The Portland daily press., 1881-06-22
Andersonville.
How Howell Cobb Stayed the Threatened
Revolt Of the Georgia Men.
Letter TO Boston Herald 1

lASSNoi W DOoLOn LoIdlul
On the Sd Of July Wirtz saw indications of a
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
sentinel at his door. Such was the lack-zeal
OF those outside the stockade, when the 4th
day OF July. 1864, dawned upon Andersonville
But 1t was noticeable at an early hour that
there was more moving to and fro, and more
talking among the prisoners. A break was ap-
pretended, and measures were taken to check
it. Still Wirtz was distrustful of his own men.
The suspicious stiffness of the hour, at II a. M
was broken by the putting of locomotive en-
gine scudding through the pines in hot haste
from the direction of 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 an early return to their homes In
North Georgia Major-G General Howell Cobb,
commander of the Sth military district OF the
Southern Confederacy, alighted from the en-
gine, and was welcomed by General Winder
and Captain Wirtz, who with an escort had
been for an hour awaiting the distinguished
arrival. General Cobb was escorted to within
one hundred yards of the stockade, where all
the troops not on guard d.mount had been or
dered into line. The three chiefs marched
half way down the line and halted. General
Winder assumed command and ordered hol-
low square to be formed In voice Just hus-
Ky enough to convey intensity of earnastness
General Cobb spoke as follows:
"Officers and Soldiers of the Southern Con.
federacy: II you are surprised to see me here
to-day it Is mine to confess greater surprise
that there should be deemed such a necessity
for my presence. Can it be true that Georgi-
ans are DESERVING their posts in the face OF
disarmed enemy2 Can it be true that Geor-
gians are refusing in safety TO guard the van
dal horde within that den, whom your more
valorous brothers have capturedl 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 enclosure there foated sounds Of voices
singing. Perhaps the speaker had only paused
TO render more impressive by intervening q
moment OF silence his next following utter
ance; perhaps it was the remembrance OF the
glorious and tranquil days when he was high
In the councils OF the nation, whose sweet ma
tional Gle was now being sung, that made him
pause when, for the first time in years, he
heard that chorus:
''The star-spangled banner, o long may 1t wave
Ger the land of the Free and the home Of the brave"
AS the chorus was ended the speaker re-
sumed us there man here who would so
fail OF his duty? Hear me. I 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 Immediately tried by drumhead court
martial and executed on the spot, and an
nounce further that the commander Of this
post is fully invested with authority 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 ex-
claimed: Captain Wirtz, have the prisoners
stop that noiseW As Wirtz was moving off,
in one brief instant that sound grew tenfold
louder than before, as from more than $4,000
voices welliag up from more than &c, 900 hearts
ready to burst with recollections of home and
liberty and loved ones, sweled the chorus:
THE star-spangled banner, o, long may it wave
Oer the land OF the free and the home Of the
brave"
Involuntarily every head turned, facing the
direction whence came that musical roar. 1t
was the sublimest, the most wildly thrilling
outburst of song that ever fell en- 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
repetition of his command to have the prison.
ers stop that noise. .t.
For minute then he essayed to continue
his speech until the chorus was q third time
reached, when again his voice was drowned
and this time by an artillery Of song swelling,
pealing and booming-a deafening tornado Of
sound melodiously attuned. The Confederates
in line stood still from astonishment, a guard
upon the stockade WALL as if stunned, let fall
his gun upon the inside. Yet, ERE the echo
had caught up the closing words, the thunder
Gus voice began to repeat the lines, when q
scene ensued which battles pen portrayal.
Poor cripples, with only one foot left on which
to stand, caught at their neighbors and drew
themselves upright; and lean, wasted frames,
within an hour of dissolution, sprang like
schoolboys from the burning sands erect, and,
waving their bony hands aloft, united their
hollow voices with enthusiasm in the glorious
invocation. -...--