The Osceola times., 1883-10-06
STORIES OF ANDERSONvILLE.
The "Reguiar's" Execution OF the 'a"'a'
ers- in the Rebel 81 ockade.

The okegutar's" txfcutioh VI WV
ersy in the Rebel 81 siockade.
Hartford Post
Early in May, 1864, prisoners began 70
nour into the rebel stockade at Ander-
by the hundreds, the camp there
being the receptacle for captured troops
from every state along the Atlantic coast
south of Virginia, and from the tier of
rebel commonwealths bordering on the
Ohio and Mississippi rivers. By the last ot
June there were fully $4,000 prisoners
in the camp. In such multitude there
would of necessity be found the worst
elements in society, men who would not
shrink from the foulest crimes, II they
could be committed without discovery.
These men organized themselves into
bands for purposes of robbery, and for a
month or more terrorized The whole
camp. Large numbers went into Ander'
sonyille with from 500 to $500 in green
backs in their pockets. The members OF
the lO3d and 10lst Pennsylvania regi.
ucnts. for instance, who were captured
with the Sixteenth Connecticut, at Ply
mouth, n. G., had received, short time
before that disaster, the government
bounty of $500 apiece for re-inlistment,
and the majority of them had large sums
of money on their persons when they
fell into rebel hands.
The raiders prowled among them at
night. while they were sleeping on the
ground without tent or shelter, and rified
their pockets of every dollar they con-
tained. Not only money was stolen, but
cantoens, cups and blankets made rich
booty for the despe.adoes, who were
ruling with d rod of iron over the lives
and bodies of their fellow prisoners.
Every hour of the night the cry Of raid
ersn could be heard throughout the
camp, and desperate effort was invar-
iably made to capture them. But it gem
orally proved unavailing, and reign OF
terror set in lasting for weeks. There
are scores of men in Hartford county to-
day who can recall the ehastly struggles
and encounters that made night pande-
monlum.
"LIMBER JIM" AND HIS REGULARS"
On the 30th of June, under the leader
ship of mysterious character known as
climber jim" but the real name OF
whom has never yet been ascertaincd,
vigilance committee was organized, and
the members of it were known in camp
as the "regulars." The origina, object of
the organization was the breaking up of
the bands Of raiders, and the enforce
ment of order and protection throughout
the camp. Timber jim" was the
leading spirit of the vigilance COM
mittee, and under his direction a
number of raiders were arrested. The
rebel authorities, who were at least in
terested in preventing the camp from
being Infested with a pack of human
wolves, thereby rendering the duties OF
their troops less bnrdensome in keeping
the encampment in subsection, consented
that the arrested raide ) shonld be tried
by the Union soldiers, and if lJ.nd
gailty, sentenced to execution. II was
believed that this course would htN" a
wholesome effect, and full liber.y w,s
extended to thc vigilance cOhmittce to
do what thev pleased with the offenders.
They were tried under form of 'iw ex-
temporized for the occasion. and six OF
the men were found guilty of murder
and sentenced - be hung.
The llth of June was set as the day OF
the execution. and before noon scaflOld
was erected in the camp under one of
the most enchantin, Georgia skies. The
morning wore away slowly, and as the
afternoon approached all eyes were
turned towards the instrument of death
which was TO be used at o'clock for
sending six men summarily into etcrn-
ity. The aftern )on hours passed, one by
one, the men inside the stockade waiting
with anxious faces for the entrance OF
the six condemned men, who we're out
side the camp under rebel watch and
guard. At the appointed hour the men
were brought to the prison gate by Gems,
Wender and TooTbs, and placed in the
hands of Capt. Wirz, the executive Off
Ger of the camp Wirz, with a rebel
guard, brought them inside the stock
ade and turned them over to the vigil
ance committee.
1t should, in justice, he said that the
blood-thirsty rebel, Wirz, before COM
mitting the condemned men to their as.
sociates in the prison. stated that they
had been tried and sentenced to death
and that 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.