Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1881-06-23
A "Reminiscences of AndersonvilIe.

/ 11OstCi W DOctOu bCidfu.
On one Sd of July Wirtz saw indica-
tions of general stampede and became
alarmed. He knew that he and his
bloodhOunds were objects of detestation
by the guard. He was never seen out
at night, and never slept without SEN
| tinel at his door. Such was the lack-zeal
of those outside the stockade when the
Fourth Of July, 1864, dawned upon An
Jacksonville. But it was noticeable at an
early hour that there was more moving
to and fro, and more talking among the
prisoners. A break by them was ap-
pretended, but measures were taken to
check it. Still, Wirtz was distrustful of
his own men. The suspicious stiffness
of the hour at IL A. NJ. was broken by
the putting of a locomotive engine scud-
ding through the pines in hot haste from
the direction of Macon. Though draw
ing no train, that engine was laden with
authority, which authority soon made
itself heard, to the dismay of many who
had mapped out routes overland for an
early return to their homes in North
Georgia. Major General Howell Cobb,
commander of the Eighth Military Dis
trict of the Southern Confederacy. alight-
ed from the engine and was welcomed
by General Winder and Captain Wirtz,
who, with an escort, had been for All
hour awaiting the distinguished arrival.
General Cobb was escorted to within
one hundred yards of the stockade,
where all the troops not on guard-mount
had been ordered into line. The three
chiefs marched half way down the line
and halted. General Winder assumed
command and ordered a hollow square
to be formed. In a voice just husky
enough to convey intensity of earnest
ness, General Cobb spoke as follows:
"Officers and Soldiers of the Southern
Confederacy: If you are surprised to see
me here to-day it is mine to confess a
greater surprise that there should be
deemed such . necessity for my pres
ence. Can it be true that Georgians are
deSsrting their posts in the face of a
disarmed enemy? Can it be true that
Georgians are refusing in safety to guard
the vandal horde within that den, whom
your more valOrOus brothers have cap-
tured on hundred bloody fields. Can
it be true that there are Georgians here
to-day who are ready to turn loose upon
their mothers, sisters, daughters and
wives that multitude Of robbers. who
are painting for opportunities to, burn
and ravage our land. as they wander
back to rejoin their comrades, who are
pressing US at every pOint?"
Just at this point in his speech, from
the prison inclosure there fiOated sounds
of voices singing. Perhaps the speaker
had only paused, to render more impress
siye by intervening moment Of silence
his next following utterancts; perhaps
it was the remembrance of the glorious
and tranquil days, when he was high in |
the councils of the Nation, whose sweet
National ode was new being sung, that
made him pause when, for the first time
in years, he heard that chorus:
"The star-spangled banner. o long may
it wave
Der the land of the free and the home
of the brave"
AS UllO CliOi uO W so OnOoN OhO oRCohCA
resumed: "Is there man here who
would so fail Of his duty? Hear me. l
announce in your hearing-and let no
one be deceived by the hope of escape
the next and every other deserter from
this post, who is captured, will be i'm
mediately tried by a drumhead court
martial and executed on the spet, and /
announce further that the commander
of this post is fully invested with au-
thoiity to carry this order into oxecu-
tiOn."'
The last of these words wers. almost
drowned by the sounds from the stock
ade, and, turning to the post commander
General Cobb exclaimed: Captain Wirtz
have the prisoners stop that noise" As
Wirtz was moving off, In one brief in
slant that sound grew tenfold louder
than before, rs from more than 10000
voices yelling up from more than $4,000
hearts ready to burst with reeollections
of home and liberty and loved ones,
swelled the chorus:
"The star-spangled banner, o long may
it wave
Ger the land of the free and the home
of the brave"
Involuntarily every head turned, fac
ing the direction whence came that mu-
sical roar. 1t was the sublimest, the
most wildly thrilling outburst of song
that ever fell ON mortal ears, Even
Wirtz, as if overwhelmed by the grand
refrain, stood stock still until the end of
the chorus, when General Cobb shouted
sternly a repetition of his oommsnd to