davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The National tribune., 1911-03-09
Wirz the Monster.

Editor National Tribune: Altho never
having had rhe honor of serving my
country in the war of the rebellion. I
am greatly interested in all The Ma
tionaI Tribune prints on that subject
This is 80 because four of my brothers
fought in that war and three of them
gave, their lives to- the cause Of liberty
After perusing the story of the Wilder
ness campaign as presented by you, I
mnst say ] have seen and realized as
never: before the fearful nature of war.
A friend of mine. W. II. Bliss, Co. f,
92d ILL.,, was captured in n charge at
Missionary Ridge, and served seven
months in Andersonville. Mr.. Bliss
says among the prisoners at Anderson
vile was one-leggcd soldier, who,
realizing that he was no longer capable
of serving his country nor Of doing in
jury to the Confederates, approached
Wirz with the request that ON account
of such disability he be SGT at liberty.
He also finished his plea with the re-
mark that IL he (Wirz) did not see fit
TO comply he might shoot him. where
upon the monster looked UP to the
guard and said: Guard, shoot that
man" The order was instantly obeyed.
Mr.. Bliss was an eyewitness of this
wanton act, and helped carry away the
body of the poor one-legged soldier. He
afterwards was summoned on Wirz 8
trial. but owing to being absent In York
State could not serve.-Eben Plackett,
Washougal. Wash. ~
The National tribune., 1911-03-09
As to Haynes's Bluff.

Editor National Tribune: A comrads
speaks Of Gea. Sherman trying to reach
the rear uof5 Vicksburg via the Yazoo
River, and says that the troops were
Iandedcat Haynes's Bluff. Now, no part
Of the Federal army ever: landed within
10 miles of Haynes's BLUM before May
18. 1863: but your correspondent is ems
tireIy blameless, as even Gen. Grant in
his Memoirs" treats Haynes's Bluff as
the principal fertilization on the Yazoo.
Haynes's Bluff Is three or four miles
above Snyder's Bluff Originally Sny-
ders HID. whichfwas the most impreg-
nable fertilization in the whole Missis-
sippi Valley. Yet Gems. Grant and Sher-
man on one side,9andc Rear-Admiral
Porter on the other had a. bitter scrap
over who captured Haynes's Bluff.
Again, one OF your correspondents tells
of little fight at Coffetville, Miss,
about Dec 1, 1862, I'm what was known
as the Harry Washburn expedition. On
that trip no hostile gun wis fired near
er than three miles OF Cofeyvflle. As
we were nearing that village, Cen. C. c..
Washburn. believing there was no en-
envy In our immediate front, proposed
and did lin opposition to my protest.
ride forward In advance of my advance
guard, and had proceeded some half
mile when considerable bunch of
Johnnies, concealed in bunch of
woods, opened fire. following 1t up with
charge, and succeeding in capturing
the General with is whole staff and es-
cort. The 4tF Iowa Cav. Immediately
charged-in column, recaptured the Cen
eral and his outfit and took number
of prisoners. The whole thing lasted
not over 10 or Is minutes. No part of
the infantry force reached CofeyvilIe
on that eypedition.-J. Fl. Bates, Lieu
tenant-coionel, 4th Iowa Cav, Man.
chester, Iowa.
The National tribune., 1911-03-09
kR5h 5a6ketdhe9G
y \ Recztal6

the meat business while we were in the
prisons.
The dead would be carried to the
gate and laid on the ground in the
street, and the next morning at 8
o'clock a wagon took them away. piled
up like cordwood.
Many had the scurvy so bad that
their gums were so swollen that their
teeth fell out.
Early in the morning Wirz would
mount his horse, blow his bugle for the
bloodhounds to be let out, and then he
and his Aids would circle the stockade
with the hounds to see if any prisoners
had escaped during the night. If so,
the dogs would take the trail like a lot
of fox hounds after fox; they would
have their chase and the riders their
sport of riding down that Yank. The
next thing you would see would be a
Yank brought in with perhaps part of
the flesh torn off of his arms or legs.
For punishment the prisoner would
be placed in the stocks, kept there for
days or weeks, as the case may be, with
his hands and feet pinioned for the
flies to work on his wounds, in the hot
sun and rain.
Whenever guard shot Yank he
would get 30-days furlough, and it
made them watchful. Many man was
shot without any cause whatever. They
had guard rail four feet from the
ground, and this constituted the dead
line 1t was 20 feet inside of the stock
ade, and no one was allowed under or
The National tribune., 1911-03-09
Cutting the Macon Road.

