davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-04-05
tor NArIoSAL TRInI-NE.

To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
AS some of the boys are giving their resoIlec-
tons of AndeTsonyille and the spring, / am re-
minded that eighteen years calculated to
impair the memory. Lieut.. Davis, for instance
finds himself changed from the north to the south
side of the little brook which flowed through the
prison. viii give little of my own recollection
of the scenes in the prison, as | of the
lucky and unwilling boarders at Camp Sumter.
/ entered Andersonyie the last day oil pFil, 1854
and was there when that wonderful spring broke
forth. On entrance Mt the north gate that
April evening the outside world was shut to for
over four months, and all the events that took
place within under my OWN observation are very
clearly impressed my memory. There was a
small spring about one hundred feet east OF the
west stockade. the brook In the edge of the
swamp. THIS spring gave a small supply Of water,
but it was so inadequate that many OF us began to
devise other methods of obtaining n supply. My
quarters Were very nearly in the center of the
prison, near the edge of the swamp. the north
side. The prison being about $50 feet wide east
and west, / must have been about two hundred
feet from the little spring Lieutenant Davis speaks
OF. party OF us, four in number, dug one OF the
first wells III the stOekade. COmrae Black y right
far the big spring concerned for that did come
in after the big storm in the month OF August, at
the position where the stockade fell in the west
side, and the water conducted III a spout from
it. The water a gOdsend to many of us,
whether IL was providential not. i did not
know of any tunnels being dug the west side OF
the stOclsade the swamp, although knew of
nearly all the holes made on the north. near the
Confederate forts i am very much interested III
reading the stories of comrades who have survived
those heils OF Southern virtuperaton and believe
we should close mp ranks and vote now In such
way that i:twning, cavilling politicians will feel
that there is a power for right and rights in
the land yet. Yours in F.. c., and L..
: c. BURDICK
Late of Company Z, o3th y. Y.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-04-05
The Work of the Lightning.

To the Editor NATIONAL. TRIBUNE:
read in your issue of March Sth n communica-
ton from L. g. Davis relating TO the spring of
water ut Andersonvilie prison, which attracted so
much attention among the prisoners at the time of
its appearance and has caused much comment
since. In your issue of March 22d l read COM
munication upon the same subject from A. =
Clyne Mr.. Clyne is right in relation to the
spring, but he has not told the whole story,
nor have ever seen 1t in print BY quarters Were
upon the north side of the brook which passed
through the stoclade, and within stones throw
of the spot where The spring broke forth. During
the extraordinary heavy shower, which produced
the flood that carried away part of the stockade,
there were very sharp strokes OF lightning
that killed several of the prisoners within the
stockade. One of those electric currents from
the ground when the spring broke forth. saw
the flash in that direction, and walked over the
shower began to lull to see what the result was.
There were quite number standing near the dead
line and spring discussing the action of the storm
and the freak OF lightning which opened the spring.
of the spring We're stunned and Frustrated by the
flash, though none were killed there In day or
two after the occurrence, by some means unknown
to me, II trough was placed to conduct the water to
our side of the dead-line, and ever after till the
prisoners We're finally removed from the sockade
/ obtained all the water wished from that trough
and spring, and good water as | ever saw. " The
Soldiers story written by Warren Lee Goss
gives the most accurate account of Andersonville
that has ever been published lie refers to the
spring, but gives detailed account of it. 1t is
not very strange that T. O. Davis, occupying the
other side of the stockade, should know little
nothing about the spring. was in Andersonville
about five months, from May 20 During all that
time | knew but very little of what was going on
at the extreme south end OF the stoekade, and
many true incident can be told, similar TO the
above, which one-half the inmates of the stoekade
knew nothing about. was engaged i'll digging
tunnel with about sixty other carefully selected
men; that his never before this been referred to-
doubt ii any outside of the sixty engaged
knew anything about It. We had progressed about
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-04-05
~ sElrmish al nrasheer citr.

