The National tribune., 1906-08-23
HANGING AT ANpERsoNv1LLE.
Comrnde Howard Gives an Interesting
Account of Events in the Big Prison
Stockade In Dixie.

Editor Nationals Tribune: I read an
article in your paper recently from
James H. Burke, Co. D, s5th Ohio,
about the famous spring in Anderson
vile Prison, and think ne has 1t about
right; also the article of Serg't Edwin
Clark, Co. /, 111th Pa. in another is
sue. He tells about digging tunnel
and the water coming down on him.
That would seem queer place to dig
tunnel, as it was right between the
two gates, and on the front side of An
dersonville Prison, where men and
guards were passing continually night
| and day. Comrade Burke speaks of a
big rain in the Summer or early Fall
of 1864. and that the spring broke out
Immediately after. My diary of that
year is before me at this time and says:
"On the afternoon of Oct. We had the
hardest rain we have had this Summer
or Fall" l have no recollection of
the stockade washing out at that time.
but there was a very hard thunder
shower Aug. 9. and the stockade was
washed out in several places. That
may be the time Comrade Burke was
| thinking of. For authority ] cite my
diary; also, Robert H. Kellogg's book,
Life and Death in Rebel Prisons"
page 211.
The facts about the spring as 1 re-
member them are these: There was
large pine stump standing between the
dead-line and the stockade. about half
way between the bridge across the
| brook and the north gate, and the
morning after the big rain, Oct. B.
there was a nice stream of water run
ming out from under the stump and
down the hill, and 1t was truly a God
send to the prisoners, as it was all the
good water there ever was in that aw-
full place. In a few days the rebs put
in spout and ran it under the dead
line into large tub, and we had all
the water we needed, and that was
about the only humane act they ever
did for us.
1 vas taken prisoner June 23, 1864,
on the Weldon Railroad in front of
Petersburg. and got into Anderson
vile July II, the day the raiders were
hanged. 1 have heard many stories
about the hanging and about one man
who broke away and ran. L have
heard men say they were standing at
the foot of the gallows and one of the
six broke the rope and then got up
and ran across the brook and swamp
over to the other side hill before he
was recaptured. No doubt these COM
rades think they are telling facts, but
it would be rather hard on q man to
fall six or eight feet, nearly breaking
his neck and then jump up and run
with his hands and feet tied and bag
over his head. !. with our First Ser
geant, Charles H. Brush. and some 9TH
ers of our company were standing near
the north gate to draw rations, our
first meal in Andersonville, and saw
the proceedings. The raiders were
brought in at the south gate and as
they went up the steps to the gallows
one of the six broke and ran across the
brook and swamp, but was captured
and taken back, and all were swung off
together. and when they fell one broke
the rope and was taken back on the
scaffold and swung off the second time.
If six men ever got their just deserts
It was those raiders.
Out of 900 of my regiment and 100
of the 4th VT. taken prisoners that 23d
of June over 20 per cent died in rebel
prisons
If this is worthy of publication I hope
it will meet the eyes of some of my old
comrades Of Cos. K and A Of the 18th
VT, especially Serg't. Albert Phelps,
Co. K, who was with me in our escape
and recapture In the woods and swamps
of Georgia.-John s. Howard, Co. K,
11th VT Fairfax, VT