The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-09-25
CHAPTER ".


ARRIVAL AT ANDERsoSvILLE-ME BOYS
OF MY OLD REaiMENT-AwFUL DEATH
BATE--ISTEREsTED IS THREE TUNNELS
LEFT ANDERsoSviLLE - BITTER "sHE"
REBEL OF AUGUsrA-AEEIvAL AT FLOR
EScE-EscAPED FIRST GUARD AND RE-
TURSED-EsCAPED wTrH HALL-cHAsED
ny BLOoDHOUNDs.
The next morning we were sent to Macon
and the poor Johnny was left under guard We
were held IN Macon one night, aud then packed
IN an old rickcty box car, which had been used
for hauling bacon, the grease being about half
an inch deep in all Of the low places of the
floor, aud sent TO Andersonville
On the way my mind was chiefly occupied
in meditation as 10 the outlook at Anderson
vile, picturing it in my Imagination as bad as
could, aud hoping it might be better instead
Of worse.
Arriving thero at p. m, we were marched
near the prison and ordered to pull off our
clothes, which we did, and every garment was
carefully searched and oil valuables takon, the
knife being freely used whenever there was an
appearances OF something being hidden.
Our boys demonstrated against this treat
ment, but 10 no purpose, only bringing down
upon them the wrath and indignation OF the
notorious Capt. Wirz, who ordered moro Wig
orous search. saying with an oath: Rip their
clothes shnst as much as you want to-" Some
OF the boys showed resentment, but were cut
snort by WIZ saying: q" You shust shut up, or
pnts you in dc stocks before | puts YOU in de
pen. dakos nodngs from you tam Yanks."
His orders worked like magic, aud not an
other murmnr was heard. IL each one had
been deprived of speech il could not have been
more silent. Capt. Wirz sat in his saddle until
the searching was completed TO his satisfaction,
when we were allowed to pat on our clothes
again, and were ordered into the pen by the
tyrannical old fend.
Iimo can upypr pffaca tbo innpvasaion
upon my mind as we wcsrily marched through
the prison. Having pictured il in my imagina-
ton as bad n | could, the mental picture fell
far short Of tho real horror OF my surround
ings, so much so that nearly despaired OF ever
seeing home and friends again. believing twas
only question OF few weeks. at best, when
would be forced TO succumb to the starvation
and exposure, to the scOrching rays of the sun
during the day, and cold, chilly nights TO which
we were subjected. To shake off the lethaTgy
which seemed to eRvelop and wei gh me down
with burden of crushed hopes left the di-
vision TO which they assigned me-ths 5Sth-
aud silently, sorrowfully walked through the
crowded prison in search Of friends belonging
to my regiment who had preceded me but
few months
Imagine my astonishment when l found
them. Not the plump, healthy, robust boys
they were when ! last saw them. but poor,
emaciated, worn and wasted skeletons gradu-
inches in this modern inferno, maintained by
the Southern oligarehy, and tho blackest blotch
upon the cscutcheon of American history sac
riheial offerings long drawn out, upon the
altar Of liberty. After explaining how | was
captured and answering numerous questions.
such as would naturally suggest themselves TO
the poor. heart-sick boys, who had heard
nothing from friends and comrades for so long,
and had often felt that they were forgotten
and deserted by God and humanity, | asked
them how often they drew rntiOus. They told
mo they had Just drawn theirs and advised me
To hurry back TO my division and get mine. A
five minutes walk brought me there and con-
fronting the Sergeant In command and asking
for my ratons, was informed that was too late
for everything except beef Thinking that
I" half IA loaf was better than nOne" | ask ed for
beef You can imagine my surprise when /
received that ration. a piece of rib about four
inches long 10 parts bone and one part meat
aud that green with putrifaction and tainted
until it "smeled to heaven" | refused it
when offered, saying. You might palm that OFT
on a dog. but not on me-" Take it," called
out fellow. prisoner; Il will will give you n
piece of cornbread for it," "All right, and if
that is the kind of meat we get here I'll ex-
change with you as long rs l stay" "You'll
come to it soon enough" was his reply.
IL took but a few days to convince mo that the
beef was always the same, and hunger soon
taught me To cat mine rs regularly as did the
others.
Having neither blankets nor shelter, was
compelled TO put in my nights as best | could
The nights were very chilly, aud night after
night was Obliged to get up and walk around
To keep warm.
The best authorities estimated that there
were from 10000 to 80, 900 prisoners within tho
stockade, and by careful count l found the
daily death roll to be from l30 to $50. At this
rate of mortaly there could be but one result
and that that eight months would wipe out
the last man, providing that we received no
recruits.
l HAD SEVERAL PROJECTS FOR ESCAPE
partially matured, and was interested in three
different tunnels, but all come TO naught. The
first was nearly completed and we were waiting
for "A cloudy night to open it, when, TO our
astonishment, in came u squad of Johnnies
and destroyed 10. We learned afterward that
one of tho guards in his rounds had stepped
directly over the place whore we were to come
out, and the earth giving way lot him in.
Another was completed and several of the boys
crawled through. but before my turn came a
big German who had no interest in the tunnel
crowded his way to the mouth and erawled in,
getting caught directly under the stoekade
and completely blocking the passage. Those
on the outside tried to pull him through aud
those on the inside assisted by pushing, but all
~ NO purpose, for the excitement soon called q