This morning lumber
was brought into the prison by the rebels, and near the gate a gallows erected
for the purpose of executing the six condemned Yankees. At about ten o'clock
they were brought inside by Capt. Wirtz and some guards, and delivered over to
the police force. Capt. Wirtz then said a few words about their having been
tried by our own men and for us to do as we choose with them, that he washed
his hands of the whole matter, or words to that effect. I could not catch the
exact language, being some little distance away I have learned by enquiry,
their names, which are as follows: John Sarsfield, 144th New York; William
Collins, alias "Moseby," Co. D, 88th Pennsylvania; Charles Curtiss,
Battery A, 5th Rhode Island Artillery; Pat Delaney, Co. E, 83d Pennsylvania; A.
Munn, U. S. Navy, and W. R. Rickson of the U. S Navy. After Wirtz made his
speech he withdrew his guards, leaving the condemned at the mercy of 28,000
enraged prisoners who had all been more or less wronged by these men. Their
hands were tied behind them, and one by one they mounted the scaffold Curtiss,
who was last, a big stout fellow, managed to get his hands loose and broke away
and ran through the crowd and down toward the swamp. It was yelled out that he
had a knife in his hand, and so a path was made for him. He reached the swamp
and plunged in, trying to get over on the other side, presumably among his
friends. It being very warm he over exerted himself, and when in the middle or
thereabonts, collapsed and could go no farther. The police started after him,
waded in and helped him out. He pleaded for water and it was given him. Then
led back to the scaffold and helped to mount up. All were given a chance to talk.
Munn, a good looking fellow in marine dress, said he came into the prison four
months before perfectly honest, and as innocent of crime as any fellow in it
starvation, with evil companions, had made him what he was. He spoke of his
mother and sisters in New York, that he cared nothing as far as he himself was
concerned, but the news that would be carried home to his people made him want
to curse God he had ever been born. Delaney said he would rather be hung than
live here as the most of them lived, on their allowance of rations. If allowed
to steal could get enough to eat, but as that was stopped had rather hang. Bid
all good bye Said his name was not Delaney and that no one knew who he really
was, therefore his friends would never know his fate, his Andersonville history
dying with him. Curtiss said he didnt care a ——, only hurry up and not be
talking about it all day; making too much fuss over a very small matter.
William Collins, alias Moseby, said he was innocent of murder and ought not to
be hung; he had stolen blankets and rations to preserve his own life, and
begged the crowd not to see him hung as he had a wife and child at home, and
for their sake, to let him live. The excited crowd began to be impatient for
the “show” to commence as they termed it. Sarsfield made quite a speech; he had
studied for a lawyer; at the outbreak of the rebellion he had enlisted and
served three years in the army, been wounded in battle, furloughed home, wound
healed up, promoted to first sergeant and also commissioned; his commission as
a lieutenant had arrived but had not been mustered in when he was taken
prisoner; began by stealing parts of rations, gradually becoming hardened as he
became familiar with the crimes practiced; evil associates had helped him to go
down hill and here he was. The other did not care to say anything. While the
men were talking they were interrupted by all kinds of questions and charges
made by the crowd, such as “don't lay it on too thick, you villain,” “get ready
to jump off,” “cut it short,” “you was the cause of so and so's death,” “less
talk and more hinging,” &c., &c. At about eleven o'clock they were all
blindfolded, hands and feet tied, told to get ready, nooses adjusted and the
plank knocked from under. Moseby's rope broke and he fell to the ground, with
blood spurting from his ears, mouth and nose, As they was lifting him back to
the swinging off place he revived and begged for his life, but no use, was soon
dangling with the rest, and died very hard. Munn died easily, as also did
Delaney, all the rest died hard and particularly Sarsfield who drew his knees
nearly to his chin and then straightened them out with a jerk, the veins in his
neck swelling out as if they would burst. It was an awful sight to see, still a
necessity. Moseby, although he said he had never killed any one, and I don't
believe he ever did deliberately kill a man, such as stabbing or pounding a
victim to death, yet he has walked up to a poor sick prisoner on a cold night
and robbed him of blanket, or perhaps his rations and if neccessary using all
the force necessary to do it. These things were the same as life to the sick
man, for he would invariably die. The result has been that many have died from
his robbing propensities. It was right that he should hang, and he did hang most beautifully and Andersonville
is the better off for it. None of the rest denied that they had killed men, and
probably some had murdered dozens. It has been a good lesson; there are still
bad ones in camp but we have the strong arm of the law to keep them in check.
All during the hanging scene the stockade was covered with rebels, who were
fearful a break would be made if the raiders should try and rescue them. Many
citizens too were congregated on the outside in favorable positions for seeing.
Artillery was pointed at us from all directions ready to blow us all into
eternity in short order; Wirtz stood on a high platform in plain sight of the
execution and says we are a hard crowd to kill our own men. After hanging for
half an hour or so the six bodies were taken down and carried outside. In
noting down the speeches made by the condemned men, have used my own language;
in substance it is the same as told by them. I occupied a near position to the
hanging and saw it all from first to last, and stood there until they were
taken down and carried away. Was a strange sight to see and the first hanging I
ever witnessed. The raiders had many friends who crowded around and denounced
the whole affair and but for the police there would have been a riot; many both
for and against the execution were knocked down. Some will talk and get into
trouble thereby; as long as it does no good there is no use in loud talk and
exciting arguments; is dangerous to advance any argument, men are so ready to
quarrel. Have got back to my quarters thoroughly prostrated and worn out with
fatigue and excitement, and only hope that today's lesson will right matters as
regards raiding. Battese suspended washing long enough to look on and see them
hang and grunted his approval. Have omitted to say that the good Catholic
priest attended the condemned. Rebel negroes came inside and began to take down
the scaffold; prisoners took hold to help them and resulted in its all being
carried off to different parts of the prison to be used for kindling wood, and
the rebels get none of it back and are mad. The ropes even have been gobbled
up, and I suppose sometime may be exhibited at the north as mementoes of
to-day's proceedings. Mike Hoare assisted at the hanging. Some fears are
entertained that those who officiated will get killed by the friends of those
hanged. The person who manipulated the “drop,” has been taken outside on parole
of honor, as his life would be in danger in here. Jimmy thanks God that he has
lived to see justice done the raiders; he is about gone — nothing but skin and
bone and can hardly move hand or foot; rest of the mess moderately well. The
extra rations derived from our three mess-mates as policemen, helps wonderfully
to prolong life. Once in a while some of them gets a chance to go outside on
some duty and buy onions or sweet potatoes which is a great luxury.
SOURCE: John L.
Ransom, Andersonville Diary, p. 81-4
