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diff --git a/3072-h/3072-h.htm b/3072-h/3072-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3127cac --- /dev/null +++ b/3072-h/3072-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,24231 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <title> + ANDERSONVILLE--Complete | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + .tdr {text-align: right;} +.xbig {font-size: 2em;} +.center {text-align: center} +</style> + </head> + <body> +<div style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Andersonville, complete, by John McElroy</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online +at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you +are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the +country where you are located before using this eBook. +</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Andersonville, complete</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: John McElroy</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: August 22, 2006 [EBook #3072]<br> +[Most recently updated: August 24, 2023]</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: David Widger</div> +<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANDERSONVILLE, COMPLETE ***</div> + + <p> + <br> + </p> + <h3> + Format Choice + </h3> + <div class="mynote"> + The present format is best for most <b>laptops</b> and <b>computers</b>, + and generates well to <b>.mobi</b> and <b>.epub</b> files. The higher + quality images in this file do not reduce in size to fit the small screens + of Tablets and Smart Phones—part of the larger images may run off + the side. Two other formats are available by clicking on the following + lines:<br><br> <i><a + href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/3072/old/orig3072-h/main.htm">1. The + original ebook which was split into several small files.</a></i><br><br> + <i><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/3072/old/files/relative.htm">2. + A file with images which automatically accomodate to any screen size; this + is the best choice for the small screens of <b>Tablets</b> and <b>Smart + Phones</b>. </a></i> + </div> + <p> + <br> + </p> + <p> + <br> + </p> + <hr> + <p> + <br><br><br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h1> + ANDERSONVILLE + </h1> + <h2> + A STORY OF REBEL MILITARY PRISONS + </h2> + <p> + <br> + </p> + <h3> + FIFTEEN MONTHS A GUEST OF THE SO-CALLED + </h3> + <h3> + SOUTHERN CONFEDERACY + </h3> + <p> + <br> + </p> + <h3> + A PRIVATE SOLDIERS EXPERIENCE + </h3> + <h3> + IN + </h3> + <h3> + RICHMOND, ANDERSONVILLE, SAVANNAH, MILLEN + </h3> + <h3> + BLACKSHEAR AND FLORENCE + </h3> + <p> + <br> + </p> + <h3> + BY JOHN McELROY + </h3> + <h3> + Late of Co. L. 16th Ill Cav. + </h3> + <h3> + 1879 + </h3> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> <a name="cover" id="cover"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="bookcover.jpg (204K)" src="images/bookcover.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + TO THE HONORABLE + </h2> + <p> + <br> + </p> + <h3> + NOAH H. SWAYNE. + </h3> + <p> + <br> + </p> + <h3> + JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, + </h3> + <h3> + A JURIST OF DISTINGUISHED TALENTS AND EXALTED CHARACTER; + </h3> + <h3> + ONE OF THE LAST OF THAT + </h3> + <h3> + ADMIRABLE ARRAY OF PURE PATRIOTS AND SAGACIOUS COUNSELORS, + </h3> + <h3> + WHO, IN + </h3> + <h3> + THE YEARS OF THE NATION'S TRIAL, + </h3> + <h3> + FAITHFULLY SURROUNDED THE GREAT PRESIDENT, + </h3> + <h3> + AND, WITH HIM, BORE THE BURDEN + </h3> + <h3> + OF + </h3> + <h3> + THOSE MOMENTOUS DAYS; + </h3> + <h3> + AND WHOSE WISDOM AND FAIRNESS HAVE DONE SO MUCH SINCE + </h3> + <h3> + TO + </h3> + <h3> + CONSERVE WHAT WAS THEN WON, + </h3> + <h3> + THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED WITH RESPECT AND APPRECIATION, + </h3> + <p> + <br> + </p> + <h3> + BY THE AUTHOR. + </h3> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> <a name="p000" id="p000"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p000.jpg (129K)" src="images/p000.jpg"><br> + </div> + + <h2> + CONTENTS: + </h2> + <h3> + <a href="#INTRODUCTION">INTRODUCTION</a> + </h3> + <h3> + <a href="#AUTHOR_PREFACE">AUTHOR'S PREFACE</a> + </h3> + <h3> + <a href="#ILLUSTRATIONS">LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</a> + </h3> + <h3> + <a href="#ch1">CHAPTER I.</a> + </h3> + <p> + A STRANGE LAND--THE HEART OF THE APPALACHIANS--THE GATEWAY OF AN EMPIRE + --A SEQUESTERED VALE, AND A PRIMITIVE, ARCADIAN, NON-PROGRESSIVE PEOPLE. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch2">CHAPTER II.</a> + </h3> + <p> + SCARCITY OF FOOD FOR THE ARMY--RAID FOR FORAGE--ENCOUNTER WIT THE REBELS + --SHARP CAVALRY FIGHT--DEFEAT OF THE “JOHNNIES"--POWELL'S + VALLEY OPENED UP. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch3">CHAPTER III.</a> + </h3> + <p> + LIVING OFF THE ENEMY--REVELING IN THE FATNESS OF THE COUNTRY--SOLDIERLY + PURVEYING AND CAMP COOKERY--SUSCEPTIBLE TEAMSTERS AND THEIR TENDENCY TO + FLIGHTINESS--MAKING SOLDIER'S BED. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch4">CHAPTER IV.</a> + </h3> + <p> + A BITTER COLD MORNING AND A WARM AWAKENING--TROUBLE ALL ALONG THE LINE-- + FIERCE CONFLICTS, ASSAULTS AND DEFENSE--PROLONGED AND DESPERATE STRUGGLE + ENDING WITH A SURRENDER. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch5">CHAPTER V.</a> + </h3> + <p> + THE REACTION--DEPRESSION--BITTING COLD--SHARP HUNGER AND SAD REFLEXION. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch6">CHAPTER VI.</a> + </h3> + <p> + “ON TO RICHMOND!”--MARCHING ON FOOT OVER THE MOUNTAINS--MY + HORSE HAS A NEW RIDER--UNSOPHISTICATED MOUNTAIN GIRLS--DISCUSSING THE + ISSUES OF THE WAR--PARTING WITH “HIATOGA + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch7">CHAPTER VII.</a> + </h3> + <p> + ENTERING RICHMOND--DISAPPOINTMENT AT ITS APPEARANCE--EVERYBODY IN + UNIFORM--CURLED DARLINGS OF THE CAPITAL--THE REBEL FLAG--LIBBY PRISON-- + DICK TURNER--SEARCHING THE NEW COMERS. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch8">CHAPTER VIII.</a> + </h3> + <p> + INTRODUCTION TO PRISON LIFE--THE PEMBERTON BUILDING AND ITS OCCUPANTS-- + NEAT SAILORS--ROLL CALL--RATIONS AND CLOTHING--CHIVALRIC “CONFISCATION.” + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch9">CHAPTER IX.</a> + </h3> + <p> + BRANS OR PEAS--INSUFFICIENCY OF DARKY TESTIMONY--A GUARD KILLS A + PRISONER--PRISONERS TEAZE THE GUARDS--DESPERATE OUTBREAK. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch10">CHAPTER X.</a> + </h3> + <p> + THE EXCHANGE AND THE CAUSE OF ITS INTERRUPTION--BRIEF RESUME OF THE + DIFFERENT CARTELS, AND THE DIFFICULTIES THAT LED TO THEIR SUSPENSION. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch11">CHAPTER XI.</a> + </h3> + <p> + PUTTING IN THE TIME--RATIONS--COOKING UTENSILS--“FIAT SOUP--“SPOONING"-- + AFRICAN NEWSPAPER VENDERS--TRADING GREENBACKS FOR CONFEDERATE MONEY-- + VISIT FROM JOHN MORGAN. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch12">CHAPTER XII.</a> + </h3> + <p> + REMARKS AS TO NOMENCLATURE--VACC1NATION AND ITS EFFECTS--“N'YAARKER'S,"-- + THEIR CHARACTERISTICS AND THEIR METHODS OF OPERATING. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch13">CHAPTER XIII.</a> + </h3> + <p> + BELLE ISLE--TERRIBLE SUFFERING FROM COLD AND HUNGER--FATE OF LIEUTENANT + BOISSEUX'S DOG--OUR COMPANY MYSTERY--TERMINATION OF ALL HOPES OF ITS + SOLUTION. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch14">CHAPTER XIV.</a> + </h3> + <p> + HOPING FOR EXCHANGE--AN EXPOSITION OF THE DOCTRINE OF CHANCES-- OFF FOR + ANDERSONVILLE--UNCERTAINTY AS TO OUR DESTINATION--ARRIVAL AT + ANDERSONVILLE. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch15">CHAPTER XV.</a> + </h3> + <p> + GEORGIA--A LEAN AND HUNGRY LAND--DIFFERENCE BETWEEN UPPER AND LOWER + GEORGIA--THE PILLAGE OF ANDERSONVILLE. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch16">CHAPTER XVI.</a> + </h3> + <p> + WAKING UP IN ANDERSONVILLE--SOME DESCRIPTION OF THE PLACE--OUR FIRST + MAIL--BUILDING SHELTER--GEN. WINDER--HIMSELF AND LINEAGE. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch17">CHAPTER XVII.</a> + </h3> + <p> + THE PLANTATION NEGROS--NOT STUPID TO BE LOYAL--THEIR DITHYRAMBIC MUSIC-- + COPPERHEAD OPINION OF LONGFELLOW. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch18">CHAPTER XVIII.</a> + </h3> + <p> + SCHEMES AND PLANS TO ESCAPE--SCALING THE STOCKADE--ESTABLISHING THE DEAD + LINE--THE FIRST MAN KILLED. <br><br> + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch19">CHAPTER XIX.</a> + </h3> + <p> + CAPT. HENRI WIRZ--SOME DESCRIPTION OF A SMALL-MINDED PERSONAGE, WHO GAINED + GREAT NOTORIETY--FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH HIS DISCIPLINARY METHOD. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch20">CHAPTER XX.</a> + </h3> + <p> + PRIZE-FIGHT AMONG THE N'YAARKERS--A GREAT MANY FORMALITIES, AND + LITTLE BLOOD SPILT--A FUTILE ATTEMPT TO RECOVER A WATCH--DEFEAT OF THE LAW + AND ORDER PARTY. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch21">CHAPTER XXI.</a> + </h3> + <p> + DIMINISHING RATIONS--A DEADLY COLD RAIN--HOVERING OVER PITCH PINE FIRES + --INCREASE ON MORTALITY--A THEORY OF HEALTH. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch22">CHAPTER XXII.</a> + </h3> + <p> + DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ALABAMIANS AND GEORGIANS--DEATH OF “POLL + PARROTT"-- A GOOD JOKE UPON THE GUARD--A BRUTAL RASCAL. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch23">CHAPTER XXIII.</a> + </h3> + <p> + A NEW LOT OF PRISONERS--THE BATTLE OF OOLUSTEE--MEN SACRIFICED TO A + GENERAL'S INCOMPETENCY--A HOODLUM REINFORCEMENT--A QUEER CROWD-- + MISTREATMENT OF AN OFFICER OF A COLORED REGIMENT--KILLING THE SERGEANT OF + A NEGRO SQUAD. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch24">CHAPTER XXIV.</a> + </h3> + <p> + APRIL--LONGING TO GET OUT--THE DEATH RATE--THE PLAGUE OF LICE --THE + SO-CALLED HOSPITAL. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch25">CHAPTER XXV.</a> + </h3> + <p> + THE “PLYMOUTH PILGRIMS"--SAD TRANSITION FROM COMFORTABLE BARRACKS TO + ANDERSONVILLE--A CRAZED PENNSYLVANIAN--DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUTLER BUSINESS. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch26">CHAPTER XXVI.</a> + </h3> + <p> + LONGINGS FOR GOD'S COUNTRY--CONSIDERATIONS OF THE METHODS OF GETTING + THERE--EXCHANGE AND ESCAPE--DIGGING TUNNELS, AND THE DIFFICULTIES + CONNECTED THEREWITH--PUNISHMENT OF A TRAITOR. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch27">CHAPTER XXVII.</a> + </h3> + <p> + THE HOUNDS, AND THE DIFFICULTIES THEY PUT IN THE WAY OF ESCAPE-- THE WHOLE + SOUTH PATROLLED BY THEM. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch28">CHAPTER XXVIII.</a> + </h3> + <p> + MAY--INFLUX OF NEW PRISONERS--DISPARITY IN NUMBERS BETWEEN THE EASTERN AND + WESTERN ARMIES--TERRIBLE CROWDING--SLAUGHTER OF MEN AT THE CREEK. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch29">CHAPTER XXIX.</a> + </h3> + <p> + SOME DISTINCTION BETWEEN SOLDIERLY DUTY AND MURDER--A PLOT TO ESCAPE-- IT + IS REVEALED AND FRUSTRATED. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch30">CHAPTER XXX.</a> + </h3> + <p> + JUNE--POSSIBILITIES OF A MURDEROUS CANNONADE--WHAT WAS PROPOSED TO BE DONE + IN THAT EVENT--A FALSE ALARM--DETERIORATION OF THE RATIONS-- FEARFUL + INCREASE OF MORTALITY. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch31">CHAPTER XXXI.</a> + </h3> + <p> + DYING BY INCHES--SEITZ, THE SLOW, AND HIS DEATH--STIGGALL AND EMERSON-- + RAVAGES ON THE SCURVY. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch32">CHAPTER XXXII.</a> + </h3> + <p> + “OLE BOO,” AND “OLE SOL, THE HAYMAKER"--A FETID, BURNING + DESERT--NOISOME WATER, AND THE EFFECTS OF DRINKING IT--STEALING SOFT SOAP. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch33">CHAPTER XXXIII.</a> + </h3> + <p> + “POUR PASSER LE TEMPS"--A SET OF CHESSMEN PROCURED UNDER + DIFFICULTIES-- RELIGIOUS SERVICES--THE DEVOTED PRIEST--WAR SONG. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch34">CHAPTER XXXIV.</a> + </h3> + <p> + MAGGOTS, LICE AND RAIDERS--PRACTICES OF THESE HUMAN VERMIN--PLUNDERING THE + SICK AND DYING--NIGHT ATTACKS, AND BATTLES BY DAY--HARD TIMES FOR THE + SMALL TRADERS. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch35">CHAPTER XXXV.</a> + </h3> + <p> + A COMMUNITY WITHOUT GOVERNMENT--FORMATION OF THE REGULATORS--RAIDERS + ATTACK KEY BUT ARE BLUFFED OFF--ASSAULT OF THE REGULATORS ON THE RAIDERS + --DESPERATE BATTLE--OVERTHROW OF THE RAIDERS. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch36">CHAPTER XXXVI.</a> + </h3> + <p> + WHY THE REGULATORS WERE NOT ASSISTED BY THE ENTIRE CAMP--PECULIARITIES OF + BOYS FROM DIFFERENT SECTIONS--HUNTING THE RAIDERS DOWN--EXPLOITS OF MY + LEFT-HANDED LIEUTENANT--RUNNING THE GAUNTLET. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch37">CHAPTER XXXVII.</a> + </h3> + <p> + THE EXECUTION--BUILDING THE SCAFFOLD--DOUBTS OF THE CAMP-CAPTAIN WIRZ + THINKS IT IS PROBABLY A RUSE TO FORCE THE STOCKADE--HIS PREPARATIONS + AGAINST SUCH AN ATTEMPT--ENTRANCE OF THE DOOMED ONES--THEY REALIZE THEIR + FATE--ONE MAKES A DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE--HIS RECAPTURE--INTENSE + EXCITEMENT--WIRZ ORDERS THE GUNS TO OPEN--FORTUNATELY THEY DO NOT--THE SIX + ARE HANGED--ONE BREAKS HIS ROPE--SCENE WHEN THE RAIDERS ARE CUT DOWN. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch38">CHAPTER XXXVIII.</a> + </h3> + <p> + AFTER THE EXECUTION--FORMATION OF A POLICE FORCE--ITS FIRST CHIEF-- + “SPANKING” AN OFFENDER. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch39">CHAPTER XXXIX.</a> + </h3> + <p> + JULY--THE PRISON BECOMES MORE CROWDED, THE WEATHER HOTTER, NATIONS POORER, + AND MORTALITY GREATER--SOME OF THE PHENOMENA OF SUFFERING AND DEATH. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch40">CHAPTER XL.</a> + </h3> + <p> + THE BATTLE OF THE 22D OF JULY--THE ARMS OF THE TENNESSEE ASSAULTED FRONT + AND REAR--DEATH OF GENERAL MCPHERSON--ASSUMPTION OF COMMAND BY GENERAL + LOGAN--RESULT OF THE BATTLE. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch41">CHAPTER XLI.</a> + </h3> + <p> + CLOTHING: ITS RAPID DETERIORATION, AND DEVICES TO REPLENISH IT--DESPERATE + EFFORTS TO COVER NAKEDNESS--“LITTLE RED CAP” AND HIS LETTER. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch42">CHAPTER XLII.</a> + </h3> + <p> + SOME FEATURES OF THE MORTALITY--PERCENTAGE OF DEATHS TO THOSE LIVING-- AN + AVERAGE MEAN ONLY STANDS THE MISERY THREE MONTHS--DESCRIPTION OF THE + PRISON AND THE CONDITION OF THE MEN THEREIN, BY A LEADING SCIENTIFIC MAN + OF THE SOUTH. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch43">CHAPTER XLIII.</a> + </h3> + <p> + DIFFICULTY OF EXERCISING--EMBARRASSMENTS OF A MORNING WALK--THE RIALTO OF + THE PRISON--CURSING THE SOUTHERN CONFEDERACY--THE STORY OF THE BATTLE OF + SPOTTSYLVANIA COURTHOUSE. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch44">CHAPTER XLIV.</a> + </h3> + <p> + REBEL MUSIC--SINGULAR LACK OF THE CREATIVE POWER AMONG THE SOUTHERNERS-- + CONTRAST WITH SIMILAR PEOPLE ELSEWHERE--THEIR FAVORITE MUSIC, AND WHERE IT + WAS BORROWED FROM--A FIFER WITH ONE TUNE. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch45">CHAPTER XLV.</a> + </h3> + <p> + AUGUST--NEEDLES STUCK IN PUMPKIN SEEDS--SOME PHENOMENA OF STARVATION-- + RIOTING IN REMEMBERED LUXURIES. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch46">CHAPTER XLVI.</a> + </h3> + <p> + SURLY BRITON--THE STOLID COURAGE THAT MAKES THE ENGLISH FLAG A BANNER OF + TRIUMPH--OUR COMPANY BUGLER, HIS CHARACTERISTICS AND HIS DEATH--URGENT + DEMAND FOR MECHANICS--NONE WANT TO GO--TREATMENT OF A REBEL SHOEMAKER-- + ENLARGEMENT OF THE STOCKADE--IT IS BROKEN BY A STORM-- THE WONDERFUL + SPRING. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch47">CHAPTER XLVII.</a> + </h3> + <p> + “SICK CALL,” AND THE SCENES THAT ACCOMPANIED IT--MUSTERING THE + LAME, HALT AND DISEASED AT THE SOUTH GATE--AN UNUSUALLY BAD CASE--GOING + OUT TO THE HOSPITAL--ACCOMMODATION AND TREATMENT OF THE PATIENTS + THERE--THE HORRIBLE SUFFERING IN THE GANGRENE WARD--BUNGLING AMPUTATIONS + BY BLUNDERING PRACTITIONERS--AFFECTION BETWEEN A SAILOR AND HIS WARD-- + DEATH OF MY COMRADE. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch48">CHAPTER XLVIII.</a> + </h3> + <p> + DETERMINATION TO ESCAPE--DIFFERENT PLANS AND THEIR MERITS--I PREFER THE + APPALACHICOLA ROUTE--PREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTURE--A HOT DAY--THE FENCE + PASSED SUCCESSFULLY PURSUED BY THE HOUNDS--CAUGHT-- RETURNED TO THE + STOCKADE. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch49">CHAPTER XLIX.</a> + </h3> + <p> + AUGUST--GOOD LUCK IN NOT MEETING CAPTAIN WIRZ--THAT WORTHY'S + TREATMENT OF RECAPTURED PRISONERS--SECRET SOCIETIES IN PRISON--SINGULAR + MEETING AND ITS RESULT--DISCOVERY AND REMOVAL OF THE OFFICERS AMONG THE + ENLISTED MEN. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch50">CHAPTER L</a> + </h3> + <p> + FOOD--THE MEAGERNESS, INFERIOR QUALITY, AND TERRIBLE SAMENESS-- REBEL + TESTIMONY ON THE SUBJECT--FUTILITY OF SUCCESSFUL EXPLANATION. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch51">CHAPTER LI.</a> + </h3> + <p> + SOLICITUDE AS TO THE FATE OF ATLANTA AND SHERMAN'S ARMY--PAUCITY OF + NEWS --HOW WE HEARD THAT ATLANTA HAD FALLEN--ANNOUNCEMENT OF A GENERAL + EXCHANGE--WE LEAVE ANDERSONVILLE. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch52">CHAPTER LII.</a> + </h3> + <p> + SAVANNAH--DEVICES TO OBTAIN MATERIALS FOR A TENT--THEIR ULTIMATE SUCCESS + --RESUMPTION OF TUNNELING--ESCAPING BY WHOLESALE AND BEING RECAPTURED EN + MASSE--THE OBSTACLES THAT LAY BETWEEN US AND OUR LINES. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch53">CHAPTER LIII.</a> + </h3> + <p> + FRANK REVERSTOCK'S ATTEMPT AT ESCAPE--PASSING OFF AS REBEL BOY HE + REACHES GRISWOLDVILLE BY RAIL, AND THEN STRIKES ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR + SHERMAN, BUT IS CAUGHT WITHIN TWENTY MILES OF OUR LINES. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch54">CHAPTER LIV.</a> + </h3> + <p> + SAVANNAH PROVES TO BE A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER--ESCAPE FROM THE BRATS OF + GUARDS--COMPARISON BETWEEN WIRZ AND DAVIS--A BRIEF INTERVAL OF GOOD + RATIONS--WINDER, THE MAN WITH THE EVIL EYE-- THE DISLOYAL WORK OF A + SHYSTER. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch55">CHAPTER LV.</a> + </h3> + <p> + WHY WE WERE HURRIED OUT OF ANDERSONVILLE--THE OF THE FALL OF ATLANTA-- OUR + LONGING TO HEAR THE NEWS--ARRIVAL OF SOME FRESH FISH--HOW WE KNEW THEY + WERE WESTERN BOYS--DIFFERENCE IN THE APPEARANCE OF THE SOLDIERS OF THE TWO + ARMIES. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch56">CHAPTER LVI.</a> + </h3> + <p> + WHAT CAUSED THE FALL OF ATLANTA--A DISSERTATION UPON AN IMPORTANT + PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEM--THE BATTLE OF JONESBORO--WHY IT WAS FOUGHT-- HOW + SHERMAN DECEIVED HOOD--A DESPERATE BAYONET CHARGE, AND THE ONLY SUCCESSFUL + ONE IN THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN--A GALLANT COLONEL AND HOW HE DIED--THE + HEROISM OF SOME ENLISTED MEN--GOING CALMLY INTO CERTAIN DEATH. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch57">CHAPTER LVII.</a> + </h3> + <p> + A FAIR SACRIFICE--THE STORY OF ONE BOY WHO WILLINGLY GAVE HIS YOUNG LIFE + FOR HIS COUNTRY. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch58">CHAPTER LVIII.</a> + </h3> + <p> + WE LEAVE SAVANNAH--MORE HOPES OF EXCHANGE--SCENES AT DEPARTURE-- “FLANKERS"--ON + THE BACK TRACK TOWARD ANDERSONVILLE--ALARM THEREAT-- AT THE PARTING OF TWO + WAYS--WE FINALLY BRING UP AT CAMP LAWTON. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch59">CHAPTER LIX.</a> + </h3> + <p> + OUR NEW QUARTERS AT CAMP LAWTON--BUILDING A HUT--AN EXCEPTIONAL + COMMANDANT--HE IS a GOOD MAN, BUT WILL TAKE BRIBES--RATIONS. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch60">CHAPTER LX.</a> + </h3> + <p> + THE RAIDERS REAPPEAR ON THE SCENE--THE ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE THOSE WHO + WERE CONCERNED IN THE EXECUTION--A COUPLE OF LIVELY FIGHTS, IN WHICH THE + RAIDERS ARE DEFEATED--HOLDING AN ELECTION. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch61">CHAPTER LXI.</a> + </h3> + <p> + THE REBELS FORMALLY PROPOSE TO US TO DESERT TO THEM--CONTUMELIOUS + TREATMENT OF THE PROPOSITION--THEIR RAGE--AN EXCITING TIME--AN OUTBREAK + THREATENED--DIFFICULTIES ATTENDING DESERTION TO THE REBELS. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch62">CHAPTER LXII.</a> + </h3> + <p> + SERGEANT LEROY L. KEY--HIS ADVENTURES SUBSEQUENT TO THE EXECUTIONS-- HE + GOES OUTSIDE AT ANDERSONVILLE ON PAROLE--LABORS IN THE COOK-HOUSE-- + ATTEMPTS TO ESCAPE--IS RECAPTURED AND TAKEN TO MACON--ESCAPES FROM THERE, + BUT IS COMPELLED TO RETURN--IS FINALLY EXCHANGED AT SAVANNAH. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch63">CHAPTER LXIII.</a> + </h3> + <p> + DREARY WEATHER--THE COLD RAINS DISTRESS ALL AND KILL HUNDREDS--EXCHANGE OF + TEN THOUSAND SICK--CAPTAIN BOWES TURNS A PRETTY, BUT NOT VERY HONEST, + PENNY. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch64">CHAPTER LXIV</a> + </h3> + <p> + ANOTHER REMOVAL--SHERMAN'S ADVANCE SCARES THE REBELS INTO RUNNING US + AWAY FROM MILLEN--WE ARE TAKEN TO SAVANNAH, AND THENCE DOWN THE ATLANTIC + & GULF ROAD TO BLACKSHEAR + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch65">CHAPTER LXV.</a> + </h3> + <p> + BLACKSHEAR AND PIERCE COUNTRY--WE TAKE UP NEW QUARTERS, BUT ARE CALLED OUT + FOR EXCHANGE--EXCITEMENT OVER SIGNING THE PAROLE--A HAPPY JOURNEY TO + SAVANNAH--GRIEVOUS DISAPPOINTMENT + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch66">CHAPTER LXVI.</a> + </h3> + <p> + SPECIMEN CONVERSATION WITH AN AVERAGE NATIVE GEORGIAN--WE LEARN THAT + SHERMAN IS HEADING FOR SAVANNAH--THE RESERVES GET A LITTLE SETTLING DOWN. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch67">CHAPTER LXVII.</a> + </h3> + <p> + OFF TO CHARLESTON--PASSING THROUGH THE RICE SWAMPS--TWO EXTREMES OF + SOCIETY--ENTRY INTO CHARLESTON--LEISURELY WARFARE--SHELLING THE CITY AT + REGULAR INTERVALS--WE CAMP IN A MASS OF RUINS--DEPARTURE FOR FLORENCE. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch68">CHAPTER LXVIII.</a> + </h3> + <p> + FIRST DAYS AT FLORENCE--INTRODUCTION TO LIEUTENANT BARRETT, THE RED- + HEADED KEEPER--A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF OUR NEW QUARTERS--WINDERS MALIGN + INFLUENCE MANIFEST. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch69">CHAPTER LXIX.</a> + </h3> + <p> + BARRETT'S INSANE CRUELTY--HOW HE PUNISHED THOSE ALLEGED TO BE + ENGAGED IN TUNNELING--THE MISERY IN THE STOCKADE--MEN'S LIMBS + ROTTING OFF WITH DRY GANGRENE. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch70">CHAPTER LXX.</a> + </h3> + <p> + HOUSE AND CLOTHES--EFFORTS TO ERECT A SUITABLE RESIDENCE--DIFFICULTIES + ATTENDING THIS--VARIETIES OF FLORENTINE ARCHITECTURE--WAITING FOR DEAD MEN'S + CLOTHES--CRAVING FOR TOBACCO. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch71">CHAPTER LXXI.</a> + </h3> + <p> + DECEMBER--RATIONS OF WOOD AND FOOD GROW LESS DAILY--UNCERTAINTY AS TO THE + MORTALITY AT FLORENCE--EVEN THE GOVERNMENT'S STATISTICS ARE VERY + DEFICIENT--CARE FOB THE SICK. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch72">CHAPTER LXXII.</a> + </h3> + <p> + DULL WINTER DAYS--TOO WEAK AND TOO STUPID To AMUSE OURSELVES--ATTEMPTS OF + THE REBELS TO RECRUIT US INTO THEIR ARMY--THE CLASS OF MEN THEY OBTAINED + --VENGEANCE ON “THE GALVANIZED"--A SINGULAR EXPERIENCE--RARE + GLIMPSES OF FUN--INABILITY OF THE REBELS TO COUNT. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch73">CHAPTER LXXIII.</a> + </h3> + <p> + CHRISTMAS--AND THE WAY THE WAS PASSED--THE DAILY ROUTINE OF RATION + DRAWING--SOME PECULIARITIES OF LIVING AND DYING. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch74">CHAPTER LXXIV.</a> + </h3> + <p> + NEW YEAR'S DAY--DEATH OF JOHN H. WINDER--HE DIES ON HIS WAY TO A + DINNER --SOMETHING AS TO CHARACTER AND CAREER--ONE OF THE WORST MEN THAT + EVER LIVED. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch75">CHAPTER LXXV.</a> + </h3> + <p> + ONE INSTANCE OF A SUCCESSFUL ESCAPE--THE ADVENTURES OF SERGEANT WALTER + HARTSOUGH, OF COMPANY K, SIXTEENTH ILLINOIS CAVALRY--HE GETS AWAY FROM THE + REBELS AT THOMASVILLE, AND AFTER A TOILSOME AND DANGEROUS JOURNEY OF + SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES, REACHES OUR LINES IN FLORIDA. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch76">CHAPTER LXXVI</a> + </h3> + <p> + THE PECULIAR TYPE OF INSANITY PREVALENT AT FLORENCE--BARRETT'S + WANTONNESS OF CRUELTY--WE LEARN OF SHERMAN'S ADVANCE INTO SOUTH + CAROLINA--THE REBELS BEGIN MOVING THE PRISONERS AWAY--ANDREWS AND I CHANGE + OUR TACTICS, AND STAY BEHIND--ARRIVAL OF FIVE PRISONERS FROM SHERMAN'S + COMMAND--THEIR UNBOUNDED CONFIDENCE IN SHERMAN'S SUCCESS, AND ITS + BENEFICIAL EFFECT UPON US. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch77">CHAPTER LXXVII</a> + </h3> + <p> + FRUITLESS WAITING FOR SHERMAN--WE LEAVE FLORENCE--INTELLIGENCE OF THE FALL + OF WILMINGTON COMMUNICATED TO US BY A SLAVE--THE TURPENTINE REGION OF + NORTH CAROLINA--WE COME UPON A REBEL LINE OF BATTLE--YANKEES AT BOTH ENDS + OF THE ROAD. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch78">CHAPTER LXXVIII.</a> + </h3> + <p> + RETURN TO FLORENCE AND A SHORT SOJOURN THERE--OFF TOWARDS WILMINGTON + AGAIN--CRUISING A REBEL OFFICER'S LUNCH--SIGNS OF APPROACHING OUR + LINES --TERROR OF OUR RASCALLY GUARDS--ENTRANCE INTO GOD'S COUNTRY + AT LAST. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch79">CHAPTER LXXIX.</a> + </h3> + <p> + GETTING USED TO FREEDOM--DELIGHTS OF A LAND WHERE THERE IS ENOUGH OF + EVERYTHING--FIRST GLIMPSE OF THE OLD FLAG--WILMINGTON AND ITS HISTORY + --LIEUTENANT CUSHING--FIRST ACQUAINTANCE WITH THE COLORED TROOPS--LEAVING + FOR HOME--DESTRUCTION OF THE “THORN” BY A TORPEDO--THE MOCK + MONITOR'S ACHIEVEMENT. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch80">CHAPTER LXXX</a> + </h3> + <p> + VISIT TO FORT FISHER, AND INSPECTION OF THAT STRONGHOLD--THE WAY IT WAS + CAPTURED--OUT ON THE OCEAN SAILING--TERRIBLY SEASICK--RAPID RECOVERY-- + ARRIVAL AT ANNAPOLIS--WASHED, CLOTHED AND FED--UNBOUNDED LUXURY, AND DAYS + OF UNADULTERATED HAPPINESS. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch82">CHAPTER LXXXII.</a> + </h3> + <p> + CAPTAIN WIRZ THE ONLY ONE OF THE PRISON-KEEPERS PUNISHED--HIS ARREST, + TRIAL AND EXECUTION. + </p> + <h3> + <a href="#ch83">CHAPTER LXXXIII.</a> + </h3> + <p> + THE RESPONSIBILITY--WHO WAS TO BLAME FOR ALL THE MISERY--AN EXAMINATION OF + THE FLIMSY EXCUSES MADE FOR THE REBELS--ONE DOCUMENT THAT CONVICTS + THEM--WHAT IS DESIRED. <br><br> + </p> + <hr> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> <a name="ILLUSTRATIONS" id="ILLUSTRATIONS"></a> + </p> + <h2> + LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + </h2> + <blockquote> + <p> + (The Skipped Numbers were drawings unsuitable for copying.)<br> <br><a + href="#p000">1. Frontpiece</a> <br><a href="#p032">2. “War"</a> + <br><a href="#p033">8. Cumberland Gap, Looking Eastward</a> <br><a + href="#p038">4. A Cavalry Squad</a> <br><a href="#p040">5. The 'Rebels + Marching Through Jonesville</a> <br><a href="#p042">6. 'Leven + Yards Killing the Rebel</a> <br><a href="#p046">7. A Scared Mule Driver</a> + <br><a href="#p050">8. Bugler Sounding “Taps"</a> <br><a + href="#p054">9. Company L Gathering to Meet the Rebel Attack</a> <br><a + href="#p059">10. The Major Refuses to Surrender</a> <br><a href="#p063">11. + Ned Johnson Trying to Kill the Rebel Colonel</a> <br><a href="#p067">12. + Girls Astonished at the Jacket Tabs</a> <br><a href="#p075">14. An East + Tennesseean</a> <br><a href="#p077">15. A Rebel Dandy</a> <br><a + href="#p080">17. Turner in Quest of British Gold</a> <br><a href="#p084">18. + Barnacle backs Discouraging a Visit from a Soldier</a> <br><a + href="#p086">19. Ross Calling the Roll</a> <br><a href="#p091">20. An + Evening's Amusement with the Guards</a> <br><a href="#p102">21. + Prisoners' Culinary Outfit</a> <br><a href="#p103">23. Skimming, + the Bugs From My Soup</a> <br><a href="#p104">23. “Spooning"</a> + <br><a href="#p105">24. A Richmond News Boy</a> <br><a href="#p106">25. + “Say, Guard: Do You Want to Buy Some Greenbacks?"</a> <br><a + href="#p111">26. A “N'Yaarker"</a> <br><a href="#p115">27. + Decoying Boisseux's Dog to Its Death</a> <br><a href="#p117">28. + The Dead Scotchman</a> <br><a href="#p123">29. Map of Georgia, South + Carolina and part of North Carolina</a> <br><a href="#p130">30. Cooking + Rations</a> <br><a href="#p132">31. General John W. Winder</a> <br><a + href="#p135">32. A Field hand</a> <br><a href="#p139">33. Scaling the + Stockade </a> <br><a href="#p143">34. Captain llenri Wirz</a> <br><a + href="#p147">35. The Prize-fight for the Skillet</a> <br><a href="#p165">36. + Killing Lice by Singeing</a> <br><a href="#p167">37. Stripping the Dead + for Clothes</a> <br><a href="#p169">38. A Plymouth Pilgrim</a> <br><a + href="#p172">40. Midnight Attack of the Raiders</a> <br><a href="#p176">41. + Ignominious End of a Tunnel Enterprize</a> <br><a href="#p177">42. + Tunneling</a> <br><a href="#p179">43. Tattooing the Tunnel Traitor</a> + <br><a href="#p182">44. Overpowering a Guard</a> <br><a href="#p184">45. + A Master of the Hounds</a> <br><a href="#p185">46. Hounds Tearing a + Prisoner</a> <br><a href="#p189">47. Shot at the Creek by the Guard</a> + <br><a href="#p199">48. Cooking Mush</a> <br><a href="#p201">49. Seitz + on Horseback</a> <br><a href="#p203">50. Finding Seitz Dead</a> <br><a + href="#p205">51. A Case of Scurvy</a> <br><a href="#p211">52. + Confiscating Soft Soap</a> <br><a href="#p215">63. Religious Services</a> + <br><a href="#p216">54. The Priest Anointing the Dying</a> <br><a + href="#p223">55. Raider Fight with one of Ellett's Marine Brigade</a> + <br><a href="#p228">56. Key Bluffing His Would-be Assassins</a> <br><a + href="#p231">67. Rebel Artillerists Training the Cannon on the Prison</a> + <br><a href="#p232">58. Overthrow of the Raiders</a> <br><a + href="#p237">59. Arrest of Pete Donnelly</a> <br><a href="#p240">60. + Death of the Sailor</a> <br><a href="#p245">61. Execution of the + Raiders</a> <br><a href="#p253">63. Sergeant A. R, Hill, 100th O. V. I.</a> + <br><a href="#p256">63. “Spanking” a Thief</a> <br><a + href="#p261">64. The Wounded Illinois Sergeant</a> <br><a href="#p262">65. + The Idiotic Flute-Player</a> <br><a href="#p268">66. One of Sherman's + “Veterans"</a> <br><a href="#p270">67. “You Hear Me"</a> + <br><a href="#p273">68. Logan Taking Command of the Army of the + Tennessee</a> <br><a href="#p276">69. Death of M'Pherson</a> + <br><a href="#p278">70. The Work of a Shell</a> <br><a href="#p281">71. + The Fight for the Flag</a> <br><a href="#p283">72. In the Rifle-pit + After the Battle</a> <br><a href="#p285">73. Taken In</a> <br><a + href="#p287">74. The Author's Appearance on Entering Prison</a> + <br><a href="#p288">75. His Appearance in July, 1864</a> <br><a + href="#p291">76. Little Red Cap</a> <br><a href="#p293">77. “Fresh + Fish"</a> <br><a href="#p295">78. Interior of the Stockade, Viewed from + the Southwest</a> <br><a href="#p307">79. Burying the Dead</a> <br><a + href="#p312">80. The Graveyard at Andersonville, as the Rebels Left It</a> + <br><a href="#p325">81. Denouncing the Southern Confederacy</a> <br><a + href="#p328">82. The Charge</a> <br><a href="#p338">83. “Flagstaff"</a> + <br><a href="#p339">84. Nursing a Sick Comrade</a> <br><a href="#p344">65. + A Dream</a> <br><a href="#p346">86. The English Bugler</a> <br><a + href="#p351">87. The Break in the Stockade</a> <br><a href="#p353">88. + At the Spring</a> <br><a href="#p356">89. Morning Assemblage of Sick at + the South Gate</a> <br><a href="#p361">91. Old Sailor and Chicken</a> + <br><a href="#p363">92. Death of Watts</a> <br><a href="#p365">93. + Planning Escape</a> <br><a href="#p370">94. Our Progress was Terribly + Slow--Every Step Hurt Fearfully</a> <br><a href="#p372">95. “Come + Ashore, There, Quick"</a> <br><a href="#p375">96. He Shrieked + Imprecations and Curses</a> <br><a href="#p376">97. The Chain Gang</a> + <br><a href="#p386">98. Interior of the Stockade--The Creek at the East + Side</a> <br><a href="#p389">99. A Section from the East Side of the + Prison Showing the Dead Line</a> <br><a href="#p395">100. “Half-past + Eight O'clock, and Atlanta's Gone to H--l!”</a> <br><a + href="#p397">101. Off for “God's Country"</a> <br><a + href="#p399">102. Georgian Development of the “Proud Caucasian"</a> + <br><a href="#p405">103. It was Very Unpleasant When a Storm Came Up</a> + <br><a href="#p406">104. When We Matched Our Intellects Against a Rebel's</a> + <br><a href="#p410">107. His New Idea was to have a Heavily Laden Cart + Driven Around Inside the Dead Line</a> <br><a href="#p411">108. They + Stood Around the Gate and Yelled Derisively</a> <br><a href="#p413">110. + “See Heah; You Must Stand Back!”</a> <br><a href="#p415">111. + He Bade Them Goodbye</a> <br><a href="#p422">112. “Wha-ah-ye!”</a> + <br><a href="#p445">114. One of Ferguson's Cavalry</a> <br><a + href="#p448">115. Then the Clear Blue Eyes and Well-remembered Smile</a> + <br><a href="#p454">117. Millen</a> <br><a href="#p457">118. A House + Builded With Our Own Own Hands</a> <br><a href="#p459">119. Our First + Meat</a> <br><a href="#p463">120. A Lucky Find</a> <br><a href="#p472">121. + Sergeant L. L. Key</a> <br><a href="#p482">124. “Where Are You + Going, You D--d Yank?"</a> <br><a href="#p506">127. “Who Mout + These Be?"</a> <br><a href="#p509">128. A Roadside View</a> <br><a + href="#p510">129. The Charleston & Savannah Railroad</a> <br><a + href="#p514">131. A Rice Field Girl</a> <br><a href="#p515">132. A Rice + Swamp</a> <br><a href="#p518">133. A Scene in the “Burnt + District"</a> <br><a href="#p519">134. The Part Where We Lay Was a Mass + of Ruins</a> <br><a href="#p521">135. Ruins of St. Finbar Cathedral</a> + <br><a href="#p523">136. The Unlucky Negro Fell, Pierced by a Score of + Bullets</a> <br><a href="#p530">137. Recapture of the Runaways</a> + <br><a href="#p536">139. “Take These Shears and Cut My Toes Off"</a> + <br><a href="#p545">140. Corporal John W. January</a> <br><a + href="#p594">142. Andrews Managed to Fish Out the Bag and Pass to Me + Three Roasted Chickens</a> <br><a href="#p600">143. In God's + Country at Last</a> <br><a href="#p603">144. Map of Wilmington and + Neighborhood</a> <br><a href="#p617">148. The Infantry Assault on Fort + Fisher</a> <br><a href="#p624">149. They Removed Every Trace of Prison + Grime</a> <br><a href="#p642">152. Trial of Captain Wirz</a> <br><a + href="#p643">153. Execution of Captain Wirz</a> <br><a href="#p655">154. + “Peace"</a> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="INTRODUCTION" id="INTRODUCTION">INTRODUCTION.</a> + </h2> + <p> + The fifth part of a century almost has sped with the flight of time since + the outbreak of the Slaveholder's Rebellion against the United + States. The young men of to-day were then babes in their cradles, or, if + more than that, too young to be appalled by the terror of the times. Those + now graduating from our schools of learning to be teachers of youth and + leaders of public thought, if they are ever prepared to teach the history + of the war for the Union so as to render adequate honor to its martyrs and + heroes, and at the same time impress the obvious moral to be drawn from + it, must derive their knowledge from authors who can each one say of the + thrilling story he is spared to tell: “All of which I saw, and part + of which I was.” + </p> + <p> + The writer is honored with the privilege of introducing to the reader a + volume written by an author who was an actor and a sufferer in the scenes + he has so vividly and faithfully described, and sent forth to the public + by a publisher whose literary contributions in support of the loyal cause + entitle him to the highest appreciation. Both author and publisher have + had an honorable and efficient part in the great struggle, and are + therefore worthy to hand down to the future a record of the perils + encountered and the sufferings endured by patriotic soldiers in the + prisons of the enemy. The publisher, at the beginning of the war, entered, + with zeal and ardor upon the work of raising a company of men, intending + to lead them to the field. Prevented from carrying out this design, his + energies were directed to a more effective service. His famous “Nasby + Letters” exposed the absurd and sophistical argumentations of rebels + and their sympathisers, in such broad, attractive and admirable burlesque, + as to direct against them the “loud, long laughter of a world!” + The unique and telling satire of these papers became a power and + inspiration to our armies in the field and to their anxious friends at + home, more than equal to the might of whole battalions poured in upon the + enemy. An athlete in logic may lay an error writhing at his feet, and + after all it may recover to do great mischief. But the sharp wit of the + humorist drives it before the world's derision into shame and + everlasting contempt. These letters were read and shouted over gleefully + at every camp-fire in the Union Army, and eagerly devoured by crowds of + listeners when mails were opened at country post-offices. Other humorists + were content when they simply amused the reader, but “Nasby's” + jests were arguments—they had a meaning—they were suggested by the + necessities and emergencies of the Nation's peril, and written to + support, with all earnestness, a most sacred cause. + </p> + <p> + The author, when very young, engaged in journalistic work, until the drum + of the recruiting officer called him to join the ranks of his country's + defenders. As the reader is told, he was made a prisoner. He took with him + into the terrible prison enclosure not only a brave, vigorous, youthful + spirit, but invaluable habits of mind and thought for storing up the + incidents and experiences of his prison life. As a journalist he had + acquired the habit of noticing and memorizing every striking or thrilling + incident, and the experiences of his prison life were adapted to enstamp + themselves indelibly on both feeling and memory. He speaks from personal + experience and from the stand-paint of tender and complete sympathy with + those of his comrades who suffered more than he did himself. Of his + qualifications, the writer of these introductory words need not speak. The + sketches themselves testify to his ability with such force that no + commendation is required. + </p> + <p> + This work is needed. A generation is arising who do not know what the + preservation of our free government cost in blood and suffering. Even the + men of the passing generation begin to be forgetful, if we may judge from + the recklessness or carelessness of their political action. The soldier is + not always remembered nor honored as he should be. But, what to the future + of the great Republic is more important, there is great danger of our + people under-estimating the bitter animus and terrible malignity to the + Union and its defenders cherished by those who made war upon it. This is a + point we can not afford to be mistaken about. And yet, right at this point + this volume will meet its severest criticism, and at this point its + testimony is most vital and necessary. + </p> + <p> + Many will be slow to believe all that is here told most truthfully of the + tyranny and cruelty of the captors of our brave boys in blue. There are no + parallels to the cruelties and malignities here described in Northern + society. The system of slavery, maintained for over two hundred years at + the South, had performed a most perverting, morally desolating, and we + might say, demonizing work on the dominant race, which people bred under + our free civilization can not at once understand, nor scarcely believe + when it is declared unto them. This reluctance to believe unwelcome truths + has been the snare of our national life. We have not been willing to + believe how hardened, despotic, and cruel the wielders of irresponsible + power may become. + </p> + <p> + When the anti-slavery reformers of thirty years ago set forth the + cruelties of the slave system, they were met with a storm of indignant + denial, villification and rebuke. When Theodore D. Weld issued his “Testimony + of a Thousand Witnesses,” to the cruelty of slavery, he introduced + it with a few words, pregnant with sound philosophy, which can be applied + to the work now introduced, and may help the reader better to accept and + appreciate its statements. Mr. Weld said: + </p> + <p> + “Suppose I should seize you, rob you of your liberty, drive you into + the field, and make you work without pay as long as you lived. Would that + be justice? Would it be kindness? Or would it be monstrous injustice and + cruelty? Now, is the man who robs you every day too tender-hearted ever to + cuff or kick you? He can empty your pockets without remorse, but if your + stomach is empty, it cuts him to the quick. He can make you work a + life-time without pay, but loves you too well to let you go hungry. He + fleeces you of your rights with a relish, but is shocked if you work + bare-headed in summer, or without warm stockings in winter. He can make + you go without your liberty, but never without a shirt. He can crush in + you all hope of bettering your condition by vowing that you shall die his + slave, but though he can thus cruelly torture your feelings, he will never + lacerate your back—he can break your heart, but is very tender of + your skin. He can strip you of all protection of law, and all comfort in + religion, and thus expose you to all outrages, but if you are exposed to + the weather, half-clad and half-sheltered, how yearn his tender bowels! + What! talk of a man treating you well while robbing you of all you get, + and as fast as you get it? And robbing you of yourself, too, your hands + and feet, your muscles, limbs and senses, your body and mind, your liberty + and earnings, your free speech and rights of conscience, your right to + acquire knowledge, property and reputation, and yet you are content to + believe without question that men who do all this by their slaves have + soft hearts oozing out so lovingly toward their human chattles that they + always keep them well housed and well clad, never push them too hard in + the field, never make their dear backs smart, nor let their dear stomachs + get empty!” + </p> + <p> + In like manner we may ask, are not the cruelties and oppressions described + in the following pages what we should legitimately expect from men who, + all their lives, have used whip and thumb-screw, shot-gun and bloodhound, + to keep human beings subservient to their will? Are we to expect nothing + but chivalric tenderness and compassion from men who made war on a + tolerant government to make more secure their barbaric system of + oppression? + </p> + <p> + These things are written because they are true. Duty to the brave dead, to + the heroic living, who have endured the pangs of a hundred deaths for + their country's sake; duty to the government which depends on the + wisdom and constancy of its good citizens for its support and perpetuity, + calls for this “round, unvarnished tale” of suffering endured + for freedom's sake. + </p> + <p> + The publisher of this work urged his friend and associate in journalism to + write and send forth these sketches because the times demanded just such + an expose of the inner hell of the Southern prisons. The tender mercies of + oppressors are cruel. We must accept the truth and act in view of it. + Acting wisely on the warnings of the past, we shall be able to prevent + treason, with all its fearful concomitants, from being again the scourge + and terror of our beloved land. + </p> + <p> + ROBERT + McCUNE. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="AUTHOR_PREFACE" id="AUTHOR_PREFACE"></a>AUTHOR'S PREFACE + </h2> + <p> + Fifteen months ago—and one month before it was begun—I had no + more idea of writing this book than I have now of taking up my residence + in China. + </p> + <p> + While I have always been deeply impressed with the idea that the public + should know much more of the history of Andersonville and other Southern + prisons than it does, it had never occurred to me that I was in any way + charged with the duty of increasing that enlightenment. + </p> + <p> + No affected deprecation of my own abilities had any part is this. I + certainly knew enough of the matter, as did every other boy who had even a + month's experience in those terrible places, but the very magnitude + of that knowledge overpowered me, by showing me the vast requirements of + the subject-requirements that seemed to make it presumption for any but + the greatest pens in our literature to attempt the work. One day at + Andersonville or Florence would be task enough for the genius of Carlyle + or Hugo; lesser than they would fail preposterously to rise to the level + of the theme. No writer ever described such a deluge of woes as swept over + the unfortunates confined in Rebel prisons in the last year-and-a-half of + the Confederacy's life. No man was ever called upon to describe the + spectacle and the process of seventy thousand young, strong, able-bodied + men, starving and rotting to death. Such a gigantic tragedy as this stuns + the mind and benumbs the imagination. + </p> + <p> + I no more felt myself competent to the task than to accomplish one of + Michael Angelo's grand creations in sculpture or painting. + </p> + <p> + Study of the subject since confirms me in this view, and my only claim for + this book is that it is a contribution—a record of individual + observation and experience—which will add something to the material + which the historian of the future will find available for his work. + </p> + <p> + The work was begun at the suggestion of Mr. D. R. Locke, (Petroleum V. + Nasby), the eminent political satirist. At first it was only intended to + write a few short serial sketches of prison life for the columns of the + TOLEDO BLADE. The exceeding favor with which the first of the series was + received induced a great widening of their scope, until finally they took + the range they now have. + </p> + <p> + I know that what is contained herein will be bitterly denied. I am + prepared for this. In my boyhood I witnessed the savagery of the Slavery + agitation—in my youth I felt the fierceness of the hatred directed + against all those who stood by the Nation. I know that hell hath no fury + like the vindictiveness of those who are hurt by the truth being told of + them. I apprehend being assailed by a sirocco of contradiction and + calumny. But I solemnly affirm in advance the entire and absolute truth of + every material fact, statement and description. I assert that, so far from + there being any exaggeration in any particular, that in no instance has + the half of the truth been told, nor could it be, save by an inspired pen. + I am ready to demonstrate this by any test that the deniers of this may + require, and I am fortified in my position by unsolicited letters from + over 3,000 surviving prisoners, warmly indorsing the account as thoroughly + accurate in every respect. + </p> + <p> + It has been charged that hatred of the South is the animus of this work. + Nothing can be farther from the truth. No one has a deeper love for every + part of our common country than I, and no one to-day will make more + efforts and sacrifices to bring the South to the same plane of social and + material development with the rest of the Nation than I will. If I could + see that the sufferings at Andersonville and elsewhere contributed in any + considerable degree to that end, and I should not regret that they had + been. Blood and tears mark every step in the progress of the race, and + human misery seems unavoidable in securing human advancement. But I am + naturally embittered by the fruitlessness, as well as the uselessness of + the misery of Andersonville. There was never the least military or other + reason for inflicting all that wretchedness upon men, and, as far as + mortal eye can discern, no earthly good resulted from the martyrdom of + those tens of thousands. I wish I could see some hope that their wantonly + shed blood has sown seeds that will one day blossom, and bear a rich + fruitage of benefit to mankind, but it saddens me beyond expression that I + can not. + </p> + <p> + The years 1864-5 were a season of desperate battles, but in that time many + more Union soldiers were slain behind the Rebel armies, by starvation and + exposure, than were killed in front of them by cannon and rifle. The + country has heard much of the heroism and sacrifices of those loyal youths + who fell on the field of battle; but it has heard little of the still + greater number who died in prison pen. It knows full well how grandly her + sons met death in front of the serried ranks of treason, and but little of + the sublime firmness with which they endured unto the death, all that the + ingenious cruelty of their foes could inflict upon them while in + captivity. + </p> + <p> + It is to help supply this deficiency that this book is written. It is a + mite contributed to the better remembrance by their countrymen of those + who in this way endured and died that the Nation might live. It is an + offering of testimony to future generations of the measureless cost of the + expiation of a national sin, and of the preservation of our national + unity. + </p> + <p> + This is all. I know I speak for all those still living comrades who went + with me through the scenes that I have attempted to describe, when I say + that we have no revenges to satisfy, no hatreds to appease. We do not ask + that anyone shall be punished. We only desire that the Nation shall + recognize and remember the grand fidelity of our dead comrades, and take + abundant care that they shall not have died in vain. + </p> + <p> + For the great mass of Southern people we have only the kindliest feeling. + We but hate a vicious social system, the lingering shadow of a darker age, + to which they yield, and which, by elevating bad men to power, has proved + their own and their country's bane. + </p> + <p> + The following story does not claim to be in any sense a history of + Southern prisons. It is simply a record of the experience of one + individual—one boy—who staid all the time with his comrades + inside the prison, and had no better opportunities for gaining information + than any other of his 60,000 companions. + </p> + <p> + The majority of the illustrations in this work are from the skilled pencil + of Captain O. J. Hopkins, of Toledo, who served through the war in the + ranks of the Forty-second Ohio. His army experience has been of peculiar + value to the work, as it has enabled him to furnish a series of + illustrations whose life-like fidelity of action, pose and detail are + admirable. + </p> + <p> + Some thirty of the pictures, including the frontispiece, and the + allegorical illustrations of War and Peace, are from the atelier of Mr. O. + Reich, Cincinnati, O. + </p> + <p> + A word as to the spelling: Having always been an ardent believer in the + reformation of our present preposterous system—or rather, no system—of + orthography, I am anxious to do whatever lies in my power to promote it. + In the following pages the spelling is simplified to the last degree + allowed by Webster. I hope that the time is near when even that advanced + spelling reformer will be left far in the rear by the progress of a people + thoroughly weary of longer slavery to the orthographical absurdities + handed down to us from a remote and grossly unlearned ancestry. <br> + </p> + <p> + Toledo, O., Dec. 10, 1879. + </p> + <p> + JOHN McELROY. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p032" id="p032"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p032.jpg (36K)" src="images/p032.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <table> + <tr> + <td> + <p> + We wait beneath the furnace blast + </p> + <p> + The pangs of transformation; + </p> + <p> + Not painlessly doth God recast + </p> + <p> + And mold anew the nation. + </p> + <p> + Hot burns the fire + </p> + <p> + Where wrongs expire; + </p> + <p> + Nor spares the hand + </p> + <p> + That from the land + </p> + <p> + Uproots the ancient evil. <br> + </p> + <p> + The hand-breadth cloud the sages feared + </p> + <p> + Its bloody rain is dropping; + </p> + <p> + The poison plant the fathers spared + </p> + <p> + All else is overtopping. + </p> + <p> + East, West, South, North, + </p> + <p> + It curses the earth; + </p> + <p> + All justice dies, + </p> + <p> + And fraud and lies + </p> + <p> + Live only in its shadow. <br> + </p> + <p> + Then let the selfish lip be dumb + </p> + <p> + And hushed the breath of sighing; + </p> + <p> + Before the joy of peace must come + </p> + <p> + The pains of purifying. + </p> + <p> + God give us grace + </p> + <p> + Each in his place + </p> + <p> + To bear his lot, + </p> + <p> + And, murmuring not, + </p> + <p> + Endure and wait and labor! + </p> + <p> + WHITTIER + </p> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br> <br><br><br><br> <a name="p033" id="p033"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p033.jpg (57K)" src="images/p033.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p class="xbig center"> + ANDERSONVILLE + <br> + A STORY OF REBEL MILITARY PRISONS + </p> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch1" id="ch1"></a>CHAPTER I. + </h2> + <p> + A STRANGE LAND—THE HEART OF THE APPALACHIANS—THE GATEWAY OF AN + EMPIRE —A SEQUESTERED VALE, AND A PRIMITIVE, ARCADIAN, + NON-PROGRESSIVE PEOPLE. + </p> + <p> + A low, square, plainly-hewn stone, set near the summit of the eastern + approach to the formidable natural fortress of Cumberland Gap, indicates + the boundaries of—the three great States of Virginia, Kentucky and + Tennessee. It is such a place as, remembering the old Greek and Roman + myths and superstitions, one would recognize as fitting to mark the + confines of the territories of great masses of strong, aggressive, and + frequently conflicting peoples. There the god Terminus should have had one + of his chief temples, where his shrine would be shadowed by barriers + rising above the clouds, and his sacred solitude guarded from the rude + invasion of armed hosts by range on range of battlemented rocks, crowning + almost inaccessible mountains, interposed across every approach from the + usual haunts of men. + </p> + <p> + Roundabout the land is full of strangeness and mystery. The throes of some + great convulsion of Nature are written on the face of the four thousand + square miles of territory, of which Cumberland Gap is the central point. + Miles of granite mountains are thrust up like giant walls, hundreds of + feet high, and as smooth and regular as the side of a monument. + </p> + <p> + Huge, fantastically-shaped rocks abound everywhere—sometimes rising + into pinnacles on lofty summits—sometimes hanging over the verge of + beetling cliffs, as if placed there in waiting for a time when they could + be hurled down upon the path of an advancing army, and sweep it away. + </p> + <p> + Large streams of water burst out in the most unexpected planes, frequently + far up mountain sides, and fall in silver veils upon stones beaten round + by the ceaseless dash for ages. Caves, rich in quaintly formed stalactites + and stalagmites, and their recesses filled with metallic salts of the most + powerful and diverse natures; break the mountain sides at frequent + intervals. Everywhere one is met by surprises and anomalies. Even the rank + vegetation is eccentric, and as prone to develop into bizarre forms as are + the rocks and mountains. + </p> + <p> + The dreaded panther ranges through the primeval, rarely trodden forests; + every crevice in the rocks has for tenants rattlesnakes or stealthy + copperheads, while long, wonderfully swift “blue racers” haunt + the edges of the woods, and linger around the fields to chill his blood + who catches a glimpse of their upreared heads, with their great, balefully + bright eyes, and “white-collar” encircled throats. + </p> + <p> + The human events happening here have been in harmony with the natural + ones. It has always been a land of conflict. In 1540—339 years ago + —De Soto, in that energetic but fruitless search for gold which + occupied his later years, penetrated to this region, and found it the + fastness of the Xualans, a bold, aggressive race, continually warring with + its neighbors. When next the white man reached the country—a century + and a half later—he found the Xualans had been swept away by the + conquering Cherokees, and he witnessed there the most sanguinary contest + between Indians of which our annals give any account—a pitched + battle two days in duration, between the invading Shawnees, who lorded it + over what is now Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana—and the Cherokees, who + dominated the country the southeast of the Cumberland range. Again the + Cherokees were victorious, and the discomfited Shawnees retired north of + the Gap. + </p> + <p> + Then the white man delivered battle for the possession the land, and + bought it with the lives of many gallant adventurers. Half a century later + Boone and his hardy companion followed, and forced their way into + Kentucky. + </p> + <p> + Another half century saw the Gap the favorite haunt of the greatest of + American bandits—the noted John A. Murrell—and his gang. They + infested the country for years, now waylaying the trader or drover + threading his toilsome way over the lone mountains, now descending upon + some little town, to plunder its stores and houses. + </p> + <p> + At length Murrell and his band were driven out, and sought a new field of + operations on the Lower Mississippi. They left germs behind them, however, + that developed into horse thieve counterfeiters, and later into guerrillas + and bushwhackers. + </p> + <p> + When the Rebellion broke out the region at once became the theater of + military operations. Twice Cumberland Gap was seized by the Rebels, and + twice was it wrested away from them. In 1861 it was the point whence + Zollicoffer launched out with his legions to “liberate Kentucky,” + and it was whither they fled, beaten and shattered, after the disasters of + Wild Cat and Mill Springs. In 1862 Kirby Smith led his army through the + Gap on his way to overrun Kentucky and invade the North. Three months + later his beaten forces sought refuge from their pursuers behind its + impregnable fortifications. Another year saw Burnside burst through the + Gap with a conquering force and redeem loyal East Tennessee from its Rebel + oppressors. + </p> + <p> + Had the South ever been able to separate from the North the boundary would + have been established along this line. + </p> + <p> + Between the main ridge upon which Cumberland Gap is situated, and the next + range on the southeast which runs parallel with it, is a narrow, long, + very fruitful valley, walled in on either side for a hundred miles by tall + mountains as a City street is by high buildings. It is called Powell's + Valley. In it dwell a simple, primitive people, shut out from the world + almost as much as if they lived in New Zealand, and with the speech, + manners and ideas that their fathers brought into the Valley when they + settled it a century ago. There has been but little change since then. The + young men who have annually driven cattle to the distant markets in + Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia, have brought back occasional stray bits + of finery for the “women folks,” and the latest improved + fire-arms for themselves, but this is about all the innovations the + progress of the world has been allowed to make. Wheeled vehicles are + almost unknown; men and women travel on horseback as they did a century + ago, the clothing is the product of the farm and the busy looms of the + women, and life is as rural and Arcadian as any ever described in a + pastoral. The people are rich in cattle, hogs, horses, sheep and the + products of the field. The fat soil brings forth the substantials of life + in opulent plenty. Having this there seems to be little care for more. + Ambition nor avarice, nor yet craving after luxury, disturb their + contented souls or drag them away from the non-progressive round of simple + life bequeathed them by their fathers. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch2" id="ch2"></a>CHAPTER II. + </h2> + <p> + SCARCITY OF FOOD FOR THE ARMY—RAID FOR FORAGE—ENCOUNTER WIT + THE REBELS —SHARP CAVALRY FIGHT—DEFEAT OF THE “JOHNNIES”—POWELL'S + VALLEY OPENED UP. + </p> + <p> + As the Autumn of 1863 advanced towards Winter the difficulty of supplying + the forces concentrated around Cumberland Gap—as well as the rest of + Burnside's army in East Tennessee—became greater and greater. + The base of supplies was at Camp Nelson, near Lexington, Ky., one hundred + and eighty miles from the Gap, and all that the Army used had to be hauled + that distance by mule teams over roads that, in their best state were + wretched, and which the copious rains and heavy traffic had rendered + well-nigh impassable. All the country to our possession had been drained + of its stock of whatever would contribute to the support of man or beast. + That portion of Powell's Valley extending from the Gap into Virginia + was still in the hands of the Rebels; its stock of products was as yet + almost exempt from military contributions. Consequently a raid was + projected to reduce the Valley to our possession, and secure its much + needed stores. It was guarded by the Sixty-fourth Virginia, a mounted + regiment, made up of the young men of the locality, who had then been in + the service about two years. + </p> + <p> + Maj. C. H. Beer's third Battalion, Sixteenth Illinois Cavalry—four + companies, each about 75 strong—was sent on the errand of driving + out the Rebels and opening up the Valley for our foraging teams. The + writer was invited to attend the excursion. As he held the honorable, but + not very lucrative position of “high, private” in Company L, + of the Battalion, and the invitation came from his Captain, he did not + feel at liberty to decline. He went, as private soldiers have been in the + habit of doing ever since the days of the old Centurion, who said with the + characteristic boastfulness of one of the lower grades of commissioned + officers when he happens to be a snob: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + For I am also a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I + say unto one, Go; and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and + to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + Rather “airy” talk that for a man who nowadays would take rank + with Captains of infantry. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p038" id="p038"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p038.jpg (51K)" src="images/p038.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + Three hundred of us responded to the signal of “boots and saddles,” + buckled on three hundred more or less trusty sabers and revolvers, saddled + three hundred more or less gallant steeds, came into line “as + companies” with the automatic listlessness of the old soldiers, + “counted off by fours” in that queer gamut-running style that + makes a company of men “counting off”—each shouting a + number in a different voice from his neighbor—sound like running the + scales on some great organ badly out of tune; something like this: + </p> + <p> + One. Two. Three. Four. One. Two. Three. Four. One. Two. Three. Four. + </p> + <p> + Then, as the bugle sounded “Right forward! fours right!” we + moved off at a walk through the melancholy mist that soaked through the + very fiber of man and horse, and reduced the minds of both to a condition + of limp indifference as to things past, present and future. + </p> + <p> + Whither we were going we knew not, nor cared. Such matters had long since + ceased to excite any interest. A cavalryman soon recognizes as the least + astonishing thing in his existence the signal to “Fall in!” + and start somewhere. He feels that he is the “Poor Joe” of the + Army—under perpetual orders to “move on.” + </p> + <p> + Down we wound over the road that zig-tagged through the forts, batteries + and rifle-pits covering the eastern ascent to the Flap-past the wonderful + Murrell Spring—so-called because the robber chief had killed, as he + stooped to drink of its crystal waters, a rich drover, whom he was + pretending to pilot through the mountains—down to where the “Virginia + road” turned off sharply to the left and entered Powell's + Valley. The mist had become a chill, dreary rain, through, which we + plodded silently, until night closed in around us some ten miles from the + Gap. As we halted to go into camp, an indignant Virginian resented the + invasion of the sacred soil by firing at one of the guards moving out to + his place. The guard looked at the fellow contemptuously, as if he hated + to waste powder on a man who had no better sense than to stay out in such + a rain, when he could go in-doors, and the bushwhacker escaped, without + even a return shot. + </p> + <p> + Fires were built, coffee made, horses rubbed, and we laid down with feet + to the fire to get what sleep we could. + </p> + <p> + Before morning we were awakened by the bitter cold. It had cleared off + during the night and turned so cold that everything was frozen stiff. This + was better than the rain, at all events. A good fire and a hot cup of + coffee would make the cold quite endurable. + </p> + <p> + At daylight the bugle sounded “Right forward! fours right!” + again, and the 300 of us resumed our onward plod over the rocky, + cedar-crowned hills. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p040" id="p040"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p040.jpg (54K)" src="images/p040.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + In the meantime, other things were taking place elsewhere. Our esteemed + friends of the Sixty-fourth Virginia, who were in camp at the little town + of Jonesville, about 40 miles from the Gap, had learned of our starting up + the Valley to drive them out, and they showed that warm reciprocity + characteristic of the Southern soldier, by mounting and starting down the + Valley to drive us out. Nothing could be more harmonious, it will be + perceived. Barring the trifling divergence of yews as to who was to drive + and who be driven, there was perfect accord in our ideas. + </p> + <p> + Our numbers were about equal. If I were to say that they considerably + outnumbered us, I would be following the universal precedent. No + soldier-high or low-ever admitted engaging an equal or inferior force of + the enemy. + </p> + <p> + About 9 o'clock in the morning—Sunday—they rode through + the streets of Jonesville on their way to give us battle. It was here that + most of the members of the Regiment lived. Every man, woman and child in + the town was related in some way to nearly every one of the soldiers. + </p> + <p> + The women turned out to wave their fathers, husbands, brothers and lovers + on to victory. The old men gathered to give parting counsel and + encouragement to their sons and kindred. The Sixty-fourth rode away to + what hope told them would be a glorious victory. + </p> + <p> + At noon we are still straggling along without much attempt at soldierly + order, over the rough, frozen hill-sides. It is yet bitterly cold, and men + and horses draw themselves together, as if to expose as little surface as + possible to the unkind elements. Not a word had been spoken by any one for + hours. + </p> + <p> + The head of the column has just reached the top of the hill, and the rest + of us are strung along for a quarter of a mile or so back. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly a few shots ring out upon the frosty air from the carbines of the + advance. The general apathy is instantly, replaced by keen attention, and + the boys instinctively range themselves into fours—the cavalry unit + of action. The Major, who is riding about the middle of the first Company—I—dashes + to the front. A glance seems to satisfy him, for he turns in his saddle + and his voice rings out: + </p> + <p> + “Company I! FOURS LEFT INTO LINE!—MARCH!!” + </p> + <p> + The Company swings around on the hill-top like a great, jointed toy snake. + As the fours come into line on a trot, we see every man draw his saber and + revolver. The Company raises a mighty cheer and dashes forward. + </p> + <p> + Company K presses forward to the ground Company I has just left, the fours + sweep around into line, the sabers and revolvers come out spontaneously, + the men cheer and the Company flings itself forward. + </p> + <p> + All this time we of Company L can see nothing except what the companies + ahead of us are doing. We are wrought up to the highest pitch. As Company + K clears its ground, we press forward eagerly. Now we go into line just as + we raise the hill, and as my four comes around, I catch a hurried glimpse + through a rift in the smoke of a line of butternut and gray clad men a + hundred yards or so away. Their guns are at their faces, and I see the + smoke and fire spurt from the muzzles. At the same instant our sabers and + revolvers are drawn. We shout in a frenzy of excitement, and the horses + spring forward as if shot from a bow. + </p> + <p> + I see nothing more until I reach the place where the Rebel line stood. + Then I find it is gone. Looking beyond toward the bottom of the hill, I + see the woods filled with Rebels, flying in disorder and our men yelling + in pursuit. This is the portion of the line which Companies I and K + struck. Here and there are men in butternut clothing, prone on the frozen + ground, wounded and dying. I have just time to notice closely one + middle-aged man lying almost under my horse's feet. He has received + a carbine bullet through his head and his blood colors a great space + around him. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p042" id="p042"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p042.jpg (51K)" src="images/p042.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + One brave man, riding a roan horse, attempts to rally his companions. He + halts on a little knoll, wheels his horse to face us, and waves his hat to + draw his companions to him. A tall, lank fellow in the next four to me—who + goes by the nickname of “'Leven Yards”—aims his + carbine at him, and, without checking his horse's pace, fires. The + heavy Sharpe's bullet tears a gaping hole through the Rebel's + heart. He drops from his saddle, his life-blood runs down in little rills + on either side of the knoll, and his riderless horse dashes away in a + panic. + </p> + <p> + At this instant comes an order for the Company to break up into fours and + press on through the forest in pursuit. My four trots off to the road at + the right. A Rebel bugler, who hag been cut off, leaps his horse into the + road in front of us. We all fire at him on the impulse of the moment. He + falls from his horse with a bullet through his back. Company M, which has + remained in column as a reserve, is now thundering up close behind at a + gallop. Its seventy-five powerful horses are spurning the solid earth with + steel-clad hoofs. The man will be ground into a shapeless mass if left + where he has fallen. We spring from our horses and drag him into a fence + corner; then remount and join in the pursuit. + </p> + <p> + This happened on the summit of Chestnut Ridge, fifteen miles from + Jonesville. + </p> + <p> + Late in the afternoon the anxious watchers at Jonesville saw a single + fugitive urging his well-nigh spent horse down the slope of the hill + toward town. In an agony of anxiety they hurried forward to meet him and + learn his news. + </p> + <p> + The first messenger who rushed into Job's presence to announce the + beginning of the series of misfortunes which were to afflict the upright + man of Uz is a type of all the cowards who, before or since then, have + been the first to speed away from the field of battle to spread the news + of disaster. He said: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + “And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they + have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am + escaped alone to tell thee.” + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + So this fleeing Virginian shouted to his expectant friends: + </p> + <p> + “The boys are all cut to pieces; I'm the only one that got + away.” + </p> + <p> + The terrible extent of his words was belied a little later, by the + appearance on the distant summit of the hill of a considerable mob of + fugitives, flying at the utmost speed of their nearly exhausted horses. As + they came on down the hill as almost equally disorganized crowd of + pursuers appeared on the summit, yelling in voices hoarse with continued + shouting, and pouring an incessant fire of carbine and revolver bullets + upon the hapless men of the Sixty-fourth Virginia. + </p> + <p> + The two masses of men swept on through the town. Beyond it, the road + branched in several directions, the pursued scattered on each of these, + and the worn-out pursuers gave up the chase. + </p> + <p> + Returning to Jonesville, we took an account of stock, and found that we + were “ahead” one hundred and fifteen prisoners, nearly that + many horses, and a considerable quantity of small arms. How many of the + enemy had been killed and wounded could not be told, as they were + scattered over the whole fifteen miles between where the fight occurred + and the pursuit ended. Our loss was trifling. + </p> + <p> + Comparing notes around the camp-fires in the evening, we found that our + success had been owing to the Major's instinct, his grasp of the + situation, and the soldierly way in which he took advantage of it. When he + reached the summit of the hill he found the Rebel line nearly formed and + ready for action. A moment's hesitation might have been fatal to us. + At his command Company I went into line with the thought-like celerity of + trained cavalry, and instantly dashed through the right of the Rebel line. + Company K followed and plunged through the Rebel center, and when we of + Company L arrived on the ground, and charged the left, the last vestige of + resistance was swept away. The whole affair did not probably occupy more + than fifteen minutes. + </p> + <p> + This was the way Powell's Valley was opened to our foragers. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch3" id="ch3"></a>CHAPTER III. + </h2> + <p> + LIVING OFF THE ENEMY—REVELING IN THE FATNESS OF THE COUNTRY—SOLDIERLY + PURVEYING AND CAMP COOKERY—SUSCEPTIBLE TEAMSTERS AND THEIR TENDENCY + TO FLIGHTINESS—MAKING SOLDIER'S BED. + </p> + <p> + For weeks we rode up and down—hither and thither—along the + length of the narrow, granite-walled Valley; between mountains so lofty + that the sun labored slowly over them in the morning, occupying half the + forenoon in getting to where his rays would reach the stream that ran + through the Valley's center. Perpetual shadow reigned on the + northern and western faces of these towering Nights—not enough + warmth and sunshine reaching them in the cold months to check the growth + of the ever-lengthening icicles hanging from the jutting cliffs, or melt + the arabesque frost-forms with which the many dashing cascades decorated + the adjacent rocks and shrubbery. Occasionally we would see where some + little stream ran down over the face of the bare, black rocks for many + hundred feet, and then its course would be a long band of sheeny white, + like a great rich, spotless scarf of satin, festooning the war-grimed + walls of some old castle. + </p> + <p> + Our duty now was to break up any nuclei of concentration that the Rebels + might attempt to form, and to guard our foragers—that is, the + teamsters and employee of the Quartermaster's Department—who + were loading grain into wagons and hauling it away. + </p> + <p> + This last was an arduous task. There is no man in the world that needs as + much protection as an Army teamster. He is worse in this respect than a + New England manufacturer, or an old maid on her travels. He is given to + sudden fears and causeless panics. Very innocent cedars have a fashion of + assuming in his eyes the appearance of desperate Rebels armed with + murderous guns, and there is no telling what moment a rock may take such a + form as to freeze his young blood, and make each particular hair stand on + end like quills upon the fretful porcupine. One has to be particular about + snapping caps in his neighborhood, and give to him careful warning before + discharging a carbine to clean it. His first impulse, when anything occurs + to jar upon his delicate nerves, is to cut his wheel-mule loose and retire + with the precipitation of a man having an appointment to keep and being + behind time. There is no man who can get as much speed out of a mule as a + teamster falling back from the neighborhood of heavy firing. <br><br><br><br> + <a name="p046" id="p046"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p046.jpg (33K)" src="images/p046.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + This nervous tremor was not peculiar to the engineers of our + transportation department. It was noticeable in the gentry who carted the + scanty provisions of the Rebels. One of Wheeler's cavalrymen told me + that the brigade to which he belonged was one evening ordered to move at + daybreak. The night was rainy, and it was thought best to discharge the + guns and reload before starting. Unfortunately, it was neglected to inform + the teamsters of this, and at the first discharge they varnished from the + scene with such energy that it was over a week before the brigade + succeeded in getting them back again. + </p> + <p> + Why association with the mule should thus demoralize a man, has always + been a puzzle to me, for while the mule, as Col. Ingersoll has remarked, + is an animal without pride of ancestry or hope of posterity, he is still + not a coward by any means. It is beyond dispute that a full-grown and + active lioness once attacked a mule in the grounds of the Cincinnati + Zoological Garden, and was ignominiously beaten, receiving injuries from + which she died shortly afterward. + </p> + <p> + The apparition of a badly-scared teamster urging one of his wheel mules at + break-neck speed over the rough ground, yelling for protection against + “them Johnnies,” who had appeared on some hilltop in sight of + where he was gathering corn, was an almost hourly occurrence. Of course + the squad dispatched to his assistance found nobody. + </p> + <p> + Still, there were plenty of Rebels in the country, and they hung around + our front, exchanging shots with us at long taw, and occasionally treating + us to a volley at close range, from some favorable point. But we had the + decided advantage of them at this game. Our Sharpe's carbines were + much superior in every way to their Enfields. They would shoot much + farther, and a great deal more rapidly, so that the Virginians were not + long in discovering that they were losing more than they gained in this + useless warfare. + </p> + <p> + Once they played a sharp practical joke upon us. Copper River is a deep, + exceedingly rapid mountain stream, with a very slippery rocky bottom. The + Rebels blockaded a ford in such a way that it was almost impossible for a + horse to keep his feet. Then they tolled us off in pursuit of a small + party to this ford. When we came to it there was a light line of + skirmishers on the opposite bank, who popped away at us industriously. Our + boys formed in line, gave the customary, cheer, and dashed in to carry the + ford at a charge. As they did so at least one-half of the horses went down + as if they were shot, and rolled over their riders in the swift running, + ice-cold waters. The Rebels yelled a triumphant laugh, as they galloped + away, and the laugh was re-echoed by our fellows, who were as quick to see + the joke as the other side. We tried to get even with them by a sharp + chase, but we gave it up after a few miles, without having taken any + prisoners. + </p> + <p> + But, after all, there was much to make our sojourn in the Valley + endurable. Though we did not wear fine linen, we fared sumptuously—for + soldiers—every day. The cavalryman is always charged by the infantry + and artillery with having a finer and surer scent for the good things in + the country than any other man in the service. He is believed to have an + instinct that will unfailingly lead him, in the dankest night, to the + roosting place of the most desirable poultry, and after he has camped in a + neighborhood for awhile it would require a close chemical analysis to find + a trace of ham. + </p> + <p> + We did our best to sustain the reputation of our arm of the service. We + found the most delicious hams packed away in the ash-houses. They were + small, and had that; exquisite nutty flavor, peculiar to mast-fed bacon. + Then there was an abundance of the delightful little apple known as + “romanites.” There were turnips, pumpkins, cabbages, potatoes, + and the usual products of the field in plenty, even profusion. The corn in + the fields furnished an ample supply of breadstuff. We carried it to and + ground it in the quaintest, rudest little mills that can be imagined + outside of the primitive affairs by which the women of Arabia coarsely + powder the grain for the family meal. Sometimes the mill would consist + only of four stout posts thrust into the ground at the edge of some + stream. A line of boulders reaching diagonally across the stream answered + for a dam, by diverting a portion of the volume of water to a channel at + the side, where it moved a clumsily constructed wheel, that turned two + small stones, not larger than good-sized grindstones. Over this would be a + shed made by resting poles in forked posts stuck into the ground, and + covering these with clapboards held in place by large flat stones. They + resembled the mills of the gods—in grinding slowly. It used to seem + that a healthy man could eat the meal faster than they ground it. + </p> + <p> + But what savory meals we used to concoct around the campfires, out of the + rich materials collected during the day's ride! Such stews, such + soups, such broils, such wonderful commixtures of things diverse in nature + and antagonistic in properties such daring culinary experiments in + combining materials never before attempted to be combined. The French say + of untasteful arrangement of hues in dress “that the colors swear at + each other.” I have often thought the same thing of the + heterogeneities that go to make up a soldier's pot-a feu. + </p> + <p> + But for all that they never failed to taste deliciously after a long day's + ride. They were washed down by a tincupful of coffee strong enough to tan + leather, then came a brier-wood pipeful of fragrant kinnikinnic, and a + seat by the ruddy, sparkling fire of aromatic cedar logs, that diffused at + once warmth, and spicy, pleasing incense. A chat over the events of the + day, and the prospect of the morrow, the wonderful merits of each man's + horse, and the disgusting irregularities of the mails from home, lasted + until the silver-voiced bugle rang out the sweet, mournful tattoo of the + Regulations, to the flowing cadences of which the boys had arranged the + absurdly incongruous words: + </p> + <table> + <tr> + <td> + “S-a-y—D-e-u-t-c-h-e-r-will-you fight-mit Sigel!<br> + Zwei-glass of lager-bier, ja! ja! JA!”<br> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + Words were fitted to all the calls, which generally bore some relativeness + to the signal, but these were as, destitute of congruity as of sense. + </p> + <p> + Tattoo always produces an impression of extreme loneliness. As its weird, + half-availing notes ring out and are answered back from the distant rocks + shrouded in night, and perhaps concealing the lurking foe, the soldier + remembers that he is far away from home and friends—deep in the + enemy's country, encompassed on every hand by those in deadly + hostility to him, who are perhaps even then maturing the preparations for + his destruction. + </p> + <p> + As the tattoo sounds, the boys arise from around the fire, visit the horse + line, see that their horses are securely tied, rub off from the fetlocks + and legs such specks of mud as may have escaped the cleaning in the early + evening, and if possible, smuggle their faithful four-footed friends a few + ears of corn, or another bunch of hay. + </p> + <p> + If not too tired, and everything else is favorable, the cavalryman has + prepared himself a comfortable couch for the night. He always sleeps with + a chum. The two have gathered enough small tufts of pine or cedar to make + a comfortable, springy, mattress-like foundation. On this is laid the + poncho or rubber blanket. Next comes one of their overcoats, and upon this + they lie, covering themselves with the two blankets and the other + overcoat, their feet towards the fire, their boots at the foot, and their + belts, with revolver, saber and carbine, at the sides of the bed. It is + surprising what an amount of comfort a man can get out of such a couch, + and how, at an alarm, he springs from it, almost instantly dressed and + armed. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p050" id="p050"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p050.jpg (42K)" src="images/p050.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + Half an hour after tattoo the bugle rings out another sadly sweet strain, + that hath a dying sound. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p050b" id="p050b"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p050b.jpg (12K)" src="images/p050b.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch4" id="ch4"></a>CHAPTER IV. + </h2> + <p> + A BITTER COLD MORNING AND A WARM AWAKENING—TROUBLE ALL ALONG THE + LINE—FIERCE CONFLICTS, ASSAULTS AND DEFENSE—PROLONGED AND + DESPERATE STRUGGLE ENDING WITH A SURRENDER. + </p> + <p> + The night had been the most intensely cold that the country had known for + many years. Peach and other tender trees had been killed by the frosty + rigor, and sentinels had been frozen to death in our neighborhood. The + deep snow on which we made our beds, the icy covering of the streams near + us, the limbs of the trees above us, had been cracking with loud noises + all night, from the bitter cold. + </p> + <p> + We were camped around Jonesville, each of the four companies lying on one + of the roads leading from the town. Company L lay about a mile from the + Court House. On a knoll at the end of the village toward us, and at a + point where two roads separated,—one of which led to us,—stood + a three-inch Rodman rifle, belonging to the Twenty-second Ohio Battery. It + and its squad of eighteen men, under command of Lieutenant Alger and + Sergeant Davis, had been sent up to us a few days before from the Gap. + </p> + <p> + The comfortless gray dawn was crawling sluggishly over the mountain-tops, + as if numb as the animal and vegetable life which had been shrinking all + the long hours under the fierce chill. + </p> + <p> + The Major's bugler had saluted the morn with the lively, ringing + tarr-r-r-a-ta-ara of the Regulation reveille, and the company buglers, as + fast as they could thaw out their mouth-pieces, were answering him. + </p> + <p> + I lay on my bed, dreading to get up, and yet not anxious to lie still. It + was a question which would be the more uncomfortable. I turned over, to + see if there was not another position in which it would be warmer, and + began wishing for the thousandth time that the efforts for the + amelioration of the horrors of warfare would progress to such a point as + to put a stop to all Winter soldiering, so that a fellow could go home as + soon as cold weather began, sit around a comfortable stove in a country + store; and tell camp stories until the Spring was far enough advanced to + let him go back to the front wearing a straw hat and a linen duster. + </p> + <p> + Then I began wondering how much longer I would dare lie there, before the + Orderly Sergeant would draw me out by the heels, and accompany the + operation with numerous unkind and sulphurous remarks. + </p> + <p> + This cogitation, was abruptly terminated by hearing an excited shout from + the Captain: + </p> + <p> + “Turn Out!—COMPANY L!! TURNOUT ! ! !” + </p> + <p> + Almost at the same instant rose that shrill, piercing Rebel yell, which + one who has once heard it rarely forgets, and this was followed by a + crashing volley from apparently a regiment of rifles. + </p> + <p> + I arose-promptly. + </p> + <p> + There was evidently something of more interest on hand than the weather. + </p> + <p> + Cap, overcoat, boots and revolver belt went on, and eyes opened at about + the same instant. + </p> + <p> + As I snatched up my carbine, I looked out in front, and the whole woods + appeared to be full of Rebels, rushing toward us, all yelling and some + firing. My Captain and First Lieutenant had taken up position on the right + front of the tents, and part of the boys were running up to form a line + alongside them. The Second Lieutenant had stationed himself on a knoll on + the left front, and about a third of the company was rallying around him. + </p> + <p> + My chum was a silent, sententious sort of a chap, and as we ran forward to + the Captain's line, he remarked earnestly: + </p> + <p> + “Well: this beats hell!” + </p> + <p> + I thought he had a clear idea of the situation. <br><br><br><br> <a + name="p054" id="p054"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p054.jpg (52K)" src="images/p054.