Editor National Tribune: 1 was one
of detail OF the 18th Ohio that was
first on the Macon Railroad south of
Atlanta. I'll give my testimony in favor
of Comrade Ady. I think there were
about rs of us. I know we tore I'D
some OF the track and exchanged shots
with rebels both above and below. We
stayed there till dark, and as the bril-
gade didn't come we fell back perhaps
mile. and either found the regiment
In camp or met them on the march
I've forgotten which. I also remember
the next day of marching along that
road few miles. when all of a sudden
we went by the right flank out in a
field to our right, formed line of bat
charged line of works two rods in the
woods, so we couldn't see them The
38th was repulsed, and came out in
confusion. Their colorbearer stood
there. not three rods from the rebel
works and waved their colors, while
the regiment rallied on the colors and
called on US. the 18th. Our Colonel
Durbin Ward, yelled for them to put
some one on his right, so he would not
be outianksd, and then he commanded
US to throw away our knapsacks. Just
then the 18th N. Y. (Zouaves) rushed
in between Us. and they, with the 38th
Ohio, went over the rebel works. The
Lieutenant commanding my company
was shot there, but not killed. We fol-
lowed. We passed good many red uni
formed men of the 18th NJ Y. lying
would have been IL Col Ward had been
quick enough. The 38th Ohio was our
chum regiment All Ohio troops, ex-
cept the SGD Ind. were commanded by
Con. Turchin.-T. c. Wilson, 1870 East
Main street.. Portland, Ore.
The National tribune., 1911-03-09
RUNNI.!G down ESCAPED PRISONERS.

over that line. Many time new pris-
oners, who did not know the practice OF
the guards, came in. If one happened
to put his hand on the rail or reached
under for a chip, he was sure to be
shot. I have known them to be shot
innocently. within 10 feet of the dead
line. Some of the guards had Harpers
Ferry musketss that shot one ball and
three buckshot, and have known them
to shoot at one man and hit two or
three others.
In the Fall we were transferred from
Andersonville to Florence, S. c., to suf-
fer for the Winter. That is where
graduated. The bill of fare was about
the same, but the suffering was greater
on account of the cold. The weather
was getting colder. our blood getting
thinner and our clothes more thread
bare. Some nights while We were In
the stockade at Florence the weather
was cold enough to freeze. We also
had several hurries of snow. Just i'm
agine how person could endure lying
on the cold ground with a temperature
of about 30 degrees. We were lying or
the frozen ground, huddled together as
close as possible to keep warm, Is OF
20 in row. spoon fashion, and wher
one would want to turn the whole line
had to turn with him.
The Southern States were running
short of mechanics and laborers TO KEEP
their cars. machinery and plantations
running. A great many employers came
| inside Of the stockade and tried to gel
| men to go outside to work for them
They would offer all kinds of induce.
ments, such as board, good pay. etc.
and as things looked so desperate and
so many were dying a great many o.
the prisoners accepted the offer. rs they
/ thought they would save their lives b.
doing so.-John H. Griffith, Co. A
1891 Pa, Conshohocken, Pa.
The National tribune., 1911-03-09
TRY THIS
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Simply send your name and address
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II Is remarkable remedy. Thou
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have saved themselves by the timely
notice that Pyramid Pile Cure does the
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ish, how internal swellings are reduced.
how bleeding and itching stop instantly.
One of the most important things in
life Ii to know just what 10 do In an
emergency. And In piles the thing to
know Is that Pyramid Pile Cure brings
quick relief, q permanent cure and you
dan prove Il free. Write to-day Cor free
package.
The National tribune., 1911-03-09
Holman's Sharpshooters.

