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continue to have to this daythat our Government would do everything for
us possible； consistent with its honor； and the success of military
operations； and outside of the little squad of which I speak； not an
admission could be extracted from anybody that blame could be attached to
any one； except the Rebels。 It was regarded as unmanly and unsoldier…
like to the last degree； as well as senseless； to revile our Government
for the crimes committed by its foes。
But the Rebels were led to believe that we were ripe for revolt against
our flag； and to side with them。 Imagine； if possible； the stupidity
that would mistake our bitter hatred of those who were our deadly
enemies； for any feeling that would lead us to join hands with those
enemies。 One day we were surprised to see the carpenters erect a rude
stand in the center of the camp。 When it was finished； Bradley appeared
upon it； in company with some Rebel officers and guards。 We gathered
around in curiosity； and Bradley began making a speech。
He said that it had now become apparent to all of us that our Government
had abandoned us； that it cared little or nothing for us； since it could
hire as many more quite readily； by offering a bounty equal to the pay
which would be due us now； that it cost only a few hundred dollars to
bring over a shipload of Irish； 〃Dutch；〃 and French； who were only too
glad to agree to fight or do anything else to get to this country。 ＇The
peculiar impudence of this consisted in Bradley himself being a
foreigner； and one who had only come out under one of the later calls；
and the influence of a big bounty。＇
Continuing in this strain he repeated and dwelt upon the old lie； always
in the mouths of his crowd； that Secretary Stanton and General Halleck
had positively refused to enter upon negotiations for exchange； because
those in prison were 〃only a miserable lot of 'coffee…boilers' and
'blackberry pickers；' whom the Army was better off without。〃
The terms 〃coffee…boiler；〃 and 〃blackberry…pickers〃 were considered the
worst terms of opprobrium we had in prison。 They were applied to that
class of stragglers and skulkers； who were only too ready to give
themselves up to the enemy； and who； on coming in； told some gauzy story
about 〃just having stopped to boil a cup of coffee；〃 or to do something
else which they should not have done； when they were gobbled up。 It is
not risking much to affirm the probability of Bradley and most of his
crowd having belonged to this dishonorable class。
The assertion that either the great Chief…of…Staff or the still greater
War…Secretary were even capable of applying such epithets to the mass of
prisoners is too preposterous to need refutation； or even denial。
No person outside the raider crowd ever gave the silly lie a moment's
toleration。
Bradley concluded his speech in some such language as this：
〃And now； fellow prisoners； I propose to you this： that we unite in
informing our Government that unless we are exchanged in thirty days； we
will be forced by self…preservation to join the Confederate army。〃
For an instant his hearers seemed stunned at the fellow's audacity； and
then there went up such a roar of denunciation and execration that the
air trembled。 The Rebels thought that the whole camp was going to rush
on Bradley and tear him to pieces； and they drew revolvers and leveled
muskets to defend him。 The uproar only ceased when Bradley was hurried
out of the prisons but for hours everybody was savage and sullen； and
full of threatenings against him； when opportunity served。 We never saw
him afterward。
Angry as I was； I could not help being amused at the tempestuous rage of
a tall； fine…looking and well educated Irish Sergeant of an Illinois
regiment。 He poured forth denunciations of the traitor and the Rebels；
with the vivid fluency of his Hibernian nature； vowed he'd 〃give a year
of me life； be J…s； to have the handling of the dirty spalpeen for ten
minutes； be G… d；〃 and finally in his rage； tore off his own shirt and
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。
The