The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1909-04-14
DENlsoN, IOWA
ANDERSONVILLE PRISON
A Writer in the Jefferson Bee Tells Of the Hell
Hole Conducted by the Southern People

Andersonville is situated in the
heart of the richest portion of the cot
ton and corn growing region of Geor-
gia. Here in November. 1868, w. S.
Winder, captain in the rebel army. !
and who was selected for the purpose.
came and located the grounds for a
Confederate State Military Prison.
When the site was definitely establish
ed. it was found to be covered with
thick growth of pines and oaks. Some
one said to Winder that the shade
afforded by the trees would prove a
grateful protection to the prisoners.
The reply was characteristic of the
man: 81 will make pen here for
the ID Yankees, where they will
rot faster than they can be- sent. -
The trees were cut down and the space
cleared. No buildings, barracks.
houses or huts of any kind were built.
The sky was the only covering. Win
der became commander of the post.
and with him came Henry Wirz as
superintendent of the prison. These
names were linked with the horrors
of the prison pen. The prison ground
contained about twenty acres, and was
crossed by small stream and swamp.
A part of this land was rendered use
less by the establishment of a dead
line.''
The stockade was made of pine logs
sixteen feet long, set six feet in the
ground and close together. On this
stockade, about every eighty foot
were placed sentry boxes and in each
box was rebel guard. Inside the
stockade, and about thirty feet from
it was what was called the "dead
line." when Yankee stepped over
this "dead line" he was at once shot
by the guard. / have seen a number
of men march over that line, expect
ing to be shot, with as much delibera-
ton as you have come here tonight.
Their sufferings had become more than
they could bear.
| Now must tell you how we 20,
our rations. In the forenoon lum.
her wagon heavily guarded was hauled
into the stockade. The wagon DO,
would be filled with corn bread, musl1
or rice. which was shoveled out to US
and when emptied the wagon was uset
as hearse to remove the prisoners
who died the night before and hae
been prepared for burial by removing
all their clothing (for the living need.
ed clothing worse than the dead). TIT
naked corpses were then thrown int,
the wagon with no more feeling thar
If they we're dead hogs. The wager
soon returned with more provisions
This was repeated from day to day
and surely showed mans inhumanit,
to man.
Il Our provisions were first issued t,
detachments of 1000, then to com
panies of 100. then to squads of TWEEN
ty. and in that way each got his Dor
|
than one-half pint daily. My diary
kept during rrison life. says: "May
80, 1864-Drew for rations one thirt
of loaf of corn bread. :" A full loa
was five inches square by two inche,
thick.' "July4 Drew one-half pin
mush, etc., This small allowanc,
did not come regularly every day
often day was skipped and at on,
time no rations were received fol
three days. This was to punish u
into giving up the leader of an orga
nized company that had almost finish
ed a tunnel for our escape. Corr
bread. mush or rice was our comm Il
diet-no wonder the prisoners died by
thousands of diarrhoea, scurvy anc
fevers.
AInTIrr. IN cIIncrnInrnc