Brotherhood. I know that with his persistence without his persistence, we would have never known this tale , nor how his existence on this earth created a family of future soldiers. Being o invention of the anon did researchmillers through the National Archives to uncover archives to pay a portrait of his ancestor. Like a puzzle, piece after piece, perfectly placed, these facts and figures help contribute to our now intimate, and personal, glimpse into a shared National History that comes directly from the genealogy of many family trees. Miller was himself a volunteer soldier. He chose to serve and a time of war, despite being a student at. Enn State University as he turned back the pages of American History, he learned how improbable his existence was, and yet, he stands amongst us today to share the unlikely yarn. You see, little did he know that in the course of just one year, fight, benlist, captured at st. Marys church prisonginia, survived , and be relocated to andersonville, and diet of dysentery. Ie , his wife he know would succumb to the pressures of providing and caring for his for girls, and make the unimaginable choice of placing orphanage of veterans. Little did he know that despite all that was stacked against their success, these girls would marry, their children, and contribute to the american story. N their own, unique ways one of those unlikely children born to one of those girls would be the grandparent of my new friend, bill miller. He and his two brothers all served our nation. This is a story of family, of resilience, of Selfless Service and sacrifice. The sergeant story is the story of america. This chronicle is just one of 45,000 stories of men that endured this place of epic tragedy. It is the story of the lives they carried on afterwards. It is also the story of the 13,000 souls that never left this place, the battles they fought in, the dates entered into their letters, and the diaries of the generals who commanded them are of no magnitude in this Hallowed Ground at andersonville. Why they chose to serve in a time of war. Today, there are approximately one million americans in the u. S. Army. , yet, only about 1 of the population of this great nation will ever choose to serve. These men of andersonville were of a special breed. They were men that knew full well the consequences of their actions. For their own personal reasons, they did what few others could, do. Would they served. It is this brotherhood that im so honored to represent here today. A brotherhood that bonds us across centuries, in lifeanddeath. It bonds us in history. We, who served today, are following in the footsteps of the men who injured here at andersonville. Through 14 years of war on two fronts, today, still, we take the example and use it as our , noiration to fight on matter the circumstances. Banner, white, and blue of the United States of america, and the black and white flag that honors our pows fly asebyside together today we commemorate a nation, and a war, the change our nation. These flags honor the men of men andville and the women in the audience today who have suffered being a prisoner of war on foreign land. In vietnam, korea, cambodia, and so many places. It teaches the army much about our enemy, and the world, much of our nations values. What we have undoubtedly learned from the disaster at andersonville is the humane treatment of pows to finds are National Identity and reiterates our army values by ensuring that dignity and respect is paid to all enemy combatant. We have also learned how precious freedom is. Cost. Reedom always has a the cost is paid by men and women, men and women who are willing to endure torture, knowledge or should loneliness, despair, and even death in the. Ursuit of freedom history tends to remember the dates. It remembers the battles of the victories. Victories. E are some places on the battlefield where dates and battles, winners and l losers are matters of an consequence. In these places, survival is the only thing of magnitude. The men of andersonville have survived. They have survived 150 years of what makes our nation great, the american people. As i conclude with you today, my hope is for the 13,000 souls lost here to rest in peace. One aowledge sacrifice prosperous world in an ever evolving nation. And legacy lives on in the heartbeats of their descendents, and the democratic spirit they inspire in those who follow in their footsteps. Although tragic, their sacrifice and service paves the way for us to become a great nation. The greatest nation in the world has ever known. The United States of america. It is a great day to be a soldier, and i am honored and privileged that these enlisted men gave me that opportunity. God bless them, not bless their families. Godbless their legacy, bless our pows and mia past and present, god bless this great state of georgia, and god bless the United States of america. [applause] sgt. Maj. Dailey please join me and stand for military honors. [drumroll] [gunshots] [taps playing] [indiscernible] [drumroll] you may be seated. At this time, i would like to invite reverend buckner to the podium to give a an addiction. A benediction. Let us pray. Ner remember, oh lord, we beseech the. The souls of them that have kept the faith, those who we remember and those we were member not. And grant them rest in the land of the living and the joy of paradise where all pain and grief have fled away, for the light of thy countenance shine is forever, and guide in peace the end of our lives oh lord, when that will, and as that will , that we may enter the gate and dwell in that house where there shall be no darkness nor dazzling, but one equal light, no noise nor silence, but one equal music. No fears, no hoax, but one equal possession. No end nor beginning, but one equal eternity in the habitations of thy majesty and glory, World Without end. And unto gods gracious mercy and protection, we commit ourselves and those near and