The National tribune., 1885-12-17
Pensions for Ex.Pris0ners.

PENSIONS AeAiisVhOASs
To THE EDITOR wish to speak OF one
class of men in particular / mean those who
were SO unfortunate as to be confined In repei
prisons for any length of time. When l state
that not one in a hundred OF the unfortunates
who we're confined for period OF SIX months
in such prison as Andersonville have ever
been able to perform full manual labor, only
state what is well-known tact; yet, DIS ciaS',
it is hard for them to secure PENSIONS or be
recognized as a deserving class. The men VINO
spent the year 1864 at Andersonville lost vastly
more by death and permanent disaoiemeh1
for life than the soldiers engaged In active
campaigning. They also suffered for princi-
ple. and that they remained true to the old nag
through such trying circumstances shouiu oe
recognized and they granted relief
The principle for which they suffered was
this: 1t will be remembered that the United
States organized negro regiments. some oi
these troops were made prisoners, and when the
United States offered to exchange, the reoei au-
thorities refused to exchange negro soidlers iu
their hands, but would agree to exchange all
white soldiers. The United States would not
exchange unless they would agree to exchange
all troops. So the exchange was stopped, ana
thousands upon thousands gave up their iVes'
and other thousands We're disabled for lie, lor
the principle that the Government owes pro-
lection to the humblest soldier, be his color
! black or white.
Some comrades who thought they saw sure
! death in confinement, sought relief by taxing
! an oath of allegiance to the Southern COnled-
eracy, hoping to have chance to escape ana az,
! again ioiu their comrades in the North. we
at the time condemned this, and we yet beiieVe
| them to have been mistaken; yet we cuulu never
see any good reason for the Government treat
ing them more harshly than it has the rebels
themselves They deserted to save their lives;
but alas, for their honor! Better had 1t been
haU Glpnplnp
| $4,000 comrades in the cemetery at Andefsoh-
Vile.
But to those who remained faithful does not
the Government owe reward for their hdel-
| ity? Or must they go down to their graves
through the poorhOuse? To permit the lalter
would be very ungenerous on the part oi the
| Government they served SO faithfully. All
Union men agree that the annals of modern
warfare present no such spectacle as the suffer
ing of prisoners at AndersOnvllle. The top'
federates admit the suffering, but claim they
were unable to alleviate it. Comparatively
few of these men are now alive. Disease con-
tracted there has done its work. Some nave
succeeded in securing small PENSIONS the eA
pense and trouble in some instances outWeiSh'
ing the benefits Many have attempted tc
secure them through the advice OF comrades
and physicians, only to find themselves uh
able to furnish the evidence demanded oy lht
Pension Office. Twenty years have elapsed
since the last prisoner was released from All
dersonville The few survivors are prema
turely gray and diseased, but few OF them ahi'
to perform manual labor sufficient to supper
themselves, and without assistance from the
Government the remainder of their lives vii
be continued period of suffering not unlike
what they went through i'll the prime OF lie a
Andersonville and other prisons.
Are the above Claims just? is a question ever.
} nat riot in the land should ask himself; and l
a ,,,.I,
on the matter Ii these claims are unjust, o
} are considered so by the people OF this CRANE
and glorious land of ours, then the survivor
will meet the inevitable as courageously us the.
met hunger and disease II years aGo.-I A
GossErT, Co. /, 9TH Ind.