To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
Ia your Issue Of March Is, under the head OF
Chronology OF tie War, you say that '5Iarch is
there szfgaish 1t Brasllecr City. La. by The
First IoUisi.ill cavalry" This is a mistake The
First Louisiana took no part in that skiTnlish II
WAS the THIRD unattached company Of MGss;leus-
cts cavalry. commanded by Lieutenant Scion a.
Perkins. brave III officer ever rode horse or
Wieiaed q sabre The writer was first sergeant OF
tire COMPANY. acting lieutenant, afterwards com
Dlissicned second Heutcnant,1 and this brave troop
swooped down on 10 the rebel picket, capturing
tie Lieutenant and six men. with horses saddles.
and equipments, came very near capturing the
relel officer Of tie day and bad smart fight (sl1r-
inish you may call it, with the rebels just outside
tie village q Pattersonve, ali Of three miles from
Brasheer City. Lieutenant Perkins had his horse
shot under hin, and many men showed much
bravery. I.ebe! cavalry tried to cut Us of from
returning 10 camp bat We're not Successful. We
returned 10 camp at BTasleer City between nine
and ton o'clock ~ the evening. ] write this that
the credit may be placed where il belongs. Cap
tain Jarrett company Of Louisiana cavalry WAS in
caInpalongsde Of as IN 8rasheer City but remained
there. and took no part III the skirInish I trust
you viii make the correction.
Yours, IN r., c., and T., J. p. Manifold.
LOWELL, n ASS.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-04-05
WILLING WORK ERS.
What Our Subscribers are Doing 10 Increase II
Trihmne,s CircH iatinn.

What Oar Subscribers are Doing 10 Increase The
TribHHeS Circulation.
Enclosed please find $40 FOR ten subscribers to
THE TRIBUNE. They are for comrades of Post No.
l23 james G. Ncach, Rockport, Ind.
Inclosed please find 50 for three subscrb-
ers. making seventeen in all that have sent your
w. H. IL. Deerwerter, Warsaw Ind.
Enclosed please find 81 for four new subscribers,
maklng SIX IN ali that have sent you intend to
Vancouver, Washington Territory.
Enclosed please find So for three new subscrib-
ers 10 THE TRIBUNE, making six in all have sent
you. will do all can to help you to get the 100,-
600 subscribers which you called for."-Benjamin
SteuaIt st. Clair, Mich.
Inelosed please find SIS for fifteen new subserib-
to THE TRIBUNE hope TO secure the SUBJ
scripiion of every member of Burnside Post, No.
IS which numbers about siNty-:iye members. -
Sarah Z. Clark, Nyandotte City, Kan.
Enclosed please find 50 for three new subscri-
bers, making twenty-five in all l have sent you
lately. THE TRIBUsE is the most popular paper
tsat comes to our office. We are getting sgneFs
he here Il Mitchell, Sidney, G ioIa 90
I.closed please find So for three new subscri-
bers to THE TRIBUNE making fifteen that have
sent You aud still they come. find that just rs
character of TIE TRIguNE, he wants the paper
John q. Riley, Grand Junction, Iowa.
Ineiosed please find s. for two new subscribers.
The boys out here think THE TRIBUNE is the boss
ci)lIlfs.titS
still getting recruits, and believe III not paying out
money for papers which cry down tie soldiers
rights William l.. Beard, Nenia, Ohio.
Enclosed please find 81 to renew my subscrip-
ton TO THE TRIBUNE. L have determined To enlist
for another year during the war. have read OF
spots Oh the sun, and those the New York Sun,
seem 10 be getting larger and promise eventually
TO result III total eclipse--C. Beal, Star City,
Wis
Enclosed please find 81 to renew my subecrip-
ton to that precious paper, The NATIONAL TRIB-
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-04-05

