The National tribune., 1881-12-03
AN INCIDENT OF THE LATE WAR,

!
Wirz, in command of the post saw indications of
general stampede and became alarmed He
knew that he and his bOodhounds were objects
of detestati0n by the guard. He was never seen
out at night, and never slept without sentinel
at his door. Such was the lack of zeal of those
outside the st0ckade when the 4th day of July
| 1864, dawned upon AndersOnville But it was
noticeable that at an early hour there was more
| moving to and fro, and more talking among the
prisoners. A break by them was apprehended,
and measures were taken to check it. Still Wirz
was dlStrusttul Of his own men. The suspicious
stiffness of the hour, at II a. m was broken by
the putting of locomotive engine scudding
through the pines in hot haste from Macon
Though drawing 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 early return to their
homes in North Georgia. MaOr-General How
ell Cobb, commander of the Eighth military dis
trict Of the Southern cOnfederacy, alighted from
the engine and was welcomed by General Win
der and Captain Wirz, who with an escort, had
been for an hour awaiting the distinguished ar
rival. General Cobb was escorted to within one
hundred yards of the stockade, where all the
line and halted. General Winder assumed COM
mand and ordered hollow square to be formed
In a voice just husky enough to convey intensity
of earnestness General Cobb spoke as follows:
"Officers and soldiers of the Southern confed-
eracy: If you are surprised to see me here to-day
1t is mine to confess greater surprise that there
should be deemed such necessity for my pres
ence. Can it be that GeOrgans are deserving
their posts in the face of 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 captur-
ed on a 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
enclosure there foated sounds of voices singing
Perhaps the speaker had only paused to render
more impressive by intervening a moment of
silence his next following utterance, perhaps it
| was the remembrance of the glorious and tran
quill days when ne was high in the councils of
being sung, that made him pause when for the
first time in years he heard that chorus
The Star Spa.gled banner, o long may it wave
Ger the land Of the free and the home of the brave.
AS the chorus was ended the speaker resumed
us there man here who would so fail of his
duty? Hear me, announce in your hearing
and let one be deceived by the hope of escape
the next, and every other deserter from his
post, who is captured, will be Immediately tried
by drum-head court martial and executed on
the spot, and announce further that the COM
mander of this post is fully invested with au-
thority to carry this order into execution"
The last of these words were almost drowned
by the sounds from the stOckade, and turning to
the post-commander, General Cobb exclaimed:
Captain Wirz have the prisoners stop that noisel"
As Wirz was moving off, in one brief instant that
sound grew tenfold louder than before, as from
their $4,000 voices yelling up from more than
10000 hearts ready to burst with recollections of
home and liberty and loved ones, swelled the
chorus
The Star Spanglsd banner o long may it wave
Ger the land of the free and the home of the brave
Involuntary every head turned, facing the di-
reeton whence came that musical roar. 1t was
the sublimest, the most wildly thrilling outburst
of song that ever fell on mortal ears Even Wirz,
as if overwhelmed by the grand refrain, stood
stOck-stll until the end of the chorus, when
General Cobb shouted sternly a repetition of his
command to him. Have the prisoners stop that
nOise"
For minute then he essayed to continue his
speech, until the chorus was third time reach
ed, when again his voice was drowned, and this
time by artillery of song swelling, pealing and
booming-a deafening tornado of sound melo-
diOusy attuned. The cOnfederates in line stood
still from establishment, guard upon the stock
ade wall, if stunned, let fall his gun upon the
inside. Yet, ere the echo had caught up the
closing word, the thunderOus voice began to re-
peat the lines, when q scene ensued which baf-
fled pen portrayal. Poor cripples with only one
foot left on which to stand caught at their neigh
bors and drew themselves upright; and lean,
wasted frames, within hour of dissolution
sprang like school boys from the burning sands
erect, and, waving their bony hands aloft, united
their hollow voices with enthusiasm in the glo-
rious nvocation.-HoOsae Valley Neacs.
The following from complete table in Chief
Engineer Kings work "The War Shins and