The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-04-26
THE LAST WORD.
Concluding letters of the Controversy Concerning
the AndersOnYille Spring.


the AndersOnYille Spring.
The discussion concerning the location of the
famous Andersonville spring which has been
going on for some time in the columns of THE
TRIBUNE has served TO bring to light MANY
interesting facts in regard to the experiences
of our veterans in that notorious pen, but the
subject is now practically exhausted, and with
the publication of the following letters the con-
troversy will be considered as ended:
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
| have for some years been curious observer
OF what has been said relating to the so-caled
" Providence spring at Andersonyle. Clara
Bartons story of its marvellous origin was repeated
by LOSING the historian. The only thing marvel
Gus about 1t Is, that anyone should have nisrepre-
senfed the facts IN order to make its origin seem
an act OF special providence. Clara Barton who
was doubtless imposed upon by some miracle
monger, tells the story of its origin in substance
as follows: The prisoners were holding a PRAYER
meeting around stump with parehed lips they
prayed for waterl During the night rain storm
came, and IN the morning spring, was found flow
ing from around this stump which ever afterwards
gave the prison an abundant supply of water"
Water was not scarce in Andersonviile A brook
flowed through the center of the prison. as all ris
oners know, and 1t was not contaminated to such
an extent by filth but that, by little watehfuness
and care, one could obtain sufficient supply
There were quite a number of springs on the north
hillside, near the quagmlre owned and protected
by prisoners; the whole hillside being to n great
extent Sprngy land. Besides. there wele wells dug
by prisoners in different parts of the stoc<ade
Inc spring WHlcn mas been the subject of nlIlch
discussion came from the north hillside. inside
and about i've feet from the dead-line below the
north gate The great rain storm which caused
the freShet when the stocllade was swept away
twhere the brook entered and left the stockade)
quilted into the side of the hill and spring was
seen tricklng down the hillside directly after
wards. spout WAS constructed from two pieces of
board nailed together at right angles end rest
ing IN the flowing spring and the other on the
deadline, slightly projecting it into the prison
limits, from which ran abundant supply of
water for drinking. | have seen thousand men
at u time standing two deep in the broiling sun
waiting to obtain supply from this source. The
real want In relation to water was utensils to hold
supply If it had rained buckets and drinking
enps 1t would have been miracle confessedly
wanting. The spring was on the west side as any
prisonerwho was there could by turning his face
to the north or new addition to the stockade
The prison parallelogram in form: at first
779 feet inches in width and 0l0 feet long After
the enlargement in July, the area was no feet 6
inches wide, by 1920 feet in length. The quag-
mire about 600 feet in width and the most
beneficial result of the great freshet OF storm was
to sweep away the fecal matter which contaminated
and polluted the air OF the prison, q most prolific
of disease and death to the $1,000 iserables
there inclosed In my book on AndersonyilIe I
did not consider the location of the spring of
enough consequence to fix with exaetness The
account first given has led many astray from the
truth, but think any old prisoner will see the truth
stated here. Very truly,
WARREN LEE Goss
Formerly Pres of the Natl Union of Jacksonville
Survivors
NORWICH, Conn.