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + All this occupied an inappreciably short space of time. The Rebels had not + stopped to reload, but were rushing impetuously toward us. We gave them a + hot, rolling volley from our carbines. Many fell, more stopped to load and + reply, but the mass surged straight forward at us. Then our fire grew so + deadly that they showed a disposition to cover themselves behind the rocks + and trees. Again they were urged forward; and a body of them headed by + their Colonel, mounted on a white horse, pushed forward through the gap + between us and the Second Lieutenant. The Rebel Colonel dashed up to the + Second Lieutenant, and ordered him to surrender. The latter-a gallant old + graybeard—cursed the Rebel bitterly and snapped his now empty + revolver in his face. The Colonel fired and killed him, whereupon his + squad, with two of its Sergeants killed and half its numbers on the + ground, surrendered. + </p> + <p> + The Rebels in our front and flank pressed us with equal closeness. It + seemed as if it was absolutely impossible to check their rush for an + instant, and as we saw the fate of our companions the Captain gave the + word for every man to look out for himself. We ran back a little distance, + sprang over the fence into the fields, and rushed toward Town, the Rebels + encouraging us to make good time by a sharp fire into our backs from the + fence. + </p> + <p> + While we were vainly attempting to stem the onset of the column dashed + against us, better success was secured elsewhere. Another column swept + down the other road, upon which there was only an outlying picket. This + had to come back on the run before the overwhelming numbers, and the + Rebels galloped straight for the three-inch Rodman. Company M was the + first to get saddled and mounted, and now came up at a steady, swinging + gallop, in two platoons, saber and revolver in hand, and led by two + Sergeants-Key and McWright,—printer boys from Bloomington, Illinois. + They divined the object of the Rebel dash, and strained every nerve to + reach the gun first. The Rebels were too near, and got the gun and turned + it. Before they could fire it, Company M struck them headlong, but they + took the terrible impact without flinching, and for a few minutes there + was fierce hand-to-hand work, with sword and pistol. The Rebel leader sank + under a half-dozen simultaneous wounds, and fell dead almost under the + gun. Men dropped from their horses each instant, and the riderless steeds + fled away. The scale of victory was turned by the Major dashing against + the Rebel left flank at the head of Company I, and a portion of the + artillery squad. The Rebels gave ground slowly, and were packed into a + dense mass in the lane up which they had charged. After they had been + crowded back, say fifty yards, word was passed through our men to open to + the right and left on the sides of the road. The artillerymen had turned + the gun and loaded it with a solid shot. Instantly a wide lane opened + through our ranks; the man with the lanyard drew the fatal cord, fire + burst from the primer and the muzzle, the long gun sprang up and recoiled, + and there seemed to be a demoniac yell in its ear-splitting crash, as the + heavy ball left the mouth, and tore its bloody way through the bodies of + the struggling mass of men and horses. + </p> + <p> + This ended it. The Rebels gave way in disorder, and our men fell back to + give the gun an opportunity to throw shell and canister. + </p> + <p> + The Rebels now saw that we were not to be run over like a field of + cornstalks, and they fell back to devise further tactics, giving us a + breathing spell to get ourselves in shape for defense. + </p> + <p> + The dullest could see that we were in a desperate situation. Critical + positions were no new experience to us, as they never are to a cavalry + command after a few months in the field, but, though the pitcher goes + often to the well, it is broken at last, and our time was evidently at + hand. The narrow throat of the Valley, through which lay the road back to + the Gap, was held by a force of Rebels evidently much superior to our own, + and strongly posted. The road was a slender, tortuous one, winding through + rocks and gorges. Nowhere was there room enough to move with even a + platoon front against the enemy, and this precluded all chances of cutting + out. The best we could do was a slow, difficult movement, in column of + fours, and this would have been suicide. On the other side of the Town the + Rebels were massed stronger, while to the right and left rose the steep + mountain sides. We were caught-trapped as surely as a rat ever was in a + wire trap. + </p> + <p> + As we learned afterwards, a whole division of cavalry, under command of + the noted Rebel, Major General Sam Jones, had been sent to effect our + capture, to offset in a measure Longstreet's repulse at Knoxville. A + gross overestimate of our numbers had caused the sending of so large a + force on this errand, and the rough treatment we gave the two columns that + attacked us first confirmed the Rebel General's ideas of our + strength, and led him to adopt cautious tactics, instead of crushing us + out speedily, by a determined advance of all parts of his encircling + lines. + </p> + <p> + The lull in the fight did not last long. A portion of the Rebel line on + the east rushed forward to gain a more commanding position. + </p> + <p> + We concentrated in that direction and drove it back, the Rodman assisting + with a couple of well-aimed shells.—This was followed by a similar + but more successful attempt by another part of the Rebel line, and so it + went on all day—the Rebels rushing up first on this side, and then + on that, and we, hastily collecting at the exposed points, seeking to + drive them back. We were frequently successful; we were on the inside, and + had the advantage of the short interior lines, so that our few men and our + breech-loaders told to a good purpose. + </p> + <p> + There were frequent crises in the struggle, that at some times gave + encouragement, but never hope. Once a determined onset was made from the + East, and was met by the equally determined resistance of nearly our whole + force. Our fire was so galling that a large number of our foes crowded + into a house on a knoll, and making loopholes in its walls, began replying + to us pretty sharply. We sent word to our faithful artillerists, who + trained the gun upon the house. The first shell screamed over the roof, + and burst harmlessly beyond. We suspended fire to watch the next. It + crashed through the side; for an instant all was deathly still; we thought + it had gone on through. Then came a roar and a crash; the clapboards flew + off the roof, and smoke poured out; panic-stricken Rebels rushed from the + doors and sprang from the windows-like bees from a disturbed hive; the + shell had burst among the confined mass of men inside! We afterwards heard + that twenty-five were killed there. + </p> + <p> + At another time a considerable force of rebels gained the cover of a fence + in easy range of our main force. Companies L and K were ordered to charge + forward on foot and dislodge them. Away we went, under a fire that seemed + to drop a man at every step. A hundred yards in front of the Rebels was a + little cover, and behind this our men lay down as if by one impulse. Then + came a close, desperate duel at short range. It was a question between + Northern pluck and Southern courage, as to which could stand the most + punishment. Lying as flat as possible on the crusted snow, only raising + the head or body enough to load and aim, the men on both sides, with their + teeth set, their glaring eyes fastened on the foe, their nerves as tense + as tightly-drawn steel wires, rained shot on each other as fast as excited + hands could crowd cartridges into the guns and discharge them. + </p> + <p> + Not a word was said. + </p> + <p> + The shallower enthusiasm that expresses itself in oaths and shouts had + given way to the deep, voiceless rage of men in a death grapple. The Rebel + line was a rolling torrent of flame, their bullets shrieked angrily as + they flew past, they struck the snow in front of us, and threw its cold + flakes in faces that were white with the fires of consuming hate; they + buried themselves with a dull thud in the quivering bodies of the enraged + combatants. + </p> + <p> + Minutes passed; they seemed hours. + </p> + <p> + Would the villains, scoundrels, hell-hounds, sons of vipers never go? + </p> + <p> + At length a few Rebels sprang up and tried to fly. They were shot down + instantly. + </p> + <p> + Then the whole line rose and ran! + </p> + <p> + The relief was so great that we jumped to our feet and cheered wildly, + forgetting in our excitement to make use of our victory by shooting down + our flying enemies. + </p> + <p> + Nor was an element of fun lacking. A Second Lieutenant was ordered to take + a party of skirmishers to the top of a hill and engage those of the Rebels + stationed on another hill-top across a ravine. He had but lately joined us + from the Regular Army, where he was a Drill Sergeant. Naturally, he was + very methodical in his way, and scorned to do otherwise under fire than he + would upon the parade ground. He moved his little command to the hill-top, + in close order, and faced them to the front. The Johnnies received them + with a yell and a volley, whereat the boys winced a little, much to the + Lieutenant's disgust, who swore at them; then had them count off + with great deliberation, and deployed them as coolly as if them was not an + enemy within a hundred miles. After the line deployed, he “dressed” + it, commanded “Front!” and “Begin, firing!” his + attention was called another way for an instant, and when he looked back + again, there was not a man of his nicely formed skirmish line visible. The + logs and stones had evidently been put there for the use of skirmishers, + the boys thought, and in an instant they availed themselves of their + shelter. + </p> + <p> + Never was there an angrier man than that Second Lieutenant; he brandished + his saber and swore; he seemed to feel that all his soldierly reputation + was gone, but the boys stuck to their shelter for all that, informing him + that when the Rebels would stand out in the open field and take their + fire, they would likewise. + </p> + <p> + Despite all our efforts, the Rebel line crawled up closer an closer to us; + we were driven back from knoll to knoll, and from one fence after another. + We had maintained the unequal struggle for eight hours; over one-fourth of + our number were stretched upon the snow, killed or badly wounded. Our + cartridges were nearly all gone; the cannon had fired its last shot long + ago, and having a blank cartridge left, had shot the rammer at a gathering + party of the enemy. + </p> + <p> + Just as the Winter sun was going down upon a day of gloom the bugle called + us all up on the hillside. Then the Rebels saw for the first time how few + there were, and began an almost simultaneous charge all along the line. + The Major raised piece of a shelter tent upon a pole. The line halted. An + officer rode out from it, followed by two privates. + </p> + <p> + Approaching the Major, he said, “Who is in command this force?” + </p> + <p> + The Major replied: “I am.” + </p> + <p> + “Then, Sir, I demand your sword.” + </p> + <p> + “What is your rank, Sir!” + </p> + <p> + “I am Adjutant of the Sixty-fourth Virginia.” + </p> + <p> + The punctillious soul of the old “Regular”—for such the + Major was swelled up instantly, and he answered: + </p> + <p> + “By —-, sir, I will never surrender to my inferior in rank!” + <br><br><br><br> <a name="p059" id="p059"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p059.jpg (29K)" src="images/p059.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + The Adjutant reined his horse back. His two followers leveled their pieces + at the Major and waited orders to fire. They were covered by a dozen + carbines in the hands of our men. The Adjutant ordered his men to “recover + arms,” and rode away with them. He presently returned with a + Colonel, and to him the Major handed his saber. + </p> + <p> + As the men realized what was being done, the first thought of many of them + was to snatch out the cylinder's of their revolvers, and the slides + of their carbines, and throw them away, so as to make the arms useless. + </p> + <p> + We were overcome with rage and humiliation at being compelled to yield to + an enemy whom we had hated so bitterly. As we stood there on the bleak + mountain-side, the biting wind soughing through the leafless branches, the + shadows of a gloomy winter night closing around us, the groans and shrieks + of our wounded mingling with the triumphant yells of the Rebels plundering + our tents, it seemed as if Fate could press to man's lips no cup + with bitterer dregs in it than this. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch5" id="ch5"></a>CHAPTER V. + </h2> + <p> + THE REACTION—DEPRESSION—BITTING COLD—SHARP HUNGER AND + SAD REFLEXION. “Of being taken by the Insolent foe.”—Othello. + </p> + <p> + The night that followed was inexpressibly dreary: The high-wrought nervous + tension, which had been protracted through the long hours that the fight + lasted, was succeeded by a proportionate mental depression, such as + naturally follows any strain upon the mind. This was intensified in our + cases by the sharp sting of defeat, the humiliation of having to yield + ourselves, our horses and our arms into the possession of the enemy, the + uncertainty as to the future, and the sorrow we felt at the loss of so + many of our comrades. + </p> + <p> + Company L had suffered very severely, but our chief regret was for the + gallant Osgood, our Second Lieutenant. He, above all others, was our + trusted leader. The Captain and First Lieutenant were brave men, and good + enough soldiers, but Osgood was the one “whose adoption tried, we + grappled to our souls with hooks of steel.” There was never any + difficulty in getting all the volunteers he wanted for a scouting party. A + quiet, pleasant spoken gentleman, past middle age, he looked much better + fitted for the office of Justice of the Peace, to which his + fellow-citizens of Urbana, Illinois, had elected and reelected him, than + to command a troop of rough riders in a great civil war. But none more + gallant than he ever vaulted into saddle to do battle for the right. He + went into the Army solely as a matter of principle, and did his duty with + the unflagging zeal of an olden Puritan fighting for liberty and his soul's + salvation. He was a superb horseman—as all the older Illinoisans are + and, for all his two-score years and ten, he recognized few superiors for + strength and activity in the Battalion. A radical, uncompromising + Abolitionist, he had frequently asserted that he would rather die than + yield to a Rebel, and he kept his word in this as in everything else. + </p> + <p> + As for him, it was probably the way he desired to die. No one believed + more ardently than he that + </p> + <table> + <tr> + <td> + Whether on the scaffold high,<br> Or in the battle's van;<br> + The fittest place for man to die,<br> Is where he dies for man.<br> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + Among the many who had lost chums and friends was Ned Johnson, of Company + K. Ned was a young Englishman, with much of the suggestiveness of the + bull-dog common to the lower class of that nation. His fist was readier + than his tongue. His chum, Walter Savage was of the same surly type. The + two had come from England twelve years before, and had been together ever + since. Savage was killed in the struggle for the fence described in the + preceding chapter. Ned could not realize for a while that his friend was + dead. It was only when the body rapidly stiffened on its icy bed, and the + eyes which had been gleaming deadly hate when he was stricken down were + glazed over with the dull film of death, that he believed he was gone from + him forever. Then his rage was terrible. For the rest of the day he was at + the head of every assault upon the enemy. His voice could ever be heard + above the firing, cursing the Rebels bitterly, and urging the boys to + “Stand up to 'em! Stand right up to 'em! Don't + give a inch! Let them have the best you got in the shop! Shoot low, and + don't waste a cartridge!” + </p> + <p> + When we surrendered, Ned seemed to yield sullenly to the inevitable. He + threw his belt and apparently his revolver with it upon the snow. A guard + was formed around us, and we gathered about the fires that were started. + Ned sat apart, his arms folded, his head upon his breast, brooding + bitterly upon Walter's death. A horseman, evidently a Colonel or + General, clattered up to give some directions concerning us. At the sound + of his voice Ned raised his head and gave him a swift glance; the gold + stars upon the Rebel's collar led him to believe that he was the + commander of the enemy. Ned sprang to his feet, made a long stride + forward, snatched from the breast of his overcoat the revolver he had been + hiding there, cocked it and leveled it at the Rebel's breast. Before + he could pull the trigger Orderly Sergeant Charles Bentley, of his + Company, who was watching him, leaped forward, caught his wrist and threw + the revolver up. Others joined in, took the weapon away, and handed it + over to the officer, who then ordered us all to be searched for arms, and + rode away. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p063" id="p063"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p063.jpg (45K)" src="images/p063.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + All our dejection could not make us forget that we were intensely hungry. + We had eaten nothing all day. The fight began before we had time to get + any breakfast, and of course there was no interval for refreshments during + the engagement. The Rebels were no better off than we, having been marched + rapidly all night in order to come upon us by daylight. + </p> + <p> + Late in the evening a few sacks of meal were given us, and we took the + first lesson in an art that long and painful practice afterward was to + make very familiar to us. We had nothing to mix the meal in, and it looked + as if we would have to eat it dry, until a happy thought struck some one + that our caps would do for kneading troughs. At once every cap was devoted + to this. Getting water from an adjacent spring, each man made a little wad + of dough—unsalted—and spreading it upon a flat stone or a + chip, set it up in front of the fire to bake. As soon as it was browned on + one side, it was pulled off the stone, and the other side turned to the + fire. It was a very primitive way of cooking and I became thoroughly + disgusted with it. It was fortunate for me that I little dreamed that this + was the way I should have to get my meals for the next fifteen months. + </p> + <p> + After somewhat of the edge had been taken off our hunger by this food, we + crouched around the fires, talked over the events of the day, speculated + as to what was to be done with us, and snatched such sleep as the biting + cold would permit. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch6" id="ch6"></a>CHAPTER VI. + </h2> + <p> + “ON TO RICHMOND!”—MARCHING ON FOOT OVER THE MOUNTAINS—MY + HORSE HAS A NEW RIDER—UNSOPHISTICATED MOUNTAIN GIRLS—DISCUSSING + THE ISSUES OF THE WAR—PARTING WITH “HIATOGA.” + </p> + <p> + At dawn we were gathered together, more meal issued to us, which we cooked + in the same way, and then were started under heavy guard to march on foot + over the mountains to Bristol, a station at the point where the Virginia + and Tennessee Railroad crosses the line between Virginia and Tennessee. + </p> + <p> + As we were preparing to set out a Sergeant of the First Virginia cavalry + came galloping up to us on my horse! The sight of my faithful “Hiatoga” + bestrid by a Rebel, wrung my heart. During the action I had forgotten him, + but when it ceased I began to worry about his fate. As he and his rider + came near I called out to him; he stopped and gave a whinny of + recognition, which seemed also a plaintive appeal for an explanation of + the changed condition of affairs. + </p> + <p> + The Sergeant was a pleasant, gentlemanly boy of about my own age. He rode + up to me and inquired if it was my horse, to which I replied in the + affirmative, and asked permission to take from the saddle pockets some + letters, pictures and other trinkets. He granted this, and we became + friends from thence on until we separated. He rode by my side as we + plodded over the steep, slippery hills, and we beguiled the way by + chatting of the thousand things that soldiers find to talk about, and + exchanged reminiscences of the service on both sides. But the subject he + was fondest of was that which I relished least: my—now his—horse. + Into the open ulcer of my heart he poured the acid of all manner of + questions concerning my lost steed's qualities and capabilities: + would he swim? how was he in fording? did he jump well! how did he stand + fire? I smothered my irritation, and answered as pleasantly as I could. + </p> + <p> + In the afternoon of the third day after the capture, we came up to where a + party of rustic belles were collected at “quilting.” The + “Yankees” were instantly objects of greater interest than the + parade of a menagerie would have been. The Sergeant told the girls we were + going to camp for the night a mile or so ahead, and if they would be at a + certain house, he would have a Yankee for them for close inspection. After + halting, the Sergeant obtained leave to take me out with a guard, and I + was presently ushered into a room in which the damsels were massed in + force, —a carnation-checked, staring, open-mouthed, linsey-clad + crowd, as ignorant of corsets and gloves as of Hebrew, and with a + propensity to giggle that was chronic and irrepressible. When we entered + the room there was a general giggle, and then a shower of comments upon my + appearance,—each sentence punctuated with the chorus of feminine + cachination. A remark was made about my hair and eyes, and their risibles + gave way; judgment was passed on my nose, and then came a ripple of + laughter. I got very red in the face, and uncomfortable generally. + Attention was called to the size of my feet and hands, and the usual + chorus followed. Those useful members of my body seemed to swell up as + they do to a young man at his first party. + </p> + <p> + Then I saw that in the minds of these bucolic maidens I was scarcely, if + at all, human; they did not understand that I belonged to the race; I was + a “Yankee”—a something of the non-human class, as the + gorilla or the chimpanzee. They felt as free to discuss my points before + my face as they would to talk of a horse or a wild animal in a show. My + equanimity was partially restored by this reflection, but I was still too + young to escape embarrassment and irritation at being thus dissected and + giggled at by a party of girls, even if they were ignorant Virginia + mountaineers. + </p> + <p> + I turned around to speak to the Sergeant, and in so doing showed my back + to the ladies. The hum of comment deepened into surprise, that half + stopped and then intensified the giggle. + </p> + <p> + I was puzzled for a minute, and then the direction of their glances, and + their remarks explained it all. At the rear of the lower part of the + cavalry jacket, about where the upper ornamental buttons are on the tail + of a frock coat, are two funny tabs, about the size of small pin-cushions. + They are fastened by the edge, and stick out straight behind. Their use is + to support the heavy belt in the rear, as the buttons do in front. When + the belt is off it would puzzle the Seven Wise Men to guess what they are + for. The unsophisticated young ladies, with that swift intuition which is + one of lovely woman's salient mental traits, immediately jumped at + the conclusion that the projections covered some peculiar conformation of + the Yankee anatomy—some incipient, dromedary-like humps, or + perchance the horns of which they had heard so much. <br><br><br><br> + <a name="p067" id="p067"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p067.jpg (30K)" src="images/p067.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + This anatomical phenomena was discussed intently for a few minutes, during + which I heard one of the girls inquire whether “it would hurt him to + cut 'em off?” and another hazarded the opinion that “it + would probably bleed him to death.” + </p> + <p> + Then a new idea seized them, and they said to the Sergeant “Make him + sing! Make him sing!” + </p> + <p> + This was too much for the Sergeant, who had been intensely amused at the + girls' wonderment. He turned to me, very red in the face, with: + </p> + <p> + “Sergeant: the girls want to hear you sing.” + </p> + <p> + I replied that I could not sing a note. Said he: + </p> + <p> + “Oh, come now. I know better than that; I never seed or heerd of a + Yankee that couldn't sing.” + </p> + <p> + I nevertheless assured him that there really were some Yankees that did + not have any musical accomplishments, and that I was one of that + unfortunate number. I asked him to get the ladies to sing for me, and to + this they acceded quite readily. One girl, with a fair soprano, who seemed + to be the leader of the crowd, sang “The Homespun Dress,” a + song very popular in the South, and having the same tune as the “Bonnie + Blue Flag.” It began, + </p> + <table> + <tr> + <td> + I envy not the Northern girl<br> Their silks and jewels fine,<br> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + and proceeded to compare the homespun habiliments of the Southern women to + the finery and frippery of the ladies on the other side of Mason and Dixon's + line in a manner very disadvantageous to the latter. + </p> + <p> + The rest of the girls made a fine exhibition of the lung-power acquired in + climbing their precipitous mountains, when they came in on the chorus + </p> + <table> + <tr> + <td> + Hurra! Hurra! for southern rights Hurra!<br> Hurra for the homespun + dress,<br> The Southern ladies wear.<br> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + This ended the entertainment. + </p> + <p> + On our journey to Bristol we met many Rebel soldiers, of all ranks, and a + small number of citizens. As the conscription had then been enforced + pretty sharply for over a year the only able-bodied men seen in civil life + were those who had some trade which exempted them from being forced into + active service. It greatly astonished us at first to find that nearly all + the mechanics were included among the exempts, or could be if they chose; + but a very little reflection showed us the wisdom of such a policy. The + South is as nearly a purely agricultural country as is Russia or South + America. The people have, little inclination or capacity for anything else + than pastoral pursuits. Consequently mechanics are very scarce, and + manufactories much scarcer. The limited quantity of products of mechanical + skill needed by the people was mostly imported from the North or Europe. + Both these sources of supply were cutoff by the war, and the country was + thrown upon its own slender manufacturing resources. To force its + mechanics into the army would therefore be suicidal. The Army would gain a + few thousand men, but its operations would be embarrassed, if not stopped + altogether, by a want of supplies. This condition of affairs reminded one + of the singular paucity of mechanical skill among the Bedouins of the + desert, which renders the life of a blacksmith sacred. No matter how + bitter the feud between tribes, no one will kill the other's workers + of iron, and instances are told of warriors saving their lives at critical + periods by falling on their knees and making with their garments an + imitation of the action of a smith's bellows. + </p> + <p> + All whom we met were eager to discuss with us the causes, phases and + progress of the war, and whenever opportunity offered or could be made, + those of us who were inclined to talk were speedily involved in an + argument with crowds of soldiers and citizens. But, owing to the polemic + poverty of our opponents, the argument was more in name than in fact. Like + all people of slender or untrained intellectual powers they labored under + the hallucination that asserting was reasoning, and the emphatic + reiteration of bald statements, logic. The narrow round which all from + highest to lowest—traveled was sometimes comical, and sometimes + irritating, according to one's mood! The dispute invariably began by + their asking: + </p> + <p> + “Well, what are you 'uns down here a-fightin' we 'uns + for?” + </p> + <p> + As this was replied to the newt one followed: + </p> + <p> + “Why are you'uns takin' our niggers away from we 'uns + for?” + </p> + <p> + Then came: + </p> + <p> + “What do you 'uns put our niggers to fightin' we'uns + for?” The windup always was: “Well, let me tell you, sir, you + can never whip people that are fighting for liberty, sir.” + </p> + <p> + Even General Giltner, who had achieved considerable military reputation as + commander of a division of Kentucky cavalry, seemed to be as slenderly + furnished with logical ammunition as the balance, for as he halted by us + he opened the conversation with the well-worn formula: + </p> + <p> + “Well: what are you 'uns down here a-fighting we'uns + for?” + </p> + <p> + The question had become raspingly monotonous to me, whom he addressed, and + I replied with marked acerbity: + </p> + <p> + “Because we are the Northern mudsills whom you affect to despise, + and we came down here to lick you into respecting us.” + </p> + <p> + The answer seemed to tickle him, a pleasanter light came into his sinister + gray eyes, he laughed lightly, and bade us a kindly good day. + </p> + <p> + Four days after our capture we arrived in Bristol. The guards who had + brought us over the mountains were relieved by others, the Sergeant bade + me good by, struck his spurs into “Hiatoga's” sides, and + he and my faithful horse were soon lost to view in the darkness. + </p> + <p> + A new and keener sense of desolation came over me at the final separation + from my tried and true four-footed friend, who had been my constant + companion through so many perils and hardships. We had endured together + the Winter's cold, the dispiriting drench of the rain, the fatigue + of the long march, the discomforts of the muddy camp, the gripings of + hunger, the weariness of the drill and review, the perils of the vidette + post, the courier service, the scout and the fight. We had shared in + common + </p> + <table> + <tr> + <td> + The whips and scorns of time,<br> The oppressor's wrong, the + proud man's contumely,<br> The insolence of office, and the + spurns<br> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + which a patient private and his horse of the unworthy take; we had had our + frequently recurring rows with other fellows and their horses, over + questions of precedence at watering places, and grass-plots, had had + lively tilts with guards of forage piles in surreptitious attempts to get + additional rations, sometimes coming off victorious and sometimes being + driven off ingloriously. I had often gone hungry that he might have the + only ear of corn obtainable. I am not skilled enough in horse lore to + speak of his points or pedigree. I only know that his strong limbs never + failed me, and that he was always ready for duty and ever willing. + </p> + <p> + Now at last our paths diverged. I was retired from actual service to a + prison, and he bore his new master off to battle against his old friends. + <br><br> + </p> + <p> + ........................... <br><br> + </p> + <p> + Packed closely in old, dilapidated stock and box cars, as if cattle in + shipment to market, we pounded along slowly, and apparently interminably, + toward the Rebel capital. + </p> + <p> + The railroads of the South were already in very bad condition. They were + never more than passably good, even in their best estate, but now, with a + large part of the skilled men engaged upon them escaped back to the North, + with all renewal, improvement, or any but the most necessary repairs + stopped for three years, and with a marked absence of even ordinary skill + and care in their management, they were as nearly ruined as they could + well be and still run. + </p> + <p> + One of the severe embarrassments under which the roads labored was a lack + of oil. There is very little fatty matter of any kind in the South. The + climate and the food plants do not favor the accumulation of adipose + tissue by animals, and there is no other source of supply. Lard oil and + tallow were very scarce and held at exorbitant prices. + </p> + <p> + Attempts were made to obtain lubricants from the peanut and the cotton + seed. The first yielded a fine bland oil, resembling the ordinary grade of + olive oil, but it was entirely too expensive for use in the arts. The + cotton seed oil could be produced much cheaper, but it had in it such a + quantity of gummy matter as to render it worse than useless for employment + on machinery. + </p> + <p> + This scarcity of oleaginous matter produced a corresponding scarcity of + soap and similar detergents, but this was a deprivation which caused the + Rebels, as a whole, as little inconvenience as any that they suffered + from. I have seen many thousands of them who were obviously greatly in + need of soap, but if they were rent with any suffering on that account + they concealed it with marvelous self-control. + </p> + <p> + There seemed to be a scanty supply of oil provided for the locomotives, + but the cars had to run with unlubricated axles, and the screaking and + groaning of the grinding journals in the dry boxes was sometimes almost + deafening, especially when we were going around a curve. + </p> + <p> + Our engine went off the wretched track several times, but as she was not + running much faster than a man could walk, the worst consequence to us was + a severe jolting. She was small, and was easily pried back upon the track, + and sent again upon her wheezy, straining way. + </p> + <p> + The depression which had weighed us down for a night and a day after our + capture had now been succeeded by a more cheerful feeling. We began to + look upon our condition as the fortune of war. We were proud of our + resistance to overwhelming numbers. We knew we had sold ourselves at a + price which, if the Rebels had it to do over again, they would not pay for + us. We believed that we had killed and seriously wounded as many of them + as they had killed, wounded and captured of us. We had nothing to blame + ourselves for. Moreover, we began to be buoyed up with the expectation + that we would be exchanged immediately upon our arrival at Richmond, and + the Rebel officers confidently assured us that this would be so. There was + then a temporary hitch in the exchange, but it would all be straightened + out in a few days, and it might not be a month until we were again + marching out of Cumberland Gap, on an avenging foray against some of the + force which had assisted in our capture. + </p> + <p> + Fortunately for this delusive hopefulness there was no weird and boding + Cassandra to pierce the veil of the future for us, and reveal the length + and the ghastly horror of the Valley of the Shadow of Death, through which + we must pass for hundreds of sad days, stretching out into long months of + suffering and death. Happily there was no one to tell us that of every + five in that party four would never stand under the Stars and Stripes + again, but succumbing to chronic starvation, long-continued exposure, the + bullet of the brutal guard, the loathsome scurvy, the hideous gangrene, + and the heartsickness of hope deferred, would find respite from pain low + in the barren sands of that hungry Southern soil. + </p> + <p> + Were every doom foretokened by appropriate omens, the ravens along our + route would have croaked themselves hoarse. + </p> + <p> + But, far from being oppressed by any presentiment of coming evil, we began + to appreciate and enjoy the picturesque grandeur of the scenery through + which we were moving. The rugged sternness of the Appalachian mountain + range, in whose rock-ribbed heart we had fought our losing fight, was now + softening into less strong, but more graceful outlines as we approached + the pine-clad, sandy plains of the seaboard, upon which Richmond is built. + We were skirting along the eastern base of the great Blue Ridge, about + whose distant and lofty summits hung a perpetual veil of deep, dark, but + translucent blue, which refracted the slanting rays of the morning and + evening sun into masses of color more gorgeous than a dreamer's + vision of an enchanted land. At Lynchburg we saw the famed Peaks of Otter—twenty + miles away—lifting their proud heads far into the clouds, like giant + watch-towers sentineling the gateway that the mighty waters of the James + had forced through the barriers of solid adamant lying across their path + to the far-off sea. What we had seen many miles back start from the + mountain sides as slender rivulets, brawling over the worn boulders, were + now great, rushing, full-tide streams, enough of them in any fifty miles + of our journey to furnish water power for all the factories of New + England. Their amazing opulence of mechanical energy has lain unutilized, + almost unnoticed; in the two and one-half centuries that the white man has + dwelt near them, while in Massachusetts and her near neighbors every rill + that can turn a wheel has been put into harness and forced to do its share + of labor for the benefit of the men who have made themselves its masters. + </p> + <p> + Here is one of the differences between the two sections: In the North man + was set free, and the elements made to do his work. In the South man was + the degraded slave, and the elements wantoned on in undisturbed freedom. + </p> + <p> + As we went on, the Valleys of the James and the Appomattox, down which our + way lay, broadened into an expanse of arable acres, and the faces of those + streams were frequently flecked by gem-like little islands. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch7" id="ch7"></a>CHAPTER VII. + </h2> + <p> + ENTERING RICHMOND—DISAPPOINTMENT AT ITS APPEARANCE—EVERYBODY + IN UNIFORM—CURLED DARLINGS OF THE CAPITAL—THE REBEL FLAG—LIBBY + PRISON —DICK TURNER—SEARCHING THE NEW COMERS. + </p> + <p> + Early on the tenth morning after our capture we were told that we were + about to enter Richmond. Instantly all were keenly observant of every + detail in the surroundings of a City that was then the object of the hopes + and fears of thirty-five millions of people—a City assailing which + seventy-five thousand brave men had already laid down their lives, + defending which an equal number had died, and which, before it fell, was + to cost the life blood of another one hundred and fifty thousand valiant + assailants and defenders. + </p> + <p> + So much had been said and written about Richmond that our boyish minds had + wrought up the most extravagant expectations of it and its defenses. We + anticipated seeing a City differing widely from anything ever seen before; + some anomaly of nature displayed in its site, itself guarded by imposing + and impregnable fortifications, with powerful forts and heavy guns, + perhaps even walls, castles, postern gates, moats and ditches, and all the + other panoply of defensive warfare, with which romantic history had made + us familiar. + </p> + <p> + We were disappointed—badly disappointed—in seeing nothing of + this as we slowly rolled along. The spires and the tall chimneys of the + factories rose in the distance very much as they had in other Cities we + had visited. We passed a single line of breastworks of bare yellow sand, + but the scrubby pines in front were not cut away, and there were no signs + that there had ever been any immediate expectation of use for the works. A + redoubt or two—without guns—could be made out, and this was + all. Grim-visaged war had few wrinkles on his front in that neighborhood. + They were then seaming his brow on the Rappahannock, seventy miles away, + where the Army of Northern Virginia and the Army of the Potomac lay + confronting each other. + </p> + <p> + At one of the stopping places I had been separated from my companions by + entering a car in which were a number of East Tennesseeans, captured in + the operations around Knoxville, and whom the Rebels, in accordance with + their usual custom, were treating with studied contumely. I had always had + a very warm side for these simple rustics of the mountains and valleys. I + knew much of their unwavering fidelity to the Union, of the firm + steadfastness with which they endured persecution for their country's + sake, and made sacrifices even unto death; and, as in those days I + estimated all men simply by their devotion to the great cause of National + integrity, (a habit that still clings to me) I rated these men very + highly. I had gone into their car to do my little to encourage them, and + when I attempted to return to my own I was prevented by the guard. <br><br><br><br> + <a name="p075" id="p075"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p075.jpg (46K)" src="images/p075.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + Crossing the long bridge, our train came to a halt on the other side of + the river with the usual clamor of bell and whistle, the usual seemingly + purposeless and vacillating, almost dizzying, running backward and forward + on a network of sidetracks and switches, that seemed unavoidably + necessary, a dozen years ago, in getting a train into a City. + </p> + <p> + Still unable to regain my comrades and share their fortunes, I was marched + off with the Tennesseeans through the City to the office of some one who + had charge of the prisoners of war. + </p> + <p> + The streets we passed through were lined with retail stores, in which + business was being carried on very much as in peaceful times. Many people + were on the streets, but the greater part of the men wore some sort of a + uniform. Though numbers of these were in active service, yet the wearing + of a military garb did not necessarily imply this. Nearly every + able-bodied man in Richmond was; enrolled in some sort of an organization, + and armed, and drilled regularly. Even the members of the Confederate + Congress were uniformed and attached, in theory at least, to the Home + Guards. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p077" id="p077"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p077.jpg (10K)" src="images/p077.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + It was obvious even to the casual glimpse of a passing prisoner of war, + that the City did not lack its full share of the class which formed so + large an element of the society of Washington and other Northern Cities + during the war—the dainty carpet soldiers, heros of the promenade + and the boudoir, who strutted in uniforms when the enemy was far off, and + wore citizen's clothes when he was close at hand. There were many + curled darlings displaying their fine forms in the nattiest of uniforms, + whose gloss had never suffered from so much as a heavy dew, let alone a + rainy day on the march. The Confederate gray could be made into a very + dressy garb. With the sleeves lavishly embroidered with gold lace, and the + collar decorated with stars indicating the wearer's rank—silver + for the field officers, and gold for the higher grade,—the feet + compressed into high-heeled, high-instepped boots, (no Virginian is + himself without a fine pair of skin-tight boots) and the head covered with + a fine, soft, broad-brimmed hat, trimmed with a gold cord, from which a + bullion tassel dangled several inches down the wearer's back, you + had a military swell, caparisoned for conquest—among the fair sex. + </p> + <p> + On our way we passed the noted Capitol of Virginia—a handsome marble + building,—of the column-fronted Grecian temple style. It stands in + the center of the City. Upon the grounds is Crawford's famous + equestrian statue of Washington, surrounded by smaller statues of other + Revolutionary patriots. + </p> + <p> + The Confederate Congress was then in session in the Capitol, and also the + Legislature of Virginia, a fact indicated by the State flag of Virginia + floating from the southern end of the building, and the new flag of the + Confederacy from the northern end. This was the first time I had seen the + latter, which had been recently adopted, and I examined it with some + interest. The design was exceedingly plain. Simply a white banner, with a + red field in the corner where the blue field with stars is in ours. The + two blue stripes were drawn diagonally across this field in the shape of a + letter X, and in these were thirteen white stars, corresponding to the + number of States claimed to be in the Confederacy. + </p> + <p> + The battle-flag was simply the red field. My examination of all this was + necessarily very brief. The guards felt that I was in Richmond for other + purposes than to study architecture, statuary and heraldry, and besides + they were in a hurry to be relieved of us and get their breakfast, so my + art-education was abbreviated sharply. + </p> + <p> + We did not excite much attention on the streets. Prisoners had by that + time become too common in Richmond to create any interest. Occasionally + passers by would fling opprobrious epithets at “the East Tennessee + traitors,” but that was all. + </p> + <p> + The commandant of the prisons directed the Tennesseeans to be taken to + Castle Lightning—a prison used to confine the Rebel deserters, among + whom they also classed the East Tennesseeans, and sometimes the West + Virginians, Kentuckians, Marylanders and Missourians found fighting + against them. Such of our men as deserted to them were also lodged there, + as the Rebels, very properly, did not place a high estimate upon this + class of recruits to their army, and, as we shall see farther along, + violated all obligations of good faith with them, by putting them among + the regular prisoners of war, so as to exchange them for their own men. + </p> + <p> + Back we were all marched to a street which ran parallel to the river and + canal, and but one square away from them. It was lined on both sides by + plain brick warehouses and tobacco factories, four and five stories high, + which were now used by the Rebel Government as prisons and military + storehouses. + </p> + <p> + The first we passed was Castle Thunder, of bloody repute. This occupied + the same place in Confederate history, that, the dungeons beneath the + level of the water did in the annals of the Venetian Council of Ten. It + was believed that if the bricks in its somber, dirt-grimed walls could + speak, each could tell a separate story of a life deemed dangerous to the + State that had gone down in night, at the behest of the ruthless + Confederate authorities. It was confidently asserted that among the + commoner occurrences within its confines was the stationing of a doomed + prisoner against a certain bit of blood-stained, bullet-chipped wall, and + relieving the Confederacy of all farther fear of him by the rifles of a + firing party. How well this dark reputation was deserved, no one but those + inside the inner circle of the Davis Government can say. It is safe to + believe that more tragedies were enacted there than the archives of the + Rebel civil or military judicature give any account of. The prison was + employed for the detention of spies, and those charged with the convenient + allegation of “treason against the Confederate States of America.” + It is probable that many of these were sent out of the world with as + little respect for the formalities of law as was exhibited with regard to + the 'suspects' during the French Revolution. + </p> + <p> + Next we came to Castle Lightning, and here I bade adieu to my Tennessee + companions. + </p> + <p> + A few squares more and we arrived at a warehouse larger than any of the + others. Over the door was a sign + </p> + <p> + THOMAS LIBBY & SON, + </p> + <p> + SHIP CHANDLERS AND GROCERS. + </p> + <p> + This was the notorious “Libby Prison,” whose name was + painfully familiar to every Union man in the land. Under the sign was a + broad entrance way, large enough to admit a dray or a small wagon. On one + side of this was the prison office, in which were a number of dapper, + feeble-faced clerks at work on the prison records. + </p> + <p> + As I entered this space a squad of newly arrived prisoners were being + searched for valuables, and having their names, rank and regiment recorded + in the books. Presently a clerk addressed as “Majah Tunnah,” + the man who was superintending these operations, and I scanned him with + increased interest, as I knew then that he was the ill-famed Dick Turner, + hated all over the North for his brutality to our prisoners. + </p> + <p> + He looked as if he deserved his reputation. Seen upon the street he would + be taken for a second or third class gambler, one in whom a certain amount + of cunning is pieced out by a readiness to use brute force. His face, + clean-shaved, except a “Bowery-b'hoy” goatee, was white, + fat, and selfishly sensual. Small, pig-like eyes, set close together, + glanced around continually. His legs were short, his body long, and made + to appear longer, by his wearing no vest—a custom common them with + Southerners. + </p> + <p> + His faculties were at that moment absorbed in seeing that no person + concealed any money from him. His subordinates did not search closely + enough to suit him, and he would run his fat, heavily-ringed fingers + through the prisoner's hair, feel under their arms and elsewhere + where he thought a stray five dollar greenback might be concealed. But + with all his greedy care he was no match for Yankee cunning. The prisoners + told me afterward that, suspecting they would be searched, they had taken + off the caps of the large, hollow brass buttons of their coats, carefully + folded a bill into each cavity, and replaced the cap. In this way they + brought in several hundred dollars safely. + </p> + <p> + There was one dirty old Englishman in the party, who, Turner was + convinced, had money concealed about his person. He compelled him to strip + off everything, and stand shivering in the sharp cold, while he took up + one filthy rag after another, felt over each carefully, and scrutinized + each seam and fold. I was delighted to see that after all his nauseating + work he did not find so much as a five cent piece. <br><br><br><br> + <a name="p080" id="p080"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p080.jpg (40K)" src="images/p080.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + It came my turn. I had no desire, in that frigid atmosphere, to strip down + to what Artemus Ward called “the skanderlous costoom of the Greek + Slave;” so I pulled out of my pocket my little store of wealth—ten + dollars in greenbacks, sixty dollars in Confederate graybacks—and + displayed it as Turner came up with, “There's all I have, sir.” + Turner pocketed it without a word, and did not search me. In after months, + when I was nearly famished, my estimation of “Majah Tunnah” + was hardly enhanced by the reflection that what would have purchased me + many good meals was probably lost by him in betting on a pair of queens, + when his opponent held a “king full.” + </p> + <p> + I ventured to step into the office to inquire after my comrades. One of + the whey-faced clerks said with the supercilious asperity characteristic + of gnat-brained headquarters attaches: + </p> + <p> + “Get out of here!” as if I had been a stray cur wandering in + in search of a bone lunch. + </p> + <p> + I wanted to feed the fellow to a pile-driver. The utmost I could hope for + in the way of revenge was that the delicate creature might some day make a + mistake in parting his hair, and catch his death of cold. + </p> + <p> + The guard conducted us across the street, and into the third story of a + building standing on the next corner below. Here I found about four + hundred men, mostly belonging to the Army of the Potomac, who crowded + around me with the usual questions to new prisoners: What was my Regiment, + where and when captured, and: + </p> + <p> + What were the prospects of exchange? + </p> + <p> + It makes me shudder now to recall how often, during the dreadful months + that followed, this momentous question was eagerly propounded to every new + comer: put with bated breath by men to whom exchange meant all that they + asked of this world, and possibly of the next; meant life, home, wife or + sweet-heart, friends, restoration to manhood, and self-respect —everything, + everything that makes existence in this world worth having. + </p> + <p> + I answered as simply and discouragingly as did the tens of thousands that + came after me: + </p> + <p> + “I did not hear anything about exchange.” + </p> + <p> + A soldier in the field had many other things of more immediate interest to + think about than the exchange of prisoners. The question only became a + living issue when he or some of his intimate friends fell into the enemy's + hands. + </p> + <p> + Thus began my first day in prison. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch8" id="ch8"></a>CHAPTER VIII + </h2> + <p> + INTRODUCTION TO PRISON LIFE—THE PEMBERTON BUILDING AND ITS OCCUPANTS + —NEAT SAILORS—ROLL CALL—RATIONS AND CLOTHING—CHIVALRIC + “CONFISCATION.” + </p> + <p> + I began acquainting myself with my new situation and surroundings. The + building into which I had been conducted was an old tobacco factory, + called the “Pemberton building,” possibly from an owner of + that name, and standing on the corner of what I was told were Fifteenth + and Carey streets. In front it was four stories high; behind but three, + owing to the rapid rise of the hill, against which it was built. + </p> + <p> + It fronted towards the James River and Kanawha Canal, and the James River—both + lying side by side, and only one hundred yards distant, with no + intervening buildings. The front windows afforded a fine view. To the + right front was Libby, with its guards pacing around it on the sidewalk, + watching the fifteen hundred officers confined within its walls. At + intervals during each day squads of fresh prisoners could be seen entering + its dark mouth, to be registered, and searched, and then marched off to + the prison assigned them. We could see up the James River for a mile or + so, to where the long bridges crossing it bounded the view. Directly in + front, across the river, was a flat, sandy plain, said to be General + Winfield Scott's farm, and now used as a proving ground for the guns + cast at the Tredegar Iron Works. + </p> + <p> + The view down the river was very fine. It extended about twelve miles, to + where a gap in the woods seemed to indicate a fort, which we imagined to + be Fort Darling, at that time the principal fortification defending the + passage of the James. + </p> + <p> + Between that point and where we were lay the river, in a long, broad + mirror-like expanse, like a pretty little inland lake. Occasionally a busy + little tug would bustle up or down, a gunboat move along with noiseless + dignity, suggestive of a reserved power, or a schooner beat lazily from + one side to the other. But these were so few as to make even more + pronounced the customary idleness that hung over the scene. The tug's + activity seemed spasmodic and forced—a sort of protest against the + gradually increasing lethargy that reigned upon the bosom of the waters + —the gunboat floated along as if performing a perfunctory duty, and + the schooners sailed about as if tired of remaining in one place. That + little stretch of water was all that was left for a cruising ground. + Beyond Fort Darling the Union gunboats lay, and the only vessel that + passed the barrier was the occasional flag-of-truce steamer. + </p> + <p> + The basement of the building was occupied as a store-house for the + taxes-in-kind which the Confederate Government collected. On the first + floor were about five hundred men. On the second floor—where I was—were + about four hundred men. These were principally from the First Division, + First Corps distinguished by a round red patch on their caps; First + Division, Second Corps, marked by a red clover leaf; and the First + Division, Third Corps, who wore a red diamond. They were mainly captured + at Gettysburg and Mine Run. Besides these there was a considerable number + from the Eighth Corps, captured at Winchester, and a large infusion of + Cavalry-First, Second and Third West Virginia—taken in Averill's + desperate raid up the Virginia Valley, with the Wytheville Salt Works as + an objective. + </p> + <p> + On the third floor were about two hundred sailors and marines, taken in + the gallant but luckless assault upon the ruins of Fort Sumter, in the + September previous. They retained the discipline of the ship in their + quarters, kept themselves trim and clean, and their floor as white as a + ship's deck. They did not court the society of the “sojers” + below, whose camp ideas of neatness differed from theirs. A few old + barnacle-backs always sat on guard around the head of the steps leading + from the lower rooms. They chewed tobacco enormously, and kept their + mouths filled with the extracted juice. Any luckless “sojer” + who attempted to ascend the stairs usually returned in haste, to avoid the + deluge of the filthy liquid. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p084" id="p084"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p084.jpg (26K)" src="images/p084.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + For convenience in issuing rations we were divided into messes of twenty, + each mess electing a Sergeant as its head, and each floor electing a + Sergeant-of-the-Floor, who drew rations and enforced what little + discipline was observed. + </p> + <p> + Though we were not so neat as the sailors above us, we tried to keep our + quarters reasonably clean, and we washed the floor every morning; getting + down on our knees and rubbing it clean and dry with rags. Each mess + detailed a man each day to wash up the part of the floor it occupied, and + he had to do this properly or no ration would be given him. While the + washing up was going on each man stripped himself and made close + examination of his garments for the body-lice, which otherwise would have + increased beyond control. Blankets were also carefully hunted over for + these “small deer.” + </p> + <p> + About eight o'clock a spruce little lisping rebel named Ross would + appear with a book, and a body-guard, consisting of a big Irishman, who + had the air of a Policeman, and carried a musket barrel made into a cane. + Behind him were two or three armed guards. The Sergeant-of-the-Floor + commanded: + </p> + <p> + “Fall in in four ranks for roll-call.” <br><br><br><br> + <a name="p086" id="p086"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p086.jpg (54K)" src="images/p086.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + We formed along one side of the room; the guards halted at the head of the + stairs; Ross walked down in front and counted the files, closely followed + by his Irish aid, with his gun-barrel cane raised ready for use upon any + one who should arouse his ruffianly ire. Breaking ranks we returned to our + places, and sat around in moody silence for three hours. We had eaten + nothing since the previous noon. Rising hungry, our hunger seemed to + increase in arithmetical ratio with every quarter of an hour. + </p> + <p> + These times afforded an illustration of the thorough subjection of man to + the tyrant Stomach. A more irritable lot of individuals could scarcely be + found outside of a menagerie than these men during the hours waiting for + rations. “Crosser than, two sticks” utterly failed as a + comparison. They were crosser than the lines of a check apron. Many could + have given odds to the traditional bear with a sore head, and run out of + the game fifty points ahead of him. It was astonishingly easy to get up a + fight at these times. There was no need of going a step out of the way to + search for it, as one could have a full fledged article of overwhelming + size on his hands at any instant, by a trifling indiscretion of speech or + manner. All the old irritating flings between the cavalry, the artillery + and the infantry, the older “first-call” men, and the later or + “Three-Hundred-Dollar-men,” as they were derisively dubbed, + between the different corps of the Army of the Potomac, between men of + different States, and lastly between the adherents and opponents of + McClellan, came to the lips and were answered by a blow with the fist, + when a ring would be formed around the combatants by a crowd, which would + encourage them with yells to do their best. In a few minutes one of the + parties to the fistic debate, who found the point raised by him not well + taken, would retire to the sink to wash the blood from his battered face, + and the rest would resume their seats and glower at space until some fresh + excitement roused them. For the last hour or so of these long waits hardly + a word would be spoken. We were too ill-natured to talk for amusement, and + there was nothing else to talk for. + </p> + <p> + This spell was broken about eleven o'clock by the appearance at the + head of the stairway of the Irishman with the gun-barrel cane, and his + singing out: + </p> + <p> + “Sargint uv the flure: fourtane min and a bread-box!” + </p> + <p> + Instantly every man sprang to his feet, and pressed forward to be one of + the favored fourteen. One did not get any more gyrations or obtain them + any sooner by this, but it was a relief, and a change to walk the half + square outside the prison to the cookhouse, and help carry the rations + back. + </p> + <p> + For a little while after our arrival in Richmond, the rations were + tolerably good. There had been so much said about the privations of the + prisoners that our Government had, after much quibbling and negotiation, + succeeded in getting the privilege of sending food and clothing through + the lines to us. Of course but a small part of that sent ever reached its + destination. There were too many greedy Rebels along its line of passage + to let much of it be received by those for whom it was intended. We could + see from our windows Rebels strutting about in overcoats, in which the box + wrinkles were still plainly visible, wearing new “U. S.” + blankets as cloaks, and walking in Government shoes, worth fabulous prices + in Confederate money. + </p> + <p> + Fortunately for our Government the rebels decided to out themselves off + from this profitable source of supply. We read one day in the Richmond + papers that “President Davis and his Cabinet had come to the + conclusion that it was incompatible with the dignity of a sovereign power + to permit another power with which it was at war, to feed and clothe + prisoners in its hands.” + </p> + <p> + I will not stop to argue this point of honor, and show its absurdity by + pointing out that it is not an unusual practice with nations at war. It is + a sufficient commentary upon this assumption of punctiliousness that the + paper went on to say that some five tons of clothing and fifteen tons of + food, which had been sent under a flag of truce to City Point, would + neither be returned nor delivered to us, but “converted to the use + of the Confederate Government.” + </p> + <p> + “And surely they are all honorable men!” + </p> + <p> + Heaven save the mark. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch9" id="ch9"></a>CHAPTER IX. + </h2> + <p> + BRANS OR PEAS—INSUFFICIENCY OF DARKY TESTIMONY—A GUARD KILLS A + PRISONER—PRISONERS TEAZE THE GUARDS—DESPERATE OUTBREAK. + </p> + <p> + But, to return to the rations—a topic which, with escape or + exchange, were to be the absorbing ones for us for the next fifteen + months. There was now issued to every two men a loaf of coarse bread—made + of a mixture of flour and meal—and about the size and shape of an + ordinary brick. This half loaf was accompanied, while our Government was + allowed to furnish rations, with a small piece of corned beef. + Occasionally we got a sweet potato, or a half-pint or such a matter of + soup made from a coarse, but nutritious, bean or pea, called variously + “nigger-pea,” “stock-pea,” or “cow-pea.” + </p> + <p> + This, by the way, became a fruitful bone of contention during our stay in + the South. One strong party among us maintained that it was a bean, + because it was shaped like one, and brown, which they claimed no pea ever + was. The other party held that it was a pea because its various names all + agreed in describing it as a pea, and because it was so full of bugs + —none being entirely free from insects, and some having as many as + twelve by actual count—within its shell. This, they declared, was a + distinctive characteristic of the pea family. The contention began with + our first instalment of the leguminous ration, and was still raging + between the survivors who passed into our lines in 1865. It waxed hot + occasionally, and each side continually sought evidence to support its + view of the case. Once an old darky, sent into the prison on some errand, + was summoned to decide a hot dispute that was raging in the crowd to which + I belonged. The champion of the pea side said, producing one of the + objects of dispute: + </p> + <p> + “Now, boys, keep still, till I put the question fairly. Now, uncle, + what do they call that there?” + </p> + <p> + The colored gentleman scrutinized the vegetable closely, and replied, + </p> + <p> + “Well, dey mos' generally calls 'em stock-peas, round + hyar aways.” + </p> + <p> + “There,” said the pea-champion triumphantly. + </p> + <p> + “But,” broke in the leader of the bean party, “Uncle, + don't they also call them beans?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, yes, chile, I spec dat lots of 'em does.” + </p> + <p> + And this was about the way the matter usually ended. + </p> + <p> + I will not attempt to bias the reader's judgment by saying which + side I believed to be right. As the historic British showman said, in + reply to the question as to whether an animal in his collection was a + rhinoceros or an elephant, “You pays your money and you takes your + choice.” + </p> + <p> + The rations issued to us, as will be seen above, though they appear + scanty, were still sufficient to support life and health, and months + afterward, in Andersonville, we used to look back to them as sumptuous. We + usually had them divided and eaten by noon, and, with the gnawings of + hunger appeased, we spent the afternoon and evening comfortably. We told + stories, paced up and down, the floor for exercise, played cards, sung, + read what few books were available, stood at the windows and studied the + landscape, and watched the Rebels trying their guns and shells, and so on + as long as it was daylight. Occasionally it was dangerous to be about the + windows. This depended wholly on the temper of the guards. One day a + member of a Virginia regiment, on guard on the pavement in front, + deliberately left his beat, walked out into the center of the street, + aimed his gun at a member of the Ninth West Virginia, who was standing at + a window near, and firing, shot him through the heart, the bullet passing + through his body, and through the floor above. The act was purely + malicious, and was done, doubtless, in revenge for some injury which our + men had done the assassin or his family. + </p> + <p> + We were not altogether blameless, by any means. There were few + opportunities to say bitterly offensive things to the guards, let pass + unimproved. + </p> + <p> + The prisoners in the third floor of the Smith building, adjoining us, had + their own way of teasing them. Late at night, when everybody would be + lying down, and out of the way of shots, a window in the third story would + open, a broomstick, with a piece nailed across to represent arms, and + clothed with a cap and blouse, would be protruded, and a voice coming from + a man carefully protected by the wall, would inquire: + </p> + <p> + “S-a-y, g-uarr-d, what time is it?” <br><br><br><br> <a + name="p091" id="p091"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p091.jpg (35K)" src="images/p091.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + If the guard was of the long suffering kind he would answer: + </p> + <p> + “Take yo' head back in, up dah; you kno hits agin all odahs to + do dat?” + </p> + <p> + Then the voice would say, aggravatingly, “Oh, well, go to —— + you —— Rebel ——, if you can't answer a civil + question.” + </p> + <p> + Before the speech was ended the guard's rifle would be at his + shoulder and he would fire. Back would come the blouse and hat in haste, + only to go out again the next instant, with a derisive laugh, and, + </p> + <p> + “Thought you were going to hurt somebody, didn't you, you + —— —— —— —— ——. + But, Lord, you can't shoot for sour apples; if I couldn't + shoot no better than you, Mr. Johnny Reb, I would ——” + </p> + <p> + By this time the guard, having his gun loaded again, would cut short the + remarks with another shot, which, followed up with similar remarks, would + provoke still another, when an alarm sounding, the guards at Libby and all + the other buildings around us would turn out. An officer of the guard + would go up with a squad into the third floor, only to find everybody up + there snoring away as if they were the Seven Sleepers. After relieving his + mind of a quantity of vigorous profanity, and threats to “buck and + gag” and cut off the rations of the whole room, the officer would + return to his quarters in the guard house, but before he was fairly + ensconced there the cap and blouse would go out again, and the maddened + guard be regaled with a spirited and vividly profane lecture on the + depravity of Rebels in general, and his own unworthiness in particular. + </p> + <p> + One night in January things took a more serious turn. The boys on the + lower floor of our building had long considered a plan of escape. There + were then about fifteen thousand prisoners in Richmond—ten thousand + on Belle Isle and five thousand in the buildings. Of these one thousand + five hundred were officers in Libby. Besides there were the prisoners in + Castles Thunder and Lightning. The essential features of the plan were + that at a preconcerted signal we at the second and third floors should + appear at the windows with bricks and irons from the tobacco presses, + which a should shower down on the guards and drive them away, while the + men of the first floor would pour out, chase the guards into the board + house in the basement, seize their arms, drive those away from around + Libby and the other prisons, release the officers, organize into regiments + and brigades, seize the armory, set fire to the public buildings and + retreat from the City, by the south side of the James, where there was but + a scanty force of Rebels, and more could be prevented from coming over by + burning the bridges behind us. + </p> + <p> + It was a magnificent scheme, and might have been carried out, but there + was no one in the building who was generally believed to have the + qualities of a leader. + </p> + <p> + But while it was being debated a few of the hot heads on the lower floor + undertook to precipitate the crisis. They seized what they thought was a + favorable opportunity, overpowered the guard who stood at the foot of the + stairs, and poured into the street. The other guards fell back and opened + fire on them; other troops hastened up, and soon drove them back into the + building, after killing ten or fifteen. We of the second and third floors + did not anticipate the break at that time, and were taken as much by + surprise as were the Rebels. Nearly all were lying down and many were + asleep. Some hastened to the windows, and dropped missiles out, but before + any concerted action could be taken it was seen that the case was + hopeless, and we remained quiet. + </p> + <p> + Among those who led in the assault was a drummer-boy of some New York + Regiment, a recklessly brave little rascal. He had somehow smuggled a + small four-shooter in with him, and when they rushed out he fired it off + at the guards. + </p> + <p> + After the prisoners were driven back, the Rebel officers came in and + vapored around considerably, but confined themselves to big words. They + were particularly anxious to find the revolver, and ordered a general and + rigorous search for it. The prisoners were all ranged on one side of the + room and carefully examined by one party, while another hunted through the + blankets and bundles. It was all in vain; no pistol could be found. The + boy had a loaf of wheat bread, bought from a baker during the day. It was + a round loaf, set together in two pieces like a biscuit. He pulled these + apart, laid the fourshooter between them, pressed the two halves together, + and went on calmly nibbling away at the loaf while the search was + progressing. + </p> + <p> + Two gunboats were brought up the next morning, and anchored in the canal + near us, with their heavy guns trained upon the building. It was thought + that this would intimidate as from a repetition of the attack, but our + sailors conceived that, as they laid against the shore next to us, they + could be easily captured, and their artillery made to assist us. A scheme + to accomplish this was being wrought out, when we received notice to move, + and it came to naught. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch10" id="ch10"></a>CHAPTER X. + </h2> + <p> + THE EXCHANGE AND THE CAUSE OF ITS INTERRUPTION—BRIEF RESUME OF THE + DIFFERENT CARTELS, AND THE DIFFICULTIES THAT LED TO THEIR SUSPENSION. + </p> + <p> + Few questions intimately connected with the actual operations of the + Rebellion have been enveloped with such a mass of conflicting statement as + the responsibility for the interruption of the exchange. Southern writers + and politicians, naturally anxious to diminish as much as possible the + great odium resting upon their section for the treatment of prisoners of + war during the last year and a half of the Confederacy's existence, + have vehemently charged that the Government of the United States + deliberately and pitilessly resigned to their fate such of its soldiers as + fell into the hands of the enemy, and repelled all advances from the Rebel + Government looking toward a resumption of exchange. It is alleged on our + side, on the other hand, that our Government did all that was possible, + consistent with National dignity and military prudence, to secure a + release of its unfortunate men in the power of the Rebels. + </p> + <p> + Over this vexed question there has been waged an acrimonious war of words, + which has apparently led to no decision, nor any convictions—the + disputants, one and all, remaining on the sides of the controversy + occupied by them when the debate began. + </p> + <p> + I may not be in possession of all the facts bearing upon the case, and may + be warped in judgment by prejudices in favor of my own Government's + wisdom and humanity, but, however this may be, the following is my firm + belief as to the controlling facts in this lamentable affair: + </p> + <p> + 1. For some time after the beginning of hostilities our Government refused + to exchange prisoners with the Rebels, on the ground that this might be + held by the European powers who were seeking a pretext for acknowledging + the Confederacy, to be admission by us that the war was no longer an + insurrection but a revolution, which had resulted in the 'de facto' + establishment of a new nation. This difficulty was finally gotten over by + recognizing the Rebels as belligerents, which, while it placed them on a + somewhat different plane from mere insurgents, did not elevate them to the + position of soldiers of a foreign power. + </p> + <p> + 2. Then the following cartel was agreed upon by Generals Dig on our side + and Hill on that of the Rebels: + </p> + <p> + HAXALL'S LANDING, ON JAMES RIVER, July 22, 1882. + </p> + <p> + The undersigned, having been commissioned by the authorities they + respectively represent to make arrangements for a general exchange of + prisoners of war, have agreed to the following articles: + </p> + <p> + ARTICLE I.—It is hereby agreed and stipulated, that all prisoners of + war, held by either party, including those taken on private armed vessels, + known as privateers, shall be exchanged upon the conditions and terms + following: + </p> + <p> + Prisoners to be exchanged man for man and officer for officer. Privateers + to be placed upon the footing of officers and men of the navy. + </p> + <p> + Men and officers of lower grades may be exchanged for officers of a higher + grade, and men and officers of different services may be exchanged + according to the following scale of equivalents: + </p> + <p> + A General-commanding-in-chief, or an Admiral, shall be exchanged for + officers of equal rank, or for sixty privates or common seamen. + </p> + <p> + A Commodore, carrying a broad pennant, or a Brigadier General, shall be + exchanged for officers of equal rank, or twenty privates or common seamen. + </p> + <p> + A Captain in the Navy, or a Colonel, shall be exchanged for officers of + equal rank, or for fifteen privates or common seamen. + </p> + <p> + A Lieutenant Colonel, or Commander in the Navy, shall be exchanged for + officers of equal rank, or for ten privates or common seamen. + </p> + <p> + A Lieutenant, or a Master in the Navy, or a Captain in the Army or marines + shall be exchanged for officers of equal rank, or six privates or common + seamen. + </p> + <p> + Master's-mates in the Navy, or Lieutenants or Ensigns in the Army, + shall be exchanged for officers of equal rank, or four privates or common + seamen. Midshipmen, warrant officers in the Navy, masters of merchant + vessels and commanders of privateers, shall be exchanged for officers of + equal rank, or three privates or common seamen; Second Captains, + Lieutenants or mates of merchant vessels or privateers, and all petty + officers in the Navy, and all noncommissioned officers in the Army or + marines, shall be severally exchanged for persons of equal rank, or for + two privates or common seamen; and private soldiers or common seamen shall + be exchanged for each other man for man. + </p> + <p> + ARTICLE II.—Local, State, civil and militia rank held by persons not + in actual military service will not be recognized; the basis of exchange + being the grade actually held in the naval and military service of the + respective parties. + </p> + <p> + ARTICLE III.—If citizens held by either party on charges of + disloyalty, or any alleged civil offense, are exchanged, it shall only be + for citizens. Captured sutlers, teamsters, and all civilians in the actual + service of either party, to be exchanged for persons in similar positions. + </p> + <p> + ARTICLE IV.—All prisoners of war to be discharged on parole in ten + days after their capture; and the prisoners now held, and those hereafter + taken, to be transported to the points mutually agreed upon, at the + expense of the capturing party. The surplus prisoners not exchanged shall + not be permitted to take up arms again, nor to serve as military police or + constabulary force in any fort, garrison or field-work, held by either of + the respective parties, nor as guards of prisoners, deposits or stores, + nor to discharge any duty usually performed by soldiers, until exchanged + under the provisions of this cartel. The exchange is not to be considered + complete until the officer or soldier exchanged for has been actually + restored to the lines to which he belongs. + </p> + <p> + ARTICLE V.—Each party upon the discharge of prisoners of the other + party is authorized to discharge an equal number of their own officers or + men from parole, furnishing, at the same time, to the other party a list + of their prisoners discharged, and of their own officers and men relieved + from parole; thus enabling each party to relieve from parole such of their + officers and men as the party may choose. The lists thus mutually + furnished, will keep both parties advised of the true condition of the + exchange of prisoners. + </p> + <p> + ARTICLE VI.—The stipulations and provisions above mentioned to be of + binding obligation during the continuance of the war, it matters not which + party may have the surplus of prisoners; the great principles involved + being, First, An equitable exchange of prisoners, man for man, or officer + for officer, or officers of higher grade exchanged for officers of lower + grade, or for privates, according to scale of equivalents. Second, That + privates and officers and men of different services may be exchanged + according to the same scale of equivalents. Third, That all prisoners, of + whatever arm of service, are to be exchanged or paroled in ten days from + the time of their capture, if it be practicable to transfer them to their + own lines in that time; if not, so soon thereafter as practicable. Fourth, + That no officer, or soldier, employed in the service of either party, is + to be considered as exchanged and absolved from his parole until his + equivalent has actually reached the lines of his friends. Fifth, That + parole forbids the performance of field, garrison, police, or guard or + constabulary duty. + </p> + <p> + JOHN A. DIX, Major General. + </p> + <p> + D. H. HILL, Major General, C. S. A. + </p> + <p> + SUPPLEMENTARY ARTICLES. + </p> + <p> + ARTICLE VII.—All prisoners of war now held on either side, and all + prisoners hereafter taken, shall be sent with all reasonable dispatch to + A. M. Aiken's, below Dutch Gap, on the James River, in Virginia, or + to Vicksburg, on the Mississippi River, in the State of Mississippi, and + there exchanged of paroled until such exchange can be effected, notice + being previously given by each party of the number of prisoners it will + send, and the time when they will be delivered at those points + respectively; and in case the vicissitudes of war shall change the + military relations of the places designated in this article to the + contending parties, so as to render the same inconvenient for the delivery + and exchange of prisoners, other places bearing as nearly as may be the + present local relations of said places to the lines of said parties, shall + be, by mutual agreement, substituted. But nothing in this article + contained shall prevent the commanders of the two opposing armies from + exchanging prisoners or releasing them on parole, at other points mutually + agreed on by said commanders. + </p> + <p> + ARTICLE VIII.—For the purpose of carrying into effect the foregoing + articles of agreement, each party will appoint two agents for the exchange + of prisoners of war, whose duty it shall be to communicate with each other + by correspondence and otherwise; to prepare the lists of prisoners; to + attend to the delivery of the prisoners at the places agreed on, and to + carry out promptly, effectually, and in good faith, all the details and + provisions of the said articles of agreement. + </p> + <p> + ARTICLE IX.—And, in case any misunderstanding shall arise in regard + to any clause or stipulation in the foregoing articles, it is mutually + agreed that such misunderstanding shall not affect the release of + prisoners on parole, as herein provided, but shall be made the subject of + friendly explanation, in order that the object of this agreement may + neither be defeated nor postponed. + </p> + <p> + JOHN A. DIX, Major General. D. H. HILL, Major General. C. S. A. + </p> + <p> + This plan did not work well. Men on both sides, who wanted a little rest + from soldiering, could obtain it by so straggling in the vicinity of the + enemy. Their parole—following close upon their capture, frequently + upon the spot—allowed them to visit home, and sojourn awhile where + were pleasanter pastures than at the front. Then the Rebels grew into the + habit of paroling everybody that they could constrain into being a + prisoner of war. Peaceable, unwarlike and decrepit citizens of Kentucky, + East Tennessee, West Virginia, Missouri and Maryland were “captured” + and paroled, and setoff against regular Rebel soldiers taken by us. + </p> + <p> + 3. After some months of trial of this scheme, a modification of the cartel + was agreed upon, the main feature of which was that all prisoners must be + reduced to possession, and delivered to the exchange officers either at + City Point, Va., or Vicksburg, Miss. This worked very well for some + months, until our Government began organizing negro troops. The Rebels + then issued an order that neither these troops nor their officers should + be held as amenable to the laws of war, but that, when captured, the men + should be returned to slavery, and the officers turned over to the + Governors of the States in which they were taken, to be dealt with + according to the stringent law punishing the incitement of servile + insurrection. Our Government could not permit this for a day. It was bound + by every consideration of National honor to protect those who wore its + uniform and bore its flag. The Rebel Government was promptly informed that + rebel officers and men would be held as hostages for the proper treatment + of such members of colored regiments as might be taken. + </p> + <p> + 4. This discussion did not put a stop to the exchange, but while it was + going on Vicksburg was captured, and the battle of Gettysburg was fought. + The first placed one of the exchange points in our hands. At the opening + of the fight at Gettysburg Lee captured some six thousand Pennsylvania + militia. He sent to Meade to have these exchanged on the field of battle. + Meade declined to do so for two reasons: first, because it was against the + cartel, which prescribed that prisoners must be reduced to possession; and + second, because he was anxious to have Lee hampered with such a body of + prisoners, since it was very doubtful if he could get his beaten army back + across the Potomac, let alone his prisoners. Lee then sent a communication + to General Couch, commanding the Pennsylvania militia, asking him to + receive prisoners on parole, and Couch, not knowing what Meade had done, + acceded to the request. Our Government disavowed Couch's action + instantly, and ordered the paroles to be treated as of no force, whereupon + the Rebel Government ordered back into the field twelve thousand of the + prisoners captured by Grant's army at Vicksburg. + </p> + <p> + 5. The paroling now stopped abruptly, leaving in the hands of both sides + the prisoners captured at Gettysburg, except the militia above mentioned. + The Rebels added considerably to those in their hands by their captures at + Chickamauga, while we gained a great many at Mission Ridge, Cumberland Gap + and elsewhere, so that at the time we arrived in Richmond the Rebels had + about fifteen thousand prisoners in their hands and our Government had + about twenty-five thousand. + </p> + <p> + 6. The rebels now began demanding that the prisoners on both sides be + exchanged—man for man—as far as they went, and the remainder + paroled. Our Government offered to exchange man for man, but declined—on + account of the previous bad faith of the Rebels—to release the + balance on parole. The Rebels also refused to make any concessions in + regard to the treatment of officers and men of colored regiments. + </p> + <p> + 7. At this juncture General B. F. Butler was appointed to the command of + the Department of the Blackwater, which made him an ex-officio + Commissioner of Exchange. The Rebels instantly refused to treat with him, + on the ground that he was outlawed by the proclamation of Jefferson Davis. + General Butler very pertinently replied that this only placed him nearer + their level, as Jefferson Davis and all associated with him in the Rebel + Government had been outlawed by the proclamation of President Lincoln. The + Rebels scorned to notice this home thrust by the Union General. + </p> + <p> + 8. On February 12, 1864, General Butler addressed a letter to the Rebel + Commissioner Ould, in which be asked, for the sake of humanity, that the + questions interrupting the exchange be left temporarily in abeyance while + an informal exchange was put in operation. He would send five hundred + prisoners to City Point; let them be met by a similar number of Union + prisoners. This could go on from day to day until all in each other's + hands should be transferred to their respective flags. + </p> + <p> + The five hundred sent with the General's letter were received, and + five hundred Union prisoners returned for them. Another five hundred, sent + the next day, were refused, and so this reasonable and humane proposition + ended in nothing. + </p> + <p> + This was the condition of affairs in February, 1864, when the Rebel + authorities concluded to send us to Andersonville. If the reader will fix + these facts in his minds I will explain other phases as they develop. + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch11" id="ch11"></a>CHAPTER XI. + </h2> + <p> + PUTTING IN THE TIME—RATIONS—COOKING UTENSILS—“FIAT” + SOUP—“SPOONING” —AFRICAN NEWSPAPER VENDERS—TRADING + GREENBACKS FOR CONFEDERATE MONEY —VISIT FROM JOHN MORGAN. + </p> + <p> + The Winter days passed on, one by one, after the manner described in a + former chapter,—the mornings in ill-nature hunger; the afternoons + and evenings in tolerable comfort. The rations kept growing lighter and + lighter; the quantity of bread remained the same, but the meat diminished, + and occasional days would pass without any being issued. Then we receive a + pint or less of soup made from the beans or peas before mentioned, but + this, too, suffered continued change, in the gradually increasing + proportion of James River water, and decreasing of that of the beans. + </p> + <p> + The water of the James River is doubtless excellent: it looks well—at + a distance—and is said to serve the purposes of ablution and + navigation admirably. There seems to be a limit however, to the extent of + its advantageous combination with the bean (or pea) for nutritive + purposes. This, though, was or view of the case, merely, and not shared in + to any appreciably extent by the gentlemen who were managing our boarding + house. We seemed to view the matter through allopathic spectacles, they + through homoeopathic lenses. We thought that the atomic weight of peas (or + beans) and the James River fluid were about equal, which would indicate + that the proper combining proportions would be, say a bucket of beans (or + peas) to a bucket of water. They held that the nutritive potency was + increased by the dilution, and the best results were obtainable when the + symptoms of hunger were combated by the trituration of a bucketful of the + peas-beans with a barrel of 'aqua jamesiana.' + </p> + <p> + My first experience with this “flat” soup was very + instructive, if not agreeable. I had come into prison, as did most other + prisoners, absolutely destitute of dishes, or cooking utensils. The + well-used, half-canteen frying-pan, the blackened quart cup, and the + spoon, which formed the usual kitchen outfit of the cavalryman in the + field, were in the haversack on my saddle, and were lost to me when I + separated from my horse. Now, when we were told that we were to draw soup, + I was in great danger of losing my ration from having no vessel in which + to receive it. There were but few tin cups in the prison, and these were, + of course, wanted by their owners. By great good fortune I found an empty + fruit can, holding about a quart. I was also lucky enough to find a piece + from which to make a bail. I next manufactured a spoon and knife combined + from a bit of hoop-iron. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p102" id="p102"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p102.jpg (19K)" src="images/p102.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + These two humble utensils at once placed myself and my immediate chums on + another plane, as far as worldly goods were concerned. We were better off + than the mass, and as well off as the most fortunate. It was a curious + illustration of that law of political economy which teaches that so-called + intrinsic value is largely adventitious. Their possession gave us + infinitely more consideration among our fellows than would the possession + of a brown-stone front in an eligible location, furnished with hot and + cold water throughout, and all the modern improvements. It was a place + where cooking utensils were in demand, and title-deeds to brown-stone + fronts were not. We were in possession of something which every one needed + every day, and, therefore, were persons of consequence and consideration + to those around us who were present or prospective borrowers. + </p> + <p> + On our side we obeyed another law of political economy: We clung to our + property with unrelaxing tenacity, made the best use of it in our + intercourse with our fellows, and only gave it up after our release and + entry into a land where the plenitude of cooking utensils of superior + construction made ours valueless. Then we flung them into the sea, with + little gratitude for the great benefit they had been to us. We were more + anxious to get rid of the many hateful recollections clustering around + them. + </p> + <p> + But, to return to the alleged soup: As I started to drink my first ration + it seemed to me that there was a superfluity of bugs upon its surface. + Much as I wanted animal food, I did not care for fresh meat in that form. + I skimmed them off carefully, so as to lose as little soup as possible. + But the top layer seemed to be underlaid with another equally dense. This + was also skimmed off as deftly as possible. But beneath this appeared + another layer, which, when removed, showed still another; and so on, until + I had scraped to the bottom of the can, and the last of the bugs went with + the last of my soup. I have before spoken of the remarkable bug fecundity + of the beans (or peas). This was a demonstration of it. Every scouped out + pea (or bean) which found its way into the soup bore inside of its shell + from ten to twenty of these hard-crusted little weevil. Afterward I drank + my soup without skimming. It was not that I hated the weevil less, but + that I loved the soup more. It was only another step toward a closer + conformity to that grand rule which I have made the guiding maxim of my + life: + </p> + <p> + 'When I must, I had better.' + </p> + <p> + I recommend this to other young men starting on their career. <br><br><br><br> + <a name="p103" id="p103"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p103.jpg (16K)" src="images/p103.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + The room in which we were was barely large enough for all of us to lie + down at once. Even then it required pretty close “spooning” + together —so close in fact that all sleeping along one side would + have to turn at once. It was funny to watch this operation. All, for + instance, would be lying on their right sides. They would begin to get + tired, and one of the wearied ones would sing out to the Sergeant who was + in command of the row— + </p> + <p> + “Sergeant: let's spoon the other way.” + </p> + <p> + That individual would reply: + </p> + <p> + “All right. Attention! LEFT SPOON!!” and the whole line would + at once flop over on their left sides. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img id="p104" alt="p104.jpg (17K)" src="images/p104.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + The feet of the row that slept along the east wall on the floor below us + were in a line with the edge of the outer door, and a chalk line drawn + from the crack between the door and the frame to the opposite wall would + touch, say 150 pairs of feet. They were a noisy crowd down there, and one + night their noise so provoked the guard in front of the door that he + called out to them to keep quiet or he would fire in upon them. They + greeted this threat with a chorus profanely uncomplimentary to the purity + of the guard's ancestry; they did not imply his descent a la Darwin, + from the remote monkey, but more immediate generation by a common domestic + animal. The incensed Rebel opened the door wide enough to thrust his gun + in, and he fired directly down the line of toes. His piece was apparently + loaded with buckshot, and the little balls must have struck the legs, + nipped off the toes, pierced the feet, and otherwise slightly wounded the + lower extremities of fifty men. The simultaneous shriek that went up was + deafening. It was soon found out that nobody had been hurt seriously, and + there was not a little fun over the occurrence. + </p> + <p> + One of the prisoners in Libby was Brigadier General Neal Dow, of Maine, + who had then a National reputation as a Temperance advocate, and the + author of the famous Maine Liquor Law. We, whose places were near the + front window, used to see him frequently on the street, accompanied by a + guard. He was allowed, we understood, to visit our sick in the hospital. + His long, snowy beard and hair gave him a venerable and commanding + appearance. + </p> + <p> + Newsboys seemed to be a thing unknown in Richmond. The papers were sold on + the streets by negro men. The one who frequented our section with the + morning journals had a mellow; rich baritone for which we would be glad to + exchange the shrill cries of our street Arabs. We long remembered him as + one of the peculiar features of Richmond. He had one unvarying formula for + proclaiming his wares. It ran in this wise: + </p> + <p> + “Great Nooze in de papahs! + </p> + <p> + “Great Nooze from Orange Coaht House, Virginny! + </p> + <p> + “Great Nooze from Alexandry, Virginny! + </p> + <p> + “Great Nooze from Washington City! + </p> + <p> + “Great Nooze from Chattanoogy, Tennessee! + </p> + <p> + “Great Nooze from Chahlston, Sou' Cahlina! + </p> + <p> + “Great Nooze in depapahs!” <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img id="p105" alt="p105.jpg (6K)" src="images/p105.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + It did not matter to him that the Rebels had not been at some of these + places for months. He would not change for such mere trifles as the entire + evaporation of all possible interest connected with Chattanooga and + Alexandria. He was a true Bourbon Southerner—he learned nothing and + forgot nothing. + </p> + <p> + There was a considerable trade driven between the prisoners and the guard + at the door. This was a very lucrative position for the latter, and men of + a commercial turn of mind generally managed to get stationed there. The + blockade had cut off the Confederacy's supplies from the outer + world, and the many trinkets about a man's person were in good + demand at high prices. The men of the Army of the Potomac, who were paid + regularly, and were always near their supplies, had their pockets filled + with combs, silk handkerchiefs, knives, neckties, gold pens, pencils, + silver watches, playing cards, dice, etc. Such of these as escaped + appropriation by their captors and Dick Turner, were eagerly bought by the + guards, who paid fair prices in Confederate money, or traded wheat bread, + tobacco, daily papers, etc., for them. + </p> + <p> + There was also considerable brokerage in money, and the manner of doing + this was an admirable exemplification of the folly of the “fiat” + money idea. The Rebels exhausted their ingenuity in framing laws to + sustain the purchasing power of their paper money. It was made legal + tender for all debts public and private; it was decreed that the man who + refused to take it was a public enemy; all the considerations of + patriotism were rallied to its support, and the law provided that any + citizens found trafficking in the money of the enemy—i.e., + greenbacks, should suffer imprisonment in the Penitentiary, and any + soldier so offending should suffer death. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img id="p106" alt="p106.jpg (31K)" src="images/p106.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + Notwithstanding all this, in Richmond, the head and heart of the + Confederacy, in January, 1864—long before the Rebel cause began to + look at all desperate—it took a dollar to buy such a loaf of bread + as now sells for ten cents; a newspaper was a half dollar, and everything + else in proportion. And still worse: There was not a day during our stay + in Richmond but what one could go to the hole in the door before which the + guard was pacing and call out in a loud whisper: + </p> + <p> + “Say, Guard: do you want to buy some greenbacks?” + </p> + <p> + And be sure that the reply would be, after a furtive glance around to see + that no officer was watching: + </p> + <p> + “Yes; how much do you want for them?” + </p> + <p> + The reply was then: “Ten for one.” + </p> + <p> + “All right; how much have you got?” + </p> + <p> + The Yankee would reply; the Rebel would walk to the farther end of his + beat, count out the necessary amount, and, returning, put up one hand with + it, while with the other he caught hold of one end of the Yankee's + greenback. At the word, both would release their holds simultaneously, the + exchange was complete, and the Rebel would pace industriously up and down + his beat with the air of the school boy who “ain't been a-doin' + nothing.” + </p> + <p> + There was never any risk in approaching any guard with a proposition of + this kind. I never heard of one refusing to trade for greenbacks, and if + the men on guard could not be restrained by these stringent laws, what + hope could there be of restraining anybody else? + </p> + <p> + One day we were favored with a visit from the redoubtable General John H. + Morgan, next to J. E. B. Stuart the greatest of Rebel cavalry leaders. He + had lately escaped from the Ohio Penitentiary. He was invited to Richmond + to be made a Major General, and was given a grand ovation by the citizens + and civic Government. He came into our building to visit a number of the + First Kentucky Cavalry (loyal)—captured at New Philadelphia, East + Tennessee—whom he was anxious to have exchanged for men of his own + regiment—the First Kentucky Cavalry (Rebel)—who were captured + at the same time he was. I happened to get very close to him while he was + standing there talking to his old acquaintances, and I made a mental + photograph of him, which still retains all its original distinctness. He + was a tall, heavy man, with a full, coarse, and somewhat dull face, and + lazy, sluggish gray eyes. His long black hair was carefully oiled, and + turned under at the ends, as was the custom with the rural beaux some + years ago. His face was clean shaved, except a large, sandy goatee. He + wore a high silk hat, a black broadcloth coat, Kentucky jeans pantaloons, + neatly fitting boots, and no vest. There was nothing remotely suggestive + of unusual ability or force of character, and I thought as I studied him + that the sting of George D. Prentice's bon mot about him was in its + acrid truth. Said Mr. Prentice: + </p> + <p> + “Why don't somebody put a pistol to Basil Duke's head, + and blow John Morgan's brains out!” [Basil Duke was John + Morgan's right hand man.] <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2 id="ch12">CHAPTER XII. + </h2> + <p> + REMARKS AS TO NOMENCLATURE—VACCINATION AND ITS EFFECTS—“N'YAARKER'S” + —THEIR CHARACTERISTICS AND THEIR METHODS OF OPERATING. + </p> + <p> + Before going any further in this narrative it may be well to state that + the nomenclature employed is not used in any odious or disparaging sense. + It is simply the adoption of the usual terms employed by the soldiers of + both sides in speaking to or of each other. We habitually spoke of them + and to them, as “Rebels,” and “Johnnies ;” they of + and to us, as “Yanks,” and “Yankees.” To have said + “Confederates,” “Southerners,” “Secessionists,” + or “Federalists,” “Unionists,” “Northerners” + or “Nationalists,” would have seemed useless euphemism. The + plainer terms suited better, and it was a day when things were more + important than names. + </p> + <p> + For some inscrutable reason the Rebels decided to vaccinate us all. Why + they did this has been one of the unsolved problems of my life. It is true + that there was small pox in the City, and among the prisoners at Danville; + but that any consideration for our safety should have led them to order + general inoculation is not among the reasonable inferences. But, be that + as it may, vaccination was ordered, and performed. By great good luck I + was absent from the building with the squad drawing rations, when our room + was inoculated, so I escaped what was an infliction to all, and fatal to + many. The direst consequences followed the operation. Foul ulcers appeared + on various parts of the bodies of the vaccinated. In many instances the + arms literally rotted off; and death followed from a corruption of the + blood. Frequently the faces, and other parts of those who recovered, were + disfigured by the ghastly cicatrices of healed ulcers. A special friend of + mine, Sergeant Frank Beverstock—then a member of the Third Virginia + Cavalry, (loyal), and after the war a banker in Bowling Green, O.,—bore + upon his temple to his dying day, (which occurred a year ago), a fearful + scar, where the flesh had sloughed off from the effects of the virus that + had tainted his blood. + </p> + <p> + This I do not pretend to account for. We thought at the time that the + Rebels had deliberately poisoned the vaccine matter with syphilitic virus, + and it was so charged upon them. I do not now believe that this was so; I + can hardly think that members of the humane profession of medicine would + be guilty of such subtle diabolism—worse even than poisoning the + wells from which an enemy must drink. The explanation with which I have + satisfied myself is that some careless or stupid practitioner took the + vaccinating lymph from diseased human bodies, and thus infected all with + the blood venom, without any conception of what he was doing. The low + standard of medical education in the South makes this theory quite + plausible. + </p> + <p> + We now formed the acquaintance of a species of human vermin that united + with the Rebels, cold, hunger, lice and the oppression of distraint, to + leave nothing undone that could add to the miseries of our prison life. + </p> + <p> + These were the fledglings of the slums and dives of New York—graduates + of that metropolitan sink of iniquity where the rogues and criminals of + the whole world meet for mutual instruction in vice. + </p> + <p> + They were men who, as a rule, had never known, a day of honesty and + cleanliness in their misspent lives; whose fathers, brothers and constant + companions were roughs, malefactors and, felons; whose mothers, wives and + sisters were prostitutes, procuresses and thieves; men who had from + infancy lived in an atmosphere of sin, until it saturated every fiber of + their being as a dweller in a jungle imbibes malaria by every one of his, + millions of pores, until his very marrow is surcharged with it. + </p> + <p> + They included representatives from all nationalities, and their + descendants, but the English and Irish elements predominated. They had an + argot peculiar to themselves. It was partly made up of the “flash” + language of the London thieves, amplified and enriched by the cant + vocabulary and the jargon of crime of every European tongue. They spoke it + with a peculiar accent and intonation that made them instantly + recognizable from the roughs of all other Cities. They called themselves + “N'Yaarkers;” we came to know them as “Raiders.” + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img id="p111" alt="p111.jpg (13K)" src="images/p111.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + If everything in the animal world has its counterpart among men, then + these were the wolves, jackals and hyenas of the race at once cowardly and + fierce—audaciously bold when the power of numbers was on their side, + and cowardly when confronted with resolution by anything like an equality + of strength. + </p> + <p> + Like all other roughs and rascals of whatever degree, they were utterly + worthless as soldiers. There may have been in the Army some habitual + corner loafer, some fistic champion of the bar-room and brothel, some + Terror of Plug Uglyville, who was worth the salt in the hard tack he + consumed, but if there were, I did not form his acquaintance, and I never + heard of any one else who did. It was the rule that the man who was the + readiest in the use of fist and slungshot at home had the greatest + diffidence about forming a close acquaintance with cold lead in the + neighborhood of the front. Thousands of the so-called “dangerous + classes” were recruited, from whom the Government did not receive so + much service as would pay for the buttons on their uniforms. People + expected that they would make themselves as troublesome to the Rebels as + they were to good citizens and the Police, but they were only pugnacious + to the provost guard, and terrible to the people in the rear of the Army + who had anything that could be stolen. + </p> + <p> + The highest type of soldier which the world has yet produced is the + intelligent, self-respecting American boy, with home, and father and + mother and friends behind him, and duty in front beckoning him on. In the + sixty centuries that war has been a profession no man has entered its + ranks so calmly resolute in confronting danger, so shrewd and energetic in + his aggressiveness, so tenacious of the defense and the assault, so + certain to rise swiftly to the level of every emergency, as the boy who, + in the good old phrase, had been “well-raised” in a Godfearing + home, and went to the field in obedience to a conviction of duty. His + unfailing courage and good sense won fights that the incompetency or + cankering jealousy of commanders had lost. High officers were occasionally + disloyal, or willing to sacrifice their country to personal pique; still + more frequently they were ignorant and inefficient; but the enlisted man + had more than enough innate soldiership to make amends for these + deficiencies, and his superb conduct often brought honors and promotions + to those only who deserved shame and disaster. + </p> + <p> + Our “N'Yaarkers,” swift to see any opportunity for + dishonest gain, had taken to bounty-jumping, or, as they termed it, + “leppin' the bounty,” for a livelihood. Those who were + thrust in upon us had followed this until it had become dangerous, and + then deserted to the Rebels. The latter kept them at Castle Lightning for + awhile, and then, rightly estimating their character, and considering that + it was best to trade them off for a genuine Rebel soldier, sent them in + among us, to be exchanged regularly with us. There was not so much good + faith as good policy shown by this. It was a matter of indifference to the + Rebels how soon our Government shot these deserters after getting them in + its hands again. They were only anxious to use them to get their own men + back. + </p> + <p> + The moment they came into contact with us our troubles began. They stole + whenever opportunities offered, and they were indefatigable in making + these offer; they robbed by actual force, whenever force would avail; and + more obsequious lick-spittles to power never existed—they were + perpetually on the look-out for a chance to curry favor by betraying some + plan or scheme to those who guarded us. + </p> + <p> + I saw one day a queer illustration of the audacious side of these fellows' + characters, and it shows at the same time how brazen effrontery will + sometimes get the better of courage. In a room in an adjacent building + were a number of these fellows, and a still greater number of East + Tennesseeans. These latter were simple, ignorant folks, but reasonably + courageous. About fifty of them were sitting in a group in one corner of + the room, and near them a couple or three “N'Yaarkers.” + Suddenly one of the latter said with an oath: + </p> + <p> + “I was robbed last night; I lost two silver watches, a couple of + rings, and about fifty dollars in greenbacks. I believe some of you + fellers went through me.” + </p> + <p> + This was all pure invention; he no more had the things mentioned than he + had purity of heart and a Christian spirit, but the unsophisticated + Tennesseeans did not dream of disputing his statement, and answered in + chorus: + </p> + <p> + “Oh, no, mister; we didn't take your things; we ain't + that kind.” + </p> + <p> + This was like the reply of the lamb to the wolf, in the fable, and the N'Yaarker + retorted with a simulated storm of passion, and a torrent of oaths: + </p> + <p> + “—— —— I know ye did; I know some uv yez has + got them; stand up agin the wall there till I search yez!” + </p> + <p> + And that whole fifty men, any one of whom was physically equal to the N'Yaarker, + and his superior in point of real courage, actually stood against the + wall, and submitted to being searched and having taken from them the few + Confederate bills they had, and such trinkets as the searcher took a fancy + to. + </p> + <p> + I was thoroughly disgusted. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2 id="ch13">CHAPTER XIII. + </h2> + <p> + BELLE ISLE—TERRIBLE SUFFERING FROM COLD AND HUNGER—FATE OF + LIEUTENANT BOISSEUX'S DOG—OUR COMPANY MYSTERY—TERMINATION + OF ALL HOPES OF ITS SOLUTION. + </p> + <p> + In February my chum—B. B. Andrews, now a physician in Astoria, + Illinois —was brought into our building, greatly to my delight and + astonishment, and from him I obtained the much desired news as to the fate + of my comrades. He told me they had been sent to Belle Isle, whither he + had gone, but succumbing to the rigors of that dreadful place, he had been + taken to the hospital, and, upon his convalesence, placed in our prison. + </p> + <p> + Our men were suffering terribly on the island. It was low, damp, and swept + by the bleak, piercing winds that howled up and down the surface of the + James. The first prisoners placed on the island had been given tents that + afforded them some shelter, but these were all occupied when our battalion + came in, so that they were compelled to lie on the snow and frozen ground, + without shelter, covering of any kind, or fire. During this time the cold + had been so intense that the James had frozen over three times. + </p> + <p> + The rations had been much worse than ours. The so-called soup had been + diluted to a ridiculous thinness, and meat had wholly disappeared. So + intense became the craving for animal food, that one day when Lieutenant + Boisseux—the Commandant—strolled into the camp with his + beloved white bull-terrier, which was as fat as a Cheshire pig, the latter + was decoyed into a tent, a blanket thrown over him, his throat cut within + a rod of where his master was standing, and he was then skinned, cut up, + cooked, and furnished a savory meal to many hungry men. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img id="p115" alt="p115.jpg (19K)" src="images/p115.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + When Boisseux learned of the fate of his four-footed friend he was, of + course, intensely enraged, but that was all the good it did him. The only + revenge possible was to sentence more prisoners to ride the cruel wooden + horse which he used as a means of punishment. + </p> + <p> + Four of our company were already dead. Jacob Lowry and John Beach were + standing near the gate one day when some one snatched the guard's + blanket from the post where he had hung it, and ran. The enraged sentry + leveled his gun and fired into the crowd. The balls passed through Lowry's + and Beach's breasts. Then Charley Osgood, son of our Lieutenant, a + quiet, fair-haired, pleasant-spoken boy, but as brave and earnest as his + gallant father, sank under the combination of hunger and cold. One + stinging morning he was found stiff and stark, on the hard ground, his + bright, frank blue eyes glazed over in death. + </p> + <p> + One of the mysteries of our company was a tall, slender, elderly + Scotchman, who appeared on the rolls as William Bradford. What his past + life had been, where he had lived, what his profession, whether married or + single, no one ever knew. He came to us while in Camp of Instruction near + Springfield, Illinois, and seemed to have left all his past behind him as + he crossed the line of sentries around the camp. He never received any + letters, and never wrote any; never asked for a furlough or pass, and + never expressed a wish to be elsewhere than in camp. He was courteous and + pleasant, but very reserved. He interfered with no one, obeyed orders + promptly and without remark, and was always present for duty. Scrupulously + neat in dress, always as clean-shaved as an old-fashioned gentleman of the + world, with manners and conversation that showed him to have belonged to a + refined and polished circle, he was evidently out of place as a private + soldier in a company of reckless and none-too-refined young Illinois + troopers, but he never availed himself of any of the numerous + opportunities offered to change his associations. His elegant penmanship + would have secured him an easy berth and better society at headquarters, + but he declined to accept a detail. He became an exciting mystery to a + knot of us imaginative young cubs, who sorted up out of the reminiscential + rag-bag of high colors and strong contrasts with which the sensational + literature that we most affected had plentifully stored our minds, a + half-dozen intensely emotional careers for him. We spent much time in + mentally trying these on, and discussing which fitted him best. We were + always expecting a denouement that would come like a lightning flash and + reveal his whole mysterious past, showing him to have been the + disinherited scion of some noble house, a man of high station, who was + expiating some fearful crime; an accomplished villain eluding his pursuers—in + short, a Somebody who would be a fitting hero for Miss Braddon's or + Wilkie Collins's literary purposes. We never got but two clues of + his past, and they were faint ones. One day, he left lying near me a small + copy of “Paradise Lost,” that he always carried with him. + Turning over its leaves I found all of Milton's bitter invectives + against women heavily underscored. Another time, while on guard with him, + he spent much of his time in writing some Latin verses in very elegant + chirography upon the white painted boards of a fence along which his beat + ran. We pressed in all the available knowledge of Latin about camp, and + found that the tenor of the verses was very uncomplimentary to that + charming sex which does us the honor of being our mothers and sweethearts. + These evidences we accepted as sufficient demonstration that there was a + woman at the bottom of the mystery, and made us more impatient for further + developments. These were never to come. Bradford pined away an Belle Isle, + and grew weaker, but no less reserved, each day. At length, one bitter + cold night ended it all. He was found in the morning stone dead, with his + iron-gray hair frozen fast to the ground, upon which he lay. Our mystery + had to remain unsolved. There was nothing about his person to give any + hint as to his past. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img id="p117" alt="p117.jpg (33K)" src="images/p117.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2 id="ch14">CHAPTER XIV. + </h2> + <p> + HOPING FOR EXCHANGE—AN EXPOSITION OF THE DOCTRINE OF CHANCES —OFF + FOR ANDERSONVILLE—UNCERTAINTY AS TO OUR DESTINATION—ARRIVAL AT + ANDERSONVILLE. + </p> + <p> + As each lagging day closed, we confidently expected that the next would + bring some news of the eagerly-desired exchange. We hopefully assured each + other that the thing could not be delayed much longer; that the Spring was + near, the campaign would soon open, and each government would make an + effort to get all its men into the field, and this would bring about a + transfer of prisoners. A Sergeant of the Seventh Indiana Infantry stated + his theory to me this way: + </p> + <p> + “You know I'm just old lightnin' on chuck-a-luck. Now + the way I bet is this: I lay down, say on the ace, an' it don't + come up; I just double my bet on the ace, an' keep on doublin' + every time it loses, until at last it comes up an' then I win a + bushel o' money, and mebbe bust the bank. You see the thing's + got to come up some time; an' every time it don't come up + makes it more likely to come up the next time. It's just the same + way with this 'ere exchange. The thing's got to happen some + day, an' every day that it don't happen increases the chances + that it will happen the next day.” + </p> + <p> + Some months later I folded the sanguine Sergeant's stiffening hands + together across his fleshless ribs, and helped carry his body out to the + dead-house at Andersonville, in order to get a piece of wood to cook my + ration of meal with. + </p> + <p> + On the evening of the 17th of February, 1864, we were ordered to get ready + to move at daybreak the next morning. We were certain this could mean + nothing else than exchange, and our exaltation was such that we did little + sleeping that night. The morning was very cold, but we sang and joked as + we marched over the creaking bridge, on our way to the cars. We were + packed so tightly in these that it was impossible to even sit down, and we + rolled slow ly away after a wheezing engine to Petersburg, whence we + expected to march to the exchange post. We reached Petersburg before noon, + and the cars halted there along time, we momentarily expecting an order to + get out. Then the train started up and moved out of the City toward the + southeast. This was inexplicable, but after we had proceeded this way for + several hours some one conceived the idea that the Rebels, to avoid + treating with Butler, were taking us into the Department of some other + commander to exchange us. This explanation satisfied us, and our spirits + rose again. + </p> + <p> + Night found us at Gaston, N. C., where we received a few crackers for + rations, and changed cars. It was dark, and we resorted to a little + strategy to secure more room. About thirty of us got into a tight box car, + and immediately announced that it was too full to admit any more. When an + officer came along with another squad to stow away, we would yell out to + him to take some of the men out, as we were crowded unbearably. In the + mean time everybody in the car would pack closely around the door, so as + to give the impression that the car was densely crowded. The Rebel would + look convinced, and demand: + </p> + <p> + “Why, how many men have you got in de cah?” + </p> + <p> + Then one of us would order the imaginary host in the invisible recesses to— + </p> + <p> + “Stand still there, and be counted,” while he would gravely + count up to one hundred or one hundred and twenty, which was the utmost + limit of the car, and the Rebel would hurry off to put his prisoners + somewhere else. We managed to play this successfully during the whole + journey, and not only obtained room to lie down in the car, but also drew + three or four times as many rations as were intended for us, so that while + we at no time had enough, we were farther from starvation than our less + strategic companions. + </p> + <p> + The second afternoon we arrived at Raleigh, the capitol of North Carolina, + and were camped in a piece of timber, and shortly after dark orders were + issued to us all to lie flat on the ground and not rise up till daylight. + About the middle of the night a man belonging to a New Jersey regiment, + who had apparently forgotten the order, stood up, and was immediately shot + dead by the guard. + </p> + <p> + For four or five days more the decrepit little locomotive strained along, + dragging after it the rattling' old cars. The scenery was intensely + monotonous. It was a flat, almost unending, stretch of pine barrens and + the land so poor that a disgusted Illinoisan, used to the fertility of the + great American Bottom, said rather strongly, that, + </p> + <p> + “By George, they'd have to manure this ground before they + could even make brick out of it.” + </p> + <p> + It was a surprise to all of us who had heard so much of the wealth of + Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, to find the soil a + sterile sand bank, interspersed with swamps. + </p> + <p> + We had still no idea of where we were going. We only knew that our general + course was southward, and that we had passed through the Carolinas, and + were in Georgia. We furbished up our school knowledge of geography and + endeavored to recall something of the location of Raleigh, Charlotte, + Columbia and Augusta, through which we passed, but the attempt was not a + success. + </p> + <p> + Late on the afternoon of the 25th of February the Seventh Indiana Sergeant + approached me with the inquiry: + </p> + <p> + “Do you know where Macon is?” + </p> + <p> + The place had not then become as well known as it was afterward. + </p> + <p> + It seemed to me that I had read something of Macon in Revolutionary + history, and that it was a fort on the sea coast. He said that the guard + had told him that we were to be taken to a point near that place, and we + agreed that it was probably a new place of exchange. A little later we + passed through the town of Macon, Ga, and turned upon a road that led + almost due south. + </p> + <p> + About midnight the train stopped, and we were ordered off. We were in the + midst of a forest of tall trees that loaded the air with the heavy + balsamic odor peculiar to pine trees. A few small rude houses were + scattered around near. + </p> + <p> + Stretching out into the darkness was a double row of great heaps of + burning pitch pine, that smoked and flamed fiercely, and lit up a little + space around in the somber forest with a ruddy glare. Between these two + rows lay a road, which we were ordered to take. + </p> + <p> + The scene was weird and uncanny. I had recently read the “Iliad,” + and the long lines of huge fires reminded me of that scene in the first + book, where the Greeks burn on the sea shore the bodies of those smitten + by Apollo's pestilential-arrows + </p> + <table> + <tr> + <td> + For nine long nights, through all the dusky air,<br> The pyres, thick + flaming shot a dismal glare.<br> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + Five hundred weary men moved along slowly through double lines of guards. + Five hundred men marched silently towards the gates that were to shut out + life and hope from most of them forever. A quarter of a mile from the + railroad we came to a massive palisade of great squared logs standing + upright in the ground. The fires blazed up and showed us a section of + these, and two massive wooden gates, with heavy iron hinges and bolts. + They swung open as we stood there and we passed through into the space + beyond. + </p> + <p> + We were in Andersonville. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2 id="ch15"></a>CHAPTER XV. + </h2> + <p> + GEORGIA—A LEAN AND HUNGRY LAND—DIFFERENCE BETWEEN UPPER AND + LOWER GEORGIA—THE PILLAGE OF ANDERSONVILLE. + </p> + <p> + As the next nine months of the existence of those of us who survived were + spent in intimate connection with the soil of Georgia, and, as it + exercised a potential influence upon our comfort and well-being, or rather + lack of these—a mention of some of its peculiar characteristics may + help the reader to a fuller comprehension of the conditions surrounding us—our + environment, as Darwin would say. + </p> + <p> + Georgia, which, next to Texas, is the largest State in the South, and has + nearly twenty-five per cent. more area than the great State of New York, + is divided into two distinct and widely differing sections, by a + geological line extending directly across the State from Augusta, on the + Savannah River, through Macon, on the Ocmulgee, to Columbus, on the + Chattahoochie. That part lying to the north and west of this line is + usually spoken of as “Upper Georgia;” while that lying to the + south and east, extending to the Atlantic Ocean and the Florida line, is + called “Lower Georgia.” In this part of the State—though + far removed from each other—were the prisons of Andersonville, + Savannah, Millen and Blackshear, in which we were incarcerated one after + the other. + </p> + <p> + Upper Georgia—the capital of which is Atlanta—is a fruitful, + productive, metalliferous region, that will in time become quite wealthy. + Lower Georgia, which has an extent about equal to that of Indiana, is not + only poorer now than a worn-out province of Asia Minor, but in all + probability will ever remain so. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img id="p123" alt="p123.jpg (63K)" src="images/p123.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + It is a starved, sterile land, impressing one as a desert in the first + stages of reclamation into productive soil, or a productive soil in the + last steps of deterioration into a desert. It is a vast expanse of arid, + yellow sand, broken at intervals by foul swamps, with a jungle-life growth + of unwholesome vegetation, and teeming With venomous snakes, and all + manner of hideous crawling thing. + </p> + <p> + The original forest still stands almost unbroken on this wide stretch of + thirty thousand square miles, but it does not cover it as we say of + forests in more favored lands. The tall, solemn pines, upright and + symmetrical as huge masts, and wholly destitute of limbs, except the + little, umbrella-like crest at the very top, stand far apart from each + other in an unfriendly isolation. There is no fraternal interlacing of + branches to form a kindly, umbrageous shadow. Between them is no genial + undergrowth of vines, shrubs, and demi-trees, generous in fruits, berries + and nuts, such as make one of the charms of Northern forests. On the + ground is no rich, springing sod of emerald green, fragrant with the + elusive sweetness of white clover, and dainty flowers, but a sparse, wiry, + famished grass, scattered thinly over the surface in tufts and patches, + like the hair on a mangy cur. + </p> + <p> + The giant pines seem to have sucked up into their immense boles all the + nutriment in the earth, and starved out every minor growth. So wide and + clean is the space between them, that one can look through the forest in + any direction for miles, with almost as little interference with the view + as on a prairie. In the swampier parts the trees are lower, and their + limbs are hung with heavy festoons of the gloomy Spanish moss, or “death + moss,” as it is more frequently called, because where it grows + rankest the malaria is the deadliest. Everywhere Nature seems sad, subdued + and somber. + </p> + <p> + I have long entertained a peculiar theory to account for the decadence and + ruin of countries. My reading of the world's history seems to teach + me that when a strong people take possession of a fertile land, they + reduce it to cultivation, thrive upon its bountifulness, multiply into + millions the mouths to be fed from it, tax it to the last limit of + production of the necessities of life, take from it continually, and give + nothing back, starve and overwork it as cruel, grasping men do a servant + or a beast, and when at last it breaks down under the strain, it revenges + itself by starving many of them with great famines, while the others go + off in search of new countries to put through the same process of + exhaustion. We have seen one country after another undergo this process as + the seat of empire took its westward way, from the cradle of the race on + the banks of the Oxus to the fertile plains in the Valley of the + Euphrates. Impoverishing these, men next sought the Valley of the Nile, + then the Grecian Peninsula; next Syracuse and the Italian Peninsula, then + the Iberian Peninsula, and the African shores of the Mediterranean. + Exhausting all these, they were deserted for the French, German and + English portions of Europe. The turn of the latter is now come; famines + are becoming terribly frequent, and mankind is pouring into the virgin + fields of America. + </p> + <p> + Lower Georgia, the Carolinas and Eastern Virginia have all the + characteristics of these starved and worn-out lands. It would seem as if, + away back in the distance of ages, some numerous and civilized race had + drained from the soil the last atom of food-producing constituents, and + that it is now slowly gathering back, as the centuries pass, the elements + that have been wrung from the land. + </p> + <p> + Lower Georgia is very thinly settled. Much of the land is still in the + hands of the Government. The three or four railroads which pass through it + have little reference to local traffic. There are no towns along them as a + rule; stations are made every ten miles, and not named, but numbered, as + “Station No. 4”—“No. 10”, etc. The roads + were built as through lines, to bring to the seaboard the rich products of + the interior. + </p> + <p> + Andersonville is one of the few stations dignified with a same, probably + because it contained some half dozen of shabby houses, whereas at the + others there was usually nothing more than a mere open shed, to shelter + goods and travelers. It is on a rudely constructed, rickety railroad, that + runs from Macon to Albany, the head of navigation on the Flint River, + which is, one hundred and six miles from Macon, and two hundred and fifty + from the Gulf of Mexico. Andersonville is about sixty miles from Macon, + and, consequently, about three hundred miles from the Gulf. The camp was + merely a hole cut in the wilderness. It was as remote a point from, our + armies, as they then lay, as the Southern Confederacy could give. The + nearest was Sherman, at Chattanooga, four hundred miles away, and on the + other side of a range of mountains hundreds of miles wide. + </p> + <p> + To us it seemed beyond the last forlorn limits of civilization. We felt + that we were more completely at the mercy of our foes than ever. While in + Richmond we were in the heart of the Confederacy; we were in the midst of + the Rebel military and, civil force, and were surrounded on every hand by + visible evidences of the great magnitude of that power, but this, while it + enforced our ready submission, did not overawe us depressingly, We knew + that though the Rebels were all about us in great force, our own men were + also near, and in still greater force—that while they were very + strong our army was still stronger, and there was no telling what day this + superiority of strength, might be demonstrated in such a way as to + decisively benefit us. + </p> + <p> + But here we felt as did the Ancient Mariner: + </p> + <table> + <tr> + <td> + Alone on a wide, wide sea,<br> So lonely 'twas that God himself<br> + Scarce seemed there to be.<br> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2 id="ch16">CHAPTER XVI. + </h2> + <p> + WAKING UP IN ANDERSONVILLE—SOME DESCRIPTION OF THE PLACE—OUR + FIRST MAIL—BUILDING SHELTER—GEN. WINDER—HIMSELF AND + LINEAGE. + </p> + <p> + We roused up promptly with the dawn to take a survey of our new abiding + place. We found ourselves in an immense pen, about one thousand feet long + by eight hundred wide, as a young surveyor—a member of the + Thirty-fourth Ohio—informed us after he had paced it off. He + estimated that it contained about sixteen acres. The walls were formed by + pine logs twenty-five feet long, from two to three feet in diameter, hewn + square, set into the ground to a depth of five feet, and placed so close + together as to leave no crack through which the country outside could be + seen. There being five feet of the logs in the ground, the wall was, of + course, twenty feet high. This manner of enclosure was in some respects + superior to a wall of masonry. It was equally unscalable, and much more + difficult to undermine or batter down. + </p> + <p> + The pen was longest due north and south. It was divided in the center by a + creek about a yard wide and ten inches deep, running from west to east. On + each side of this was a quaking bog of slimy ooze one hundred and fifty + feet wide, and so yielding that one attempting to walk upon it would sink + to the waist. From this swamp the sand-hills sloped north and south to the + stockade. All the trees inside the stockade, save two, had been cut down + and used in its construction. All the rank vegetation of the swamp had + also been cut off. + </p> + <p> + There were two entrances to the stockade, one on each side of the creek, + midway between it and the ends, and called respectively the “North + Gate” and the “South Gate.” These were constructed + double, by building smaller stockades around them on the outside, with + another set of gates. When prisoners or wagons with rations were brought + in, they were first brought inside the outer gates, which were carefully + secured, before the inner gates were opened. This was done to prevent the + gates being carried by a rush by those confined inside. + </p> + <p> + At regular intervals along the palisades were little perches, upon which + stood guards, who overlooked the whole inside of the prison. + </p> + <p> + The only view we had of the outside was that obtained by looking from the + highest points of the North or South Sides across the depression where the + stockade crossed the swamp. In this way we could see about forty acres at + a time of the adjoining woodland, or say one hundred and sixty acres + altogether, and this meager landscape had to content us for the next half + year. + </p> + <p> + Before our inspection was finished, a wagon drove in with rations, and a + quart of meal, a sweet potato and a few ounces of salt beef were issued to + each one of us. + </p> + <p> + In a few minutes we were all hard at work preparing our first meal in + Andersonville. The debris of the forest left a temporary abundance of + fuel, and we had already a cheerful fire blazing for every little squad. + There were a number of tobacco presses in the rooms we occupied in + Richmond, and to each of these was a quantity of sheets of tin, evidently + used to put between the layers of tobacco. The deft hands of the mechanics + among us bent these up into square pans, which were real handy cooking + utensils, holding about—a quart. Water was carried in them from the + creek; the meal mixed in them to a dough, or else boiled as mush in the + same vessels; the potatoes were boiled; and their final service was to + hold a little meal to be carefully browned, and then water boiled upon it, + so as to form a feeble imitation of coffee. I found my education at + Jonesville in the art of baking a hoe-cake now came in good play, both for + myself and companions. Taking one of the pieces of tin which had not yet + been made into a pan, we spread upon it a layer of dough about a half-inch + thick. Propping this up nearly upright before the fire, it was soon nicely + browned over. This process made it sweat itself loose from the tin, when + it was turned over and the bottom browned also. Save that it was destitute + of salt, it was quite a toothsome bit of nutriment for a hungry man, and I + recommend my readers to try making a “pone” of this kind once, + just to see what it was like. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img id="p130" alt="p130.jpg (10K)" src="images/p130.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + The supreme indifference with which the Rebels always treated the matter + of cooking utensils for us, excited my wonder. It never seemed to occur to + them that we could have any more need of vessels for our food than cattle + or swine. Never, during my whole prison life, did I see so much as a tin + cup or a bucket issued to a prisoner. Starving men were driven to all + sorts of shifts for want of these. Pantaloons or coats were pulled off and + their sleeves or legs used to draw a mess's meal in. Boots were + common vessels for carrying water, and when the feet of these gave way the + legs were ingeniously closed up with pine pegs, so as to form rude + leathern buckets. Men whose pocket knives had escaped the search at the + gates made very ingenious little tubs and buckets, and these devices + enabled us to get along after a fashion. + </p> + <p> + After our meal was disposed of, we held a council on the situation. Though + we had been sadly disappointed in not being exchanged, it seemed that on + the whole our condition had been bettered. This first ration was a decided + improvement on those of the Pemberton building; we had left the snow and + ice behind at Richmond—or rather at some place between Raleigh, N. + C., and Columbia, S. C.—and the air here, though chill, was not + nipping, but bracing. It looked as if we would have a plenty of wood for + shelter and fuel, it was certainly better to have sixteen acres to roam + over than the stiffing confines of a building; and, still better, it + seemed as if there would be plenty of opportunities to get beyond the + stockade, and attempt a journey through the woods to that blissful land + —“Our lines.” + </p> + <p> + We settled down to make the best of things. A Rebel Sergeant came in + presently and arranged us in hundreds. We subdivided these into messes of + twenty-five, and began devising means for shelter. Nothing showed the + inborn capacity of the Northern soldier to take care of himself better + than the way in which we accomplished this with the rude materials at our + command. No ax, spade nor mattock was allowed us by the Rebels, who + treated us in regard to these the same as in respect to culinary vessels. + The only tools were a few pocket-knives, and perhaps half-a-dozen hatchets + which some infantrymen-principally members of the Third Michigan—were + allowed to retain. Yet, despite all these drawbacks, we had quite a + village of huts erected in a few days,—nearly enough, in fact, to + afford tolerable shelter for the whole five hundred of us first-comers. + </p> + <p> + The wither and poles that grew in the swamp were bent into the shape of + the semi-circular bows that support the canvas covers of army wagons, and + both ends thrust in the ground. These formed the timbers of our dwellings. + They were held in place by weaving in, basket-wise, a network of briers + and vines. Tufts of the long leaves which are the distinguishing + characteristic of the Georgia pine (popularly known as the “long-leaved + pine”) were wrought into this network until a thatch was formed, + that was a fair protection against the rain—it was like the Irishman's + unglazed window-sash, which “kep' out the coarsest uv the + cold.” + </p> + <p> + The results accomplished were as astonishing to us as to the Rebels, who + would have lain unsheltered upon the sand until bleached out like + field-rotted flax, before thinking to protect themselves in this way. As + our village was approaching completion, the Rebel Sergeant who called the + roll entered. He was very odd-looking. The cervical muscles were distorted + in such a way as to suggest to us the name of “Wry-necked Smith,” + by which we always designated him. Pete Bates, of the Third Michigan, who + was the wag of our squad, accounted for Smith's condition by saying + that while on dress parade once the Colonel of Smith's regiment had + commanded “eyes right,” and then forgot to give the order + “front.” Smith, being a good soldier, had kept his eyes in the + position of gazing at the buttons of the third man to the right, waiting + for the order to restore them to their natural direction, until they had + become permanently fixed in their obliquity and he was compelled to go + through life taking a biased view of all things. + </p> + <p> + Smith walked in, made a diagonal survey of the encampment, which, if he + had ever seen “Mitchell's Geography,” probably reminded + him of the picture of a Kaffir village, in that instructive but awfully + dull book, and then expressed the opinion that usually welled up to every + Rebel's lips: + </p> + <p> + “Well, I'll be durned, if you Yanks don't just beat the + devil.” + </p> + <p> + Of course, we replied with the well-worn prison joke, that we supposed we + did, as we beat the Rebels, who were worse than the devil. + </p> + <p> + There rode in among us, a few days after our arrival, an old man whose + collar bore the wreathed stars of a Major General. Heavy white locks fell + from beneath his slouched hat, nearly to his shoulders. Sunken gray eyes, + too dull and cold to light up, marked a hard, stony face, the salient + feature of which was a thin-upped, compressed mouth, with corners drawn + down deeply—the mouth which seems the world over to be the index of + selfish, cruel, sulky malignance. It is such a mouth as has the school-boy—the + coward of the play ground, who delights in pulling off the wings of flies. + It is such a mouth as we can imagine some remorseless inquisitor to have + had—that is, not an inquisitor filled with holy zeal for what he + mistakenly thought the cause of Christ demanded, but a spleeny, envious, + rancorous shaveling, who tortured men from hatred of their superiority to + him, and sheer love of inflicting pain. + </p> + <p> + The rider was John H. Winder, Commissary General of Prisoners, Baltimorean + renegade and the malign genius to whose account should be charged the + deaths of more gallant men than all the inquisitors of the world ever slew + by the less dreadful rack and wheel. It was he who in August could point + to the three thousand and eighty-one new made graves for that month, and + exultingly tell his hearer that he was “doing more for the + Confederacy than twenty regiments.” <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img id="p132" alt="p132.jpg (13K)" src="images/p132.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + His lineage was in accordance with his character. His father was that + General William H. Winder, whose poltroonery at Bladensburg, in 1814, + nullified the resistance of the gallant Commodore Barney, and gave + Washington to the British. + </p> + <p> + The father was a coward and an incompetent; the son, always cautiously + distant from the scene of hostilities, was the tormentor of those whom the + fortunes of war, and the arms of brave men threw into his hands. + </p> + <p> + Winder gazed at us stonily for a few minutes without speaking, and, + turning, rode out again. + </p> + <p> + Our troubles, from that hour, rapidly increased. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch17" id="ch17"></a>CHAPTER XVII. + </h2> + <p> + THE PLANTATION NEGROS—NOT STUPID TO BE LOYAL—THEIR DITHYRAMBIC + MUSIC —COPPERHEAD OPINION OF LONGFELLOW. + </p> + <p> + The stockade was not quite finished at the time of our arrival—a gap + of several hundred feet appearing at the southwest corner. A gang of about + two hundred negros were at work felling trees, hewing legs, and placing + them upright in the trenches. We had an opportunity—soon to + disappear forever—of studying the workings of the “peculiar + institution” in its very home. The negros were of the lowest + field-hand class, strong, dull, ox-like, but each having in our eyes an + admixture of cunning and secretiveness that their masters pretended was + not in them. Their demeanor toward us illustrated this. We were the + objects of the most supreme interest to them, but when near us and in the + presence of a white Rebel, this interest took the shape of stupid, + open-eyed, open-mouthed wonder, something akin to the look on the face of + the rustic lout, gazing for the first time upon a locomotive or a steam + threshing machine. But if chance threw one of them near us when he thought + himself unobserved by the Rebels, the blank, vacant face lighted up with + an entirely different expression. He was no longer the credulous yokel who + believed the Yankees were only slightly modified devils, ready at any + instant to return to their original horn-and-tail condition and snatch him + away to the bluest kind of perdition; he knew, apparently quite as well as + his master, that they were in some way his friends and allies, and he lost + no opportunity in communicating his appreciation of that fact, and of + offering his services in any possible way. And these offers were sincere. + It is the testimony of every Union prisoner in the South that he was never + betrayed by or disappointed in a field-negro, but could always approach + any one of them with perfect confidence in his extending all the aid in + his power, whether as a guide to escape, as sentinel to signal danger, or + a purveyor of food. These services were frequently attended with the + greatest personal risk, but they were none the less readily undertaken. + This applies only to the field-hands; the house servants were treacherous + and wholly unreliable. Very many of our men who managed to get away from + the prisons were recaptured through their betrayal by house servants, but + none were retaken where a field hand could prevent it. + </p> + <p> + We were much interested in watching the negro work. They wove in a great + deal of their peculiar, wild, mournful music, whenever the character of + the labor permitted. They seemed to sing the music for the music's + sake alone, and were as heedless of the fitness of the accompanying words, + as the composer of a modern opera is of his libretto. One middle aged man, + with a powerful, mellow baritone, like the round, full notes of a French + horn, played by a virtuoso, was the musical leader of the party. He never + seemed to bother himself about air, notes or words, but improvised all as + he went along, and he sang as the spirit moved him. He would suddenly + break out with— + </p> + <p> + “Oh, he's gone up dah, nevah to come back agin,” + </p> + <p> + At this every darkey within hearing would roll out, in admirable + consonance with the pitch, air and time started by the leader— + </p> + <p> + “O-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o!” + </p> + <p> + Then would ring out from the leader as from the throbbing lips of a silver + trumpet, + </p> + <p> + “Lord bress him soul; I done hope he is happy now!” + </p> + <p> + And the antiphonal two hundred would chant back + </p> + <p> + “O-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o!” + </p> + <p> + And so on for hours. They never seemed to weary of singing, and we + certainly did not of listening to them. The absolute independence of the + conventionalities of tune and sentiment, gave them freedom to wander + through a kaleideoscopic variety of harmonic effects, as spontaneous and + changeful as the song of a bird. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img id="p135" alt="p135.jpg (28K)" src="images/p135.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + I sat one evening, long after the shadows of night had fallen upon the + hillside, with one of my chums—a Frank Berkstresser, of the Ninth + Maryland Infantry, who before enlisting was a mathematical tutor in + college at Hancock, Maryland. As we listened to the unwearying flow of + melody from the camp of the laborers, I thought of and repeated to him + Longfellow's fine lines: + </p> + <p> + THE SLAVE SINGING AT MIDNIGHT. + </p> + <table> + <tr> + <td> + And the voice of his devotion<br> Filled my soul with strong emotion;<br> + For its tones by turns were glad<br> Sweetly solemn, wildly sad.<br> + Paul and Silas, in their prison,<br> Sang of Christ, the Lord arisen,<br> + And an earthquake's arm of might<br> Broke their dungeon gates + at night.<br> But, alas, what holy angel<br> Brings the slave this + glad evangel<br> And what earthquake's arm of might.<br> + Breaks his prison gags at night.<br> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + Said I: “Now, isn't that fine, Berkstresser?” + </p> + <p> + He was a Democrat, of fearfully pro-slavery ideas, and he replied, + sententiously: + </p> + <p> + “O, the poetry's tolerable, but the sentiment's + damnable.” <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch18" id="ch18"></a>CHAPTER XVIII. + </h2> + <p> + SCHEMES AND PLANS TO ESCAPE—SCALING THE STOCKADE—ESTABLISHING + THE DEAD LINE—THE FIRST MAN KILLED. + </p> + <p> + The official designation of our prison was “Camp Sumpter,” but + this was scarcely known outside of the Rebel documents, reports and + orders. It was the same way with the prison five miles from Millen, to + which we were afterward transferred. The Rebels styled it officially + “Camp Lawton,” but we called it always “Millen.” + </p> + <p> + Having our huts finished, the next solicitude was about escape, and this + was the burden of our thoughts, day and night. We held conferences, at + which every man was required to contribute all the geographical knowledge + of that section of Georgia that he might have left over from his schoolboy + days, and also that gained by persistent questioning of such guards and + other Rebels as he had come in contact with. When first landed in the + prison we were as ignorant of our whereabouts as if we had been dropped + into the center of Africa. But one of the prisoners was found to have a + fragment of a school atlas, in which was an outline map of Georgia, that + had Macon, Atlanta, Milledgeville, and Savannah laid down upon it. As we + knew we had come southward from Macon, we felt pretty certain we were in + the southwestern corner of the State. Conversations with guards and others + gave us the information that the Chattahooche flowed some two score of + miles to the westward, and that the Flint lay a little nearer on the east. + Our map showed that these two united and flowed together into + Appalachicola Bay, where, some of us remembered, a newspaper item had said + that we had gunboats stationed. The creek that ran through the stockade + flowed to the east, and we reasoned that if we followed its course we + would be led to the Flint, down which we could float on a log or raft to + the Appalachicola. This was the favorite scheme of the party with which I + sided. Another party believed the most feasible plan was to go northward, + and endeavor to gain the mountains, and thence get into East Tennessee. + </p> + <p> + But the main thing was to get away from the stockade; this, as the French + say of all first steps, was what would cost. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p139" id="p139"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p139.jpg (37K)" src="images/p139.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + Our first attempt was made about a week after our arrival. We found two + logs on the east side that were a couple of feet shorter than the rest, + and it seemed as if they could be successfully scaled. About fifty of us + resolved to make the attempt. We made a rope twenty-five or thirty feet + long, and strong enough to bear a man, out of strings and strips of cloth. + A stout stick was fastened to the end, so that it would catch on the logs + on either side of the gap. On a night dark enough to favor our scheme, we + gathered together, drew cuts to determine each boy's place in the + line, fell in single rank, according to this arrangement, and marched to + the place. The line was thrown skillfully, the stick caught fairly in the + notch, and the boy who had drawn number one climbed up amid a suspense so + keen that I could hear my heart beating. It seemed ages before he reached + the top, and that the noise he made must certainly attract the attention + of the guard. It did not. We saw our comrade's. figure outlined + against the sky as he slid, over the top, and then heard the dull thump as + he sprang to the ground on the other side. “Number two,” was + whispered by our leader, and he performed the feat as successfully as his + predecessor. “Number, three,” and he followed noiselessly and + quickly. Thus it went on, until, just as we heard number fifteen drop, we + also heard a Rebel voice say in a vicious undertone: + </p> + <p> + “Halt! halt, there, d—n you!” + </p> + <p> + This was enough. The game was up; we were discovered, and the remaining + thirty-five of us left that locality with all the speed in our heels, + getting away just in time to escape a volley which a squad of guards, + posted in the lookouts, poured upon the spot where we had been standing. + </p> + <p> + The next morning the fifteen who had got over the Stockade were brought + in, each chained to a sixty-four pound ball. Their story was that one of + the N'Yaarkers, who had become cognizant of our scheme, had sought + to obtain favor in the Rebel eyes by betraying us. The Rebels stationed a + squad at the crossing place, and as each man dropped down from the + Stockade he was caught by the shoulder, the muzzle of a revolver thrust + into his face, and an order to surrender whispered into his ear. It was + expected that the guards in the sentry-boxes would do such execution among + those of us still inside as would prove a warning to other would-be + escapes. They were defeated in this benevolent intention by the readiness + with which we divined the meaning of that incautiously loud halt, and our + alacrity in leaving the unhealthy locality. + </p> + <p> + The traitorous N'Yaarker was rewarded with a detail into the + commissary department, where he fed and fattened like a rat that had + secured undisturbed homestead rights in the center of a cheese. When the + miserable remnant of us were leaving Andersonville months afterward, I saw + him, sleek, rotund, and well-clothed, lounging leisurely in the door of a + tent. He regarded us a moment contemptuously, and then went on conversing + with a fellow N'Yaarker, in the foul slang that none but such as he + were low enough to use. + </p> + <p> + I have always imagined that the fellow returned home, at the close of the + war, and became a prominent member of Tweed's gang. + </p> + <p> + We protested against the barbarity of compelling men to wear irons for + exercising their natural right of attempting to escape, but no attention + was paid to our protest. + </p> + <p> + Another result of this abortive effort was the establishment of the + notorious “Dead Line.” A few days later a gang of negros came + in and drove a line of stakes down at a distance of twenty feet from the + stockade. They nailed upon this a strip of stuff four inches wide, and + then an order was issued that if this was crossed, or even touched, the + guards would fire upon the offender without warning. + </p> + <p> + Our surveyor figured up this new contraction of our space, and came to the + conclusion that the Dead Line and the Swamp took up about three acres, and + we were left now only thirteen acres. This was not of much consequence + then, however, as we still had plenty of room. + </p> + <p> + The first man was killed the morning after the Dead-Line was put up. The + victim was a German, wearing the white crescent of the Second Division of + the Eleventh Corps, whom we had nicknamed “Sigel.” Hardship + and exposure had crazed him, and brought on a severe attack of St. Vitus's + dance. As he went hobbling around with a vacuous grin upon his face, he + spied an old piece of cloth lying on the ground inside the Dead Line. He + stooped down and reached under for it. At that instant the guard fired. + The charge of ball-and-buck entered the poor old fellow's shoulder + and tore through his body. He fell dead, still clutching the dirty rag + that had cost him his Life. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch19" id="ch19"></a>CHAPTER XIX. + </h2> + <p> + CAPT. HENRI WIRZ—SOME DESCRIPTION OF A SMALL-MINDED PERSONAGE, WHO + GAINED GREAT NOTORIETY—FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH HIS DISCIPLINARY + METHOD. + </p> + <p> + The emptying of the prisons at Danville and Richmond into Andersonville + went on slowly during the month of March. They came in by train loads of + from five hundred to eight hundred, at intervals of two or three days. By + the end of the month there were about five thousand in the stockade. There + was a fair amount of space for this number, and as yet we suffered no + inconvenience from our crowding, though most persons would fancy that + thirteen acres of ground was a rather limited area for five thousand men + to live, move and have their being a upon. Yet a few weeks later we were + to see seven times that many packed into that space. + </p> + <p> + One morning a new Rebel officer came in to superintend calling the roll. + He was an undersized, fidgety man, with an insignificant face, and a mouth + that protruded like a rabbit's. His bright little eyes, like those + of a squirrel or a rat, assisted in giving his countenance a look of + kinship to the family of rodent animals—a genus which lives by + stealth and cunning, subsisting on that which it can steal away from + stronger and braver creatures. He was dressed in a pair of gray trousers, + with the other part of his body covered with a calico garment, like that + which small boys used to wear, called “waists.” This was + fastened to the pantaloons by buttons, precisely as was the custom with + the garments of boys struggling with the orthography of words in two + syllables. Upon his head was perched a little gray cap. Sticking in his + belt, and fastened to his wrist by a strap two or three feet long, was one + of those formidable looking, but harmless English revolvers, that have ten + barrels around the edge of the cylinder, and fire a musket-bullet from the + center. The wearer of this composite costume, and bearer of this amateur + arsenal, stepped nervously about and sputtered volubly in very broken + English. He said to Wry-Necked Smith: + </p> + <p> + “Py Gott, you don't vatch dem dam Yankees glose enough! Dey + are schlippin' rount, and peatin' you efery dimes.” + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img id="p143" alt="p143.jpg (16K)" src="images/p143.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + This was Captain Henri Wirz, the new commandant of the interior of the + prison. There has been a great deal of misapprehension of the character of + Wirz. He is usually regarded as a villain of large mental caliber, and + with a genius for cruelty. He was nothing of the kind. He was simply + contemptible, from whatever point of view he was studied. Gnat-brained, + cowardly, and feeble natured, he had not a quality that commanded respect + from any one who knew him. His cruelty did not seem designed so much as + the ebullitions of a peevish, snarling little temper, united to a mind + incapable of conceiving the results of his acts, or understanding the pain + he was Inflicting. + </p> + <p> + I never heard anything of his profession or vocation before entering the + army. I always believed, however, that he had been a cheap clerk in a + small dry-goods store, a third or fourth rate book-keeper, or something + similar. Imagine, if you please, one such, who never had brains or + self-command sufficient to control himself, placed in command of + thirty-five thousand men. Being a fool he could not help being an + infliction to them, even with the best of intentions, and Wirz was not + troubled with good intentions. + </p> + <p> + I mention the probability of his having been a dry-goods clerk or + book-keeper, not with any disrespect to two honorable vocations, but + because Wirz had had some training as an accountant, and this was what + gave him the place over us. Rebels, as a rule, are astonishingly ignorant + of arithmetic and accounting, generally. They are good shots, fine + horsemen, ready speakers and ardent politicians, but, like all + noncommercial people, they flounder hopelessly in what people of this + section would consider simple mathematical processes. One of our constant + amusements was in befogging and “beating” those charged with + calling rolls and issuing rations. It was not at all difficult at times to + make a hundred men count as a hundred and ten, and so on. + </p> + <p> + Wirz could count beyond one hundred, and this determined his selection for + the place. His first move was a stupid change. We had been grouped in the + natural way into hundreds and thousands. He re-arranged the men in “squads” + of ninety, and three of these—two hundred and seventy men —into + a “detachment.” The detachments were numbered in order from + the North Gate, and the squads were numbered “one, two, three.” + On the rolls this was stated after the man's name. For instance, a + chum of mine, and in the same squad with me, was Charles L. Soule, of the + Third Michigan Infantry. His name appeared on the rolls: + </p> + <p> + “Chas. L. Soule, priv. Co. E, 8d Mich. Inf., 1-2.” + </p> + <p> + That is, he belonged to the Second Squad of the First Detachment. + </p> + <p> + Where Wirz got his, preposterous idea of organization from has always been + a mystery to me. It was awkward in every way—in drawing rations, + counting, dividing into messes, etc. + </p> + <p> + Wirz was not long in giving us a taste of his quality. The next morning + after his first appearance he came in when roll-call was sounded, and + ordered all the squads and detachments to form, and remain standing in + ranks until all were counted. Any soldier will say that there is no duty + more annoying and difficult than standing still in ranks for any + considerable length of time, especially when there is nothing to do or to + engage the attention. It took Wirz between two and three hours to count + the whole camp, and by that time we of the first detachments were almost + all out of ranks. Thereupon Wirz announced that no rations would be issued + to the camp that day. The orders to stand in ranks were repeated the next + morning, with a warning that a failure to obey would be punished as that + of the previous day had been. Though we were so hungry, that, to use the + words of a Thirty-Fifth Pennsylvanian standing next to me—his + “big intestines were eating his little ones up,” it was + impossible to keep the rank formation during the long hours. One man after + another straggled away, and again we lost our rations. That afternoon we + became desperate. Plots were considered for a daring assault to force the + gates or scale the stockade. The men were crazy enough to attempt anything + rather than sit down and patiently starve. Many offered themselves as + leaders in any attempt that it might be thought best to make. The + hopelessness of any such venture was apparent, even to famished men, and + the propositions went no farther than inflammatory talk. + </p> + <p> + The third morning the orders were again repeated. This time we succeeded + in remaining in ranks in such a manner as to satisfy Wirz, and we were + given our rations for that day, but those of the other days were + permanently withheld. + </p> + <p> + That afternoon Wirz ventured into camp alone. He was assailed with a storm + of curses and execrations, and a shower of clubs. He pulled out his + revolver, as if to fire upon his assailants. A yell was raised to take his + pistol away from him and a crowd rushed forward to do this. Without + waiting to fire a shot, he turned and ran to the gate for dear life. He + did not come in again for a long while, and never afterward without a + retinue of guards. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch20" id="ch20"></a>CHAPTER XX. + </h2> + <p> + PRIZE-FIGHT AMONG THE N'YAARKERS—A GREAT MANY FORMALITIES, AND + LITTLE BLOOD SPILT—A FUTILE ATTEMPT TO RECOVER A WATCH—DEFEAT + OF THE LAW AND ORDER PARTY. + </p> + <p> + One of the train-loads from Richmond was almost wholly made up of our old + acquaintances—the N'Yaarkers. The number of these had swelled + to four hundred or five hundred—all leagued together in the + fellowship of crime. + </p> + <p> + We did not manifest any keen desire for intimate social relations with + them, and they did not seem to hunger for our society, so they moved + across the creek to the unoccupied South Side, and established their camp + there, at a considerable distance from us. + </p> + <p> + One afternoon a number of us went across to their camp, to witness a fight + according to the rules of the Prize Ring, which was to come off between + two professional pugilists. These were a couple of bounty-jumpers who had + some little reputation in New York sporting circles, under the names of + the “Staleybridge Chicken” and the “Haarlem Infant.” + </p> + <p> + On the way from Richmond a cast-iron skillet, or spider, had been stolen + by the crowd from the Rebels. It was a small affair, holding a half + gallon, and worth to-day about fifty cents. In Andersonville its worth was + literally above rubies. Two men belonging to different messes each claimed + the ownership of the utensil, on the ground of being most active in + securing it. Their claims were strenuously supported by their respective + messes, at the heads of which were the aforesaid Infant and Chicken. A + great deal of strong talk, and several indecisive knock-downs resulted in + an agreement to settle the matter by wager of battle between the Infant + and Chicken. + </p> + <p> + When we arrived a twenty-four foot ring had been prepared by drawing a + deep mark in the sand. In diagonally opposite corners of these the seconds + were kneeling on one knee and supporting their principals on the other by + their sides they had little vessels of water, and bundles of rags to + answer for sponges. Another corner was occupied by the umpire, a + foul-mouthed, loud-tongued Tombs shyster, named Pete Bradley. A + long-bodied, short-legged hoodlum, nick-named “Heenan,” armed + with a club, acted as ring keeper, and “belted” back, + remorselessly, any of the spectators who crowded over the line. Did he see + a foot obtruding itself so much as an inch over the mark in the sand—and + the pressure from the crowd behind was so great that it was difficult for + the front fellows to keep off the line—his heavy club and a blasting + curse would fall upon the offender simultaneously. <br><br><br><br> + + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img id="p147" alt="p147.jpg (38K)" src="images/p147.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + Every effort was made to have all things conform as nearly as possible to + the recognized practices of the “London Prize Ring.” + </p> + <p> + At Bradley's call of “Time!” the principals would rise + from their seconds' knees, advance briskly to the scratch across the + center of the ring, and spar away sharply for a little time, until one got + in a blow that sent the other to the ground, where he would lie until his + second picked him up, carried him back, washed his face off, and gave him + a drink. He then rested until the next call of time. + </p> + <p> + This sort of performance went on for an hour or more, with the knockdowns + and other casualities pretty evenly divided between the two. Then it + became apparent that the Infant was getting more than he had storage room + for. His interest in the skillet was evidently abating, the leering grin + he wore upon his face during the early part of the engagement had + disappeared long ago, as the successive “hot ones” which the + Chicken had succeeded in planting upon his mouth, put it out of his power + to “smile and smile,” “e'en though he might still + be a villain.” He began coming up to the scratch as sluggishly as a + hired man starting out for his day's work, and finally he did not + come up at all. A bunch of blood soaked rags was tossed into the air from + his corner, and Bradley declared the Chicken to be the victor, amid + enthusiastic cheers from the crowd. + </p> + <p> + We voted the thing rather tame. In the whole hour and a-half there was not + so much savage fighting, not so much damage done, as a couple of earnest, + but unscientific men, who have no time to waste, will frequently crowd + into an impromptu affair not exceeding five minutes in duration. + </p> + <p> + Our next visit to the N'Yaarkers was on a different errand. The + moment they arrived in camp we began to be annoyed by their depredations. + Blankets—the sole protection of men—would be snatched off as + they slept at night. Articles of clothing and cooking utensils would go + the same way, and occasionally a man would be robbed in open daylight. All + these, it was believed, with good reason, were the work of the N'Yaarkers, + and the stolen things were conveyed to their camp. Occasionally + depredators would be caught and beaten, but they would give a signal which + would bring to their assistance the whole body of N'Yaarkers, and + turn the tables on their assailants. + </p> + <p> + We had in our squad a little watchmaker named Dan Martin, of the Eighth + New York Infantry. Other boys let him take their watches to tinker up, so + as to make a show of running, and be available for trading to the guards. + </p> + <p> + One day Martin was at the creek, when a N'Yaarker asked him to let + him look at a watch. Martin incautiously did so, when the N'Yaarker + snatched it and sped away to the camp of his crowd. Martin ran back to us + and told his story. This was the last feather which was to break the camel's + back of our patience. Peter Bates, of the Third Michigan, the Sergeant of + our squad, had considerable confidence in his muscular ability. He flamed + up into mighty wrath, and swore a sulphurous oath that we would get that + watch back, whereupon about two hundred of us avowed our willingness to + help reclaim it. + </p> + <p> + Each of us providing ourselves with a club, we started on our errand. The + rest of the camp—about four thousand—gathered on the hillside + to watch us. We thought they might have sent us some assistance, as it was + about as much their fight as ours, but they did not, and we were too proud + to ask it. The crossing of the swamp was quite difficult. Only one could + go over at a time, and he very slowly. The N'Yaarkers understood + that trouble was pending, and they began mustering to receive us. From the + way they turned out it was evident that we should have come over with + three hundred instead of two hundred, but it was too late then to alter + the program. As we came up a stalwart Irishman stepped out and asked us + what we wanted. + </p> + <p> + Bates replied: “We have come over to get a watch that one of your + fellows took from one of ours, and by —- we're going to have + it.” + </p> + <p> + The Irishman's reply was equally explicit though not strictly + logical in construction. Said he: “We havn't got your watch, + and be ye can't have it.” + </p> + <p> + This joined the issue just as fairly as if it had been done by all the + documentary formula that passed between Turkey and Russia prior to the + late war. Bates and the Irishman then exchanged very derogatory opinions + of each other, and began striking with their clubs. The rest of us took + this as our cue, and each, selecting as small a N'Yaarker as we + could readily find, sailed in. + </p> + <p> + There is a very expressive bit of slang coming into general use in the + West, which speaks of a man “biting off more than he can chew.” + </p> + <p> + That is what we had done. We had taken a contract that we should have + divided, and sub-let the bigger half. Two minutes after the engagement + became general there was no doubt that we would have been much better off + if we had staid on our own side of the creek. The watch was a very poor + one, anyhow. We thought we would just say good day to our N'Yaark + friends, and return home hastily. But they declined to be left so + precipitately. They wanted to stay with us awhile. It was lots of fun for + them, and for the four thousand yelling spectators on the opposite hill, + who were greatly enjoying our discomfiture. There was hardly enough of the + amusement to go clear around, however, and it all fell short just before + it reached us. We earnestly wished that some of the boys would come over + and help us let go of the N'Yaarkers, but they were enjoying the + thing too much to interfere. + </p> + <p> + We were driven down the hill, pell-mell, with the N'Yaarkers + pursuing hotly with yell and blow. At the swamp we tried to make a stand + to secure our passage across, but it was only partially successful. Very + few got back without some severe hurts, and many received blows that + greatly hastened their deaths. + </p> + <p> + After this the N'Yaarkers became bolder in their robberies, and more + arrogant in their demeanor than ever, and we had the poor revenge upon + those who would not assist us, of seeing a reign of terror inaugurated + over the whole camp. <br><br><br><br> <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch21" id="ch21"></a>CHAPTER XXI. + </h2> + <p> + DIMINISHING RATIONS—A DEADLY COLD RAIN—HOVERING OVER PITCH + PINE FIRES —INCREASE ON MORTALITY—A THEORY OF HEALTH. + </p> + <p> + The rations diminished perceptibly day by day. When we first entered we + each received something over a quart of tolerably good meal, a sweet + potato, a piece of meat about the size of one's two fingers, and + occasionally a spoonful of salt. First the salt disappeared. Then the + sweet potato took unto itself wings and flew away, never to return. An + attempt was ostensibly made to issue us cow-peas instead, and the first + issue was only a quart to a detachment of two hundred and seventy men. + This has two-thirds of a pint to each squad of ninety, and made but a few + spoonfuls for each of the four messes in the squad. When it came to + dividing among the men, the beans had to be counted. Nobody received + enough to pay for cooking, and we were at a loss what to do until somebody + suggested that we play poker for them. This met general acceptance, and + after that, as long as beans were drawn, a large portion of the day was + spent in absorbing games of “bluff” and “draw,” at + a bean “ante,” and no “limit.” + </p> + <p> + After a number of hours' diligent playing, some lucky or skillful + player would be in possession of all the beans in a mess, a squad, and + sometimes a detachment, and have enough for a good meal. + </p> + <p> + Next the meal began to diminish in quantity and deteriorate in quality. It + became so exceedingly coarse that the common remark was that the next step + would be to bring us the corn in the shock, and feed it to us like stock. + Then meat followed suit with the rest. The rations decreased in size, and + the number of days that we did not get any, kept constantly increasing in + proportion to the days that we did, until eventually the meat bade us a + final adieu, and joined the sweet potato in that undiscovered country from + whose bourne no ration ever returned. + </p> + <p> + The fuel and building material in the stockade were speedily exhausted. + The later comers had nothing whatever to build shelter with. + </p> + <p> + But, after the Spring rains had fairly set in, it seemed that we had not + tasted misery until then. About the middle of March the windows of heaven + opened, and it began a rain like that of the time of Noah. It was tropical + in quantity and persistency, and arctic in temperature. For dreary hours + that lengthened into weary days and nights, and these again into + never-ending weeks, the driving, drenching flood poured down upon the + sodden earth, searching the very marrow of the five thousand hapless men + against whose chilled frames it beat with pitiless monotony, and soaked + the sand bank upon which we lay until it was like a sponge filled with + ice-water. It seems to me now that it must have been two or three weeks + that the sun was wholly hidden behind the dripping clouds, not shining out + once in all that time. The intervals when it did not rain were rare and + short. An hour's respite would be followed by a day of steady, + regular pelting of the great rain drops. + </p> + <p> + I find that the report of the Smithsonian Institute gives the average + annual rainfall in the section around Andersonville, at fifty-six inches + —nearly five feet—while that of foggy England is only + thirty-two. Our experience would lead me to think that we got the five + feet all at once. + </p> + <p> + We first comers, who had huts, were measurably better off than the later + arrivals. It was much drier in our leaf-thatched tents, and we were spared + much of the annoyance that comes from the steady dash of rain against the + body for hours. + </p> + <p> + The condition of those who had no tents was truly pitiable. + </p> + <p> + They sat or lay on the hill-side the live-long day and night, and took the + washing flow with such gloomy composure as they could muster. + </p> + <p> + All soldiers will agree with me that there is no campaigning hardship + comparable to a cold rain. One can brace up against the extremes of heat + and cold, and mitigate their inclemency in various ways. But there is no + escaping a long-continued, chilling rain. It seems to penetrate to the + heart, and leach away the very vital force. + </p> + <p> + The only relief attainable was found in huddling over little fires kept + alive by small groups with their slender stocks of wood. As this wood was + all pitch-pine, that burned with a very sooty flame, the effect upon the + appearance of the hoverers was, startling. Face, neck and hands became + covered with mixture of lampblack and turpentine, forming a coating as + thick as heavy brown paper, and absolutely irremovable by water alone. The + hair also became of midnight blackness, and gummed up into elflocks of + fantastic shape and effect. Any one of us could have gone on the negro + minstrel stage, without changing a hair, and put to blush the most + elaborate make-up of the grotesque burnt-cork artists. + </p> + <p> + No wood was issued to us. The only way of getting it was to stand around + the gate for hours until a guard off duty could be coaxed or hired to + accompany a small party to the woods, to bring back a load of such knots + and limbs as could be picked up. Our chief persuaders to the guards to do + us this favor were rings, pencils, knives, combs, and such trifles as we + might have in our pockets, and, more especially, the brass buttons on our + uniforms. Rebel soldiers, like Indians, negros and other imperfectly + civilized people, were passionately fond of bright and gaudy things. A + handful of brass buttons would catch every one of them as swiftly and as + surely as a piece of red flannel will a gudgeon. Our regular fee for an + escort for three of us to the woods was six over-coat or dress-coat + buttons, or ten or twelve jacket buttons. All in the mess contributed to + this fund, and the fuel obtained was carefully guarded and husbanded. + </p> + <p> + This manner of conducting the wood business is a fair sample of the + management, or rather the lack of it, of every other detail of prison + administration. All the hardships we suffered from lack of fuel and + shelter could have been prevented without the slightest expense or trouble + to the Confederacy. Two hundred men allowed to go out on parole, and + supplied with ages, would have brought in from the adjacent woods, in a + week's time, enough material to make everybody comfortable tents, + and to supply all the fuel needed. + </p> + <p> + The mortality caused by the storm was, of course, very great. The official + report says the total number in the prison in March was four thousand six + hundred and three, of whom two hundred and eighty-three died. + </p> + <p> + Among the first to die was the one whom we expected to live longest. He + was by much the largest man in prison, and was called, because of this, + “BIG JOE.” He was a Sergeant in the Fifth Pennsylvania + Cavalry, and seemed the picture of health. One morning the news ran + through the prison that “Big Joe is dead,” and a visit to his + squad showed his stiff, lifeless form, occupying as much ground as Goliath's, + after his encounter with David. + </p> + <p> + His early demise was an example of a general law, the workings of which + few in the army failed to notice. It was always the large and strong who + first succumbed to hardship. The stalwart, huge-limbed, toil-inured men + sank down earliest on the march, yielded soonest to malarial influences, + and fell first under the combined effects of home-sickness, exposure and + the privations of army life. The slender, withy boys, as supple and weak + as cats, had apparently the nine lives of those animals. There were few + exceptions to this rule in the army—there were none in + Andersonville. I can recall few or no instances where a large, strong, + “hearty” man lived through a few months of imprisonment. The + survivors were invariably youths, at the verge of manhood,—slender, + quick, active, medium-statured fellows, of a cheerful temperament, in whom + one would have expected comparatively little powers of endurance. + </p> + <p> + The theory which I constructed for my own private use in accounting for + this phenomenon I offer with proper diffidence to others who may be in + search of a hypothesis to explain facts that they have observed. It is + this: + </p> + <p> + a. The circulation of the blood maintains health, and consequently life by + carrying away from the various parts of the body the particles of worn-out + and poisonous tissue, and replacing them with fresh, structure-building + material. + </p> + <p> + b. The man is healthiest in whom this process goes on most freely and + continuously. + </p> + <p> + c. Men of considerable muscular power are disposed to be sluggish; the + exertion of great strength does not favor circulation. It rather retards + it, and disturbs its equilibrium by congesting the blood in quantities in + the sets of muscles called into action. + </p> + <p> + d. In light, active men, on the other hand, the circulation goes on + perfectly and evenly, because all the parts are put in motion, and kept so + in such a manner as to promote the movement of the blood to every + extremity. They do not strain one set of muscles by long continued effort, + as a strong man does, but call one into play after another. + </p> + <p> + There is no compulsion on the reader to accept this speculation at any + valuation whatever. There is not even any charge for it. I will lay down + this simple axiom: + </p> + <p> + No strong man, is a healthy man + </p> + <p> + from the athlete in the circus who lifts pieces of artillery and catches + cannon balls, to the exhibition swell in a country gymnasium. If my theory + is not a sufficient explanation of this, there is nothing to prevent the + reader from building up one to suit him better. