Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-11-11

STORIES ~ AxDERsoNvIILE.
The ''Regalars- Execution Of the
''Raiders" In she Rebel steckade.
Hartford Post.
Early in May, 1864. prisoners began
TO psur into the rebel stockade at An
dersonville By Hundreds. the camp there
being the receptacle for captured troops
| from every State along the Atlantic
coast south Of Virginia, aud from the
| tier Of rebel commonvsslths bordering
on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. By
the last of June there were nearly thirty
thousand prisoners in the camp. In
such multitude there would of neces-
sity be found the worst elements in So
ciety, men Who would not shrink from
the fonlsst crimes, If they coald be COM
Disted without discovery. These men
organized themselves into bands for the
purpose of robbery, and for month or
more terrorized the entire camp. Large
numbers Of soldiers went into Ander-
sonvilie with. from 800 ts 1900 in
greenbacks in their pockets. The men,
bers of the One Hundred and Third
and Hundred and First Pennsylvania
Regiments, for instance, who were cap
tured with the Sixteenth Connecticut
st Plymouth, N. c., had received short
time before that disaster the govern
ment bounty Of $500 apiece for re-en-
listment, and the majority of them had
large sums Of money on their persons
whom they fell into the rebel hands
The raiders prowled among them at
night. while they were slee ping on the
ground without teot or shelter, and
rified their pockets Of every dollar thew
contained. Not only money was stolen,
but canteens, cups and blankets made
rich booty for the despersdoes, who
we're ruling With rod Of iron over the
lives and bodies Of the prisoners. Every
hour during the night the cry of Raid.
srs r. could be heard throughout the
camp. and . desperate effort was in
variably made to capture them. But ii
generally proved unavailing, and q
reign of terror aet in, lasting for weeks.
There are score Of men in Hartford
county today who can recall the ghastly
struggles and encounters that made
night a pandemonium at Andersonville.
On the Both of June, under the leader
ship of mysterious character known
as Timber Jim" bat whose real name
has never yet been ascertained,a a vigi-
lance committee was organized. and the
members OF 1t were known in camp as
1.-The regulars" The original object of
the organization Was the breaking MP
OF tho band of raiders, and the enforce
ment OF order and protection through
~ he a.
leading spirit in the vigilance commit
tee, and under his direction anumber of
raiders were arrested. The rebel au.
thorities, who were at least interested
in preventing the camp from being in
festeo with pack of human wolves,
thereby rendering tho duties of their
troops less burdensome in keeping the
encampment in subjection, consented
by the Union soldiers, and il found
guilty, sentenced to execution. II was
Believed that this course would haye a
extended to the vigilance committee to
do what they pleased With the offenders.
They were tried under form of law,
extemporized for the occasion, and six
of tke men were found guilty of murder
and sentenced to be hanged.
The 11th of July was set as the day
for the execution, and before noon
seaffOld was erected under one of the
most enchanting Georgia skies. The
sAOrnin0 wore away slowly, and as the
afternoon approached all eyes were
turned toward the instrument of death,
which was to be used at 5 o'clock for
sending six men summarily into eter-
nifty. The afternoon hours passed one
by one, the men inside the stockade
waiting with anxious faces the entrance
of the six condemned men, who were
outside the camp under rebel watch and
g1ard. At the appointed hour the men
were brought TO the prison gate by
Generals Winder and Toombs, and
placed in the hands Of Captain Wirz,
the executive officer Of the camp. Wirz,
with q rebel guard, brought them in.
side the stockade and turned them over
to the Vigilance Committee.
It should. in justice be said that the
bloodthirsty rebel, Wirz, before COM
mitting the doomed men TO their asso-
ciates In the prison, stated that they
had been tried and sentenced to death,
axd thar he placed their lives at the dis
posal of the Union troops, who should
deal With them as their Judgment, JUS
tice and mercy should dictate. He then
right and left faced the guard and
marched them in order out of the en-
campment.
The wretched men were now left face
to face with their executioners, and not
less than twenty thousand soldiers
stood around them. A Catholic priest,
Who had been with the half dozen des-
peradoes, fulfilling the duties OF his Of
Zoe as a spiritual adviser, made an earn
est,impassioned appeal for the prcserva-
ton OF their lives. bat. seeing his efforts
unavailing, be bssought the condemned
men 20 turn their attention 70 God. Who
could alone have mercy upon them. The
ecere Was oue never 70 be ferR0seon.
The very safety ef the camp depenoed
upon the course which should b pur-
sued. Il vas Q Questjou Whistler u ca
forcing order and peotection, stx Iivee
J Pehcuid be sacyiAoe6 ~ . warning that
lAvlcssmeog ehoold b p1nishe4, o. lena-
encv be granted, and full sway b Riven
10 the terrorists, Who had made NE
place akin 20 tho lowest .ye9tone. ls
wa q hard deoisiea = m4ke witheas
the sanction Of lag, civil OF milisssy,
but Il had 10 b UAde.
The men vhe1e hands had oeen
stained with q tb0usand crimes, u mos
vith the blood al their fellow priecnsrs,
were eompelled % aessaa ~ sea1cea,
and the sxs1ntioa vas psoeseds4 vssn.
Pendinr the oo0summa13oe ~ axran9e-
nen1a. O. Of ~ moa bgoko iron tee
rls1form % whish ~ III vees hsand-
~ With ths exseat5eoof--Whe vse neoe
ot6er than tAe mysosgiso1 HAees
Jim"-and his aids, and made . dsepee'
| ate struaels for life. The crowd gave
vay for a instant, and lst hin thrsoen
the living saviroanasnt out into shs
opsn camp. The pursuit, however. vaa
~ deperste .as the flight. and she
vresehcd man vas reoepeufsd ana
br,uqht baok 10 tie placo Ct sxeeosaon.
Baos were drawn over the heads Of sne
tremblin0 culprits, and the ropcs With
vhich they were. 10 b hanged wefe
sdiusted around their necks.
Limber Jim was the last man g
| leaye the platform. Al he dssoseoed
fhe rouQh ladder be halted for mo-
mont. and, touching . spring, sent sne
I'm doosn men down the fatal leap
An exclamation Of horror was heard
nom 1900 lips. In the fall the ring'
leedef had broken hie rope aud feu IN
- Ah~ RAe< Of the vast oO0-