Year: 1878

There was an episode during my life at
Andersonville that stands out in my memory
above all others. No man can conceive of
the demoralization that comes upon men
confronted on all sides with SO much
misery. The greatest luxury that could
be enjoyed by a prisoner was a warm
blanket. Yet men were found among the
prisoners base enough torob their fellows of
even these comforts. A gang of robbers
was organized, who went around the camp
at night and tore the Blankets and clothes
off from sick and dying men, kicking and
beating those who made any feeble at
tempt at resistance. Money was also taken
from the prisoners, or anything of value
that could be found upon them. In little
while the robberies became so frequent as
to be the worst of our troubles. A perfect
reign of terror existed, and we did not
know what to do. Finally, after consul
tation, we asked permission of Wirtz to in
vestigate and see who were the perpetra-
tors of these outragea and punish them.
Wirtz granted 1.-THE only kind act he ever
did, believe, for the Union prisoners
there, and thank him for it to this day.
We picked out six men for trial before
tribunal of our own selection. 1t sat out
side of the stockade under a Confederate
guard. A judge, jury, prosecuting at
torney, and clerk were appointed, together
with counsel for the defence. Evidence
was heard from many of the prisoners,
and the accused were all identified as among
the parties guilty of the robberies. A YER
vict of guilty was returned, and they were
sentenced to be hung. The proceedings
were approved by Wirtz, who ordered the
lumber to be furnished us for scafold.
We built one sufficient for our purpose. 1t
consisted simply of crossbeam, supported
by two uprights. A platform was con-
structed about three feet from the ground,
the first plank, laid at right angles with the
upright and parallel with the crossbeam
directly above it, being SO adjusted that il
could be with drawn from its position at
moments notice The six condemned men
were escorted to this scaffold by guard of
800 prisoners, armed with sticks and clubs.
They were placed on this plank In lieu
of the customary black cap, their heads
,,roro oy,oocod in Hnur co cks


Notwithstanding this absence of cere-
mony, the scene was an impressive one.
The gallows stood near the top of the hill,
and nearly all the thirty y-eight thousand
prisoners we're gathered to witness the exc
cution: They maintained perfect silence,
refraining from any insults to the con-
demned, but their hollow eyes, pale,
pinched faces, their savage expression of
countenance were sufficient indication of
their determination that not one should es-
cape. The ropes were carefully adjusted,
with the knot in each case under the left
ear, and, by signal, the board withdrawn
from beneath them. There was drop of
two feet, and the bodies swung about a
foot from the ground-all but one. The
sixth man, former sailor in the navy, was
perceived to have fallen to the ground.
The rope had broken.


In an instant he was on his feet. He
started to run down the hill. The crowd
comprehending his intention to escape
followed with a wild yell in pursuit. Il
was flight for life. He had the start by
few seconds and he made the most of it
Inever saw a man run as he did. He wen
down to the morass with nearly thirty
eight thousand men close upon his heels
Not finding him there we looked up ant
saw him running up the side of the othe
hill. We followed. He made for one of tn
huts or sheds, but as soon as he heard u
coming got out and again started on tn
run. Widening the distance between us
he again sought refuge in dugout, and


second time had to abandon it as we cam
up. 1t was twenty minutes before we ha
him fast. He begged pitcous]y for his life
but we had no mercy. We had to dra
him down the hill through the sand, theme
through the swamp and up the other hill t
the scaffold He was held by three men 0
the platform while the moose was adjuste
the second time, after we had spliced tn
rope. He trembled in every limb. At th
given moment the men pushed him frol
the scaffold, and he swung clear from tt
ground two feet. The robberies new
occurred again Correspondence st. Lou


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