The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-10-25
PRovIDENTIAL SPRING.
RECENT VISIT no AYpERsovvIrLE.


EDITOR NATIONAL tribune: Having read
several articles in your paper about Anderson
vile, Providential Spring, otc., one by W. r.
Wilkins and another by VIM. Feaga, please let
me tell them through your columns what was
told nue. by the old mantwho keeps the pOstofice
aud depot at Ander5oDville
Like Mr.. Feaga, l met plenty of people in
Georgia that never had heard of Andersonyille,
and when | bought my ticket in Chattanooga
the agent did not know there was such place,
and could only sell me one as far as Macon. l
told him he surely must know of the place, as
it had worldwide reputation. He said he
believed he had heard there was military
prison there during the war.
/ bought my ticket to Macon, and there found
/ had go miles farther to 90. Arrived safely, and
INQUIRED for q boy to escort me to the historical
spot. They were wild, uncouth- looking set
about that depot, and on learning whore l
wanted to go looked frightened at me and each
other No one volunteered. At last Mr.. Bry-
ant, who had charge of the cemetery, came to
my relief and sent boy to me. After leaving
the depot questioned the boy in regard to the
way they acted. lie said they were afraid to
go over there; they often heard ugly noises
and saw fearful sights, such as fire and swords
whizzing through the air. But he had lived
there year, and had been on the ground many
times with visitors, aud never saw anything.
This was on the 10th Of December, 1884, as
warm as Summer day. / found the spring
located as so often described, then surrounded
by little wooden curb, at the roots OF pine
tree long since fallen nearly across the spring.
1t had washed out place until the bank
above it and It's sides were about three feet
high, and from it to the swamp below quite q
gully was worn away. [ sat down by the
spring and ate my lunch, and drank of its pure
cold waters in remembrance of the thousands
who starved and died there. At that time only
five of the logs of the stockade or wall were
standing; all had r0tted down or been re-
moved. After resting awhile | went to the
cemetery a most beautiful one surrounded by
a stone wall, and a mound in the center, where
stood tall stat, from which foated the flag
for which the thousands who laid there III
silence gave up their lives. Mr.. Bryant, the
gentlemanly keeper Of this city of the dead
kindly escorted me through the grounds and
with a feeling of sadness / often noticed thf
little white slabs with number and the WORD
Unknown the only inscription.
| | returned early to the depot, and found the
old man who keeps it alone and very sociable
l inquired how long he had been there. III
| said that he came there with lis parents wher
| q child, long before any settlement was made
| there; had kept the depot and postoifice since
| before the war; was not in the war, as it wa
| necessary for someone to remain there. AS Il
| the Providential Spring &c said when they
! came there tie spring was there, and formed ;
small lake, large enough for fish and othe
| water inhabitants. II was a favorite watering
| place for deer aud other wild animals. Fo
some unknown cause the lake sunk away ant
the spring was lost; supposed to have found al
underground outlet as there was always
swampy place beIow it. He thought it only
! freak of nature that during the terrible
storm, so often spoken of by the soldiers, and
| slight shock of earthquake the spring was re
opened However, he would not dispute tn
! interposition of Providence in favor of tn
| prisoners confined there.-MARY A. HovEY
Corresponding Secretary, T. J. Stanley W.R.G
Lower Salem, o.