Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-10-27
Fourth of july in Rebel Prison


war veteran of Westerly, Rhode Isl.
and. who was in war times George
B. Carpenter sergeant in Company
ID of the 4th infantry regiment from
that state, and was a prisoner of
war for some months He sends me
an article from the Westerly Sun,
which contains an interesting ac-
count of a celebration of our national
birthday under circumstances not SO
very favorable for making merry.
suspect that some of the old fellows
who read this, and who were at one
time Or another guests of the John
MES may recall similar exhibitions OF
patriI ism when and where it cost
something to be patriots. Following
Is the story:
In a Rebel Stockade.
In the summer of 1864 more than
1900 line officers of the union army,
prisoners of war. were huddled in a
small Enclosure on the outskirts of
Macon, Ga. Their condition, however,
while wretched in the extreme, bore
no comparison to that fthe 10000
enlisted men within the fetid pen at
Andersonville, few miles away,
where brave souls to the number OF
from 100 to 200 persisted daily.
For days echoes of Shermans guns,
as that warrior was slowly advancing
toward doomed Atlanta, were heard
with genuine interest and pleasure by
the prisoners, all of whom constantly
INDUCED in the fond hope, which,
long deferred, had made the heart
sick, that the day of rescue and de
Iiverance from living dea.h was now
close a. hand.
1t was early on the morning of July
4, during the customary ceremony of
counting the prisoners, corralleJ il
the lower part of the pen as prelim-
mary for that purpose, that a scene
transpired which for fervor and exalt-
ed patriotism was never surpassed.
No more enthusiastic Rally Around
the Flag had ever before been made
nor ever will be. The prisoners were
suddenly reused to the highest pitch
of excitement by the totally unexpect-
ed display of tiny silk American f1as
which my companion, Captain Harry
H. Todd of the Eigh- h New Jersey
regiment drew from the lining of his
tattered blouse. where he had long
secreted it. and held aloft, writes ].
Madison Drake in the Newark Call.
The little silken color was no soon
er observed by the dense crowd than
cloud reaching cheers made the wei
kin ring and sent the confederate
Home Guards in the adjoining arms
scurrying to their arms, which they
quickly and tremblingly seized, fear
ing an emeute AS Captain Todd
waved the treasured relic above the
neads of the men who closely sur
rounded him Adjutant Jules Lombard
of an Illinois cavalry regiment ire
Gently deceased), a famous vocalist
before the war and long after, in
spired by the occasion, broke out
with Oh, say can you see? His ex-
ceptionally fine baritone voice pene-
trated to the camp outside, adding to
the fear ana confusion of the armed
confederates.
Louder and louder swelled the ina
tional anthem. the chorus being rem
dered with mighty power, producing
an enervating influence on the minds
of the excl ed and frightened confed-
crates. Tears coursed copiously down
the cadaverous cheeks of the halt
starved prisoners, as, singing with
holy enthusiasm. they grasped each
others hands in warm and hearty
clasp and made the camp echo with
cheers that froze the fretful hear. OF
the bewildered Home Guards who,
mounting the stockade overlooking
the pen donble-shitted the pieces of
artillery and breathlessly awaited the
command of their officers to open fire
upon defenceless men possessed or
no rights which the guards thought
themselves bound to respect.
Song followed song-Columbia, the
Gem Of the Ocean, the Battle Cry of
Freedom, We are Coming. Father
Abraham, 100000 More until
strong force of infantry, with bayo-
nets fixed and levelled, marched brisk
" into the inclosure, threatening ex-
termination OF the pifSOHeFs uli0S9
they ceased singing and resumed their
wonted quiet,
But no threats of punishment or
abuse could deter us from INDUCING
in the efervescence of joy we all
felt, and if forcitbly stopped at one
point The grand refrain was sure TO
be saken un at another. IT gave us
intense satisfaction to witness the
anger of the confederates and to hear
the curses of the southern officers as
they vainly enceayored TO check the
glorious refrain, which affected them
very much as red flag is supposed
to madden and irritate Spanish bull
A protracted search for the flag
proving unavailing. the confederates
withdrew from the yard, whereupon
the prisoners repaired within the old
fair building FUSED as hospital) and
continued their jollifcation. to the tor
men Of the guards on the stockade,
who stood sweltering beneath the
burning rays of an almost tropical
sun. Here Tor a time the prisoners
gave vent to the great JOY they felt
~ sha tosrsro4fon Of the day they