To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
In THE TRIBUNE of the Sth and 22d I read letters
from Davis and Clyne about the many descriptions
OF that spring at Andersonyille Prison. The dog
house that it my lot to occupy was situated
in the northwest corner of the stockade. 1 WAS
fortunate enough to have an old esanteen. and /
went night and morning to said spring, 30 take
bath This was done by having my partner catch
the water as II come out of the bank and pour it
over me, after which did the same for him. can
say this much We walked south, crossed the stream
swamp, and near the dead-Iine. on the south
bank OF said stream, at the west side OF the stock
ae, we caught the water 1t come out of the bank,
cool and refreshing. Before the stoekade was en-
larged it would have been in the northwest corner
OF the old stockade, but not upon the north bank.
Its source was the hill upon which the rebel battery
was situated Was that anywhere but to the south
OF the camp? Now it may be that we are all mixed
In regards TO north south east and west The Orlgi-
mai stocafte, as understand, when enlarged, was
extended north The stream through the cen
ter cast and west, at right angles with the stockade.
There were no springs upon the north bank OF the
any commissioned officers at AnCerSenyille There
We're; l. for one, was there. j was the sergeant of
mess number nine hundred and somethiHg-I have
forgotten the exact number. Among NY mess were
boys that were captured July % 1851 at the battle of
Peach Tree Creek, Ga. The day of my capture
was taken outside of the stoekade and examined
supposed when sent for that was to be tried for
/ mutIny but such not the case. / was pro-
nounced an United States officer and sent to
ton jail, ;. c., and joined the COO officers that
under the fire of the swamp angel" We had
fireworks every evening, and many . day we
Ol WINDOWS saw tue
| companies shouting as they tried to extingIIish
/ the flames that were kiudled by that Gun There
never was but one piece of shell that into the
/ prison, and it did harm Our gunners must
/ have known where were located General
/ Stoneman orderly or first sergeant He
called the roll for the rebel authorities We We're
sent from there to Camp Sorghum, situated near
/ Columbia, S. c., IN open field. We suffered all
this for what? For the love of country. Yet there
are papers which denounee us as fraudsi
j. +. WHEELER
Late ID Lieut.. Co A, 149th II. y. V. l.. 10Th A. G..
| EAST SYRACUSE, n. Y.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-04-05
Not the Same Spring.
Late of Company c, s5th \. Y.

To the Editor NATIONAL TEIBUNE:
The account of the origin of the noted spring ut
AudersonyiIie, as given by Theo. c. Davis, IN THE
TRIBUNE of March Sth, contains several inaeeuTa-
ces else he confounds some other spring which
he has knowledge Of with this wonderful spring
which SO surprised the camp by its strange aud
welcome appearance. l unwilling hoITster
this resort from May 9th, lS4 till Sep
TENDER. / occupied very limited quarters sur
rounded by plenty OF neighbors, close by the qIas
mire north OF the creek. the east sfOckaCle.
After the enlargement, | went to the
ground on the north side. This spring WAS u
stream of clear water that broke through the
face OF the ground the side of the hill the
north side, q short distance from the north gate,
inside the dead-Ine. Water obtained by the
long and continuous stream OF thirsty men by
reaching the line poles, from the end of which
We're suspended pals tin cans, eSc., and holding
them under the stream until filed; also, II my
memory serves me- by one two who stood inside
and passed the vessels out to the waiting after
filling them. This spring broke ont after the
heavy storm which undermined a section of the
stoelade the east side where it crossed the cree
The larger part of the swamp Icy the north side
of the creek. My diary tells that June ls
rainy day, and from that time until the I'D rain
three consecutive days upon which We're visited
that there was 4 tremendous shower early in July,
may afford some explanation Of the natural eil:se
of this welcome visitor; vet, ut the same time, Il
large number of those who suffered much for
lack of good water hold TO the belief that 1t WAS
q proyidental intcrpOsitiOn
WM- ". FISH.
RnsToN MASS
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-04-05

