The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-09-03

49,
About the third day the Captain came to
me and said: Michael, your partner has
run of. That's not nice for him and not
good for you" ] Doubted the running OFF
of Oren in that wilderness without me. and
believed him 10 have been abducted or
something worse, and that l would be
served the same way before long.
The next night about ii O'Clock two men
came for me and took me off in hurry.
was taken back to Albany, aud thence to
my old but not beloved, home, Anderson
eonyile.
This was about the latter part of January.
There was quite a change in the prison then.
The prisoners were on the north side OF the
north gate. there being only part of de-
tachment on the senth side of the gate, the
south side of the stcckade being unoccupied.
The prisoners were divided into divisions OF
500 and messes OF 100. / was put in the
eighth detachment Four thousand prison.
ers were there at that time, but this number
was increased almost daily by recruits from
Sherman's army. There were only about
1900 old prisoners there.
/ was approached by prisoner whom
recognized as Henry Shatzler, OF nay COM
pany. He told ne he was the only one OF
our company there, but that there were sew
eral more of the regiment. He took me
along TO his hole, near the center OF the
stockade, where he and three others stayed.
1t was a double dugout, the other part be-
ing occupied by three Ohio boys. l was not
there very long until one Of The ONO boys
that was in the dugout with Shatzler died,
and took his place.
The big swamp at the run was all covered
with sand, washed from the hill by the heavy
rains of The Winter, and was used as base
ball ground by the new prisoners.
Capt. Wirtz had changed considerably.
He often came in and talked to the boys.
He would ask the Sergeants OF detacbments
out to his office and consult with ttem. He
issued barrel and a half-bushei or corn to
each mess, and about q quart of molasses
each week, to make sour beer to use as
medicine. Our rations were about the same
in quality and quantity as before. We drew
raw rations. with wood very scarce. They
also began building sheds fer shelter for us.
Three Of them were finished when we left.
There was great deal of recruiting done
here at that time by the rebels in particular,
among the new prisoners. One day they
recruited quite a number. Among them was
q young Sergeant OF Co. / Of an Indiana
regiment, of which / have forgotten the
number. After few days this same Yankee
Sergeant entered the prison as a rebel re-
cruiting officer, in full rebel uniform, with
Sergeants stripes on his arm. He was quite
successful. Among others, he recruited
nearly all of his company. about % or 30
men. They all appeared to have good
clothes and plenty Of money. These men
were a disgrace to Andersonville prisoners,
and, / think, ought to have been branded
with big T.
The guards would talk, trade. and sell to
the prisoners at night. All that was neces-
cary was money and the majority of the new
prisoners appeared to have IT. They would
buy meat, peas, sweet potatoes, peanuts, etc.
but we poor old prisoners had to be satisfied
with corn-chop and rice.
Our quarters or dugout was among the
new men, who had money, and could afford
70 purchase " hat TO US were luxuriea. One
Day ShatZler proposed that we set out and
buy something 10 eat from the guards. We
laughed at The idea of buying anything at
Andersonville without money, but ShatZler
insisted upon making the attempt, and
finally persuaded Christian Leist and myself
to 20 with him. The first guard we APP
preached for the purpose of buying of had
20 quarts OF cornmeal to sell, at 81 quart.
All right; we'll take them," said my
comrade. How shall we get them and pay
for them?n
Just shove the money through the crack
Of The siockade. My pard viii get it, then /
viii drop The meal"