Andersonville Raiders

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Surnames/tags: US Civil War Andersonville Andersonville_Raiders

Biography

The Raiders of Andersonville:

The epic struggle within the prison walls between the forces of good and evil.

"Isolated from the thousands of prisoners’ graves stand six headstones. These headstones identify the resting places of the Raiders. Who were these men and why were these six, out of the thirteen thousand who perished at Andersonville, buried separately?" ^[1] The names on these six grave markers read: "Pat'k Delaney, Pa."; "Chas. Curtis, R.I."; "Wm. Collins, Pa."; "Jno. Sarsfield, N.Y."; "W. Rickson, U.S.N."; and "A Munn, Sea, US Navy".

"The story of the Raiders, their hanging, and their isolated graves evolved into one of the most-told stories of Andersonville. Historians know little about the trial, the accused, and the prosecutors."^[1] Much of what we know about the Raiders comes from diaries and journals maintained and published by former Andersonville POWs, such as: Private John McElroy; Private Lessel Long; Private John Worrell Northrop; Sergeant Major Robert Hale Kellogg & Sergeant John L Ransom.

Camp Sumter, more commonly known as Andersonville, was designed to house ten thousand Prisoners of War. Opening early 1864, Andersonville soon held over twenty-one thousand prisoners. There were no wooden structures to house the prisoners. Instead, they lived in self-constructed tents. ^[2]

Rise of the Raiders

The Confederate forces did not police the prisoner population; they only guarded against attempted escapes. The prisoners were left to fend for themselves. Food rations and clothing were in short supply. In this brutal setting, an organized gang arose. They were a group of thugs and thieves who preyed upon their fellow prisoners. The Raiders got their name because of their attacks on other prisoners. They would single out those who were sick, weak, or injured, anyone they suspected would be unlikely to fight back. They would raid that person stealing whatever possessions they could find. Newcomers to the camp were targeted. A newcomer would be lured into the tent of a Raider. The Raiders would beat and rob the newcomer. ^[3] Another tactic used by the Raiders, they would have spies who watched for targets, POWs who had goods or money. Then at night, a group of Raiders would attack the targeted POW and steal all his possessions. If that POW resisted, the Raiders would beat him. ^[2]

The Raiders lived far better than the other POWs. They accumulated the cash and goods they stole from the other prisoners. While most POWs were starving and malnourished, because of their thievery, the Raiders were better fed, and thus, in better shape to attack their weakened fellow POWs. In addition to their personal living quarters, the Raiders were able to construct a headquarters tent large enough to host over 100 men. ^[4] This all was constructed with stolen materials. Because of the attacks by the Raiders, other POWs, now robbed of all their belongings, suffered even greater hardships. According to former POW Warren Goss, in an autobiography of his time spent at Andersonville, the indirect effect of the Raiders "[s]tealing blankets from boys unaccustomed to hardships was downright murder", because the victim would then be exposed to the "chill dews of evening and the frequent rains... and was sure to sicken and die" ^[2]

Capture and arrest of the Raiders

In attempt to resist the Raiders, groups would loosely organize. If one of them was being attacked by the Raiders, the others would come to his rescue and drive off the Raiders. Some of these groups would punish a captured Raider by shaving half his head and beard. This served as a signal to others that the man could not be trusted; he was a Raider. [need source] By June 1864, POWs had sought some action from the camp commandant. A group of POWs, who came to be called the Andersonville Regulators began discussions with the camp commandant about setting up a POW run police force to establish order among the prisoner population. ^[2] It may have been the brutal attack on Private John G. Doud triggered the arrest of the Raiders. "Raiders took $170.00 from Doud (often referred to as Dowd), he was badly cut up, but finally got away and reached the gate, and reported to Capt. Wirz, who came up with him and demanded that the robbers should be given up under penalty of no rations for one week." Eugene Forbes, 4th New Jersey Cavalry June 29, 1864. ^[5]

The Raiders were Northeasterners. In order to avoid letting a Raider spy be admitted to the Regulators, they selected POWs from Midwestern states, such as Illinois, Indiana and Iowa, to serve in the Regulators. The Regulators included POWs such as: Sgt Leroy Key, 16th Illinois Cavalry; Pvt. Thomas Larkin, 16th Illinois Cavalry; Sgt Alfred R Hill, 100th Ohio Infantry; Corporal Edward Ned Carrigan, 16th Illinois Cavalry; and a POW referred to as "Limber Jim."

