The National tribune., 1888-01-19
ANDERSONVILLE.
The Mortality There, and Why Exchange was De-
Iayea.

The Mortality There, and Why Exchange was Ue-
Iayed.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Permit me
through your paper TO give TO your many readers
a few statements regarding the mortality OF
prisoners Of war confined at AndeTsonyllie DUR
ing its occupation, which was frsm February,
1864, to April, 1865; also, the reason why we
were held SO long without exchange and why
We as ex-prisoueTs, claim that we ought To
have some special legislation in our favor also,
some testimony from rebel officials. VIII hrsV
give number of deaths from each State repre-
scented in the prison: Alabama, To- Connecti-
cut, 3I5; Delaware, -; District Of Columbia, ID;
Illinois, $50; Indiana, 59i; Iowa, ia; Kansas,
5; Kentucky, 436; louisiana i; Maine, 233;
Maryland 1874: Massachusetts,, 76S; Minnesota,
20; Michigan G30; Missouri, 70; New Hamp-
shire, l24; New Jersey, 10; New York, 2,572;
North Carolina, II; Ohio, 1890; Pennsy wanna,
1911; Rhode Island, Il; Tennessee, 73S; Yer
mont 2l2; Virginia, 2SS +; Wisconsin, 244; Us.
Army, 500: g. s. Navy, 166; citizen teamsteTs,
166; unknown U. S. soldiers, 443 died in small
pox hospital, G8. Six were hung. Reports may
differ some, yet they are very nearly alike. The
figures l have before me are some | helped to
keep while at the Hotel de AndersOnville, aud
/ consider them as correct as any can be. The
/ greatest mortality occurred IN the months OF
August and October. August there were re-
ported in the Office 30I6 deaths. In referring
I
! gust 220 loyal hearts ceased TO beat and an
swered the last roll-call for them. If the reader
could only look III and behold the sight OF 226
/ starved beings yielding up their breath in that
foul hell-hOe Of secession, l think their sympa-
/ thies would be touched. During the month Of
1 October, 1864, 1880 more human beings crossed
! the dark river with no one to battle their fever
! ish brow, or to administer to them any words of
cheer. The great mortality Of October was
mainly due to the fact that the we'll ones had
/ been removed to other prisons during the month
/ of September, leaving only the sick in camp.
ASH died from diarrhea, 1874 died from scuryy,
670 died from gangrene, 1854 died from dysen-
/ terry, I55 died from gunshOt-wOunds, 32l died
4 from pneumonia and other diseases which |
conld give as classified but viii omit. Some
rebel testimony: Col. G. T. Chandler says: 1t is
/ difficult TO describe the horrors Of Anderson
VILE which is disgrace to civilization" Col. X.
| II. Chiffon, ACKNOWLEDGMENT, G. $. A., says
" The low grounds bordering the stream were
covered with hnm2n excrement and filth OF all
I kinds, which was alive with working maggots
an indescTibablc sickening stencil arose from
these human masses of filth, aud millions Of
flies buzzed continually, while the ground was
literally covered with body lice. The condition
/ Of tie prison at Andersonvllle is a shame and
disgrace, and a rcproach to as as a Nation" This
! Is rebel testimony produced at the trial of WiTZ
the commander Of the prison. Aug. IA, 1864
Ten. Grant telegraphed zen. Butter, JOnlInlS
sioner Of Exchange: " 1t is hard on our men heiC
in Southern prisons not to exchange them, but
il is humane TO those left TO fight our battles
If we now commence a system of exchange
which iberates all prisoners taken, we viii have
TO fight on till the whole South is exterminatcd
If We hold those captured they count for more
than dead men," Butler says the men who Ian
guished at Andersonvilea and other prison-peni
played IN their suffering and death an ACTIVE
part in the termination Of the war. OF course
our confinement was not SO stirring as charging
on guns or meeting IN the clash Of fire arms
but as the victims OF a policy dictated by tn
emergency Of desperate condition of affairs
our enforced long continued hardships made j
possible for the Union Generals and their armie
70 decide the deplorable struggleso much soone
and force the rebels TO surrender at AppoInattox
Now, gentle reader, in the face Of these facts
corroborated by thousands OF unimpeachabl
witnesses, would it be more than just and RICH
that this Government compensate these suffer
ing heroes for such noble sacrifices so dearl
t made?
was there, and endured those horrors for on
year aud seven days. But Uncle Sammy say
r can't give you anything, Johnny; you have II
hospital record. Well, have had the exper
enco; that's enough for ME-. T.. RIcHABI
Co. B, 1llth Ohio, Secretary of Tx Union Prii
I oners Of War Of Michigan Perrinton, Mich.