andthatsatellitesetdowntwolargeplates,uponeachofwhichwereacupofcoffee,ashredofmeat,twoboiledeggsandacoupleofrolls。
"Well,"saidAndrews,astheprocessionmovedaway,"Iwanttoknowwherethisthing'sgoingtostop。Iamtryinghardtogetusedtowearingashirtwithoutanyliceinit,andtosittingdownonachair,andtosleepinginacleanbed,butwhenitcomestohavingmymealssenttomyroom,I'mafraidI'lldegenerateintoapamperedchildofluxury。Theyarereallypilingitontoostrong。Letussee,Mc。;howlong'sitbeensinceweweresittingonthesandthereinFlorence,boilingourpintofmealinthatoldcan？"
"Itseemsmanyyears,Lale,"Isaid;"butforheaven'ssakeletustrytoforgetitassoonaspossible。Wewillalwaysremembertoomuchofit。"
Andwedidtryhardtomakethemiserablerecollectionsfadeoutofourminds。Whenwewerestrippedonthebalconywethrewawayeveryvisibletokenthatcouldremindusofthehatefulexperiencewehadpassedthrough。Wedidnotretainascrapofpaperorarelictorecalltheunhappypast。Weloathedeverythingconnectedwithit。
Thedaysthatfollowedwereveryhappyones。ThePaymastercamearoundandpaiduseachtwomonths'payandtwenty—fivecentsaday"rationmoney"foreverydaywehadbeeninprison。ThisgaveAndrewsandI
aboutonehundredandsixty—fivedollarsapiece——anabundanceofspendingmoney。UncleSamwasverykindandconsideratetohissoldiernephews,andtheHospitalauthoritiesneglectednothingthatwouldaddtoourcomfort。Thesuperbly—keptgroundsoftheNavalAcademywererenewingthefreshnessoftheirlovelinessunderthetenderwooingoftheadvancingSpring,andeverysteponesaunteredthroughthemwasanewdelight。Amagnificentbandgaveussweetmusicmorningandevening。
EverydispatchfromtheSouthtoldofthevictoriousprogressofourarms,andtherapidapproachofthecloseofthestruggle。Allwehadtodowastoenjoythegoodsthegodswereshoweringuponus,andwedidsowithappreciative,thankfulhearts。Afterawhileallabletotravelweregivenfurloughsofthirtydaystovisittheirhomes,withinstructionstoreportattheexpirationoftheirleavesofabsencetothecampsofrendezvousnearesttheirhomes,andweseparated,nearlyeverymangoinginadifferentdirection。
CHAPTERLXXXII。
CAPTAINWIRZTHEONLYONEOFTHEPRISON—KEEPERSPUNISHED——HISARREST,TRIALANDEXECUTION。
Ofallthosemoreorlessconcernedinthebarbaritiespracticeduponourprisoners,butone——CaptainHenryWirz——waspunished。TheTurners,atRichmond;LieutenantBoisseux,ofBelleIsle;MajorGee,ofSalisbury;
ColonelIversonandLieutenantBarrett,ofFlorence;andthemanybrutalmiscreantsaboutAndersonville,escapedscotfree。Whatbecameofthemnooneknows;theywereneverheardofafterthecloseofthewar。Theyhadsenseenoughtoretireintoobscurity,andstaythere,andthissavedtheirlives,foreachoneofthemhadmadedeadlyenemiesamongthosewhomtheyhadmaltreated,who,hadtheyknownwheretheywere,wouldhavewalkedeverystepofthewaythithertokillthem。
WhentheConfederacywenttopiecesinApril,1865,WirzwasstillatAndersonville。GeneralWilson,commandingourcavalryforces,andwhohadestablishedhisheadquartersatMacon,Ga。,learnedofthis,andsentoneofhisstaff——CaptainH。E。Noyes,oftheFourthRegularCavalry——
withasquad。ofmen,toarresthim。Thiswasdoneonthe7thofMay。
Wirzprotestedagainsthisarrest,claimingthathewasprotectedbythetermsofJohnson'ssurrender,and,addressedthefollowinglettertoGeneralWilson:
ANDERSONVILLE,GA。,May7,1865。
GENERAL:——ItiswithgreatreluctancethatIaddressyoutheselines,beingfullyawarehowlittletimeisleftyoutoattendtosuchmattersasInowhavethehonortolaybeforeyou,andifIcouldseeanyotherwaytoaccomplishmyobjectIwouldnotintrudeuponyou。IamanativeofSwitzerland,andwasbeforethewaracitizenofLouisiana,andbyprofessionaphysician。Likehundredsandthousandsofothers,IwascarriedawaybythemaelstromofexcitementandjoinedtheSouthernarmy。
Iwasveryseverelywoundedatthebattleof"SevenPines,"nearRichmond,Va。,andhavenearlylosttheuseofmyrightarm。Unfitforfieldduty,IwasorderedtoreporttoBrevetMajorGeneralJohnH。
