West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-12-31

RN writing the following facts I have
no intention OF stirring up strife,
but the opposite. Tho north and
tho south did not understand each
other. Neither do they fully under
stand each other now. Invite YOU.
my reader. 10 take a trip with mo TO
Andcrsonville. Tho morning IL de-
iightfui, and as wc pull out OF Attain
tn the streets arc llled with the busy
throng. The tall sticks ut the numer-
ous factories are throwing out great
volumes OF black smoke. II is lO4
miles to Macon~-not a stream bridged
In all that distance. 1t In upon the
highest ground all tho way. This
gives us a delightful view OF the coun.
try right and left. Apple and pear
trees arc well loaded. but fow peaches
on the trees. Macon 10 a beautiful and
thriving city. Here wo change cars for
Andcrsonville. sixty miles away. We
pass Fort Valley. fruit ccnter--peach-
es galore. l bought q basket. tho finest
ever saw. Reader. thcre arc more
than we can both cat, 20 help yourself.
Andersonville reached. II IL dag
station--no platform. Tho Village OF
200 is over the hill to tho west, out or
sight. 1t 10 2 o'clock p. m. Wo will ent
dinner at plain hotel, but good ta-
Bile. leave my cuffs and coat ut the
hotel. With umbrella In one hand ana
kodak In tho other, we start. At tho
depot we meet the superintendent OF
the National cemetery. He very cheer
fully consents TO be our guide. We
walk down tho track a little wny. I
said, Where arc you from7 2" Mime
sota." That's my old home. We shook
hands on tho track. Ho knew OF me.
knew OF him. We walked somo dis
tance mp tho track, then took a well
graded road to tho east. A few hun
drcd yards and we are at the cemetery.
The government has bought 110 acres.
Twenty-Five acres arc fenced In with
a substantial brick wall. We enter
through a nice iron gate. Before us is
the beautifully kept National ceme-
terry. To our left Is good house for
tho superintendent to live in. We are
In his Office. He said. "Give me the
names OF the men whose graves you
want to visit" said, SHARP Ho
opened n largo book and said, 'Ts II
q. T. Sharpfs I said, eyes" Herp IL
the record: &c. T. Sharp; number OF
grave 5000; Company II. 6ixty-third
Ohio Infantry; died OF dysentery, Sept
IL. 1884" Now another name. said,
'Lattn." He looked In the book and
said. 'Ts II w. N. Lattnf" I said,
'Yes." Here ~ the record: "w. n.
Latta; number OF grave 524e; Company
IL, Ohio; died Aug. 10. 1854. with
chronic diarrhen." His regiment num-
ber did not get down. Another rec
ord: George Atkinson; number of
grave 59o4; Ninth Minnesota; died OF
scuryy, Aug. IL. 1854"
We now start to VISIT the graves. /
inquired why they were placed 30 close
together. He answered that they had
to be buried In trenches. A long trench
was dug each day, running north and
south and over six feet wide. Then tho
bodies were placed close together, with
their feet to tho east. 1t was the in.
tention after the war was over to take
them all up and rearrange the graves.
but most people interested prefer to
have them remain as they are. There
was stake placed Mt the head of each
grave containing the name, number.
regiment and company OF ench one.
This was burned into the stake. All
this was done by our own men. These
stakes were replaced by boards, then
by tombstcnes. There was space OF
some feet left between the trenches. 10
that you can walk past the foot OF the
graves without stepping on them.
Here we are at Latta's grave. My
feelings are beyond my control. look
ed through falling tears and could sec
tho name very plainly could see him
as be looked when n boy. How his
face did shine when convertedi His
earnest prayers and ciear Christian
testimony are yet fresh TO me. re-
member how he looked when no mar
ried my cousin, and Julia and I stood
BY their sides. used my kodak and
started on.
Many points Of interest were pointed
out One will mention. Here are
six graves or By themselves They
were our soldiers, convicted Of theft
and murder by our own men. They
were hung inside the stockade. we
have come northeast and now arc not
very far from the north wall am
handing at the foot Of shsrps grave.
Again feel overcome. I could see him
NJ a young man when ho went TO see
his best girl and took care Of his
hoFses aiso how hs looked tho night
he was married and when he united
with the church. I remember well his
conducting family worship at bis own
family altar. He read from the Forty.
second Psalm, "As the hart panteth
after the water brooks 70 panteth my
soul after thee. o God" I used my
kodak. and we camo back TO the
house. On the way we passed about
800 graves, soldiers killed In shor-
mans march; also BY themselves were
lot Of colored troops buried. There
are buried here in All over is.7o0 Union
eoIdiegs.
The name Of the superintendent Il
Edward s. Posi-. His address is An
eersonyIlie. Ca. n any wish 10 10
auire about friends who died at Andor-
aoayllle. send your names 10 him, with
-