The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1898-12-05
Andersonville Vindicated.


There are a great many points in the
late war between Spain and the Unit
ed States which make palmer some
events of the past, as Indicated III an
extract from speech delivered in Sc
dalia, Mo-, by Hon. Charles Colin, OF
Walnut Ridge, Ark, an extract from
which is published elsewhere.
For instance, there is the treatment
of prisoners of war. Under the best
OF circumstances, prison life brings
hardship upon its victims, entaillng DIS
ease as We'll as misery and both followed
by an increased death rate. Wnen the
late war between the states was brought
TO a close. the people Of the north
seemed ready to. forgive and forget
everything except AndersOnViile. The
mere mention of what they denominated
the great southern prison pen was
enough to arouse the ire and the IN
dignati0n of the relatives and friends OF
the men who had been confined within
the stockades of AndersOnvlle. Editorial
writer's, political orators, sensational
preachers and strong minded women
found the subject of AndersOnVIlle 10
be one OF which the public never tired.
Highly COlOred stories were told OF the
sufferings endured by the prisoners, as
we'll as of the great death rate Whlch
existed among them. It was ldse TO cali
the attention OF these people to the fact
that the record of their own big prisons
showed no better result. 1t was not until
the late Senator Hill. on the floor OF
the national house of representatives,
took the subject up with such cOnSum-
mate skill and convincing argument that
people began to admit that Anderson
vile, perhaps, was not so bad after all.
Yet the memory of Ander8onville
could not be entirely forgotten, and still
mention of the name may be occasion
ally heard for the purpose of illustrat-
ing some greWsOme story. 1t is inter
esting. in this condition, to recall some
OF the accomplishments OF the war
through which we have just passed. No
sooner was that war over than the pub
lie press was filled with lurld dcscrip-
tous of the hardshipS OF the men in the
field, of the almost criminal lncompe-
tency of the c0mmissary and sanitary
departments COincident with these
charges there came up the terrible TeVe-
lations concerning Camp Thomas in
Chichamauga park. The complaints
from this camp. placed side by side with
the urid descriptions written years ago
about AndersOnyillc. would fully hold
ill.,, priority. In the one case, there
was a nation engaged in n four years
death struggle with a powerful foe, eN-
hausting all o. its energies in meeting
the enemy at the front. II the prison
ers of war of such a nation. located far
to the inland, should have suffered some
Inconvenience. it would only be what
should have been expected. In the other
case it was a great, powerful united ma
ton in its conduct not OF
pris0n camp, but Of a regular army
encampment. with unlimited ability to
make it perfect in all Of its departments.
Yet Notwithstanding this fact, the story
of Chickamauga is one which illustrates
how difficult it is to mass and handle
large numbers of men and to preserve
the sanitary conditions which exist in
the world at large.
These two facts are recalled. not for
the purpose OF offensive comparison,
but simply to show how unjust criticism
often becomes There was no more in
tcntion on part of the confederate gov
eminent. or any of its officers, to mis-
treat the PRISONERS III tA4iN'l SUI wiz
than there was on part of the United
States government and its officers TO
mjstreat the brave boys who We're en-
canned upon the plain Of Chickamau@a.
In spite Of all precaution, in spite OF the
Jealous efforts Of a noble and effective
government to surround them with all
of the cOnvpniences and comforts which
should have conducod 10 their well he
ing. yet misery. starvation, even i'll
treatment and death have been album
dainty proven.
In the light Of these facts Anderson
vile stands fully indicated. Years ago
If was established beyond question that
the prisoners at that point received
every attention and every comfort which
II was possible under the circumstances
to give them In spite of all this, There
was a Iamentable death rate, and suf-
rerjng which is inseparabie from the
massing of large bodies Of men together.
These same conditions repeated them
selves at Chickamauga, nOtWthstand-
ing the known and admitted efforts to
make Of it a camp of the highest posi-
BILE character. so far as sanitation and
the commissary department could
make IT,