UyE. We would be lost, indeed. without it, on the
pleasant evenings that we spend in looking over
its very interesting columns Long may It wave,
wrapped in the American flag. n-Alonzo FL. Kent,
Hot Springs, Ark
Enclosed please find 81 for one new subscriber
to THE TRIBUNE Piece5b piece it is crushing the
of the mailed traitors, who in 1861 1862 and
1863 called the soldiers Lincoln hire ,,s and butch
ers and in 1881, 1852 and 1883 screaming dead
beats, frauds and peTjurers.'- I'll. Cornell, Ce-
dar Springs, Mich.
Enclosed please find g for two more subscribers
TO THE TRIBUNE making nine in ALL Eight of
them are members of our Post But one opinion
has been expressed here concerning THE TRIBUNE
far and that is one of commentator. hope
to get a good many more subscribers for it. AT the
last meeting of our Post mustered in nine new
recruits 1T. L. Farrell, Waterbury, VT.
II send YOU herewith eleven new subscribers for
THE TRIBUNE making forty that have sent you
during the last three months. think every COM
rade is well. if not better, qualified than myself
TO work for the cause. We must have one grand
head and leader, and think THE TRIBUNE fills the
BILL / am much interested in its prison sketches
and / would like to hear from some one VINO was
inmate of the prison at Montgomery, Alabama
or Macon, Georgia, in 1862. n-J. w. Chrisinger,
Macomb, Ill.
Enclosed please find 81 for four new subscribers
TO THE TRIBUNE, making fourteen in all that |
have sent you. have the promise of some four or
five more. and / shall continue to canvass until
THE TRIBUNE is in the hands of every member OF
our Post. 1t is so strange to see the New YORK
Tribune and other papers of that stamp, crying
fraud fraudt and yet lacking the backbone TO
give the name of one single fraudulent pensioner.
Until they are prepared to do and prove their
charge, it would be well for them to retire into
their holes and drag their holes in after them. -
Cyrus Arnbrust Greeley, Col.
Here comes three solid shots from quar-
ter have only been a subscriber to THE TRIBUNE
for few months, but the more read it the better
like it, and you have no agent in this part OF
the country, thought would start out and obtain
some new subscribers for you. j see that Senator
Beck wants the names of the pensioners posted
at every roads. Well, that is not surprising,
considering that is impossible for him to get his
own name the pension roll, but venture to say
that if he had had the courage face the muskets
as our veterans did, he would be there. He says
too that he wants the names to be posted to pre-
vent fraud Well, / must admit that there some
| frauds on the pension roll but i notice that
they get into the United States Senate also. Com
rades it is necessary for us to keep our lines In
order now, and our ammunition dry, as during the
war, for the enemy that was in our rear then Is
now in our front. When THE TRIBUNE is ready to
give the command to move upon its works, we will
be eady.'-Perry Wilson, Guionsville Ind.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-04-05
Tic Battle Of Malvern Hi.

''Win not soinc colnrade furnish TIE TRIBUNE
with copy of the beautiful poem ON Malvern
lijH2' j recall the following extract
The morning kissed each sleeping flower,
And NSoocd each sparkling rill
And rose .ile ssIn IN naughty power,
On fated Malvern Fill.
II decpens-Forward, Fire again!
The voliey louder pours;
They charge our guns now steady, meni
The day shall yet Ice ours
Here aaslliag Kearncy leads the van,
His eagle eye IRE;
Alone his noble bearing can
His weary ranks inspire.
The weary slept. The trurnpct's sound
Had ceased, ard all was still
And Heaven was weeping o er the ground
or lated Malvern Hill.
The poem as q whole, IS ono Of great beauty and
deserves place IN TIE TRIBUNE. '-J. j. Weeks
Locust Valley, y. Y.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-04-05
The nOHnties should Be EauaIIzea.

"a great deal has been said against the bill to
equalize the bounties by members OF Congress and
others in official positions but its equity, think,
cannot be disproved. Take my case for example:
enlisted October, 1861 and was discharged for dis
ease contracted III service in January, 1868. Be-
cause 1 did not serve at least two years ] never
received any bounty. Nothing but the paltry Sl3
per month, less I212 cents per month"; deducted at
the ayasters table for the benefit and support OF
the National Soldiers Home at Washington, d. G.
/ have now been an invalid for over twenty years,
being compelled at times owing to i'll health, TO
appeal to the town and county for aid to assist in
the support of my helpless children. {Princely
generosity / have had claim file for PEN
sion nearly ten years. Being in the regular army,
it was hard matter to find comrades to get testi-
mony, as the company ana regiment were recruited
in all parts of the United States and very few from
any one locality.-Joseph Butcher, Co. G, LIST Bat,
18th Reg L 6 Inf
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-04-05
Tn the DAYS Of Aud Lang syne.

To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
Enclosed please find 81 for more subscriber to
THE rRIBUNE, making thirty in all that have sent
YOU since January. notice in last week 8 TRIB-
tNE that the name of Clark Stewart is given as one
of the five men who made the dash for freedom
from Salisbury. He served in the same company
with me- and was taken at Cedar Creek the 10Th of
October. 1854. was shot at Winchester September
18th of the same year. and have never seen Stewart
since the day was shot. He was good a soldier
as ever shouldered miIsket Once in while one
of old boys of the Twelfth drops into my place
of business and of course all business stops and we
fight orr battles again. have often inquired
about Stewart, but never have seen any one OF our
sixty that had met him since the late unpleasant
ness. j love to read the correspondence IN The
TRIBUNE from Western comrades. How like
them-they write just rs they fought, firing whole
brcadsides Mt once. All honor TO our Western boys.
We New England lads will stand by you and yours
until the last one of you is mustered out.
LEWISTON, ME-. NJ. EMERY
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-04-05
Ner mamp.Ilirn Stale RonntIcs.