Editor National TribuAe: On May /.
1851, enlisted In Co. 70 4th Mo. (Coi
3. G. Brown. Whenswe came to St
Louis to be mustered q out the rebels
were marching on IrontoE. They called
us together, and asked cas many of us
that would go. Allfmy company except
20 stepped out with Lieut.. Holman. We
were sent to Arcadia to hold the place
until Col. Grant. of Illinois, could get
there. The next day Grant arrived,
sent for Lieut.. HolmanDand appointed
him an Adjutant.
When I was mustered out sent word
to Lieut. Holman to get Grants permis-
with Sharps rifles. 1 gotet following
reply: 10
Headquarters, -Irvington. No.. Aug. II,
1861.
After consulting Brig
Gen. Grant ! am authorized to state
that You may make arrangements to
come down with such men as you can
raise to act as guard to the
General. The General is coming up in
few days, and il You will get what
men together he will take you down
with him John H. Holman"
I wro.e to him TO ask Grant to let
him come to st. Louis to be Captain of
the company and 1 would fall back to
Second Lieutenant. l had promised a
man named Allison the First Lieuten-
ancy il he raised 80 men. and he came
with 50. That Is the way came to be
Second Lieutenant after raising the
company. I had about one-half of q
company raised before sent word to
Grant. / received requisition from
him to go to the arsenal and get 100
Sharps rifles I got them, and took
them TO my headquarters on Broadway.
near Cass avenue, also 100 suits of
Regulars clothes. By Aug. 80 had a
full company, and was sworn in on that
day as Holman's Sharpshooters. We were
getting ready to go to Gen. Grant when
said that Gen. Fremont wanted to know
who and what we We're. Capt. Holman
told him: Grants Bodyguard" The
next day we got orders to march the
company to his headquarters He came
out and inspected the company, and
said: You have q fine lot of men and
all dressed in Regular uniform. Go to-
your quarters and wait my command -
Next day we received orders to shut up
our quarters and report to him at the
Missouri Pacific Railroad Depot. We
had to obey. We went to Jefferson City,
then to Springfield. We went with Ia
goni when he made that grand charge.
but we did not get into that fight. The
wagons went in, but were too slow.
Then Gen. Fremont was superseded by
Louis, and they put us on provost
guard. We stayed on This guard until
the middle of January. 1862 We were
sworn in as Holman's Sharpshooters.
and went by that name until We were
with the Goth Mo.-ClIas. !
p. Carman. Holman's Sharpshooters.
Mo.
The National tribune., 1911-03-09

ninth thousand and was situated in the
northwest corner of the stockade.
The guards had taken everything
from us except our clothes. We were
without shelter from sun and storm. At
one time 1 was wet for 16 days This
was the rainy time that washed the
gully which started Providence Spring
and furnished the first fresh water we
had had during our imprisonment. Be-
fore that We were compelled TO drink
green, stagnant water which came
sweeping thru the camp in the shallow
creek
When we first arrived there in May
they had cook house on the outside
of the stockade, and every other day
we would get cooked rations once a
day at 5 o'clock in this art .rnoon. The
cooked rations consisted of one inch
square of bacon and one tablespoonful
Of boiled beans or rice and a piece OF
cornbread. We would eat this at once
and would get nothing more until 6
o'clock the next afternoon, when we
would get a ration of one pint of raw
cornmeal, ground cob, chaff and all to.
gether.
1 took piece of my canteen, punched
holes in II with nail and made g
sieve. When 1 sifted it l would have
about one-third of the quantity. w,
were supposed to get ration of greer
pine wood every day or so. 1t wa
about as large as your arm, and in or
der to get ii to burn we had TO cut
up into shavings. Before or cornmea
musf would come to a boil our fire
would be out. Many times have taker
my cup of cornmeal and water ant
drank.it
At the cook house the beans wer,
boiled and then emptied into barrel
set out in the hot sun where we coult
see them. These barrels were neve
washed, but they kept emptying the no
beans into them day after day. The,
were usually sour when we got them.
This was our fare until Dec. z, 1854
when Jefferson Davis ordered that W,
were to receive no more meat unit
further notice. and that was the last o
The National tribune., 1911-03-09
THE HARDsHIPs OF PRISON LIFE.