Winder,inchargeoftheFederalprisonersofwar,whoorderedmetotakechargeofaprisoninTuscaloosa,Ala。Myhealthfailingme,IappliedforafurloughandwenttoEurope,fromwhenceIreturnedinFebruary,1864。IwasthenorderedtoreporttothecommandantofthemilitaryprisonatAndersonville,Ga。,whoassignedmetothecommandoftheinterioroftheprison。ThedutiesIhadtoperformwerearduousandunpleasant,andIamsatisfiedthatnomancanorwilljustlyblamemeforthingsthathappenedhere,andwhichwerebeyondmypowertocontrol。
IdonotthinkthatIoughttobeheldresponsiblefortheshortnessofrations,fortheovercrowdedstateoftheprison,（whichwasofitselfaprolificsourceoffearfulmortality）,fortheinadequatesupplyofclothing,wantofshelter,etc。,etc。StillInowbeartheodium,andmenwhowereprisonershaveseemeddisposedtowreaktheirvengeanceuponmeforwhattheyhavesuffered——I,whowasonlythemedium,or,Imaybettersay,thetoolinthehandsofmysuperiors。Thisismycondition。
Iamamanwithafamily。IlostallmypropertywhentheFederalarmybesiegedVicksburg。Ihavenomoneyatpresenttogotoanyplace,and,evenifIhad,IknowofnoplacewhereIcango。Mylifeisindanger,andImostrespectfullyaskofyouhelpandrelief。Ifyouwillbesogenerousastogivemesomesortofasafeconduct,or,whatIshouldgreatlyprefer,aguardtoprotectmyselfandfamilyagainstviolence,Ishouldbethankfultoyou,andyoumayrestassuredthatyourprotectionwillnotbegiventoonewhoisunworthyofit。MyintentionistoreturnwithmyfamilytoEurope,assoonasIcanmakethearrangements。InthemeantimeIhavethehonorGeneral,toremain,veryrespectfully,yourobedientservant,Hy。WIRZ,CaptainC。S。A。
MajorGeneralT。H。WILSON,Commanding,Macon。Ga。
HewaskeptatMacon,underguard,untilMay20,whenCaptainNoyeswasorderedtotakehim,andthehospitalrecordsofAndersonville,toWashington。BetweenMaconandCincinnatithejourneywasaperfectgauntlet。
Ourmenwerestationedallalongtheroad,andamongthemeverywherewereex—prisoners,whorecognizedWirz,andmadesuchdeterminedeffortstokillhimthatitwasallthatCaptainNoyes,backedbyastrongguard,coulddotofrustratethem。AtChattanoogaandNashvillethestrugglebetweenhisguardsandhiswould—beslayers,wasquitesharp。
AtLouisville,NoyeshadWirzclean—shaved,anddressedinacompletesuitofblack,withabeaverhat,whichsoalteredhisappearancethatnoonerecognizedhimafterthat,andtherestofthejourneywasmadeunmolested。
TheauthoritiesatWashingtonorderedthathebetriedimmediately,byacourtmartialcomposedofGeneralsLewisWallace,Mott,Geary,L。Thomas,Fessenden,BraggandBaller,ColonelAllcock,andLieutenant—ColonelStibbs。ColonelChipmanwasJudgeAdvocate,andthetrialbeganAugust23。
Theprisonerwasarraignedonaformidablelistofchargesandspecifications,whichaccusedhimof"combining,confederating,andconspiringtogetherwithJohnH。Winder,RichardB。Winder,IsaiahII。
White,W。S。Winder,R。R。Stevensonandothersunknown,toinjurethehealthanddestroythelivesofsoldiersinthemilitaryserviceoftheUnitedStates,thereheld,andbeingprisonersofwarwithinthelinesoftheso—calledConfederateStates,andinthemilitaryprisonsthereof,totheendthatthearmiesoftheUnitedStatesmightbeweakenedandimpaired,inviolationofthelawsandcustomsofwar。"Themainfactsofthedenseover—crowding,thelackofsufficientshelter,thehideousmortalitywerecited,andtotheseaddedalonglistofspecificactsofbrutality,suchashuntingmendownwithhounds,tearingthemwithdogs,robbingthem,confiningtheminthestocks,cruellybeatingandmurderingthem,ofwhichWirzwaspersonallyguilty。
WhenthedefendantwascalledupontopleadheclaimedthathiscasewascoveredbythetermsofJohnston'ssurrender,andfurthermore,thatthecountrynowbeingatpeace,hecouldnotbelawfullytriedbyacourt—
martial。Theseobjectionsbeingoverruled,heenteredapleaofnotguiltytoallthechargesandspecifications。Hehadtwolawyersforcounsel。
TheprosecutioncalledCaptainNoyesfirst,whodetailedthecircumstancesofWirz'sarrest,anddeniedthathehadgivenanypromisesofprotection。
ThenextwitnesswasColonelGeorgeC。Gibbs,whocommandedthetroopsofthepostatAndersonville。HetestifiedthatWirzwasthecommandantoftheprison,andhadsoleauthorityunderWinderoveralltheprisoners;