" wish 10 ca, your attention. to the HEX of equity
in the bounties paid by de State of New Ham D.
shire 10 soldiers az the late war The army con-
tanned better soldiers Than those who went forth
from The old Granite State. They were an honor to
New Hampshire and should not be forgotten 0ur
old veterans should receive the same bounty as
those who went cat az the eleventh hour. Other
States viii give the aid 10 the boysiB blc ard why
Should not AcsS hampshire? trust that the com
ing Legislature viii wil for itself the piaudits of a
grateful poopie y cu.lizing llc bountlcs ~ an carly
day. Ex-solGior5 Of New Hampshire step 10 the
front once more and send in yonr petitions to the
every veterans friend upon them Talk theInatter
oveT Ia your Pests and move al once. Now is the
time 1or action. '-J. i. r.. Lowell Mass.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-04-05
A Patriot After Beck,s Own Heart.

"As the boys seem to have so much to say
about the sacrifices which they made for the
sake of their country, l thought ] would let
You know what sacrifices i have made. When
the first broke out stepped right TO the front
where the enlisting was going on, and sacrificed
my oldest brother, Then, as time rolled and
the war seemed to gain on us why ! walked right
up to the mastering officer again and sacrificed
my youngest brotheri After while, when found
that my country still needed more men, what do
you think i did? Why, l sacrificed-my wifes
brother! Then the draft came, AMI, being lucky
enough TO get ticket, made another secriice. L
least was going to speak to s about it, when
the war closed. Now, what / want to know is,
whether, in consideration of the great sacrifices
land Mich
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-04-05
What the Tunnels Had To Do with 1t.

To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
In reading the letter of Comrade r. p Black OF
Parker City Pa, concerning the mysterious spring
which broke out in .indcrsonvilic, 1 was very
much Interested III his explanation of the origin of
the spring. was member Of the organization OF
which he speaks. Although il i fact that the
spring came from the tunnel II would. ia all prob
ability, have broken out if the tunnel had never
been dug While digging wells inside the stock
AIDE found several feet below the surface
stratum of white clay several feet in Thickness and
some of the prisoners used it a substitute for
soap. | saw FREDERICK made of the material
in South Carolina almost white as -four. Beneath
this vein of clay found the water. The water
oozed out continually along the edge of the swamp
The continual tTamping the surface settled the
earth until the vent closed below. Then the
confined water, true to nature, broke out nc the
weakest place. j. \. SwEENY.
WIER KAN
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-04-05
The neaa.Lins Ran Between.

To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
have read with great interest the discussion be-
tween Comrades Davis. Black, CIyne and others
regarding the exact location of what Is generally
known as Providence spring / was confined in
Ardcrsonville from March IL until September ,
The creek that passed through the prison east
and west. My mansion q hole in the side
hil covered with pine boughs. 1t was situated on
the northern slope north of the creek, about thirty
feet east of the west dea-line and twenty feet
creek and ten feet inside of the west deGd-ne. /
used water to battle my left arm, and drew II from
the spring before Wirz put the trouglis there l am
surprised at the varied opinions heretofore ex-
pressed, but feel assured that the dead-iine was
between the spring and stoc<ade.
G.. T.. FORSTER
CAIRO, ILL. Late Co. l., 10th III. Cav.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-04-05
From An AnaersonsilIe well.pigger.

To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
Allow the use of your ear long enough TO
whisper that Lieutenant or ComTade Davis is mis-
taken when he says that the famous Providence
spring was the south side of the stockade. Ii /
know anything about Andersonville- think
from the main gate and just inside of the 1eaI-ne.
I have taken many q drink from the spring. lfCon-
rade De Beck formerly of the First Pennsylvania
Rifles is living, / should ike TO hear from him
through THE TRIBUNE the subject of digging
and springs in Andersonville. as we lived on the
island in the swamp of AndeFsonyille stoekGde
had considerable experience in that direction.
The name of this famous island will be known by
all Andersonyiile survivors. Yours,
ONE OF THEM
AT.xx-r