ECW: Singing Inside Andersonville and Scaring the local troops

NH Civil War Gal

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https://emergingcivilwar.com/2019/07/04/july-4-1864-from-10000-to-20000-voices/#more-183435

Here is the account of Independence Day in Andersonville by Private Robert Knox Sneden:


Today being Independence Day several educated comrades made short speeches to small crowds of willing listeners. Our desperate condition was fully discussed and as there was no prospect of being exchanged and seeing our far off homes again we were advised to keep orderly and abide our time when Sherman’s army might reach us, as it was known that he was marching with 100,000 men through Georgia. The fearful monthly death roll was commented on and prayer meetings would be held if any would attend. The Raiders were now vanquished and would meet just and quick punishment. Some of them must die for their brutal murders and they would be tried by judge and jury composed of our men. All those Raiders yet in camp were cautioned to stop their work at once, or they would be clubbed and arrested like the others. Three rousing cheers from 200 or more prisoners were given for “The Old Flag,” while hundreds of others sang “Rally round the flag boys” and “Star Spangled Banner.” One of the sailors who was good at sewing made a small American flag from some red flannel and part of a white shirt. This was waved as the crowd sang, and cheers went up all over the northern part of the stockade. All was quiet and orderly again in a few minutes. Small crowds of twenty to fifty discussed the case of the Raiders now confined outside the north gate.


51HZDJX7XCL.jpg

Sneden’s sketch of his surroundings in Andersonville.
 
Wow! That must have been a magnificent a song being song by men who were in Andersonville prison during the Civil War ! The “Star Spangled Banner”.

I know! Who knew? I never read about this before or heard about it. Simply amazing that they had the spunk to do it.
 
https://emergingcivilwar.com/2019/07/04/july-4-1864-from-10000-to-20000-voices/#more-183435

Here is the account of Independence Day in Andersonville by Private Robert Knox Sneden:


Today being Independence Day several educated comrades made short speeches to small crowds of willing listeners. Our desperate condition was fully discussed and as there was no prospect of being exchanged and seeing our far off homes again we were advised to keep orderly and abide our time when Sherman’s army might reach us, as it was known that he was marching with 100,000 men through Georgia. The fearful monthly death roll was commented on and prayer meetings would be held if any would attend. The Raiders were now vanquished and would meet just and quick punishment. Some of them must die for their brutal murders and they would be tried by judge and jury composed of our men. All those Raiders yet in camp were cautioned to stop their work at once, or they would be clubbed and arrested like the others. Three rousing cheers from 200 or more prisoners were given for “The Old Flag,” while hundreds of others sang “Rally round the flag boys” and “Star Spangled Banner.” One of the sailors who was good at sewing made a small American flag from some red flannel and part of a white shirt. This was waved as the crowd sang, and cheers went up all over the northern part of the stockade. All was quiet and orderly again in a few minutes. Small crowds of twenty to fifty discussed the case of the Raiders now confined outside the north gate.


View attachment 315096
Sneden’s sketch of his surroundings in Andersonville.
 
I'm enjoying the over reactions. Sneden sure knew how to convey a scene, both in words and art. He's a favorite- never came across this story.

More on him in some threads here. His work lay undiscovered post war for years. A relative apparently took a few images to use instead of cash when betting at cards, story unfolded from there. There's some crazy cool stuff although LoC only has the maps.

Another Sneden
anson1.JPG
anson2.JPG
anson3.JPG
 
I'm enjoying the over reactions. Sneden sure knew how to convey a scene, both in words and art. He's a favorite- never came across this story.

More on him in some threads here. His work lay undiscovered post war for years. A relative apparently took a few images to use instead of cash when betting at cards, story unfolded from there. There's some crazy cool stuff although LoC only has the maps.

Another Sneden
View attachment 316289View attachment 316290View attachment 316291
 
I'm enjoying the over reactions. Sneden sure knew how to convey a scene, both in words and art. He's a favorite- never came across this story.

More on him in some threads here. His work lay undiscovered post war for years. A relative apparently took a few images to use instead of cash when betting at cards, story unfolded from there. There's some crazy cool stuff although LoC only has the maps.

Another Sneden
View attachment 316289View attachment 316290View attachment 316291
 
I'm enjoying the over reactions. Sneden sure knew how to convey a scene, both in words and art. He's a favorite- never came across this story.

More on him in some threads here. His work lay undiscovered post war for years. A relative apparently took a few images to use instead of cash when betting at cards, story unfolded from there. There's some crazy cool stuff although LoC only has the maps.

Another Sneden
View attachment 316289View attachment 316290View attachment 316291
 
I had an ancestor who was there. The story goes that when he was released and came home, his wife carried him off the train and put him in the back of the wagon for home. He was a Webster. I have found out that his father was likely Samuel Chard Webster, as I know he had a land grand on the Michigan Toledo strip, and this ancestor, according to my Mom is buried in Toledo. My Great Grandfather was also named Samuel Chard Webster. Confusing isn’t it?!?
 
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