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch22" id="ch22"></a>CHAPTER XXII. + </h2> + <p> + DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ALABAMIANS AND GEORGIANS—DEATH OF “POLL + PARROTT” —A GOOD JOKE UPON THE GUARD—A BRUTAL RASCAL. + </p> + <p> + There were two regiments guarding us—the Twenty-Sixth Alabama and + the Fifty-Fifth Georgia. Never were two regiments of the same army more + different. The Alabamians were the superiors of the Georgians in every way + that one set of men could be superior to another. They were manly, + soldierly, and honorable, where the Georgians were treacherous and brutal. + We had nothing to complain of at the hands of the Alabamians; we suffered + from the Georgians everything that mean-spirited cruelty could devise. The + Georgians were always on the look-out for something that they could + torture into such apparent violation of orders, as would justify them in + shooting men down; the Alabamians never fired until they were satisfied + that a deliberate offense was intended. I can recall of my own seeing at + least a dozen instances where men of the Fifty-Fifth Georgia Killed + prisoners under the pretense that they were across the Dead Line, when the + victims were a yard or more from the Dead Line, and had not the remotest + idea of going any nearer. + </p> + <p> + The only man I ever knew to be killed by one of the Twenty-Sixth Alabama + was named Hubbard, from Chicago, Ills., and a member of the Thirty-Eighth + Illinois. He had lost one leg, and went hobbling about the camp on + crutches, chattering continually in a loud, discordant voice, saying all + manner of hateful and annoying things, wherever he saw an opportunity. + This and his beak-like nose gained for him the name of “Poll Parrot.” + His misfortune caused him to be tolerated where another man would have + been suppressed. By-and-by he gave still greater cause for offense by his + obsequious attempts to curry favor with Captain Wirz, who took him outside + several times for purposes that were not well explained. Finally, some + hours after one of Poll Parrot's visits outside, a Rebel officer + came in with a guard, and, proceeding with suspicious directness to a tent + which was the mouth of a large tunnel that a hundred men or more had been + quietly pushing forward, broke the tunnel in, and took the occupants of + the tent outside for punishment. The question that demanded immediate + solution then was: + </p> + <p> + “Who is the traitor who has informed the Rebels?” + </p> + <p> + Suspicion pointed very strongly to “Poll Parrot.” By the next + morning the evidence collected seemed to amount to a certainty, and a + crowd caught the Parrot with the intention of lynching him. He succeeded + in breaking away from them and ran under the Dead Line, near where I was + sitting in, my tent. At first it looked as if he had done this to secure + the protection of the guard. The latter—a Twenty-Sixth Alabamian + —ordered him out. Poll Parrot rose up on his one leg, put his back + against the Dead Line, faced the guard, and said in his harsh, cackling + voice: + </p> + <p> + “No; I won't go out. If I've lost the confidence of my + comrades I want to die.” + </p> + <p> + Part of the crowd were taken back by this move, and felt disposed to + accept it as a demonstration of the Parrot's innocence. The rest + thought it was a piece of bravado, because of his belief that the Rebels + would not injure, him after he had served them. They renewed their yells, + the guard again ordered the Parrot out, but the latter, tearing open his + blouse, cackled out: + </p> + <p> + “No, I won't go; fire at me, guard. There's my heart + shoot me right there.” + </p> + <p> + There was no help for it. The Rebel leveled his gun and fired. The charge + struck the Parrot's lower jaw, and carried it completely away, + leaving his tongue and the roof of his mouth exposed. As he was carried + back to die, he wagged his tongue rigorously, in attempting to speak, but + it was of no use. + </p> + <p> + The guard set his gun down and buried his face in his hands. It was the + only time that I saw a sentinel show anything but exultation at killing a + Yankee. + </p> + <p> + A ludicrous contrast to this took place a few nights later. The rains had + ceased, the weather had become warmer, and our spirits rising with this + increase in the comfort of our surroundings, a number of us were sitting + around “Nosey”—a boy with a superb tenor voice—who + was singing patriotic songs. We were coming in strong on the chorus, in a + way that spoke vastly more for our enthusiasm for the Union than our + musical knowledge. “Nosey” sang the “Star Spangled + Banner,” “The Battle Cry of Freedom,” “Brave Boys + are They,” etc., capitally, and we threw our whole lungs into the + chorus. It was quite dark, and while our noise was going on the guards + changed, new men coming on duty. Suddenly, bang! went the gun of the guard + in the box about fifty feet away from us. We knew it was a Fifty-Fifth + Georgian, and supposed that, irritated at our singing, he was trying to + kill some of us for spite. At the sound of the gun we jumped up and + scattered. As no one gave the usual agonized yell of a prisoner when shot, + we supposed the ball had not taken effect. We could hear the sentinel + ramming down another cartridge, hear him “return rammer,” and + cock his rifle. Again the gun cracked, and again there was no sound of + anybody being hit. Again we could hear the sentry churning down another + cartridge. The drums began beating the long roll in the camps, and + officers could be heard turning the men out. The thing was becoming + exciting, and one of us sang out to the guard: + </p> + <p> + “S-a-y! What the are you shooting at, any how?” + </p> + <p> + “I'm a shootin' at that —— —— + Yank thar by the Dead Line, and by —- if you'uns don't + take him in I'll blow the whole head offn him.” + </p> + <p> + “What Yank? Where's any Yank?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, thar—right thar—a-standin' agin the Ded + Line.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, you Rebel fool, that's a chunk of wood. You can't + get any furlough for shooting that!” + </p> + <p> + At this there was a general roar from the rest of the camp, which the + other guards took up, and as the Reserves came double-quicking up, and + learned the occasion of the alarm, they gave the rascal who had been so + anxious to kill somebody a torrent of abuse for having disturbed them. + </p> + <p> + A part of our crowd had been out after wood during the day, and secured a + piece of a log as large as two of them could carry, and bringing it in, + stood it up near the Dead Line. When the guard mounted to his post he was + sure he saw a temerarious Yankee in front of him, and hastened to slay + him. + </p> + <p> + It was an unusual good fortune that nobody was struck. It was very rare + that the guards fired into the prison without hitting at least one person. + The Georgia Reserves, who formed our guards later in the season, were + armed with an old gun called a Queen Anne musket, altered to percussion. + It carried a bullet as big as a large marble, and three or four buckshot. + When fired into a group of men it was sure to bring several down. + </p> + <p> + I was standing one day in the line at the gate, waiting for a chance to go + out after wood. A Fifty-Fifth Georgian was the gate guard, and he drew a + line in the sand with his bayonet which we should not cross. The crowd + behind pushed one man till he put his foot a few inches over the line, to + save himself from falling; the guard sank a bayonet through the foot as + quick as a flash. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch23" id="ch23"></a>CHAPTER XXIII + </h2> + <p> + A NEW LOT OF PRISONERS—THE BATTLE OF OOLUSTEE—MEN SACRIFICED + TO A GENERAL'S INCOMPETENCY—A HOODLUM REINFORCEMENT—A + QUEER CROWD —MISTREATMENT OF AN OFFICER OF A COLORED REGIMENT—KILLING + THE SERGEANT OF A NEGRO SQUAD. + </p> + <p> + So far only old prisoners—those taken at Gettysburg, Chicamauga and + Mine Run—had been brought in. The armies had been very quiet during + the Winter, preparing for the death grapple in the Spring. There had been + nothing done, save a few cavalry raids, such as our own, and Averill's + attempt to gain and break up the Rebel salt works at Wytheville, and + Saltville. Consequently none but a few cavalry prisoners were added to the + number already in the hands of the Rebels. + </p> + <p> + The first lot of new ones came in about the middle of March. There were + about seven hundred of them, who had been captured at the battle of + Oolustee, Fla., on the 20th of February. About five hundred of them were + white, and belonged to the Seventh Connecticut, the Seventh New Hampshire, + Forty Seventh, Forty-Eighth and One Hundred and Fifteenth New York, and + Sherman's regular battery. The rest were colored, and belonged to + the Eighth United States, and Fifty-Fourth Massachusetts. The story they + told of the battle was one which had many shameful reiterations during the + war. It was the story told whenever Banks, Sturgis, Butler, or one of a + host of similar smaller failures were trusted with commands. It was a + senseless waste of the lives of private soldiers, and the property of the + United States by pretentious blunderers, who, in some inscrutable manner, + had attained to responsible commands. In this instance, a bungling + Brigadier named Seymore had marched his forces across the State of + Florida, to do he hardly knew what, and in the neighborhood of an enemy of + whose numbers, disposition, location, and intentions he was profoundly + ignorant. The Rebels, under General Finnegan, waited till he had strung + his command along through swamps and cane brakes, scores of miles from his + supports, and then fell unexpectedly upon his advance. The regiment was + overpowered, and another regiment that hurried up to its support, suffered + the same fate. The balance of the regiments were sent in in the same + manner—each arriving on the field just after its predecessor had + been thoroughly whipped by the concentrated force of the Rebels. The men + fought gallantly, but the stupidity of a Commanding General is a thing + that the gods themselves strive against in vain. We suffered a humiliating + defeat, with a loss of two thousand men and a fine rifled battery, which + was brought to Andersonville and placed in position to command the prison. + </p> + <p> + The majority of the Seventh New Hampshire were an unwelcome addition to + our numbers. They were N'Yaarkers—old time colleagues of those + already in with us—veteran bounty jumpers, that had been drawn to + New Hampshire by the size of the bounty offered there, and had been + assigned to fill up the wasted ranks of the veteran Seventh regiment. They + had tried to desert as soon as they received their bounty, but the + Government clung to them literally with hooks of steel, sending many of + them to the regiment in irons. Thus foiled, they deserted to the Rebels + during the retreat from the battlefield. They were quite an accession to + the force of our N'Yaarkers, and helped much to establish the + hoodlum reign which was shortly inaugurated over the whole prison. + </p> + <p> + The Forty-Eighth New Yorkers who came in were a set of chaps so odd in + every way as to be a source of never-failing interest. The name of their + regiment was 'L'Enfants Perdu' (the Lost Children), + which we anglicized into “The Lost Ducks.” It was believed + that every nation in Europe was represented in their ranks, and it used to + be said jocularly, that no two of them spoke the same language. As near as + I could find out they were all or nearly all South Europeans, Italians, + Spaniards; Portuguese, Levantines, with a predominance of the French + element. They wore a little cap with an upturned brim, and a strap resting + on the chin, a coat with funny little tales about two inches long, and a + brass chain across the breast; and for pantaloons they had a sort of a + petticoat reaching to the knees, and sewed together down the middle. They + were just as singular otherwise as in their looks, speech and uniform. On + one occasion the whole mob of us went over in a mass to their squad to see + them cook and eat a large water snake, which two of them had succeeded in + capturing in the swamps, and carried off to their mess, jabbering in high + glee over their treasure trove. Any of us were ready to eat a piece of + dog, cat, horse or mule, if we could get it, but, it was generally agreed, + as Dawson, of my company expressed it, that “Nobody but one of them + darned queer Lost Ducks would eat a varmint like a water snake.” + </p> + <p> + Major Albert Bogle, of the Eighth United States, (colored) had fallen into + the hands of the rebels by reason of a severe wound in the leg, which left + him helpless upon the field at Oolustee. The Rebels treated him with + studied indignity. They utterly refused to recognize him as an officer, or + even as a man. Instead of being sent to Macon or Columbia, where the other + officers were, he was sent to Andersonville, the same as an enlisted man. + No care was given his wound, no surgeon would examine it or dress it. He + was thrown into a stock car, without a bed or blanket, and hauled over the + rough, jolting road to Andersonville. Once a Rebel officer rode up and + fired several shots at him, as he lay helpless on the car floor. + Fortunately the Rebel's marksmanship was as bad as his intentions, + and none of the shots took effect. He was placed in a squad near me, and + compelled to get up and hobble into line when the rest were mustered for + roll-call. No opportunity to insult, “the nigger officer,” was + neglected, and the N'Yaarkers vied with the Rebels in heaping abuse + upon him. He was a fine, intelligent young man, and bore it all with + dignified self-possession, until after a lapse of some weeks the Rebels + changed their policy and took him from the prison to send to where the + other officers were. + </p> + <p> + The negro soldiers were also treated as badly as possible. The wounded + were turned into the Stockade without having their hurts attended to. One + stalwart, soldierly Sergeant had received a bullet which had forced its + way under the scalp for some distance, and partially imbedded itself in + the skull, where it still remained. He suffered intense agony, and would + pass the whole night walking up and down the street in front of our tent, + moaning distressingly. The bullet could be felt plainly with the fingers, + and we were sure that it would not be a minute's work, with a sharp + knife, to remove it and give the man relief. But we could not prevail upon + the Rebel Surgeons even to see the man. Finally inflammation set in and he + died. + </p> + <p> + The negros were made into a squad by themselves, and taken out every day + to work around the prison. A white Sergeant was placed over them, who was + the object of the contumely of the guards and other Rebels. One day as he + was standing near the gate, waiting his orders to come out, the gate + guard, without any provocation whatever, dropped his gun until the muzzle + rested against the Sergeant's stomach, and fired, killing him + instantly. + </p> + <p> + The Sergeantcy was then offered to me, but as I had no accident policy, I + was constrained to decline the honor. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch24" id="ch24"></a>CHAPTER XXIV. + </h2> + <p> + APRIL—LONGING TO GET OUT—THE DEATH RATE—THE PLAGUE OF + LICE —THE SO-CALLED HOSPITAL. + </p> + <p> + April brought sunny skies and balmy weather. Existence became much more + tolerable. With freedom it would have been enjoyable, even had we been no + better fed, clothed and sheltered. But imprisonment had never seemed so + hard to bear—even in the first few weeks—as now. It was easier + to submit to confinement to a limited area, when cold and rain were aiding + hunger to benumb the faculties and chill the energies than it was now, + when Nature was rousing her slumbering forces to activity, and earth, and + air and sky were filled with stimulus to man to imitate her example. The + yearning to be up and doing something-to turn these golden hours to good + account for self and country—pressed into heart and brain as the + vivifying sap pressed into tree-duct and plant cell, awaking all + vegetation to energetic life. + </p> + <p> + To be compelled, at such a time, to lie around in vacuous idleness —to + spend days that should be crowded full of action in a monotonous, + objectless routine of hunting lice, gathering at roll-call, and drawing + and cooking our scanty rations, was torturing. + </p> + <p> + But to many of our number the aspirations for freedom were not, as with + us, the desire for a wider, manlier field of action, so much as an intense + longing to get where care and comforts would arrest their swift progress + to the shadowy hereafter. The cruel rains had sapped away their stamina, + and they could not recover it with the meager and innutritious diet of + coarse meal, and an occasional scrap of salt meat. Quick consumption, + bronchitis, pneumonia, low fever and diarrhea seized upon these ready + victims for their ravages, and bore them off at the rate of nearly a score + a day. + </p> + <p> + It now became a part of, the day's regular routine to take a walk + past the gates in the morning, inspect and count the dead, and see if any + friends were among them. Clothes having by this time become a very + important consideration with the prisoners, it was the custom of the mess + in which a man died to remove from his person all garments that were of + any account, and so many bodies were carried out nearly naked. The hands + were crossed upon the breast, the big toes tied together with a bit of + string, and a slip of paper containing the man's name, rank, company + and regiment was pinned on the breast of his shirt. + </p> + <p> + The appearance of the dead was indescribably ghastly. The unclosed eyes + shone with a stony glitter— + </p> + <table> + <tr> + <td> + An orphan's curse would drag to hell<br> A spirit from on high:<br> + But, O, more terrible than that,<br> Is the curse in a dead man's + eye.<br> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + The lips and nostrils were distorted with pain and hunger, the sallow, + dirt-grimed skin drawn tensely over the facial bones, and the whole framed + with the long, lank, matted hair and beard. Millions of lice swarmed over + the wasted limbs and ridged ribs. These verminous pests had become so + numerous—owing to our lack of changes of clothing, and of facilities + for boiling what we had—that the most a healthy man could do was to + keep the number feeding upon his person down to a reasonable limit—say + a few tablespoonfuls. When a man became so sick as to be unable to help + himself, the parasites speedily increased into millions, or, to speak more + comprehensively, into pints and quarts. It did not even seem exaggeration + when some one declared that he had seen a dead man with more than a gallon + of lice on him. + </p> + <p> + There is no doubt that the irritation from the biting of these myriads + materially the days of those who died. + </p> + <p> + Where a sick man had friends or comrades, of course part of their duty, in + taking care of him, was to “louse” his clothing. One of the + most effectual ways of doing this was to turn the garments wrong side out + and hold the seams as close to the fire as possible, without burning the + cloth. In a short time the lice would swell up and burst open, like + pop-corn. This method was a favorite one for another reason than its + efficacy: it gave one a keener sense of revenge upon his rascally little + tormentors than he could get in any other way. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p165" id="p165"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p165.jpg (10K)" src="images/p165.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + As the weather grew warmer and the number in the prison increased, the + lice became more unendurable. They even filled the hot sand under our + feet, and voracious troops would climb up on one like streams of ants + swarming up a tree. We began to have a full comprehension of the third + plague with which the Lord visited the Egyptians: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + And the Lord said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and + smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice through all the land + of Egypt. + </p> + <p> + And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and + smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man and in beast; all + the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + The total number of deaths in April, according to the official report, was + five hundred and seventy-six, or an average of over nineteen a day. There + was an average of five thousand prisoner's in the pen during all but + the last few days of the month, when the number was increased by the + arrival of the captured garrison of Plymouth. This would make the loss + over eleven per cent., and so worse than decimation. At that rate we + should all have died in about eight months. We could have gone through a + sharp campaign lasting those thirty days and not lost so great a + proportion of our forces. The British had about as many men as were in the + Stockade at the battle of New Orleans, yet their loss in killed fell much + short of the deaths in the pen in April. + </p> + <p> + A makeshift of a hospital was established in the northeastern corner of + the Stockade. A portion of the ground was divided from the rest of the + prison by a railing, a few tent flies were stretched, and in these the + long leaves of the pine were made into apologies for beds of about the + goodness of the straw on which a Northern farmer beds his stock. The sick + taken there were no better off than if they had staid with their comrades. + </p> + <p> + What they needed to bring about their recovery was clean clothing, + nutritious food, shelter and freedom from the tortures of the lice. They + obtained none of these. Save a few decoctions of roots, there were no + medicines; the sick were fed the same coarse corn meal that brought about + the malignant dysentery from which they all suffered; they wore and slept + in the same vermin-infested clothes, and there could be but one result: + the official records show that seventy-six per cent. of those taken to the + hospitals died there. + </p> + <p> + The establishment of the hospital was specially unfortunate for my little + squad. The ground required for it compelled a general reduction of the + space we all occupied. We had to tear down our huts and move. By this time + the materials had become so dry that we could not rebuild with them, as + the pine tufts fell to pieces. This reduced the tent and bedding material + of our party—now numbering five—to a cavalry overcoat and a + blanket. We scooped a hole a foot deep in the sand and stuck our + tent-poles around it. By day we spread our blanket over the poles for a + tent. At night we lay down upon the overcoat and covered ourselves with + the blanket. It required considerable stretching to make it go over five; + the two out side fellows used to get very chilly, and squeeze the three + inside ones until they felt no thicker than a wafer. But it had to do, and + we took turns sleeping on the outside. In the course of a few weeks three + of my chums died and left myself and B. B. Andrews (now Dr. Andrews, of + Astoria, Ill.) sole heirs to and occupants of, the overcoat and blanket. + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img id="p167" alt="p167.jpg (17K)" src="images/p167.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch25" id="ch25"></a>CHAPTER XXV. + </h2> + <p> + THE “PLYMOUTH PILGRIMS”—SAD TRANSITION FROM COMFORTABLE + BARRACKS TO ANDERSONVILLE—A CRAZED PENNSYLVANIAN—DEVELOPMENT + OF THE BUTLER BUSINESS. + </p> + <p> + We awoke one morning, in the last part of April, to find about two + thousand freshly arrived prisoners lying asleep in the main streets + running from the gates. They were attired in stylish new uniforms, with + fancy hats and shoes; the Sergeants and Corporals wore patent leather or + silk chevrons, and each man had a large, well-filled knapsack, of the kind + new recruits usually carried on coming first to the front, and which the + older soldiers spoke of humorously as “bureaus.” They were the + snuggest, nattiest lot of soldiers we had ever seen, outside of the + “paper collar” fellows forming the headquarter guard of some + General in a large City. As one of my companions surveyed them, he said: + </p> + <p> + “Hulloa! I'm blanked if the Johnnies haven't caught a + regiment of Brigadier Generals, somewhere.” + </p> + <p> + By-and-by the “fresh fish,” as all new arrivals were termed, + began to wake up, and then we learned that they belonged to a brigade + consisting of the Eighty-Fifth New York, One Hundred and First and One + Hundred and Third Pennsylvania, Sixteenth Connecticut, Twenty-Fourth New + York Battery, two companies of Massachusetts heavy artillery, and a + company of the Twelfth New York Cavalry. + </p> + <p> + They had been garrisoning Plymouth, N. C., an important seaport on the + Roanoke River. Three small gunboats assisted them in their duty. The + Rebels constructed a powerful iron clad called the “Albemarle,” + at a point further up the Roanoke, and on the afternoon of the 17th, with + her and three brigades of infantry, made an attack upon the post. The + “Albemarle” ran past the forts unharmed, sank one of the + gunboats, and drove the others away. She then turned her attention to the + garrison, which she took in the rear, while the infantry attacked in + front. Our men held out until the 20th, when they capitulated. They were + allowed to retain their personal effects, of all kinds, and, as is the + case with all men in garrison, these were considerable. <br><br><br><br> + + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img id="p169" alt="p169.jpg (14K)" src="images/p169.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + The One Hundred and First and One Hundred and Third Pennsylvania and + Eighty-Fifth New York had just “veteranized,” and received + their first instalment of veteran bounty. Had they not been attacked they + would have sailed for home in a day or two, on their veteran furlough, and + this accounted for their fine raiment. They were made up of boys from good + New York and Pennsylvania families, and were, as a rule, intelligent and + fairly educated. + </p> + <p> + Their horror at the appearance of their place of incarceration was beyond + expression. At one moment they could not comprehend that we dirty and + haggard tatterdemalions had once been clean, self-respecting, well-fed + soldiers like themselves; at the next they would affirm that they knew + they could not stand it a month, in here we had then endured it from four + to nine months. They took it, in every way, the hardest of any prisoners + that came in, except some of the 'Hundred-Days' men, who were + brought in in August, from the Valley of Virginia. They had served nearly + all their time in various garrisons along the seacoast—from Fortress + Monroe to Beaufort—where they had had comparatively little of the + actual hardships of soldiering in the field. They had nearly always had + comfortable quarters, an abundance of food, few hard marches or other + severe service. Consequently they were not so well hardened for + Andersonville as the majority who came in. In other respects they were + better prepared, as they had an abundance of clothing, blankets and + cooking utensils, and each man had some of his veteran bounty still in + possession. + </p> + <p> + It was painful to see how rapidly many of them sank under the miseries of + the situation. They gave up the moment the gates were closed upon them, + and began pining away. We older prisoners buoyed ourselves up continually + with hopes of escape or exchange. We dug tunnels with the persistence of + beavers, and we watched every possible opportunity to get outside the + accursed walls of the pen. But we could not enlist the interest of these + discouraged ones in any of our schemes, or talk. They resigned themselves + to Death, and waited despondingly till he came. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img id="p172" alt="p172.jpg (51K)" src="images/p172.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + A middle-aged One Hundred and First Pennsylvanian, who had taken up his + quarters near me, was an object of peculiar interest. Reasonably + intelligent and fairly read, I presume that he was a respectable mechanic + before entering the Army. He was evidently a very domestic man, whose + whole happiness centered in his family. + </p> + <p> + When he first came in he was thoroughly dazed by the greatness of his + misfortune. He would sit for hours with his face in his hands and his + elbows on his knees, gazing out upon the mass of men and huts, with + vacant, lack-luster eyes. We could not interest him in anything. We tried + to show him how to fix his blanket up to give him some shelter, but he + went at the work in a disheartened way, and finally smiled feebly and + stopped. He had some letters from his family and a melaineotype of a + plain-faced woman—his wife—and her children, and spent much + time in looking at them. At first he ate his rations when he drew them, + but finally began to reject, them. In a few days he was delirious with + hunger and homesick ness. He would sit on the sand for hours imagining + that he was at his family table, dispensing his frugal hospitalities to + his wife and children. + </p> + <p> + Making a motion, as if presenting a dish, he would say: + </p> + <p> + “Janie, have another biscuit, do!” + </p> + <p> + Or, + </p> + <p> + “Eddie, son, won't you have another piece of this nice steak?” + </p> + <p> + Or, + </p> + <p> + “Maggie, have some more potatos,” and so on, through a whole + family of six, or more. It was a relief to us when he died in about a + month after he came in. + </p> + <p> + As stated above, the Plymouth men brought in a large amount of money + —variously estimated at from ten thousand to one hundred thousand + dollars. The presence of this quantity of circulating medium immediately + started a lively commerce. All sorts of devices were resorted to by the + other prisoners to get a little of this wealth. Rude chuck-a-luck boards + were constructed out of such material as was attainable, and put in + operation. Dice and cards were brought out by those skilled in such + matters. As those of us already in the Stockade occupied all the ground, + there was no disposition on the part of many to surrender a portion of + their space without exacting a pecuniary compensation. Messes having + ground in a good location would frequently demand and get ten dollars for + permission for two or three to quarter with them. Then there was a great + demand for poles to stretch blankets over to make tents; the Rebels, with + their usual stupid cruelty, would not supply these, nor allow the + prisoners to go out and get them themselves. Many of the older prisoners + had poles to spare which they were saying up for fuel. They sold these to + the Plymouth folks at the rate of ten dollars for three—enough to + put up a blanket. + </p> + <p> + The most considerable trading was done through the gates. The Rebel guards + were found quite as keen to barter as they had been in Richmond. Though + the laws against their dealing in the money of the enemy were still as + stringent as ever, their thirst for greenbacks was not abated one whit, + and they were ready to sell anything they had for the coveted currency. + The rate of exchange was seven or eight dollars in Confederate money for + one dollar in greenbacks. Wood, tobacco, meat, flour, beans, molasses, + onions and a villainous kind of whisky made from sorghum, were the staple + articles of trade. A whole race of little traffickers in these articles + sprang up, and finally Selden, the Rebel Quartermaster, established a + sutler shop in the center of the North Side, which he put in charge of Ira + Beverly, of the One Hundredth Ohio, and Charlie Huckleby, of the Eighth + Tennessee. It was a fine illustration of the development of the commercial + instinct in some men. No more unlikely place for making money could be + imagined, yet starting in without a cent, they contrived to turn and twist + and trade, until they had transferred to their pockets a portion of the + funds which were in some one else's. The Rebels, of course, got nine + out of every ten dollars there was in the prison, but these middle men + contrived to have a little of it stick to their fingers. + </p> + <p> + It was only the very few who were able to do this. Nine hundred and + ninety-nine out of every thousand were, like myself, either wholly + destitute of money and unable to get it from anybody else, or they paid + out what money they had to the middlemen, in exorbitant prices for + articles of food. + </p> + <p> + The N'Yaarkers had still another method for getting food, money, + blankets and clothing. They formed little bands called “Raiders,” + under the leadership of a chief villain. One of these bands would select + as their victim a man who had good blankets, clothes, a watch, or + greenbacks. Frequently he would be one of the little traders, with a sack + of beans, a piece of meat, or something of that kind. Pouncing upon him at + night they would snatch away his possessions, knock down his friends who + came to his assistance, and scurry away into the darkness. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch26" id="ch26"></a>CHAPTER XXVI + </h2> + <p> + LONGINGS FOR GOD'S COUNTRY—CONSIDERATIONS OF THE METHODS OF + GETTING THERE—EXCHANGE AND ESCAPE—DIGGING TUNNELS, AND THE + DIFFICULTIES CONNECTED THEREWITH—PUNISHMENT OF A TRAITOR. + </p> + <p> + To our minds the world now contained but two grand divisions, as widely + different from each other as happiness and misery. The first—that + portion over which our flag floated was usually spoken of as “God's + Country;” the other—that under the baneful shadow of the + banner of rebellion—was designated by the most opprobrious epithets + at the speaker's command. + </p> + <p> + To get from the latter to the former was to attain, at one bound, the + highest good. Better to be a doorkeeper in the House of the Lord, under + the Stars and Stripes, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness, under the + hateful Southern Cross. + </p> + <p> + To take even the humblest and hardest of service in the field now would be + a delightsome change. We did not ask to go home—we would be content + with anything, so long as it was in that blest place “within our + lines.” Only let us get back once, and there would be no more + grumbling at rations or guard duty—we would willingly endure all the + hardships and privations that soldier flesh is heir to. + </p> + <p> + There were two ways of getting back—escape and exchange. Exchange + was like the ever receding mirage of the desert, that lures the thirsty + traveler on over the parched sands, with illusions of refreshing springs, + only to leave his bones at last to whiten by the side of those of his + unremembered predecessors. Every day there came something to build up the + hopes that exchange was near at hand—every day brought something to + extinguish the hopes of the preceding one. We took these varying phases + according to our several temperaments. The sanguine built themselves up on + the encouraging reports; the desponding sank down and died under the + discouraging ones. + </p> + <p> + Escape was a perpetual allurement. To the actively inclined among us it + seemed always possible, and daring, busy brains were indefatigable in + concocting schemes for it. The only bit of Rebel brain work that I ever + saw for which I did not feel contempt was the perfect precautions taken to + prevent our escape. This is shown by the fact that, although, from first + to last, there were nearly fifty thousand prisoners in Andersonville, and + three out of every five of these were ever on the alert to take French + leave of their captors, only three hundred and twenty-eight succeeded in + getting so far away from Andersonville as to leave it to be presumed that + they had reached our lines. + </p> + <p> + The first, and almost superhuman difficulty was to get outside the + Stockade. It was simply impossible to scale it. The guards were too close + together to allow an instant's hope to the most sanguine, that he + could even pass the Dead Line without being shot by some one of them. This + same closeness prevented any hope of bribing them. To be successful half + those on post would have to be bribed, as every part of the Stockade was + clearly visible from every other part, and there was no night so dark as + not to allow a plain view to a number of guards of the dark figure + outlined against the light colored logs of any Yankee who should essay to + clamber towards the top of the palisades. + </p> + <p> + The gates were so carefully guarded every time they were opened as to + preclude hope of slipping out through theme. They were only unclosed twice + or thrice a day—once to admit, the men to call the roll, once to let + them out again, once to let the wagons come in with rations, and once, + perhaps, to admit, new prisoners. At all these times every precaution was + taken to prevent any one getting out surreptitiously. + </p> + <p> + This narrowed down the possibilities of passing the limits of the pen + alive, to tunneling. This was also surrounded by almost insuperable + difficulties. First, it required not less than fifty feet of subterranean + excavation to get out, which was an enormous work with our limited means. + Then the logs forming the Stockade were set in the ground to a depth of + five feet, and the tunnel had to go down beneath them. They had an + unpleasant habit of dropping down into the burrow under them. It added + much to the discouragements of tunneling to think of one of these massive + timbers dropping upon a fellow as he worked his mole-like way under it, + and either crushing him to death outright, or pinning him there to die of + suffocation or hunger. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img id="p176" alt="p176.jpg (14K)" src="images/p176.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + In one instance, in a tunnel near me, but in which I was not interested, + the log slipped down after the digger had got out beyond it. He + immediately began digging for the surface, for life, and was fortunately + able to break through before he suffocated. He got his head above the + ground, and then fainted. The guard outside saw him, pulled him out of the + hole, and when he recovered sensibility hurried him back into the + Stockade. + </p> + <p> + In another tunnel, also near us, a broad-shouldered German, of the Second + Minnesota, went in to take his turn at digging. He was so much larger than + any of his predecessors that he stuck fast in a narrow part, and despite + all the efforts of himself and comrades, it was found impossible to move + him one way or the other. The comrades were at last reduced to the + humiliation of informing the Officer of the Guard of their tunnel and the + condition of their friend, and of asking assistance to release him, which + was given. + </p> + <p> + The great tunneling tool was the indispensable half-canteen. The inventive + genius of our people, stimulated by the war, produced nothing for the + comfort and effectiveness of the soldier equal in usefulness to this + humble and unrecognized utensil. It will be remembered that a canteen was + composed of two pieces of tin struck up into the shape of saucers, and + soldered together at the edges. After a soldier had been in the field a + little while, and thrown away or lost the curious and complicated kitchen + furniture he started out with, he found that by melting the halves of his + canteen apart, he had a vessel much handier in every way than any he had + parted with. It could be used for anything —to make soup or coffee + in, bake bread, brown coffee, stew vegetables, etc., etc. A sufficient + handle was made with a split stick. When the cooking was done, the handle + was thrown away, and the half canteen slipped out of the road into the + haversack. There seemed to be no end of the uses to which this ever-ready + disk of blackened sheet iron could be turned. Several instances are on + record where infantry regiments, with no other tools than this, covered + themselves on the field with quite respectable rifle pits. + </p> + <p> + The starting point of a tunnel was always some tent close to the Dead + Line, and sufficiently well closed to screen the operations from the sight + of the guards near by. The party engaged in the work organized by giving + every man a number to secure the proper apportionment of the labor. Number + One began digging with his half canteen. After he had worked until tired, + he came out, and Number Two took his place, and so on. The tunnel was + simply a round, rat-like burrow, a little larger than a man's body. + The digger lay on his stomach, dug ahead of him, threw the dirt under him, + and worked it back with his feet till the man behind him, also lying on + his stomach, could catch it and work it back to the next. As the tunnel + lengthened the number of men behind each other in this way had to be + increased, so that in a tunnel seventy-five feet long there would be from + eight to ten men lying one behind the other. When the dirt was pushed back + to the mouth of the tunnel it was taken up in improvised bags, made by + tying up the bottoms of pantaloon legs, carried to the Swamp, and emptied. + The work in the tunnel was very exhausting, and the digger had to be + relieved every half-hour. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img id="p177" alt="p177.jpg (18K)" src="images/p177.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + The greatest trouble was to carry the tunnel forward in a straight line. + As nearly everybody dug most of the time with the right hand, there was an + almost irresistible tendency to make the course veer to the left. The + first tunnel I was connected with was a ludicrous illustration of this. + About twenty of us had devoted our nights for over a week to the + prolongation of a burrow. We had not yet reached the Stockade, which + astonished us, as measurement with a string showed that we had gone nearly + twice the distance necessary for the purpose. The thing was inexplicable, + and we ceased operations to consider the matter. The next day a man + walking by a tent some little distance from the one in which the hole + began, was badly startled by the ground giving way under his feet, and his + sinking nearly to his waist in a hole. It was very singular, but after + wondering over the matter for some hours, there came a glimmer of + suspicion that it might be, in some way, connected with the missing end of + our tunnel. One of us started through on an exploring expedition, and + confirmed the suspicions by coming out where the man had broken through. + Our tunnel was shaped like a horse shoe, and the beginning and end were + not fifteen feet apart. After that we practised digging with our left + hand, and made certain compensations for the tendency to the sinister + side. + </p> + <p> + Another trouble connected with tunneling was the number of traitors and + spies among us. There were many—principally among the N'Yaarker + crowd who were always zealous to betray a tunnel, in order to curry favor + with the Rebel officers. Then, again, the Rebels had numbers of their own + men in the pen at night, as spies. It was hardly even necessary to dress + these in our uniform, because a great many of our own men came into the + prison in Rebel clothes, having been compelled to trade garments with + their captors. + </p> + <p> + One day in May, quite an excitement was raised by the detection of one of + these “tunnel traitors” in such a way as left no doubt of his + guilt. At first everybody was in favor of killing him, and they actually + started to beat him to death. This was arrested by a proposition to + “have Captain Jack tattoo him,” and the suggestion was + immediately acted upon. + </p> + <p> + “Captain Jack” was a sailor who had been with us in the + Pemberton building at Richmond. He was a very skilful tattoo artist, but, + I am sure, could make the process nastier than any other that I ever saw + attempt it. He chewed tobacco enormously. After pricking away for a few + minutes at the design on the arm or some portion of the body, he would + deluge it with a flood of tobacco spit, which, he claimed, acted as a kind + of mordant. Piping this off with a filthy rag, he would study the effect + for an instant, and then go ahead with another series of prickings and + tobacco juice drenchings. + </p> + <p> + The tunnel-traitor was taken to Captain Jack. That worthy decided to brand + him with a great “T,” the top part to extend across his + forehead and the stem to run down his nose. Captain Jack got his tattooing + kit ready, and the fellow was thrown upon the ground and held there. The + Captain took his head between his legs, and began operations. After an + instant's work with the needles, he opened his mouth, and filled the + wretch's face and eyes full of the disgusting saliva. The crowd + round about yelled with delight at this new process. For an hour, that was + doubtless an eternity to the rascal undergoing branding, Captain Jack + continued his alternate pickings and drenchings. At the end of that time + the traitor's face was disfigured with a hideous mark that he would + bear to his grave. We learned afterwards that he was not one of our men, + but a Rebel spy. This added much to our satisfaction with the manner of + his treatment. He disappeared shortly after the operation was finished, + being, I suppose, taken outside. I hardly think Captain Jack would be + pleased to meet him again. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img id="p179" alt="p179.jpg (24K)" src="images/p179.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch27" id="ch27"></a>CHAPTER XXVII. + </h2> + <p> + THE HOUNDS, AND THE DIFFICULTIES THEY PUT IN THE WAY OF ESCAPE —THE + WHOLE SOUTH PATROLLED BY THEM. + </p> + <p> + Those who succeeded, one way or another, in passing the Stockade limits, + found still more difficulties lying between them and freedom than would + discourage ordinarily resolute men. The first was to get away from the + immediate vicinity of the prison. All around were Rebel patrols, pickets + and guards, watching every avenue of egress. Several packs of hounds + formed efficient coadjutors of these, and were more dreaded by possible + “escapes,” than any other means at the command of our jailors. + Guards and patrols could be evaded, or circumvented, but the hounds could + not. Nearly every man brought back from a futile attempt at escape told + the same story: he had been able to escape the human Rebels, but not their + canine colleagues. Three of our detachment—members of the Twentieth + Indiana—had an experience of this kind that will serve to illustrate + hundreds of others. They had been taken outside to do some work upon the + cook-house that was being built. A guard was sent with the three a little + distance into the woods to get a piece of timber. The boys sauntered, + along carelessly with the guard, and managed to get pretty near him. As + soon as they were fairly out of sight of the rest, the strongest of them—Tom + Williams—snatched the Rebel's gun away from him, and the other + two springing upon him as swift as wild cats, throttled him, so that he + could not give the alarm. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img id="p182" alt="p182.jpg (56K)" src="images/p182.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + Still keeping a hand on his throat, they led him off some distance, and + tied him to a sapling with strings made by tearing up one of their + blouses. He was also securely gagged, and the boys, bidding him a hasty, + but not specially tender, farewell, struck out, as they fondly hoped, for + freedom. It was not long until they were missed, and the parties sent in + search found and released the guard, who gave all the information he + possessed as to what had become of his charges. All the packs of hounds, + the squads of cavalry, and the foot patrols were sent out to scour the + adjacent country. The Yankees kept in the swamps and creeks, and no trace + of them was found that afternoon or evening. By this time they were ten or + fifteen miles away, and thought that they could safely leave the creeks + for better walking on the solid ground. They had gone but a few miles, + when the pack of hounds Captain Wirz was with took their trail, and came + after them in full cry. The boys tried to ran, but, exhausted as they + were, they could make no headway. Two of them were soon caught, but Tom + Williams, who was so desperate that he preferred death to recapture, + jumped into a mill-pond near by. When he came up, it was in a lot of saw + logs and drift wood that hid him from being seen from the shore. The dogs + stopped at the shore, and bayed after the disappearing prey. The Rebels + with them, who had seen Tom spring in, came up and made a pretty thorough + search for him. As they did not think to probe around the drift wood this + was unsuccessful, and they came to the conclusion that Tom had been + drowned. Wirz marched the other two back and, for a wonder, did not punish + them, probably because he was so rejoiced at his success in capturing + them. He was beaming with delight when he returned them to our squad, and + said, with a chuckle: + </p> + <p> + “Brisoners, I pring you pack two of dem tam Yankees wat got away + yesterday, unt I run de oder raskal into a mill-pont and trowntet him.” + </p> + <p> + What was our astonishment, about three weeks later, to see Tom, fat and + healthy, and dressed in a full suit of butternut, come stalking into the + pen. He had nearly reached the mountains, when a pack of hounds, + patrolling for deserters or negros, took his trail, where he had crossed + the road from one field to another, and speedily ran him down. He had been + put in a little country jail, and well fed till an opportunity occurred to + send him back. This patrolling for negros and deserters was another of the + great obstacles to a successful passage through the country. The rebels + had put, every able-bodied white man in the ranks, and were bending every + energy to keep him there. The whole country was carefully policed by + Provost Marshals to bring out those who were shirking military duty, or + had deserted their colors, and to check any movement by the negros. One + could not go anywhere without a pass, as every road was continually + watched by men and hounds. It was the policy of our men, when escaping, to + avoid roads as much as possible by traveling through the woods and fields. + </p> + <p> + From what I saw of the hounds, and what I could learn from others, I + believe that each pack was made up of two bloodhounds and from twenty-five + to fifty other dogs. The bloodhounds were debased descendants of the + strong and fierce hounds imported from Cuba—many of them by the + United States Government—for hunting Indians, during the Seminole + war. The other dogs were the mongrels that are found in such plentifulness + about every Southern house—increasing, as a rule, in numbers as the + inhabitant of the house is lower down and poorer. They are like wolves, + sneaking and cowardly when alone, fierce and bold when in packs. Each pack + was managed by a well-armed man, who rode a mule; and carried, slung over + his shoulders by a cord, a cow horn, scraped very thin, with which he + controlled the band by signals. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img id="p184" alt="p184.jpg (41K)" src="images/p184.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + What always puzzled me much was why the hounds took only Yankee trails, in + the vicinity of the prison. There was about the Stockade from six thousand + to ten thousand Rebels and negros, including guards, officers, servants, + workmen, etc. These were, of course, continually in motion and must have + daily made trails leading in every direction. It was the custom of the + Rebels to send a pack of hounds around the prison every morning, to + examine if any Yankees had escaped during the night. It was believed that + they rarely failed to find a prisoner's tracks, and still more + rarely ran off upon a Rebel's. If those outside the Stockade had + been confined to certain path and roads we could have understood this, + but, as I understand, they were not. It was part of the interest of the + day, for us, to watch the packs go yelping around the pen searching for + tracks. We got information in this way whether any tunnel had been + successfully opened during the night. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img id="p185" alt="p185.jpg (58K)" src="images/p185.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + The use of hounds furnished us a crushing reply to the ever recurring + Rebel question: + </p> + <p> + “Why are you-uns puttin' niggers in the field to fight we-uns + for?” + </p> + <p> + The questioner was always silenced by the return interrogatory: + </p> + <p> + “Is that as bad as running white men down with blood hounds?” + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch28" id="ch28"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII + </h2> + <p> + MAY—INFLUX OF NEW PRISONERS—DISPARITY IN NUMBERS BETWEEN THE + EASTERN AND WESTERN ARMIES—TERRIBLE CROWDING—SLAUGHTER OF MEN + AT THE CREEK. + </p> + <p> + In May the long gathering storm of war burst with angry violence all along + the line held by the contending armies. The campaign began which was to + terminate eleven months later in the obliteration of the Southern + Confederacy. May 1, Sigel moved up the Shenandoah Valley with thirty + thousand men; May 3, Butler began his blundering movement against + Petersburg; May 3, the Army of the Potomac left Culpeper, and on the 5th + began its deadly grapple with Lee, in the Wilderness; May 6, Sherman moved + from Chattanooga, and engaged Joe Johnston at Rocky Face Ridge and Tunnel + Hill. + </p> + <p> + Each of these columns lost heavily in prisoners. It could not be + otherwise; it was a consequence of the aggressive movements. An army + acting offensively usually suffers more from capture than one on the + defensive. Our armies were penetrating the enemy's country in close + proximity to a determined and vigilant foe. Every scout, every skirmish + line, every picket, every foraging party ran the risk of falling into a + Rebel trap. This was in addition to the risk of capture in action. + </p> + <p> + The bulk of the prisoners were taken from the Army of the Potomac. For + this there were two reasons: First, that there were many more men in that + Army than in any other; and second, that the entanglement in the dense + thickets and shrubbery of the Wilderness enabled both sides to capture + great numbers of the other's men. Grant lost in prisoners from May 5 + to May 31, seven thousand four hundred and fifty; he probably captured + two-thirds of that number from the Johnnies. + </p> + <p> + Wirz's headquarters were established in a large log house which had + been built in the fort a little distant from the southeast corner of the + prison. Every day—and sometimes twice or thrice a day—we would + see great squads of prisoners marched up to these headquarters, where they + would be searched, their names entered upon the prison records, by clerks + (detailed prisoners; few Rebels had the requisite clerical skill) and then + be marched into the prison. As they entered, the Rebel guards would stand + to arms. The infantry would be in line of battle, the cavalry mounted, and + the artillerymen standing by their guns, ready to open at the instant with + grape and canister. + </p> + <p> + The disparity between the number coming in from the Army of the Potomac + and Western armies was so great, that we Westerners began to take some + advantage of it. If we saw a squad of one hundred and fifty or thereabouts + at the headquarters, we felt pretty certain they were from Sherman, and + gathered to meet them, and learn the news from our friends. If there were + from five hundred to two thousand we knew they were from the Army of the + Potomac, and there were none of our comrades among them. There were three + exceptions to this rule while we were in Andersonville. The first was in + June, when the drunken and incompetent Sturgis (now Colonel of the Seventh + United States Cavalry) shamefully sacrificed a superb division at Guntown, + Miss. The next was after Hood made his desperate attack on Sherman, on the + 22d of July, and the third was when Stoneman was captured at Macon. At + each of these times about two thousand prisoners were brought in. + </p> + <p> + By the end of May there were eighteen thousand four hundred and fifty-four + prisoners in the Stockade. Before the reader dismisses this statement from + his mind let him reflect how great a number this is. It is more active, + able-bodied young men than there are in any of our leading Cities, save + New York and Philadelphia. It is more than the average population of an + Ohio County. It is four times as many troops as Taylor won the victory of + Buena Vista with, and about twice as many as Scott went into battle with + at any time in his march to the City of Mexico. + </p> + <p> + These eighteen thousand four hundred and fifty-four men were cooped up on + less than thirteen acres of ground, making about fifteen hundred to the + acre. No room could be given up for streets, or for the usual arrangements + of a camp, and most kinds of exercise were wholly precluded. The men + crowded together like pigs nesting in the woods on cold nights. The + ground, despite all our efforts, became indescribably filthy, and this + condition grew rapidly worse as the season advanced and the sun's + rays gained fervency. As it is impossible to describe this adequately, I + must again ask the reader to assist with a few comparisons. He has an idea + of how much filth is produced, on an ordinary City lot, in a week, by its + occupation by a family say of six persons. Now let him imagine what would + be the result if that lot, instead of having upon it six persons, with + every appliance for keeping themselves clean, and for removing and + concealing filth, was the home of one hundred and eight men, with none of + these appliances. + </p> + <p> + That he may figure out these proportions for himself, I will repeat some + of the elements of the problem: We will say that an average City lot is + thirty feet front by one hundred deep. This is more front than most of + them have, but we will be liberal. This gives us a surface of three + thousand square feet. An acre contains forty-three thousand five hundred + and sixty square feet. Upon thirteen of these acres, we had eighteen + thousand four hundred and fifty-four men. After he has found the number of + square feet that each man had for sleeping apartment, dining room, + kitchen, exercise grounds and outhouses, and decided that nobody could + live for any length of time in such contracted space, I will tell him that + a few weeks later double that many men were crowded upon that space that + over thirty-five thousand were packed upon those twelve and a-half or + thirteen acres. + </p> + <p> + But I will not anticipate. With the warm weather the condition of the + swamp in the center of the prison became simply horrible. We hear so much + now-a-days of blood poisoning from the effluvia of sinks and sewers, that + reading it, I wonder how a man inside the Stockade, and into whose + nostrils came a breath of that noisomeness, escaped being carried off by a + malignant typhus. In the slimy ooze were billions of white maggots. They + would crawl out by thousands on the warm sand, and, lying there a few + minutes, sprout a wing or a pair of them. With these they would essay a + clumsy flight, ending by dropping down upon some exposed portion of a man's + body, and stinging him like a gad-fly. Still worse, they would drop into + what he was cooking, and the utmost care could not prevent a mess of food + from being contaminated with them. + </p> + <p> + All the water that we had to use was that in the creek which flowed + through this seething mass of corruption, and received its sewerage. How + pure the water was when it came into the Stockade was a question. We + always believed that it received the drainage from the camps of the + guards, a half-a-mile away. + </p> + <p> + A road was made across the swamp, along the Dead Line at the west side, + where the creek entered the pen. Those getting water would go to this + spot, and reach as far up the stream as possible, to get the water that + was least filthy. As they could reach nearly to the Dead Line this + furnished an excuse to such of the guards as were murderously inclined to + fire upon them. I think I hazard nothing in saying that for weeks at least + one man a day was killed at this place. The murders became monotonous; + there was a dreadful sameness to them. A gun would crack; looking up we + would see, still smoking, the muzzle of the musket of one of the guards on + either side of the creek. At the same instant would rise a piercing shriek + from the man struck, now floundering in the creek in his death agony. Then + thousands of throats would yell out curses and denunciations, and— + </p> + <p> + “O, give the Rebel —— —— —— + —— a furlough!” <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img id="p189" alt="p189.jpg (40K)" src="images/p189.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + It was our belief that every guard who killed a Yankee was rewarded with a + thirty-day furlough. Mr. Frederick Holliger, now of Toledo, formerly a + member of the Seventy-Second Ohio, and captured at Guntown, tells me, as + his introduction to Andersonville life, that a few hours after his entry + he went to the brook to get a drink, reached out too far, and was fired + upon by the guard, who missed him, but killed another man and wounded a + second. The other prisoners standing near then attacked him, and beat him + nearly to death, for having drawn the fire of the guard. + </p> + <p> + Nothing could be more inexcusable than these murders. Whatever defense + there might be for firing on men who touched the Dead Line in other parts + of the prison, there could be none here. The men had no intention of + escaping; they had no designs upon the Stockade; they were not leading any + party to assail it. They were in every instance killed in the act of + reaching out with their cups to dip up a little water. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch29" id="ch29"></a>CHAPTER XXIX + </h2> + <p> + SOME DISTINCTION BETWEEN SOLDIERLY DUTY AND MURDER—A PLOT TO ESCAPE + —IT IS REVEALED AND FRUSTRATED. + </p> + <p> + Let the reader understand that in any strictures I make I do not complain + of the necessary hardships of war. I understood fully and accepted the + conditions of a soldier's career. My going into the field uniformed + and armed implied an intention, at least, of killing, wounding, or + capturing, some of the enemy. There was consequently no ground of + complaint if I was, myself killed, wounded, or captured. If I did not want + to take these chances I ought to stay at home. In the same way, I + recognized the right of our captors or guards to take proper precautions + to prevent our escape. I never questioned for an instant the right of a + guard to fire upon those attempting to escape, and to kill them. Had I + been posted over prisoners I should have had no compunction about shooting + at those trying to get away, and consequently I could not blame the Rebels + for doing the same thing. It was a matter of soldierly duty. + </p> + <p> + But not one of the men assassinated by the guards at Andersonville were + trying to escape, nor could they have got away if not arrested by a + bullet. In a majority of instances there was not even a transgression of a + prison rule, and when there was such a transgression it was a mere + harmless inadvertence. The slaying of every man there was a foul crime. + </p> + <p> + The most of this was done by very young boys; some of it by old men. The + Twenty-Sixth Alabama and Fifty-Fifth Georgia, had guarded us since the + opening of the prison, but now they were ordered to the field, and their + places filled by the Georgia “Reserves,” an organization of + boys under, and men over the military age. As General Grant aptly-phrased + it, “They had robbed the cradle and the grave,” in forming + these regiments. The boys, who had grown up from children since the war + began, could not comprehend that a Yankee was a human being, or that it + was any more wrongful to shoot one than to kill a mad dog. Their young + imaginations had been inflamed with stories of the total depravity of the + Unionists until they believed it was a meritorious thing to seize every + opportunity to exterminate them. + </p> + <p> + Early one morning I overheard a conversation between two of these youthful + guards: + </p> + <p> + “Say, Bill, I heerd that you shot a Yank last night?” + </p> + <p> + “Now, you just bet I did. God! you jest ought to've heerd him + holler.” + </p> + <p> + Evidently the juvenile murderer had no more conception that he had + committed crime than if he had killed a rattlesnake. + </p> + <p> + Among those who came in about the last of the month were two thousand men + from Butler's command, lost in the disastrous action of May 15, by + which Butler was “bottled up” at Bermuda Hundreds. At that + time the Rebel hatred for Butler verged on insanity, and they vented this + upon these men who were so luckless—in every sense—as to be in + his command. Every pains was taken to mistreat them. Stripped of every + article of clothing, equipment, and cooking utensils—everything, + except a shirt and a pair of pantaloons, they were turned bareheaded and + barefooted into the prison, and the worst possible place in the pen hunted + out to locate them upon. This was under the bank, at the edge of the Swamp + and at the eastern side of the prison, where the sinks were, and all filth + from the upper part of the camp flowed down to them. The sand upon which + they lay was dry and burning as that of a tropical desert; they were + without the slightest shelter of any kind, the maggot flies swarmed over + them, and the stench was frightful. If one of them survived the germ + theory of disease is a hallucination. + </p> + <p> + The increasing number of prisoners made it necessary for the Rebels to + improve their means of guarding and holding us in check. They threw up a + line of rifle pits around the Stockade for the infantry guards. At + intervals along this were piles of hand grenades, which could be used with + fearful effect in case of an outbreak. A strong star fort was thrown up at + a little distance from the southwest corner. Eleven field pieces were + mounted in this in such a way as to rake the Stockade diagonally. A + smaller fort, mounting five guns, was built at the northwest corner, and + at the northeast and southeast corners were small lunettes, with a couple + of howitzers each. Packed as we were we had reason to dread a single round + from any of these works, which could not fail to produce fearful havoc. + </p> + <p> + Still a plot was concocted for a break, and it seemed to the sanguine + portions of us that it must prove successful. First a secret society was + organized, bound by the most stringent oaths that could be devised. The + members of this were divided into companies of fifty men each; under + officers regularly elected. The secrecy was assumed in order to shut out + Rebel spies and the traitors from a knowledge of the contemplated + outbreak. A man named Baker—belonging, I think, to some New York + regiment—was the grand organizer of the scheme. We were careful in + each of our companies to admit none to membership except such as long + acquaintance gave us entire confidence in. + </p> + <p> + The plan was to dig large tunnels to the Stockade at various places, and + then hollow out the ground at the foot of the timbers, so that a half + dozen or so could be pushed over with a little effort, and make a gap ten + or twelve feet wide. All these were to be thrown down at a preconcerted + signal, the companies were to rush out and seize the eleven guns of the + headquarters fort. The Plymouth Brigade was then to man these and turn + them on the camp of the Reserves who, it was imagined, would drop their + arms and take to their heels after receiving a round or so of shell. We + would gather what arms we could, and place them in the hands of the most + active and determined. This would give us frown eight to ten thousand + fairly armed, resolute men, with which we thought we could march to + Appalachicola Bay, or to Sherman. + </p> + <p> + We worked energetically at our tunnels, which soon began to assume such + shape as to give assurance that they would answer our expectations in + opening the prison walls. + </p> + <p> + Then came the usual blight to all such enterprises: a spy or a traitor + revealed everything to Wirz. One day a guard came in, seized Baker and + took him out. What was done with him I know not; we never heard of him + after he passed the inner gate. + </p> + <p> + Immediately afterward all the Sergeants of detachments were summoned + outside. There they met Wirz, who made a speech informing them that he + knew all the details of the plot, and had made sufficient preparations to + defeat it. The guard had been strongly reinforced, and disposed in such a + manner as to protect the guns from capture. The Stockade had been secured + to prevent its falling, even if undermined. He said, in addition, that + Sherman had been badly defeated by Johnston, and driven back across the + river, so that any hopes of co-operation by him would be ill-founded. + </p> + <p> + When the Sergeants returned, he caused the following notice to be posted + on the gates: + </p> + <p> + NOTICE. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + Not wishing to shed the blood of hundreds, not connected with those who + concocted a mad plan to force the Stockade, and make in this way their + escape, I hereby warn the leaders and those who formed themselves into a + band to carry out this, that I am in possession of all the facts, and + have made my dispositions accordingly, so as to frustrate it. No choice + would be left me but to open with grape and canister on the Stockade, + and what effect this would have, in this densely crowded place, need not + be told. + </p> + <p> + May 25,1864. + </p> + <p> + H. Wirz. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + The next day a line of tall poles, bearing white flags, were put up at + some little distance from the Dead Line, and a notice was read to us at + roll call that if, except at roll call, any gathering exceeding one + hundred was observed, closer the Stockade than these poles, the guns would + open with grape and canister without warning. + </p> + <p> + The number of deaths in the Stockade in May was seven hundred and eight, + about as many as had been killed in Sherman's army during the same + time. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch30" id="ch30"></a>CHAPTER XXX. + </h2> + <p> + JUNE—POSSIBILITIES OF A MURDEROUS CANNONADE—WHAT WAS PROPOSED + TO BE DONE IN THAT EVENT—A FALSE ALARM—DETERIORATION OF THE + RATIONS —FEARFUL INCREASE OF MORTALITY. + </p> + <p> + After Wirz's threat of grape and canister upon the slightest + provocation, we lived in daily apprehension of some pretext being found + for opening the guns upon us for a general massacre. Bitter experience had + long since taught us that the Rebels rarely threatened in vain. Wirz, + especially, was much more likely to kill without warning, than to warn + without killing. This was because of the essential weakness of his nature. + He knew no art of government, no method of discipline save “kill + them!” His petty little mind's scope reached no further. He + could conceive of no other way of managing men than the punishment of + every offense, or seeming offense, with death. Men who have any talent for + governing find little occasion for the death penalty. The stronger they + are in themselves—the more fitted for controlling others—the + less their need of enforcing their authority by harsh measures. + </p> + <p> + There was a general expression of determination among the prisoners to + answer any cannonade with a desperate attempt to force the Stockade. It + was agreed that anything was better than dying like rats in a pit or wild + animals in a battue. It was believed that if anything would occur which + would rouse half those in the pen to make a headlong effort in concert, + the palisade could be scaled, and the gates carried, and, though it would + be at a fearful loss of life, the majority of those making the attempt + would get out. If the Rebels would discharge grape and canister, or throw + a shell into the prison, it would lash everybody to such a pitch that they + would see that the sole forlorn hope of safety lay in wresting the arms + away from our tormentors. The great element in our favor was the shortness + of the distance between us and the cannon. We could hope to traverse this + before the guns could be reloaded more than once. + </p> + <p> + Whether it would have been possible to succeed I am unable to say. It + would have depended wholly upon the spirit and unanimity with which the + effort was made. Had ten thousand rushed forward at once, each with a + determination to do or die, I think it would have been successful without + a loss of a tenth of the number. But the insuperable trouble—in our + disorganized state—was want of concert of action. I am quite sure, + however, that the attempt would have been made had the guns opened. + </p> + <p> + One day, while the agitation of this matter was feverish, I was cooking my + dinner—that is, boiling my pitiful little ration of unsalted meal, + in my fruit can, with the aid of a handful of splinters that I had been + able to pick up by a half day's diligent search. Suddenly the long + rifle in the headquarters fort rang out angrily. A fuse shell shrieked + across the prison—close to the tops of the logs, and burst in the + woods beyond. It was answered with a yell of defiance from ten thousand + throats. + </p> + <p> + I sprang up-my heart in my mouth. The long dreaded time had arrived; the + Rebels had opened the massacre in which they must exterminate us, or we + them. + </p> + <p> + I looked across to the opposite bank, on which were standing twelve + thousand men—erect, excited, defiant. I was sure that at the next + shot they would surge straight against the Stockade like a mighty human + billow, and then a carnage would begin the like of which modern times had + never seen. + </p> + <p> + The excitement and suspense were terrible. We waited for what seemed ages + for the next gun. It was not fired. Old Winder was merely showing the + prisoners how he could rally the guards to oppose an outbreak. Though the + gun had a shell in it, it was merely a signal, and the guards came + double-quicking up by regiments, going into position in the rifle pits and + the hand-grenade piles. + </p> + <p> + As we realized what the whole affair meant, we relieved our surcharged + feelings with a few general yells of execration upon Rebels generally, and + upon those around us particularly, and resumed our occupation of cooking + rations, killing lice, and discussing the prospects of exchange and + escape. + </p> + <p> + The rations, like everything else about us, had steadily grown worse. A + bakery was built outside of the Stockade in May and our meal was baked + there into loaves about the size of brick. Each of us got a half of one of + these for a day's ration. This, and occasionally a small slice of + salt pork, was call that I received. I wish the reader would prepare + himself an object lesson as to how little life can be supported on for any + length of time, by procuring a piece of corn bread the size of an ordinary + brickbat, and a thin slice of pork, and then imagine how he would fare, + with that as his sole daily ration, for long hungry weeks and months. Dio + Lewis satisfied himself that he could sustain life on sixty cents, a week. + I am sure that the food furnished us by the Rebels would not, at present + prices cost one-third that. They pretended to give us one-third of pound + of bacon and one and one-fourth pounds of corn meal. A week's + rations then would be two and one-third pounds of bacon—worth ten + cents, and eight and three-fourths pounds of meal, worth, say, ten cents + more. As a matter of fact, I do not presume that at any time we got this + full ration. It would surprise me to learn that we averaged two-thirds of + it. + </p> + <p> + The meal was ground very coarse and produced great irrition in the bowels. + We used to have the most frightful cramps that men ever suffered from. + Those who were predisposed intestinal affections were speedily carried off + by incurable diarrhea and dysentery. Of the twelve thousand and twelve men + who died, four thousand died of chronic diarrhea; eight hundred and + seventeen died of acute diarrhea, and one thousand three hundred and + eighty-four died of dysenteria, making total of six thousand two hundred + and one victims to enteric disorders. + </p> + <p> + Let the reader reflect a moment upon this number, till comprehends fully + how many six thousand two hundred and men are, and how much force, energy, + training, and rich possibilities for the good of the community and country + died with those six thousand two hundred and one young, active men. It may + help his perception of the magnitude of this number to remember that the + total loss of the British, during the Crimean war, by death in all shapes, + was four thousand five hundred and ninety-five, or one thousand seven + hundred and six less than the deaths in Andersonville from dysenteric + diseases alone. + </p> + <p> + The loathsome maggot flies swarmed about the bakery, and dropped into the + trough where the dough was being mixed, so that it was rare to get a + ration of bread not contaminated with a few of them. + </p> + <p> + It was not long until the bakery became inadequate to supply bread for all + the prisoners. Then great iron kettles were set, and mush was issued to a + number of detachments, instead of bread. There was not so much cleanliness + and care in preparing this as a farmer shows in cooking food for stock. A + deep wagon-bed would be shoveled full of the smoking paste, which was then + hailed inside and issued out to the detachments, the latter receiving it + on blankets, pieces of shelter tents, or, lacking even these, upon the + bare sand. + </p> + <p> + As still more prisoners came in, neither bread nor mush could be furnished + them, and a part of the detachments received their rations in meal. + Earnest solicitation at length resulted in having occasional scanty issues + of wood to cook this with. My detachment was allowed to choose which it + would take—bread, mush or meal. It took the latter. + </p> + <p> + Cooking the meal was the topic of daily interest. There were three ways of + doing it: Bread, mush and “dumplings.” In the latter the meal + was dampened until it would hold together, and was rolled into little + balls, the size of marbles, which were then boiled. The bread was the most + satisfactory and nourishing; the mush the bulkiest—it made a bigger + show, but did not stay with one so long. The dumplings held an + intermediate position—the water in which they were boiled becoming a + sort of a broth that helped to stay the stomach. We received no salt, as a + rule. No one knows the intense longing for this, when one goes without it + for a while. When, after a privation of weeks we would get a teaspoonful + of salt apiece, it seemed as if every muscle in our bodies was + invigorated. We traded buttons to the guards for red peppers, and made our + mush, or bread, or dumplings, hot with the fiery-pods, in hopes that this + would make up for the lack of salt, but it was a failure. One pinch of + salt was worth all the pepper pods in the Southern Confederacy. My little + squad—now diminished by death from five to three—cooked our + rations together to economize wood and waste of meal, and quarreled among + ourselves daily as to whether the joint stock should be converted into + bread, mush or dumplings. The decision depended upon the state of the + stomach. If very hungry, we made mush; if less famished, dumplings; if + disposed to weigh matters, bread. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img id="p199" alt="p199.jpg (11K)" src="images/p199.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + This may seem a trifling matter, but it was far from it. We all remember + the man who was very fond of white beans, but after having fifty or sixty + meals of them in succession, began to find a suspicion of monotony in the + provender. We had now six months of unvarying diet of corn meal and water, + and even so slight a change as a variation in the way of combining the two + was an agreeable novelty. + </p> + <p> + At the end of June there were twenty-six thousand three hundred and + sixty-seven prisoners in the Stockade, and one thousand two hundred—just + forty per day—had died during the month. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch31" id="ch31"></a>CHAPTER XXXI + </h2> + <p> + DYING BY INCHES—SEITZ, THE SLOW, AND HIS DEATH—STIGGALL AND + EMERSON —RAVAGES ON THE SCURVY. + </p> + <p> + May and June made sad havoc in the already thin ranks of our battalion. + Nearly a score died in my company—L—and the other companies + suffered proportionately. Among the first to die of my company comrades, + was a genial little Corporal, “Billy” Phillips—who was a + favorite with us all. Everything was done for him that kindness could + suggest, but it was of little avail. Then “Bruno” Weeks—a + young boy, the son of a preacher, who had run away from his home in Fulton + County, Ohio, to join us, succumbed to hardship and privation. + </p> + <p> + The next to go was good-natured, harmless Victor Seitz, a Detroit cigar + maker, a German, and one of the slowest of created mortals. How he ever + came to go into the cavalry was beyond the wildest surmises of his + comrades. Why his supernatural slowness and clumsiness did not result in + his being killed at least once a day, while in the service, was even still + farther beyond the power of conjecture. No accident ever happened in the + company that Seitz did not have some share in. Did a horse fall on a + slippery road, it was almost sure to be Seitz's, and that imported + son of the Fatherland was equally sure to be caught under him. Did + somebody tumble over a bank of a dark night, it was Seitz that we soon + heard making his way back, swearing in deep German gutterals, with + frequent allusion to 'tausend teuflin.' Did a shanty blow + down, we ran over and pulled Seitz out of the debris, when he would + exclaim: + </p> + <p> + “Zo! dot vos pretty vunny now, ain't it?” + </p> + <p> + And as he surveyed the scene of his trouble with true German phlegm, he + would fish a brier-wood pipe from the recesses of his pockets, fill it + with tobacco, and go plodding off in a cloud of smoke in search of some + fresh way to narrowly escape destruction. He did not know enough about + horses to put a snaffle-bit in one's mouth, and yet he would draw + the friskiest, most mettlesome animal in the corral, upon whose back he + was scarcely more at home than he would be upon a slack rope. It was no + uncommon thing to see a horse break out of ranks, and go past the + battalion like the wind, with poor Seitz clinging to his mane like the + traditional grim Death to a deceased African. We then knew that Seitz had + thoughtlessly sunk the keen spurs he would persist in wearing; deep into + the flanks of his high-mettled animal. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img id="p201" alt="p201.jpg (25K)" src="images/p201.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + These accidents became so much a matter-of-course that when anything + unusual occurred in the company our first impulse was to go and help Seitz + out. + </p> + <p> + When the bugle sounded “boots and saddles,” the rest of us + would pack up, mount, “count off by fours from the right,” and + be ready to move out before the last notes of the call had fairly died + away. Just then we would notice an unsaddled horse still tied to the + hitching place. It was Seitz's, and that worthy would be seen + approaching, pipe in mouth, and bridle in hand, with calm, equable steps, + as if any time before the expiration of his enlistment would be soon + enough to accomplish the saddling of his steed. A chorus of impatient and + derisive remarks would go up from his impatient comrades: + </p> + <p> + “For heaven's sake, Seitz, hurry up!” + </p> + <p> + “Seitz! you are like a cow's tail—always behind!” + </p> + <p> + “Seitz, you are slower than the second coming of the Savior!” + </p> + <p> + “Christmas is a railroad train alongside of you, Seitz!” + </p> + <p> + “If you ain't on that horse in half a second, Seitz, we'll + go off and leave you, and the Johnnies will skin you alive!” etc., + etc. + </p> + <p> + Not a ripple of emotion would roll over Seitz's placid features + under the sharpest of these objurgations. At last, losing all patience, + two or three boys would dismount, run to Seitz's horse, pack, saddle + and bridle him, as if he were struck with a whirlwind. Then Seitz would + mount, and we would move 'off. + </p> + <p> + For all this, we liked him. His good nature was boundless, and his + disposition to oblige equal to the severest test. He did not lack a grain + of his full share of the calm, steadfast courage of his race, and would + stay where he was put, though Erebus yawned and bade him fly. He was very + useful, despite his unfitness for many of the duties of a cavalryman. He + was a good guard, and always ready to take charge of prisoners, or be + sentry around wagons or a forage pile-duties that most of the boys + cordially hated. + </p> + <p> + But he came into the last trouble at Andersonville. He stood up pretty + well under the hardships of Belle Isle, but lost his cheerfulness—his + unrepining calmness—after a few weeks in the Stockade. One day we + remembered that none of us had seen him for several days, and we started + in search of him. We found him in a distant part of the camp, lying near + the Dead Line. His long fair hair was matted together, his blue eyes had + the flush of fever. Every part of his clothing was gray with the lice that + were hastening his death with their torments. He uttered the first + complaint I ever heard him make, as I came up to him: + </p> + <p> + “My Gott, M ——, dis is worse dun a dog's det!” + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img id="p203" alt="p203.jpg (55K)" src="images/p203.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + In a few days we gave him all the funeral in our power; tied his big toes + together, folded his hands across his breast, pinned to his shirt a slip + of paper, upon which was written: + </p> + <p> + VICTOR E. SEITZ, + </p> + <p> + Co. L, Sixteenth Illinois Cavalry. + </p> + <p> + And laid his body at the South Gate, beside some scores of others that + were awaiting the arrival of the six-mule wagon that hauled them to the + Potter's Field, which was to be their last resting-place. + </p> + <p> + John Emerson and John Stiggall, of my company, were two Norwegian boys, + and fine specimens of their race—intelligent, faithful, and always + ready for duty. They had an affection for each other that reminded one of + the stories told of the sworn attachment and the unfailing devotion that + were common between two Gothic warrior youths. Coming into Andersonville + some little time after the rest of us, they found all the desirable ground + taken up, and they established their quarters at the base of the hill, + near the Swamp. There they dug a little hole to lie in, and put in a layer + of pine leaves. Between them they had an overcoat and a blanket. At night + they lay upon the coat and covered themselves with the blanket. By day the + blanket served as a tent. The hardships and annoyances that we endured + made everybody else cross and irritable. At times it seemed impossible to + say or listen to pleasant words, and nobody was ever allowed to go any + length of time spoiling for a fight. He could usually be accommodated upon + the spot to any extent he desired, by simply making his wishes known. Even + the best of chums would have sharp quarrels and brisk fights, and this + disposition increased as disease made greater inroads upon them. I saw in + one instance two brothers-both of whom died the next day of scurvy—and + who were so helpless as to be unable to rise, pull themselves up on their + knees by clenching the poles of their tents —in order to strike each + other with clubs, and they kept striking until the bystanders interfered + and took their weapons away from them. + </p> + <p> + But Stiggall and Emerson never quarreled with each other. Their tenderness + and affection were remarkable to witness. They began to go the way that so + many were going; diarrhea and scurvy set in; they wasted away till their + muscles and tissues almost disappeared, leaving the skin lying fiat upon + the bones; but their principal solicitude was for each other, and each + seemed actually jealous of any person else doing anything for the other. I + met Emerson one day, with one leg drawn clear out of shape, and rendered + almost useless by the scurvy. He was very weak, but was hobbling down + towards the Creek with a bucket made from a boot leg. I said: + </p> + <p> + “Johnny, just give me your bucket. I'll fill it for you, and + bring it up to your tent.” + </p> + <p> + “No; much obliged, M ——” he wheezed out; “my + pardner wants a cool drink, and I guess I'd better get it for him.” + </p> + <p> + Stiggall died in June. He was one of the first victims of scurvy, which, + in the succeeding few weeks, carried off so many. All of us who had read + sea-stories had read much of this disease and its horrors, but we had + little conception of the dreadful reality. It usually manifested itself + first in the mouth. The breath became unbearably fetid; the gums swelled + until they protruded, livid and disgusting, beyond the lips. The teeth + became so loose that they frequently fell out, and the sufferer would pick + them up and set them back in their sockets. In attempting to bite the hard + corn bread furnished by the bakery the teeth often stuck fast and were + pulled out. The gums had a fashion of breaking away, in large chunks, + which would be swallowed or spit out. All the time one was eating his + mouth would be filled with blood, fragments of gums and loosened teeth. + </p> + <p> + Frightful, malignant ulcers appeared in other parts of the body; the + ever-present maggot flies laid eggs in these, and soon worms swarmed + therein. The sufferer looked and felt as if, though he yet lived and + moved, his body was anticipating the rotting it would undergo a little + later in the grave. + </p> + <p> + The last change was ushered in by the lower parts of the legs swelling. + When this appeared, we considered the man doomed. We all had scurvy, more + or less, but as long as it kept out of our legs we were hopeful. First, + the ankle joints swelled, then the foot became useless. The swelling + increased until the knees became stiff, and the skin from these down was + distended until it looked pale, colorless and transparent as a tightly + blown bladder. The leg was so much larger at the bottom than at the thigh, + that the sufferers used to make grim jokes about being modeled like a + churn, “with the biggest end down.” The man then became + utterly helpless and usually died in a short time. <br><br><br><br> + + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img id="p205" alt="p205.jpg (11K)" src="images/p205.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + The official report puts down the number of deaths from scurvy at three + thousand five hundred and seventy-four, but Dr. Jones, the Rebel surgeon, + reported to the Rebel Government his belief that nine-tenths of the great + mortality of the prison was due, either directly or indirectly, to this + cause. + </p> + <p> + The only effort made by the Rebel doctors to check its ravages was + occasionally to give a handful of sumach berries to some particularly bad + case. + </p> + <p> + When Stiggall died we thought Emerson would certainly follow him in a day + or two, but, to our surprise, he lingered along until August before dying. + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch32" id="ch32"></a>CHAPTER XXXII + </h2> + <p> + “OLE BOO,” AND “OLE SOL, THE HAYMAKER”—A + FETID, BURNING DESERT—NOISOME WATER, AND THE EFFECTS OF DRINKING IT—STEALING + SOFT SOAP. + </p> + <p> + The gradually lengthening Summer days were insufferably long and + wearisome. Each was hotter, longer and more tedious than its predecessors. + In my company was a none-too-bright fellow, named Dawson. During the + chilly rains or the nipping, winds of our first days in prison, Dawson + would, as he rose in, the morning, survey the forbidding skies with + lack-luster eyes and remark, oracularly: + </p> + <p> + “Well, Ole Boo gits us agin, to-day.” + </p> + <p> + He was so unvarying in this salutation to the morn that his designation of + disagreeable weather as “Ole Boo” became generally adopted by + us. When the hot weather came on, Dawson's remark, upon rising and + seeing excellent prospects for a scorcher, changed to: “Well, Ole + Sol, the Haymaker, is going to git in his work on us agin to-day.” + </p> + <p> + As long as he lived and was able to talk, this was Dawson's + invariable observation at the break of day. + </p> + <p> + He was quite right. The Ole Haymaker would do some famous work before he + descended in the West, sending his level rays through the wide interstices + between the somber pines. + </p> + <p> + By nine o'clock in the morning his beams would begin to fairly singe + everything in the crowded pen. The hot sand would glow as one sees it in + the center of the unshaded highway some scorching noon in August. The high + walls of the prison prevented the circulation inside of any breeze that + might be in motion, while the foul stench rising from the putrid Swamp and + the rotting ground seemed to reach the skies. + </p> + <p> + One can readily comprehend the horrors of death on the burning sands of a + desert. But the desert sand is at least clean; there is nothing worse + about it than heat and intense dryness. It is not, as that was at + Andersonville, poisoned with the excretions of thousands of sick and dying + men, filled with disgusting vermin, and loading the air with the germs of + death. The difference is as that between a brick-kiln and a sewer. Should + the fates ever decide that I shall be flung out upon sands to perish, I + beg that the hottest place in the Sahara may be selected, rather than such + a spot as the interior of the Andersonville Stockade. + </p> + <p> + It may be said that we had an abundance of water, which made a decided + improvement on a desert. Doubtless—had that water been pure. But + every mouthful of it was a blood poison, and helped promote disease and + death. Even before reaching the Stockade it was so polluted by the + drainage of the Rebel camps as to be utterly unfit for human use. In our + part of the prison we sank several wells—some as deep as forty feet—to + procure water. We had no other tools for this than our ever-faithful half + canteens, and nothing wherewith to wall the wells. But a firm clay was + reached a few feet below the surface, which afforded tolerable strong + sides for the lower part, ana furnished material to make adobe bricks for + curbs to keep out the sand of the upper part. The sides were continually + giving away, however, and fellows were perpetually falling down the holes, + to the great damage of their legs and arms. The water, which was drawn up + in little cans, or boot leg buckets, by strings made of strips of cloth, + was much better than that of the creek, but was still far from pure, as it + contained the seepage from the filthy ground. + </p> + <p> + The intense heat led men to drink great quantities of water, and this + superinduced malignant dropsical complaints, which, next to diarrhea, + scurvy and gangrene, were the ailments most active in carrying men off. + Those affected in this way swelled up frightfully from day to day. Their + clothes speedily became too small for them, and were ripped off, leaving + them entirely naked, and they suffered intensely until death at last came + to their relief. Among those of my squad who died in this way, was a young + man named Baxter, of the Fifth Indiana Cavalry, taken at Chicamauga. He + was very fine looking—tall, slender, with regular features and + intensely black hair and eyes; he sang nicely, and was generally liked. A + more pitiable object than he, when last I saw him, just before his death, + can not be imagined. His body had swollen until it seemed marvelous that + the human skin could bear so much distention without disruption, All the + old look of bright intelligence had been. driven from his face by the + distortion of his features. His swarthy hair and beard, grown long and + ragged, had that peculiar repulsive look which the black hair of the sick + is prone to assume. + </p> + <p> + I attributed much of my freedom from the diseases to which others + succumbed to abstention from water drinking. Long before I entered the + army, I had constructed a theory—on premises that were doubtless as + insufficient as those that boyish theories are usually based upon—that + drinking water was a habit, and a pernicious one, which sapped away the + energy. I took some trouble to curb my appetite for water, and soon found + that I got along very comfortably without drinking anything beyond that + which was contained in my food. I followed this up after entering the + army, drinking nothing at any time but a little coffee, and finding no + need, even on the dustiest marches, for anything more. I do not presume + that in a year I drank a quart of cold water. Experience seemed to confirm + my views, for I noticed that the first to sink under a fatigue, or to + yield to sickness, were those who were always on the lookout for drinking + water, springing from their horses and struggling around every well or + spring on the line of march for an opportunity to fill their canteens. + </p> + <p> + I made liberal use of the Creek for bathing purposes, however, visiting it + four or five times a day during the hot days, to wash myself all over. + This did not cool one off much, for the shallow stream was nearly as hot + as the sand, but it seemed to do some good, and it helped pass away the + tedious hours. The stream was nearly all the time filled as full of + bathers as they could stand, and the water could do little towards + cleansing so many. The occasional rain storms that swept across the prison + were welcomed, not only because they cooled the air temporarily, but + because they gave us a shower-bath. As they came up, nearly every one + stripped naked and got out where he could enjoy the full benefit of the + falling water. Fancy, if possible, the spectacle of twenty-five thousand + or thirty thousand men without a stitch of clothing upon them. The like + has not been seen, I imagine, since the naked followers of Boadicea + gathered in force to do battle to the Roman invaders. + </p> + <p> + It was impossible to get really clean. Our bodies seemed covered with a + varnish-like, gummy matter that defied removal by water alone. I imagined + that it came from the rosin or turpentine, arising from the little pitch + pine fires over which we hovered when cooking our rations. It would yield + to nothing except strong soap-and soap, as I have before stated—was + nearly as scarce in the Southern Confederacy as salt. We in prison saw + even less of it, or rather, none at all. The scarcity of it, and our + desire for it, recalls a bit of personal experience. + </p> + <p> + I had steadfastly refused all offers of positions outside the prison on + parole, as, like the great majority of the prisoners, my hatred of the + Rebels grew more bitter, day by day; I felt as if I would rather die than + accept the smallest favor at their hands, and I shared the common contempt + for those who did. But, when the movement for a grand attack on the + Stockade—mentioned in a previous chapter—was apparently + rapidly coming to a head, I was offered a temporary detail outside to, + assist in making up some rolls. I resolved to accept; first because I + thought I might get some information that would be of use in our + enterprise; and, next, because I foresaw that the rush through the gaps in + the Stockade would be bloody business, and by going out in advance I would + avoid that much of the danger, and still be able to give effective + assistance. + </p> + <p> + I was taken up to Wirz's office. He was writing at a desk at one end + of a large room when the Sergeant brought me in. He turned around, told + the Sergeant to leave me, and ordered me to sit down upon a box at the + other end of the room. + </p> + <p> + Turning his back and resuming his writing, in a few minutes he had + forgotten me. I sat quietly, taking in the details for a half-hour, and + then, having exhausted everything else in the room, I began wondering what + was in the box I was sitting upon. The lid was loose; I hitched it forward + a little without attracting Wirz's attention, and slipped my left + hand down of a voyage of discovery. It seemed very likely that there was + something there that a loyal Yankee deserved better than a Rebel. I found + that it was a fine article of soft soap. A handful was scooped up and + speedily shoved into my left pantaloon pocket. Expecting every instant + that Wirz would turn around and order me to come to the desk to show my + handwriting, hastily and furtively wiped my hand on the back of my shirt + and watched Wirz with as innocent an expression as a school boy assumes + when he has just flipped a chewed paper wad across the room. Wirz was + still engrossed in his writing, and did not look around. I was emboldened + to reach down for another handful. This was also successfully transferred, + the hand wiped off on the back of the shirt, and the face wore its + expression of infantile ingenuousness. Still Wirz did not look up. I kept + dipping up handful after handful, until I had gotten about a quart in the + left hand pocket. After each handful I rubbed my hand off on the back of + my shirt and waited an instant for a summons to the desk. Then the process + was repeated with the other hand, and a quart of the saponaceous mush was + packed in the right hand pocket. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img id="p211" alt="p211.jpg (33K)" src="images/p211.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + Shortly after Wirz rose and ordered a guard to take me away and keep me, + until he decided what to do with me. The day was intensely hot, and soon + the soap in my pockets and on the back of my shirt began burning like + double strength Spanish fly blisters. There was nothing to do but grin and + bear it. I set my teeth, squatted down under the shade of the parapet of + the fort, and stood it silently and sullenly. For the first time in my + life I thoroughly appreciated the story of the Spartan boy, who stole the + fox and suffered the animal to tear his bowels out rather than give a sign + which would lead to the exposure of his theft. + </p> + <p> + Between four and five o'clock-after I had endured the thing for five + or six hours, a guard came with orders from Wirz that I should be returned + to the Stockade. Upon hastily removing my clothes, after coming inside, I + found I had a blister on each thigh, and one down my back, that would have + delighted an old practitioner of the heroic school. But I also had a half + gallon of excellent soft soap. My chums and I took a magnificent wash, and + gave our clothes the same, and we still had soap enough left to barter for + some onions that we had long coveted, and which tasted as sweet to us as + manna to the Israelites. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch33" id="ch33"></a>CHAPTER XXXIII + </h2> + <p> + “POUR PASSER LE TEMPS”—A SET OF CHESSMEN PROCURED UNDER + DIFFICULTIES —RELIGIOUS SERVICES—THE DEVOTED PRIEST—WAR + SONG. + </p> + <p> + The time moved with leaden feet. Do the best we could, there were very + many tiresome hours for which no occupation whatever could be found. All + that was necessary to be done during the day—attending roll call, + drawing and cooking rations, killing lice and washing—could be + disposed of in an hour's time, and we were left with fifteen or + sixteen waking hours, for which there was absolutely no employment. Very + many tried to escape both the heat and ennui by sleeping as much as + possible through the day, but I noticed that those who did this soon died, + and consequently I did not do it. Card playing had sufficed to pass away + the hours at first, but our cards soon wore out, and deprived us of this + resource. My chum, Andrews, and I constructed a set of chessmen with an + infinite deal of trouble. We found a soft, white root in the swamp which + answered our purpose. A boy near us had a tolerably sharp pocket-knife, + for the use of which a couple of hours each day, we gave a few spoonfuls + of meal. The knife was the only one among a large number of prisoners, as + the Rebel guards had an affection for that style of cutlery, which led + them to search incoming prisoners, very closely. The fortunate owner of + this derived quite a little income of meal by shrewdly loaning it to his + knifeless comrades. The shapes that we made for pieces and pawns were + necessarily very rude, but they were sufficiently distinct for + identification. We blackened one set with pitch pine soot, found a piece + of plank that would answer for a board and purchased it from its possessor + for part of a ration of meal, and so were fitted out with what served + until our release to distract our attention from much of the surrounding + misery. + </p> + <p> + Every one else procured such amusement as they could. Newcomers, who still + had money and cards, gambled as long as their means lasted. Those who had + books read them until the leaves fell apart. Those who had paper and pen + and ink tried to write descriptions and keep journals, but this was + usually given up after being in prison a few weeks. I was fortunate enough + to know a boy who had brought a copy of “Gray's Anatomy” + into prison with him. I was not specially interested in the subject, but + it was Hobson's choice; I could read anatomy or nothing, and so I + tackled it with such good will that before my friend became sick and was + taken outside, and his book with him, I had obtained a very fair knowledge + of the rudiments of physiology. + </p> + <p> + There was a little band of devoted Christian workers, among whom were + Orderly Sergeant Thomas J. Sheppard, Ninety-Seventh O. Y. L, now a leading + Baptist minister in Eastern Ohio; Boston Corbett, who afterward slew John + Wilkes Booth, and Frank Smith, now at the head of the Railroad Bethel work + at Toledo. They were indefatigable in trying to evangelize the prison. A + few of them would take their station in some part of the Stockade (a + different one every time), and begin singing some old familiar hymn like: + </p> + <p> + “Come, Thou fount of every blessing,” + </p> + <p> + and in a few minutes they would have an attentive audience of as many + thousand as could get within hearing. The singing would be followed by + regular services, during which Sheppard, Smith, Corbett, and some others + would make short, spirited, practical addresses, which no doubt did much + good to all who heard them, though the grains of leaven were entirely too + small to leaven such an immense measure of meal. They conducted several + funerals, as nearly like the way it was done at home as possible. Their + ministrations were not confined to mere lip service, but they labored + assiduously in caring for the sick, and made many a poor fellow's + way to the grave much smoother for him. <br><br><br><br> <a + name="p215" id="p215"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p215.jpg (36K)" src="images/p215.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + This was about all the religious services that we were favored with. The + Rebel preachers did not make that effort to save our misguided souls which + one would have imagined they would having us where we could not choose but + hear they might have taken advantage of our situation to rake us fore and + aft with their theological artillery. They only attempted it in one + instance. While in Richmond a preacher came into our room and announced in + an authoritative way that he would address us on religious subjects. We + uncovered respectfully, and gathered around him. He was a loud-tongued, + brawling Boanerges, who addressed the Lord as if drilling a brigade. + </p> + <p> + He spoke but a few moments before making apparent his belief that the + worst of crimes was that of being a Yankee, and that a man must not only + be saved through Christ's blood, but also serve in the Rebel army + before he could attain to heaven. + </p> + <p> + Of course we raised such a yell of derision that the sermon was brought to + an abrupt conclusion. + </p> + <p> + The only minister who came into the Stockade was a Catholic priest, + middle-aged, tall, slender, and unmistakably devout. He was unwearied in + his attention to the sick, and the whole day could be seen moving around + through the prison, attending to those who needed spiritual consolation. + It was interesting to see him administer the extreme unction to a dying + man. Placing a long purple scarf about his own neck and a small brazen + crucifix in the hands of the dying one, he would kneel by the latter's + side and anoint him upon the eyes, ears, nostrils; lips, hands, feet and + breast, with sacred oil; from a little brass vessel, repeating the while, + in an impressive voice, the solemn offices of the Church. <br><br><br><br> + <a name="p216" id="p216"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p216.jpg (20K)" src="images/p216.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + His unwearying devotion gained the admiration of all, no matter how little + inclined one might be to view priestliness generally with favor. He was + evidently of such stuff as Christian heros have ever been made of, and + would have faced stake and fagot, at the call of duty, with unquailing + eye. His name was Father Hamilton, and he was stationed at Macon. The + world should know more of a man whose services were so creditable to + humanity and his Church: + </p> + <p> + The good father had the wisdom of the serpent, with the harmlessness of + the dove. Though full of commiseration for the unhappy lot of the + prisoners, nothing could betray him into the slightest expression of + opinion regarding the war or those who were the authors of all this + misery. In our impatience at our treatment, and hunger for news, we forgot + his sacerdotal character, and importuned him for tidings of the exchange. + His invariable reply was that he lived apart from these things and kept + himself ignorant of them. + </p> + <p> + “But, father,” said I one day, with an impatience that I could + not wholly repress, “you must certainly hear or read something of + this, while you are outside among the Rebel officers.” Like many + other people, I supposed that the whole world was excited over that in + which I felt a deep interest. + </p> + <p> + “No, my son,” replied he, in his usual calm, measured tones. + “I go not among them, nor do I hear anything from them. When I leave + the prison in the evening, full of sorrow at what I have seen here, I find + that the best use I can make of my time is in studying the Word of God, + and especially the Psalms of David.” + </p> + <p> + We were not any longer good company for each other. We had heard over and + over again all each other's stories and jokes, and each knew as much + about the other's previous history as we chose to communicate. The + story of every individual's past life, relations, friends, regiment, + and soldier experience had been told again and again, until the repetition + was wearisome. The cool nights following the hot days were favorable to + little gossiping seances like the yarn-spinning watches of sailors on + pleasant nights. Our squad, though its stock of stories was worn + threadbare, was fortunate enough to have a sweet singer in Israel “Nosey” + Payne—of whose tunefulness we never tired. He had a large repertoire + of patriotic songs, which he sang with feeling and correctness, and which + helped much to make the calm Summer nights pass agreeably. Among the best + of these was “Brave Boys are They,” which I always thought was + the finest ballad, both in poetry and music, produced by the War. <br><br><br><br> + <a name="p218" id="p218"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p218.jpg (69K)" src="images/p218.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch34" id="ch34"></a>CHAPTER XXXIV. + </h2> + <p> + MAGGOTS, LICE AND RAIDERS—PRACTICES OF THESE HUMAN VERMIN—PLUNDERING + THE SICK AND DYING—NIGHT ATTACKS, AND BATTLES BY DAY—HARD + TIMES FOR THE SMALL TRADERS. + </p> + <p> + With each long, hot Summer hour the lice, the maggot-flies and the N'Yaarkers + increased in numbers and venomous activity. They were ever-present + annoyances and troubles; no time was free from them. The lice worried us + by day and tormented us by night; the maggot-flies fouled our food, and + laid in sores and wounds larvae that speedily became masses of wriggling + worms. The N'Yaarkers were human vermin that preyed upon and harried + us unceasingly. + </p> + <p> + They formed themselves into bands numbering from five to twenty-five, each + led by a bold, unscrupulous, energetic scoundrel. We now called them + “Raiders,” and the most prominent and best known of the bands + were called by the names of their ruffian leaders, as “Mosby's + Raiders,” “Curtis's Raiders,” “Delaney's + Raiders,” “Sarsfield's Raiders,” “Collins's + Raiders,” etc. + </p> + <p> + As long as we old prisoners formed the bulk of those inside the Stockade, + the Raiders had slender picking. They would occasionally snatch a blanket + from the tent poles, or knock a boy down at the Creek and take his silver + watch from him; but this was all. Abundant opportunities for securing + richer swag came to them with the advent of the Plymouth Pilgrims. As had + been before stated, these boys brought in with them a large portion of + their first instalment of veteran bounty—aggregating in amount, + according to varying estimates, between twenty-five thousand and one + hundred thousand dollars. The Pilgrims were likewise well clothed, had an + abundance of blankets and camp equipage, and a plentiful supply of + personal trinkets, that could be readily traded off to the Rebels. An + average one of them—even if his money were all gone—was a + bonanza to any band which could succeed in plundering him. His watch and + chain, shoes, knife, ring, handkerchief, combs and similar trifles, would + net several hundred dollars in Confederate money. The blockade, which cut + off the Rebel communication with the outer world, made these in great + demand. Many of the prisoners that came in from the Army of the Potomac + repaid robbing equally well. As a rule those from that Army were not + searched so closely as those from the West, and not unfrequently they came + in with all their belongings untouched, where Sherman's men, + arriving the same day, would be stripped nearly to the buff. + </p> + <p> + The methods of the Raiders were various, ranging all the way from sneak + thievery to highway robbery. All the arts learned in the prisons and + purlieus of New York were put into exercise. Decoys, “bunko-steerers” + at home, would be on the look-out for promising subjects as each crowd of + fresh prisoners entered the gate, and by kindly offers to find them a + sleeping place, lure them to where they could be easily despoiled during + the night. If the victim resisted there was always sufficient force at + hand to conquer him, and not seldom his life paid the penalty of his + contumacy. I have known as many as three of these to be killed in a night, + and their bodies—with throats cut, or skulls crushed in—be + found in the morning among the dead at the gates. + </p> + <p> + All men having money or valuables were under continual espionage, and when + found in places convenient for attack, a rush was made for them. They were + knocked down and their persons rifled with such swift dexterity that it + was done before they realized what had happened. + </p> + <p> + At first these depredations were only perpetrated at night. The quarry was + selected during the day, and arrangements made for a descent. After the + victim was asleep the band dashed down upon him, and sheared him of his + goods with incredible swiftness. Those near would raise the cry of “Raiders!” + and attack the robbers. If the latter had secured their booty they + retreated with all possible speed, and were soon lost in the crowd. If + not, they would offer battle, and signal for assistance from the other + bands. Severe engagements of this kind were of continual occurrence, in + which men were so badly beaten as to die from the effects. The weapons + used were fists, clubs, axes, tent-poles, etc. The Raiders were + plentifully provided with the usual weapons of their class—slung-shots + and brass-knuckles. Several of them had succeeded in smuggling + bowie-knives into prison. + </p> + <p> + They had the great advantage in these rows of being well acquainted with + each other, while, except the Plymouth Pilgrims, the rest of the prisoners + were made up of small squads of men from each regiment in the service, and + total strangers to all outside of their own little band. The Raiders could + concentrate, if necessary, four hundred or five hundred men upon any point + of attack, and each member of the gangs had become so familiarized with + all the rest by long association in New York, and elsewhere, that he never + dealt a blow amiss, while their opponents were nearly as likely to attack + friends as enemies. + </p> + <p> + By the middle of June the continual success of the Raiders emboldened them + so that they no longer confined their depredations to the night, but made + their forays in broad daylight, and there was hardly an hour in the + twenty-four that the cry of “Raiders! Raiders!” did, not go up + from some part of the pen, and on looking in the direction of the cry, one + would see a surging commotion, men struggling, and clubs being plied + vigorously. This was even more common than the guards shooting men at the + Creek crossing. + </p> + <p> + One day I saw “Dick Allen's Raiders,” eleven in number, + attack a man wearing the uniform of Ellett's Marine Brigade. He was + a recent comer, and alone, but he was brave. He had come into possession + of a spade, by some means or another, and he used this with delightful + vigor and effect. Two or three times he struck one of his assailants so + fairly on the head and with such good will that I congratulated myself + that he had killed him. Finally, Dick Allen managed to slip around behind + him unnoticed, and striking him on the head with a slung-shot, knocked him + down, when the whole crowd pounced upon him to kill him, but were driven + off by others rallying to his assistance. <br><br><br><br> <a + name="p223" id="p223"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p223.jpg (56K)" src="images/p223.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + The proceeds of these forays enabled the Raiders to wax fat and lusty, + while others were dying from starvation. They all had good tents, + constructed of stolen blankets, and their headquarters was a large, roomy + tent, with a circular top, situated on the street leading to the South + Gate, and capable of accommodating from seventy-five to one hundred men. + All the material for this had been wrested away from others. While + hundreds were dying of scurvy and diarrhea, from the miserable, + insufficient food, and lack of vegetables, these fellows had flour, fresh + meat, onions, potatoes, green beans, and other things, the very looks of + which were a torture to hungry, scorbutic, dysenteric men. They were on + the best possible terms with the Rebels, whom they fawned upon and + groveled before, and were in return allowed many favors, in the way of + trading, going out upon detail, and making purchases. + </p> + <p> + Among their special objects of attack were the small traders in the + prison. We had quite a number of these whose genius for barter was so + strong that it took root and flourished even in that unpropitious soil, + and during the time when new prisoners were constantly coming in with + money, they managed to accumulate small sums—from ten dollars + upward, by trading between the guards and the prisoners. In the period + immediately following a prisoner's entrance he was likely to spend + all his money and trade off all his possessions for food, trusting to + fortune to get him out of there when these were gone. Then was when he was + profitable to these go-betweens, who managed to make him pay handsomely + for what he got. The Raiders kept watch of these traders, and plundered + them whenever occasion served. It reminded one of the habits of the + fishing eagle, which hovers around until some other bird catches a fish, + and then takes it away. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch35" id="ch35"></a>CHAPTER XXXV + </h2> + <p> + A COMMUNITY WITHOUT GOVERNMENT—FORMATION OF THE REGULATORS—RAIDERS + ATTACK KEY BUT ARE BLUFFED OFF—ASSAULT OF THE REGULATORS ON THE + RAIDERS —DESPERATE BATTLE—OVERTHROW OF THE RAIDERS. + </p> + <p> + To fully appreciate the condition of affairs let it be remembered that we + were a community of twenty-five thousand boys and young men—none too + regardful of control at best—and now wholly destitute of government. + The Rebels never made the slightest attempt to maintain order in the + prison. Their whole energies were concentrated in preventing our escape. + So long as we staid inside the Stockade, they cared as little what we did + there as for the performances of savages in the interior of Africa. I + doubt if they would have interfered had one-half of us killed and eaten + the other half. They rather took a delight in such atrocities as came to + their notice. It was an ocular demonstration of the total depravity of the + Yankees. + </p> + <p> + Among ourselves there was no one in position to lay down law and enforce + it. Being all enlisted men we were on a dead level as far as rank was + concerned—the highest being only Sergeants, whose stripes carried no + weight of authority. The time of our stay was—it was hoped—too + transient to make it worth while bothering about organizing any form of + government. The great bulk of the boys were recent comers, who hoped that + in another week or so they would be out again. There were no fat salaries + to tempt any one to take upon himself the duty of ruling the masses, and + all were left to their own devices, to do good or evil, according to their + several bents, and as fear of consequences swayed them. Each little squad + of men was a law unto themselves, and made and enforced their own + regulations on their own territory. The administration of justice was + reduced to its simplest terms. If a fellow did wrong he was pounded—if + there was anybody capable of doing it. If not he went free. + </p> + <p> + The almost unvarying success of the Raiders in—their forays gave the + general impression that they were invincible—that is, that not + enough men could be concentrated against them to whip them. Our + ill-success in the attack we made on them in April helped us to the same + belief. If we could not beat them then, we could not now, after we had + been enfeebled by months of starvation and disease. It seemed to us that + the Plymouth Pilgrims, whose organization was yet very strong, should + undertake the task; but, as is usually the case in this world, where we + think somebody else ought to undertake the performance of a disagreeable + public duty, they did not see it in the light that we wished them to. They + established guards around their squads, and helped beat off the Raiders + when their own territory was invaded, but this was all they would do. The + rest of us formed similar guards. In the southwest corner of the Stockade—where + I was—we formed ourselves into a company of fifty active boys—mostly + belonging to my own battalion and to other Illinois regiments—of + which I was elected Captain. My First Lieutenant was a tall, taciturn, + long-armed member of the One Hundred and Eleventh Illinois, whom we called + “Egypt,” as he came from that section of the State. He was + wonderfully handy with his fists. I think he could knock a fellow down so + that he would fall-harder, and lie longer than any person I ever saw. We + made a tacit division of duties: I did the talking, and “Egypt” + went through the manual labor of knocking our opponents down. In the + numerous little encounters in which our company was engaged, “Egypt” + would stand by my side, silent, grim and patient, while I pursued the + dialogue with the leader of the other crowd. As soon as he thought the + conversation had reached the proper point, his long left arm stretched out + like a flash, and the other fellow dropped as if he had suddenly come in + range of a mule that was feeling well. That unexpected left-hander never + failed. It would have made Charles Reade's heart leap for joy to see + it. + </p> + <p> + In spite of our company and our watchfulness, the Raiders beat us badly on + one occasion. Marion Friend, of Company I of our battalion, was one of the + small traders, and had accumulated forty dollars by his bartering. One + evening at dusk Delaney's Raiders, about twenty-five strong, took + advantage of the absence of most of us drawing rations, to make a rush for + Marion. They knocked him down, cut him across the wrist and neck with a + razor, and robbed him of his forty dollars. By the time we could rally + Delaney and his attendant scoundrels were safe from pursuit in the midst + of their friends. + </p> + <p> + This state of things had become unendurable. Sergeant Leroy L. Key, of + Company M, our battalion, resolved to make an effort to crush the Raiders. + He was a printer, from Bloomington, Illinois, tall, dark, intelligent and + strong-willed, and one of the bravest men I ever knew. He was ably + seconded by “Limber Jim,” of the Sixty-Seventh Illinois, whose + lithe, sinewy form, and striking features reminded one of a young Sioux + brave. He had all of Key's desperate courage, but not his brains or + his talent for leadership. Though fearfully reduced in numbers, our + battalion had still about one hundred well men in it, and these formed the + nucleus for Key's band of “Regulators,” as they were + styled. Among them were several who had no equals in physical strength and + courage in any of the Raider chiefs. Our best man was Ned Carrigan, + Corporal of Company I, from Chicago—who was so confessedly the best + man in the whole prison that he was never called upon to demonstrate it. + He was a big-hearted, genial Irish boy, who was never known to get into + trouble on his own account, but only used his fists when some of his + comrades were imposed upon. He had fought in the ring, and on one occasion + had killed a man with a single blow of his fist, in a prize fight near St. + Louis. We were all very proud of him, and it was as good as an entertainment + to us to see the noisiest roughs subside into deferential silence as Ned + would come among them, like some grand mastiff in the midst of a pack of + yelping curs. Ned entered into the regulating scheme heartily. Other + stalwart specimens of physical manhood in our battalion were Sergeant + Goody, Ned Johnson, Tom Larkin, and others, who, while not approaching + Carrigan's perfect manhood, were still more than a match for the + best of the Raiders. <br><br><br><br> <a id="p228"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p228.jpg (47K)" src="images/p228.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + Key proceeded with the greatest secrecy in the organization of his forces. + He accepted none but Western men, and preferred Illinoisans, Iowans, + Kansans, Indianians and Ohioans. The boys from those States seemed to + naturally go together, and be moved by the same motives. He informed Wirz + what he proposed doing, so that any unusual commotion within the prison + might not be mistaken for an attempt upon the Stockade, and made the + excuse for opening with the artillery. Wirz, who happened to be in a + complaisant humor, approved of the design, and allowed him the use of the + enclosure of the North Gate to confine his prisoners in. + </p> + <p> + In spite of Key's efforts at secrecy, information as to his scheme + reached the Raiders. It was debated at their headquarters, and decided + there that Key must be killed. Three men were selected to do this work. + They called on Key, a dusk, on the evening of the 2d of July. In response + to their inquiries, he came out of the blanket-covered hole on the + hillside that he called his tent. They told him what they had heard, and + asked if it was true. He said it was. One of them then drew a knife, and + the other two, “billies” to attack him. But, anticipating + trouble, Key had procured a revolver which one of the Pilgrims had brought + in in his knapsack and drawing this he drove them off, but without firing + a shot. + </p> + <p> + The occurrence caused the greatest excitement. To us of the Regulators it + showed that the Raiders had penetrated our designs, and were prepared for + them. To the great majority of the prisoners it was the first intimation + that such a thing was contemplated; the news spread from squad to squad + with the greatest rapidity, and soon everybody was discussing the chances + of the movement. For awhile men ceased their interminable discussion of + escape and exchange—let those over worked words and themes have a + rare spell of repose—and debated whether the Raiders would whip the + regulators, or the Regulators conquer the Raiders. The reasons which I + have previously enumerated, induced a general disbelief in the probability + of our success. The Raiders were in good health well fed, used to + operating together, and had the confidence begotten by a long series of + successes. The Regulators lacked in all these respects. + </p> + <p> + Whether Key had originally fixed on the next day for making the attack, or + whether this affair precipitated the crisis, I know not, but later in the + evening he sent us all order: to be on our guard all night, and ready for + action the next morning. + </p> + <p> + There was very little sleep anywhere that night. The Rebels learned + through their spies that something unusual was going on inside, and as + their only interpretation of anything unusual there was a design upon the + Stockade, they strengthened the guards, took additional precautions in + every way, and spent the hours in anxious anticipation. + </p> + <p> + We, fearing that the Raiders might attempt to frustrate the scheme by an + attack in overpowering force on Key's squad, which would be + accompanied by the assassination of him and Limber Jim, held ourselves in + readiness to offer any assistance that might be needed. + </p> + <p> + The Raiders, though confident of success, were no less exercised. They + threw out pickets to all the approaches to their headquarters, and + provided otherwise against surprise. They had smuggled in some canteens of + a cheap, vile whisky made from sorghum—and they grew quite hilarious + in their Big Tent over their potations. Two songs had long ago been + accepted by us as peculiarly the Raiders' own—as some one in + their crowd sang them nearly every evening, and we never heard them + anywhere else. The first began: + </p> + <table> + <tr> + <td> + In Athol lived a man named Jerry Lanagan;<br> He battered away till + he hadn't a pound.<br> His father he died, and he made him a + man agin;<br> Left him a farm of ten acres of ground.<br> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + The other related the exploits of an Irish highwayman named Brennan, whose + chief virtue was that What he rob-bed from the rich he gave unto the poor. + <br> + </p> + <p> + And this was the villainous chorus in which they all joined, and sang in + such a way as suggested highway robbery, murder, mayhem and arson: + </p> + <table> + <tr> + <td> + Brennan on the moor!<br> Brennan on the moor!<br> Proud and + undaunted stood<br> John Brennan on the moor.<br> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + They howled these two nearly the live-long night. They became eventually + quite monotonous to us, who were waiting and watching. It would have been + quite a relief if they had thrown in a new one every hour or so, by way of + variety. + </p> + <p> + Morning at last came. Our companies mustered on their grounds, and then + marched to the space on the South Side where the rations were issued. Each + man was armed with a small club, secured to his wrist by a string. + </p> + <p> + The Rebels—with their chronic fear of an outbreak animating them—had + all the infantry in line of battle with loaded guns. The cannon in the + works were shotted, the fuses thrust into the touch-holes and the men + stood with lanyards in hand ready to mow down everybody, at any instant. + </p> + <p> + The sun rose rapidly through the clear sky, which soon glowed down on us + like a brazen oven. The whole camp gathered where it could best view the + encounter. This was upon the North Side. As I have before explained the + two sides sloped toward each other like those of a great trough. The + Raiders' headquarters stood upon the center of the southern slope, + and consequently those standing on the northern slope saw everything as if + upon the stage of a theater. + </p> + <p> + While standing in ranks waiting the orders to move, one of my comrades + touched me on the arm, and said: + </p> + <p> + “My God! just look over there!” <br><br><br><br> <a + name="p231" id="p231"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p231.jpg (41K)" src="images/p231.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + I turned from watching the Rebel artillerists, whose intentions gave me + more uneasiness than anything else, and looked in the direction indicated + by the speaker. The sight was the strangest one my eyes ever encountered. + There were at least fifteen thousand perhaps twenty thousand—men + packed together on the bank, and every eye was turned on us. The slope was + such that each man's face showed over the shoulders of the one in + front of him, making acres on acres of faces. It was as if the whole broad + hillside was paved or thatched with human countenances. + </p> + <p> + When all was ready we moved down upon the Big Tent, in as good order as we + could preserve while passing through the narrow tortuous paths between the + tents. Key, Limber Jim, Ned Carigan, Goody, Tom Larkin, and Ned Johnson + led the advance with their companies. The prison was as silent as a + graveyard. As we approached, the Raiders massed themselves in a strong, + heavy line, with the center, against which our advance was moving, held by + the most redoubtable of their leaders. How many there were of them could + not be told, as it was impossible to say where their line ended and the + mass of spectators began. They could not themselves tell, as the attitude + of a large portion of the spectators would be determined by which way the + battle went. + </p> + <p> + Not a blow was struck until the lines came close together. Then the Raider + center launched itself forward against ours, and grappled savagely with + the leading Regulators. For an instant—it seemed an hour—the + struggle was desperate. + </p> + <p> + Strong, fierce men clenched and strove to throttle each other; great + muscles strained almost to bursting, and blows with fist and club-dealt + with all the energy of mortal hate—fell like hail. One—perhaps + two—endless minutes the lines surged—throbbed—backward and + forward a step or two, and then, as if by a concentration of mighty + effort, our men flung the Raider line back from it—broken—shattered. + The next instant our leaders were striding through the mass like raging + lions. Carrigan, Limber Jim, Larkin, Johnson and Goody each smote down a + swath of men before them, as they moved resistlessly forward. <br><br><br><br> + <a name="p232" id="p232"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p232.jpg (43K)" src="images/p232.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + We light weights had been sent around on the flanks to separate the + spectators from the combatants, strike the Raiders 'en revers,' + and, as far as possible, keep the crowd from reinforcing them. + </p> + <p> + In five minutes after the first blow—was struck the overthrow of the + Raiders was complete. Resistance ceased, and they sought safety in flight. + </p> + <p> + As the result became apparent to the—watchers on the opposite + hillside, they vented their pent-up excitement in a yell that made the + very ground tremble, and we answered them with a shout that expressed not + only our exultation over our victory, but our great relief from the + intense strain we had long borne. + </p> + <p> + We picked up a few prisoners on the battle field, and retired without + making any special effort to get any more then, as we knew, that they + could not escape us. + </p> + <p> + We were very tired, and very hungry. The time for drawing rations had + arrived. Wagons containing bread and mush had driven to the gates, but + Wirz would not allow these to be opened, lest in the excited condition of + the men an attempt might be made to carry them. Key ordered operations to + cease, that Wirz might be re-assured and let the rations enter. It was in + vain. Wirz was thoroughly scared. The wagons stood out in the hot sun + until the mush fermented and soured, and had to be thrown away, while we + event rationless to bed, and rose the next day with more than usually + empty stomachs to goad us on to our work. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch36" id="ch36"></a>CHAPTER XXXVI. + </h2> + <p> + WHY THE REGULATORS WERE NOT ASSISTED BY THE ENTIRE CAMP—PECULIARITIES + OF BOYS FROM DIFFERENT SECTIONS—HUNTING THE RAIDERS DOWN—EXPLOITS + OF MY LEFT-HANDED LIEUTENANT—RUNNING THE GAUNTLET. + </p> + <p> + I may not have made it wholly clear to the reader why we did not have the + active assistance of the whole prison in the struggle with the Raiders. + There were many reasons for this. First, the great bulk of the prisoners + were new comers, having been, at the farthest, but three or four weeks in + the Stockade. They did not comprehend the situation of affairs as we older + prisoners did. They did not understand that all the outrages—or very + nearly all—were the work of—a relatively small crowd of + graduates from the metropolitan school of vice. The activity and audacity + of the Raiders gave them the impression that at least half the able-bodied + men in the Stockade were engaged in these depredations. This is always the + case. A half dozen burglars or other active criminals in a town will + produce the impression that a large portion of the population are law + breakers. We never estimated that the raiding N'Yaarkers, with their + spies and other accomplices, exceeded five hundred, but it would have been + difficult to convince a new prisoner that there were not thousands of + them. Secondly, the prisoners were made up of small squads from every + regiment at the front along the whole line from the Mississippi to the + Atlantic. These were strangers to and distrustful of all out side their + own little circles. The Eastern men were especially so. The Pennsylvanians + and New Yorkers each formed groups, and did not fraternize readily with + those outside their State lines. The New Jerseyans held aloof from all the + rest, while the Massachusetts soldiers had very little in Common with + anybody—even their fellow New Englanders. The Michigan men were + modified New Englanders. They had the same tricks of speech; they said + “I be” for “I am,” and “haag” for + “hog;” “Let me look at your knife half a second,” + or “Give me just a sup of that water,” where we said simply + “Lend me your knife,” or “hand me a drink.” They + were less reserved than the true Yankees, more disposed to be social, and, + with all their eccentricities, were as manly, honorable a set of fellows + as it was my fortune to meet with in the army. I could ask no better + comrades than the boys of the Third Michigan Infantry, who belonged to the + same “Ninety” with me. The boys from Minnesota and Wisconsin + were very much like those from Michigan. Those from Ohio, Indiana, + Illinois, Iowa and Kansas all seemed cut off the same piece. To all + intents and purposes they might have come from the same County. They spoke + the same dialect, read the same newspapers, had studied McGuffey's + Readers, Mitchell's Geography, and Ray's Arithmetics at + school, admired the same great men, and held generally the same opinions + on any given subject. It was never difficult to get them to act in unison—they + did it spontaneously; while it required an effort to bring about harmony + of action with those from other sections. Had the Western boys in prison + been thoroughly advised of the nature of our enterprise, we could, + doubtless, have commanded their cordial assistance, but they were not, and + there was no way in which it could be done readily, until after the + decisive blow was struck. + </p> + <p> + The work of arresting the leading Raiders went on actively all day on the + Fourth of July. They made occasional shows of fierce resistance, but the + events of the day before had destroyed their prestige, broken their + confidence, and driven away from their support very many who followed + their lead when they were considered all-powerful. They scattered from + their former haunts, and mingled with the crowds in other parts of the + prison, but were recognized, and reported to Key, who sent parties to + arrest them. Several times they managed to collect enough adherents to + drive off the squads sent after them, but this only gave them a short + respite, for the squad would return reinforced, and make short work of + them. Besides, the prisoners generally were beginning to understand and + approve of the Regulators' movement, and were disposed to give all + the assistance needed. + </p> + <p> + Myself and “Egypt,” my taciturn Lieutenant of the sinewy left + arm, were sent with our company to arrest Pete Donnelly, a notorious + character, and leader of, a bad crowd. He was more “knocker” + than Raider, however. He was an old Pemberton building acquaintance, and + as we marched up to where he was standing at the head of his gathering + clan, he recognized me and said: + </p> + <p> + “Hello, Illinoy,” (the name by which I was generally known in + prison) “what do you want here?” + </p> + <p> + I replied, “Pete, Key has sent me for you. I want you to go to + headquarters.” + </p> + <p> + “What the —— does Key want with me?” + </p> + <p> + “I don't know, I'm sure; he only said to bring you.” + </p> + <p> + “But I haven't had anything to do with them other snoozers you + have been a-having trouble with.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't know anything about that; you can talk to Key as to + that. I only know that we are sent for you.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, you don't think you can take me unless I choose to go? + You haint got anybody in that crowd big enough to make it worth while for + him to waste his time trying it.” + </p> + <p> + I replied diffidently that one never knew what—he could do till he + tried; that while none of us were very big, we were as willing a lot of + little fellows as he ever saw, and if it were all the same to him, we + would undertake to waste a little time getting him to headquarters. + </p> + <p> + The conversation seemed unnecessarily long to “Egypt,” who + stood by my side; about a half step in advance. Pete was becoming angrier + and more defiant every minute. His followers were crowding up to us, club + in hand. Finally Pete thrust his fist in my face, and roared out: + </p> + <p> + “By —-, I ain't a going with ye, and ye can't take + me, you —— —— —— ” + </p> + <p> + This was “Egypt's” cue. His long left arm uncoupled like + the loosening of the weight of a pile-driver. It caught Mr. Donnelly under + the chin, fairly lifted him from his feet, and dropped him on his back + among his followers. It seemed to me that the predominating expression in + his face as he went, over was that of profound wonder as to where that + blow could have come from, and why he did not see it in time to dodge or + ward it off. + </p> + <p> + As Pete dropped, the rest of us stepped forward with our clubs, to engage + his followers, while “Egypt” and one or two others tied his + hands and otherwise secured him. But his henchmen made no effort to rescue + him, and we carried him over to headquarters without molestation. <br><br><br><br> + <a name="p237" id="p237"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p237.jpg (35K)" src="images/p237.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + The work of arresting increased in interest and excitement until it + developed into the furore of a hunt, with thousands eagerly engaged in it. + The Raiders' tents were torn down and pillaged. Blankets, tent + poles, and cooking utensils were carried off as spoils, and the ground was + dug over for secreted property. A large quantity of watches, chains, + knives, rings, gold pens, etc., etc.—the booty of many a raid—was + found, and helped to give impetus to the hunt. Even the Rebel + Quartermaster, with the characteristic keen scent of the Rebels for + spoils, smelled from the outside the opportunity for gaining plunder, and + came in with a squad of Rebels equipped with spades, to dig for buried + treasures. How successful he was I know not, as I took no part in any of + the operations of that nature. + </p> + <p> + It was claimed that several skeletons of victims of the Raiders were found + buried beneath the tent. I cannot speak with any certainty as to this, + though my impression is that at least one was found. + </p> + <p> + By evening Key had perhaps one hundred and twenty-five of the most noted + Raiders in his hands. Wirz had allowed him the use of the small stockade + forming the entrance to the North Gate to confine them in. + </p> + <p> + The next thing was the judgment and punishment of the arrested ones. For + this purpose Key organized a court martial composed of thirteen Sergeants, + chosen from the latest arrivals of prisoners, that they might have no + prejudice against the Raiders. I believe that a man named Dick McCullough, + belonging to the Third Missouri Cavalry, was the President of the Court. + The trial was carefully conducted, with all the formality of a legal + procedure that the Court and those managing the matter could remember as + applicable to the crimes with which the accused were charged. Each of + these confronted by the witnesses who testified against him, and allowed + to cross-examine them to any extent he desired. The defense was managed by + one of their crowd, the foul-tongued Tombs shyster, Pete Bradley, of whom + I have before spoken. Such was the fear of the vengeance of the Raiders + and their friends that many who had been badly abused dared not testify + against them, dreading midnight assassination if they did. Others would + not go before the Court except at night. But for all this there was no + lack of evidence; there were thousands who had been robbed and maltreated, + or who had seen these outrages committed on others, and the boldness of + the leaders in their bight of power rendered their identification a matter + of no difficulty whatever. + </p> + <p> + The trial lasted several days, and concluded with sentencing quite a large + number to run the gauntlet, a smaller number to wear balls and chains, and + the following six to be hanged: + </p> + <p> + John Sarsfield, One Hundred and Forty-Fourth New York. + </p> + <p> + William Collins, alias “Mosby,” Company D, Eighty-Eighth + Pennsylvania, + </p> + <p> + Charles Curtis, Company A, Fifth Rhode Island Artillery. + </p> + <p> + Patrick Delaney, Company E, Eighty-Third Pennsylvania. + </p> + <p> + A. Muir, United States Navy. + </p> + <p> + Terence Sullivan, Seventy-Second New York. + </p> + <p> + These names and regiments are of little consequence, however, as I believe + all the rascals were professional bounty-jumpers, and did not belong to + any regiment longer than they could find an opportunity to desert and join + another. + </p> + <p> + Those sentenced to ball-and-chain were brought in immediately, and had the + irons fitted to them that had been worn by some of our men as a punishment + for trying to escape. + </p> + <p> + It was not yet determined how punishment should be meted out to the + remainder, but circumstances themselves decided the matter. Wirz became + tired of guarding so large a number as Key had arrested, and he informed + Key that he should turn them back into the Stockade immediately. Key + begged for little farther time to consider the disposition of the cases, + but Wirz refused it, and ordered the Officer of the Guard to return all + arrested, save those sentenced to death, to the Stockade. In the meantime + the news had spread through the prison that the Raiders were to be sent in + again unpunished, and an angry mob, numbering some thousands, and mostly + composed of men who had suffered injuries at the hands of the marauders, + gathered at the South Gate, clubs in hand, to get such satisfaction as + they could out of the rascals. They formed in two long, parallel lines, + facing inward, and grimly awaited the incoming of the objects of their + vengeance. + </p> + <p> + The Officer of the Guard opened the wicket in the gate, and began forcing + the Raiders through it—one at a time—at the point of the + bayonet, and each as he entered was told what he already realized well—that + he must run for his life. They did this with all the energy that they + possessed, and as they ran blows rained on their heads, arms and backs. If + they could succeed in breaking through the line at any place they were + generally let go without any further punishment. Three of the number were + beaten to death. I saw one of these killed. I had no liking for the + gauntlet performance, and refused to have anything to do with it, as did + most, if not all, of my crowd. <br><br><br><br> <a + name="p240" id="p240"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p240.jpg (24K)" src="images/p240.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + While the gauntlet was in operation, I was standing by my tent at the head + of a little street, about two hundred feet from the line, watching what + was being done. A sailor was let in. He had a large bowie knife concealed + about his person somewhere, which he drew, and struck savagely with at his + tormentors on either side. They fell back from before him, but closed in + behind and pounded him terribly. He broke through the line, and ran up the + street towards me. About midway of the distance stood a boy who had helped + carry a dead man out during the day, and while out had secured a large + pine rail which he had brought in with him. He was holding this straight + up in the air, as if at a “present arms.” He seemed to have + known from the first that the Raider would run that way. Just as he came + squarely under it, the boy dropped the rail like the bar of a toll gate. + It struck the Raider across the head, felled him as if by a shot, and his + pursuers then beat him to death. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch37" id="ch37"></a>CHAPTER XXXVII. + </h2> + <p> + THE EXECUTION—BUILDING THE SCAFFOLD—DOUBTS OF THE CAMP-CAPTAIN + WIRZ THINKS IT IS PROBABLY A RUSE TO FORCE THE STOCKADE—HIS + PREPARATIONS AGAINST SUCH AN ATTEMPT—ENTRANCE OF THE DOOMED ONES—THEY + REALIZE THEIR FATE—ONE MAKES A DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE—HIS + RECAPTURE—INTENSE EXCITEMENT—WIRZ ORDERS THE GUNS TO OPEN—FORTUNATELY + THEY DO NOT—THE SIX ARE HANGED—ONE BREAKS HIS ROPE—SCENE + WHEN THE RAIDERS ARE CUT DOWN. + </p> + <p> + It began to be pretty generally understood through the prison that six men + had been sentenced to be hanged, though no authoritative announcement of + the fact had been made. There was much canvassing as to where they should + be executed, and whether an attempt to hang them inside of the Stockade + would not rouse their friends to make a desperate effort to rescue them, + which would precipitate a general engagement of even larger proportions + than that of the 3d. Despite the result of the affairs of that and the + succeeding days, the camp was not yet convinced that the Raiders were + really conquered, and the Regulators themselves were not thoroughly at + ease on that score. Some five thousand or six thousand new prisoners had + come in since the first of the month, and it was claimed that the Raiders + had received large reinforcements from those,—a claim rendered + probable by most of the new-comers being from the Army of the Potomac. + </p> + <p> + Key and those immediately about him kept their own counsel in the matter, + and suffered no secret of their intentions to leak out, until on the + morning of the 11th, when it became generally known that the sentences + were too be carried into effect that day, and inside the prison. + </p> + <p> + My first direct information as to this was by a messenger from Key with an + order to assemble my company and stand guard over the carpenters who were + to erect the scaffold. He informed me that all the Regulators would be + held in readiness to come to our relief if we were attacked in force. I + had hoped that if the men were to be hanged I would be spared the + unpleasant duty of assisting, for, though I believed they richly deserved + that punishment, I had much rather some one else administered it upon + them. There was no way out of it, however, that I could see, and so + “Egypt” and I got the boys together, and marched down to the + designated place, which was an open space near the end of the street + running from the South Gate, and kept vacant for the purpose of issuing + rations. It was quite near the spot where the Raiders' Big Tent had + stood, and afforded as good a view to the rest of the camp as could be + found. + </p> + <p> + Key had secured the loan of a few beams and rough planks, sufficient to + build a rude scaffold with. Our first duty was to care for these as they + came in, for such was the need of wood, and plank for tent purposes, that + they would scarcely have fallen to the ground before they were spirited + away, had we not stood over them all the time with clubs. + </p> + <p> + The carpenters sent by Key came over and set to work. The N'Yaarkers + gathered around in considerable numbers, sullen and abusive. They cursed + us with all their rich vocabulary of foul epithets, vowed that we should + never carry out the execution, and swore that they had marked each one for + vengeance. We returned the compliments in kind, and occasionally it seemed + as if a general collision was imminent; but we succeeded in avoiding this, + and by noon the scaffold was finished. It was a very simple affair. A + stout beam was fastened on the top of two posts, about fifteen feet high. + At about the height of a man's head a couple of boards stretched + across the space between the posts, and met in the center. The ends at the + posts laid on cleats; the ends in the center rested upon a couple of + boards, standing upright, and each having a piece of rope fastened through + a hole in it in such a manner, that a man could snatch it from under the + planks serving as the floor of the scaffold, and let the whole thing drop. + A rude ladder to ascend by completed the preparations. + </p> + <p> + As the arrangements neared completion the excitement in and around the + prison grew intense. Key came over with the balance of the Regulators, and + we formed a hollow square around the scaffold, our company marking the + line on the East Side. There were now thirty thousand in the prison. Of + these about one-third packed themselves as tightly about our square as + they could stand. The remaining twenty thousand were wedged together in a + solid mass on the North Side. Again I contemplated the wonderful, + startling, spectacle of a mosaic pavement of human faces covering the + whole broad hillside. + </p> + <p> + Outside, the Rebel, infantry was standing in the rifle pits, the + artillerymen were in place about their loaded and trained pieces, the No. + 4 of each gun holding the lanyard cord in his hand, ready to fire the + piece at the instant of command. The small squad of cavalry was drawn up + on the hill near the Star Fort, and near it were the masters of the + hounds, with their yelping packs. + </p> + <p> + All the hangers-on of the Rebel camp—clerks, teamsters, employer, + negros, hundreds of white and colored women, in all forming a motley crowd + of between one and two thousand, were gathered together in a group between + the end of the rifle pits and the Star Fort. They had a good view from + there, but a still better one could be had, a little farther to the right, + and in front of the guns. They kept edging up in that direction, as crowds + will, though they knew the danger they would incur if the artillery + opened. + </p> + <p> + The day was broiling hot. The sun shot his perpendicular rays down with + blistering fierceness, and the densely packed, motionless crowds made the + heat almost insupportable. + </p> + <p> + Key took up his position inside the square to direct matters. With him + were Limber Jim, Dick McCullough, and one or two others. Also, Ned + Johnson, Tom Larkin, Sergeant Goody, and three others who were to act as + hangmen. Each of these six was provided with a white sack, such as the + Rebels brought in meal in. Two Corporals of my company—“Stag” + Harris and Wat Payne—were appointed to pull the stays from under the + platform at the signal. + </p> + <p> + A little after noon the South Gate opened, and Wirz rode in, dressed in a + suit of white duck, and mounted on his white horse—a conjunction + which had gained for him the appellation of “Death on a Pale Horse.” + Behind him walked the faithful old priest, wearing his Church's + purple insignia of the deepest sorrow, and reading the service for the + condemned. The six doomed men followed, walking between double ranks of + Rebel guards. + </p> + <p> + All came inside the hollow square and halted. Wirz then said: + </p> + <p> + “Brizners, I return to you dose men so Boot as I got dem. You haf + tried dem yourselves, and found dem guilty—I haf had notting to do + wit it. I vash my hands of eferyting connected wit dem. Do wit dem as you + like, and may Gott haf mercy on you and on dem. Garts, about face! + Voryvarts, march!” + </p> + <p> + With this he marched out and left us. + </p> + <p> + For a moment the condemned looked stunned. They seemed to comprehend for + the first time that it was really the determination of the Regulators to + hang them. Before that they had evidently thought that the talk of hanging + was merely bluff. One of them gasped out: + </p> + <p> + “My God, men, you don't really mean to hang us up there!” + </p> + <p> + Key answered grimly and laconically: + </p> + <p> + “That seems to be about the size of it.” + </p> + <p> + At this they burst out in a passionate storm of intercessions and + imprecations, which lasted for a minute or so, when it was stopped by one + of them saying imperatively: + </p> + <p> + “All of you stop now, and let the priest talk for us.” + </p> + <p> + At this the priest closed the book upon which he had kept his eyes bent + since his entrance, and facing the multitude on the North Side began a + plea for mercy. + </p> + <p> + The condemned faced in the same direction, to read their fate in the + countenances of those whom he was addressing. This movement brought Curtis—a + low-statured, massively built man—on the right of their line, and + about ten or fifteen steps from my company. + </p> + <p> + The whole camp had been as still as death since Wirz's exit. The + silence seemed to become even more profound as the priest began his + appeal. For a minute every ear was strained to catch what he said. Then, + as the nearest of the thousands comprehended what he was saying they + raised a shout of “No! no!! NO!!” “Hang them! hang them!” + “Don't let them go! Never!” + </p> + <p> + “Hang the rascals! hang the villains!” + </p> + <p> + “Hang,'em! hang 'em! hang 'em!” + </p> + <p> + This was taken up all over the prison, and tens of thousands throats + yelled it in a fearful chorus. + </p> + <p> + Curtis turned from the crowd with desperation convulsing his features. + Tearing off the broad-brimmed hat which he wore, he flung it on the ground + with the exclamation! + </p> + <p> + “By God, I'll die this way first!” and, drawing his head + down and folding his arms about it, he dashed forward for the center of my + company, like a great stone hurled from a catapult. + </p> + <p> + “Egypt” and I saw where he was going to strike, and ran down + the line to help stop him. As he came up we rained blows on his head with + our clubs, but so many of us struck at him at once that we broke each + other's clubs to pieces, and only knocked him on his knees. He rose + with an almost superhuman effort, and plunged into the mass beyond. + </p> + <p> + The excitement almost became delirium. For an instant I feared that + everything was gone to ruin. “Egypt” and I strained every + energy to restore our lines, before the break could be taken advantage of + by the others. Our boys behaved splendidly, standing firm, and in a few + seconds the line was restored. + </p> + <p> + As Curtis broke through, Delaney, a brawny Irishman standing next to him, + started to follow. He took one step. At the same instant Limber Jim's + long legs took three great strides, and placed him directly in front of + Delaney. Jim's right hand held an enormous bowie-knife, and as he + raised it above Delaney he hissed out: + </p> + <p> + “If you dare move another step, I'll open you —— + —— ——, I'll open you from one end to the + other. + </p> + <p> + Delaney stopped. This checked the others till our lines reformed. + </p> + <p> + When Wirz saw the commotion he was panic-stricken with fear that the + long-dreaded assault on the Stockade had begun. He ran down from the + headquarter steps to the Captain of the battery, shrieking: + </p> + <p> + “Fire! fire! fire!” + </p> + <p> + The Captain, not being a fool, could see that the rush was not towards the + Stockade, but away from it, and he refrained from giving the order. + </p> + <p> + But the spectators who had gotten before the guns, heard Wirz's + excited yell, and remembering the consequences to themselves should the + artillery be discharged, became frenzied with fear, and screamed, and fell + down over and trampled upon each other in endeavoring to get away. The + guards on that side of the Stockade ran down in a panic, and the ten + thousand prisoners immediately around us, expecting no less than that the + next instant we would be swept with grape and canister, stampeded + tumultuously. There were quite a number of wells right around us, and all + of these were filled full of men that fell into them as the crowd rushed + away. Many had legs and arms broken, and I have no doubt that several were + killed. + </p> + <p> + It was the stormiest five minutes that I ever saw. + </p> + <p> + While this was going on two of my company, belonging to the Fifth Iowa + Cavalry, were in hot pursuit of Curtis. I had seen them start and shouted + to them to come back, as I feared they would be set upon by the Raiders + and murdered. But the din was so overpowering that they could not hear me, + and doubtless would not have come back if they had heard. + </p> + <p> + Curtis ran diagonally down the hill, jumping over the tents and knocking + down the men who happened in his way. Arriving at the swamp he plunged in, + sinking nearly to his hips in the fetid, filthy ooze. He forged his way + through with terrible effort. His pursuers followed his example, and + caught up to him just as he emerged on the other side. They struck him on + the back of the head with their clubs, and knocked him down. + </p> + <p> + By this time order had been restored about us. The guns remained silent, + and the crowd massed around us again. From where we were we could see the + successful end of the chase after Curtis, and could see his captors start + back with him. Their success was announced with a roar of applause from + the North Side. Both captors and captured were greatly exhausted, and they + were coming back very slowly. Key ordered the balance up on to the + scaffold. They obeyed promptly. The priest resumed his reading of the + service for the condemned. The excitement seemed to make the doomed ones + exceedingly thirsty. I never saw men drink such inordinate quantities of + water. They called for it continually, gulped down a quart or more at a + time, and kept two men going nearly all the time carrying it to them. + </p> + <p> + When Curtis finally arrived, he sat on the ground for a minute or so, to + rest, and then, reeking with filth, slowly and painfully climbed the + steps. Delaney seemed to think he was suffering as much from fright as + anything else, and said to him: + </p> + <p> + “Come on up, now, show yourself a man, and die game.” <br><br><br><br> + <a name="p245" id="p245"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p245.jpg (116K)" src="images/p245.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + Again the priest resumed his reading, but it had no interest to Delaney, + who kept calling out directions to Pete Donelly, who was standing in the + crowd, as to dispositions to be made of certain bits of stolen property: + to give a watch to this one, a ring to another, and so on. Once the priest + stopped and said: + </p> + <p> + “My son, let the things of this earth go, and turn your attention + toward those of heaven.” + </p> + <p> + Delaney paid no attention to this admonition. The whole six then began + delivering farewell messages to those in the crowd. Key pulled a watch + from his pocket and said: + </p> + <p> + “Two minutes more to talk.” + </p> + <p> + Delaney said cheerfully: + </p> + <p> + “Well, good by, b'ys; if I've hurted any of y ez, I hope + ye'll forgive me. Shpake up, now, any of yez that I've hurted, + and say yell forgive me.” + </p> + <p> + We called upon Marion Friend, whose throat Delaney had tried to cut three + weeks before while robbing him of forty dollars, to come forward, but + Friend was not in a forgiving mood, and refused with an oath. + </p> + <p> + Key said: + </p> + <p> + “Time's up!” put the watch back in his pocket and raised + his hand like an officer commanding a gun. Harris and Payne laid hold of + the ropes to the supports of the planks. Each of the six hangmen tied a + condemned man's hands, pulled a meal sack down over his head, placed + the noose around his neck, drew it up tolerably close, and sprang to the + ground. The priest began praying aloud. + </p> + <p> + Key dropped his hand. Payne and Harris snatched the supports out with a + single jerk. The planks fell with a clatter. Five of the bodies swung + around dizzily in the air. The sixth that of “Mosby,” a large, + powerful, raw-boned man, one of the worst in the lot, and who, among other + crimes, had killed Limber Jim's brother-broke the rope, and fell + with a thud to the ground. Some of the men ran forward, examined the body, + and decided that he still lived. The rope was cut off his neck, the meal + sack removed, and water thrown in his face until consciousness returned. + At the first instant he thought he was in eternity. He gasped out: + </p> + <p> + “Where am I? Am I in the other world?” + </p> + <p> + Limber Jim muttered that they would soon show him where he was, and went + on grimly fixing up the scaffold anew. “Mosby” soon realized + what had happened, and the unrelenting purpose of the Regulator Chiefs. + Then he began to beg piteously for his life, saying: + </p> + <p> + “O for God's sake, do not put me up there again! God has + spared my life once. He meant that you should be merciful to me.” + </p> + <p> + Limber Jim deigned him no reply. When the scaffold was rearranged, and a + stout rope had replaced the broken one, he pulled the meal sack once more + over “Mosby's” head, who never ceased his pleadings. + Then picking up the large man as if he were a baby, he carried him to the + scaffold and handed him up to Tom Larkin, who fitted the noose around his + neck and sprang down. The supports had not been set with the same delicacy + as at first, and Limber Jim had to set his heel and wrench desperately at + them before he could force them out. Then “Mosby” passed away + without a struggle. + </p> + <p> + After hanging till life was extinct, the bodies were cut down, the + meal-sacks pulled off their faces, and the Regulators formal two parallel + lines, through which all the prisoners passed and took a look at the + bodies. Pete Donnelly and Dick Allen knelt down and wiped the froth off + Delaney's lips, and swore vengeance against those who had done him + to death. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch38" id="ch38"></a>CHAPTER XXXVIII. + </h2> + <p> + AFTER THE EXECUTION—FORMATION OF A POLICE FORCE—ITS FIRST + CHIEF —“SPANKING” AN OFFENDER. + </p> + <p> + After the executions Key, knowing that he, and all those prominently + connected with the hanging, would be in hourly danger of assassination if + they remained inside, secured details as nurses and ward-masters in the + hospital, and went outside. In this crowd were Key, Ned Carrigan, Limber + Jim, Dick McCullough, the six hangmen, the two Corporals who pulled the + props from under the scaffold, and perhaps some others whom I do not now + remember. + </p> + <p> + In the meanwhile provision had been made for the future maintenance of + order in the prison by the organization of a regular police force, which + in time came to number twelve hundred men. These were divided into + companies, under appropriate officers. Guards were detailed for certain + locations, patrols passed through the camp in all directions continually, + and signals with whistles could summon sufficient assistance to suppress + any disturbance, or carry out any orders from the chief. + </p> + <p> + The chieftainship was first held by Key, but when he went outside he + appointed Sergeant A. R. Hill, of the One Hundredth O. V. I.—now a + resident of Wauseon, Ohio,—his successor. Hill was one of the + notabilities of that immense throng. A great, broad-shouldered, giant, in + the prime of his manhood—the beginning of his thirtieth year—he + was as good-natured as big, and as mild-mannered as brave. He spoke + slowly, softly, and with a slightly rustic twang, that was very tempting + to a certain class of sharps to take him up for a “luberly greeny.” + The man who did so usually repented his error in sack-cloth and ashes. + </p> + <p> + Hill first came into prominence as the victor in the most stubbornly + contested fight in the prison history of Belle Isle. When the squad of the + One Hundredth Ohio—captured at Limestone Station, East Tennessee, in + September,1863—arrived on Belle Isle, a certain Jack Oliver, of the + Nineteenth Indiana, was the undisputed fistic monarch of the Island. He + did not bear his blushing honors modestly; few of a right arm that + indefinite locality known as “the middle of next week,” is + something that the possessor can as little resist showing as can a girl + her first solitaire ring. To know that one can certainly strike a + disagreeable fellow out of time is pretty sure to breed a desire to do + that thing whenever occasion serves. Jack Oliver was one who did not let + his biceps rust in inaction, but thrashed everybody on the Island whom he + thought needed it, and his ideas as to those who should be included in + this class widened daily, until it began to appear that he would soon feel + it his duty to let no unwhipped man escape, but pound everybody on the + Island. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p253" id="p253"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p253.jpg (25K)" src="images/p253.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + One day his evil genius led him to abuse a rather elderly man belonging to + Hill's mess. As he fired off his tirade of contumely, Hill said with + more than his usual “soft” rusticity: + </p> + <p> + “Mister—I—don't—think—it—just—right—for—a—young—man—to—call—an—old—one—such—bad + names.” + </p> + <p> + Jack Oliver turned on him savagely. + </p> + <p> + “Well! may be you want to take it up?” + </p> + <p> + The grin on Hill's face looked still more verdant, as he answered + with gentle deliberation: + </p> + <p> + “Well—mister—I—don't—go—around—a—hunting—things—but—I + —ginerally—take—care—of—all—that's—sent—me!” + </p> + <p> + Jack foamed, but his fiercest bluster could not drive that infantile smile + from Hill's face, nor provoke a change in the calm slowness of his + speech. + </p> + <p> + It was evident that nothing would do but a battle-royal, and Jack had + sense enough to see that the imperturbable rustic was likely to give him a + job of some difficulty. He went off and came back with his clan, while + Hill's comrades of the One Hundredth gathered around to insure him + fair play. Jack pulled off his coat and vest, rolled up his sleeves, and + made other elaborate preparations for the affray. Hill, without removing a + garment, said, as he surveyed him with a mocking smile: + </p> + <p> + “Mister—you—seem—to—be—one—of—them—partick-e-ler—fellers.” + </p> + <p> + Jack roared out, + </p> + <p> + “By —-, I'll make you partickeler before I get through + with you. Now, how shall we settle this? Regular stand-up-and knock-down, + or rough and tumble?” + </p> + <p> + If anything Hill's face was more vacantly serene, and his tones + blander than ever, as he answered: + </p> + <p> + “Strike—any—gait—that—suits—you,—Mister;—I + guess—I—will—be —able—to—keep—up—with—you.” + </p> + <p> + They closed. Hill feinted with his left, and as Jack uncovered to guard, + he caught him fairly on the lower left ribs, by a blow from his mighty + right fist, that sounded—as one of the by-standers expressed it—“like + striking a hollow log with a maul.” + </p> + <p> + The color in Jack's face paled. He did not seem to understand how he + had laid himself open to such a pass, and made the same mistake, receiving + again a sounding blow in the short ribs. This taught him nothing, either, + for again he opened his guard in response to a feint, and again caught a + blow on his luckless left, ribs, that drove the blood from his face and + the breath from his body. He reeled back among his supporters for an + instant to breathe. Recovering his wind, be dashed at Hill feinted + strongly with his right, but delivered a terrible kick against the lower + part of the latter's abdomen. Both closed and fought savagely at + half-arm's length for an instant; during which Hill struck Jack so + fairly in the mouth as to break out three front teeth, which the latter + swallowed. Then they clenched and struggled to throw each other. Hill's + superior strength and skill crushed his opponent to the ground, and he + fell upon him. As they grappled there, one of Jack's followers + sought to aid his leader by catching Hill by the hair, intending to kick + him in the face. In an instant he was knocked down by a stalwart member of + the One Hundredth, and then literally lifted out of the ring by kicks. + </p> + <p> + Jack was soon so badly beaten as to be unable to cry “enough!” + One of his friends did that service for him, the fight ceased, and + thenceforth Mr. Oliver resigned his pugilistic crown, and retired to the + shades of private life. He died of scurvy and diarrhea, some months + afterward, in Andersonville. + </p> + <p> + The almost hourly scenes of violence and crime that marked the days and + nights before the Regulators began operations were now succeeded by the + greatest order. The prison was freer from crime than the best governed + City. There were frequent squabbles and fights, of course, and many petty + larcenies. Rations of bread and of wood, articles of clothing, and the + wretched little cans and half canteens that formed our cooking utensils, + were still stolen, but all these were in a sneak-thief way. There was an + entire absence of the audacious open-day robbery and murder —the + “raiding” of the previous few weeks. The summary punishment + inflicted on the condemned was sufficient to cow even bolder men than the + Raiders, and they were frightened into at least quiescence. + </p> + <p> + Sergeant Hill's administration was vigorous, and secured the best + results. He became a judge of all infractions of morals and law, and sat + at the door of his tent to dispense justice to all comers, like the Cadi + of a Mahometan Village. His judicial methods and punishments also reminded + one strongly of the primitive judicature of Oriental lands. The wronged + one came before him and told his tale: he had his blouse, or his quart + cup, or his shoes, or his watch, or his money stolen during the night. The + suspected one was also summoned, confronted with his accuser, and sharply + interrogated. Hill would revolve the stories in his mind, decide the + innocence or guilt of the accused, and if he thought the accusation + sustained, order the culprit to punishment. He did not imitate his + Mussulman prototypes to the extent of bowstringing or decapitating the + condemned, nor did he cut any thief's hands off, nor yet nail his + ears to a doorpost, but he introduced a modification of the bastinado that + made those who were punished by it even wish they were dead. The + instrument used was what is called in the South a “shake” + —a split shingle, a yard or more long, and with one end whittled + down to form a handle. The culprit was made to bend down until he could + catch around his ankles with his hands. The part of the body thus brought + into most prominence was denuded of clothing and “spanked” + from one to twenty times, as Hill ordered, by the “shake” in + same strong and willing hand. It was very amusing—to the bystanders. + The “spankee” never seemed to enter very heartily into the + mirth of the occasion. As a rule he slept on his face for a week or so + after, and took his meals standing. + </p> + <p> + The fear of the spanking, and Hill's skill in detecting the guilty + ones, had a very salutary effect upon the smaller criminals. <br><br><br><br> + <a name="p256" id="p256"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p256.jpg (18K)" src="images/p256.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + The Raiders who had been put into irons were very restive under the + infliction, and begged Hill daily to release them. They professed the + greatest penitence, and promised the most exemplary behavior for the + future. Hill refused to release them, declaring that they should wear the + irons until delivered up to our Government. + </p> + <p> + One of the Raiders—named Heffron—had, shortly after his + arrest, turned State's evidence, and given testimony that assisted + materially in the conviction of his companions. One morning, a week or so + after the hanging, his body was found lying among the other dead at the + South Gate. The impression made by the fingers of the hand that had + strangled him, were still plainly visible about the throat. There was no + doubt as to why he had been killed, or that the Raiders were his + murderers, but the actual perpetrators were never discovered. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch39" id="ch39"></a>CHAPTER XXXIX. + </h2> + <p> + JULY—THE PRISON BECOMES MORE CROWDED, THE WEATHER HOTTER, NATIONS + POORER, AND MORTALITY GREATER—SOME OF THE PHENOMENA OF SUFFERING AND + DEATH. + </p> + <p> + All during July the prisoners came streaming in by hundreds and thousands + from every portion of the long line of battle, stretching from the Eastern + bank of the Mississippi to the shores of the Atlantic. Over one thousand + squandered by Sturgis at Guntown came in; two thousand of those captured + in the desperate blow dealt by Hood against the Army of the Tennessee on + the 22d of the month before Atlanta; hundreds from Hunter's luckless + column in the Shenandoah Valley, thousands from Grant's lines in + front of Petersburg. In all, seven thousand one hundred and twenty-eight + were, during the month, turned into that seething mass of corrupting + humanity to be polluted and tainted by it, and to assist in turn to make + it fouler and deadlier. Over seventy hecatombs of chosen victims —of + fair youths in the first flush of hopeful manhood, at the threshold of a + life of honor to themselves and of usefulness to the community; beardless + boys, rich in the priceless affections of homes, fathers, mothers, sisters + and sweethearts, with minds thrilling with high aspirations for the bright + future, were sent in as the monthly sacrifice to this Minotaur of the + Rebellion, who, couched in his foul lair, slew them, not with the merciful + delivery of speedy death, as his Cretan prototype did the annual tribute + of Athenian youths and maidens, but, gloating over his prey, doomed them + to lingering destruction. He rotted their flesh with the scurvy, racked + their minds with intolerable suspense, burned their bodies with the slow + fire of famine, and delighted in each separate pang, until they sank + beneath the fearful accumulation. Theseus [Sherman. D.W.]—the + deliverer—was coming. His terrible sword could be seen gleaming as + it rose and fell on the banks of the James, and in the mountains beyond + Atlanta, where he was hewing his way towards them and the heart of the + Southern Confederacy. But he came too late to save them. Strike as swiftly + and as heavily as he would, he could not strike so hard nor so sure at his + foes with saber blow and musket shot, as they could at the hapless youths + with the dreadful armament of starvation and disease. + </p> + <p> + Though the deaths were one thousand eight hundred and seventeen more than + were killed at the battle of Shiloh—this left the number in the + prison at the end of the month thirty-one thousand six hundred and + seventy-eight. Let me assist the reader's comprehension of the + magnitude of this number by giving the population of a few important + Cities, according to the census of 1870: <br><br> + </p> + <table> + <tr> + <td> + Cambridge, Mass + </td> + <td> + 89,639 + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + Charleston, S. C. + </td> + <td> + 48,958 + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + Columbus, O. + </td> + <td> + 31,274 + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + Dayton, O. + </td> + <td> + 30,473 + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + Fall River, Mass + </td> + <td> + 26,766 + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + Kansas City, Mo + </td> + <td> + 32,260 + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br><br> + </p> + <p> + The number of prisoners exceeded the whole number of men between the ages + of eighteen and forty-five in several of the States and Territories in the + Union. Here, for instance, are the returns for 1870, of men of military + age in some portions of the country: <br><br> + </p> + <table> + <tr> + <td> + Arizona + </td> + <td> + 5,157 + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + Colorado + </td> + <td> + 15,166 + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + Dakota + </td> + <td> + 5,301 + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + Idaho + </td> + <td> + 9,431 + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + Montana + </td> + <td> + 12,418 + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + Nebraska + </td> + <td> + 35,677 + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + Nevada + </td> + <td> + 24,762 + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + New Hampshire + </td> + <td> + 60,684 + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + Oregon + </td> + <td> + 23,959 + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + Rhode Island + </td> + <td> + 44,377 + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + Vermont + </td> + <td> + 62,450 + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + West Virginia + </td> + <td> + 6,832 + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br><br> + </p> + <p> + It was more soldiers than could be raised to-day, under strong pressure, + in either Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, + Dakota, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, + Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Medico, Oregon, + Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont or West Virginia. + </p> + <p> + These thirty-one thousand six hundred and seventy-eight active young men, + who were likely to find the confines of a State too narrow for them, were + cooped up on thirteen acres of ground—less than a farmer gives for + play-ground for a half dozen colts or a small flock of sheep. There was + hardly room for all to lie down at night, and to walk a few hundred feet + in any direction would require an hour's patient threading of the + mass of men and tents. + </p> + <p> + The weather became hotter and hotter; at midday the sand would burn the + hand. The thin skins of fair and auburn-haired men blistered under the sun's + rays, and swelled up in great watery puffs, which soon became the breeding + grounds of the hideous maggots, or the still more deadly gangrene. The + loathsome swamp grew in rank offensiveness with every burning hour. The + pestilence literally stalked at noon-day, and struck his victims down on + every hand. One could not look a rod in any direction without seeing at + least a dozen men in the last frightful stages of rotting Death. + </p> + <p> + Let me describe the scene immediately around my own tent during the last + two weeks of July, as a sample of the condition of the whole prison: I + will take a space not larger than a good sized parlor or sitting room. On + this were at least fifty of us. Directly in front of me lay two brothers—named + Sherwood—belonging to Company I, of my battalion, who came + originally from Missouri. They were now in the last stages of scurvy and + diarrhea. Every particle of muscle and fat about their limbs and bodies + had apparently wasted away, leaving the skin clinging close to the bone of + the face, arms, hands, ribs and thighs—everywhere except the feet + and legs, where it was swollen tense and transparent, distended with + gallons of purulent matter. Their livid gums, from which most of their + teeth had already fallen, protruded far beyond their lips. To their left + lay a Sergeant and two others of their company, all three slowly dying + from diarrhea, and beyond was a fair-haired German, young and intelligent + looking, whose life was ebbing tediously away. To my right was a handsome + young Sergeant of an Illinois Infantry Regiment, captured at Kenesaw. His + left arm had been amputated between the shoulder and elbow, and he was + turned into the Stockade with the stump all undressed, save the ligating + of the arteries. Of course, he had not been inside an hour until the + maggot flies had laid eggs in the open wound, and before the day was gone + the worms were hatched out, and rioting amid the inflamed and + super-sensitive nerves, where their every motion was agony. Accustomed as + we were to misery, we found a still lower depth in his misfortune, and I + would be happier could I forget his pale, drawn face, as he wandered + uncomplainingly to and fro, holding his maimed limb with his right hand, + occasionally stopping to squeeze it, as one does a boil, and press from it + a stream of maggots and pus. I do not think he ate or slept for a week + before he died. Next to him staid an Irish Sergeant of a New York + Regiment, a fine soldierly man, who, with pardonable pride, wore, + conspicuously on his left breast, a medal gained by gallantry while a + British soldier in the Crimea. He was wasting away with diarrhea, and died + before the month was out. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p261" id="p261"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p261.jpg (13K)" src="images/p261.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + This was what one could see on every square rod of the prison. Where I was + was not only no worse than the rest of the prison, but was probably much + better and healthier, as it was the highest ground inside, farthest from + the Swamp, and having the dead line on two sides, had a ventilation that + those nearer the center could not possibly have. Yet, with all these + conditions in our favor, the mortality was as I have described. + </p> + <p> + Near us an exasperating idiot, who played the flute, had established + himself. Like all poor players, he affected the low, mournful notes, as + plaintive as the distant cooing of the dove in lowering, weather. He + played or rather tooted away in his “blues”-inducing strain hour + after hour, despite our energetic protests, and occasionally flinging a + club at him. There was no more stop to him than to a man with a + hand-organ, and to this day the low, sad notes of a flute are the swiftest + reminder to me of those sorrowful, death-laden days. <br><br><br><br> + <a name="p262" id="p262"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p262.jpg (15K)" src="images/p262.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + I had an illustration one morning of how far decomposition would progress + in a man's body before he died. My chum and I found a treasure-trove + in the streets, in the shape of the body of a man who died during the + night. The value of this “find” was that if we took it to the + gate, we would be allowed to carry it outside to the deadhouse, and on our + way back have an opportunity to pick up a chunk of wood, to use in + cooking. While discussing our good luck another party came up and claimed + the body. A verbal dispute led to one of blows, in which we came off + victorious, and I hastily caught hold of the arm near the elbow to help + bear the body away. The skin gave way under my hand, and slipped with it + down to the wrist, like a torn sleeve. It was sickening, but I clung to my + prize, and secured a very good chunk of wood while outside with it. The + wood was very much needed by my mess, as our squad had then had none for + more than a week. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch40" id="ch40"></a>CHAPTER XL. + </h2> + <p> + THE BATTLE OF THE 22D OF JULY—THE ARMS OF THE TENNESSEE ASSAULTED + FRONT AND REAR—DEATH OF GENERAL MCPHERSON—ASSUMPTION OF + COMMAND BY GENERAL LOGAN—RESULT OF THE BATTLE. + </p> + <p> + Naturally, we had a consuming hunger for news of what was being + accomplished by our armies toward crushing the Rebellion. Now, more than + ever, had we reason to ardently wish for the destruction of the Rebel + power. Before capture we had love of country and a natural desire for the + triumph of her flag to animate us. Now we had a hatred of the Rebels that + passed expression, and a fierce longing to see those who daily tortured + and insulted us trampled down in the dust of humiliation. + </p> + <p> + The daily arrival of prisoners kept us tolerably well informed as to the + general progress of the campaign, and we added to the information thus + obtained by getting—almost daily—in some manner or another—a + copy of a Rebel paper. Most frequently these were Atlanta papers, or an + issue of the “Memphis-Corinth-Jackson-Grenada-Chattanooga-Resacca-Marietta-Atlanta + Appeal,” as they used to facetiously term a Memphis paper that left + that City when it was taken in 1862, and for two years fell back from + place to place, as Sherman's Army advanced, until at last it gave up + the struggle in September, 1864, in a little Town south of Atlanta, after + about two thousand miles of weary retreat from an indefatigable pursuer. + The papers were brought in by “fresh fish,” purchased from the + guards at from fifty cents to one dollar apiece, or occasionally thrown in + to us when they had some specially disagreeable intelligence, like the + defeat of Banks, or Sturgis, or Bunter, to exult over. I was particularly + fortunate in getting hold of these. Becoming installed as general reader + for a neighborhood of several thousand men, everything of this kind was + immediately brought to me, to be read aloud for the benefit of everybody. + All the older prisoners knew me by the nick-name of “Illinoy” + —a designation arising from my wearing on my cap, when I entered + prison, a neat little white metal badge of “ILLS.” When any + reading matter was brought into our neighborhood, there would be a general + cry of: + </p> + <p> + “Take it up to 'Illinoy,'” and then hundreds would + mass around my quarters to bear the news read. + </p> + <p> + The Rebel papers usually had very meager reports of the operations of the + armies, and these were greatly distorted, but they were still very + interesting, and as we always started in to read with the expectation that + the whole statement was a mass of perversions and lies, where truth was an + infrequent accident, we were not likely to be much impressed with it. + </p> + <p> + There was a marled difference in the tone of the reports brought in from + the different armies. Sherman's men were always sanguine. They had + no doubt that they were pushing the enemy straight to the wall, and that + every day brought the Southern Confederacy much nearer its downfall. Those + from the Army of the Potomac were never so hopeful. They would admit that + Grant was pounding Lee terribly, but the shadow of the frequent defeats of + the Army of the Potomac seemed to hang depressingly over them. + </p> + <p> + There came a day, however, when our sanguine hopes as to Sherman were + checked by a possibility that he had failed; that his long campaign + towards Atlanta had culminated in such a reverse under the very walls of + the City as would compel an abandonment of the enterprise, and possibly a + humiliating retreat. We knew that Jeff. Davis and his Government were + strongly dissatisfied with the Fabian policy of Joe Johnston. The papers + had told us of the Rebel President's visit to Atlanta, of his bitter + comments on Johnston's tactics; of his going so far as to sneer + about the necessity of providing pontoons at Key West, so that Johnston + might continue his retreat even to Cuba. Then came the news of Johnston's + Supersession by Hood, and the papers were full of the exulting predictions + of what would now be accomplished “when that gallant young soldier + is once fairly in the saddle.” + </p> + <p> + All this meant one supreme effort to arrest the onward course of Sherman. + It indicated a resolve to stake the fate of Atlanta, and the fortunes of + the Confederacy in the West, upon the hazard of one desperate fight. We + watched the summoning up of every Rebel energy for the blow with + apprehension. We dreaded another Chickamauga. + </p> + <p> + The blow fell on the 22d of July. It was well planned. The Army of the + Tennessee, the left of Sherman's forces, was the part struck. On the + night of the 21st Hood marched a heavy force around its left flank and + gained its rear. On the 22d this force fell on the rear with the impetuous + violence of a cyclone, while the Rebels in the works immediately around + Atlanta attacked furiously in front. + </p> + <p> + It was an ordeal that no other army ever passed through successfully. The + steadiest troops in Europe would think it foolhardiness to attempt to + withstand an assault in force in front and rear at the same time. The + finest legions that follow any flag to-day must almost inevitably succumb + to such a mode of attack. But the seasoned veterans of the Army of the + Tennessee encountered the shock with an obstinacy which showed that the + finest material for soldiery this planet holds was that in which undaunted + hearts beat beneath blue blouses. Springing over the front of their + breastworks, they drove back with a withering fire the force assailing + them in the rear. This beaten off, they jumped back to their proper + places, and repulsed the assault in front. This was the way the battle was + waged until night compelled a cessation of operations. Our boys were + alternately behind the breastworks firing at Rebels advancing upon the + front, and in front of the works firing upon those coming up in the rear. + Sometimes part of our line would be on one side of the works, and part on + the other. + </p> + <p> + In the prison we were greatly excited over the result of the engagement, + of which we were uncertain for many days. A host of new prisoners perhaps + two thousand—was brought in from there, but as they were captured + during the progress of the fight, they could not speak definitely as to + its issue. The Rebel papers exulted without stint over what they termed + “a glorious victory.” They were particularly jubilant over the + death of McPherson, who, they claimed, was the brain and guiding hand of + Sherman's army. One paper likened him to the pilot-fish, which + guides the shark to his prey. Now that he was gone, said the paper, + Sherman's army becomes a great lumbering hulk, with no one in it + capable of directing it, and it must soon fall to utter ruin under the + skilfully delivered strokes of the gallant Hood. + </p> + <p> + We also knew that great numbers of wounded had been brought to the prison + hospital, and this seemed to confirm the Rebel claim of a victory, as it + showed they retained possession of the battle field. <br><br><br><br> + <a name="p268" id="p268"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p268.jpg (18K)" src="images/p268.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + About the 1st of August a large squad of Sherman's men, captured in + one of the engagements subsequent to the 22d, came in. We gathered around + them eagerly. Among them I noticed a bright, curly-haired, blue-eyed + infantryman—or boy, rather, as he was yet beardless. His cap was + marked “68th O. Y. Y. L,” his sleeves were garnished with + re-enlistment stripes, and on the breast of his blouse was a silver arrow. + To the eye of the soldier this said that he was a veteran member of the + Sixty-Eighth Regiment of Ohio Infantry (that is, having already served + three years, he had re-enlisted for the war), and that he belonged to the + Third Division of the Seventeenth Army Corps. He was so young and fresh + looking that one could hardly believe him to be a veteran, but if his + stripes had not said this, the soldierly arrangement of clothing and + accouterments, and the graceful, self-possessed pose of limbs and body + would have told the observer that he was one of those “Old Reliables” + with whom Sherman and Grant had already subdued a third of the + Confederacy. His blanket, which, for a wonder, the Rebels had neglected to + take from him, was tightly rolled, its ends tied together, and thrown over + his shoulder scarf-fashion. His pantaloons were tucked inside his stocking + tops, that were pulled up as far as possible, and tied tightly around his + ankle with a string. A none-too-clean haversack, containing the inevitable + sooty quart cup, and even blacker half-canteen, waft slung easily from the + shoulder opposite to that on which the blanket rested. Hand him his + faithful Springfield rifle, put three days' rations in his + haversack, and forty rounds in his cartridge bog, and he would be ready, + without an instant's demur or question, to march to the ends of the + earth, and fight anything that crossed his path. He was a type of the + honest, honorable, self respecting American boy, who, as a soldier, the + world has not equaled in the sixty centuries that war has been a + profession. I suggested to him that he was rather a youngster to be + wearing veteran chevrons. “Yes,” said he, “I am not so + old as some of the rest of the boys, but I have seen about as much service + and been in the business about as long as any of them. They call me + 'Old Dad,' I suppose because I was the youngest boy in the + Regiment, when we first entered the service, though our whole Company, + officers and all, were only a lot of boys, and the Regiment to day, what's + left of 'em, are about as young a lot of officers and men as there + are in the service. Why, our old Colonel ain't only twenty-four + years old now, and he has been in command ever since we went into + Vicksburg. I have heard it said by our boys that since we veteranized the + whole Regiment, officers, and men, average less than twenty-four years + old. But they are gray-hounds to march and stayers in a fight, you bet. + Why, the rest of the troops over in West Tennessee used to call our + Brigade 'Leggett's Cavalry,' for they always had us + chasing Old Forrest, and we kept him skedaddling, too, pretty lively. But + I tell you we did get into a red hot scrimmage on the 22d. It just laid + over Champion Hills, or any of the big fights around Vicksburg, and they + were lively enough to amuse any one.” + </p> + <p> + “So you were in the affair on the 22d, were you! We are awful + anxious to hear all about it. Come over here to my quarters and tell us + all you know. All we know is that there has been a big fight, with + McPherson killed, and a heavy loss of life besides, and the Rebels claim a + great victory.” + </p> + <p> + “O, they be ——-. It was the sickest victory they ever + got. About one more victory of that kind would make their infernal old + Confederacy ready for a coroner's inquest. Well, I can tell you + pretty much all about that fight, for I reckon if the truth was known, our + regiment fired about the first and last shot that opened and closed the + fighting on that day. Well, you see the whole Army got across the river, + and were closing in around the City of Atlanta. Our Corps, the + Seventeenth, was the extreme left of the army, and were moving up toward + the City from the East. The Fifteenth (Logan's) Corps joined us on + the right, then the Army of the Cumberland further to the right. We run + onto the Rebs about sundown the 21st. They had some breastworks on a ridge + in front of us, and we had a pretty sharp fight before we drove them off. + We went right to work, and kept at it all night in changing and + strengthening the old Rebel barricades, fronting them towards Atlanta, and + by morning had some good solid works along our whole line. During the + night we fancied we could hear wagons or artillery moving away in front of + us, apparently going South, or towards our left. About three or four o'clock + in the morning, while I was shoveling dirt like a beaver out on the works, + the Lieutenant came to me and said the Colonel wanted to see me, pointing + to a large tree in the rear, where I could find him. I reported and found + him with General Leggett, who commanded our Division, talking mighty + serious, and Bob Wheeler, of F Company, standing there with his + Springfield at a parade rest. As soon as I came up, the Colonel says: + </p> + <p> + “Boys, the General wants two level-headed chaps to go out beyond the + pickets to the front and toward the left. I have selected you for the + duty. Go as quietly as possible and as fast as you can; keep your eyes and + ears open; don't fire a shot if you can help it, and come back and + tell us exactly what you have seen and heard, and not what you imagine or + suspect. I have selected you for the duty.' + </p> + <p> + “He gave us the countersign, and off we started over the breastworks + and through the thick woods. We soon came to our skirmish or pickets, only + a few rods in front of our works, and cautioned them not to fire on us in + going or returning. We went out as much as half a mile or more, until we + could plainly hear the sound of wagons and artillery. We then cautiously + crept forward until we could see the main road leading south from the City + filled with marching men, artillery and teams. We could hear the commands + of the officers and see the flags and banners of regiment after regiment + as they passed us. We got back quietly and quickly, passed through our + picket line all right, and found the General and our Colonel sitting on a + log where we had left them, waiting for us. We reported what we had seen + and heard, and gave it as our opinion that the Johnnies were evacuating + Atlanta. The General shook his head, and the Colonel says: 'You may + return to your company.' Bob says to me: + </p> + <p> + “'The old General shakes his head as though he thought them d—-d + Rebs ain't evacuating Atlanta so mighty sudden, but are up to some + devilment again. I ain't sure but he's right. They ain't + going to keep falling back and falling back to all eternity, but are just + agoin' to give us a rip-roaring great big fight one o' these + days—when they get a good ready. You hear me!' <br><br><br><br> + <a name="p270" id="p270"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p270.jpg (19K)" src="images/p270.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + “Saying which we both went to our companies, and laid down to get a + little sleep. It was about daylight then, and I must have snoozed away + until near noon, when I heard the order 'fall in!' and found + the regiment getting into line, and the boys all tallying about going + right into Atlanta; that the Rebels had evacuated the City during the + night, and that we were going to have a race with the Fifteenth Corps as + to which would get into the City first. We could look away out across a + large field in front of our works, and see the skirmish line advancing + steadily towards the main works around the City. Not a shot was being, + fired on either side. + </p> + <p> + “To our surprise, instead of marching to the front and toward the + City, we filed off into a small road cut through the woods and marched + rapidly to the rear. We could not understand what it meant. We marched at + quick time, feeling pretty mad that we had to go to the rear, when the + rest of our Division were going into Atlanta. + </p> + <p> + “We passed the Sixteenth Corps lying on their arms, back in some + open fields, and the wagon trains of our Corps all comfortably corralled, + and finally found ourselves out by the Seventeenth Corps headquarters. Two + or three companies were sent out to picket several roads that seemed to + cross at that point, as it was reported 'Rebel Cavalry' had + been seen on these roads but a short time before, and this accounted for + our being rushed out in such a great hurry. + </p> + <p> + “We had just stacked arms and were going to take a little rest after + our rapid march, when several Rebel prisoners were brought in by some of + the boys who had straggled a little. They found the Rebels on the road we + had just marched out on. Up to this time not a shot had been fired. All + was quiet back at the main works we had just left, when suddenly we saw + several staff officers come tearing up to the Colonel, who ordered us to + 'fall in!' 'Take aims!' 'about, face!' + The Lieutenant Colonel dashed down one of the roads where one of the + companies had gone out on picket. The Major and Adjutant galloped down the + others. We did not wait for them to come back, though, but moved right + back on the road we had just come out, in line of battle, our colors in + the road, and our flanks in open timber. We soon reached a fence enclosing + a large field, and there could see a line of Rebels moving by the flank, + and forming, facing toward Atlanta, but to the left and in the rear of the + position occupied by our Corps. As soon as we reached the fence we fired a + round or two into the backs of these gray coats, who broke into confusion. + </p> + <p> + “Just then the other companies joined us, and we moved off on + 'double quick by the right flank,' for you see we were + completely cut off from the troops up at the front, and we had to get well + over to the right to get around the flank of the Rebels. Just about the + time we fired on the rebels the Sixteenth Corps opened up a hot fire of + musketry and artillery on them, some of their shot coming over mighty + close to where we were. We marched pretty fast, and finally turned in + through some open fields to the left, and came out just in the rear of the + Sixteenth Corps, who were fighting like devils along their whole line. + </p> + <p> + “Just as we came out into the open field we saw General R. K. Scott, + who used to be our Colonel, and who commanded our brigade, come tearing + toward us with one or two aids or orderlies. He was on his big clay-bank + horse, 'Old Hatchie,' as we called him, as we captured him on + the battlefield at the battle of 'Matamora,' or 'Hell on + the Hatchie,' as our boys always called it. He rode up to the + Colonel, said something hastily, when all at once we heard the + all-firedest crash of musketry and artillery way up at the front where we + had built the works the night before and left the rest of our brigade and + Division getting ready to prance into Atlanta when we were sent off to the + rear. Scott put spurs to his old horse, who was one of the fastest runners + in our Division, and away he went back towards the position where his + brigade and the troops immediately to their left were now hotly engaged. + He rode right along in rear of the Sixteenth Corps, paying no attention + apparently to the shot and shell and bullets that were tearing up the + earth and exploding and striking all around him. His aids and orderlies + vainly tried to keep up with him. We could plainly see the Rebel lines as + they came out of the woods into the open grounds to attack the Sixteenth + Corps, which had hastily formed in the open field, without any signs of + works, and were standing up like men, having a hand-to-hand fight. We were + just far enough in the rear so that every blasted shot or shell that was + fired too high to hit the ranks of the Sixteenth Corps came rattling over + amongst us. All this time we were marching fast, following in the + direction General Scott had taken, who evidently had ordered the Colonel + to join his brigade up at the front. We were down under the crest of a + little hill, following along the bank of a little creek, keeping under + cover of the bank as much as possible to protect us from the shots of the + enemy. We suddenly saw General Logan and one or two of his staff upon the + right bank of the ravine riding rapidly toward us. As he neared the head + of the regiment he shouted: + </p> + <p> + “'Halt! What regiment is that, and where are you going?'” + The Colonel, in a loud voice, that all could hear, told him: “The + Sixty-Eighth Ohio; going to join our brigade of the Third Division—your + old Division, General, of the Seventeenth Corps.” + </p> + <p> + “Logan says, 'you had better go right in here on the left of + Dodge. The Third Division have hardly ground enough left now to bury their + dead. God knows they need you. But try it on, if you think you can get to + them.' + </p> + <p> + “Just at this moment a staff officer came riding up on the opposite + side of the ravine from where Logan was and interrupted Logan, who was + about telling the Colonel not to try to go to the position held by the + Third Division by the road cut through the woods whence we had come out, + but to keep off to the right towards the Fifteenth Corps, as the woods + referred to were full of Rebels. The officer saluted Logan, and shouted + across: + </p> + <p> + “General Sherman directs me to inform you of the death of General + McPherson, and orders you to take command of the Army of the Tennessee; + have Dodge close well up to the Seventeenth Corps, and Sherman will + reinforce you to the extent of the whole army.' <br><br><br><br> + <a name="p273" id="p273"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p273.jpg (52K)" src="images/p273.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + “Logan, standing in his stirrups, on his beautiful black horse, + formed a picture against the blue sky as we looked up the ravine at him, + his black eyes fairly blazing and his long black hair waving in the wind. + He replied in a ringing, clear tone that we all could hear: + </p> + <p> + “Say to General Sherman I have heard of McPherson's death, and + have assumed the command of the Army of the Tennessee, and have already + anticipated his orders in regard to closing the gap between Dodge and the + Seventeenth Corps.' + </p> + <p> + “This, of course, all happened in one quarter of the time I have + been telling you. Logan put spurs to his horse and rode in one direction, + the staff officer of General Sherman in another, and we started on a rapid + step toward the front. This was the first we had heard of McPherson's + death, and it made us feel very bad. Some of the officers and men cried as + though they had lost a brother; others pressed their lips, gritted their + teeth, and swore to avenge his death. He was a great favorite with all his + Army, particularly of our Corps, which he commanded for a long while. Our + company, especially, knew him well, and loved him dearly, for we had been + his Headquarters Guard for over a year. As we marched along, toward the + front, we could see brigades, and regiments, and batteries of artillery; + coming over from the right of the Army, and taking position in new lines + in rear of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Corps. Major Generals and their + staffs, Brigadier Generals and their staffs, were mighty thick along the + banks of the little ravine we were following; stragglers and wounded men + by the hundred were pouring in to the safe shelter formed by the broken + ground along which we were rapidly marching; stories were heard of + divisions, brigades and regiments that these wounded or stragglers + belonged, having been all cut to pieces; officers all killed; and the + speaker, the only one of his command not killed, wounded or captured. But + you boys have heard and seen the same cowardly sneaks, probably, in fights + that you were in. The battle raged furiously all this time; part of the + time the Sixteenth Corps seemed to be in the worst; then it would let up + on them and the Seventeenth Corps would be hotly engaged along their whole + front. + </p> + <p> + “We had probably marched half an hour since leaving Logan, and were + getting pretty near back to our main line of works, when the Colonel + ordered a halt and knapsacks to be unslung and piled up. I tell you it was + a relief to get them off, for it was a fearful hot day, and we had been + marching almost double quick. We knew that this meant business though, and + that we were stripping for the fight, which we would soon be in. Just at + this moment we saw an ambulance, with the horses on a dead run, followed + by two or three mounted officers and men, coming right towards us out of + the very woods Logan had cautioned the Colonel to avoid. When the + ambulance got to where we were it halted. It was pretty well out of danger + from the bullets and shell of the enemy. They stopped, and we recognized + Major Strong, of McPherson's Staff, whom the all knew, as he was the + Chief Inspector of our Corps, and in the ambulance he had the body of + General McPherson. Major Strong, it appears, during a slight lull in the + fighting at that part of the line, having taken an ambulance and driven + into the very jaws of death to recover the remains of his loved commander. + It seems he found the body right by the side of the little road that we + had gone out on when we went to the rear. He was dead when he found him, + having been shot off his horse, the bullet striking him in the back, just + below his heart, probably killing him instantly. There was a young fellow + with him who was wounded also, when Strong found them. He belonged to our + First Division, and recognized General McPherson, and stood by him until + Major Strong came up. He was in the ambulance with the body of McPherson + when they stopped by us. + </p> + <p> + “It seems that when the fight opened away back in the rear where we + had been, and at the left of the Sixteenth Corps which was almost directly + in the rear of the Seventeenth Corps, McPherson sent his staff and + orderlies with various orders to different parts of the line, and started + himself to ride over from the Seventeenth Corps to the Sixteenth Corps, + taking exactly the same course our Regiment had, perhaps an hour before, + but the Rebels had discovered there was a gap between the Sixteenth and + Seventeenth Corps, and meeting no opposition to their advances in this + strip of woods, where they were hidden from view, they had marched right + along down in the rear, and with their line at right angles with the line + of works occupied by the left of the Seventeenth Corps; they were thus + parallel and close to the little road McPherson had taken, and probably he + rode right into them and was killed before he realized the true situation. + <br><br><br><br> <a name="p276" id="p276"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p276.jpg (61K)" src="images/p276.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + “Having piled our knapsacks, and left a couple of our older men, who + were played out with the heat and most ready to drop with sunstroke, to + guard them, we started on again. The ambulance with the corpse of Gen. + McPherson moved off towards the right of the Army, which was the last we + ever saw of that brave and handsome soldier. + </p> + <p> + “We bore off a little to the right of a large open field on top of a + high hill where one of our batteries was pounding away at a tremendous + rate. We came up to the main line of works just about at the left of the + Fifteenth Corps. They seemed to be having an easy time of it just then + —no fighting going on in their front, except occasional shots from + some heavy guns on the main line of Rebel works around the City. We + crossed right over the Fifteenth Corps' works and filed to the left, + keeping along on the outside of our works. We had not gone far before the + Rebel gunners in the main works around the City discovered us; and the way + they did tear loose at us was a caution. Their aim was rather bad, + however, and most of their shots went over us. We saw one of them—I + think it was a shell—strike an artillery caisson belonging to one of + our-batteries. It exploded as it struck, and then the caisson, which was + full of ammunition, exploded with an awful noise, throwing pieces of wood + and iron and its own load of shot and shell high into the air, scattering + death and destruction to the men and horses attached to it. We thought we + saw arms and legs and parts of bodies of men flying in every direction; + but we were glad to learn afterwards that it was the contents of the + knapsacks of the Battery boys, who had strapped them on the caissons for + transportation. + </p> + <p> + “Just after passing the hill where our battery was making things so + lively, they stopped firing to let us pass. We saw General Leggett, our + Division Commander, come riding toward us. He was outside of our line of + works, too. You know how we build breastworks—sort of zigzag like, + you know, so they cannot be enfiladed. Well, that's just the way the + works were along there, and you never saw such a curious shape as we + formed our Division in. Why, part of them were on one side of the works, + and go along a little further and here was a regiment, or part of a + regiment on the other side, both sets firing in opposite directions. + </p> + <p> + “No sir'ee, they were not demoralized or in confusion, they + were cool and as steady as on parade. But the old Division had, you know, + never been driven from any position they had once taken, in all their long + service, and they did not propose to leave that ridge until they got + orders from some one beside the Rebs. + </p> + <p> + “There were times when a fellow did not know which side of the works + was the safest, for the Johnnies were in front of us and in rear of us. + You see, our Fourth Division, which had been to the left of us, had been + forced to quit their works, when the Rebs got into the works in their + rear, so that our Division was now at the point where our line turned + sharply to the left, and rear—in the direction of the Sixteenth + Corps. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p278" id="p278"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p278.jpg (34K)" src="images/p278.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + “We got into business before we had been there over three minutes. A + line of the Rebs tried to charge across the open fields in front of us, + but by the help of the old twenty-four pounders (which proved to be part + of Cooper's Illinois Battery, that we had been alongside of in many + a hard fight before), we drove them back a-flying, only to have to jump + over on the outside of our works the next minute to tackle a heavy force + that came for our rear through that blasted strip of woods. We soon drove + them off, and the firing on both sides seemed to have pretty much stopped. + </p> + <p> + “'Our Brigade,' which we discovered, was now commanded + by 'Old Whiskers' (Colonel Piles, of the Seventy-Eighth Ohio. + I'll bet he's got the longest whiskers of any man in the + Army.) You see General Scott had not been seen or heard of since he had + started to the rear after our regiment when the fighting first commenced. + We all believed that he was either killed or captured, or he would have + been with his command. He was a splendid soldier, and a bull-dog of a + fighter. His absence was a great loss, but we had not much time to think + of such things, for our brigade was then ordered to leave the works and to + move to the right about twenty or thirty rods across a large ravine, where + we were placed in position in an open corn-field, forming a new line at + quite an angle from the line of works we had just left, extending to the + left, and getting us back nearer onto a line with the Sixteenth Corps. The + battery of howitzers, now reinforced by a part of the Third Ohio heavy + guns, still occupied the old works on the highest part of the hill, just + to the right of our new line. We took our position just on the brow of a + hill, and were ordered to lie down, and the rear rank to go for rails, + which we discovered a few rods behind us in the shape of a good ten-rail + fence. Every rear-rank chap came back with all the rails he could lug, and + we barely had time to lay them down in front of us, forming a little + barricade of six to eight or ten inches high, when we heard the most + unearthly Rebel yell directly in front of us. It grew louder and came + nearer and nearer, until we could see a solid line of the gray coats + coming out of the woods and down the opposite slope, their battle flags + flying, officers in front with drawn swords, arms at right shoulder, and + every one of them yelling like so many Sioux Indians. The line seemed to + be massed six or eight ranks deep, followed closely by the second line, + and that by the third, each, if possible, yelling louder and appearing + more desperately reckless than the one ahead. At their first appearance we + opened on them, and so did the bully old twenty-four-pounders, with + canister. + </p> + <p> + “On they came; the first line staggered and wavered back on to the + second, which was coming on the double quick. Such a raking as we did give + them. Oh, Lordy, how we did wish that we had the breech loading Spencers + or Winchesters. But we had the old reliable Springfields, and we poured it + in hot and heavy. By the time the charging column got down the opposite + slope, and were struggling through the thicket of undergrowth in the + ravine, they were one confused mass of officers and men, the three lines + now forming one solid column, which made several desperate efforts to rush + up to the top of the hill where we were punishing them so. One of their + first surges came mighty near going right over the left of our Regiment, + as they were lying down behind their little rail piles. But the boys + clubbed their guns and the officers used their revolvers and swords and + drove them back down the hill. + </p> + <p> + “The Seventy-Eighth and Twentieth Ohio, our right and left bowers, + who had been brigaded with us ever since 'Shiloh,' were into + it as hot and heavy as we had been, and had lost numbers of their officers + and men, but were hanging on to their little rail piles when the fight was + over. At one time the Rebs were right in on top of the Seventy-Eighth. One + big Reb grabbed their colors, and tried to pull them out of the hands of + the color-bearer. But old Captain Orr, a little, short, dried-up fellow, + about sixty years old, struck him with his sword across the back of the + neck, and killed him deader than a mackerel, right in his tracks. <br><br><br><br> + <a name="p281" id="p281"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p281.jpg (42K)" src="images/p281.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + “It was now getting dark, and the Johnnies concluded they had taken + a bigger contract in trying to drive us off that hill in one day than they + had counted on, so they quit charging on us, but drew back under cover of + the woods and along the old line of works that we had left, and kept up a + pecking away and sharp-shooting at us all night long. They opened fire on + us from a number of pieces of artillery from the front, from the left, and + from some heavy guns away over to the right of us, in the main works + around Atlanta. + </p> + <p> + “We did not fool away much time that night, either. We got our + shovels and picks, and while part of us were sharpshooting and trying to + keep the Rebels from working up too close to us, the rest of the boys were + putting up some good solid earthworks right where our rail piles had been, + and by morning we were in splendid shape to have received our friends, no + matter which way they had come at us, for they kept up such an all-fired + shelling of us from so many different directions; that the boys had built + traverses and bomb-proofs at all sorts of angles and in all directions. + </p> + <p> + “There was one point off to our right, a few rods up along our old + line of works where there was a crowd of Rebel sharpshooters that annoyed + us more than all the rest, by their constant firing at us through the + night. They killed one of Company H's boys, and wounded several + others. Finally Captain Williams, of D Company, came along and said he + wanted a couple of good shots out of our company to go with him, so I went + for one. He took about ten of us, and we crawled down into the ravine in + front of where we were building the works, and got behind a large fallen + tree, and we laid there and could just fire right up into the rear of + those fellows as they lay behind a traverse extending back from our old + line of works. It was so dark we could only see where to fire by the flash + of guns, but every time they would shoot, some of us would let them have + one. They staid there until almost daylight, when they, concluded as + things looked, since we were going to stay, they had better be going. + </p> + <p> + “It was an awful night. Down in the ravine below us lay hundreds of + killed and wounded Rebels, groaning and crying aloud for water and for + help. We did do what we could for those right around us—but it was + so dark, and so many shell bursting and bullets flying around that a + fellow could not get about much. I tell you it was pretty tough next + morning to go along to the different companies of our regiment and hear + who were among the killed and wounded, and to see the long row of graves + that were being dug to bury our comrades and our officers. There was the + Captain of Company E, Nelson Skeeles, of Fulton County, O., one of—the + bravest and best officers in the regiment. By his side lay First Sergeant + Lesnit, and next were the two great, powerful Shepherds—cousins but + more like brothers. One, it seems, was killed while supporting the head of + the other, who had just received a death wound, thus dying in each other's + arms. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p283" id="p283"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p283.jpg (39K)" src="images/p283.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + “But I can't begin to think or tell you the names of all the + poor boys that we laid away to rest in their last, long sleep on that + gloomy day. Our Major was severely wounded, and several other officers had + been hit more or less badly. + </p> + <p> + “It was a frightful sight, though, to go over the field in front of + our works on that morning. The Rebel dead and badly wounded laid where + they had fallen. The bottom and opposite side of the ravine showed how + destructive our fire and that of the canister from the howitzers had been. + The underbrush was cut, slashed, and torn into shreds, and the larger + trees were scarred, bruised and broken by the thousands of bullets and + other missiles that had been poured into them from almost every + conceivable direction during the day before. + </p> + <p> + “A lot of us boys went way over to the left into Fuller's + Division of the Sixteenth Corps, to see how some of our boys over there + had got through the scrimmage, for they had about as nasty a fight as any + part of the Army, and if it had not been for their being just where they + were, I am not sure but what the old Seventeenth Corps would have had a + different story to tell now. We found our friends had been way out by + Decatur, where their brigade had got into a pretty lively fight on their + own hook. + </p> + <p> + “We got back to camp, and the first thing I knew I was detailed for + picket duty, and we were posted over a few rods across the ravine in our + front. We had not been out but a short time when we saw a flag of truce, + borne by an officer, coming towards us. We halted him, and made him wait + until a report was sent back to Corps headquarters. The Rebel officer was + quite chatty and talkative with our picket officer, while waiting. He said + he was on General Cleburne's staff, and that the troops that charged + us so fiercely the evening before was Cleburne's whole Division, and + that after their last repulse, knowing the hill where we were posted was + the most important position along our line, he felt that if they would + keep close to us during the night, and keep up a show of fight, that we + would pull out and abandon the hill before morning. He said that he, with + about fifty of their best men, had volunteered to keep up the + demonstration, and it was his party that had occupied the traverse in our + old works the night before and had annoyed us and the Battery men by their + constant sharpshooting, which we fellows behind the old tree had finally + tired out. He said they staid until almost daylight, and that he lost more + than half his men before he left. He also told us that General Scott was + captured by their Division, at about the time and almost the same spot as + where General McPherson was killed, and that he was not hurt or wounded, + and was now a prisoner in their hands. + </p> + <p> + “Quite a lot of our staff officers soon came out, and as near as we + could learn the Rebels wanted a truce to bury their dead. Our folks tried + to get up an exchange of prisoners that had been taken by both sides the + day before, but for some reason they could not bring it about. But the + truce for burying the dead was agreed to. Along about dusk some of the + boys on my post got to telling about a lot of silver and brass instruments + that belonged to one of the bands of the Fourth Division, which had been + hung up in some small trees a little way over in front of where we were + when the fight was going on the day before, and that when, a bullet would + strike one of the horns they could hear it go 'pin-g' and in a + few minutes 'pan-g' would go another bullet through one of + them. + </p> + <p> + “A new picket was just coming' on, and I had picked up my + blanket and haversack, and was about ready to start back to camp, when, + thinks I, 'I'll just go out there and see about them horns.' + I told the boys what I was going to do. They all seemed to think it was + safe enough, so out I started. I had not gone more than a hundred yards, I + should think, when here I found the horns all hanging around on the trees + just as the boys had described. Some of them had lots of bullet holes in + them. But I saw a beautiful, nice looking silver bugle hanging off to one + side a little. 'I Thinks,' says I, 'I'll just take + that little toot horn in out of the wet, and take it back to camp.' + I was just reaching up after it when I heard some one say, + </p> + <p> + “'Halt!' and I'll be dog-Boned if there wasn't + two of the meanest looking Rebels, standing not ten feet from me, with + their guns cocked and pointed at me, and, of course, I knew I was a goner; + they walked me back about one hundred and fifty yards, where their picket + line was. From there I was kept going for an hour or two until we got over + to a place on the railroad called East Point. There I got in with a big + crowd of our prisoners, who were taken the day before, and we have been + fooling along in a lot of old cattle cars getting down here ever since. + </p> + <p> + “So this is 'Andersonville,' is it! Well, by—!” + <br><br><br><br> <a name="p285" id="p285"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p285.jpg (48K)" src="images/p285.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch41" id="ch41"></a>CHAPTER XLI. + </h2> + <p> + CLOTHING: ITS RAPID DETERIORATION, AND DEVICES TO REPLENISH IT—DESPERATE + EFFORTS TO COVER NAKEDNESS—“LITTLE RED CAP” AND HIS + LETTER. + </p> + <p> + Clothing had now become an object of real solicitude to us older + prisoners. The veterans of our crowd—the surviving remnant of those + captured at Gettysburg—had been prisoners over a year. The next in + seniority—the Chickamauga boys—had been in ten months. The + Mine Run fellows were eight months old, and my battalion had had seven + months' incarceration. None of us were models of well-dressed + gentlemen when captured. Our garments told the whole story of the hard + campaigning we had undergone. Now, with months of the wear and tear of + prison life, sleeping on the sand, working in tunnels, digging wells, + etc., we were tattered and torn to an extent that a second-class tramp + would have considered disgraceful. + </p> + <p> + This is no reflection upon the quality of the clothes furnished by the + Government. We simply reached the limit of the wear of textile fabrics. I + am particular to say this, because I want to contribute my little mite + towards doing justice to a badly abused part of our Army organization + —the Quartermaster's Department. It is fashionable to speak of + “shoddy,” and utter some stereotyped sneers about “brown + paper shoes,” and “musketo-netting overcoats,” when any + discussion of the Quartermaster service is the subject of conversation, + but I have no hesitation in asking the indorsement of my comrades to the + statement that we have never found anywhere else as durable garments as + those furnished us by the Government during our service in the Army. The + clothes were not as fine in texture, nor so stylish in cut as those we + wore before or since, but when it came to wear they could be relied on to + the last thread. It was always marvelous to me that they lasted so well, + with the rough usage a soldier in the field must necessarily give them. + <br><br><br><br> <a name="p287" id="p287"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p287.jpg (14K)" src="images/p287.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + But to return to my subject. I can best illustrate the way our clothes + dropped off us, piece by piece, like the petals from the last rose of + Summer, by taking my own case as an example: When I entered prison I was + clad in the ordinary garb of an enlisted man of the cavalry—stout, + comfortable boots, woolen pocks, drawers, pantaloons, with a “reenforcement,” + or “ready-made patches,” as the infantry called them; vest, + warm, snug-fitting jacket, under and over shirts, heavy overcoat, and a + forage-cap. First my boots fell into cureless ruin, but this was no + special hardship, as the weather had become quite warm, and it was more + pleasant than otherwise to go barefooted. Then part of the underclothing + retired from service. The jacket and vest followed, their end being + hastened by having their best portions taken to patch up the pantaloons, + which kept giving out at the most embarrassing places. Then the cape of + the overcoat was called upon to assist in repairing these + continually-recurring breaches in the nether garments. The same insatiate + demand finally consumed the whole coat, in a vain attempt to prevent an + exposure of person greater than consistent with the usages of society. The + pantaloons—or what, by courtesy, I called such, were a monument of + careful and ingenious, but hopeless, patching, that should have called + forth the admiration of a Florentine artist in mosaic. I have been shown—in + later years—many table tops, ornamented in marquetry, inlaid with + thousands of little bits of wood, cunningly arranged, and patiently joined + together. I always look at them with interest, for I know the work spent + upon them: I remember my Andersonville pantaloons. + </p> + <p> + The clothing upon the upper part of my body had been reduced to the + remains of a knit undershirt. It had fallen into so many holes that it + looked like the coarse “riddles” through which ashes and + gravel are sifted. Wherever these holes were the sun had burned my back, + breast and shoulders deeply black. The parts covered by the threads and + fragments forming the boundaries of the holes, were still white. When I + pulled my alleged shirt off, to wash or to free it from some of its + teeming population, my skin showed a fine lace pattern in black and white, + that was very interesting to my comrades, and the subject of countless + jokes by them. + </p> + <p> + They used to descant loudly on the chaste elegance of the design, the + richness of the tracing, etc., and beg me to furnish them with a copy of + it when I got home, for their sisters to work window curtains or tidies + by. They were sure that so striking a novelty in patterns would be very + acceptable. I would reply to their witticisms in the language of Portia's + Prince of Morocco: + </p> + <p> + Mislike me not for my complexion— + </p> + <p> + The shadowed livery of the burning sun. <br><br><br><br> <a + name="p288" id="p288"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p288.jpg (11K)" src="images/p288.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + One of the stories told me in my childhood by an old negro nurse, was of a + poverty stricken little girl “who slept on the floor and was covered + with the door,” and she once asked— + </p> + <p> + “Mamma how do poor folks get along who haven't any door?” + </p> + <p> + In the same spirit I used to wonder how poor fellows got along who hadn't + any shirt. + </p> + <p> + One common way of keeping up one's clothing was by stealing + mealsacks. The meal furnished as rations was brought in in white cotton + sacks. Sergeants of detachments were required to return these when the + rations were issued the next day. I have before alluded to the general + incapacity of the Rebels to deal accurately with even simple numbers. It + was never very difficult for a shrewd Sergeant to make nine sacks count as + ten. After awhile the Rebels began to see through this sleight of hand + manipulation, and to check it. Then the Sergeants resorted to the device + of tearing the sacks in two, and turning each half in as a whole one. The + cotton cloth gained in this way was used for patching, or, if a boy could + succeed in beating the Rebels out of enough of it, he would fabricate + himself a shirt or a pair of pantaloons. We obtained all our thread in the + same way. A half of a sack, carefully raveled out, would furnish a couple + of handfuls of thread. Had it not been for this resource all our sewing + and mending would have come to a standstill. + </p> + <p> + Most of our needles were manufactured by ourselves from bones. A piece of + bone, split as near as possible to the required size, was carefully rubbed + down upon a brick, and then had an eye laboriously worked through it with + a bit of wire or something else available for the purpose. The needles + were about the size of ordinary darning needles, and answered the purpose + very well. + </p> + <p> + These devices gave one some conception of the way savages provide for the + wants of their lives. Time was with them, as with us, of little + importance. It was no loss of time to them, nor to us, to spend a large + portion of the waking hours of a week in fabricating a needle out of a + bone, where a civilized man could purchase a much better one with the + product of three minutes' labor. I do not think any red Indian of + the plains exceeded us in the patience with which we worked away at these + minutia of life's needs. + </p> + <p> + Of course the most common source of clothing was the dead, and no body was + carried out with any clothing on it that could be of service to the + survivors. The Plymouth Pilgrims, who were so well clothed on coming in, + and were now dying off very rapidly, furnished many good suits to cover + the nakedness of older, prisoners. Most of the prisoners from the Army of + the Potomac were well dressed, and as very many died within a month or six + weeks after their entrance, they left their clothes in pretty good + condition for those who constituted themselves their heirs, administrators + and assigns. + </p> + <p> + For my own part, I had the greatest aversion to wearing dead men's + clothes, and could only bring myself to it after I had been a year in + prison, and it became a question between doing that and freezing to death. + </p> + <p> + Every new batch of prisoners was besieged with anxious inquiries on the + subject which lay closest to all our hearts: + </p> + <p> + “What are they doing about exchange!” + </p> + <p> + Nothing in human experience—save the anxious expectancy of a sail by + castaways on a desert island—could equal the intense eagerness with + which this question was asked, and the answer awaited. To thousands now + hanging on the verge of eternity it meant life or death. Between the first + day of July and the first of November over twelve thousand men died, who + would doubtless have lived had they been able to reach our lines—“get + to God's country,” as we expressed it. + </p> + <p> + The new comers brought little reliable news of contemplated exchange. + There was none to bring in the first place, and in the next, soldiers in + active service in the field had other things to busy themselves with than + reading up the details of the negotiations between the Commissioners of + Exchange. They had all heard rumors, however, and by the time they reached + Andersonville, they had crystallized these into actual statements of fact. + A half hour after they entered the Stockade, a report like this would + spread like wildfire: + </p> + <p> + “An Army of the Potomac man has just come in, who was captured in + front of Petersburg. He says that he read in the New York Herald, the day + before he was taken, that an exchange had been agreed upon, and that our + ships had already started for Savannah to take us home.” + </p> + <p> + Then our hopes would soar up like balloons. We fed ourselves on such stuff + from day to day, and doubtless many lives were greatly prolonged by the + continual encouragement. There was hardly a day when I did not say to + myself that I would much rather die than endure imprisonment another + month, and had I believed that another month would see me still there, I + am pretty certain that I should have ended the matter by crossing the Dead + Line. I was firmly resolved not to die the disgusting, agonizing death + that so many around me were dying. <br><br><br><br> <a + name="p291" id="p291"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p291.jpg (18K)" src="images/p291.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + One of our best purveyors of information was a bright, blue-eyed, + fair-haired little drummer boy, as handsome as a girl, well-bred as a + lady, and evidently the darling of some refined loving mother. He + belonged, I think, to some loyal Virginia regiment, was captured in one of + the actions in the Shenandoa Valley, and had been with us in Richmond. We + called him “Red Cap,” from his wearing a jaunty, gold-laced, + crimson cap. Ordinarily, the smaller a drummer boy is the harder he is, + but no amount of attrition with rough men could coarse the ingrained + refinement of Red Cap's manners. He was between thirteen and + fourteen, and it seemed utterly shameful that men, calling themselves + soldier should make war on such a tender boy and drag him off to prison. + </p> + <p> + But no six-footer had a more soldierly heart than little Red Cap, and none + were more loyal to the cause. It was a pleasure to hear him tell the story + of the fights and movements his regiment had been engaged in. He was a + good observer and told his tale with boyish fervor. Shortly after Wirz + assumed command he took Red Cap into his office as an Orderly. His bright + face and winning manner; fascinated the women visitors at headquarters, + and numbers of them tried to adopt him, but with poor success. Like the + rest of us, he could see few charms in an existence under the Rebel flag, + and turned a deaf ear to their blandishments. He kept his ears open to the + conversation of the Rebel officers around him, and frequently secured + permission to visit the interior of the Stockade, when he would + communicate to us all that he has heard. He received a flattering + reception every time he cams in, and no orator ever secured a more + attentive audience than would gather around him to listen to what he had + to say. He was, beyond a doubt, the best known and most popular person in + the prison, and I know all the survivors of his old admirer; share my + great interest in him, and my curiosity as to whether he yet lives, and + whether his subsequent career has justified the sanguine hopes we all had + as to his future. I hope that if he sees this, or any one who knows + anything about him, he will communicate with me. There are thousands who + will be glad to hear from him. + </p> + <p> + A most remarkable coincidence occurred in regard to this comrade. Several + days after the above had been written, and “set up,” but + before it had yet appeared in the paper, I received the following letter: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + ECKHART MINES, + </p> + <p> + Alleghany County, Md., March 24. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + To the Editor of the BLADE: + </p> + <p> + Last evening I saw a copy of your paper, in which was a chapter or two of + a prison life of a soldier during the late war. I was forcibly struck with + the correctness of what he wrote, and the names of several of my old + comrades which he quoted: Hill, Limber Jim, etc., etc. I was a drummer boy + of Company I, Tenth West Virginia Infantry, and was fifteen years of age a + day or two after arriving in Andersonville, which was in the last of + February, 1884. Nineteen of my comrades were there with me, and, poor + fellows, they are there yet. I have no doubt that I would have remained + there, too, had I not been more fortunate. + </p> + <p> + I do not know who your soldier correspondent is, but assume to say that + from the following description he will remember having seen me in + Andersonville: I was the little boy that for three or four months + officiated as orderly for Captain Wirz. I wore a red cap, and every day + could be seen riding Wirz's gray mare, either at headquarters, or + about the Stockade. I was acting in this capacity when the six raiders + —“Mosby,” (proper name Collins) Delaney, Curtis, and—I + forget the other names—were executed. I believe that I was the first + that conveyed the intelligence to them that Confederate General Winder had + approved their sentence. As soon as Wirz received the dispatch to that + effect, I ran down to the stocks and told them. + </p> + <p> + I visited Hill, of Wauseon, Fulton County, O., since the war, and found + him hale and hearty. I have not heard from him for a number of years until + reading your correspondent's letter last evening. It is the only + letter of the series that I have seen, but after reading that one, I feel + called upon to certify that I have no doubts of the truthfulness of your + correspondent's story. The world will never know or believe the + horrors of Andersonville and other prisons in the South. No living, human + being, in my judgment, will ever be able to properly paint the horrors of + those infernal dens. + </p> + <p> + I formed the acquaintance of several Ohio soldiers whilst in prison. Among + these were O. D. Streeter, of Cleveland, who went to Andersonville about + the same time that I did, and escaped, and was the only man that I ever + knew that escaped and reached our lines. After an absence of several + months he was retaken in one of Sherman's battles before Atlanta, + and brought back. I also knew John L. Richards, of Fostoria, Seneca + County, O. or Eaglesville, Wood County. Also, a man by the name of + Beverly, who was a partner of Charley Aucklebv, of Tennessee. I would like + to hear from all of these parties. They all know me. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Editor, I will close by wishing all my comrades who shared in the + sufferings and dangers of Confederate prisons, a long and useful life. + </p> + <blockquote> + <blockquote> + <p> + Yours truly, + </p> + <p> + RANSOM T. POWELL + </p> + </blockquote> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> <a name="p293" id="p293"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p293.jpg (34K)" src="images/p293.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch42" id="ch42"></a>CHAPTER XLII + </h2> + <h3> + SOME FEATURES OF THE MORTALITY—PERCENTAGE OF DEATHS TO THOSE LIVING + —AN AVERAGE MEAN ONLY STANDS THE MISERY THREE MONTHS—DESCRIPTION + OF THE PRISON AND THE CONDITION OF THE MEN THEREIN, BY A LEADING + SCIENTIFIC MAN OF THE SOUTH. + </h3> + <p> + Speaking of the manner in which the Plymouth Pilgrims were now dying, I am + reminded of my theory that the ordinary man's endurance of this + prison life did not average over three months. The Plymouth boys arrived + in May; the bulk of those who died passed away in July and August. The + great increase of prisoners from all sources was in May, June and July. + The greatest mortality among these was in August, September and October. + </p> + <p> + Many came in who had been in good health during their service in the + field, but who seemed utterly overwhelmed by the appalling misery they saw + on every hand, and giving way to despondency, died in a few days or weeks. + I do not mean to include them in the above class, as their sickness was + more mental than physical. My idea is that, taking one hundred ordinarily + healthful young soldiers from a regiment in active service, and putting + them into Andersonville, by the end of the third month at least + thirty-three of those weakest and most vulnerable to disease would have + succumbed to the exposure, the pollution of ground and air, and the + insufficiency of the ration of coarse corn meal. After this the mortality + would be somewhat less, say at the end of six months fifty of them would + be dead. The remainder would hang on still more tenaciously, and at the + end of a year there would be fifteen or twenty still alive. There were + sixty-three of my company taken; thirteen lived through. I believe this + was about the usual proportion for those who were in as long as we. In all + there were forty-five thousand six hundred and thirteen prisoners brought + into Andersonville. Of these twelve thousand nine hundred and twelve died + there, to say nothing of thousands that died in other prisons in Georgia + and the Carolinas, immediately after their removal from Andersonville. One + of every three and a-half men upon whom the gates of the Stockade closed + never repassed them alive. Twenty-nine per cent. of the boys who so much + as set foot in Andersonville died there. Let it be kept in mind all the + time, that the average stay of a prisoner there was not four months. The + great majority came in after the 1st of May, and left before the middle of + September. May 1, 1864, there were ten thousand four hundred and + twenty-seven in the Stockade. August 8 there were thirty-three thousand + one hundred and fourteen; September 30 all these were dead or gone, except + eight thousand two hundred and eighteen, of whom four thousand five + hundred and ninety died inside of the next thirty days. The records of the + world can shove no parallel to this astounding mortality. + </p> + <p> + Since the above matter was first published in the BLADE, a friend has sent + me a transcript of the evidence at the Wirz trial, of Professor Joseph + Jones, a Surgeon of high rank in the Rebel Army, and who stood at the head + of the medical profession in Georgia. He visited Andersonville at the + instance of the Surgeon-General of the Confederate States' Army, to + make a study, for the benefit of science, of the phenomena of disease + occurring there. His capacity and opportunities for observation, and for + clearly estimating the value of the facts coming under his notice were, of + course, vastly superior to mine, and as he states the case stronger than I + dare to, for fear of being accused of exaggeration and downright untruth, + I reproduce the major part of his testimony—embodying also his + official report to medical headquarters at Richmond—that my readers + may know how the prison appeared to the eyes of one who, though a bitter + Rebel, was still a humane man and a conscientious observer, striving to + learn the truth: <br><br><br><br> <a name="p295" id="p295"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p295.jpg (126K)" src="images/p295.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + MEDICAL TESTIMONY. + </h2> + <p> + [Transcript from the printed testimony at the Wirz Trial, pages 618 to + 639, inclusive.] + </p> + <blockquote> + <blockquote> + <p> + OCTOBER 7, 1885. + </p> + </blockquote> + </blockquote> + <p> + Dr. Joseph Jones, for the prosecution: + </p> + <p> + By the Judge Advocate: + </p> + <p> + Question. Where do you reside + </p> + <p> + Answer. In Augusta, Georgia. + </p> + <p> + Q. Are you a graduate of any medical college? + </p> + <p> + A. Of the University of Pennsylvania. + </p> + <p> + Q. How long have you been engaged in the practice of medicine? + </p> + <p> + A. Eight years. + </p> + <p> + Q. Has your experience been as a practitioner, or rather as an + investigator of medicine as a science? + </p> + <p> + A. Both. + </p> + <p> + Q. What position do you hold now? + </p> + <p> + A. That of Medical Chemist in the Medical College of Georgia, at Augusta. + </p> + <p> + Q. How long have you held your position in that college? + </p> + <p> + A. Since 1858. + </p> + <p> + Q. How were you employed during the Rebellion? + </p> + <p> + A. I served six months in the early part of it as a private in the ranks, + and the rest of the time in the medical department. + </p> + <p> + Q. Under the direction of whom? + </p> + <p> + A. Under the direction of Dr. Moore, Surgeon General. + </p> + <p> + Q. Did you, while acting under his direction, visit Andersonville, + professionally? + </p> + <p> + A. Yes, Sir. + </p> + <p> + Q. For the purpose of making investigations there? + </p> + <p> + A. For the purpose of prosecuting investigations ordered by the Surgeon + General. + </p> + <p> + Q. You went there in obedience to a letter of instructions? + </p> + <p> + A. In obedience to orders which I received. + </p> + <p> + Q. Did you reduce the results of your investigations to the shape of a + report? + </p> + <p> + A. I was engaged at that work when General Johnston surrendered his army. + </p> + <p> + (A document being handed to witness.) + </p> + <p> + Q. Have you examined this extract from your report and compared it with + the original? + </p> + <p> + A. Yes, Sir; I have. + </p> + <p> + Q. Is it accurate? + </p> + <p> + A. So far as my examination extended, it is accurate.' + </p> + <p> + The document just examined by witness was offered in evidence, and is as + follows: + </p> + <p> + Observations upon the diseases of the Federal prisoners, confined to Camp + Sumter, Andersonville, in Sumter County, Georgia, instituted with a view + to illustrate chiefly the origin and causes of hospital gangrene, the + relations of continued and malarial fevers, and the pathology of camp + diarrhea and dysentery, by Joseph Jones; Surgeon P. A. C. S., Professor of + Medical Chemistry in the Medical College of Georgia, at Augusta, Georgia. + </p> + <p> + Hearing of the unusual mortality among the Federal prisoners confined at + Andersonville; Georgia, in the month of August, 1864, during a visit to + Richmond, Va., I expressed to the Surgeon General, S. P. Moore, + Confederate States of America, a desire to visit Camp Sumter, with the + design of instituting a series of inquiries upon the nature and causes of + the prevailing diseases. Smallpox had appeared among the prisoners, and I + believed that this would prove an admirable field for the establishment of + its characteristic lesions. The condition of Peyer's glands in this + disease was considered as worthy of minute investigation. It was believed + that a large body of men from the Northern portion of the United States, + suddenly transported to a warm Southern climate, and confined upon a small + portion of land, would furnish an excellent field for the investigation of + the relations of typhus, typhoid, and malarial fevers. + </p> + <p> + The Surgeon General of the Confederate States of America furnished me with + the following letter of introduction to the Surgeon in charge of the + Confederate States Military Prison at Andersonville, Ga.: <br><br><br> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, + </p> + <p> + SURGEON GENERAL'S OFFICE, RICHMOND, VA., + </p> + <p> + August 6, 1864. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + SIR:—The field of pathological investigations afforded by the large + collection of Federal prisoners in Georgia, is of great extant and + importance, and it is believed that results of value to the profession may + be obtained by careful investigation of the effects of disease upon the + large body of men subjected to a decided change of climate and those + circumstances peculiar to prison life. The Surgeon in charge of the + hospital for Federal prisoners, together with his assistants, will afford + every facility to Surgeon Joseph Jones, in the prosecution of the labors + ordered by the Surgeon General. Efficient assistance must be rendered + Surgeon Jones by the medical officers, not only in his examinations into + the causes and symptoms of the various diseases, but especially in the + arduous labors of post mortem examinations. + </p> + <p> + The medical officers will assist in the performance of such post-mortems + as Surgeon Jones may indicate, in order that this great field for + pathological investigation may be explored for the benefit of the Medical + Department of the Confederate Army. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + S. P. MOORE, Surgeon General. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + Surgeon ISAIAH H. WHITE, + </p> + <p> + In charge of Hospital for Federal prisoners, Andersonville, Ga. <br><br> + </p> + <p> + In compliance with this letter of the Surgeon General, Isaiah H. White, + Chief Surgeon of the post, and R. R. Stevenson, Surgeon in charge of the + Prison Hospital, afforded the necessary facilities for the prosecution of + my investigations among the sick outside of the Stockade. After the + completion of my labors in the military prison hospital, the following + communication was addressed to Brigadier General John H. Winder, in + consequence of the refusal on the part of the commandant of the interior + of the Confederate States Military Prison to admit me within the Stockade + upon the order of the Surgeon General: <br><br><br> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + CAMP SUMTER, ANDERSONVILLE GA., + </p> + <p> + September 16, 1864. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + GENERAL:—I respectfully request the commandant of the post of + Andersonville to grant me permission and to furnish the necessary pass to + visit the sick and medical officers within the Stockade of the Confederate + States Prison. I desire to institute certain inquiries ordered by the + Surgeon General. Surgeon Isaiah H. White, Chief Surgeon of the post, and + Surgeon R. R. Stevenson, in charge of the Prison Hospital, have afforded + me every facility for the prosecution of my labors among the sick outside + of the Stockade. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + Very respectfully, your obedient servant, + </p> + <p> + JOSEPH JONES, Surgeon P. A. C. S. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + Brigadier General JOHN H. WINDER, + </p> + <p> + Commandant, Post Andersonville. <br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + In the absence of General Winder from the post, Captain Winder furnished + the following order: <br> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + CAMP SUMTER, ANDERSONVILLE; + </p> + <p> + September 17, 1864. