robber-
ries become so tcequent as to 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 lnvesti-
gate and see who were the perpetrators
Of these outrages. and punish them.
Writ granted 1.-THE only kind act he
ever did. believe, for the Union prison.
ers there and thank him for it to this
day.
We picked out six men for trial before
tribunal of our own selection. It sat
outside of the stockade under the Con-
| federate guard. A judge, jury, prosecut-
Ing attorney, and clerk were appointed,
| together with counsel for the defence.
Evidence was heard from many Of the
prisoners, and the accused were all iden-
tilted as among the parties found guilty
of the robberles. A verdic Of guilty
was returned, and they were sentenced
to be hung. The proceedings were ap-
proved by Writ, who ordered the lum-
Der to be furnished us for scatfold. We
built one sufficient for our purpose. It
consisted simply of cross-beam sup
ported by two uprlghts. A platform was
constructed about three feet from the
ground, the first plank, laid at right
angles with the upright and parallel
| with the cross-beam directly above it,
being so adjusted that it could be with
drawn from It's position at a moments
notice. The six condemned men were
escorted to the scaffold by a guard of
about three hundred prisoners, armed
with sticks and clubs. They were placed
on the plank. In lieu of the customary
black caps, their heads were encased in
-four sacks. .-.
| Notwithstanding this abseh ce Of ccre-
mony the scene was an impressive one.
The gallows stood near the top of the
hill, and nearly all the thirty-eight thous-
and prisoners were gathered to witness
the execution. They maintained perfect
the condemned but their hollow eyes,
pale, pinched faces, their savage express
ion of countenauce, were a sufficient in
aication of their determination that no
one should escape. The ropes were care
fully adjusted with the knot in each case
under the left ear, and, by signal, the
the board was withdrawn from beneath
them. There was drop of three feet,
and the bodies swung about a foot from
the ground-all but one. The sixth man
former sailor in the navy, was perceiv-
ed 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 Il wild yell in pursuit. II
was fight for life. He had the start by
few seconds, and made the most by it.
never saw man run as he did. He 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 on the other side of the
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. Wideping the distance between
us, he again sought refuge in a dugout
) and a second time had to abandon it as
. we came up. 1t was twenty minutes be-
, fore we had him fast. He begged pite
ously for his life, but he had no mercy
We had to drag HIM down the hill thro
the sand thence through the swamp
, and up the other hill to the scaffold. III
l was held by three men on the platform
while the moose was adjusted the SECOND
. time after we we had spliced the rope
=. He trembled IN every limb. Atthe Civ
; en- moment the men pushed him from
( the scaffola, and he swung clear from
the ground two feet. Robberies neve
s.. occurred again.