The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-07-15

SIctl anu SbTOnS' uS CIOp WAS Indu
of a colored man, whose home we might
have guessed was near, from the voices
of negroes singing, that floated 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. Walk
ing across the little field we came to
ravine and the spot where " Providence
spring " had spouted up its waters into
the prison with suddenness, causing
the prisoners to deem il miracle
wrought by heaven in their behalf.
Still strolling on we reached where had
been the entrance to the stockade. The
cabin whence the singing came was not
a hundred yards distant, and so enjoya-
BILE was the sound of it that we involun-
tarily ceased conversation to drink it in.
You think that worth listening to-"
said our venerable escort, when the
song was ended; but twenty years
ago / heard, Just where we now are,
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,
but the old gentleman remained stand
ing before us, cane and hat in hand.
. 1t was chorus of more than thirty
thousand Threats within the stockade,
there, celebrating the Fourth of July,
1864. 1t was under circumstances such
but let me explain the circumstances"
He placed his hat upon stump near
him and transferred his cane to his left
hand.
"On the first day of July, 1864" he
resumed, there were nearly thirty-four
thousand prisoners confined there.
The weather, excessively hot, was pro-
ducing 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 mountain section assigned to
duty at Andersonville and other south
ern points. SO prevalent became ma
larial illness among the latter and so
often was it fatal that they became de-
mOralized. Add to this source of un-
easiness the steady advance of Sher-
mans army, desolating the homes of
many of them and leaving their families
without bread. Such was the anxiety
of these men that by the first of July
the guards had become smartly deci-
mated by desertions. On the nights of
the first and second over three hundred
desertions were added. One entire
company marched off, rank and file,
taking their arms with them. Wirtz's
inhumanity toward them lent an addi-
tional sense of self-iustification for
their action. This defamation of the
guard had, by the third, become Sc
rious affair to the commander of the
post, and when, at nightfall, Writ be-
came suspicious that the prisoners had
gotten wind of the situation and might
be planning a break for liberty, he tele-
graphed General Cobb, commander of
the third military district, with head
quarters at Macon, for re-enforments.
But Cobb had none to send, and could
only promise to come in person.
1.-The following morning, the Fourth
of July, discovered yet further diminu.
ton of our force. | went on guard
mount at nine O'Clock. My position
was at the top of the stockade wall,
about there" pointing little to the
right of where had been the entrance
1.-The scenes within the prison were
somewhat unusual. Here and there
groups would form and hold under.
toned conversations. Witnessing this
Writ grew yet more uneasy and or.
dered all his force under arms.
. A little after eleven o'clock Cap.
tain Writ and General Winder, with 6
small escort, walked to the station. A
few minutes later a lone locomotive
came steaming through the pines from
the direction of Macon, from which
when it drew up at the depot, stepped
General Cobb and two officers of his
staff. There was few minutes of con
versation between them and Writ ant
Winder, and then the party, with the
escort, marched toward the stockade.
" While Writ was forming the troops
of the post into hollow square, facing
to the center, General Cobb and stat
stood with Winder in the shade of yon
der tree. Looking at Howell Cobb,
remembered his having been secretar,
of war of the United States. 1t wa
evident he was going to speak, and
was glad that my station was nea
enough to hear him. 1t was about fiv,
minutes before twelve, noon, when
accompanied by his staff, Writ ant
Winder, he walked to the center of thu
square, and, with Writes assistance
stepped upon the large stump you SCI
there.
. Soldiers of the confederate states,
he began, what news is this that ha
been borne to your istrict-commande
from the commander of this post? Can
ii be possible that soldiers of the
South-Georgians-have been guilty o
desertion-of abandoning the duty as
signed them of guarding yonder horde
OF vandals, whom your more valorou
brothers in arms have captured upor
many well-fought feld?'
AT this instant, twelve O'Clock, from
the center of the prison pen was heart
a sound of song. Turning my eyes il
that direction, saw that several thou
sand men had congregated, while 9th
ers were Fastening toward the assem-
blage. Perhaps not more than fit,
voices were wording the first verse o
the familiar anthem. The speaker out
side was continuing expressions of as
constituent at what he had heard, wher
the chorus was reached, and, with de
donations like an explosion, five thou
sand voices pealed:
rst.- ~ a.