thattherewasaDeadLinethere,andorderstoshootanyonewhocrossedit;thatdogswerekepttohuntdownescapingprisoners;thedogsweretheordinaryplantationdogs,mixtureofhoundandcur。
Dr。J。C。Bates,whowasaSurgeonofthePrisonHospital,（aRebel）,testifiedthattheconditionofthingsinhisdivisionwashorrible。
Nearlynakedmen,coveredwithlice,weredyingonallsides。Manywerelyinginthefilthysandandmud。
Hewentonanddescribedtheterribleconditionofmen——dyingfromscurvy,diarrhea,gangrenoussores,andlice。Hewantedtocarryinfreshvegetablesforthesick,butdidnotdare,theordersbeingverystrictagainstsuchthing。Hethoughttheprisonauthoritiesmighteasilyhavesentinenoughgreencorntohavestoppedthescurvy;themiasmaticeffluviafromtheprisonwasexceedinglyoffensiveandpoisonous,somuchsothatwhenthesurgeonsreceivedaslightscratchontheirpersons,theycarefullycovereditupwithcourtplaster,beforeventuringneartheprison。
AnumberofotherRebelSurgeonstestifiedtosubstantiallythesamefacts。SeveralresidentsofthatsectionoftheStatetestifiedtotheplentifulnessofthecropstherein1864。
Inadditiontothese,aboutonehundredandfiftyUnionprisonerswereexamined,whotestifiedtoallmannerofbarbaritieswhichhadcomeundertheirpersonalobservation。TheyhadallseenWirzshootmen,hadseenhimknocksickandcrippledmendownandstampuponthem,hadbeenrundownbyhimwithhounds,etc。Theirtestimonyoccupiesabouttwothousandpagesofmanuscript,andis,withoutdoubt,themost,terriblerecordofcrimeeverlaidtotheaccountofanyman。
ThetakingofthistestimonyoccupieduntilOctober18,whentheGovernmentdecidedtoclosethecase,asanyfurtherevidencewouldbesimplycumulative。
TheprisonerpresentedastatementinwhichhedeniedthattherehadbeenanaccompliceinaconspiracyofJohnH。Winderandothers,todestroythelivesofUnitedStatessoldiers;healsodeniedthattherehadbeensuchaconspiracy,butmadethepertinentinquirywhyhealone,ofallthosewhowerechargedwiththeconspiracy,wasbroughttotrial。HesaidthatWinderhasgonetothegreatjudgmentseat,toanswerforallhisthoughts,wordsanddeeds,andsurelyIamnottobeheldculpableforthem。GeneralHowellCobbhasreceivedthepardonofthePresidentoftheUnitedStates。"Hefurtherclaimedthattherewasnoprincipleoflawwhichwouldsanctiontheholdingofhim——ameresubordinate——
guilty,forsimplyobeying,asliterallyaspossible,theordersofhissuperiors。
Hedeniedallthespecificactsofcrueltyallegedagainsthim,suchasmaltreatingandkillingprisonerswithhisownhands。TheprisonerskilledforcrossingtheDeadLine,heclaimed,shouldnotbechargedagainsthim,sincetheyweresimplypunishedfortheviolationofaknownorderwhichformedpartofthediscipline,hebelieved,ofallmilitaryprisons。ThestatementthatsoldiersweregivenafurloughforkillingaYankeeprisoner,wasdeclaredtobe"amereidle,absurdcamprumor。"
Astothelackofshelter,roomandrationsforsomanyprisoners,heclaimedthatthesoleresponsibilityrestedupontheConfederateGovernment。Thereneverwerebuttwoprisonerswhippedbyhisorder,andthesewereforsufficientcause。HeaskedtheCourttoconsiderfavorablytwoimportantitemsinhisdefense:first,thathehadofhisownaccordtakenthedrummerboysfromtheStockade,andplacedthemwheretheycouldgetpurerairandbetterfood。Second,thatnopropertytakenfromprisonerswasretainedbyhim,butwasturnedovertothePrisonQuartermaster。
TheCourt,afterduedeliberation,declaredtheprisonerguiltyonallthechargesandspecificationssavetwounimportantones,andsentencedhimtobehangedbytheneckuntildead,atsuchtimeandplaceasthePresidentoftheUnitedStatesshoulddirect。
November3PresidentJohnsonapprovedofthesentence,andorderedMajorGeneralC。C。AugurtocarrythesameintoeffectonFriday,November10,whichwasdone。Theprisonermadefranticappealsagainstthesentence;
hewroteimploringletterstoPresidentJohnson,andlyingonestotheNewYorkNews,aRebelpaper。Itissaidthathiswifeattemptedtoconveypoisontohim,thathemightcommitsuicideandavoidtheignomyofbeinghanged。Whenallhopewasgonehenervedhimselfuptomeethisfate,anddied,asthousandsofotherscoundrelshave,withcalmness。
