andersonville-第87章
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threw it on the ground and trampled on it。
Imagine my astonishment； some time after getting out of prison； to find
the Southern papers publishing as a defense against the charges in regard
to Andersonville； the following document； which they claimed to have been
adopted by 〃a mass meeting of the prisoners：〃
〃At a mass meeting held September 28th； 1864； by the Federal prisoners
confined at Savannah； Ga。； it was unanimously agreed that the following
resolutions be sent to the President of the United States； in the hope
that he might thereby take such steps as in his wisdom he may think
necessary for our speedy exchange or parole：
〃Resolved； That while we would declare our unbounded love for the Union；
for the home of our fathers； and for the graves of those we venerate； we
would beg most respectfully that our situation as prisoners be diligently
inquired into； and every obstacle consistent with the honor and dignity
of the Government at once removed。
〃Resolved； That while allowing the Confederate authorities all due praise
for the attention paid to prisoners； numbers of our men are daily
consigned to early graves； in the prime of manhood； far from home and
kindred； and this is not caused intentionally by the Confederate
Government； but by force of circumstances； the prisoners are forced to go
without shelter； and； in a great portion of cases； without medicine。
〃Resolved； That； whereas； ten thousand of our brave comrades have
descended into an untimely grave within the last six months； and as we
believe their death was caused by the difference of climate； the peculiar
kind and insufficiency of food； and lack of proper medical treatment；
and； whereas； those difficulties still remain； we would declare as our
firm belief； that unless we are speedily exchanged； we have no
alternative but to share the lamentable fate of our comrades。 Must this
thing still go on！ Is there no hope？
〃Resolved； That； whereas； the cold and inclement season of the year is
fast approaching； we hold it to be our duty as soldiers and citizens of
the United States； to inform our Government that the majority of our
prisoners ate without proper clothing； in some cases being almost naked；
and are without blankets to protect us from the scorching sun by day or
the heavy dews by night； and we would most respectfully request the
Government to make some arrangement whereby we can be supplied with
these； to us； necessary articles。
〃Resolved； That； whereas； the term of service of many of our comrades
having expired； they； having served truly and faithfully for the term of
their several enlistments； would most respectfully ask their Government；
are they to be forgotten？ Are past services to be ignored？ Not having
seen their wives and little ones for over three years； they would most
respectfully； but firmly； request the Government to make some
arrangements whereby they can be exchanged or paroled。
〃Resolved； That； whereas； in the fortune of war； it was our lot to become
prisoners； we have suffered patiently； and are still willing to suffer；
if by so doing we can benefit the country； but we must most respectfully
beg to say； that we are not willing to suffer to further the ends of any
party or clique to the detriment of our honor； our families； and our
country； and we beg that this affair be explained to us； that we may
continue to hold the Government in that respect which is necessary to
make a good citizen and soldier。
〃P。 BRADLEY；
〃Chairman of Committee in behalf of Prisoners。〃
In regard to the above I will simply say this； that while I cannot
pretend to know or even much that went on around me； I do not think it
was possible for a mass meeting of prisoners to have been held without
my knowing it； and its essential features。 Still less was it possible
for a mass meeting to have been held which would have adopted any such
a document as the above； or anything else that a Rebel would have found
the least pleasure in republishing。 The whole thing is a brazen
falsehood。
CHAPTER LV。
WHY WE WERE HURRIED OUT OF ANDERSONVILLETHE OF THE FALL OF ATLANTA
OUR LONGING TO HEAR THE NEWSARRIVAL OF SOME FRESH FISHHOW WE KNEW
THEY WERE WESTERN BOYSDIFFERENCE IN THE APPEARANCE OF THE SOLDIERS OF
THE TWO ARMIES。
The reason of our being hurried out of Andersonville under the false
pretext of exchange dawned on us before we had been in Savannah long。
If the reader will consult the map of Georgia he will understand this；
too。 Let him remember that several of the railroads which now appear
were not built then。 The road upon which Andersonville is situated was
about one hundred and twenty miles long； reaching from Macon to Americus；
Andersonville being about midway between these two。 It had no
connections anywhere except at Macon； and it was hundreds of miles across
the country from Andersonville to any other road。 When Atlanta fell it
brought our folks to within sixty miles of Macon； and any day they were
liable to make a forward movement； which would capture that place； and
have us where we could be retaken with ease。
There was nothing left undone to rouse the apprehensions of the Rebels in
that direction。 The humiliating surrender of General Stoneman at Macon
in July； showed them what our； folks were thinking of； and awakened their
minds to the disastrous consequences of such a movement when executed by
a bolder and abler commander。 Two days of one of Kilpatrick's swift；
silent marches would carry his hard…riding troopers around Hood's right
flank； and into the streets of Macon； where a half hour's work with the
torch on the bridges across the Ocmulgee and the creeks that enter it at
that point； would have cut all of the Confederate Army of the Tennessee's
communications。 Another day and night of easy marching would bring his
guidons fluttering through the woods about the Stockade at Andersonville；
and give him a reinforcement of twelve or fifteen thousand able…bodied
soldiers； with whom he could have held the whole Valley of the
Chattahoochie； and become the nether millstone； against which Sherman
could have ground Hood's army to powder。
Such a thing was not only possible； but very probable； and doubtless
would have occurred had we remained in Andersonville another week。
Hence the haste to get us away； and hence the lie about exchange； for；
had it not been for this； one…quarter at least of those taken on the cars
would have succeeded in getting off and attempted to have reached
Sherman's lines。
The removal went on with such rapidity that by the end of September only
eight thousand two hundred and eighteen remained at Andersonville； and
these were mostly too sick to be moved； two thousand seven hundred died
in September； fifteen hundred and sixty in October； and four hundred and
eighty…five in November； so that at the beginning of December there were
only thirteen hundred and fifty…nine remaining。 The larger part of those
taken out were sent on to Charleston； and subsequently to Florence and
Salisbury。 About six or seven thousand of us； as near as I remember；
were brought to Savannah。
。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。
We were all exceedingly anxious to know how the Atlanta campaign had
ended。 So far our information only comprised the facts that a sharp
battle had been fought； and the result was the complete possession of our
great objective point。 The manner of accomplishing this glorious end；
the magnitude of the engagement； the regiments； brigades and corps
participating； the loss on both sides； the completeness of the victories；
etc。； were all matters that we knew nothing of； and thirsted to learn。
The Rebel papers said as little as possible about the capture； and the
facts in that little were so largely diluted with fiction as to convey no
real information。 But few new； prisoners were coming in； and none of
these were from Sherman。 However； toward the last of September； a
handful of 〃fresh fish〃 were turned inside； whom our experienced eyes
instantly told us were Western boys。
There was never any difficulty in telling； as far as he could be