The Regulators planned to attack and arrest the Raiders. Because this would create a riot-like commotion, the Regulators advised camp commandant Captain Heinrich Hartman Wirz (1823-1865) of their plans to arrest the raiders. He gave orders to his guards that the commotion was not an attempt to escape and therefore, the guards would not open fire on the POWs. On June 29 and July 1, 1864, the Regulators attacked the Raiders, capturing and arresting at least 75 of them. These arrested Raiders were held awaiting their trial. ^[1]

Trial and Punishment

With the consent from the Confederate authorities, the other POWs held court-martial proceedings for the Raiders. POWs who were fairly new to Andersonville were selected to administer the court martial proceeding. Private Peter McCullough was appointed to serve as judge advocate. Edward Wellington Boate, 42nd New York, was appointed reporter of the Court. Sergeant Otis W. Carpenter, 7th Michigan Cavalry, was appointed to prosecute. Private Henry C Higginson was appointed to serve as counsel for the Raiders. The twelve selected to serve as the jury were:

Sergeant George W Merwin, 5th Michigan Cavalry, Co. B, Foreman

Sergeant Benjamin Bartlett, 76th Pennsylvania, Co. K

Corporal Thomas E Hurlburt, 1st Conn. Cavalry, Co. B (later a Sergeant).

Sergeant James Weston Dana, 56th Mass., Co. K

Private John S. Banks, 3rd Ohio Cavalry, Co. I

Sergeant Thomas J Shepard, 97th Ohio, Co. E

Sergeant John S. Benjamin, 64th New York. Co. E

Sergeant Egbert Webb, 5th Michigan Cavalry, Co. H

Sergeant William C. Messick, 7th Michigan Cavalry, Co. H

Private Stephen T. Brown, 70th New York, Co. C

Private Henry Miller, 1st Michigan Sharpshooters Co. I

Sergeant Samuel West, 7th New York Heavy Artillery, Co. H. ^[6]

The trial lasted several days in early July 1864. The court-martial found many of the arrested guilty. Various punishments were assessed based on the crimes committed. Lighter punishments included setting in the stocks or strung up by the thumbs. A more severe punishment was running the gauntlet. That is where the person is forced to run between two lines of others who carried clubs. They would strike that person as he ran along the line. Six individuals were to be executed by hanging. ^[1]

Among the Raiders convicted of the lesser crimes was "Connolly" and Mullings. The Raider "Connally" had assumed the identity of Private John Connolly of Company C, 52nd Regiment, New York Infantry. Who "Connolly" really was is not known. Private William Mullings was from Company G, 145th Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry. Higginson was successful in clearing "Connolly" and Mullings of the assault with intent to commit murder charge, but not successful in clearing him of the robbery charge. "Connolly" and Mullings were sentenced to wear a 25-pound ball and chain for four months.

Six Raiders were convicted of greater crimes and sentenced to be executed by hanging. These Raiders were identified as "Patrick Delaney", "Curtis", "Mosby", "Sarsfield", "Rickson" and "Munn".

"Pat'k Delaney" had several aliases. "Patrick Delaney" was a Private in Company E, 83rd Pennsylvania Infantry. Less than a month after being mustered in, "Delaney" deserted. He was captured and believed to have been sent to Belle Isle and later transferred to Andersonville. According to one account, "Delaney" said that he was using an alias and no one knew his real name. ^[7] "Delaney" was tried on the second day of the trials. He was charged with assaulting with intent to murder, and highway robbery. He was found guilty and sentenced to be executed.

"Curtis" also had several aliases. On the regiment roster, he was listed as Charles Curtis, 5th Rhode Island Heavy Artillery. "Curtis" was a paid substitute and served in place of another person. He is listed as having deserted on October 19, 1864. The official date for his desertion is four and a half months after he was executed at Andersonville. During the trial, he is referred to as Curtis, alias Wrixson. It is possible that Charles Curtis was never at Andersonville and his identity was used by a Raider, most likely W. R. Rickson, a Navy Seaman. Sergeant Key of the Regulators, among others, referred to "Curtis" as the leader of the Raiders. "Curtis", alias W Rickson, was tried on the third day of the trials. He was found guilty and sentenced to be executed. As the Raiders were being led up onto the gallows, "Curtis" broke free and fled. He was captured and returned to the gallows. [reference Gary Morgan, pages 47-53]