HisbodywasburiedinthegroundsoftheOldCapitolPrison,alongsideofthatofAzterodt,oneoftheaccomplicesintheassassinationofPresidentLincoln。
CHAPTERLXXXIII。
THERESPONSIBILITY——WHOWASTOBLAMEFORALLTHEMISERY——ANEXAMINATION
OFTHEFLIMSYEXCUSESMADEFORTHEREBELS——ONEDOCUMENTTHATCONVICTS
THEM——WHATISDESIRED。
Ihaveendeavoredtotelltheforegoingstoryascalmly,asdispassionately,asfreefromvituperationandprejudiceaspossible。
HowwellIhavesucceededthereadermustjudge。Howdifficultthismoderationhasbeenattimesonlythoseknowwho,likemyself,haveseen,fromdaytoday,thetreason—sharpenedfangsofStarvationandDiseasegnawnearerandnearertotheheartsofwell—belovedfriendsandcomrades。Ofthesixty—threeofmycompanycomradeswhoenteredprisonwithme,buteleven,oratmostthirteen,emergedalive,andseveralofthesehavesincediedfromtheeffectsofwhattheysuffered。Themortalityintheothercompaniesofourbattalionwasequallygreat,asitwasalsowiththeprisonersgenerally。Notlessthantwenty—fivethousandgallant,noble—heartedboysdiedaroundmebetweenthedatesofmycaptureandrelease。Noblermenthantheyneverdiedforanycause。
Forthemostparttheyweresimple—minded,honest—heartedboys;thesterlingproductsofourNorthernhome—life,andNorthernCommonSchools,andthatgrandstalwartNorthernblood,theyeomanbloodofsturdymiddleclassfreemen——thebloodoftheracewhichhasconqueredoneveryfieldsincetheRomanEmpirewentdownunderitssinewyblows。Theypratedlittleofhonor,andknewnothingof"chivalry"exceptinitsrepulsivetravestyintheSouth。Ascitizensathome,nohonestlaborhadbeenregardedbythemastoohumbletobefollowedwithmanlyprideinitssuccess;assoldiersinthefield,theydidtheirdutywithacalmdefianceofdangeranddeath,thattheworldhasnotseenequaledinthesixthousandyearsthatmenhavefollowedthetradeofwar。Intheprisontheirconductwasmarkedbythesameunostentatiousbutunflinchingheroism。Deathstaredtheminthefaceconstantly。Theycouldreadtheirownfateinthatoftheloathsome,unburieddeadallaroundthem。Insolentenemiesmockedtheirsufferings,andsneeredattheirdevotiontoaGovernmentwhichtheyassertedhadabandonedthem,butthesimplefaith,theingrainedhonestyoftheseplain—mannered,plain—spokenboysrosesuperiortoeverytrial。Brutus,thenoblestRomanofthemall,saysinhisgrandestflight:
Sethonorinoneeyeanddeathintheother,AndIwilllookonbothindifferently。
Theydidnotsaythis:theydidit。Theyneverquestionedtheirduty;norepinings,nomurmuringsagainsttheirGovernmentescapedtheirlips,theytookthedreadfortunesbroughttothemascalmly,asunshrinkinglyastheyhadthoseinthefield;theyquailednot,norwaveredintheirfaithbeforetheworsttheRebelscoulddo。Thefinestepitapheverinscribedaboveasoldier'sgravewasthatgravenonthestonewhichmarkedtheresting—placeofthedeathlessthreehundredwhofellatThermopylae:
Go,stranger,toLacedaemon,——
AndtellSpartathatweliehereinobediencetoherlaws。
TheywholieintheshallowgravesofAndersonville,BelleIsle,FlorenceandSalisbury,liethereinobediencetothepreceptsandmaximsinculcatedintotheirmindsinthechurchesandCommonSchoolsoftheNorth;preceptswhichimpresseduponthemthedutyofmanlinessandhonorinalltherelationsandexigenciesoflife;notthe"chivalric"prateoftheirenemies,butthecalmsteadfastnesswhichendurethtotheend。Thehighesttributethatcanbepaidthemistosaytheydidfullcredittotheirteachings,andtheydiedaseveryAmericanshouldwhendutybidshim。Noricherheritagewaseverbequeathedtoposterity。
Itwasintheyear1864,andthefirstthreemonthsof1865thatthesetwenty—fivethousandyouthsmerecruellyandneedlesslydonetodeath。
Inthesefatalfifteenmonthsmoreyoungmenthanto—dayformthepride,thehope,andthevigorofanyoneofourleadingCities,morethanatthebeginningofthewarwerefoundineitherofseveralStatesintheNation,weresenttotheirgraves,"unknelled,uncoffined,andunknown,"