Conditions i'm Two of the Notorious
Prisons in the South During the
War.
Editor National Tribune: I was cap
tured with many others at the battle
of the Wilderness on the evening of
May 6, 1864. We were taken to Orange
c. H., from where the commissioned
officers were sent to Charleston and the
noncommissioned officers and privates
to Danville, where we were kept wait
ing for transportation TO Andersonville
We were then loaded into box cars-75
men into each car. The guards were
on top of the cars. We were huddled
in these cars for three days and three
nights on our way. When we arrived
at Andersonville-there were about 500
of us-we were made acquainted with
the notorious Capt Wirz. As we were
marched to the Stockade Wirz ordered
us to halt and be counted. Many of us
were sick and weak from being confined
in the hot cars so long, and were I'M
able to stand. One near me was so
weak that he was sitting on a stump.
Wirz came along, and with the back OF
his saber he hit him over the head and
knocked him senseless. How can |
count you sitting DOWN. he said.
After we were counted we were
marched thru the gates, and Joined the
ninth detachment, which made up the
The National tribune., 1911-03-09
With the Cavalry.

Editor National Tribune: enlisted in
Co. B, 9Th Ill. Cav, in August, 1861, at
16 years of age, and was discharged
Nov. Is, 1866. My first fight was at
Garrettsburg, KY. where Capt. Moray
commanded Then we went ahead of
Grants forces to Mississippi and Ala
bama. At Summerville we struck the
Johnnies, and had running fight for
seven miles. We captured their teams
and everything in camp. Co. started
back with the prisoners to La Grange,
Tenn, and the regiment pursued the
Johnnies.
Our company, under Lieut.. Paterson,
ran across old Bob Smith and his gang.
and in a fight with him old Bob and
two others were killed and four wound
cd
We had hard time getting thru to
Port Hudson. We had nothing to eat
1t was poor country.
After the surrender of Port Hudson
we went TO Memphis to the rest of our
regiment. On scout to Hurricane
Creek we had three men killed before
we got across the field and one wound
ed. who died the next day. In the
charge the company raised yell and
the Johnnies ran. We captured some
of them. That fight was after we re-
enlisted. Forrest ran into Memphis next
morning. At CoIliersville they fired on
ran in field toward them. We were
ordered to lie down. The weeds were
higher than our heads, and we could
not see far We made a rush, and got
to the railroad only to find the rebels
gone.
On another scout the 9th Ill. (mount-
ed) was with us. Col. Philips was COM
handing.
At Moscow we crossed the Wolf River
on a bridge and-formed a line. The
Johnnies began firing on US. Part dis
mounted, we ran to some logs and trees,
and held on as long as we could. Three
men were killed. We ran back, and
found our horses swimming the river
We took to the bridge, and when we got
there Tom Soloman was killed. The
river was full of men and horses. Co.
b lost four killed and 16 captured.
Twelve died in prison. With Gen. A. j.
Smith we started South, and went down
into Mississippi below Pontitoc TO a
railroad which we captured. The john
MES had worlds of corn there. I was
one of those detailed to burn all the
corn We could find.-Orangs Jackson,
Mccormick, Ill.
The National tribune., 1911-03-09

$3.50 RECIPE FOR WEAK MEN-FREE
Send name and address to-day-You can have
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L nave IN my possession q prescription for
nervous decline, lack of vigor. weakened man
hood. falling memory and lame back etc
that has cured so many worn and nervous
men right in their own homes-without any
additional help medicine-that / think
every man who Uishes to regain his manly
power and vitality. quickly and quietly should
have copy. So I have determined TO send
a copy OF the prescription free of charge in
q plain. ordinary sealed envelope, to any man
who will write me for II.
This prescription comes from a physician
who has made a special study OF men, and I
am convinced it Is the surest-acting combi-
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/ think owe 1t to my fellow-men to send
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anywhere who is weak and discouraged with
repeated failure may stop drugging himself
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free of charge. A great many doctors would
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prescription ike ths--but send II entirely
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The National tribune., 1911-03-09
Pennsylvania Reserves.