"Mosby" was one of the aliases of William Collins. Collins enlisted as a Private in Company E, 88th Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry. He transferred to Company K and during his time in that company was promoted to Corporal. He was lastly transferred to Company D. Collins had been with his regiment at the battles Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. Collins had served in his regiment for over 2 years, when he was captured. How Collins came to be captured is not known. He may have deserted or may have gotten separated from the regiment during maneuvers. Collins. as a prisoner, was sent to Belle Isle and later transferred to Andersonville. Many later accounts, list Collins as the leader of the Raiders. Collins was to be tried first, but due to the amount of evidence against him, his trial was delayed. When tried, Collins was found guilty and sentenced to be executed. At his execution, the gallows rope broke and he fell to the ground alive. He was taken back up to the gallows and a new rope was used to hang him. [Gary Morgan, Pages 70-71]

"J. Sarsfield" also had several aliases. "J Sarsfield" was listed as John Sarsfield, Company C, 140th Regiment, New York Infantry on the Andersonville death records. One account listed Sarsfield in the 144th Regiment, New York Infantry. There was no John Sarsfield on the roster of either the 140th or the 144th Regiment, New York Infantry. There was a James Sarsfield in the 140th. The regiment roster lists that he died at Andersonville on September 1, 1864. ^[8] It is probable that John Sarsfield also used the name James Sarsfield. On September 1, 1863, James Sarsfield, a 22-year old shoemaker, 5 feet 3 inches tall, with grey eyes and brown hair, enlisted into 140th New York Infantry. That same day at the same recruiting building, a John Sarsfield, a 22-year old shoemaker, 5 feet 3 inches tall, with grey eyes and brown hair, enlisted into the 52nd New York infantry. James Sarsfield reported for duty. John Sarsfield never reported for duty and deserted. "Sarsfield" was captured during the first day of fighting at the Battle of the Wilderness. He was sent to Andersonville. "Sarsfield" was charged with assault with the intent to commit murder and highway robbery. The testimony at the trial indicated that "Sarsfield" was one of the Raiders who beat and robbed Doud. Sarsfield was alleged to have threatened to cut Doud's heart out. "J Sarsfield" was found guilty and sentenced to be executed. The brutal assault of Doud may not have been Sarsfield's most heinous crime. Rumors at the camp, said that 2 bodies had been dug up in one of the Raider's tent. Those rumors indicated that Raider was "Sarsfield". [Gary Morgan Page 93]

"Rickson" is an unknown. The reconstructed Andersonville dead-house records do not list him. The other 5 Raiders can be found and a Sullivan, but not "Rickson." "Rickson" may have referred to Curtis and somehow 2 grave markers were made, one with Curtis and the other with Rickson. "Rickson" may have been an alias for Sullivan.

"Sullivan" Although, none of the grave markers bear the name Sullivan, the accounts of the Raiders written by former POWs contain a Sullivan among the executed Raiders. The Andersonville dead-house records also seem to include Sullivan. Sullivan went by several names: John Sullivan, Terry Sullivan, Terance Sullivan and Cary Sullivan. Andersonville death records list him as Cary Sullivan. ^[9] On the roster of the 76th New York Infantry, he as listed as John Sullivan. ^[10] Sullivan enlisted as a Private into the 76th Regiment, New York Infantry as a paid substitute. About a month after joining the regiment, Sullivan deserted. He was captured and sent as a prisoner to Belle Isle. He was later transferred to Andersonville. Sullivan was tried on the second day of the trials. His partner, Sarsfield had already been convicted. Sullivan was identified as one of the Raiders who assaulted Doud. He was found guilty and sentenced to be executed.

"Munn" is probably a mistake reading the name Muir. "A. Munn" is Andrew Muir, or Andy Muir, a seaman from the Water Witch. He was captured on June 2, 1864, and arrived at Andersonville on June 7, 1864. Only a few weeks later he was tried, found guilty and executed as one of the Raiders. At his trial, the testimony placed him as one of the Raiders who attacked Doud. [Gary Morgan, Page 107-108] According to the account published in the Sunday Mercury: "According to the testimony of Newton Baldwin, of the 76th New York: Saw Muir engaged in robbing Dowd. Saw him on top of Dowd, trying to cut his pocket and fumbling in it." [Gary Morton, Page 109] Andrew Muir, the sailor, was tried, found guilty and sentenced to be executed.

