The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-05-30
Thomas CrossIey's War Story
CONTINUED from Page Three.)

murder when that crime became
necessary TO further their plans of
robbery and thievery.
The prisoners organized a police
force for self-protection, and finally
laid their grievances before Captain
Wirz, the Confederate officer in
charge. That official suggested
means for breaking up the gang of
Raiders. He said that if prisoners
who were known to rob or kill we're
pointed out they would be arrested,
tried and a report of the findings
of trial sent to the nearest Union
post If the findings of the trial
jury were approved he would see
that sentence was properly executed.
From 60 to rs of the Raiders
were pointed out, arrested and tried.
The jury was composed of the very
latest prisoners brought into the
camp, thus insuring fairness. The
result of the trials was that six
Raiders were convicted of murder
and were sentenced to be hanged,
which sentence was confirmed by the
nearest Union post and the convicted
Raiders were hanged. The hanging
was done inside the stockade as a
warning to all who might be inclined
to robbery and murder.
A large number of Raiders convict
ed of a crime less than murder were
turned into the camp one at time
and were made to run the gauntlet.
This punishment was very severe, so
much so that one was actually killed
while in this way paying the penalty
for cruelty and selfishness. The
punishment of these wretches put an
effectual end to the business of raid
ing.
Mr.. Crossley Makes Some
Observations Regarding the Prison.
Speaking Of Captain Wirz, Mr..
| Crossley expressed himself as having
some compassion for that individual,
satanic as evidently was his official
conduct, because he was a subordi-
nate officer executing commands CIV
en- by superiors.
Speaking of the subject of ex-
change of prisoners he said he has
always been of the opinion that the
Confederates might have taken bet
ter care of the Union prisoners; but
he thinks they were working on the
theory that they might force an eX-
change by such treatment as would
lead the Union commander to con-
sent to almost any sort of exchange
in the interest of humanity. The re-
suit would have been that our pris-
oners would have been out of the
struggle on account of sickness and
| general disability, while the Rebel
prisoners, having been we'll fed and
generously taken care of would have
swelled the Rebel ranks by nearly
100000 men, which would have
greatly prolonged the war. Such is
his belief so years this side of that
period of the great struggle.
Mr.. Crossley is also of the opinion
that certain features of the suffering
might easily have been mitigated or
entirely eliminated. For instance,
Andersonville was surrounded with
considerable timber which might
have been cut and either sawn into
| boards for house construction, or
log houses might have been built !,
He also believes that more and bet
ter food might have been provided. /.
The Rebels at Andersonville were
not happy lot, by any means.
| Sherman's march to the sea caused
them much worriment. They also
knew of Kilpatricks raid, and when
such news reached them they were
worried. The prisoners were cores
pondingly joyous and hopeful over
every crumb of news that promised
relief and pointed to freedom. Truly
those prisoners were enforced mar
tyrs for the cause of American liber-
| ty.
Brief Sketch of the
Release of Sergeant Crossley.
Before passing on to another
most interesting part of the war
prison record the writer will briefly
chronicle the subsequent career of
Mr.. Crossley. In October, 1864,
Sergeant Crossley was removed from
Andersonville, Georgia, to Florence,
S. c. There he had a severe attack
of swamp fever. For long time he
was delirious, and he has no recol-
lection of leaving Florence. He be-
came conscious as he was entering
Wilmington, N. c.. but he again lost
consciousness, and remained in that
condition until he reached Colds
borough, N. G. From Goldsborough
he was taken back to Wilmington, N.
c., where he was paroled and was
soon homeward bound, eventually
reaching the North, a happy man
back in old Connecticut. Three years
later he married Mary A. McRoy, of
his native town of Simsbury. Two
years later he left Connecticut and
took up his residence at Glen Eyre,
Pa. Four years later he came to
Honesdale where he has continued to
reside. He has been honored by po-
sitions of honor and trust in the
borough, also in the Methodist Epis-
copal church, of which he is a con-
sistent member.