The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-03

caused the former to stop. As he read he
uncovered his head and an expression OF sad
ness came TO bis face. Pointing his compsn-
ion 10 IL he said: HE belonged TO my
fathers regiment; they died here in
prison on the same day" Merritt
drew q step nearer him. "You lost your
father here?' he sad. YES he was Colonel
Of that regiment" again pointing to the
slsb. Merritt removed his hat, looked at
the other for an instant, and then taking
his right hand, softly said: my friend, we
have been alike unfortunate. My father
led a Confederate regiment and fell at the
second Mansssas-shot through the heart"
They stood thus. their hands joined. look
each other in the face, while looked on
both. After moment Merritt withdrew his
hand. small bouquet was pinned over
his breast. He loosed it, and walking to the
head-stone: I'm homer of your fathers
comrade," he said, and laid the howers upon
il.
The son OF the Union soldier who died
in the prison and the SON of the Confederate
soldier who fell in battle walked out OF
the National Cemetery arm in arm-friends.
VIVA q ire at it is to meet gray hairs &C.
companied by cheerfulness, faithful memory
and ready tongue. The old gentleman at
my side as we sauntered through the woods
southwark from the cemetery is a walking
cyclor 9da of occurrences of the war. Hid
den from the worlds sight, with only dull
neighbors aud ignorant colorei laborers 10
communicate with. be yet possesses a store
OF Information, an eloquence of diction and
delivery and dignity and gracefulness OF
address which equip him to sit with men of
letters, politics or affairs.
Coming out OF the woods into small field
OF young cotton, the old gentleman paused
and told as We were standing on ground
that was part Of the old prison pen. There
was no sign at this point of ditch or stock
ade. The field was freshly plowed and ths
growing plants green and strong The crop
was that of colored man, whose home we
mia bit have guessed was near from the voices
OF negroes singing that hoated to Us
through the copse Of young pines to
our right. Graham temporarily forgot the
historic interest of the spot to listen to the
rich melody and eccentric beating OF time
by the score OF singers. Walking across the
little field we CAME TO ravine and the spot
where Provide CO spring had spouted up
its waters into the prison with a suddenness
causing the prisoners to deem it miracle
wrought by Heaven in their behalf. Still
strolling On we reached where had been the
entrance TO the stocksde. The cabin whence
the singing proceeded was not hundred
yards distant, and SO enjoyable was the
sound of it that we involuntarily ceased
conversation 10 drink Ii in.
"You think that worth listening to" said
our venerable escort, when the song was
ended; "but not quite fifteen years ago
heard, just where we now are, a grander
song-the noblest burst of vocal melody that
ever fell on mortal ear"
We asked that he tell of the occasion. We
seated ourselves upon fallen tree, bat the
cid gentlemen remained standing before us,
cane and hat IN hand.
at was a chorus OF more than
thirty thousand throats within the stockade,
there, celebrating the 4th OF July, 1864. 1t
was under circumstances such-but let me
explain the circumstances"
He placed his bat upon stump near him
and transferred his cane to mis- left hand.
"0n the first day of July. 1864" he re.
sumed, there were nearly 81 600 prisoners
confined here. The weather, excessively
hot, was producing much summer sickness
among the soldiery guarding the prison.
The latter was largely composed of Georgia
State troops from the northern counties.
To remove both from the region OF their
homes the militia of the southern counties
were taken to Atlanta and that of the noun
tain section assigned to ddty at Anderson
sonville and other southern points. So
prevalent became malarial illness among
the latter and so often was it fatal that
they became demoIalizsd. Add TO this
source OF uneasiness the steady advance
of Sherman's army, desolating the
homes of many Of them and leaving
their families without bread. Such was the
an xiety Of these men that by the 1st Of July
the guard had become smartly decimated by
assertions. On the nights of the 1st and ID
over 300 assertions were added. One entire
company marched of, rank and file, taking
their arms with them. Writes inhumanity
toward them lent an additional sense OF SELF
justification for their action. This decima.
ten OF the guard had, by the 81, become
serious affair to the commander of the post,
and when at night fall Wirz became sus-
picious that the prisoners had gotten wind
OF the situation and might be Dlsnninga
break for liberty, he telegraphed Gan
eral Cobb, Commander OF the Third
Military District with headquarters at Ma
con, for reinforcements. Bat Cobb had none
to send, and could only promise to come in
person.
THE following morning, the ilh OF July,
discovered yet further dimlnution et our
force. ] went on guard mount at . o'clock.
ny petition was at the ton OF the stocksde
wall; about there" pointing little to the
right OF where had been the entrance. The
scenes within the prison were somewhat IN
ranat nd