The National tribune., 1882-11-30
ANDERsoNvILLE HANGING.
An Eyewitness Gives q Graphic DsssEipttsn ss Ghs
Affair


your issue of October 10TH, and with your per-
mission, will state what know about the
hanging in Andersonville. I was taken q pTis-
oner in Fauquisr county, vs., on January 1,
1864, conveyed 70 Staunton, and from thers 20
Richmond, where / WAS confined in Libby,
Scott's, and Pemberton prisons, each for . short
time. was sent to Belle Isle about the middle
OF January, and remained there until the fors-
part of March, when l was ordered to Andsr-
sonville; arrived there about the middle Of
March; was put into squad No. Is, mess No. 2.
These squads, as they were called when first
formed, contained 270 men. These were di-
yIded into thres messes, 1st, I'd, and Sd, of 90
men each. Each 80, or mess, had sergeant OF
its own, who drew rations, go. In nv mess
there were two men, both from the Stats of
Illinois, and both belonged 10 Illinois regi-
ments. Their names were Adams and Madi-
gan Adams was q fine, soldierly looking fell
low, with straight black hair and eyes, and
very dark complexion. He wss, l think, the
son OF farmer, and about % years old Msdi-
gan was very unlike Adams. He had curly,
red hair, blue eyes, and fair complexion. was
lively, jolly, and full Of fun, and the son of a
merchant. 1 was told he was about 10 years
old. There were no better men In Anderson
willie than these two boys.
One morning Madigan came TO ms and Eald:
Sergeant, l was the acting sergeant Of mes5
No. 2 squad No. 49, we were raided last even
ing, and Adams had close call The knife
Just tickled his throat and made q slight scar
Madigan said that they knew the parties who
had raided upon them. l asked him if there
was not something that could be done. For at
this time none of US felt safe from these rob
bers. The treatment that we received from
the rebels was, God knows, bad enough, but. in
addition to this, to have our own men stealing,
raiding, and indirectly numbering each other.
was, indeed, horrible, and made AndorsonyilIe
ut this time living hell on earth.1 He said
that he had heard Wirz say that if any one
would point these raiders out, that he would
take them out of the camp. l asked him if be
was sure that he had heard Wirz say so, and
he said ne was positive of it. Then / told him
that it was his duty to go to the gate and tell
the guards that he wanted to see Wirz, and
when taken to him, to state that he could point
out the raiders. Madigan still hesitated, and
did not want TO go. l urged him to go, stating
that it was duty he owed to the rest of US,
for he and Adams knew positively who were
the parties who had raided upon them. l fur
then urged that as soon as one person began to
point out these fellows, there would be plenty
who would take courage snd assist him in ex-
posing them. urged him so strongly that he
finally consented. He was taken to Wirz and
made his statement. Immediately Wir
sent into the stockade guard with fixed bayo-
nets. They came in at the south gate, and
marched between the dead-line and the stock
ade southwark from the south gate up to
nearly the corner or south 5tockade. They
then halted. MadigaR and Andrews, each 40
with guard, began to point out
those whom they knew to be raiders. Others
then assisted, and it was not long until the
camp was rid of this ugly element. I presume
at this time between so and 80 raiders were
taken out, Shortly after there came an order
from Wirz for all of the sergeantS who had
charge of the mnties to fall into line. After
we had formed into line, l judged that there
was about so or so of Us, or about the same
number as had been taken out as raiders. We
were marched outside and up to headquarters.
when Wirz made to us the following speech:
"Men, 1 cannot do anything with these men,
for if do your Government will retaliate, bus
Will leave you to try them, and punish them
rs you see fit"
These were not the exact words, but they
ire the substance of his speech. After the
speech we consulted as what was best to be done.
We decided to select a jury of II men by los
from among our own number to try the prison.
RS, when some one suggested that we divide
)ur number in half, and that the jury be So
ected by lot from the half containing the new
st or last prisoners, as it was feared that the
I'D prisoners who knew so much about the
or raiders would be prejudiced
.ganst them and would be too severe with
hem. Accordingly we divided the squad, and
We old prisoners were marched back into the
tOckade, while from the last half the jury was
elected. The trial took place in the pen, or
mall stockade, that was built around the north
ate. 1t resulted in six men being condemned
o be hung. Those who were not found guilty
f course could not be punished, and were put ,
ack again into camp. Some Of them were
erribly assaulted by the boys as they came
ntO the camp.
The day was set for the execution to take
lace. On the previous day the scafTold was
rected close TO the south gate aud everything
vas in readiness. On the appointed day VIZ
ode OIL horseback into the camp. With him
;ers the six prisoners under guard. They
ame in at the south gate. Wirz turned over
he prisoners TO us aud Us he did So he made
he following speech:
"NEen, received these men of YOU In good
nd healsy (he could not Say healthy") con-
ition, and 1 return them to you in the same,
nd may Gott God have mercy on their souls"
Iaving uttered these words, he Withdrew the
uard and went out.
The priest, who was at the scafold, now
rged the prisoners to prepare for death. The
rsOners looked as if they did not realize that
ley were about to be executed. l thought
rom their appearance that they thought that
was merely sham, or was done to frighten
lem, but when the priest continued TO urge
lem to prepare for death, they showed soma
,nsibility. 1t was at this time that the one
,ho was farthcSt from the gate and the last
ian on the north, who was dressed IN 4 suit OF
raw, and who, l believe, Was called Curtis,
ith cIenched teeth and in an excited manner
id. d" will never die upon tHat scalold"
nd Immediately he broke away and ran in a
direction towards the brook He
as knocked down, believe, before he reached
le brook, and in a weak and lettering condi-
on brought back to the sca1old, whereon the
hers had already taken their places He
as then taken up onto the platform, and the