victimsofthemostbarbarousandunnecessarycrueltyrecordedsincetheDarkAges。Barbarous,becausethewitofmanhasnotyetdevisedamoresavagemethodofdestroyingfellow—beingsthanbyexposureandstarvation;unnecessary,becausethedestructionofthesehadnot,andcouldnothavetheslightesteffectupontheresultofthestruggle。
TheRebelleadershaveacknowledgedthattheyknewthefateoftheConfederacywassealedwhenthecampaignof1864openedwiththeNorthdisplayinganunflinchingdeterminationtoprosecutethewartoasuccessfulconclusion。Allthattheycouldhopeforafterthatwassomefortuitousaccident,orunexpectedforeignrecognitionthatwouldgivethempeacewithvictory。Theprisonerswerenon—importantfactorsinthemilitaryproblem。Hadtheyallbeenturnedlooseassoonascaptured,theireffortswouldnothavehastenedtheConfederacy'sfateasingleday。
Astotheresponsibilityforthismonstrouscataclysmofhumanmiseryanddeath:ThatthegreatmassoftheSouthernpeopleapprovedoftheseoutrages,orevenknewofthem,Idonot,foraninstant,believe。Theyareaslittlecapableofcountenancingsuchathingasanypeopleintheworld。ButthecrowningblemishofSouthernsocietyhaseverbeenthedumbacquiescenceofthemanyrespectable,well—disposed,right—thinkingpeopleintheactsoftheturbulentandunscrupulousfew。FromthisdirefulspringhasflowedanIliadofunnumberedwoes,notonlytothatsectionbuttoourcommoncountry。ItwasthisthatkepttheSouthvibratingbetweenpatriotismandtreasonduringtherevolution,sothatitcostmorelivesandtreasuretomaintainthestruggletherethaninalltherestofthecountry。ItwasthisthatthreatenedthedismembermentoftheUnionin1832。ItwasthisthataggravatedandenvenomedeverywronggrowingoutofSlavery;thatoutragedliberty,debauchedcitizenship,plunderedthemails,gaggedthepress,stiffledspeech,madeopinionacrime,pollutedthefreesoilofGodwiththeunwillingstepofthebondman,andatlastcrownedthree—quartersofacenturyofthisunparallelediniquitybydraggingelevenmillionsofpeopleintoawarfromwhichtheirsoulsrevolted,andagainstwhichtheyhaddeclaredbyoverwhelmingmajoritiesineveryStateexceptSouthCarolina,wherethepeoplehadnovoice。ItmaypuzzlesometounderstandhowarelativelysmallbandofpoliticaldesperadosineachStatecouldaccomplishsuchamomentouswrong;thattheydiddoit,nooneconversantwithourhistorywilldeny,andthatthey——insignificantastheywereinnumbers,inabilities,incharacter,ineverythingsavecapacityandindomitableenergyinmischief——couldachievesuchgiganticwrongsindirectoppositiontothebettersenseoftheircommunitiesisafearfuldemonstrationofthedefectsoftheconstitutionofSouthernsociety。
MencapableofdoingallthattheSecessionleaderswereguiltyof——bothbeforeandduringthewar——werequitecapableofrevengefullydestroyingtwenty—fivethousandoftheirenemiesbythemosthideousmeansattheircommand。Thattheydidsosetaboutdestroyingtheirenemies,wilfully,maliciously,andwithmaliceprepenseandaforethought,issusceptibleofproofasconclusiveasthatwhichinacriminalcourtsendsmurdererstothegallows。
Letusexaminesomeoftheseproofs:
1。TheterriblemortalityatAndersonvilleandelsewherewasamatterofasmuchnotorietythroughouttheSouthernConfederacyasthemilitaryoperationsofLeeandJohnson。Nointelligentman——muchlesstheRebelleaders——wasignorantofitnorofitscalamitousproportions。
2。HadtheRebelleaderswithinareasonabletimeafterthismatterbecamenotoriousmadesomeshowofinquiringintoandalleviatingthedeadlymisery,theremightbesomeexcuseforthemonthegroundoflackofinformation,andthepleathattheydidaswellastheycouldwouldhavesomevalidity。Butthisstateofaffairswasallowedtocontinueoverayear——infactuntilthedownfalloftheConfederacy——withoutahandbeingraisedtomitigatethehorrorsofthoseplaces——withoutevenaninquirybeingmadeastowhethertheyweremitigableornot。Stillworse:everymonthsawthehorrorsthicken,andtheconditionoftheprisonersbecomemorewretched。
ThesufferinginMay,1864,wasmoreterriblethaninApril;JuneshowedafrightfulincreaseoverMay,whilewordsfailtopaintthehorrorsofJulyandAugust,andsothewretchednesswaxeduntiltheend,inApril,1865。
