A SOUTHERN HERITAGE RAMBLE
WE STOPPED IN THE VILLAGE OF ANDERSONVILLE. IN JANUARY, 1864, THE PEOPLE OF THIS SMALL VILLAGE WATCHED WITH APPREHENSION AND ANTICIPATION AS SLAVES FROM LOCAL FARMS RAISED THE WALLS OF CAMP SUMTER, A PRISONER OF WAR CAMP FOR UNION SOLDIERS.
THE TRANQUILITY OF THIS PEACEFUL GEORGIA TOWN WOULD SOON VANISH AND IN ITS PLACE WOULD BE SUCH PAIN AND SUFFERING THAT TO THIS DAY THE NAME ANDERSONVILLE EVOKES IMAGES OF MAN'S INHUMANITY TO MAN.
THE PRISONERS WERE BROUGHT TO ANDERSONVILLE BY TRAIN. IT TOOK SEVERAL WEEKS TO GET THEM TO THE PRISON DUE TO THE DIFFERENT GAUGES OF THE RAILROAD TRACKS IN THE SOUTH. THIS INVOLVED CHANGING TRAINS MANY TIMES.
THE SMALL VILLAGE OF
ANDERSONVILLE IS DIRECTLY ACROSS THE ROAD
FROM THE PRISON. A FEW ANTIQUE AND GIFT SHOPS, ALONG WITH A
CIVIL WAR
MUSEUM, LINE THE STREETS, ALL WITHIN VIEW OF THE WHITE
OBELISK
THAT HONORS CAPT. HENRY WITZ WHO WAS THE STOCKADE COMMANDER.
THE TOWN'S SHOPS ARE FILLED WITH MEMORABILIA OF THE CIVIL WAR.
KEN WILLIAMS, THE MILL OWNER, HAD TOLD US TO CHECK OUT THE LOG CHURCH. HIS ANCESTORS HELPED BUILT THE CHURCH.
WE LEFT ANDERSONVILLE AND HEADED TO AMERICUS FOR LUNCH. AFTER LUNCH WE WOULD COME BACK TO TOUR THE ANDERSONVILLE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE.