The National tribune., 1906-01-18

= ! E.9.s =,
EX-PRISONERS.
o..<r... Should Do rlssray Act ., Jus

tice.
Editor National Tribune: Your edi-
torial in the issue ofyoNr paper of Dec.
%. 1905, urging that Congress pass the
Prisoners of War Rjlkc but emphasizes
the claim made by so many veterans
Of the civil war Through your columns
(and acknowledged without reserve by
every one of the thousands of veterans
whose names are od YOUR subscription
lists) that The National Tribune is in
deed their loyal friend-ever ready to
defend their devotion to the cause for
which they sacrificed SO much 4O-odd
years ago, and to champion their legi-
innate interest accruing since those
eventful days. Some % years ago
became a subscriber to The National
Tribune, and every week in all those
years 1t has been a visitor in my home
"a welcome hand Is always extended
In greeting it as loyal friend. NC
Elroy's History of Andersonville has
been in my home since shortly after it's
publication. and has been read by not
only every member of my family, but
as we'll by dozens of my townsmen. No
one who has read the book can question
the ability of the editor of The National
Tribune to write interestingly, and as
one having full knowledge of the sub
ject-matter, concerning the privations
endured by those Federal soldiers who
taken prisoners and confined in Con-
federate prisons-especially in Ander-
sonville. For 40-Odd years, il the writer
is not mistaken, at each recurring ses-
sion of Congress, bill has been intro
duced in that august body embodying.
practically, the same provisions each
time. for the relief of those men, and
each time the bill has been allowed to
die-quietly and without postmortem
or obituary, And each year the num-
Der of its would-be benef1ciaries has
grown less, and Uncle Sam has saved
not few pennies "Andersonville
proper, may be said to have lasted not
much over three months" you say in
your editorial. for the purpose Of max
ing comparison as to the death rates.
But, literally, Andersonville lasted
many months longer to some of us UNI
fortunates, whom I will now designate
(and have aways looked upon) as the
forgotten remnant" The writer, after
having been shifted to some half dozen
different pens in the Fall Of 1864 (and
once having gotten as far as Rough and
Ready in vain attempt at escape) en-
tered Andersonville for the last time
Dec. "a, 1865, and was released there
from, by reason. I presume, Of the ex-
piration Of the war, April 81, 1865,
being practically one of the last de-
tachment OF prisoners to leave the pen.
OF the sufferings endured by that for
gotten Cor forsaken) remnant" in An
Jacksonville during the Winter of 1861
'65 (for nights particularly were
cold to us illy-fed and scantily-clothed
unfortunately, no one but he who
shared in the experience can form a
just appreciation. For years 1 have
tried to cultivate spirit of forgive
ness toward those high in authority who
were directly responsible for the in
human treatment inflicted upon u.s. for
1t might have been alleviated to some
extent. but that spirit, ], am constrained
to remark, has not yet arrived at full
fruition, whatever il may do in the
future. But. ''lest ! forget" let me
add that I entertain no "feeling akin to
love"-no spark Of forgiveness is slum-
bering in my bosom-toward those
Georgia conscripts who were our jail
ers, SO to speak. who toted death-deal-
ing muskets as sentries over the in
mates Of that Infamous pen, and who
never missed an opportunity to take
a pot shot at any prisoner luckless
enough to infringe upon or violate any
Of the rules governing the interior of
the prison. / do not care to include in
this criticism all those9who did guard
duty at Andersonvils,s for personally /
had evidence to the fact that among
US In our afflictiOn. hut who were pow
erless to assist us. But Fthere were 9TH
ers. and their hatred OF the Yankee was
their dominating trait.
The passage of the Prisoners of War
Bill, by both Houses of Congress dur
ing the present session. would be but
the fulfillment of a tardy act Of justice
to those who yet remain to enjoy its
provisions. They form but an insignifi-
cant minority as compared to the whole
number OF veterans of the civil war still
living, but of their loyalty to the Old
Flag there can be no question, as those
recruiting officers of the Confederacy,
who frequently visited Andersonville,
holding out all manner Of inducements
if we would only enroll ourselves un-
der their reasonable banner could
testify. IL they wouid-James II. Burke,
Co. d, 95th Ohio, Mt. Ayr, Iowa