3。ThemaincausesofsufferinganddeathweresoobviouslypreventiblethattheRebelleaderscouldnothavebeenignorantoftheeasewithwhicharemedycouldbeapplied。Thesemaincauseswerethreeinnumber:
a。Improperandinsufficientfood。
b。Unheard—ofcrowdingtogether。
c。Utterlackofshelter。
Itisdifficulttosaywhichofthesethreewasthemostdeadly。Letusadmit,forthesakeofargument,thatitwasimpossiblefortheRebelstosupplysufficientandproperfood。Thisadmission,Iknow,willnotstandforaninstantinthefaceoftherevelationsmadebySherman'sMarchtotheSea;andthroughtheCarolinas,butletthatpass,thatwemayconsidermoreeasilydemonstrablefactsconnectedwiththenexttwopropositions,thefirstofwhichisastothecrowdingtogether。WaslandsoscarceintheSouthernConfederacythatnomorethansixteenacrescouldbesparedfortheuseofthirty—fivethousandprisoners？
TheStateofGeorgiahasapopulationoflessthanone—sixththatofNewYork,scatteredoveraterritoryone—quartergreaterthanthatState's,andyetapitifullittletract——lessthanthecorn—patch"clearing"ofthelaziest"cracker"intheState——wasallthatcouldbeallottedtotheuseofthree—and—a—halftimestenthousandyoungmen！TheaveragepopulationoftheStatedoesnotexceedsixteentothesquaremile,yetAndersonvillewaspeopledattherateofonemillionfourhundredthousandtothesquaremile。Withmillionsofacresofunsettled,useless,worthlesspinebarrensallaroundthem,theprisonerswerewedgedtogethersocloselythattherewasscarcelyroomtoliedownatnight,andafewhadspaceenoughtohaveservedasagrave。This,too,inacountrywherethelandwasofsolittleworththatmuchofithadneverbeenenteredfromtheGovernment。
Then,astoshelterandfire:Eachoftheprisonswassituatedintheheartofaprimevalforest,fromwhichthefirsttreesthathadeverbeencutwerethoseusedinbuildingthepens。Withinagun—shotoftheperishingmenwasanabundanceoflumberandwoodtohavebuilteverymaninprisonawarm,comfortablehut,andenoughfueltosupplyallhiswants。Supposingeven,thattheRebelsdidnothavethelaborathandtoconverttheseforestsintobuildingmaterialandfuel,theprisonersthemselveswouldhavegladlyundertakenthework,asameansofpromotingtheirowncomfort,andforoccupationandexercise。Notoolswouldhavebeentoopoorandclumsyforthemtoworkwith。Whenlogswereoccasionallyfoundorbroughtintoprison,mentorethemtopiecesalmostwiththeirnakedfingers。Everyprisonerwillbearmeoutintheassertionthattherewasprobablynotarootaslargeasabitofclothes—lineinallthegroundcoveredbytheprisons,thateludedthefaithfullyeagersearchoffreezingmenforfuel。Whatelsethandeliberatedesigncanaccountforthissystematicwithholdingfromtheprisonersofthatwhichwassoessentialtotheirexistence,andwhichitwassoeasytogivethem？
ThismuchforthecircumstantialevidenceconnectingtheRebelauthoritieswiththepremeditatedplanfordestroyingtheprisoners。
Letusexaminethedirectevidence:
Thefirstfeatureistheassignmenttothecommandoftheprisonsof"General"JohnH。Winder,theconfidentialfriendofMr。JeffersonDavis,andamansounscrupulous,cruelandbloody—thirstythatatthetimeofhisappointmenthewasthemosthatedandfearedmanintheSouthernConfederacy。HisodiousadministrationoftheodiousofficeofProvostMarshalGeneralshowedhimtobefittestoftoolsfortheirpurpose。
Theirselection——consideringtheendinview,waseminentlywise。BaronHaynauwasmadeeternallyinfamousbyafractionofthewantoncrueltieswhichloadthememoryofWinder。ButitcanbesaidinextenuationofHaynau'soffensesthathewasabrave,skilfulandenergeticsoldier,whooverthrewonthefieldtheenemieshemaltreated。IfWinder,atanytimeduringthewar,wasnearerthefrontthanRichmond,historydoesnotmentionit。HaynauwasthebastardsonofaGermanElectorandofthedaughterofavillage,druggist。Winderwasthesonofashamaristocrat,whosecowardiceandincompetenceinthewarof1812gaveWashingtonintothehandsoftheBritishravagers。