Editor National Tribune: In my arti-
Gle of Oct. / an errorHwas made in say
ing that had the Pennsylvania Reserves
been in front linen Of battle at Fred
ericksburg that battle Wduld not have
gone as 1t did. Please saythat the regi-
mont was In. the front line. and. they
went 400 yards Sarthcr,ftdlan the hal
.ance of the linsf sand bad they. been
supported as they should have been
that battle would not have gone as 1t
did. After the balance of the line had
fallen back we were left alone, and
were finally forced back, and were the
last to leave the HE of Battle Mt Fred
erioksburg. Doc. I3s 1s62s II any OF my
comrades should see thisp please write
to me.-John Fleagle, Col B, 5th Pa.
Alum Bank, Pa. shu
The National tribune., 1911-03-09
Banquet OF the secead Corps

The Second Corps Association of the
Army of the Potomac viii hold its an
nual banquet at the Arlington Hotel,
Washington, d. c.. March 2, to begin
at 1880 p. m. Price Of tickets, $3.50.
These banquets have always been nota-
BILE affairs and great successes in the
way of bringing the veterans into closer
touch with one another. Capt. Nathan
Bickford, Washington, d. c.. is Presi-
dent, and James S. Wyekoff Secretary
and Treasurer.
The National tribune., 1911-03-09
The E,ay at Columbia.

Editor National Tribune: In the arti-
Gle written by Lieut.. Goodrell and
Lieut.. Macarthur with regard as to who
placed the Stars and Stripes on the Old
Capitol Building at Columbia, S, c., I
wish to corroborate ali they have said
with regard to it. 1t happened this
way: ] was the Principal Musician of
the 18th Iowa. We had an up-to-date
drum corps and new brass drums fur
nished by our regiment and bought in
New York The 18th Iowa did not
have any music. I was ordered by Gen.
Belknap to go with the 18th Iowa and
furnish music, which We did. 1 just
simply want that drum corps of the
18th Iowa to have some of the credit
and honor due them.-Henry Metz,
Drum Major, 18th Iowa, Medford, Ore.
The National tribune., 1911-03-09
FREE TO
Asthma Sufferers
A New Homo Cure That Anyone Can Use
without Discomfort or Loss of Time.

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This free offer is too important to neglect
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The National tribune., 1911-03-09

lJUVEN PILLS. THOSE SUFFERING FROM
weaknesses which sap the pleasures of Iife
should take Juven Pills One box will tell a
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Probably never before IN the history or med
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receipt of this advt- and 81 1s7
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The National tribune., 1911-03-09
NOTICE TO OUR READERS.

We desire to call the atten Ion of our read
ers to the offer OF the Ohio Remedy Company.
Box 1o2, Station L, Toledo Ohio. In this issue.
They agree to send 100 Absorption Treat
rnent for 10 cents to cover cost of mailing. etc.
without further charge. All sufferers from
Stomach Trouble. Indigestion. Constipation.
etc. should take advantage Of this offer.
These people are thoroughly reliable. and
could not make this Offer unless they ~ouid
prove their ciaiaas.
The National tribune., 1911-03-09
Inportant Notice

Readers of this paper can now learn
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constipation. Write the Adlerika Co,
st. Paul, Mimi. and say you want the
new ADLER-I-KA Book. Inclose a 20
stamp when you write and mention this
paper.
The National tribune., 1911-03-09
FREE 81 BOX on trial. The Weak Mad

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yer. Colo.
The National tribune., 1911-03-09

SOLDIERS HOMESTEADS wANTED-Union
soldiers who homesteaded some land, but less
than lee acres, before June 20, 1874 are en-
titled to additional rights even though entry
was relinqushed abandoned. II soldier is
dead, widow or heirs have his rights. / pay
spot cash for these claims. Address Comrade
W. E. Moses 431 jacobson Bldg. Denver, Colo.