The National tribune., 1883-10-18

making many tunnel Sheltered and shielded
by these scrub oaks and pines, we might have
been able to have scaled the stochade instead
of boring through the ground underneath, and
it would have been more soldier-like. Prob
ably Comrade Conner was on detail and took
his observation from the outside of the prison.
Now, ] declare, and without fear of success
full contradiction, that the entire ground inside
the stockade was devoid of anything of the
kind. / agree with him as TO the rain period
and the washing down OF the stockade viz,
that it began to rain on the 1st day of June,
and raned more or less every day until the
22d. These heavy rains caused heavy flow
of water under and through the stockade at
the creek, causing il TO give way. The volume
OF water was so great that it carried some of
the stockade logs into the camp, and some of
the prisoners who had strength enough to do
so swan into the stream and secured some of
the logs. | claim that the rebels fired their
cannon when the stockade gave way, which he
denies. The Dutchman WirZ gave us to under
stand, by throwing one or two shells over our
heads, that they were awake, and it would not
be healthy for us to make a break through the
opening in the stockade
Now for Nattinger's version of it. which is
rather amusing. He says that the water came
through the stockade and took its course along
between the stoclSade and dead-line, and he
thinks the flow of water to equal about fifty
gallons per minute. Now, imagine fifty gallons
OF water passing between the square logs of
which the stockade was made every minute,
when we could scarcely see between them.
Now, Comrade Nattinger is it not probable
that you are thinking of the little creek instead
of that great and glorious spring? L think
you are, or else you would not subject yourself
to the criticism of sensible community.
HOW THE SPRING BROKE OUT.
entered Andersonville Prison on the 18th
| Of March 1874 and rom ad thara Tptil fnp
Sth of September; belonged to the thirteenth
detachment, first ninety. Our position was on
the north side. My ninety extended from the
north gate south towards the creek aud next to
the dreaded dead-line; consequently, the left of
our line was directly in front Of this spring
Shortly after we went there a c0mrade and
myself obtained permission to go outside and
gather pine boughs and some sticks, with which
we made quite q comfortable shelter. This
we made against the dead-iine and not more
than fifty or sixty feet from whore the spring
appeared. In making the stockade ditch was
dug in the ground, and into this the logs
were placed upright and the dirt thrown back
into the ditch, and to strengthen the stoekada
more dirt was thrown up against it than was
taken from the ditch. This made slight de-
preston in the ground between the dead-line
and StOckade, and during the rains of June the
water ran down this place from the north gate
towards the creek, and, as matter OF course, it
carried with it some of the soil, creating small
gully, and so far uncovered this stream of water
as to allow it to come to the surface. Iteertainly
was not wet-weather spring, caused by the
excessive rains, as we are informed that it still
flows. Yet the heavy rains were the means
used in bringing it to the surface, and l we'll
remember seeing the boys tie their cups and
buckets TO poles and reach over the dcad-line
fisherman's fashion for q cup of the water.
This was before the trough was used TO carry
it to the inside of the dead-line. The police
| took charge of it and always kept guard at it
to see that each man came in regular order and
| to prevent thanking. 1t really seemed like an
act of Providence in causing the rains; for it
not only uncovered this spring, bringing JOY
| ana probably life to a famishing multitude,
| but cleansed the camp of vast amount of
/ filth that otherwise would have remained with
| its death Fastening influence. Comrade Me-
| Elroy, in his History of Andersonville, de
seribes and gives an illustration of spring
! there which seems TO be III the camp instead of
| outside the dead-line. I know of no other
! spring than the one | have described. If any
! ex-prisoner knows OF the existence of any
| other, let us hear from him.
]. Z. BROwN,
GLENwooD, Mo. Co. H, 9th W. Va Cav.
/