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br><br> + </p> + <p> + CAPTAIN:—You will permit Surgeon Joseph Jones, who has orders from + the Surgeon General, to visit the sick within the Stockade that are under + medical treatment. Surgeon Jones is ordered to make certain investigations + which may prove useful to his profession. By direction of General Winder. + Very respectfully, W. S. WINDER, A. A. G. + </p> + <p> + Captain H. WIRZ, Commanding Prison. <br><br><br> + </p> + <blockquote> + <h3> + Description of the Confederate States Military Prison Hospital at + Andersonville. Number of prisoners, physical condition, food, clothing, + habits, moral condition, diseases. + </h3> + </blockquote> + <p> + The Confederate Military Prison at Andersonville, Ga., consists of a + strong Stockade, twenty feet in height, enclosing twenty-seven acres. The + Stockade is formed of strong pine logs, firmly planted in the ground. The + main Stockade is surrounded by two other similar rows of pine logs, the + middle Stockade being sixteen feet high, and the outer twelve feet. These + are intended for offense and defense. If the inner Stockade should at any + time be forced by the prisoners, the second forms another line of defense; + while in case of an attempt to deliver the prisoners by a force operating + upon the exterior, the outer line forms an admirable protection to the + Confederate troops, and a most formidable obstacle to cavalry or infantry. + The four angles of the outer line are strengthened by earthworks upon + commanding eminences, from which the cannon, in case of an outbreak among + the prisoners, may sweep the entire enclosure; and it was designed to + connect these works by a line of rifle pits, running zig-zag, around the + outer Stockade; those rifle pits have never been completed. The ground + enclosed by the innermost Stockade lies in the form of a parallelogram, + the larger diameter running almost due north and south. This space + includes the northern and southern opposing sides of two hills, between + which a stream of water runs from west to east. The surface soil of these + hills is composed chiefly of sand with varying admixtures of clay and + oxide of iron. The clay is sufficiently tenacious to give a considerable + degree of consistency to the soil. The internal structure of the hills, as + revealed by the deep wells, is similar to that already described. The + alternate layers of clay and sand, as well as the oxide of iron, which + forms in its various combinations a cement to the sand, allow of extensive + tunneling. The prisoners not only constructed numerous dirt huts with + balls of clay and sand, taken from the wells which they have excavated all + over those hills, but they have also, in some cases, tunneled extensively + from these wells. The lower portions of these hills, bordering on the + stream, are wet and boggy from the constant oozing of water. The Stockade + was built originally to accommodate only ten thousand prisoners, and + included at first seventeen acres. Near the close of the month of June the + area was enlarged by the addition of ten acres. The ground added was + situated on the northern slope of the largest hill. + </p> + <p> + The average number of square feet of ground to each prisoner in August + 1864: 35.7 + </p> + <p> + Within the circumscribed area of the Stockade the Federal prisoners were + compelled to perform all the offices of life—cooking, washing, the + calls of nature, exercise, and sleeping. During the month of March the + prison was less crowded than at any subsequent time, and then the average + space of ground to each prisoner was only 98.7 feet, or less than seven + square yards. The Federal prisoners were gathered from all parts of the + Confederate States east of the Mississippi, and crowded into the confined + space, until in the month of June the average number of square feet of + ground to each prisoner was only 33.2 or less than four square yards. + These figures represent the condition of the Stockade in a better light + even than it really was; for a considerable breadth of land along the + stream, flowing from west to east between the hills, was low and boggy, + and was covered with the excrement of the men, and thus rendered wholly + uninhabitable, and in fact useless for every purpose except that of + defecation. The pines and other small trees and shrubs, which originally + were scattered sparsely over these hills, were in a short time cut down + and consumed by the prisoners for firewood, and no shade tree was left in + the entire enclosure of the stockade. With their characteristic industry + and ingenuity, the Federals constructed for themselves small huts and + caves, and attempted to shield themselves from the rain and sun and night + damps and dew. But few tents were distributed to the prisoners, and those + were in most cases torn and rotten. In the location and arrangement of + these tents and huts no order appears to have been followed; in fact, + regular streets appear to be out of the question in so crowded an area; + especially too, as large bodies of prisoners were from time to time added + suddenly without any previous preparations. The irregular arrangement of + the huts and imperfect shelters was very unfavorable for the maintenance + of a proper system of police. + </p> + <p> + The police and internal economy of the prison was left almost entirely in + the hands of the prisoners themselves; the duties of the Confederate + soldiers acting as guards being limited to the occupation of the boxes or + lookouts ranged around the stockade at regular intervals, and to the + manning of the batteries at the angles of the prison. Even judicial + matters pertaining to themselves, as the detection and punishment of such + crimes as theft and murder appear to have been in a great measure + abandoned to the prisoners. A striking instance of this occurred in the + month of July, when the Federal prisoners within the Stockade tried, + condemned, and hanged six (6) of their own number, who had been convicted + of stealing and of robbing and murdering their fellow-prisoners. They were + all hung upon the same day, and thousands of the prisoners gathered around + to witness the execution. The Confederate authorities are said not to have + interfered with these proceedings. In this collection of men from all + parts of the world, every phase of human character was represented; the + stronger preyed upon the weaker, and even the sick who were unable to + defend themselves were robbed of their scanty supplies of food and + clothing. Dark stories were afloat, of men, both sick and well, who were + murdered at night, strangled to death by their comrades for scant supplies + of clothing or money. I heard a sick and wounded Federal prisoner accuse + his nurse, a fellow-prisoner of the United States Army, of having + stealthily, during his sleep inoculated his wounded arm with gangrene, + that he might destroy his life and fall heir to his clothing. <br> + </p> + <p> + .................................... + </p> + <p> + The large number of men confined within the Stockade soon, under a + defective system of police, and with imperfect arrangements, covered the + surface of the low grounds with excrements. The sinks over the lower + portions of the stream were imperfect in their plan and structure, and the + excrements were in large measure deposited so near the borders of the + stream as not to be washed away, or else accumulated upon the low boggy + ground. The volume of water was not sufficient to wash away the feces, and + they accumulated in such quantities in the lower portion of the stream as + to form a mass of liquid excrement heavy rains caused the water of the + stream to rise, and as the arrangements for the passage of the increased + amounts of water out of the Stockade were insufficient, the liquid feces + overflowed the low grounds and covered them several inches, after the + subsidence of the waters. The action of the sun upon this putrefying mass + of excrements and fragments of bread and meat and bones excited most rapid + fermentation and developed a horrible stench. Improvements were projected + for the removal of the filth and for the prevention of its accumulation, + but they were only partially and imperfectly carried out. As the forces of + the prisoners were reduced by confinement, want of exercise, improper + diet, and by scurvy, diarrhea, and dysentery, they were unable to evacuate + their bowels within the stream or along its banks, and the excrements were + deposited at the very doors of their tents. The vast majority appeared to + lose all repulsion to filth, and both sick and well disregarded all the + laws of hygiene and personal cleanliness. The accommodations for the sick + were imperfect and insufficient. From the organization of the prison, + February 24, 1864, to May 22, the sick were treated within the Stockade. + In the crowded condition of the Stockade, and with the tents and huts + clustered thickly around the hospital, it was impossible to secure proper + ventilation or to maintain the necessary police. The Federal prisoners + also made frequent forays upon the hospital stores and carried off the + food and clothing of the sick. The hospital was, on the 22d of May, + removed to its present site without the Stockade, and five acres of ground + covered with oaks and pines appropriated to the use of the sick. + </p> + <p> + The supply of medical officers has been insufficient from the foundation + of the prison. + </p> + <p> + The nurses and attendants upon the sick have been most generally Federal + prisoners, who in too many cases appear to have been devoid of moral + principle, and who not only neglected their duties, but were also engaged + in extensive robbing of the sick. + </p> + <p> + From the want of proper police and hygienic regulations alone it is not + wonderful that from February 24 to September 21, 1864, nine thousand four + hundred and seventy-nine deaths, nearly one-third the entire number of + prisoners, should have been recorded. I found the Stockade and hospital in + the following condition during my pathological investigations, instituted + in the month of September, 1864: <br><br><br> + </p> + <h3> + STOCKADE, CONFEDERATE STATES MILITARY PRISON. + </h3> + <p> + At the time of my visit to Andersonville a large number of Federal + prisoners had been removed to Millen, Savannah; Charleston, and other + parts of, the Confederacy, in anticipation of an advance of General + Sherman's forces from Atlanta, with the design of liberating their + captive brethren; however, about fifteen thousand prisoners remained + confined within the limits of the Stockade and Confederate States Military + Prison Hospital. + </p> + <p> + In the Stockade, with the exception of the damp lowlands bordering the + small stream, the surface was covered with huts, and small ragged tents + and parts of blankets and fragments of oil-cloth, coats, and blankets + stretched upon stacks. The tents and huts were not arranged according to + any order, and there was in most parts of the enclosure scarcely room for + two men to walk abreast between the tents and huts. + </p> + <p> + If one might judge from the large pieces of corn-bread scattered about in + every direction on the ground the prisoners were either very lavishly + supplied with this article of diet, or else this kind of food was not + relished by them. + </p> + <p> + Each day the dead from the Stockade were carried out by their + fellow-prisoners and deposited upon the ground under a bush arbor, just + outside of the Southwestern Gate. From thence they were carried in carts + to the burying ground, one-quarter of a mile northwest, of the Prison. The + dead were buried without coffins, side by side, in trenches four feet + deep. + </p> + <p> + The low grounds bordering the stream were covered with human excrements + and filth of all kinds, which in many places appeared to be alive with + working maggots. An indescribable sickening stench arose from these + fermenting masses of human filth. + </p> + <p> + There were near five thousand seriously ill Federals in the Stockade and + Confederate States Military Prison Hospital, and the deaths exceeded one + hundred per day, and large numbers of the prisoners who were walking + about, and who had not been entered upon the sick reports, were suffering + from severe and incurable diarrhea, dysentery, and scurvy. The sick were + attended almost entirely by their fellow-prisoners, appointed as nurses, + and as they received but little attention, they were compelled to exert + themselves at all times to attend to the calls of nature, and hence they + retained the power of moving about to within a comparatively short period + of the close of life. Owing to the slow progress of the diseases most + prevalent, diarrhea, and chronic dysentery, the corpses were as a general + rule emaciated. + </p> + <p> + I visited two thousand sick within the Stockade, lying under some long + sheds which had been built at the northern portion for themselves. At this + time only one medical officer was in attendance, whereas at least twenty + medical officers should have been employed. + </p> + <p> + Died in the Stockade from its organization, February 24, 186l to + </p> + <p> + September 2l ....................................................3,254 + </p> + <p> + Died in Hospital during same time ...............................6,225 + <br> + </p> + <p> + Total deaths in Hospital and Stockade ...........................9,479 + <br><br><br><br> <a name="p307" id="p307"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p307.jpg (40K)" src="images/p307.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + Scurvy, diarrhea, dysentery, and hospital gangrene were the prevailing + diseases. I was surprised to find but few cases of malarial fever, and no + well-marked cases either of typhus or typhoid fever. The absence of the + different forms of malarial fever may be accounted for in the supposition + that the artificial atmosphere of the Stockade, crowded densely with human + beings and loaded with animal exhalations, was unfavorable to the + existence and action of the malarial poison. The absence of typhoid and + typhus fevers amongst all the causes which are supposed to generate these + diseases, appeared to be due to the fact that the great majority of these + prisoners had been in captivity in Virginia, at Belle Island, and in other + parts of the Confederacy for months, and even as long as two years, and + during this time they had been subjected to the same bad influences, and + those who had not had these fevers before either had them during their + confinement in Confederate prisons or else their systems, from long + exposure, were proof against their action. + </p> + <p> + The effects of scurvy were manifested on every hand, and in all its + various stages, from the muddy, pale complexion, pale gums, feeble, + languid muscular motions, lowness of spirits, and fetid breath, to the + dusky, dirty, leaden complexion, swollen features, spongy, purple, livid, + fungoid, bleeding gums, loose teeth, oedematous limbs, covered with livid + vibices, and petechiae spasmodically flexed, painful and hardened + extremities, spontaneous hemorrhages from mucous canals, and large, + ill-conditioned, spreading ulcers covered with a dark purplish fungus + growth. I observed that in some of the cases of scurvy the parotid glands + were greatly swollen, and in some instances to such an extent as to + preclude entirely the power to articulate. In several cases of dropsy of + the abdomen and lower extremities supervening upon scurvy, the patients + affirmed that previously to the appearance of the dropsy they had suffered + with profuse and obstinate diarrhea, and that when this was checked by a + change of diet, from Indian corn-bread baked with the husk, to boiled + rice, the dropsy appeared. The severe pains and livid patches were + frequently associated with swellings in various parts, and especially in + the lower extremities, accompanied with stiffness and contractions of the + knee joints and ankles, and often with a brawny feel of the parts, as if + lymph had been effused between the integuments and apeneuroses, preventing + the motion of the skin over the swollen parts. Many of the prisoners + believed that the scurvy was contagious, and I saw men guarding their + wells and springs, fearing lest some man suffering with the scurvy might + use the water and thus poison them. + </p> + <p> + I observed also numerous cases of hospital gangrene, and of spreading + scorbutic ulcers, which had supervened upon slight injuries. The scorbutic + ulcers presented a dark, purple fungoid, elevated surface, with livid + swollen edges, and exuded a thin; fetid, sanious fluid, instead of pus. + Many ulcers which originated from the scorbutic condition of the system + appeared to become truly gangrenous, assuming all the characteristics of + hospital gangrene. From the crowded condition, filthy habits, bad diet, + and dejected, depressed condition of the prisoners, their systems had + become so disordered that the smallest abrasion of the skin, from the + rubbing of a shoe, or from the effects of the sun, or from the prick of a + splinter, or from scratching, or a musketo bite, in some cases, took on + rapid and frightful ulceration and gangrene. The long use of salt meat, + ofttimes imperfectly cured, as well as the most total deprivation of + vegetables and fruit, appeared to be the chief causes of the scurvy. I + carefully examined the bakery and the bread furnished the prisoners, and + found that they were supplied almost entirely with corn-bread from which + the husk had not been separated. This husk acted as an irritant to the + alimentary canal, without adding any nutriment to the bread. As far as my + examination extended no fault could be found with the mode in which the + bread was baked; the difficulty lay in the failure to separate the husk + from the corn-meal. I strongly urged the preparation of large quantities + of soup made from the cow and calves' heads with the brains and + tongues, to which a liberal supply of sweet potatos and vegetables might + have been advantageously added. The material existed in abundance for the + preparation of such soup in large quantities with but little additional + expense. Such aliment would have been not only highly nutritious, but it + would also have acted as an efficient remedial agent for the removal of + the scorbutic condition. The sick within the Stockade lay under several + long sheds which were originally built for barracks. These sheds covered + two floors which were open on all sides. The sick lay upon the bare + boards, or upon such ragged blankets as they possessed, without, as far as + I observed, any bedding or even straw. <br> + </p> + <p> + ............................ + </p> + <p> + The haggard, distressed countenances of these miserable, complaining, + dejected, living skeletons, crying for medical aid and food, and cursing + their Government for its refusal to exchange prisoners, and the ghastly + corpses, with their glazed eye balls staring up into vacant space, with + the flies swarming down their open and grinning mouths, and over their + ragged clothes, infested with numerous lice, as they lay amongst the sick + and dying, formed a picture of helpless, hopeless misery which it would be + impossible to portray bywords or by the brush. A feeling of disappointment + and even resentment on account of the United States Government upon the + subject of the exchange of prisoners, appeared to be widespread, and the + apparent hopeless nature of the negotiations for some general exchange of + prisoners appeared to be a cause of universal regret and deep and + injurious despondency. I heard some of the prisoners go so far as to + exonerate the Confederate Government from any charge of intentionally + subjecting them to a protracted confinement, with its necessary and + unavoidable sufferings, in a country cut off from all intercourse with + foreign nations, and sorely pressed on all sides, whilst on the other hand + they charged their prolonged captivity upon their own Government, which + was attempting to make the negro equal to the white man. Some hundred or + more of the prisoners had been released from confinement in the Stockade + on parole, and filled various offices as clerks, druggists, and + carpenters, etc., in the various departments. These men were well clothed, + and presented a stout and healthy appearance, and as a general rule they + presented a much more robust and healthy appearance than the Confederate + troops guarding the prisoners. + </p> + <p> + The entire grounds are surrounded by a frail board fence, and are strictly + guarded by Confederate soldiers, and no prisoner except the paroled + attendants is allowed to leave the grounds except by a special permit from + the Commandant of the Interior of the Prison. + </p> + <p> + The patients and attendants, near two thousand in number, are crowded into + this confined space and are but poorly supplied with old and ragged tents. + Large numbers of them were without any bunks in the tents, and lay upon + the ground, oft-times without even a blanket. No beds or straw appeared to + have been furnished. The tents extend to within a few yards of the small + stream, the eastern portion of which, as we have before said, is used as a + privy and is loaded with excrements; and I observed a large pile of + corn-bread, bones, and filth of all kinds, thirty feet in diameter and + several feet in hight, swarming with myriads of flies, in a vacant space + near the pots used for cooking. Millions of flies swarmed over everything, + and covered the faces of the sleeping patients, and crawled down their + open mouths, and deposited their maggots in the gangrenous wounds of the + living, and in the mouths of the dead. Musketos in great numbers also + infested the tents, and many of the patients were so stung by these + pestiferous insects, that they resembled those suffering from a slight + attack of the measles. + </p> + <p> + The police and hygiene of the hospital were defective in the extreme; the + attendants, who appeared in almost every instance to have been selected + from the prisoners, seemed to have in many cases but little interest in + the welfare of their fellow-captives. The accusation was made that the + nurses in many cases robbed the sick of their clothing, money, and + rations, and carried on a clandestine trade with the paroled prisoners and + Confederate guards without the hospital enclosure, in the clothing, + effects of the sick, dying, and dead Federals. They certainly appeared to + neglect the comfort and cleanliness of the sick intrusted to their care in + a most shameful manner, even after making due allowances for the + difficulties of the situation. Many of the sick were literally encrusted + with dirt and filth and covered with vermin. When a gangrenous wound + needed washing, the limb was thrust out a little from the blanket, or + board, or rags upon which the patient was lying, and water poured over it, + and all the putrescent matter allowed to soak into the ground floor of the + tent. The supply of rags for dressing wounds was said to be very scant, + and I saw the most filthy rags which had been applied several times, and + imperfectly washed, used in dressing wounds. Where hospital gangrene was + prevailing, it was impossible for any wound to escape contagion under + these circumstances. The results of the treatment of wounds in the + hospital were of the most unsatisfactory character, from this neglect of + cleanliness, in the dressings and wounds themselves, as well as from + various other causes which will be more fully considered. I saw several + gangrenous wounds filled with maggots. I have frequently seen neglected + wounds amongst the Confederate soldiers similarly affected; and as far as + my experience extends, these worms destroy only the dead tissues and do + not injure specially the well parts. I have even heard surgeons affirm + that a gangrenous wound which had been thoroughly cleansed by maggots, + healed more rapidly than if it had been left to itself. This want of + cleanliness on the part of the nurses appeared to be the result of + carelessness and inattention, rather than of malignant design, and the + whole trouble can be traced to the want of the proper police and sanitary + regulations, and to the absence of intelligent organization and division + of labor. The abuses were in a large measure due to the almost total + absence of system, government, and rigid, but wholesome sanitary + regulations. In extenuation of these abuses it was alleged by the medical + officers that the Confederate troops were barely sufficient to guard the + prisoners, and that it was impossible to obtain any number of experienced + nurses from the Confederate forces. In fact the guard appeared to be too + small, even for the regulation of the internal hygiene and police of the + hospital. + </p> + <p> + The manner of disposing of the dead was also calculated to depress the + already desponding spirits of these men, many of whom have been confined + for months, and even for nearly two years in Richmond and other places, + and whose strength had been wasted by bad air, bad food, and neglect of + personal cleanliness. The dead-house is merely a frame covered with old + tent cloth and a few bushes, situated in the southwestern corner of the + hospital grounds. When a patient dies, he is simply laid in the narrow + street in front of his tent, until he is removed by Federal negros + detailed to carry off the dead; if a patient dies during the night, he + lies there until the morning, and during the day even the dead were + frequently allowed to remain for hours in these walks. In the dead-house + the corpses lie upon the bare ground, and were in most cases covered with + filth and vermin. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p312" id="p312"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p312.jpg (58K)" src="images/p312.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + ............................ + </p> + <p> + The cooking arrangements are of the most defective character. Five large + iron pots similar to those used for boiling sugar cane, appeared to be the + only cooking utensils furnished by the hospital for the cooking of nearly + two thousand men; and the patients were dependent in great measure upon + their own miserable utensils. They were allowed to cook in the tent doors + and in the lanes, and this was another source of filth, and another + favorable condition for the generation and multiplication of flies and + other vermin. + </p> + <p> + The air of the tents was foul and disagreeable in the extreme, and in fact + the entire grounds emitted a most nauseous and disgusting smell. I entered + nearly all the tents and carefully examined the cases of interest, and + especially the cases of gangrene, upon numerous occasions, during the + prosecution of my pathological inquiries at Andersonville, and therefore + enjoyed every opportunity to judge correctly of the hygiene and police of + the hospital. + </p> + <p> + There appeared to be almost absolute indifference and neglect on the part + of the patients of personal cleanliness; their persons and clothing inmost + instances, and especially of those suffering with gangrene and scorbutic + ulcers, were filthy in the extreme and covered with vermin. It was too + often the case that patients were received from the Stockade in a most + deplorable condition. I have seen men brought in from the Stockade in a + dying condition, begrimed from head to foot with their own excrements, and + so black from smoke and filth that they, resembled negros rather than + white men. That this description of the Stockade and hospital has not been + overdrawn, will appear from the reports of the surgeons in charge, + appended to this report. + </p> + <p> + ......................... + </p> + <p> + We will examine first the consolidated report of the sick and wounded + Federal prisoners. During six months, from the 1st of March to the 31st of + August, forty-two thousand six hundred and eighty-six cases of diseases + and wounds were reported. No classified record of the sick in the Stockade + was kept after the establishment of the hospital without the Prison. This + fact, in conjunction with those already presented relating to the + insufficiency of medical officers and the extreme illness and even death + of many prisoners in the tents in the Stockade, without any medical + attention or record beyond the bare number of the dead, demonstrate that + these figures, large as they, appear to be, are far below the truth. + </p> + <p> + As the number of prisoners varied greatly at different periods, the + relations between those reported sick and well, as far as those statistics + extend, can best be determined by a comparison of the statistics of each + month. + </p> + <p> + During this period of six months no less than five hundred and sixty-five + deaths are recorded under the head of 'morbi vanie.' In other + words, those men died without having received sufficient medical attention + for the determination of even the name of the disease causing death. + </p> + <p> + During the month of August fifty-three cases and fifty-three deaths are + recorded as due to marasmus. Surely this large number of deaths must have + been due to some other morbid state than slow wasting. If they were due to + improper and insufficient food, they should have been classed accordingly, + and if to diarrhea or dysentery or scurvy, the classification should in + like manner have been explicit. + </p> + <p> + We observe a progressive increase of the rate of mortality, from 3.11 per + cent. in March to 9.09 per cent. of mean strength, sick and well, in + August. The ratio of mortality continued to increase during September, for + notwithstanding the removal of one-half of the entire number of prisoners + during the early portion of the month, one thousand seven hundred and + sixty-seven (1,767) deaths are registered from September 1 to 21, and the + largest number of deaths upon any one day occurred during this month, on + the 16th, viz. one hundred and nineteen. + </p> + <p> + The entire number of Federal prisoners confined at Andersonville was about + forty thousand six hundred and eleven; and during the period of near seven + months, from February 24 to September 21, nine thousand four hundred and + seventy-nine (9,479) deaths were recorded; that is, during this period + near one-fourth, or more, exactly one in 4.2, or 13.3 per cent., + terminated fatally. This increase of mortality was due in great measure to + the accumulation of the sources of disease, as the increase of excrements + and filth of all kinds, and the concentration of noxious effluvia, and + also to the progressive effects of salt diet, crowding, and the hot + climate. <br><br> + </p> + <h3> + CONCLUSIONS. + </h3> + <p> + 1st. The great mortality among the Federal prisoners confined in the + military prison at Andersonville was not referable to climatic causes, or + to the nature of the soil and waters. + </p> + <p> + 2d. The chief causes of death were scurvy and its results and bowel + affections-chronic and acute diarrhea and dysentery. The bowel affections + appear to have been due to the diet, the habits of the patients, the + depressed, dejected state of the nervous system and moral and intellectual + powers, and to the effluvia arising from the decomposing animal and + vegetable filth. The effects of salt meat, and an unvarying diet of + cornmeal, with but few vegetables, and imperfect supplies of vinegar and + syrup, were manifested in the great prevalence of scurvy. This disease, + without doubt, was also influenced to an important extent in its origin + and course by the foul animal emanations. + </p> + <p> + 3d. From the sameness of the food and form, the action of the poisonous + gases in the densely crowded and filthy Stockade and hospital, the blood + was altered in its constitution, even before the manifestation of actual + disease. In both the well and the sick the red corpuscles were diminished; + and in all diseases uncomplicated with inflammation, the fibrous element + was deficient. In cases of ulceration of the mucous membrane of the + intestinal canal, the fibrous element of the blood was increased; while in + simple diarrhea, uncomplicated with ulceration, it was either diminished + or else remained stationary. Heart clots were very common, if not + universally present, in cases of ulceration of the intestinal mucous + membrane, while in the uncomplicated cases of diarrhea and scurvy, the + blood was fluid and did not coagulate readily, and the heart clots and + fibrous concretions were almost universally absent. From the watery + condition of the blood, there resulted various serous effusions into the + pericardium, ventricles of the brain, and into the abdomen. In almost all + the cases which I examined after death, even the most emaciated, there was + more or less serous effusion into the abdominal cavity. In cases of + hospital gangrene of the extremities, and in cases of gangrene of the + intestines, heart clots and fibrous coagula were universally present. The + presence of those clots in the cases of hospital gangrene, while they were + absent in the cases in which there was no inflammatory symptoms, sustains + the conclusion that hospital gangrene is a species of inflammation, + imperfect and irregular though it may be in its progress, in which the + fibrous element and coagulation of the blood are increased, even in those + who are suffering from such a condition of the blood, and from such + diseases as are naturally accompanied with a decrease in the fibrous + constituent. + </p> + <p> + 4th. The fact that hospital Gangrene appeared in the Stockade first, and + originated spontaneously without any previous contagion, and occurred + sporadically all over the Stockade and prison hospital, was proof positive + that this disease will arise whenever the conditions of crowding, filth, + foul air, and bad diet are present. The exhalations from the hospital and + Stockade appeared to exert their effects to a considerable distance + outside of these localities. The origin of hospital gangrene among these + prisoners appeared clearly to depend in great measure upon the state of + the general system induced by diet, and various external noxious + influences. The rapidity of the appearance and action of the gangrene + depended upon the powers and state of the constitution, as well as upon + the intensity of the poison in the atmosphere, or upon the direct + application of poisonous matter to the wounded surface. This was further + illustrated by the important fact that hospital gangrene, or a disease + resembling it in all essential respects, attacked the intestinal canal of + patients laboring under ulceration of the bowels, although there were no + local manifestations of gangrene upon the surface of the body. This mode + of termination in cases of dysentery was quite common in the foul + atmosphere of the Confederate States Military Hospital, in the depressed, + depraved condition of the system of these Federal prisoners. + </p> + <p> + 5th. A scorbutic condition of the system appeared to favor the origin of + foul ulcers, which frequently took on true hospital gangrene. Scurvy and + hospital gangrene frequently existed in the same individual. In such + cases, vegetable diet, with vegetable acids, would remove the scorbutic + condition without curing the hospital gangrene. From the results of the + existing war for the establishment of the independence of the Confederate + States, as well as from the published observations of Dr. Trotter, Sir + Gilbert Blane, and others of the English navy and army, it is evident that + the scorbutic condition of the system, especially in crowded ships and + camps, is most favorable to the origin and spread of foul ulcers and + hospital gangrene. As in the present case of Andersonville, so also in + past times when medical hygiene was almost entirely neglected, those two + diseases were almost universally associated in crowded ships. In many + cases it was very difficult to decide at first whether the ulcer was a + simple result of scurvy or of the action of the prison or hospital + gangrene, for there was great similarity in the appearance of the ulcers + in the two diseases. So commonly have those two diseases been combined in + their origin and action, that the description of scorbutic ulcers, by many + authors, evidently includes also many of the prominent characteristics of + hospital gangrene. This will be rendered evident by an examination of the + observations of Dr. Lind and Sir Gilbert Blane upon scorbutic ulcers. + </p> + <p> + 6th. Gangrenous spots followed by rapid destruction of tissue appeared in + some cases where there had been no known wound. Without such + well-established facts, it might be assumed that the disease was + propagated from one patient to another. In such a filthy and crowded + hospital as that of the Confederate States Military Prison at + Andersonville, it was impossible to isolate the wounded from the sources + of actual contact of the gangrenous matter. The flies swarming over the + wounds and over filth of every kind, the filthy, imperfectly washed and + scanty supplies of rags, and the limited supply of washing utensils, the + same wash-bowl serving for scores of patients, were sources of such + constant circulation of the gangrenous matter that the disease might + rapidly spread from a single gangrenous wound. The fact already stated, + that a form of moist gangrene, resembling hospital gangrene, was quite + common in this foul atmosphere, in cases of dysentery, both with and + without the existence of the disease upon the entire surface, not only + demonstrates the dependence of the disease upon the state of the + constitution, but proves in the clearest manner that neither the contact + of the poisonous matter of gangrene, nor the direct action of the + poisonous atmosphere upon the ulcerated surfaces is necessary to the + development of the disease. + </p> + <p> + 7th. In this foul atmosphere amputation did not arrest hospital gangrene; + the disease almost invariably returned. Almost every amputation was + followed finally by death, either from the effects of gangrene or from the + prevailing diarrhea and dysentery. Nitric acid and escharotics generally + in this crowded atmosphere, loaded with noxious effluvia, exerted only + temporary effects; after their application to the diseased surfaces, the + gangrene would frequently return with redoubled energy; and even after the + gangrene had been completely removed by local and constitutional + treatment, it would frequently return and destroy the patient. As far as + my observation extended, very few of the cases of amputation for gangrene + recovered. The progress of these cases was frequently very deceptive. I + have observed after death the most extensive disorganization of the + structures of the stump, when during life there was but little swelling of + the part, and the patient was apparently doing well. I endeavored to + impress upon the medical officers the view that in this disease treatment + was almost useless, without an abundant supply of pure, fresh air, + nutritious food, and tonics and stimulants. Such changes, however, as + would allow of the isolation of the cases of hospital gangrene appeared to + be out of the power of the medical officers. + </p> + <p> + 8th. The gangrenous mass was without true pus, and consisted chiefly of + broken-down, disorganized structures. The reaction of the gangrenous + matter in certain stages was alkaline. + </p> + <p> + 9th. The best, and in truth the only means of protecting large armies and + navies, as well as prisoners, from the ravages of hospital gangrene, is to + furnish liberal supplies of well-cured meat, together with fresh beef and + vegetables, and to enforce a rigid system of hygiene. + </p> + <p> + 10th. Finally, this gigantic mass of human misery calls loudly for relief, + not only for the sake of suffering humanity, but also on account of our + own brave soldiers now captives in the hands of the Federal Government. + Strict justice to the gallant men of the Confederate Armies, who have been + or who may be, so unfortunate as to be compelled to surrender in battle, + demands that the Confederate Government should adopt that course which + will best secure their health and comfort in captivity; or at least leave + their enemies without a shadow of an excuse for any violation of the rules + of civilized warfare in the treatment of prisoners. + </p> + <p> + [End of the Witness's Testimony.] + </p> + <p> + The variation—from month to month—of the proportion of deaths + to the whole number living is singular and interesting. It supports the + theory I have advanced above, as the following facts, taken from the + official report, will show: + </p> + <table> + <tr> + <td> + In April one in every sixteen died.<br> In May one in every + twenty-six died.<br> In June one in every twenty-two died.<br> In + July one in every eighteen died.<br> In August one in every eleven + died.<br> In September one in every three died.<br> In October one + in every two died.<br> In November one in every three died.<br> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + Does the reader fully understand that in September one-third of those in + the pen died, that in October one-half of the remainder perished, and in + November one-third of those who still survived, died? Let him pause for a + moment and read this over carefully again; because its startling magnitude + will hardly dawn upon him at first reading. It is true that the fearfully + disproportionate mortality of those months was largely due to the fact + that it was mostly the sick that remained behind, but even this diminishes + but little the frightfulness of the showing. Did any one ever hear of an + epidemic so fatal that one-third of those attacked by it in one month + died; one-half of the remnant the next month, and one-third of the feeble + remainder the next month? If he did, his reading has been much more + extensive than mine. + </p> + <p> + The greatest number of deaths in one day is reported to have occurred on + the 23d of August, when one hundred and twenty-seven died, or one man + every eleven minutes. + </p> + <p> + The greatest number of prisoners in the Stockade is stated to have been + August 8, when there were thirty-three thousand one hundred and fourteen. + </p> + <p> + I have always imagined both these statements to be short of the truth, + because my remembrance is that one day in August I counted over two + hundred dead lying in a row. As for the greatest number of prisoners, I + remember quite distinctly standing by the ration wagon during the whole + time of the delivery of rations, to see how many prisoners there really + were inside. That day the One Hundred and Thirty-Third Detachment was + called, and its Sergeant came up and drew rations for a full detachment. + All the other detachments were habitually kept full by replacing those who + died with new comers. As each detachment consisted of two hundred and + seventy men, one hundred and thirty-three detachments would make + thirty-five thousand nine hundred and ten, exclusive of those in the + hospital, and those detailed outside as cooks, clerks, hospital attendants + and various other employments—say from one to two thousand more. + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch43" id="ch43"></a>CHAPTER XLIII. + </h2> + <p> + DIFFICULTY OF EXERCISING—EMBARRASSMENTS OF A MORNING WALK—THE + RIALTO OF THE PRISON—CURSING THE SOUTHERN CONFEDERACY—THE + STORY OF THE BATTLE OF SPOTTSYLVANIA COURTHOUSE. + </p> + <p> + Certainly, in no other great community, that ever existed upon the face of + the globe was there so little daily ebb and flow as in this. Dull as an + ordinary Town or City may be; however monotonous, eventless, even stupid + the lives of its citizens, there is yet, nevertheless, a flow every day of + its life-blood—its population towards its heart, and an ebb of the + same, every evening towards its extremities. These recurring tides mingle + all classes together and promote the general healthfulness, as the + constant motion hither and yon of the ocean's waters purify and + sweeten them. + </p> + <p> + The lack of these helped vastly to make the living mass inside the + Stockade a human Dead Sea—or rather a Dying Sea—a putrefying, + stinking lake, resolving itself into phosphorescent corruption, like those + rotting southern seas, whose seething filth burns in hideous reds, and + ghastly greens and yellows. + </p> + <p> + Being little call for motion of any kind, and no room to exercise whatever + wish there might be in that direction, very many succumbed unresistingly + to the apathy which was so strongly favored by despondency and the + weakness induced by continual hunger, and lying supinely on the hot sand, + day in and day out, speedily brought themselves into such a condition as + invited the attacks of disease. + </p> + <p> + It required both determination and effort to take a little walking + exercise. The ground was so densely crowded with holes and other devices + for shelter that it took one at least ten minutes to pick his way through + the narrow and tortuous labyrinth which served as paths for communication + between different parts of the Camp. Still further, there was nothing to + see anywhere or to form sufficient inducement for any one to make so + laborious a journey. One simply encountered at every new step the same + unwelcome sights that he had just left; there was a monotony in the misery + as in everything else, and consequently the temptation to sit or lie still + in one's own quarters became very great. + </p> + <p> + I used to make it a point to go to some of the remoter parts of the + Stockade once every day, simply for exercise. One can gain some idea of + the crowd, and the difficulty of making one's way through it, when I + say that no point in the prison could be more than fifteen hundred feet + from where I staid, and, had the way been clear, I could have walked + thither and back in at most a half an hour, yet it usually took me from + two to three hours to make one of these journeys. + </p> + <p> + This daily trip, a few visits to the Creek to wash all over, a few games + of chess, attendance upon roll call, drawing rations, cooking and eating + the same, “lousing” my fragments of clothes, and doing some + little duties for my sick and helpless comrades, constituted the daily + routine for myself, as for most of the active youths in the prison. + </p> + <p> + The Creek was the great meeting point for all inside the Stockade. All + able to walk were certain to be there at least once during the day, and we + made it a rendezvous, a place to exchange gossip, discuss the latest news, + canvass the prospects of exchange, and, most of all, to curse the Rebels. + Indeed no conversation ever progressed very far without both speaker and + listener taking frequent rests to say bitter things as to the Rebels + generally, and Wirz, Winder and Davis in particular. + </p> + <p> + A conversation between two boys—strangers to each other who came to + the Creek to wash themselves or their clothes, or for some other purpose, + would progress thus: <br><br><br><br> <a name="p325" id="p325"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p325.jpg (29K)" src="images/p325.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + First Boy—“I belong to the Second Corps,—Hancock's, + [the Army of the Potomac boys always mentioned what Corps they belonged + to, where the Western boys stated their Regiment.] They got me at + Spottsylvania, when they were butting their heads against our + breast-works, trying to get even with us for gobbling up Johnson in the + morning,”—He stops suddenly and changes tone to say: “I + hope to God, that when our folks get Richmond, they will put old Ben + Butler in command of it, with orders to limb, skin and jayhawk it worse + than he did New Orleans.” + </p> + <p> + Second Boy, (fervently :) “I wish to God he would, and that he'd + catch old Jeff., and that grayheaded devil, Winder, and the old Dutch + Captain, strip 'em just as we were, put 'em in this pen, with + just the rations they are givin' us, and set a guard of plantation + niggers over 'em, with orders to blow their whole infernal heads + off, if they dared so much as to look at the dead line.” + </p> + <p> + First Boy—(returning to the story of his capture.) “Old + Hancock caught the Johnnies that morning the neatest you ever saw anything + in your life. After the two armies had murdered each other for four or + five days in the Wilderness, by fighting so close together that much of + the time you could almost shake hands with the Graybacks, both hauled off + a little, and lay and glowered at each other. Each side had lost about + twenty thousand men in learning that if it attacked the other it would get + mashed fine. So each built a line of works and lay behind them, and tried + to nag the other into coming out and attacking. At Spottsylvania our lines + and those of the Johnnies weren't twelve hundred yards apart. The + ground was clear and clean between them, and any force that attempted to + cross it to attack would be cut to pieces, as sure as anything. We laid + there three or four days watching each other—just like boys at + school, who shake fists and dare each other. At one place the Rebel line + ran out towards us like the top of a great letter 'A.' The + night of the 11th of May it rained very hard, and then came a fog so thick + that you couldn't see the length of a company. Hancock thought he'd + take advantage of this. We were all turned out very quietly about four o'clock + in the morning. Not a bit of noise was allowed. We even had to take off + our canteens and tin cups, that they might not rattle against our + bayonets. The ground was so wet that our footsteps couldn't be + heard. It was one of those deathly, still movements, when you think your + heart is making as much noise as a bass drum. + </p> + <p> + “The Johnnies didn't seem to have the faintest suspicion of + what was coming, though they ought, because we would have expected such an + attack from them if we hadn't made it ourselves. Their pickets were + out just a little ways from their works, and we were almost on to them + before they discovered us. They fired and ran back. At this we raised a + yell and dashed forward at a charge. As we poured over the works, the + Rebels came double-quicking up to defend them. We flanked Johnson's + Division quicker'n you could say 'Jack Robinson,' and + had four thousand of 'em in our grip just as nice as you please. We + sent them to the rear under guard, and started for the next line of Rebel + works about a half a mile away. But we had now waked up the whole of Lee's + army, and they all came straight for us, like packs of mad wolves. Ewell + struck us in the center; Longstreet let drive at our left flank, and Hill + tackled our right. We fell back to the works we had taken, Warren and + Wright came up to help us, and we had it hot and heavy for the rest of the + day and part of the night. The Johnnies seemed so mad over what we'd + done that they were half crazy. They charged us five times, coming up + every time just as if they were going to lift us right out of the works + with the bayonet. About midnight, after they'd lost over ten + thousand men, they seemed to understand that we had pre-empted that piece + of real estate, and didn't propose to allow anybody to jump our + claim, so they fell back sullen like to their main works. When they came + on the last charge, our Brigadier walked behind each of our regiments and + said: + </p> + <p> + “Boys, we'll send 'em back this time for keeps. Give it + to 'em by the acre, and when they begin to waver, we'll all + jump over the works and go for them with the bayonet.' + </p> + <p> + “We did it just that way. We poured such a fire on them that the + bullets knocked up the ground in front just like you have seen the deep + dust in a road in the middle of Summer fly up when the first great big + drops of a rain storm strike it. But they came on, yelling and swearing, + officers in front waving swords, and shouting—all that business, you + know. When they got to about one hundred yards from us, they did not seem + to be coming so fast, and there was a good deal of confusion among them. + The brigade bugle sounded: + </p> + <p> + “Stop firing.” + </p> + <p> + “We all ceased instantly. The rebels looked up in astonishment. Our + General sang out: + </p> + <p> + “Fix bayonets!' but we knew what was coming, and were already + executing the order. You can imagine the crash that ran down the line, as + every fellow snatched his bayonet out and slapped it on the muzzle of his + gun. Then the General's voice rang out like a bugle: + </p> + <p> + “Ready!—FORWARD! CHARGE!' <br><br><br><br> <a + name="p328" id="p328"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p328.jpg (48K)" src="images/p328.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + “We cheered till everything seemed to split, and jumped over the + works, almost every man at the same minute. The Johnnies seemed to have + been puzzled at the stoppage of our fire. When we all came sailing over + the works, with guns brought right, down where they meant business, they + were so astonished for a minute that they stood stock still, not knowing + whether to come for us, or run. We did not allow them long to debate, but + went right towards them on the double quick, with the bayonets looking + awful savage and hungry. It was too much for Mr. Johnny Reb's + nerves. They all seemed to about face' at once, and they lit out of + there as if they had been sent for in a hurry. We chased after 'em + as fast as we could, and picked up just lots of 'em. Finally it + began to be real funny. A Johnny's wind would begin to give out he'd + fall behind his comrades; he'd hear us yell and think that we were + right behind him, ready to sink a bayonet through him'; he'd + turn around, throw up his hands, and sing out: + </p> + <p> + “I surrender, mister! I surrender!' and find that we were a + hundred feet off, and would have to have a bayonet as long as one of + McClellan's general orders to touch him. + </p> + <p> + “Well, my company was the left of our regiment, and our regiment was + the left of the brigade, and we swung out ahead of all the rest of the + boys. In our excitement of chasing the Johnnies, we didn't see that + we had passed an angle of their works. About thirty of us had become + separated from the company and were chasing a squad of about seventy-five + or one hundred. We had got up so close to them that we hollered: + </p> + <p> + “'Halt there, now, or we'll blow your heads off.' + </p> + <p> + “They turned round with, 'halt yourselves; you —— + Yankee —— ——' + </p> + <p> + “We looked around at this, and saw that we were not one hundred feet + away from the angle of the works, which were filled with Rebels waiting + for our fellows to get to where they could have a good flank fire upon + them. There was nothing to do but to throw down our guns and surrender, + and we had hardly gone inside of the works, until the Johnnies opened on + our brigade and drove it back. This ended the battle at Spottsylvania + Court House.” + </p> + <p> + Second Boy (irrelevantly.) “Some day the underpinning will fly out + from under the South, and let it sink right into the middle kittle o' + hell.” + </p> + <p> + First Boy (savagely.) “I only wish the whole Southern Confederacy + was hanging over hell by a single string, and I had a knife.” <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch44" id="ch44"></a>CHAPTER XLIV. + </h2> + <p> + REBEL MUSIC—SINGULAR LACK OF THE CREATIVE POWER AMONG THE + SOUTHERNERS —CONTRAST WITH SIMILAR PEOPLE ELSEWHERE—THEIR + FAVORITE MUSIC, AND WHERE IT WAS BORROWED FROM—A FIFER WITH ONE + TUNE. + </p> + <p> + I have before mentioned as among the things that grew upon one with + increasing acquaintance with the Rebels on their native heath, was + astonishment at their lack of mechanical skill and at their inability to + grapple with numbers and the simpler processes of arithmetic. Another + characteristic of the same nature was their wonderful lack of musical + ability, or of any kind of tuneful creativeness. + </p> + <p> + Elsewhere, all over the world, people living under similar conditions to + the Southerners are exceedingly musical, and we owe the great majority of + the sweetest compositions which delight the ear and subdue the senses to + unlettered song-makers of the Swiss mountains, the Tyrolese valleys, the + Bavarian Highlands, and the minstrels of Scotland, Ireland and Wales. + </p> + <p> + The music of English-speaking people is very largely made up of these + contributions from the folk-songs of dwellers in the wilder and more + mountainous parts of the British Isles. One rarely goes far out of the way + in attributing to this source any air that he may hear that captivates him + with its seductive opulence of harmony. Exquisite melodies, limpid and + unstrained as the carol of a bird in Spring-time, and as plaintive as the + cooing of a turtle-dove seems as natural products of the Scottish + Highlands as the gorse which blazons on their hillsides in August. + Debarred from expressing their aspirations as people of broader culture do—in + painting, in sculpture, in poetry and prose, these mountaineers make song + the flexible and ready instrument for the communication of every emotion + that sweeps across their souls. + </p> + <p> + Love, hatred, grief, revenge, anger, and especially war seems to tune + their minds to harmony, and awake the voice of song in them hearts. The + battles which the Scotch and Irish fought to replace the luckless Stuarts + upon the British throne—the bloody rebellions of 1715 and 1745, left + a rich legacy of sweet song, the outpouring of loving, passionate loyalty + to a wretched cause; songs which are today esteemed and sung wherever the + English language is spoken, by people who have long since forgotten what + burning feelings gave birth to their favorite melodies. + </p> + <p> + For a century the bones of both the Pretenders have moldered in alien + soil; the names of James Edward, and Charles Edward, which were once + trumpet blasts to rouse armed men, mean as little to the multitude of + today as those of the Saxon Ethelbert, and Danish Hardicanute, yet the + world goes on singing—and will probably as long as the English + language is spoken—“Wha'll be King but Charlie?” + “When Jamie Come Hame,” “Over the Water to Charlie,” + “Charlie is my Darling,” “The Bonny Blue Bonnets are + Over the Border,” “Saddle Your Steeds and Awa,” and a + myriad others whose infinite tenderness and melody no modern composer can + equal. + </p> + <p> + Yet these same Scotch and Irish, the same Jacobite English, transplanted + on account of their chronic rebelliousness to the mountains of Virginia, + the Carolinas, and Georgia, seem to have lost their tunefulness, as some + fine singing birds do when carried from their native shores. + </p> + <p> + The descendants of those who drew swords for James and Charles at Preston + Pans and Culloden dwell to-day in the dales and valleys of the Alleganies, + as their fathers did in the dales and valleys of the Grampians, but their + voices are mute. + </p> + <p> + As a rule the Southerners are fond of music. They are fond of singing and + listening to old-fashioned ballads, most of which have never been printed, + but handed down from one generation to the other, like the 'Volklieder' + of Germany. They sing these with the wild, fervid impressiveness + characteristic of the ballad singing of unlettered people. Very many play + tolerably on the violin and banjo, and occasionally one is found whose + instrumentation may be called good. But above this hight they never soar. + The only musician produced by the South of whom the rest of the country + has ever heard, is Blind Tom, the negro idiot. No composer, no song writer + of any kind has appeared within the borders of Dixie. + </p> + <p> + It was a disappointment to me that even the stress of the war, the passion + and fierceness with which the Rebels felt and fought, could not stimulate + any adherent of the Stars and Bars into the production of a single lyric + worthy in the remotest degree of the magnitude of the struggle, and the + depth of the popular feeling. Where two million Scotch, fighting to + restore the fallen fortunes of the worse than worthless Stuarts, filled + the world with immortal music, eleven million of Southerners, fighting for + what they claimed to be individual freedom and national life, did not + produce any original verse, or a bar of music that the world could + recognize as such. This is the fact; and an undeniable one. Its + explanation I must leave to abler analysts than I am. + </p> + <p> + Searching for peculiar causes we find but two that make the South differ + from the ancestral home of these people. These two were Climate and + Slavery. Climatic effects will not account for the phenomenon, because we + see that the peasantry of the mountains of Spain and the South of France + as ignorant as these people, and dwellers in a still more enervating + atmosphere-are very fertile in musical composition, and their songs are to + the Romanic languages what the Scotch and Irish ballads are to the + English. + </p> + <p> + Then it must be ascribed to the incubus of Slavery upon the intellect, + which has repressed this as it has all other healthy growths in the South. + Slavery seems to benumb all the faculties except the passions. The fact + that the mountaineers had but few or no slaves, does not seem to be of + importance in the case. They lived under the deadly shadow of the upas + tree, and suffered the consequences of its stunting their development in + all directions, as the ague-smitten inhabitant of the Roman Campana finds + every sense and every muscle clogged by the filtering in of the insidious + miasma. They did not compose songs and music, because they did not have + the intellectual energy for that work. + </p> + <p> + The negros displayed all the musical creativeness of that section. Their + wonderful prolificness in wild, rude songs, with strangely melodious airs + that burned themselves into the memory, was one of the salient + characteristics of that down-trodden race. Like the Russian serfs, and the + bondmen of all ages and lands, the songs they made and sang all had an + undertone of touching plaintiveness, born of ages of dumb suffering. The + themes were exceedingly simple, and the range of subjects limited. The + joys, and sorrows, hopes and despairs of love's gratification or + disappointment, of struggles for freedom, contests with malign persons and + influences, of rage, hatred, jealousy, revenge, such as form the motifs + for the majority of the poetry of free and strong races, were wholly + absent from their lyrics. Religion, hunger and toil were their main + inspiration. They sang of the pleasures of idling in the genial sunshine; + the delights of abundance of food; the eternal happiness that awaited them + in the heavenly future, where the slave-driver ceased from troubling and + the weary were at rest; where Time rolled around in endless cycles of days + spent in basking, harp in hand, and silken clad, in golden streets, under + the soft effulgence of cloudless skies, glowing with warmth and kindness + emanating from the Creator himself. Had their masters condescended to + borrow the music of the slaves, they would have found none whose + sentiments were suitable for the ode of a people undergoing the pangs of + what was hoped to be the birth of a new nation. + </p> + <p> + The three songs most popular at the South, and generally regarded as + distinctively Southern, were “The Bonnie Blue Flag,” “Maryland, + My Maryland,” and “Stonewall Jackson Crossing into Maryland.” + The first of these was the greatest favorite by long odds. Women sang, men + whistled, and the so-called musicians played it wherever we went. While in + the field before capture, it was the commonest of experiences to have + Rebel women sing it at us tauntingly from the house that we passed or near + which we stopped. If ever near enough a Rebel camp, we were sure to hear + its wailing crescendo rising upon the air from the lips or instruments of + some one more quartered there. At Richmond it rang upon us constantly from + some source or another, and the same was true wherever else we went in the + so-called Confederacy. I give the air and words below: <br><br><br><br> + <a name="p334" id="p334"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p334.jpg (38K)" src="images/p334.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + All familiar with Scotch songs will readily recognize the name and air as + an old friend, and one of the fierce Jacobite melodies that for a long + time disturbed the tranquility of the Brunswick family on the English + throne. The new words supplied by the Rebels are the merest doggerel, and + fit the music as poorly as the unchanged name of the song fitted to its + new use. The flag of the Rebellion was not a bonnie blue one; but had + quite as much red and white as azure. It did not have a single star, but + thirteen. + </p> + <p> + Near in popularity was “Maryland, My Maryland.” The + versification of this was of a much higher Order, being fairly + respectable. The air is old, and a familiar one to all college students, + and belongs to one of the most common of German household songs: + </p> + <table> + <tr> + <td> + O, Tannenbaum! O, Tannenbaum, wie tru sind deine Blatter!<br> Da + gruenst nicht nur zur Sommerseit,<br> Nein, auch in Winter, when es + Schneit, etc.<br> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + which Longfellow has finely translated, + </p> + <table> + <tr> + <td> + O, hemlock tree! O, hemlock tree! how faithful are thy branches!<br> + Green not alone in Summer time,<br> But in the Winter's float + and rime.<br> O, hemlock tree O, hemlock tree! how faithful are thy + branches. Etc.<br> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + The Rebel version ran: + </p> + <h3> + MARYLAND. + </h3> + <table> + <tr> + <td> + <br>The despot's heel is on thy shore, <br> Maryland! + <br>His touch is at thy temple door, <br> Maryland! + <br>Avenge the patriotic gore <br>That flecked the streets of + Baltimore, <br>And be the battle queen of yore, <br>Maryland! My + Maryland! <br> <br>Hark to the wand'ring son's appeal, + <br> Maryland! <br>My mother State, to + thee I kneel, <br> Maryland! <br>For + life and death, for woe and weal, <br>Thy peerless chivalry reveal, + <br>And gird thy beauteous limbs with steel, <br>Maryland! My + Maryland! <br> <br>Thou wilt not cower in the duet, <br> Maryland! + <br>Thy beaming sword shall never rust <br> Maryland! + <br>Remember Carroll's sacred trust, <br>Remember Howard's + warlike thrust— <br>And all thy slumberers with the just, <br>Maryland! + My Maryland! <br> <br>Come! 'tis the red dawn of the day, + <br> Maryland! <br>Come! with thy + panoplied array, <br> Maryland! <br>With + Ringgold's spirit for the fray, <br>With Watson's blood + at Monterey, <br>With fearless Lowe and dashing May, <br>Maryland! + My Maryland! <br> <br>Comet for thy shield is bright and strong, + <br> Maryland! <br>Come! for thy + dalliance does thee wrong, <br> + Maryland! <br>Come! to thins own heroic throng, <br>That stalks with + Liberty along, <br>And give a new Key to thy song, <br>Maryland! My + Maryland! <br> <br>Dear Mother! burst the tyrant's chain, + <br> Maryland! <br>Virginia should not + call in vain, <br> Maryland! <br>She + meets her sisters on the plain— <br>'Sic semper' 'tis + the proud refrain, <br>That baffles millions back amain, <br> + Maryland! <br>Arise, in majesty again, <br>Maryland! My Maryland! + <br> <br>I see the blush upon thy cheek, <br> + Maryland! <br>But thou wast ever bravely meek, <br> + Maryland! <br>But lo! there surges forth a shriek <br>From hill to + hill, from creek to creek— <br>Potomac calls to Chesapeake, + <br>Maryland! My Maryland! <br> <br>Thou wilt not yield the vandal + toll. <br> Maryland! <br>Thou wilt not + crook to his control, <br> Maryland! + <br>Better the fire upon thee roll, <br>Better the blade, the shot, + the bowl, <br>Than crucifixion of the soul, <br>Maryland! My + Maryland! <br> <br>I hear the distant Thunder hem, <br> + Maryland! <br>The Old Line's bugle, fife, and drum. <br> + Maryland! <br>She is not dead, nor deaf, nor dumb— <br>Hnzza! + she spurns the Northern scum! <br>She breathes—she burns! she'll + come! she'll come! <br>Maryland! My Maryland! + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br><br> + </p> + <p> + “Stonewall Jackson Crossing into Maryland,” was another + travesty, of about the same literary merit, or rather demerit, as “The + Bonnie Blue Flag.” Its air was that of the well-known and popular + negro minstrel song, “Billy Patterson.” For all that, it + sounded very martial and stirring when played by a brass band. + </p> + <p> + We heard these songs with tiresome iteration, daily and nightly, during + our stay in the Southern Confederacy. Some one of the guards seemed to be + perpetually beguiling the weariness of his watch by singing in all keys, + in every sort of a voice, and with the wildest latitude as to air and + time. They became so terribly irritating to us, that to this day the + remembrance of those soul-lacerating lyrics abides with me as one of the + chief of the minor torments of our situation. They were, in fact, nearly + as bad as the lice. + </p> + <p> + We revenged ourselves as best we could by constructing fearfully wicked, + obscene and insulting parodies on these, and by singing them with + irritating effusiveness in the hearing of the guards who were inflicting + these nuisances upon us. + </p> + <p> + Of the same nature was the garrison music. One fife, played by an + asthmatic old fellow whose breathings were nearly as audible as his notes, + and one rheumatic drummer, constituted the entire band for the post. The + fifer actually knew but one tune “The Bonnie Blue Flag” + —and did not know that well. But it was all that he had, and he + played it with wearisome monotony for every camp call—five or six + times a day, and seven days in the week. He called us up in the morning + with it for a reveille; he sounded the “roll call” and “drill + call,” breakfast, dinner and supper with it, and finally sent us to + bed, with the same dreary wail that had rung in our ears all day. I never + hated any piece of music as I came to hate that threnody of treason. It + would have been such a relief if the old asthmatic who played it could + have been induced to learn another tune to play on Sundays, and give us + one day of rest. He did not, but desecrated the Lord's Day by + playing as vilely as on the rest of the week. The Rebels were fully + conscious of their musical deficiencies, and made repeated but + unsuccessful attempts to induce the musicians among the prisoners to come + outside and form a band. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch45" id="ch45"></a>CHAPTER XLV + </h2> + <p> + AUGUST—NEEDLES STUCK IN PUMPKIN SEEDS—SOME PHENOMENA OF + STARVATION —RIOTING IN REMEMBERED LUXURIES. + </p> + <p> + “Illinoy,” said tall, gaunt Jack North, of the One Hundred and + Fourteenth Illinois, to me, one day, as we sat contemplating our naked, + and sadly attenuated underpinning; “what do our legs and feet most + look most like?” + </p> + <p> + “Give it up, Jack,” said I. + </p> + <p> + “Why—darning needles stuck in pumpkin seeds, of course.” + I never heard a better comparison for our wasted limbs. <br><br><br><br> + <a name="p338" id="p338"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p338.jpg (9K)" src="images/p338.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + The effects of the great bodily emaciation were sometimes very startling. + Boys of a fleshy habit would change so in a few weeks as to lose all + resemblance to their former selves, and comrades who came into prison + later would utterly fail to recognize them. Most fat men, as most large + men, died in a little while after entering, though there were exceptions. + One of these was a boy of my own company, named George Hillicks. George + had shot up within a few years to over six feet in hight, and then, as + such boys occasionally do, had, after enlisting with us, taken on such a + development of flesh that we nicknamed him the “Giant,” and he + became a pretty good load for even the strongest horse. George held his + flesh through Belle Isle, and the earlier weeks in Andersonville, but + June, July, and August “fetched him,” as the boys said. He + seemed to melt away like an icicle on a Spring day, and he grew so thin + that his hight seemed preternatural. We called him “Flagstaff,” + and cracked all sorts of jokes about putting an insulator on his head, and + setting him up for a telegraph pole, braiding his legs and using him for a + whip lash, letting his hair grow a little longer, and trading him off to + the Rebels for a sponge and staff for the artillery, etc. We all expected + him to die, and looked continually for the development of the fatal scurvy + symptoms, which were to seal his doom. But he worried through, and came + out at last in good shape, a happy result due as much as to anything else + to his having in Chester Hayward, of Prairie City, Ill.,—one of the + most devoted chums I ever knew. Chester nursed and looked out for George + with wife-like fidelity, and had his reward in bringing him safe through + our lines. There were thousands of instances of this generous devotion to + each other by chums in Andersonville, and I know of nothing that reflects + any more credit upon our boy soldiers. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p339" id="p339"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p339.jpg (28K)" src="images/p339.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + There was little chance for any one to accumulate flesh on the rations we + were receiving. I say it in all soberness that I do not believe that a + healthy hen could have grown fat upon them. I am sure that any good-sized + “shanghai” eats more every day than the meager half loaf that + we had to maintain life upon. Scanty as this was, and hungry as all were, + very many could not eat it. Their stomachs revolted against the trash; it + became so nauseous to them that they could not force it down, even when + famishing, and they died of starvation with the chunks of the so-called + bread under their head. I found myself rapidly approaching this condition. + I had been blessed with a good digestion and a talent for sleeping under + the most discouraging circumstances. These, I have no doubt, were of the + greatest assistance to me in my struggle for existence. But now the + rations became fearfully obnoxious to me, and it was only with the + greatest effort—pulling the bread into little pieces and swallowing + each, of these as one would a pill—that I succeeded in worrying the + stuff down. I had not as yet fallen away very much, but as I had never, + up, to that time, weighed so much as one hundred and twenty-five pounds, + there was no great amount of adipose to lose. It was evident that unless + some change occurred my time was near at hand. + </p> + <p> + There was not only hunger for more food, but longing with an intensity + beyond expression for alteration of some kind in the rations. The + changeless monotony of the miserable saltless bread, or worse mush, for + days, weeks and months, became unbearable. If those wretched mule teams + had only once a month hauled in something different—if they had come + in loaded with sweet potatos, green corn or wheat flour, there would be + thousands of men still living who now slumber beneath those melancholy + pines. It would have given something to look forward to, and remember when + past. But to know each day that the gates would open to admit the same + distasteful apologies for food took away the appetite and raised one's + gorge, even while famishing for something to eat. + </p> + <p> + We could for a while forget the stench, the lice, the heat, the maggots, + the dead and dying around us, the insulting malignance of our jailors; but + it was, very hard work to banish thoughts and longings for food from our + minds. Hundreds became actually insane from brooding over it. Crazy men + could be found in all parts of the camp. Numbers of them wandered around + entirely naked. Their babblings and maunderings about something to eat + were painful to hear. I have before mentioned the case of the Plymouth + Pilgrim near me, whose insanity took the form of imagining that he was + sitting at the table with his family, and who would go through the show of + helping them to imaginary viands and delicacies. The cravings for green + food of those afflicted with the scurvy were, agonizing. Large numbers of + watermelons were brought to the prison, and sold to those who had the + money to pay for them at from one to five dollars, greenbacks, apiece. A + boy who had means to buy a piece of these would be followed about while + eating it by a crowd of perhaps twenty-five or thirty livid-gummed + scorbutics, each imploring him for the rind when he was through with it. + </p> + <p> + We thought of food all day, and were visited with torturing dreams of it + at night. One of the pleasant recollections of my pre-military life was a + banquet at the “Planter's House,” St. Louis, at which I + was a boyish guest. It was, doubtless, an ordinary affair, as banquets go, + but to me then, with all the keen appreciation of youth and first + experience, it was a feast worthy of Lucullus. But now this delightful + reminiscence became a torment. Hundreds of times I dreamed I was again at + the “Planter's.” I saw the wide corridors, with their + mosaic pavement; I entered the grand dining-room, keeping timidly near the + friend to whose kindness I owed this wonderful favor; I saw again the + mirror-lined walls, the evergreen decked ceilings, the festoons and + mottos, the tables gleaming with cutglass and silver, the buffets with + wines and fruits, the brigade of sleek, black, white-aproned waiters, + headed by one who had presence enough for a major General. Again I reveled + in all the dainties and dishes on the bill-of-fare; calling for everything + that I dared to, just to see what each was like, and to be able to say + afterwards that I had partaken of it; all these bewildering delights of + the first realization of what a boy has read and wondered much over, and + longed for, would dance their rout and reel through my somnolent brain. + Then I would awake to find myself a half-naked, half-starved, vermin-eaten + wretch, crouching in a hole in the ground, waiting for my keepers to fling + me a chunk of corn bread. + </p> + <p> + Naturally the boys—and especially the country boys and new prisoners + —talked much of victuals—what they had had, and what they + would have again, when they got out. Take this as a sample of the + conversation which might be heard in any group of boys, sitting together + on the sand, killin lice and talking of exchange: + </p> + <p> + Tom—“Well, Bill, when we get back to God's country, you + and Jim and John must all come to my house and take dinner with me. I want + to give you a square meal. I want to show you just what good livin' + is. You know my mother is just the best cook in all that section. When she + lays herself out to get up a meal all the other women in the neighborhood + just stand back and admire!” + </p> + <p> + Bill—“O, that's all right; but I'll bet she can't + hold a candle to my mother, when it comes to good cooking.” + </p> + <p> + Jim—“No, nor to mine.” + </p> + <p> + John—(with patronizing contempt.) “O, shucks! None of you + fellers were ever at our house, even when we had one of our common weekday + dinners.” + </p> + <p> + Tom—(unheedful of the counter claims.) I hev teen studyin' up + the dinner I'd like, and the bill-of-fare I'd set out for you + fellers when you come over to see me. First, of course, we'll lay + the foundation like with a nice, juicy loin roast, and some mashed + potatos. + </p> + <p> + Bill—(interrupting.) “Now, do you like mashed potatos with + beef? The way may mother does is to pare the potatos, and lay them in the + pan along with the beef. Then, you know, they come out just as nice and + crisp, and brown; they have soaked up all the beef gravy, and they crinkle + between your teeth—” + </p> + <p> + Jim—“Now, I tell you, mashed Neshannocks with butter on + 'em is plenty good enough for me.” + </p> + <p> + John—“If you'd et some of the new kind of peachblows + that we raised in the old pasture lot the year before I enlisted, you'd + never say another word about your Neshannocks.” + </p> + <p> + Tom—(taking breath and starting in fresh.) “Then we'll + hev some fried Spring chickens, of our dominick breed. Them dominicks of + ours have the nicest, tenderest meat, better'n quail, a darned + sight, and the way my mother can fry Spring chickens——” + </p> + <p> + Bill—(aside to Jim.) “Every durned woman in the country thinks + she can 'spry ching frickens;' but my mother—-” + </p> + <p> + John—“You fellers all know that there's nobody knows + half as much about chicken doin's as these 'tinerant Methodis' + preachers. They give 'em chicken wherever they go, and folks do say + that out in the new settlements they can't get no preachin', + no gospel, nor nothin', until the chickens become so plenty that a + preacher is reasonably sure of havin' one for his dinner wherever he + may go. Now, there's old Peter Cartwright, who has traveled over + Illinoy and Indianny since the Year One, and preached more good sermons + than any other man who ever set on saddle-bags, and has et more chickens + than there are birds in a big pigeon roost. Well, he took dinner at our + house when he came up to dedicate the big, white church at Simpkin's + Corners, and when he passed up his plate the third time for more chicken, + he sez, sez he:—I've et at a great many hundred tables in the + fifty years I have labored in the vineyard of the Redeemer, but I must + say, Mrs. Kiggins, that your way of frying chickens is a leetle the nicest + that I ever knew. I only wish that the sisters generally would get your + reseet.' Yes, that's what he said,—'a leetle the + nicest.'” + </p> + <p> + Tom—“An' then, we'll hev biscuits an' + butter. I'll just bet five hundred dollars to a cent, and give back + the cent if I win, that we have the best butter at our house that there is + in Central Illinoy. You can't never hev good butter onless you have + a spring house; there's no use of talkin'—all the patent + churns that lazy men ever invented—all the fancy milk pans an' + coolers, can't make up for a spring house. Locations for a spring + house are scarcer than hen's teeth in Illinoy, but we hev one, and + there ain't a better one in Orange County, New York. Then you'll + see dome of the biscuits my mother makes.” + </p> + <p> + Bill—“Well, now, my mother's a boss biscuit-maker, too.” + </p> + <p> + Jim—“You kin just gamble that mine is.” + </p> + <p> + John—“O, that's the way you fellers ought to think an' + talk, but my mother——” + </p> + <p> + Tom—(coming in again with fresh vigor) “They're jest as + light an' fluffy as a dandelion puff, and they melt in your month + like a ripe Bartlett pear. You just pull 'em open—Now you know + that I think there's nothin' that shows a person's + raisin' so well as to see him eat biscuits an' butter. If he's + been raised mostly on corn bread, an' common doins,' an' + don't know much about good things to eat, he'll most likely + cut his biscuit open with a case knife, an' make it fall as flat as + one o' yesterday's pancakes. But if he is used to biscuits, + has had 'em often at his house, he'll—just pull 'em + open, slow an' easy like, then he'll lay a little slice of + butter inside, and drop a few drops of clear honey on this, an' + stick the two halves back, together again, an—” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, for God Almighty's sake, stop talking that infernal + nonsense,” roar out a half dozen of the surrounding crowd, whose + mouths have been watering over this unctuous recital of the good things of + the table. “You blamed fools, do you want to drive yourselves and + everybody else crazy with such stuff as that. Dry up and try to think of + something else.” <br><br><br><br> <a name="p344" id="p344"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p344.jpg (16K)" src="images/p344.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch46" id="ch46"></a>CHAPTER XLVI. + </h2> + <p> + SURLY BRITON—THE STOLID COURAGE THAT MAKES THE ENGLISH FLAG A BANNER + OF TRIUMPH—OUR COMPANY BUGLER, HIS CHARACTERISTICS AND HIS DEATH—URGENT + DEMAND FOR MECHANICS—NONE WANT TO GO—TREATMENT OF A REBEL + SHOEMAKER —ENLARGEMENT OF THE STOCKADE—IT IS BROKEN BY A STORM—THE + WONDERFUL SPRING. + </p> + <p> + Early in August, F. Marriott, our Company Bugler, died. Previous to coming + to America he had been for many years an English soldier, and I accepted + him as a type of that stolid, doggedly brave class, which forms the bulk + of the English armies, and has for centuries carried the British flag with + dauntless courage into every land under the sun. Rough, surly and + unsocial, he did his duty with the unemotional steadiness of a machine. He + knew nothing but to obey orders, and obeyed them under all circumstances + promptly, but with stony impassiveness. With the command to move forward + into action, he moved forward without a word, and with face as blank as a + side of sole leather. He went as far as ordered, halted at the word, and + retired at command as phlegmatically as he advanced. If he cared a straw + whether he advanced or retreated, if it mattered to the extent of a pinch + of salt whether we whipped the Rebels or they defeated us, he kept that + feeling so deeply hidden in the recesses of his sturdy bosom that no one + ever suspected it. In the excitement of action the rest of the boys + shouted, and swore, and expressed their tense feelings in various ways, + but Marriott might as well have been a graven image, for all the + expression that he suffered to escape. Doubtless, if the Captain had + ordered him to shoot one of the company through the heart, he would have + executed the command according to the manual of arms, brought his carbine + to a “recover,” and at the word marched back to his quarters + without an inquiry as to the cause of the proceedings. He made no friends, + and though his surliness repelled us, he made few enemies. Indeed, he was + rather a favorite, since he was a genuine character; his gruffness had no + taint of selfish greed in it; he minded his own business strictly, and + wanted others to do the same. When he first came into the company, it is + true, he gained the enmity of nearly everybody in it, but an incident + occurred which turned the tide in his favor. Some annoying little + depredations had been practiced on the boys, and it needed but a word of + suspicion to inflame all their minds against the surly Englishman as the + unknown perpetrator. The feeling intensified, until about half of the + company were in a mood to kill the Bugler outright. As we were returning + from stable duty one evening, some little occurrence fanned the smoldering + anger into a fierce blaze; a couple of the smaller boys began an attack + upon him; others hastened to their assistance, and soon half the company + were engaged in the assault. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p346" id="p346"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p346.jpg (19K)" src="images/p346.