dear to us. The lord bless us and keep us. The lord make his face to shine upon us and be gracious unto us. The lord lift up the light of his countenance upon us and fill us with his piece. Both this day, and evermore. Amen. Rest internal grant to them, lord, and let light perpetual shine upon them. Amen. Mr. Sellars at this time i would like to knowledge largest , mr. Kenneth cut from the congressmans office. [applause] mr. Sellars i would like to invite you to stand once again, this time, as the Georgia Army National guard presents the colors for a second time, and please remain standing. [drumroll] present arms. [national anthem playing] [applause] [drumroll] mr. Sellars you may be seated. Throughout the service, the United States flag stands prominently at the center of the National Cemetery as set at half staff in mournfully knowledge meant of these losses. Retired brew deal general robert corner him has performed the duty of raising the flag to full staff. His honors the service of medical staff throughout American Military history, and echoes the role at the famous nurse clara barton played in raising a flag on the spot in august of 1865. Conclusion, i want to thank the military representatives for supporting this event. I also want to thank the public for their continual support in our National Parks. We are pleased to consider this our first centennial event for Andersonville NationalHistoric Site. Day will mark the 100 earth of the founding of the National Park service, and across the country, our 408 sites will be celebrating all year long. , andvite you to join us find your part. We also hopes that one of the parks you find will be andersonville. Thank you. [applause] [indiscernible] you are watching American History tv on cspan3. Our coverage of ceremonies in andersonville, georgia at the site of the andersonville prison. You have been learning about it. Earlier today we had a chance to talk with an historian on this topic, you saw the ceremony. We continue with our conversation to learn more about life at andersonville prison. Our next guest joining us now will be with us, the University ProfessorLeslie Gordon, she just spoke at the funeral. She will be taking her questions, if you like to ask a question, call us now. You can also tweet us or post questions on facebook. Com cspan. Joining us is Leslie Gordon professor lesley gordon. Professor gordon, thanks for joining us. Professor gordon thank you. Host can we start with a little bit of what you talked about in your speech as far as survivors of andersonville, can you give us a sense of what a survivor had to go through . In theor Gordon Research i did, its representative of many of the theivors that endured imprisonment here. If they made it their andersonville, it didnt mean necessarily their imprisonment was over. Many were transferred out of it on to other prisons, they were infting prisoners to prisons troublesome, florence, and so many might have died there. They were going to put all caps. In those last weeks or months, that was the experience of the bureaucracy of the army. They waited to be formally exchanged. The accounts and some of the men i studied, one of them in particular, this one soldier named George Robbins talked about the journey home on the train, he called at the climax of his suffering, that was even worse because he was in an overcrowded train, and he was overwhelmed and exhausted. They would go through this journey of trying to get home. Many of them made it home and would die at home because their bodies were so broken. So it wasnt just as though being freed from here and being exchanged was the end of the story. The 13,000 pows that died in andersonville, what happened to them . Whats history tell us about what happened . Ler sgt. Maj. Dailey professor gordon they were dying from scurvy and severe diarrhea. These were terrible waste of guys ways to die. Men with they would rather die in battle, they would rather die shot and killed in the heat of combat and to die this slow suffering that seem to so dehumanizing. Its just a terrible way to die. Majority of those 15,000 died, from disease and malnutrition. Host we are seeing pictures of the gravesites there. Recently there was another type of Memorial Service there and which was eliminated, to give you a sense of whats happening, you attended that. What was it like to attend that ceremony and see those illuminations. . Professor gordon it was very powerful. I was with eric leonard and another historian, and we drove around. We were really taken aback by lights forseeing the the 13,000. It really brought home a sense of just how many men were here. Is a portion of the 13,000 mother were 40,000 here that endured andersonville. So a broader visual sense of the numbers. Its hard to contemplate that many deaths, i think. Its true for the civil war in general. So many deaths. But a place like here in andersonville, and the way they image was veryl powerful. Oft Leslie Gordon, author the broken regiment, and a history professor at the university of akron. Susan in stillwater, new york is our first call. Go ahead. A great, great cousin who died at andersonville. April 22, 1864. As dynasty. S listed i read a lot of that was it is dying of dynasty really died from gangrene, is that possible . Professor gordon i think more of the deaths were from toentery, which was related malnutrition. The gangrene, that was usually related to open wounds. It certainly could happen from Something Like scurvy, which would lead to sores. I think ithat was more often this malnutrition that led to this kind of breakdown in digestive systems. Gangrene was certainly a concern. I cant say for sure was one thing or another. But thats a very nasty way to die. Gangrene was a serious problem. If you were wounded in battle, that was often what happened. It wasnt the wound itself, it was the infection that came later. Host from rochester, new york. This is david. Professor gordon