Itissufficientindicationofthisman'scharacterthathecouldlookunmovedupontheterriblesufferingthatprevailedinAndersonvilleinJune,July,andAugust;thathecouldseethreethousandmendieeachmonthinthemosthorriblemanner,withoutliftingafingerinanywaytoassistthem;thathecouldcallattentioninaself—boastfulwaytothefactthat"IamkillingoffmoreYankeesthantwentyregimentsinLee'sArmy,"andthathecouldrespondtothesuggestionsofthehorror—struckvisitingInspectorthattheprisonersbegivenatleastmoreroom,withtheassertionthatheintendedtoleavemattersjustastheywere——theoperationsofdeathwouldsoonthinoutthecrowdsothatthesurvivorswouldhavesufficientroom。
ItwasWinderwhoissuedthisordertotheCommanderoftheArtillery:
ORDERNo。13。
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYPRISON,ANDERSONVILLE,Ga。,July27,1864。
TheofficersondutyandinchargeoftheBatteryofFloridaArtilleryatthetimewill,uponreceivingnoticethattheenemyhasapproachedwithinsevenmilesofthispost,openupontheStockadewithgrapeshot,withoutreferencetothesituationbeyondtheselinesofdefense。
JOHNH。WINDER,BrigadierGeneralCommanding。
Diabolicalistheonlywordthatwillcomeatallnearfitlycharacterizingsuchaninfamousorder。Whatmusthavebeenthenatureofamanwhowouldcalmlyordertwenty—fivegunstobeopenedwithgrapeandcanisterattwohundredyardsrange,uponamassofthirtythousandprisoners,mostlysickanddying！Allthis,ratherthansufferthemtoberescuedbytheirfriends。Cantherebeanytermsofreprobationsufficientlystrongtoproperlydenouncesomalignantamonster？Historyhasnoparalleltohim,saveamongtheblood—revelingkingsofDahomey,orthosesanguinaryAsiaticchieftainswhobuiltpyramidsofhumanskulls,andpavedroadswithmen'sbones。HowamanbredanAmericancametodisplaysuchaTimour—likethirstforhumanlife,suchanOrientalcontemptforthesufferingsofothers,isoneofthemysteriesthatperplexesmethemoreIstudyit。
IftheRebelleaderswhoappointedthisman,towhomhereporteddirect,withoutinterventionofsuperiorofficers,andwhowerefullyinformedofallhisactsthroughothersourcesthanhimself,werenotresponsibleforhim,whoinHeaven'snamewas？Howcantherebeapossibilitythattheywerenotcognizantandapprovingofhisacts？
TheRebelshaveattemptedbutonedefensetotheterriblechargesagainstthem,andthatis,thatourGovernmentpersistentlyrefusedtoexchange,preferringtoletitsmenrotinprison,toyieldinguptheRebelsitheld。Thisissoutterlyfalseastobeabsurd。OurGovernmentmadeovertureafterovertureforexchangetotheRebels,andofferedtoyieldmanyofthepointsofdifference。Butitcouldnot,withtheleast（considerationforitsownhonor,yieldupthenegrosoldiersandtheirofficerstotheunrestrainedbrutalityoftheRebelauthorities,norcouldit,consistentwithmilitaryprudence,paroletheonehundredthousandwell—fed,well—clothed,able—bodiedRebelsheldbyitasprisoners,andletthemappearinsideofaweekinfrontofGrantorSherman。UntilitwouldagreetodothistheRebelswouldnotagreetoexchange,andtheonlymotive——saverevenge——whichcouldhaveinspiredtheRebelmaltreatmentoftheprisoners,wastheexpectationofraisingsuchaclamorintheNorthaswouldforcetheGovernmenttoconsenttoadisadvantageousexchange,andtogivebacktotheConfederacy,atitsmostcriticalperiodonehundredthousandfresh,able—bodiedsoldiers。
Itwasforthispurpose,probably,thatourGovernmentandtheSanitaryCommissionwererefusedallpermissiontosendusfoodandclothing。
Formypart,andIknowIechothefeelingsofninety—nineoutofeveryhundredofmycomrades,IwouldratherhavestaidinprisontillI
rotted,thanthatourGovernmentshouldhaveyieldedtothedegradingdemandsofinsolentRebels。
ThereisonedocumentinthepossessionoftheGovernmentwhichseemstometobeunanswerableproof,bothofthesettledpolicyoftheRichmondGovernmenttowardstheUnionprisoners,andoftherelativemeritsofNorthernandSoutherntreatmentofcaptives。Thedocumentisaletterreadingasfollows:
CITYPOINT,Va。,March17,1863。
SIR:——Aflag—of—truceboathasarrivedwiththreehundredandfiftypoliticalprisoners,GeneralBarrowandseveralotherprominentmenamongthem。
Iwishyoutosendmeonfouro'clockWednesdaymorning,allthemilitaryprisoners（exceptofficers）,andallthepoliticalprisonersyouhave。
