The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-03-15
Veteran of Civil War Argues
in Favor of Such
Memorials.
TAKES ISSUE WITH WRITER IN
THE JOURNAL, AND GIVES HIS
VIEWS AND EXPERIENCES REL
ALIVE TO THE TREATMENT or
PRISONERS, BOTH NORTH AND
SOUTH.
ditor Pensacola Journal:

Editor Pensacola Journal:
After having read and re-read Mr.
Chalk's communication in your paper
of the 18th, and failing to find one
good reason given why the Daughte-s
of the Confederacy should hesitate
to build a monument to that martyr
to duty, Capt. Wirz, feel impelled as
a veteran of the civil war to give
some reason why they should do so,
and to say also, that Mr.. Chalk does
not seem to see beyond the mute mar
Bile the grateful inspiration which
moves upon the patriotic hearts OF
our daughters to leave imperishable.
testimony of their own deep love and
of their fathers-and they regard the
erection of monument 10 Capt. Wirz
as a sacred duty, for he was maligned
in life, judicially murdered. Written
and printed records perish with time
and usage, but monuments of brass
and stone may bear testimony and go
down only with the wreck of matter
and crush of worlds"
Mr.. Chalk does not allege one act
of cruelty, one act of Indifference, or
neglect of these poor fellows (by
Capt. Wirz) which by the chance of,
war and brutal Indifference of the
Union leaders, including Gen. Grant
and the secretary of war, E. NJ. Stan
ton, was made possibly, and newt
able, because they positively refused
to make any exchange of prisoners.
History records, and the intelli-
gent world knows why Union prison
|ers suffered. Sooner or later the
South, and her officials, during that
unhappy period, including Capt. Wirz.
will be indicated These monuments
will stand as beacon lights to aid the
future historian, unbiased by preju-
dice or education, to formulate and
deliver the truth to waiting world.
This is what our glorious women of
the q. D. C. are laboring and praying
for; not to perpetuate strife and dis
fcord. but to give the truth in letters
Iof stone, which shall catch the eye,
Eenlighten the mind, and fill the hearts
of children's children with a Just pride
in their ancestors
Who shall say them nay in such a
sacred duty? Shall the men of the
Grand Army object, when but recently
they met in great numbers and uncov-
erred a monument to John Brown, of
infamous memory. hung by the people
of Virginia for melting their slaves
to insurrection, rapine and murder,
and made more memorable by the ap-
pearance of the vice-president of the
United States as orator? OH shame,
where is they blush. s
Our daughters and their sires want
peace and harmony, but not at the
cost of suppressing every noble senti-
ment of their nature; not at the loss
of manhood, justice and truth.
Mr.. Chalk certainly does not keep
step with the conditions which sur
round the confederate veteran. l
know CT no southern state which does
not pension the soldier, whose record
is good and whose physical condition
disqualifies him from labor Thou
sands CT dollars are being paid an
nually to the gallant survivors, and
good homes are provided for those
who have none. Added to this, the
affectionate regard, exhibited on all
occasions by the general public; and
what remains to complain of
Mr.. Chalk presents a horrible pic
ture of those / 800 prisoners removed
from Andersonyille to Florence. If
Dir. Chalk had had my experience in
federal transportation and prison life,
he would never have uncovered this
skeleton to public gaze. What is the
truth? I, with a thousand other
prisoners, some wounded some sick,
were "sardined" in loathsome box
cars without seats or ventilation, save
at one door, and in this miserable con-
7dition shipped as so many hogs. with
out rations, from Marietta Ca, tol
Louisville. Ky, about 400 miles, fol-
lowing the battle of July 22d at At
lanta-and from Louisville TO Camp
Chase. another 400 miles. having only
rasher of raw pork and army bis
cult to appease hunger in transit, in
the same "old box car" For nine
months of semi-starvation in that
prison camp. our daily ration was one
third of pound of beef and bone,
with six ounces of bakers bread, with
an occasional potato, or onion for a
change Ragged, thinly clad, many
without blankets or shoes, we spent
nine long weary months, dreaming
nightly OF home and the comforts OF
home-as a result of these hardshfps
let the Confederate burying ground
around this camp speak. Two thou
sand seven hundred of these active.
vigorous young men persisted from ex-
posure and neglect.
Being abundantly able to supply rs
with food and clothing, they failed TO
do so. alleging that they were treat
ing us as We were treating the prison
ers at Observation-Disclosures they knew