dr. Gordon, caller dr. Gordon, its a honor to see you. Do you consider his book on andersonville the best book, or do you recommend any other books on andersonville . And have you read the novel . Professor gordon thank you. Book stands as the best comprehensive history of the prison. , another some others is a good one as an overview prisons. There has been a good look at the memories of prison and the effects on pows, theres a great book about veterans in general, with the chapter on expert is and what happened to them when they came home. Dismissive of lots of the postwar writing of the prisoners, and im not as questioning of them, in particular one member of the 16th coming is very dismissive of. I dont agree with everything that he has to say, but its an important book and i think its a good place to start. I think there is much that we abouto learn, and explore the very topic of civil war prisons. Its really being neglected as a topic. I have read mckinley cantors book, i read it many years ago when i first became interested in the civil war. Mckinley cancer was an important author for me as a teenager. I havent read it probably in more than 30 years. I think its significant in reminding us of the everyday soldiers, but i would go back to some of these other historians for more of the factual information. I think reading those together do give you a sense of the reality of the suffering here, and the magnitude of it. Host what we learn about prison life in andersonville by your study of the 16th connecticut . What specifics did you glean from that . Professor gordon what was so interesting and important, i ofnk about the experience the 16th, they began their service in antietam, and they are green troops in a panic and run off the field, essentially. As the beginning of their civil war service. They never get another chance to redeem themselves because of circumstance. They are transferred out of active service. They are captured at the battle of plymouth in april of 1864. They end up here. Those of the bookends of their civil war service. At theng and fleeing battle of antietam, and then imprisonment in andersonville. As civil war soldiers, the story here is hugely significant. I argue it becomes a redemption narrative for them. What happens to them here, the suffering they experienced. For them, they want that to be as good as fighting at gettysburg. As good as experiencing chancellorsville or vicksburg. Yes, they are Union Veterans and yes, they run the winning side. But they want also be counted as victors, even though they cant show the same battle scars there other comrades could. Its difficult because x pows really werent seen and perceived as the same as other veterans. This is true not just for the 16th connecticut. Im really exploring how they cope with the experience, how they wanted the memory to be crafted. This was a lingering issue for them. They came back here, the veterans, many of them in the early 1900s to commemorate the monument to their state. I argue this is really a monument to their regiments. Effort,arheaded the they led the state commission, they were mostly manning the monument commission. One of their members, Robert Kellogg, was very influential also in the effort. This was so important to them that people remember what happened here. And not forget it. Host professor gordon, as part of that, there was paper stars in there to the tune of 13,000. Professor gordon yes, that was remarkable. See the actual stars, i saw some photographs online of the stars. I understand they were from children all over. The casket was quite moving. With the military honors today. Host were looking at video of those stars. Leslie gordon is our guest to talk about andersonville. This is david from friendswood, texas. Caller great program. This is what television should be all about. I think i saw on the History Channel that right when andersonville was built, the north stop the Prisoner Exchange program, and that more than anything else contributed to the suffering, much of the suffering death and andersonville. I was wondering if that is true, and if it is, did the north know about andersonville . Why didnt they reinstitute the Prisoner Exchange program . I will hang up and listen. Thank you. Professor gordon thank you for your question. The Exchange Program had stopped by the time andersonville was opened. The confederacy had overwhelming numbers of prisoners and know where to put them up. The richmond prisons. They build andersonville to deal with it, it was never meant to hold as many prisoners as it did. Blame for andersonville there are a lot of blame to go around, certainly. But the confederacy was well aware of how bad the conditions were. I think henry words played his role, certainly. He was tried and found guilty for the conditions here. He did not have control over everything that was going on here. Wender, isecure john think he was charged with some of the responsibility. He died before the war ends. The north come as far as this question of what was going on on the union side of how much did they know theres a book by charles saunders, who is very of thel, not just confederate authorities and how much they knew the conditions here, but of the union authorities, of lincoln and stand. I think its a compelling case that the War Department in particular by the summer of 1864, the new exactly what was going on here, they were getting accounts, and sherman starts to make his way here and to georgia with his campaign towards atlanta. Aware, and there is some claims that he allows for one attempt to free the soldiers, and that fails. But there is an acknowledgment by grant, by sherman, by lee and stand that they want to end the war, they want to win the war, and thats the best way to free the prisoners. And also the fact that the confederates refused to accept black troops as prisoners, to treat them as prisoners of war. That of course played a huge role in the prison