Men lay down last
night feeling more secure of their lives. Hunting for raiders continued, this
time without assistance from Rebel guards, except a lieutenant and guard
at the gate. The formidable resistance of yesterday was not repeated; the
combined efforts of the raiders having so signally failed yesterday. Our men
are armed with clubs; when one is found he is hustled to the gates, often with
a kick or a punch in the back, amid the sneering and shouting from lookers on,
and goes sneaking out. Lieutenant Davis gave me permission to go out with
witnesses to take evidence when the trial proceeds, which is to be conducted by
thirteen men recently in from the western army, as it is the design of Sergeant
Keys that the hearing shall be before intelligent and impartial men, with a
view of giving them a fair trial; but feeling so badly, having been sick
several days, I was obliged to return, Baldwin of my regiment goes out against
Sullivan. The greater part of those taken out are returned on promises of good
behavior and on the plea that they have been decoyed. Some of these Keys had
strong evidence against but the place where they were kept, just outside of the
gate, was overcrowded and Wirz insisted upon them being returned. A few were
sentenced to wear a ball and chain. The abuse inflicted on those turned in, by
the crowd, as they were forced to run the gauntlet, is almost cruel, two lines
being formed from the dead line towards the center of the prison through which
they are forced to pass. Many were severely pounded and one, a sailor, was
struck by a fellow who had just come in from outside, with a rail, knocking him
down, and he died from the effects of this and other blows.
SOURCE: John Worrell
Northrop, Chronicles from the Diary of a War Prisoner in Andersonville
and Other Military Prisons of the South in 1864, p. 81-2
No comments:
Post a Comment