Camp commandant Captain Heinrich Hartman Wirz (1823-1865) provided the lumber and the POWs constructed a gallows. The Regulators stood guard over the construction to prevent other Raiders from destroying it. ^[11]

The Roman Catholic Priest, Father Peter Whelan, who was working at the prison visited the condemned the night before the hanging. He gave them last rites.

On July 11, all 26,000 plus POWs, the Confederate guards, and people from the community gathered to watch, what has been called, " the most witnessed execution in US history" ^[3] The six condemned men, accompanied by Father Whelen, were taken out of the holding area and led into the stockade by Confederate guards. Behind the procession, Captain Wirz rode a pale horse. (For this he was tagged with the title: "Death on a Pale Horse.") At the gallows, Captain Heinrich Hartman Wirz (1823-1865) made a short speech. He disavowed himself and his guards from any participation and handed the six condemned men over to the Regulators. Then he and the Confederate guards withdrew. As they mounted the gallows, one escaped. He was caught by the Regulators and forced to join the other five on the gallows. The leaders of the Raiders hung to their death. ^[3]

The dead raiders were taken to the death house to await burial. Their names and military units were recorded in the camp death records, that is to say, what little was known about them was recorded. Some may have used an alias when they joined service or after they were captured. In some instances, perhaps bounty jumpers who enlisted under an alias name. According to John L Ransom's account, Patrick Delaney said that he was using an alias and that Delaney was not his real name. <^[3]

These six men were buried in graves apart from the other POWs who died at Andersonville. They were forever set apart. They were buried in dishonor. What information the camp had was used. The 6 Raiders were identified as: "Pat'k Delaney, PA"; "Chas. Curtis, R.I."; "Wm Collins, PA"; "Jno. Sarsfield, NY"; "W. Rickson, U.S.N."; and "A. Munn, Sea, US Navy." ^[3]

"Finally, in response to their depredations, courageous men from the ranks of the prisoners organized a group of "Regulators" who battled the Raiders in a life and death struggle for the control of the camp. By the grace of God, good triumphed, and the Raiders were overthrown."^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} "The Raiders," Andersonville National Historic Site, National Park Service.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} Andersonville Raiders, Historical context, Military-History Fandom.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4} Morgan, Gary "Raiders: Yankee versus Yankee in the Civil War’s Most Notorious Prison Camp" Dokumen.Pub.
4. ↑ Futch, Ovid L. History of Andersonville Prison. Gainesville, FL: University of Florida Press, 1968, Pages 65-68.
5. ↑ The Raiders Graves, Historical Marker Database.
6. ↑ Morgan, G. (2020). "Andersonville Raiders, Yankee Versus Yankee in the Civil War's Most Notorious Prison Camp." Stackpole Books , Page 157-1958.
7. ↑ Andersonville Raiders, Yankee Versus Yankee in the Civil War's Most Notorious Prison Camp, by Gary Morgan, Stackpole Books 2020, Page 3.
8. ↑ New York Division of Military and Naval Affairs, History, Report of the Adjutant General, One Hundred and Fortieth Infantry Regiment Roster, page 169. https://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/civil/rosters/Infantry/140th_Infantry_CW_Roster.pdf
9. ↑ Civil War Prisons, Andersonville Prison, Record for Sullivan, Cary. http://www.civilwarprisoners.com/searchresults.php?fname=Cary&lname=Sullivan&regiment=&database=andersonville
10. ↑ New York Division of Military and Naval Affairs, History, Report of the Adjutant General, Seventy-Sixth Infantry Regiment Roster, page 386. https://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/civil/rosters/Infantry/76th_Infantry_CW_Roster.pdf
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} "Execution of the Raiders at Andersonville" Scriptorium novum

• https://www.nps.gov/ande/learn/the_raiders.htm
• https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/andersonville-raiders-rogue-soldiers-prison-video/virtual-field-trips/

See also: * Wikipedia: Andersonville Raiders

• Wikidata: Item Q4754262

Acknowledgements

Photo Credits

• Photo "Raider graves": Photo by Engle & Furlong (photo half of a stereograph image, courtesy of the Library of Congress) circa 1865. courtesy of HMdb.org. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=93025

• Photo "Andersonville Prison, Georgia": Photo courtesy Library of Congress, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Andersonville_prison._Georgia_LCCN2003662359.jpg

• Photo "Raiders Hanging": Detail from an illustration by prisoner Thomas O'Dea, courtesy of the National Park Service, Andersonville Historic Site. https://www.nps.gov/ande/learn/historyculture/raiders.htm