The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-07-04
"THE HORRORS OF ANDERSON
WILLIE"

The chief place for the confinement
of Union soldiers during the Civil war
was Andersonville. WHICH is little
town in the north central part of Geor-
gia. about sixty miles south of Macon,
on the southwestern railroad.
1t was one of the worst places that
could have been chosen. because the
temperature varied from 10 degrees in
the winter to 10 degrees in the summer.
1t was located in clearing on the
side of a hill. the soil being of red clay.
AT the bottom of the enclosure was a
little creek coming from swamp. The
water in the creek was very poor and
not fit for drinking. The enclosure was
$50 feet in width and 1.540 feet in length.
fenced in with poles twenty feet high.
On the outside Of this fence was a
lower stockade at the angles of which
thirty-fiVe SentrieS were posted. Ihe
distance between the fence and the low
er stockade was called the dead line
because all who ventured in here We're
shot at and generally killed by the SEN
try.
From February to October. in 1864.
there were 81 693 prisoners crowded into
this miserable pen. The daily ratlonS
for each prisoner were: TWO ounces or
bacon or beef, one sweet potato and a
piece of bread two and one-half inches
square made of unsifted meal OF corn
or peas which were sometimes served
raw for the prisoners had no means OF
cooking them.
the ground for shelter from the sun
and rain: some made rude shanties OF
sticks mud and brush. When it ralned
the water formed in pools and frequent
ly mud formed ankle deep. Filth OF all
kinds were in the river and sometimes
the water would be white from mag
gotS.
The prisoners had but little clothing
and were sometimes without hats. SHOES
or stockings The place was swarming
wit L1nf0SCeQ
with MOSQUITOES.
During August and September in 1864
there were 5000 prisoners sick. and for
a while they died at the rate Of IN nine ne.
clerical attention. They were buried
without collins in quick lime. Many
of the prisoners lost their limbs by
scurvy. and it was no uncommon sight
in Andersonville to see a prisoner sitting
on a stump or log. and near him., on
the ground. the decayed parts Of foot
or hand which had actually rotted OFF,
and the sufferer. unable to help him
self. soon died fromthe effects OF the
dreadful disease or from starvation.
Many were brought to Andersonvllle
who were already sick or wounded. and
receiving no care. they too. soon sue
cumbed to their diseases or wounds.
Many were soon stricken with the dead
ly fever of the south. which wrought
such sad havoc at Andersonville and at
Tyler, Texas. Many more lost their
minds and added to the horrors of the
prison their demoniac cries for food.
for shelter and for loved ones at home
in the north OF these many committed
suicide and others murdered their fell
low prisoners and confiscated their food.
clothing and shelter. Many tried to es-
cape. but in most cases the -runaways
were pursued by blood hounds. and If
they did not succeed in climbing to a
place of safety they were torn to pieces
by the ferocious dogs. Those that were
recaptured were treated very cruelty
and their food reduced. In some cases
the captured runaways were hung up
by their fingers or toes for twenty-four
hours. as a punishment for escaping.
During thirteen months 44,SS2 prison
ers were confined in this prison of
whom Il. 642 died. After the close of the
war this terrible barbarity was looked
into and the chief jailer. Cantain Wlve,
who had acted throughout with terri
BILE barbarity was tried. convicted of
the charge and hung although he loud
ly asserted that he had. in all that he
did. acted under orders.
That there were men so blinded by
sectional hatred and so lost to all con-
siderations for humanity as to delight
in such tortures we know. but it can
vailing spirit in the south, as many
Confederate officers denounced them
and it is due to quote the words of
Colonel Chandler who was ordered to
inspect and report upon the condition
of Andersonville He said: 'It is a
place. the horrors of which it is hard
to describe: it is a disgrace to civil
ization."
ARTHUR TOMS.