Ifanyofthepoliticalprisonershaveonhandproofenoughtoconvictthemofbeingspies,orofhavingcommittedotheroffenseswhichshouldsubjectthemtopunishment,sostateoppositetheirnames。Also,statewhetheryouthink,underallthecircumstances,theyshouldbereleased。
ThearrangementIhavemadeworkslargelyinourfavor。WEGETRIDOFA
SETOFMISERABLEWRETCHES,ANDRECEIVESOMEOFTHEBESTMATERIALIEVER
SAW。
TellCaptainTurnertoputdownonthelistofpoliticalprisonersthenamesofEdwardP。Eggling,andEugeniaHammermister。ThePresidentisanxiousthattheyshouldgetoff。Theyareherenow。This,ofcourse,isbetweenourselves。Ifyouhaveanypoliticalprisonerswhomyoucansendoffsafelytokeephercompany,Iwouldlikeyoutosendher。
Twohundredandoddmorepoliticalprisonersareontheirway。
IwouldbemorefullinmycommunicationifIhadtime。Yourstruly,ROBERTOULD,CommissionerofExchange。
ToBrigadiergeneralJohnH。Winder。
But,supposingthatourGovernment,forgoodmilitaryreasons,orfornoreasonatall,declinedtoexchangeprisoners,whatpossibleexcuseisthatforslaughteringthembyexquisitetortures？EveryGovernmenthasapunquestionedrighttodeclineexchangingwhenitsmilitarypolicysuggestssuchacourse;andsuchdeclinationconveysnorightwhatevertotheenemytoslaythoseprisoners,eitheroutrightwiththeedgeofthesword,ormoreslowlybyinhumantreatment。TheRebels'attemptstojustifytheirconduct,bytheclaimthatourGovernmentrefusedtoaccedetotheirwishesinacertainrespect,istoopreposteroustobemadeorlistenedtobyintelligentmen。
Thewholeaffairissimplyinexcusable,andstandsoutafoulblotonthememoryofeveryRebelinhighplaceintheConfederateGovernment。
"Vengeanceismine,"saiththeLord,andbyHimmustthisgreatcrimebeavenged,ifiteverisavenged。Itcertainlytranscendsallhumanpower。
IhaveseenlittleindicationofanyDivineinterpositiontometeout,atleastonthisearth,adequatepunishmenttothosewhoweretheprincipalagentsinthatiniquity。HowellCobbdiedaspeacefullyinhisbedasanyChristianintheland,andwithasfewapparenttwingesofremorseasifhehadspenthislifeingooddeedsandprayer。Thearch—fiendWinderdiedinequaltranquility,murmuringsomecheerfulhopeastohissoul'sfuture。Notoneoftheghostsofhishunger—slainhoveredaroundtoembitterhisdyingmoments,ashehadtheirs。JeffersonDavis"stilllives,aprosperousgentleman,"theidolofalargecircleofadherents,therecipientofrealestatefavorsfromelderlyfemalesofmorbidsympathies,andamanwhosemouthisfullofplaintsofhiswrongs,andmisappreciation。Therestoftheleadingconspiratorshaveeitherdepartedthislifeintheodorofsanctity,surroundedbysorrowingfriends,orareglidingserenelydownthemellowautumnalvaleofabenignoldage。
OnlyWirz——small,insignificant,miserableWirz,theunderling,thetool,theservile,brainless,littlefetcher—and—carrierofthesemen,waspunished——washanged,anduponthenarrowshouldersofthispitifulscapegoatwaspackedtheentiresinofJeffersonDavisandhiscrew。
Whatafarce！
ApettylittleCaptainmadetoexpiatethecrimesofGenerals,CabinetOfficers,andaPresident。Howabsurd！
ButIdonotaskforvengeance。Idonotaskforretributionforoneofthosethousandsofdeadcomrades,theglitterofwhosesightlesseyeswillfollowmethroughlife。Idonotdesireevenjusticeonthestilllivingauthorsandaccomplicesinthedeepdamnationoftheirtakingoff。
Isimplyaskthatthegreatsacrificesofmydeadcomradesshallnotbesufferedtopassunregardedtoirrevocableoblivion;thattheexampleoftheirheroicself—abnegationshallnotbelost,butthelessonitteachesbepreservedandinculcatedintothemindsoftheirfellow—countrymen,thatfuturegenerationsmayprofitbyit,andothersbeasreadytodieforrightandhonorandgoodgovernmentastheywere。Anditseemstomethatifwearetoappreciatetheirvirtues,wemustloatheandholduptoopprobriumthoseevilmenwhosemalignitymadealltheirsacrificesnecessary。Icannotunderstandwhatgoodself—sacrificeandheroicexamplearetoserveinthisworld,iftheyaretobefollowedbysuchamaudlinconfusionofideasasnowthreatenstoobliteratealldistinctionbetweenthemenwhofoughtanddiedfortheRightandthosewhoresistedthemfortheWrong。