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + He succeeded in disengaging himself from his assailants, and, squaring + himself off, said, defiantly: + </p> + <p> + “Dom yer cowardly heyes; jest come hat me one hat a time, hand hI'll + wollop the 'ole gang uv ye's.” + </p> + <p> + One of our Sergeants styled himself proudly “a Chicago rough,” + and was as vain of his pugilistic abilities as a small boy is of a father + who plays in the band. We all hated him cordially—even more than we + did Marriott. + </p> + <p> + He thought this was a good time to show off, and forcing his way through + the crowd, he said, vauntingly: + </p> + <p> + “Just fall back and form a ring, boys, and see me polish off the—-fool.” + </p> + <p> + The ring was formed, with the Bugler and the Sergeant in the center. + Though the latter was the younger and stronger the first round showed him + that it would have profited him much more to have let Marriott's + challenge pass unheeded. As a rule, it is as well to ignore all + invitations of this kind from Englishmen, and especially from those who, + like Marriott, have served a term in the army, for they are likely to be + so handy with their fists as to make the consequences of an acceptance + more lively than desirable. + </p> + <p> + So the Sergeant found. “Marriott,” as one of the spectators + expressed it, “went around him like a cooper around a barrel.” + He planted his blows just where he wished, to the intense delight of the + boys, who yelled enthusiastically whenever he got in “a hot one,” + and their delight at seeing the Sergeant drubbed so thoroughly and + artistically, worked an entire revolution in his favor. + </p> + <p> + Thenceforward we viewed his eccentricities with lenient eyes, and became + rather proud of his bull-dog stolidity and surliness. The whole battalion + soon came to share this feeling, and everybody enjoyed hearing his + deep-toned growl, which mischievous boys would incite by some petty + annoyances deliberately designed for that purpose. I will mention + incidentally, that after his encounter with the Sergeant no one ever again + volunteered to “polish” him off. + </p> + <p> + Andersonville did not improve either his temper or his communicativeness. + He seemed to want to get as far away from the rest of us as possible, and + took up his quarters in a remote corner of the Stockade, among utter + strangers. Those of us who wandered up in his neighborhood occasionally, + to see how he was getting along, were received with such scant courtesy, + that we did not hasten to repeat the visit. At length, after none of us + had seen him for weeks, we thought that comradeship demanded another + visit. We found him in the last stages of scurvy and diarrhea. Chunks of + uneaten corn bread lay by his head. They were at least a week old. The + rations since then had evidently been stolen from the helpless man by + those around him. The place where he lay was indescribably filthy, and his + body was swarming with vermin. Some good Samaritan had filled his little + black oyster can with water, and placed it within his reach. For a week, + at least, he had not been able to rise from the ground; he could barely + reach for the water near him. He gave us such a glare of recognition as I + remembered to have seen light up the fast-darkening eyes of a savage old + mastiff, that I and my boyish companions once found dying in the woods of + disease and hurts. Had he been able he would have driven us away, or at + least assailed us with biting English epithets. Thus he had doubtless + driven away all those who had attempted to help him. We did what little we + could, and staid with him until the next afternoon, when he died. We + prepared his body, in the customary way: folded the hands across his + breast, tied the toes together, and carried it outside, not forgetting + each of us, to bring back a load of wood. + </p> + <p> + The scarcity of mechanics of all kinds in the Confederacy, and the urgent + needs of the people for many things which the war and the blockade + prevented their obtaining, led to continual inducements being offered to + the artizans among us to go outside and work at their trade. Shoemakers + seemed most in demand; next to these blacksmiths, machinists, molders and + metal workers generally. Not a week passed during my imprisonment that I + did not see a Rebel emissary of some kind about the prison seeking to + engage skilled workmen for some purpose or another. While in Richmond the + managers of the Tredegar Iron Works were brazen and persistent in their + efforts to seduce what are termed “malleable iron workers,” to + enter their employ. A boy who was master of any one of the commoner trades + had but to make his wishes known, and he would be allowed to go out on + parole to work. I was a printer, and I think that at least a dozen times I + was approached by Rebel publishers with offers of a parole, and work at + good prices. One from Columbia, S. C., offered me two dollars and a half a + “thousand” for composition. As the highest price for such work + that I had received before enlisting was thirty cents a thousand, this + seemed a chance to accumulate untold wealth. Since a man working in day + time can set from thirty-five to fifty “thousand” a week, this + would make weekly wages run from eighty-seven dollars and fifty cents to + one hundred and twenty-five dollars—but it was in Confederate money, + then worth from ten to twenty cents on the dollar. + </p> + <p> + Still better offers were made to iron workers of all kinds, to shoemakers, + tanners, weavers, tailors, hatters, engineers, machinists, millers, + railroad men, and similar tradesmen. Any of these could have made a + handsome thing by accepting the offers made them almost weekly. As nearly + all in the prison had useful trades, it would have been of immense benefit + to the Confederacy if they could have been induced to work at them. There + is no measuring the benefit it would have been to the Southern cause if + all the hundreds of tanners and shoemakers in the Stockade could have, + been persuaded to go outside and labor in providing leather and shoes for + the almost shoeless people and soldiery. The machinists alone could have + done more good to the Southern Confederacy than one of our brigades was + doing harm, by consenting to go to the railroad shops at Griswoldville and + ply their handicraft. The lack of material resources in the South was one + of the strongest allies our arms had. This lack of resources was primarily + caused by a lack of skilled labor to develop those resources, and nowhere + could there be found a finer collection of skilled laborers than in the + thirty-three thousand prisoners incarcerated in Andersonville. + </p> + <p> + All solicitations to accept a parole and go outside to work at one's + trade were treated with the scorn they deserved. If any mechanic yielded + to them, the fact did not come under my notice. The usual reply to + invitations of this kind was: + </p> + <p> + “No, Sir! By God, I'll stay in here till I rot, and the + maggots carry me out through the cracks in the Stockade, before I'll + so much as raise my little finger to help the infernal Confederacy, or + Rebels, in any shape or form.” + </p> + <p> + In August a Macon shoemaker came in to get some of his trade to go back + with him to work in the Confederate shoe factory. He prosecuted his search + for these until he reached the center of the camp on the North Side, when + some of the shoemakers who had gathered around him, apparently considering + his propositions, seized him and threw him into a well. He was kept there + a whole day, and only released when Wirz cut off the rations of the prison + for that day, and announced that no more would be issued until the man was + returned safe and sound to the gate. + </p> + <p> + The terrible crowding was somewhat ameliorated by the opening in July of + an addition—six hundred feet long—to the North Side of the + Stockade. This increased the room inside to twenty acres, giving about an + acre to every one thousand seven hundred men,—a preposterously + contracted area still. The new ground was not a hotbed of virulent poison + like the olds however, and those who moved on to it had that much in their + favor. + </p> + <p> + The palisades between the new and the old portions of the pen were left + standing when the new portion was opened. We were still suffering a great + deal of inconvenience from lack of wood. That night the standing timbers + were attacked by thousands of prisoners armed with every species of a tool + to cut wood, from a case-knife to an ax. They worked the live-long night + with such energy that by morning not only every inch of the logs above + ground had disappeared, but that below had been dug up, and there was not + enough left of the eight hundred foot wall of twenty-five-foot logs to + make a box of matches. + </p> + <p> + One afternoon—early in August—one of the violent rain storms + common to that section sprung up, and in a little while the water was + falling in torrents. The little creek running through the camp swelled up + immensely, and swept out large gaps in the Stockade, both in the west and + east sides. The Rebels noticed the breaches as soon as the prisoners. Two + guns were fired from the Star Tort, and all the guards rushed out, and + formed so as to prevent any egress, if one was attempted. Taken by + surprise, we were not in a condition to profit by the opportunity until it + was too late. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p351" id="p351"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p351.jpg (50K)" src="images/p351.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + The storm did one good thing: it swept away a great deal of filth, and + left the camp much more wholesome. The foul stench rising from the camp + made an excellent electrical conductor, and the lightning struck several + times within one hundred feet of the prison. + </p> + <p> + Toward the end of August there happened what the religously inclined + termed a Providential Dispensation. The water in the Creek was + indescribably bad. No amount of familiarity with it, no increase of + intimacy with our offensive surroundings, could lessen the disgust at the + polluted water. As I have said previously, before the stream entered the + Stockade, it was rendered too filthy for any use by the contaminations + from the camps of the guards, situated about a half-mile above. + Immediately on entering the Stockade the contamination became terrible. + The oozy seep at the bottom of the hillsides drained directly into it all + the mass of filth from a population of thirty-three thousand. Imagine the + condition of an open sewer, passing through the heart of a city of that + many people, and receiving all the offensive product of so dense a + gathering into a shallow, sluggish stream, a yard wide and five inches + deep, and heated by the burning rays of the sun in the thirty-second + degree of latitude. Imagine, if one can, without becoming sick at the + stomach, all of these people having to wash in and drink of this foul + flow. + </p> + <p> + There is not a scintilla of exaggeration in this statement. That it is + within the exact truth is demonstrable by the testimony of any man—Rebel + or Union—who ever saw the inside of the Stockade at Andersonville. I + am quite content to have its truth—as well as that of any other + statement made in this book—be determined by the evidence of any + one, no matter how bitter his hatred of the Union, who had any personal + knowledge of the condition of affairs at Andersonville. No one can + successfully deny that there were at least thirty-three thousand prisoners + in the Stockade, and that the one shallow, narrow creek, which passed + through the prison, was at once their main sewer and their source of + supply of water for bathing, drinking and washing. With these main facts + admitted, the reader's common sense of natural consequences will + furnish the rest of the details. + </p> + <p> + It is true that some of the more fortunate of us had wells; thanks to our + own energy in overcoming extraordinary obstacles; no thanks to our gaolers + for making the slightest effort to provide these necessities of life. We + dug the wells with case and pocket knives, and half canteens to a depth of + from twenty to thirty feet, pulling up the dirt in pantaloons legs, and + running continual risk of being smothered to death by the caving in of the + unwalled sides. Not only did the Rebels refuse to give us boards with + which to wall the wells, and buckets for drawing the water, but they did + all in their power to prevent us from digging the wells, and made + continual forays to capture the digging tools, because the wells were + frequently used as the starting places for tunnels. Professor Jones lays + special stress on this tunnel feature in his testimony, which I have + introduced in a previous chapter. + </p> + <p> + The great majority of the prisoners who went to the Creek for water, went + as near as possible to the Dead Line on the West Side, where the Creek + entered the Stockade, that they might get water with as little filth in it + as possible. In the crowds struggling there for their turn to take a dip, + some one nearly every day got so close to the Dead Line as to arouse a + suspicion in the guard's mind that he was touching it. The suspicion + was the unfortunate one's death warrant, and also its execution. As + the sluggish brain of the guard conceived it he leveled his gun; the + distance to his victim was not over one hundred feet; he never failed his + aim; the first warning the wretched prisoner got that he was suspected of + transgressing a prison-rule was the charge of “ball-and-buck” + that tore through his body. It was lucky if he was, the only one of the + group killed. More wicked and unjustifiable murders never were committed + than these almost daily assassinations at the Creek. + </p> + <p> + One morning the camp was astonished beyond measure to discover that during + the night a large, bold spring had burst out on the North Side, about + midway between the Swamp and the summit of the hill. It poured out its + grateful flood of pure, sweet water in an apparently exhaustless quantity. + To the many who looked in wonder upon it, it seemed as truly a + heaven-wrought miracle as when Moses's enchanted rod smote the + parched rock in Sinai's desert waste, and the living waters gushed + forth. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p353" id="p353"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p353.jpg (25K)" src="images/p353.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + The police took charge of the spring, and every one was compelled to take + his regular turn in filling his vessel. This was kept up during our whole + stay in Andersonville, and every morning, shortly after daybreak, a + thousand men could be seen standing in line, waiting their turns to fill + their cans and cups with the precious liquid. + </p> + <p> + I am told by comrades who have revisited the Stockade of recent years, + that the spring is yet running as when we left, and is held in most pious + veneration by the negros of that vicinity, who still preserve the + tradition of its miraculous origin, and ascribe to its water wonderful + grace giving and healing properties, similar to those which pious + Catholics believe exist in the holy water of the fountain at Lourdes. + </p> + <p> + I must confess that I do not think they are so very far from right. If I + could believe that any water was sacred and thaumaturgic, it would be of + that fountain which appeared so opportunely for the benefit of the + perishing thousands of Andersonville. And when I hear of people bringing + water for baptismal purposes from the Jordan, I say in my heart, “How + much more would I value for myself and friends the administration of the + chrismal sacrament with the diviner flow from that low sand-hill in + Western Georgia.” <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch47" id="ch47"></a>CHAPTER XLVII. + </h2> + <p> + “SICK CALL,” AND THE SCENES THAT ACCOMPANIED IT—MUSTERING + THE LAME, HALT AND DISEASED AT THE SOUTH GATE—AN UNUSUALLY BAD CASE—GOING + OUT TO THE HOSPITAL—ACCOMMODATION AND TREATMENT OF THE PATIENTS + THERE—THE HORRIBLE SUFFERING IN THE GANGRENE WARD—BUNGLING + AMPUTATIONS BY BLUNDERING PRACTITIONERS—AFFECTION BETWEEN A SAILOR + AND HIS WARD —DEATH OF MY COMRADE. + </p> + <p> + Every morning after roll-call, thousands of sick gathered at the South + Gate, where the doctors made some pretense of affording medical relief. + The scene there reminded me of the illustrations in my Sunday-School + lessons of that time when “great multitudes came unto Him,” by + the shores of the Sea of Galilee, “having with them those that were + lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others.” Had the crowds worn the + flouting robes of the East, the picture would have lacked nothing but the + presence of the Son of Man to make it complete. Here were the burning + sands and parching sun; hither came scores of groups of three or four + comrades, laboriously staggering under the weight of a blanket in which + they had carried a disabled and dying friend from some distant part of the + Stockade. Beside them hobbled the scorbutics with swollen and distorted + limbs, each more loathsome and nearer death than the lepers whom Christ's + divine touch made whole. Dozens, unable to walk, and having no comrades to + carry them, crawled painfully along, with frequent stops, on their hands + and knees. Every form of intense physical suffering that it is possible + for disease to induce in the human frame was visible at these daily + parades of the sick of the prison. As over three thousand (three thousand + and seventy-six) died in August, there were probably twelve thousand + dangerously sick at any given time daring the month; and a large part of + these collected at the South Gate every morning. <br><br><br><br> <a + name="p356" id="p356"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p356.jpg (54K)" src="images/p356.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + Measurably-calloused as we had become by the daily sights of horror around + us, we encountered spectacles in these gatherings which no amount of + visible misery could accustom us to. I remember one especially that burned + itself deeply into my memory. It was of a young man not over twenty-five, + who a few weeks ago—his clothes looked comparatively new —had + evidently been the picture of manly beauty and youthful vigor. He had had + a well-knit, lithe form; dark curling hair fell over a forehead which had + once been fair, and his eyes still showed that they had gleamed with a + bold, adventurous spirit. The red clover leaf on his cap showed that he + belonged to the First Division of the Second Corps, the three chevrons on + his arm that he was a Sergeant, and the stripe at his cuff that he was a + veteran. Some kind-hearted boys had found him in a miserable condition on + the North Side, and carried him over in a blanket to where the doctors + could see him. He had but little clothing on, save his blouse and cap. + Ulcers of some kind had formed in his abdomen, and these were now masses + of squirming worms. It was so much worse than the usual forms of + suffering, that quite a little crowd of compassionate spectators gathered + around and expressed their pity. The sufferer turned to one who lay beside + him with: + </p> + <p> + “Comrade: If we were only under the old Stars and Stripes, we wouldn't + care a G-d d—n for a few worms, would we?” + </p> + <p> + This was not profane. It was an utterance from the depths of a brave man's + heart, couched in the strongest language at his command. It seemed + terrible that so gallant a soul should depart from earth in this miserable + fashion. Some of us, much moved by the sight, went to the doctors and put + the case as strongly as possible, begging them to do something to + alleviate his suffering. They declined to see the case, but got rid of us + by giving us a bottle of turpentine, with directions to pour it upon the + ulcers to kill the maggots. We did so. It must have been cruel torture, + and as absurd remedially as cruel, but our hero set his teeth and endured, + without a groan. He was then carried out to the hospital to die. + </p> + <p> + I said the doctors made a pretense of affording medical relief. It was + hardly that, since about all the prescription for those inside the + Stockade consisted in giving a handful of sumach berries to each of those + complaining of scurvy. The berries might have done some good, had there + been enough of them, and had their action been assisted by proper food. As + it was, they were probably nearly, if not wholly, useless. Nothing was + given to arrest the ravages of dysentery. + </p> + <p> + A limited number of the worst cases were admitted to the Hospital each + day. As this only had capacity for about one-quarter of the sick in the + Stockade, new patients could only be admitted as others died. It seemed, + anyway, like signing a man's death warrant to send him to the + Hospital, as three out of every four who went out there died. The + following from the official report of the Hospital shows this: <br><br> + </p> +<table> +<tr><td>Total number admitted .........................................</td><td class="tdr">12,900</td></tr> +<tr><td>Died ................................................. </td><td class="tdr">8,663</td></tr> +<tr><td>Exchanged ............................................ </td><td class="tdr">828</td></tr> +<tr><td>Took the oath of allegiance .......................... </td><td class="tdr">25</td></tr> +<tr><td>Sent elsewhere ....................................... </td><td class="tdr">2,889</td></tr> +<tr><td>Total .........................................................</td><td class="tdr">12,400</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2">Average deaths, 76 per cent.</td></tr> +</table> + <p> + <br><br> + </p> + <p> + Early in August I made a successful effort to get out to the Hospital. I + had several reasons for this: First, one of my chums, W. W. Watts, of my + own company, had been sent out a little whale before very sick with scurvy + and pneumonia, and I wanted to see if I could do anything for him, if he + still lived: I have mentioned before that for awhile after our entrance + into Andersonville five of us slept on one overcoat and covered ourselves + with one blanket. Two of these had already died, leaving as possessors + of-the blanket and overcoat, W. W. Watts, B. B. Andrews, and myself. + </p> + <p> + Next, I wanted to go out to see if there was any prospect of escape. I had + long since given up hopes of escaping from the Stockade. All our attempts + at tunneling had resulted in dead failures, and now, to make us wholly + despair of success in that direction, another Stockade was built clear + around the prison, at a distance of one hundred and twenty feet from the + first palisades. It was manifest that though we might succeed in tunneling + past one Stockade, we could not go beyond the second one. + </p> + <p> + I had the scurvy rather badly, and being naturally slight in frame, I + presented a very sick appearance to the physicians, and was passed out to + the Hospital. + </p> + <p> + While this was a wretched affair, it was still a vast improvement on the + Stockade. About five acres of ground, a little southeast of the Stockade, + and bordering on a creek, were enclosed by a board fence, around which the + guard walked, trees shaded the ground tolerably well. There were tents and + flies to shelter part of the sick, and in these were beds made of pine + leaves. There were regular streets and alleys running through the grounds, + and as the management was in the hands of our own men, the place was kept + reasonably clean and orderly for Andersonville. + </p> + <p> + There was also some improvement in the food. Rice in some degree replaced + the nauseous and innutritious corn bread, and if served in sufficient + quantities, would doubtless have promoted the recovery of many men dying + from dysenteric diseases. We also received small quantities of “okra,” + a plant peculiar to the South, whose pods contained a mucilaginous matter + that made a soup very grateful to those suffering from scurvy. + </p> + <p> + But all these ameliorations of condition were too slight to even arrest + the progress of the disease of the thousands of dying men brought out from + the Stockade. These still wore the same lice-infested garments as in + prison; no baths or even ordinary applications of soap and water cleaned + their dirt-grimed skins, to give their pores an opportunity to assist in + restoring them to health; even their long, lank and matted hair, swarming + with vermin, was not trimmed. The most ordinary and obvious measures for + their comfort and care were neglected. If a man recovered he did it almost + in spite of fate. The medicines given were scanty and crude. The principal + remedial agent—as far as my observation extended—was a rank, + fetid species of unrectified spirits, which, I was told, was made from + sorgum seed. It had a light-green tinge, and was about as inviting to the + taste as spirits of turpentine. It was given to the sick in small + quantities mixed with water. I had had some experience with Kentucky + “apple-jack,” which, it was popularly believed among the boys, + would dissolve a piece of the fattest pork thrown into it, but that seemed + balmy and oily alongside of this. After tasting some, I ceased to wonder + at the atrocities of Wirz and his associates. Nothing would seem too bad + to a man who made that his habitual tipple. + </p> + <p> + [For a more particular description of the Hospital I must refer my reader + to the testimony of Professor Jones, in a previous chapter.] + </p> + <p> + Certainly this continent has never seen—and I fervently trust it + will never again see—such a gigantic concentration of misery as that + Hospital displayed daily. The official statistics tell the story of this + with terrible brevity: There were three thousand seven hundred and nine in + the Hospital in August; one thousand four hundred and eighty-nine—nearly + every other man died. The rate afterwards became much higher than this. + </p> + <p> + The most conspicuous suffering was in the gangrene wards. Horrible sores + spreading almost visibly from hour to hour, devoured men's limbs and + bodies. I remember one ward in which the alterations appeared to be + altogether in the back, where they ate out the tissue between the skin and + the ribs. The attendants seemed trying to arrest the progress of the + sloughing by drenching the sores with a solution of blue vitriol. This was + exquisitely painful, and in the morning, when the drenching was going on, + the whole hospital rang with the most agonizing screams. + </p> + <p> + But the gangrene mostly attacked the legs and arms, and the led more than + the arms. Sometimes it killed men inside of a week; sometimes they + lingered on indefinitely. I remember one man in the Stockade who cut his + hand with the sharp corner of a card of corn bread he was lifting from the + ration wagon; gangrene set in immediately, and he died four days after. + </p> + <p> + One form that was quit prevalent was a cancer of the lower one corner of + the mouth, and it finally ate the whole side of the face out. Of course + the sufferer had the greatest trouble in eating and drinking. For the + latter it was customary to whittle out a little wooden tube, and fasten it + in a tin cup, through which he could suck up the water. As this mouth + cancer seemed contagious, none of us would allow any one afflicted with it + to use any of our cooking utensils. The Rebel doctors at the hospital + resorted to wholesale amputations to check the progress of the gangrene. + </p> + <p> + They had a two hours session of limb-lopping every morning, each of which + resulted in quite a pile of severed members. I presume more bungling + operations are rarely seen outside of Russian or Turkish hospitals. Their + unskilfulness was apparent even to non-scientific observers like myself. + The standard of medical education in the South—as indeed of every + other form of education—was quite low. The Chief Surgeon of the + prison, Dr. Isaiah White, and perhaps two or three others, seemed to be + gentlemen of fair abilities and attainments. The remainder were of that + class of illiterate and unlearning quacks who physic and blister the poor + whites and negros in the country districts of the South; who believe they + can stop bleeding of the nose by repeating a verse from the Bible; who + think that if in gathering their favorite remedy of boneset they cut the + stem upwards it will purge their patients, and if downward it will vomit + them, and who hold that there is nothing so good for “fits” as + a black cat, killed in the dark of the moon, cut open, and bound while yet + warm, upon the naked chest of the victim of the convulsions. + </p> + <p> + They had a case of instruments captured from some of our field hospitals, + which were dull and fearfully out of order. With poor instruments and + unskilled hands the operations became mangling. + </p> + <p> + In the Hospital I saw an admirable illustration of the affection which a + sailor will lavish on a ship's boy, whom he takes a fancy to, and + makes his “chicken,” as the phrase is. The United States sloop + “Water Witch” had recently been captured in Ossabaw Sound, and + her crew brought into prison. One of her boys—a bright, handsome + little fellow of about fifteen—had lost one of his arms in the + fight. He was brought into the Hospital, and the old fellow whose “chicken” + he was, was allowed to accompany and nurse him. This “old + barnacle-back” was as surly a growler as ever went aloft, but to his + “chicken” he was as tender and thoughtful as a woman. They + found a shady nook in one corner, and any moment one looked in that + direction he could see the old tar hard at work at something for the + comfort and pleasure of his pet. Now he was dressing the wound as deftly + and gently as a mother caring for a new-born babe; now he was trying to + concoct some relish out of the slender materials he could beg or steal + from the Quartermaster; now trying to arrange the shade of the bed of pine + leaves in a more comfortable manner; now repairing or washing his clothes, + and so on. + </p> + <p> + All the sailors were particularly favored by being allowed to bring their + bags in untouched by the guards. This “chicken” had a + wonderful supply of clothes, the handiwork of his protector who, like most + good sailors, was very skillful with the needle. He had suits of fine + white duck, embroidered with blue in a way that would ravish the heart of + a fine lady, and blue suits similarly embroidered with white. No belle + ever kept her clothes in better order than these were. When the duck came + up from the old sailor's patient washing it was as spotless as + new-fallen snow. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p361" id="p361"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p361.jpg (24K)" src="images/p361.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + I found my chum in a very bad condition. His appetite was entirely gone, + but he had an inordinate craving for tobacco—for strong, black plug + —which he smoked in a pipe. He had already traded off all his brass + buttons to the guards for this. I had accumulated a few buttons to bribe + the guard to take me out for wood, and I gave these also for tobacco for + him. When I awoke one morning the man who laid next to me on the right was + dead, having died sometime during the night. I searched his pockets and + took what was in them. These were a silk pocket handkerchief, a gutta + percha finger-ring, a comb, a pencil, and a leather pocket-book, making in + all quite a nice little “find.” I hied over to the guard, and + succeeded in trading the personal estate which I had inherited from the + intestate deceased, for a handful of peaches, a handful of hardly ripe + figs, and a long plug of tobacco. I hastened back to Watts, expecting that + the figs and peaches would do him a world of good. At first I did not show + him the tobacco, as I was strongly opposed to his using it, thinking that + it was making him much worse. But he looked at the tempting peaches and + figs with lack-luster eyes; he was too far gone to care for them. He + pushed them back to me, saying faintly: + </p> + <p> + “No, you take 'em, Mc; I don't want 'em; I can't + eat 'em!” + </p> + <p> + I then produced the tobacco, and his face lighted up. Concluding that this + was all the comfort that he could have, and that I might as well gratify + him, I cut up some of the weed, filled his pipe and lighted it. He smoked + calmly and almost happily all the afternoon, hardly speaking a word to me. + As it grew dark he asked me to bring him a drink. I did so, and as I + raised him up he said: + </p> + <p> + “Mc, this thing's ended. Tell my father that I stood it as + long as I could, and——” + </p> + <p> + The death rattle sounded in his throat, and when I laid him back it was + all over. Straightening out his limbs, folding his hands across his + breast, and composing his features as best I could, I lay, down beside the + body and slept till morning, when I did what little else I could toward + preparing for the grave all that was left of my long-suffering little + friend. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p363" id="p363"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p363.jpg (28K)" src="images/p363.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch48" id="ch48"></a>CHAPTER XLVIII. + </h2> + <p> + DETERMINATION TO ESCAPE—DIFFERENT PLANS AND THEIR MERITS—I + PREFER THE APPALACHICOLA ROUTE—PREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTURE—A + HOT DAY—THE FENCE PASSED SUCCESSFULLY PURSUED BY THE HOUNDS—CAUGHT + —RETURNED TO THE STOCKADE. + </p> + <p> + After Watt's death, I set earnestly about seeing what could be done + in the way of escape. Frank Harney, of the First West Virginia Cavalry, a + boy of about my own age and disposition, joined with me in the scheme. I + was still possessed with my original plan of making my way down the creeks + to the Flint River, down the Flint River to where it emptied into the + Appalachicola River, and down that stream to its debauchure into the bay + that connected with the Gulf of Mexico. I was sure of finding my way by + this route, because, if nothing else offered, I could get astride of a log + and float down the current. The way to Sherman, in the other direction, + was long, torturous and difficult, with a fearful gauntlet of + blood-hounds, patrols and the scouts of Hood's Army to be run. I had + but little difficulty in persuading Harney into an acceptance of my views, + and we began arranging for a solution of the first great problem—how + to get outside of the Hospital guards. As I have explained before, the + Hospital was surrounded by a board fence, with guards walking their beats + on the ground outside. A small creek flowed through the southern end of + the grounds, and at its lower end was used as a sink. The boards of the + fence came down to the surface of the water, where the Creek passed out, + but we found, by careful prodding with a stick, that the hole between the + boards and the bottom of the Creek was sufficiently large to allow the + passage of our bodies, and there had been no stakes driven or other + precautions used to prevent egress by this channel. A guard was posted + there, and probably ordered to stand at the edge of the stream, but it + smelled so vilely in those scorching days that he had consulted his + feelings and probably his health, by retiring to the top of the bank, a + rod or more distant. We watched night after night, and at last were + gratified to find that none went nearer the Creak than the top of this + bank. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p365" id="p365"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p365.jpg (40K)" src="images/p365.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + Then we waited for the moon to come right, so that the first part of the + night should be dark. This took several days, but at last we knew that the + next night she would not rise until between 9 and 10 o'clock, which + would give us nearly two hours of the dense darkness of a moonless Summer + night in the South. We had first thought of saving up some rations for the + trip, but then reflected that these would be ruined by the filthy water + into which we must sink to go under the fence. It was not difficult to + abandon the food idea, since it was very hard to force ourselves to lay by + even the smallest portion of our scanty rations. + </p> + <p> + As the next day wore on, our minds were wrought up into exalted tension by + the rapid approach of the supreme moment, with all its chances and + consequences. The experience of the past few months was not such as to + mentally fit us for such a hazard. It prepared us for sullen, + uncomplaining endurance, for calmly contemplating the worst that could + come; but it did not strengthen that fiber of mind that leads to + venturesome activity and daring exploits. Doubtless the weakness of our + bodies reacted upon our spirits. We contemplated all the perils that + confronted us; perils that, now looming up with impending nearness, took a + clearer and more threatening shape than they had ever done before. + </p> + <p> + We considered the desperate chances of passing the guard unseen; or, if + noticed, of escaping his fire without death or severe wounds. But + supposing him fortunately evaded, then came the gauntlet of the hounds and + the patrols hunting deserters. After this, a long, weary journey, with + bare feet and almost naked bodies, through an unknown country abounding + with enemies; the dangers of assassination by the embittered populace; the + risks of dying with hunger and fatigue in the gloomy depths of a swamp; + the scanty hopes that, if we reached the seashore, we could get to our + vessels. + </p> + <p> + Not one of all these contingencies failed to expand itself to all its + alarming proportions, and unite with its fellows to form a dreadful vista, + like the valleys filled with demons and genii, dragons and malign + enchantments, which confront the heros of the “Arabian Nights,” + when they set out to perform their exploits. + </p> + <p> + But behind us lay more miseries and horrors than a riotous imagination + could conceive; before us could certainly be nothing worse. We would put + life and freedom to the hazard of a touch, and win or lose it all. + </p> + <p> + The day had been intolerably hot. The sun's rays seemed to sear the + earth, like heated irons, and the air that lay on the burning sand was + broken by wavy lines, such as one sees indicate the radiation from a hot + stove. + </p> + <p> + Except the wretched chain-gang plodding torturously back and forward on + the hillside, not a soul nor an animal could be seen in motion outside the + Stockade. The hounds were panting in their kennel; the Rebel officers, + half or wholly drunken with villainous sorgum whisky, were stretched at + full length in the shade at headquarters; the half-caked gunners crouched + under the shadow of the embankments of the forts, the guards hung limply + over the Stockade in front of their little perches; the thirty thousand + boys inside the Stockade, prone or supine upon the glowing sand, gasped + for breath—for one draft of sweet, cool, wholesome air that did not + bear on its wings the subtle seeds of rank corruption and death. + Everywhere was the prostration of discomfort—the inertia of + sluggishness. + </p> + <p> + Only the sick moved; only the pain-racked cried out; only the dying + struggled; only the agonies of dissolution could make life assert itself + against the exhaustion of the heat. + </p> + <p> + Harney and I, lying in the scanty shade of the trunk of a tall pine, and + with hearts filled with solicitude as to the outcome of what the evening + would bring us, looked out over the scene as we had done daily for long + months, and remained silent for hours, until the sun, as if weary with + torturing and slaying, began going down in the blazing West. The groans of + the thousands of sick around us, the shrieks of the rotting ones in the + gangrene wards rang incessantly in our ears. + </p> + <p> + As the sun disappeared, and the heat abated, the suspended activity was + restored. The Master of the Hounds came out with his yelping pack, and + started on his rounds; the Rebel officers aroused themselves from their + siesta and went lazily about their duties; the fifer produced his cracked + fife and piped forth his unvarying “Bonnie Blue Flag,” as a + signal for dress parade, and drums beaten by unskilled hands in the camps + of the different regiments, repeated the signal. In time Stockade the mass + of humanity became full of motion as an ant hill, and resembled it very + much from our point of view, with the boys threading their way among the + burrows, tents and holes. + </p> + <p> + It was becoming dark quite rapidly. The moments seemed galloping onward + toward the time when we must make the decisive step. We drew from the + dirty rag in which it was wrapped the little piece of corn bread that we + had saved for our supper, carefully divided it into two equal parts, and + each took one and ate it in silence. This done, we held a final + consultation as to our plans, and went over each detail carefully, that we + might fully understand each other under all possible circumstances, and + act in concert. One point we laboriously impressed upon each other, and + that was; that under no circumstances were we to allow ourselves to be + tempted to leave the Creek until we reached its junction with the Flint + River. I then picked up two pine leaves, broke them off to unequal + lengths, rolled them in my hands behind my back for a second, and + presenting them to Harney with their ends sticking out of my closed hand, + said: + </p> + <p> + “The one that gets the longest one goes first.” + </p> + <p> + Harney reached forth and drew the longer one. + </p> + <p> + We made a tour of reconnaissance. Everything seemed as usual, and + wonderfully calm compared with the tumult in our minds. The Hospital + guards were pacing their beats lazily; those on the Stockade were drawling + listlessly the first “call around” of the evening: + </p> + <p> + “Post numbah foah! Half-past seven o'clock! and a-l-l's + we-l-ll!” + </p> + <p> + Inside the Stockade was a Babel of sounds, above all of which rose the + melody of religious and patriotic songs, sung in various parts of the + camp. From the headquarters came the shouts and laughter of the Rebel + officers having a little “frolic” in the cool of the evening. + The groans of the sick around us were gradually hushing, as the abatement + of the terrible heat let all but the worst cases sink into a brief + slumber, from which they awoke before midnight to renew their outcries. + But those in the Gangrene wards seemed to be denied even this scanty + blessing. Apparently they never slept, for their shrieks never ceased. A + multitude of whip-poor-wills in the woods around us began their usual + dismal cry, which had never seemed so unearthly and full of dreadful + presages as now. + </p> + <p> + It was, now quite dark, and we stole noiselessly down to the Creek and + reconnoitered. We listened. The guard was not pacing his beat, as we could + not hear his footsteps. A large, ill-shapen lump against the trunk of one + of the trees on the bank showed that he was leaning there resting himself. + We watched him for several minutes, but he did not move, and the thought + shot into our minds that he might be asleep; but it seemed impossible: it + was too early in the evening. + </p> + <p> + Now, if ever, was the opportunity. Harney squeezed my hand, stepped + noiselessly into the Creek, laid himself gently down into the filthy + water, and while my heart was beating so that I was certain it could be + heard some distance from me, began making toward the fence. He passed + under easily, and I raised my eyes toward the guard, while on my strained + ear fell the soft plashing made by Harney as he pulled himself cautiously + forward. It seemed as if the sentinel must hear this; he could not help + it, and every second I expected to see the black lump address itself to + motion, and the musket flash out fiendishly. But he did not; the lump + remained motionless; the musket silent. + </p> + <p> + When I thought that Harney had gained a sufficient distance I followed. It + seemed as if the disgusting water would smother me as I laid myself down + into it, and such was my agitation that it appeared almost impossible that + I should escape making such a noise as would attract the guard's + notice. Catching hold of the roots and limbs at the side of the stream, I + pulled myself slowly along, and as noiselessly as possible. + </p> + <p> + I passed under the fence without difficulty, and was outside, and within + fifteen feet of the guard. I had lain down into the creek upon my right + side, that my face might be toward the guard, and I could watch him + closely all the time. + </p> + <p> + As I came under the fence he was still leaning motionless against the + tree, but to my heated imagination he appeared to have turned and be + watching me. I hardly breathed; the filthy water rippling past me seemed + to roar to attract the guard's attention; I reached my hand out + cautiously to grasp a root to pull myself along by, and caught instead a + dry branch, which broke with a loud crack. My heart absolutely stood + still. The guard evidently heard the noise. The black lump separated + itself from the tree, and a straight line which I knew to be his musket + separated itself from the lump. In a brief instant I lived a year of + mortal apprehension. So certain was I that he had discovered me, and was + leveling his piece to fire, that I could scarcely restrain myself from + springing up and dashing away to avoid the shot. Then I heard him take a + step, and to my unutterable surprise and relief, he walked off farther + from the Creek, evidently to speak to the man whose beat joined his. + </p> + <p> + I pulled away more swiftly, but still with the greatest caution, until + after half-an-hour's painful effort I had gotten fully one hundred + and fifty yards away from the Hospital fence, and found Harney crouched on + a cypress knee, close to the water's edge, watching for me. + </p> + <p> + We waited there a few minutes, until I could rest, and calm my perturbed + nerves down to something nearer their normal equilibrium, and then started + on. We hoped that if we were as lucky in our next step as in the first one + we would reach the Flint River by daylight, and have a good long start + before the morning roll-call revealed our absence. We could hear the + hounds still baying in the distance, but this sound was too customary to + give us any uneasiness. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p370" id="p370"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p370.jpg (38K)" src="images/p370.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + But our progress was terribly slow. Every step hurt fearfully. The Creek + bed was full of roots and snags, and briers, and vines trailed across it. + These caught and tore our bare feet and legs, rendered abnormally tender + by the scurvy. It seemed as if every step was marked with blood. The vines + tripped us, and we frequently fell headlong. We struggled on determinedly + for nearly an hour, and were perhaps a mile from the Hospital. + </p> + <p> + The moon came up, and its light showed that the creek continued its course + through a dense jungle like that we had been traversing, while on the high + ground to our left were the open pine woods I have previously described. + </p> + <p> + We stopped and debated for a few minutes. We recalled our promise to keep + in the Creek, the experience of other boys who had tried to escape and + been caught by the hounds. If we staid in the Creek we were sure the + hounds would not find our trail, but it was equally certain that at this + rate we would be exhausted and starved before we got out of sight of the + prison. It seemed that we had gone far enough to be out of reach of the + packs patrolling immediately around the Stockade, and there could be but + little risk in trying a short walk on the dry ground. We concluded to take + the chances, and, ascending the bank, we walked and ran as fast as we + could for about two miles further. + </p> + <p> + All at once it struck me that with all our progress the hounds sounded as + near as when we started. I shivered at the thought, and though nearly + ready to drop with fatigue, urged myself and Harney on. + </p> + <p> + An instant later their baying rang out on the still night air right behind + us, and with fearful distinctness. There was no mistake now; they had + found our trail, and were running us down. The change from fearful + apprehension to the crushing reality stopped us stock-still in our tracks. + </p> + <p> + At the next breath the hounds came bursting through the woods in plain + sight, and in full cry. We obeyed our first impulse; rushed back into the + swamp, forced our way for a few yards through the flesh-tearing + impediments, until we gained a large cypress, upon whose great knees we + climbed—thoroughly exhausted—just as the yelping pack reached + the edge of the water, and stopped there and bayed at us. It was a + physical impossibility for us to go another step. + </p> + <p> + In a moment the low-browed villain who had charge of the hounds came + galloping up on his mule, tooting signals to his dogs as he came, on the + cow-horn slung from his shoulders. + </p> + <p> + He immediately discovered us, covered us with his revolver, and yelled + out: + </p> + <p> + “Come ashore, there, quick: you—— —— —— + ——s!” <br><br><br><br> <a name="p372" id="p372"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p372.jpg (53K)" src="images/p372.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + There was no help for it. We climbed down off the knees and started + towards the land. As we neared it, the hounds became almost frantic, and + it seemed as if we would be torn to pieces the moment they could reach us. + But the master dismounted and drove them back. He was surly —even + savage—to us, but seemed in too much hurry to get back to waste any + time annoying us with the dogs. He ordered us to get around in front of + the mule, and start back to camp. We moved as rapidly as our fatigue and + our lacerated feet would allow us, and before midnight were again in the + hospital, fatigued, filthy, torn, bruised and wretched beyond description + or conception. + </p> + <p> + The next morning we were turned back into the Stockade as punishment. + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch49" id="ch49"></a>CHAPTER XLIX. + </h2> + <p> + AUGUST—GOOD LUCK IN NOT MEETING CAPTAIN WIRZ—THAT WORTHY'S + TREATMENT OF RECAPTURED PRISONERS—SECRET SOCIETIES IN PRISON—SINGULAR + MEETING AND ITS RESULT—DISCOVERY AND REMOVAL OF THE OFFICERS AMONG + THE ENLISTED MEN. + </p> + <p> + Harney and I were specially fortunate in being turned back into the + Stockade without being brought before Captain Wirz. + </p> + <p> + We subsequently learned that we owed this good luck to Wirz's + absence on sick leave—his place being supplied by Lieutenant Davis, + a moderate brained Baltimorean, and one of that horde of Marylanders in + the Rebel Army, whose principal service to the Confederacy consisted in + working themselves into “bomb-proof” places, and forcing those + whom they displaced into the field. Winder was the illustrious head of + this crowd of bomb-proof Rebels from “Maryland, My Maryland!” + whose enthusiasm for the Southern cause and consistency in serving it only + in such places as were out of range of the Yankee artillery, was the + subject of many bitter jibes by the Rebels—especially by those whose + secure berths they possessed themselves of. + </p> + <p> + Lieutenant Davis went into the war with great brashness. He was one of the + mob which attacked the Sixth Massachusetts in its passage through + Baltimore, but, like all of that class of roughs, he got his stomach full + of war as soon as the real business of fighting began, and he retired to + where the chances of attaining a ripe old age were better than in front of + the Army of the Potomac's muskets. We shall hear of Davis again. + </p> + <p> + Encountering Captain Wirz was one of the terrors of an abortive attempt to + escape. When recaptured prisoners were brought before him he would + frequently give way to paroxysms of screaming rage, so violent as to + closely verge on insanity. Brandishing the fearful and wonderful revolver—of + which I have spoken in such a manner as to threaten the luckless captives + with instant death, he would shriek out imprecations, curses; and foul + epithets in French, German and English, until he fairly frothed at the + mouth. There were plenty of stories current in camp of his having several + times given away to his rage so far as to actually shoot men down in these + interviews, and still more of his knocking boys down and jumping upon + them, until he inflicted injuries that soon resulted in death. How true + these rumors were I am unable to say of my own personal knowledge, since I + never saw him kill any one, nor have I talked with any one who did. There + were a number of cases of this kind testified to upon his trial, but they + all happened among “paroles” outside the Stockade, or among + the prisoners inside after we left, so I knew nothing of them. <br><br><br><br> + <a name="p375" id="p375"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p375.jpg (32K)" src="images/p375.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + One of the Old Switzer's favorite ways of ending these seances was + to inform the boys that he would have them shot in an hour or so, and bid + them prepare for death. After keeping them in fearful suspense for hours + he would order them to be punished with the stocks, the ball-and-chain, + the chain-gang, or—if his fierce mood had burned itself entirely out + —as was quite likely with a man of his shallop' brain and + vacillating temper—to be simply returned to the stockade. + </p> + <p> + Nothing, I am sure, since the days of the Inquisition—or still + later, since the terrible punishments visited upon the insurgents of 1848 + by the Austrian aristocrats—has been so diabolical as the stocks and + chain-gangs, as used by Wirz. At one time seven men, sitting in the stocks + near the Star Fort—in plain view of the camp—became objects of + interest to everybody inside. They were never relieved from their painful + position, but were kept there until all of them died. I think it was + nearly two weeks before the last one succumbed. What they endured in that + time even imagination cannot conceive—I do not think that an Indian + tribe ever devised keener torture for its captives. <br><br><br><br> + <a name="p376" id="p376"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p376.jpg (41K)" src="images/p376.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + The chain-gang consisted of a number of men—varying from twelve to + twenty-five, all chained to one sixty-four pound ball. They were also + stationed near the Star Fort, standing out in the hot sun, without a + particle of shade over them. When one moved they all had to move. They + were scourged with the dysentery, and the necessities of some one of their + number kept them constantly in motion. I can see them distinctly yet, + tramping laboriously and painfully back and forward over that burning + hillside, every moment of the long, weary Summer days. + </p> + <p> + A comrade writes to remind me of the beneficent work of the Masonic Order. + I mention it most gladly, as it was the sole recognition on the part of + any of our foes of our claims to human kinship. The churches of all + denominations—except the solitary Catholic priest, Father Hamilton, + —ignored us as wholly as if we were dumb beasts. Lay humanitarians + were equally indifferent, and the only interest manifested by any Rebel in + the welfare of any prisoner was by the Masonic brotherhood. The Rebel + Masons interested themselves in securing details outside the Stockade in + the cookhouse, the commissary, and elsewhere, for the brethren among the + prisoners who would accept such favors. Such as did not feel inclined to + go outside on parole received frequent presents in the way of food, and + especially of vegetables, which were literally beyond price. Materials + were sent inside to build tents for the Masons, and I think such as made + themselves known before death, received burial according to the rites of + the Order. Doctor White, and perhaps other Surgeons, belonged to the + fraternity, and the wearing of a Masonic emblem by a new prisoner was + pretty sure to catch their eyes, and be the means of securing for the + wearer the tender of their good offices, such as a detail into the + Hospital as nurse, ward-master, etc. + </p> + <p> + I was not fortunate enough to be one of the mystic brethren, and so missed + all share in any of these benefits, as well as in any others, and I take + special pride in one thing: that during my whole imprisonment I was not + beholden to a Rebel for a single favor of any kind. The Rebel does not + live who can say that he ever gave me so much as a handful of meal, a + spoonful of salt, an inch of thread, or a stick of wood. From first to + last I received nothing but my rations, except occasional trifles that I + succeeded in stealing from the stupid officers charged with issuing + rations. I owe no man in the Southern Confederacy gratitude for anything—not + even for a kind word. + </p> + <p> + Speaking of secret society pins recalls a noteworthy story which has been + told me since the war, of boys whom I knew. At the breaking out of + hostilities there existed in Toledo a festive little secret society, such + as lurking boys frequently organize, with no other object than fun and the + usual adolescent love of mystery. There were a dozen or so members in it + who called themselves “The Royal Reubens,” and were headed by + a bookbinder named Ned Hopkins. Some one started a branch of the Order in + Napoleon, O., and among the members was Charles E. Reynolds, of that town. + The badge of the society was a peculiarly shaped gold pin. Reynolds and + Hopkins never met, and had no acquaintance with each other. When the war + broke out, Hopkins enlisted in Battery H, First Ohio Artillery, and was + sent to the Army of the Potomac, where he was captured, in the Fall of + 1863, while scouting, in the neighborhood of Richmond. Reynolds entered + the Sixty-Eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was taken in the + neighborhood of Jackson, Miss.,—two thousand miles from the place of + Hopkins's capture. At Andersonville Hopkins became one of the + officers in charge of the Hospital. One day a Rebel Sergeant, who called + the roll in the Stockade, after studying Hopkins's pin a minute, + said: + </p> + <p> + “I seed a Yank in the Stockade to-day a-wearing a pin egzackly like + that ere.” + </p> + <p> + This aroused Hopkins's interest, and he went inside in search of the + other “feller.” Having his squad and detachment there was + little difficulty in finding him. He recognized the pin, spoke to its + wearer, gave him the “grand hailing sign” of the “Royal + Reubens,” and it was duly responded to. The upshot of the matter was + that he took Reynolds out with him as clerk, and saved his life, as the + latter was going down hill very rapidly. Reynolds, in turn, secured the + detail of a comrade of the Sixty-Eighth who was failing fast, and + succeeded in saving his life—all of which happy results were + directly attributable to that insignificant boyish society, and its + equally unimportant badge of membership. + </p> + <p> + Along in the last of August the Rebels learned that there were between two + and three hundred Captains and Lieutenants in the Stockade, passing + themselves off as enlisted men. The motive of these officers was two-fold: + first, a chivalrous wish to share the fortunes and fate of their boys, and + second, disinclination to gratify the Rebels by the knowledge of the rank + of their captives. The secret was so well kept that none of us suspected + it until the fact was announced by the Rebels themselves. They were taken + out immediately, and sent to Macon, where the commissioned officers' + prison was. It would not do to trust such possible leaders with us another + day. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch50" id="ch50"></a>CHAPTER L. + </h2> + <p> + FOOD—THE MEAGERNESS, INFERIOR QUALITY, AND TERRIBLE SAMENESS —REBEL + TESTIMONY ON THE SUBJECT—FUTILITY OF SUCCESSFUL EXPLANATION. + </p> + <p> + I have in other places dwelt upon the insufficiency and the nauseousness + of the food. No words that I can use, no insistence upon this theme, can + give the reader any idea of its mortal importance to us. + </p> + <p> + Let the reader consider for a moment the quantity, quality, and variety of + food that he now holds to be necessary for the maintenance of life and + health. I trust that every one who peruses this book—that every one + in fact over whom the Stars and Stripes wave—has his cup of coffee, + his biscuits and his beefsteak for breakfast—a substantial dinner of + roast or boiled—and a lighter, but still sufficient meal in the + evening. In all, certainly not less than fifty different articles are set + before him during the day, for his choice as elements of nourishment. Let + him scan this extended bill-of-fare, which long custom has made so + common-place as to be uninteresting—perhaps even wearisome to think + about —and see what he could omit from it, if necessity compelled + him. After a reluctant farewell to fish, butter, eggs, milk, sugar, green + and preserved fruits, etc., he thinks that perhaps under extraordinary + circumstances he might be able to merely sustain life for a limited period + on a diet of bread and meat three times a day, washed down with creamless, + unsweetened coffee, and varied occasionally with additions of potatos, + onions, beans, etc. It would astonish the Innocent to have one of our + veterans inform him that this was not even the first stage of destitution; + that a soldier who had these was expected to be on the summit level of + contentment. Any of the boys who followed Grant to Appomattox Court House, + Sherman to the Sea, or “Pap” Thomas till his glorious career + culminated with the annihilation of Hood, will tell him of many weeks when + a slice of fat pork on a piece of “hard tack” had to do duty + for the breakfast of beefsteak and biscuits; when another slice of fat + pork and another cracker served for the dinner of roast beef and + vegetables, and a third cracker and slice of pork was a substitute for the + supper of toast and chops. + </p> + <p> + I say to these veterans in turn that they did not arrive at the first + stages of destitution compared with the depths to which we were dragged. + The restriction for a few weeks to a diet of crackers and fat pork was + certainly a hardship, but the crackers alone, chemists tell us, contain + all the elements necessary to support life, and in our Army they were + always well made and very palatable. I believe I risk nothing in saying + that one of the ordinary square crackers of our Commissary Department + contained much more real nutriment than the whole of our average ration. + </p> + <p> + I have before compared the size, shape and appearance of the daily half + loaf of corn bread issued to us to a half-brick, and I do not yet know of + a more fitting comparison. At first we got a small piece of rusty bacon + along with this; but the size of this diminished steadily until at last it + faded away entirely, and during the last six months of our imprisonment I + do not believe that we received rations of meat above a half-dozen times. + </p> + <p> + To this smallness was added ineffable badness. The meal was ground very + coarsely, by dull, weakly propelled stones, that imperfectly crushed the + grains, and left the tough, hard coating of the kernels in large, sharp, + mica-like scales, which cut and inflamed the stomach and intestines, like + handfuls of pounded glass. The alimentary canals of all compelled to eat + it were kept in a continual state of irritation that usually terminated in + incurable dysentery. + </p> + <p> + That I have not over-stated this evil can be seen by reference to the + testimony of so competent a scientific observer as Professor Jones, and I + add to that unimpeachable testimony the following extract from the + statement made in an attempted defense of Andersonville by Doctor R. + Randolph Stevenson, who styles himself, formerly Surgeon in the Army of + the Confederate States of America, Chief Surgeon of the Confederate States + Military Prison Hospitals, Andersonville, Ga.: + </p> + <p> + V. From the sameness of the food, and from the action of the poisonous + gases in the densely crowded and filthy Stockade and Hospital, the blood + was altered in its constitution, even, before the manifestation of actual + disease. + </p> + <p> + In both the well and the sick, the red corpuscles were diminished; and in + all diseases uncomplicated with inflammation, the fibrinous element was + deficient. In cases of ulceration of the mucous membrane of the intestinal + canal, the fibrinous element of the blood appeared to be increased; while + in simple diarrhea, uncomplicated with ulceration, and dependent upon the + character of the food and the existence of scurvy, it was either + diminished or remained stationary. Heart-clots were very common, if not + universally present, in the cases of ulceration of the intestinal mucous + membrane; while in the uncomplicated cases of diarrhea and scurvy, the + blood was fluid and did not coagulate readily, and the heart-clots and + fibrinous concretions were almost universally absent. From the watery + condition of the blood there resulted various serous effusions into the + pericardium, into the ventricles of the brain, and into the abdominal + cavity. + </p> + <p> + In almost all cases which I examined after death, even in the most + emaciated, there was more or less serous effusion into the abdominal + cavity. In cases of hospital gangrene of the extremities, and in cases of + gangrene of the intestines, heart-clots and firm coagula were universally + present. The presence of these clots in the cases of hospital gangrene, + whilst they were absent in the cases in which there were no inflammatory + symptoms, appears to sustain the conclusion that hospital gangrene is a + species of inflammation (imperfect and irregular though it may be in its + progress), in which the fibrinous element and coagulability of the blood + are increased, even in those who are suffering from such a condition of + the blood and from such diseases as are naturally accompanied with a + decrease in the fibrinous constituent. + </p> + <p> + VI. The impoverished condition of the blood, which led to serous effusions + within the ventricles of the brain, and around the brain and spinal cord, + and into the pericardial and abdominal cavities, was gradually induced by + the action of several causes, but chiefly by the character of the food. + </p> + <p> + The Federal prisoners, as a general rule, had been reared upon wheat bread + and Irish potatos; and the Indian corn so extensively used at the South, + was almost unknown to them as an article of diet previous to their + capture. Owing to the impossibility of obtaining the necessary sieves in + the Confederacy for the separation of the husk from the corn-meal, the + rations of the Confederate soldiers, as well as of the Federal prisoners, + consisted of unbolted corn-flour, and meal and grist; this circumstance + rendered the corn-bread still more disagreeable and distasteful to the + Federal prisoners. While Indian meal, even when prepared with the husk, is + one of the most wholesome and nutritious forms of food, as has been + already shown by the health and rapid increase of the Southern population, + and especially of the negros, previous to the present war, and by the + strength, endurance and activity of the Confederate soldiers, who were + throughout the war confined to a great extent to unbolted corn-meal; it is + nevertheless true that those who have not been reared upon corn-meal, or + who have not accustomed themselves to its use gradually, become + excessively tired of this kind of diet when suddenly confined to it + without a due proportion of wheat bread. Large numbers of the Federal + prisoners appeared to be utterly disgusted with Indian corn, and immense + piles of corn-bread could be seen in the Stockade and Hospital inclosures. + Those who were so disgusted with this form of food that they had no + appetite to partake of it, except in quantities insufficient to supply the + waste of the tissues, were, of course, in the condition of men slowly + starving, notwithstanding that the only farinaceous form of food which the + Confederate States produced in sufficient abundance for the maintenance of + armies was not withheld from them. In such cases, an urgent feeling of + hunger was not a prominent symptom; and even when it existed at first, it + soon disappeared, and was succeeded by an actual loathing of food. In this + state the muscular strength was rapidly diminished, the tissues wasted, + and the thin, skeleton-like forms moved about with the appearance of utter + exhaustion and dejection. The mental condition connected with long + confinement, with the most miserable surroundings, and with no hope for + the future, also depressed all the nervous and vital actions, and was + especially active in destroying the appetite. The effects of mental + depression, and of defective nutrition, were manifested not only in the + slow, feeble motions of the wasted, skeleton-like forms, but also in such + lethargy, listlessness, and torpor of the mental faculties as rendered + these unfortunate men oblivious and indifferent to their afflicted + condition. In many cases, even of the greatest apparent suffering and + distress, instead of showing any anxiety to communicate the causes of + their distress, or to relate their privations, and their longings for + their homes and their friends and relatives, they lay in a listless, + lethargic, uncomplaining state, taking no notice either of their own + distressed condition, or of the gigantic mass of human misery by which + they were surrounded. Nothing appalled and depressed me so much as this + silent, uncomplaining misery. It is a fact of great interest, that + notwithstanding this defective nutrition in men subjected to crowding and + filth, contagious fevers were rare; and typhus fever, which is supposed to + be generated in just such a state of things as existed at Andersonville, + was unknown. These facts, established by my investigations, stand in + striking contrast with such a statement as the following by a recent + English writer: + </p> + <p> + “A deficiency of food, especially of the nitrogenous part, quickly + leads to the breaking up of the animal frame. Plague, pestilence and + famine are associated with each other in the public mind, and the records + of every country show how closely they are related. The medical history of + Ireland is remarkable for the illustrations of how much mischief may be + occasioned by a general deficiency of food. Always the habitat of fever, + it every now and then becomes the very hot-bed of its propagation and + development. Let there be but a small failure in the usual imperfect + supply of food, and the lurking seeds of pestilence are ready to burst + into frightful activity. The famine of the present century is but too + forcible and illustrative of this. It fostered epidemics which have not + been witnessed in this generation, and gave rise to scenes of devastation + and misery which are not surpassed by the most appalling epidemics of the + Middle Ages. The principal form of the scourge was known as the contagious + famine fever (typhus), and it spread, not merely from end to end of the + country in which it had originated, but, breaking through all boundaries, + it crossed the broad ocean, and made itself painfully manifest in + localities where it was previously unknown. Thousands fell under the + virulence of its action, for wherever it came it struck down a seventh of + the people, and of those whom it attacked, one out of nine perished. Even + those who escaped the fatal influence of it, were left the miserable + victims of scurvy and low fever.” + </p> + <p> + While we readily admit that famine induces that state of the system which + is the most susceptible to the action of fever poisons, and thus induces + the state of the entire population which is most favorable for the rapid + and destructive spread of all contagious fevers, at the same time we are + forced by the facts established by the present war, as well as by a host + of others, both old and new, to admit that we are still ignorant of the + causes necessary for the origin of typhus fever. Added to the imperfect + nature of the rations issued to the Federal prisoners, the difficulties of + their situation were at times greatly increased by the sudden and + desolating Federal raids in Virginia, Georgia, and other States, which + necessitated the sudden transportation from Richmond and other points + threatened of large bodies of prisoners, without the possibility of much + previous preparation; and not only did these men suffer in transition upon + the dilapidated and overburdened line of railroad communication, but after + arriving at Andersonville, the rations were frequently insufficient to + supply the sudden addition of several thousand men. And as the Confederacy + became more and more pressed, and when powerful hostile armies were + plunging through her bosom, the Federal prisoners of Andersonville + suffered incredibly during the hasty removal to Millen, Savannah, + Charleston, and other points, supposed at the time to be secure from the + enemy. Each one of these causes must be weighed when an attempt is made to + estimate the unusual mortality among these prisoners of war. <br><br><br><br> + <a name="p386" id="p386"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p386.jpg (40K)" src="images/p386.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + VII. Scurvy, arising from sameness of food and imperfect nutrition, + caused, either directly or indirectly, nine-tenths of the deaths among the + Federal prisoners at Andersonville. + </p> + <p> + Not only were the deaths referred to unknown causes, to apoplexy, to + anasarca, and to debility, traceable to scurvy and its effects; and not + only was the mortality in small-pox, pneumonia, and typhoid fever, and in + all acute diseases, more than doubled by the scorbutic taint, but even + those all but universal and deadly bowel affections arose from the same + causes, and derived their fatal character from the same conditions which + produced the scurvy. In truth, these men at Andersonville were in the + condition of a crew at sea, confined in a foul ship upon salt meat and + unvarying food, and without fresh vegetables. Not only so, but these + unfortunate prisoners were men forcibly confined and crowded upon a ship + tossed about on a stormy ocean, without a rudder, without a compass, + without a guiding-star, and without any apparent boundary or to their + voyage; and they reflected in their steadily increasing miseries the + distressed condition and waning fortunes of devastated and bleeding + country, which was compelled, in justice to her own unfortunate sons, to + hold these men in the most distressing captivity. + </p> + <p> + I saw nothing in the scurvy which prevailed so universally at + Andersonville, at all different from this disease as described by various + standard writers. The mortality was no greater than that which has + afflicted a hundred ships upon long voyages, and it did not exceed the + mortality which has, upon me than one occasion, and in a much shorter + period of time, annihilated large armies and desolated beleaguered cities. + The general results of my investigations upon the chronic diarrhea and + dysentery of the Federal prisoners of Andersonville were similar to those + of the English surgeons during the war against Russia. + </p> + <p> + IX. Drugs exercised but little influence over the progress and fatal + termination of chronic diarrhea and dysentery in the Military Prison and + Hospital at Andersonville, chiefly because the proper form of nourishment + (milk, rice, vegetables, anti-scorbutics, and nourishing animal and + vegetable soups) was not issued, and could not be procured in sufficient + quantities for the sick prisoners. + </p> + <p> + Opium allayed pain and checked the bowels temporarily, but the frail dam + was soon swept away, and the patient appears to be but little better, if + not the worse, for this merely palliative treatment. The root of the + difficulty could not be reached by drugs; nothing short of the wanting + elements of nutrition would have tended in any manner to restore the tone + of the digestive system, and of all the wasted and degenerated organs and + tissues. My opinion to this effect was expressed most decidedly to the + medical officers in charge of these unfortunate men. The correctness of + this view was sustained by the healthy and robust condition of the paroled + prisoners, who received an extra ration, and who were able to make + considerable sums by trading, and who supplied themselves with a liberal + and varied diet. + </p> + <p> + X. The fact that hospital gangrene appeared in the Stockade first, and + originated spontaneously, without any previous contagion, and occurred + sporadically all over the Stockade and Prison Hospital, was proof positive + that this disease will arise whenever the conditions of crowding, filth, + foul air, and bad diet are present. + </p> + <p> + The exhalations from the Hospital and Stockade appeared to exert their + effects to a considerable distance outside of these localities. The origin + of gangrene among these prisoners appeared clearly to depend in great + measure upon the state of the general system, induced by diet, exposure, + neglect of personal cleanliness; and by various external noxious + influences. The rapidity of the appearance and action of the gangrene + depended upon the powers and state of the constitution, as well as upon + the intensity of the poison in the atmosphere, or upon the direct + application of poisonous matter to the wounded surface. This was further + illustrated by the important fact, that hospital gangrene, or a disease + resembling this form of gangrene, attacked the intestinal canal of + patients laboring under ulceration of the bowels, although there were no + local manifestations of gangrene upon the surface of the body. This mode + of termination in cases of dysentery was quite common in the foul + atmosphere of the Confederate States Military Prison Hospital; and in the + depressed, depraved condition of the system of these Federal prisoners, + death ensued very rapidly after the gangrenous state of the intestines was + established. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p389" id="p389"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p389.jpg (43K)" src="images/p389.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + XI. A scorbutic condition of the system appeared to favor the origin of + foul ulcers, which frequently took on true hospital gangrene. + </p> + <p> + Scurvy and gangrene frequently existed in the same individual. In such + cases, vegetable diet with vegetable acids would remove the scorbutic + condition without curing the hospital gangrene. . . Scurvy consists not + only in an alteration in the constitution of the blood, which leads to + passive hemorrhages from the bowels, and the effusion into the various + tissues of a deeply-colored fibrinous exudation; but, as we have + conclusively shown by postmortem examination, this state is attended with + consistence of the muscles of the heart, and the mucous membrane of the + alimentary canal, and of solid parts generally. We have, according to the + extent of the deficiency of certain articles of food, every degree of + scorbutic derangement, from the most fearful depravation of the blood and + the perversion of every function subserved by the blood to those slight + derangements which are scarcely distinguishable from a state of health. We + are as yet ignorant of the true nature of the changes of the blood and + tissues in scurvy, and wide field for investigation is open for the + determination the characteristic changes—physical, chemical, and + physiological—of the blood and tissues, and of the secretions and + excretions of scurvy. Such inquiries would be of great value in their + bearing upon the origin of hospital gangrene. Up to the present war, the + results of chemical investigations upon the pathology of the blood in + scurvy were not only contradictory, but meager, and wanting in that + careful detail of the cases from which the blood was abstracted which + would enable us to explain the cause of the apparent discrepancies in + different analyses. Thus it is not yet settled whether the fibrin is + increased or diminished in this disease; and the differences which exist + in the statements of different writers appear to be referable to the + neglect of a critical examination and record of all the symptoms of the + cases from which the blood was abstracted. The true nature of the changes + of the blood in scurvy can be established only by numerous analyses during + different stages of the disease, and followed up by carefully performed + and recorded postmortem examinations. With such data we could settle such + important questions as whether the increase of fibrin in scurvy was + invariably dependent upon some local inflammation. + </p> + <p> + XII. Gangrenous spots, followed by rapid destruction of tissue, appeared + in some cases in which there had been no previous or existing wound or + abrasion; and without such well established facts, it might be assumed + that the disease was propagated from one patient to another in every case, + either by exhalations from the gangrenous surface or by direct contact. + </p> + <p> + In such a filthy and crowded hospital as that of the Confederate, States + Military Prison of Camp Sumter, Andersonville, it was impossible to + isolate the wounded from the sources of actual contact of the gangrenous + matter. The flies swarming over the wounds and over filth of every + description; the filthy, imperfectly washed, and scanty rags; the limited + number of sponges and wash-bowls (the same wash-bowl and sponge serving + for a score or more of patients), were one and all sources of such + constant circulation of the gangrenous matter, that the disease might + rapidly be propagated from a single gangrenous wound. While the fact + already considered, that a form of moist gangrene, resembling hospital + gangrene, was quite common in this foul atmosphere in cases of dysentery, + both with and without the existence of hospital gangrene upon the surface, + demonstrates the dependence of the disease upon the state of the + constitution, and proves in a clear manner that neither the contact of the + poisonous matter of gangrene, nor the direct action of the poisoned + atmosphere upon the ulcerated surface, is necessary to the development of + the disease; on the other hand, it is equally well-established that the + disease may be communicated by the various ways just mentioned. It is + impossible to determine the length of time which rags and clothing + saturated with gangrenous matter will retain the power of reproducing the + disease when applied to healthy wounds. Professor Brugmans, as quoted by + Guthrie in his commentaries on the surgery of the war in Portugal, Spain, + France, and the Netherlands, says that in 1797, in Holland, 'charpie,' + composed of linen threads cut of different lengths, which, on inquiry, it + was found had been already used in the great hospitals in France, and had + been subsequently washed and bleached, caused every ulcer to which it was + applied to be affected by hospital gangrene. Guthrie affirms in the same + work, that the fact that this disease was readily communicated by the + application of instruments, lint, or bandages which had been in contact + with infected parts, was too firmly established by the experience of every + one in Portugal and Spain to be a matter of doubt. There are facts to show + that flies may be the means of communicating malignant pustules. Dr. + Wagner, who has related several cases of malignant pustule produced in man + and beasts, both by contact and by eating the flesh of diseased animals, + which happened in the village of Striessa in Saxony, in 1834, gives two + very remarkable cases which occurred eight days after any beast had been + affected with the disease. Both were women, one of twenty-six and the + other of fifty years, and in them the pustules were well marked, and the + general symptoms similar to the other cases. The latter patient said she + had been bitten by a fly upon the back d the neck, at which part the + carbuncle appeared; and the former, that she had also been bitten upon the + right upper arm by a gnat. Upon inquiry, Wagner found that the skin of one + of the infected beasts had been hung on a neighboring wall, and thought it + very possible that the insects might have been attracted to them by the + smell, and had thence conveyed the poison. <br><br> + </p> + <p> + [End of Dr. Stevenson's Statement] <br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + .......................... <br><br> + </p> + <p> + The old adage says that “Hunger is the best sauce for poor food,” + but hunger failed to render this detestable stuff palatable, and it became + so loathsome that very many actually starved to death because unable to + force their organs of deglutition to receive the nauseous dose and pass it + to the stomach. I was always much healthier than the average of the boys, + and my appetite consequently much better, yet for the last month that I + was in Andersonville, it required all my determination to crowd the bread + down my throat, and, as I have stated before, I could only do this by + breaking off small bits at a time, and forcing each down as I would a + pill. + </p> + <p> + A large part of this repulsiveness was due to the coarseness and foulness + of the meal, the wretched cooking, and the lack of salt, but there was a + still more potent reason than all these. Nature does not intend that man + shall live by bread alone, nor by any one kind of food. She indicates this + by the varying tastes and longings that she gives him. If his body needs + one kind of constituents, his tastes lead him to desire the food that is + richest in those constituents. When he has taken as much as his system + requires, the sense of satiety supervenes, and he “becomes tired” + of that particular food. If tastes are not perverted, but allowed a free + but temperate exercise, they are the surest indicators of the way to + preserve health and strength by a judicious selection of alimentation. + </p> + <p> + In this case Nature was protesting by a rebellion of the tastes against + any further use of that species of food. She was saying, as plainly as she + ever spoke, that death could only be averted by a change of diet, which + would supply our bodies with the constituents they so sadly needed, and + which could not be supplied by corn meal. + </p> + <p> + How needless was this confinement of our rations to corn meal, and + especially to such wretchedly prepared meal, is conclusively shown by the + Rebel testimony heretofore given. It would have been very little extra + trouble to the Rebels to have had our meal sifted; we would gladly have + done it ourselves if allowed the utensils and opportunity. It would have + been as little trouble to have varied our rations with green corn and + sweet potatos, of which the country was then full. + </p> + <p> + A few wagon loads of roasting ears and sweet potatos would have banished + every trace of scurvy from the camp, healed up the wasting dysentery, and + saved thousands of lives. Any day that the Rebels had chosen they could + have gotten a thousand volunteers who would have given their solemn parole + not to escape, and gone any distance into the country, to gather the + potatos and corn, and such other vegetables as were readily obtainable, + and bring, them into the camp. + </p> + <p> + Whatever else may be said in defense of the Southern management of + military prisons, the permitting seven thousand men to die of the scurvy + in the Summer time, in the midst of an agricultural region, filled with + all manner of green vegetation, must forever remain impossible of + explanation. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch51" id="ch51"></a>CHAPTER LI. + </h2> + <p> + SOLICITUDE AS TO THE FATE OF ATLANTA AND SHERMAN'S ARMY—PAUCITY + OF NEWS —HOW WE HEARD THAT ATLANTA HAD FALLEN—ANNOUNCEMENT OF + A GENERAL EXCHANGE—WE LEAVE ANDERSONVILLE. + </p> + <p> + We again began to be exceedingly solicitous over the fate of Atlanta and + Sherman's Army: we had heard but little directly from that front for + several weeks. Few prisoners had come in since those captured in the + bloody engagements of the 20th, 22d, and 28th of July. In spite of their + confident tones, and our own sanguine hopes, the outlook admitted of very + grave doubts. The battles of the last week of July had been looked at it + in the best light possible—indecisive. Our men had held their own, + it is true, but an invading army can not afford to simply hold its own. + Anything short of an absolute success is to it disguised defeat. Then we + knew that the cavalry column sent out under Stoneman had been so badly + handled by that inefficient commander that it had failed ridiculously in + its object, being beaten in detail, and suffering the loss of its + commander and a considerable portion of its numbers. This had been + followed by a defeat of our infantry at Etowah Creek, and then came a long + interval in which we received no news save what the Rebel papers + contained, and they pretended no doubt that Sherman's failure was + already demonstrated. Next came well-authenticated news that Sherman had + raised the siege and fallen back to the Chattahoochee, and we felt + something of the bitterness of despair. For days thereafter we heard + nothing, though the hot, close Summer air seemed surcharged with the + premonitions of a war storm about to burst, even as nature heralds in the + same way a concentration of the mighty force of the elements for the grand + crash of the thunderstorm. We waited in tense expectancy for the decision + of the fates whether final victory or defeat should end the long and + arduous campaign. + </p> + <p> + At night the guards in the perches around the Stockade called out every + half hour, so as to show the officers that they were awake and attending + to their duty. The formula for this ran thus: + </p> + <p> + “Post numbah 1; half-past eight o'clock, and a-l-l 's + w-e-l-l!” + </p> + <p> + Post No. 2 repeated this cry, and so it went around. + </p> + <p> + One evening when our anxiety as to Atlanta was wrought to the highest + pitch, one of the guards sang out: + </p> + <p> + “Post numbah foah—half past eight o'clock—and + Atlanta's—gone—t-o —hell.” <br><br><br><br> + <a name="p395" id="p395"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p395.jpg (26K)" src="images/p395.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + The heart of every man within hearing leaped to his mouth. We looked + toward each other, almost speechless with glad surprise, and then gasped + out: + </p> + <p> + “Did you hear THAT?” + </p> + <p> + The next instant such a ringing cheer burst out as wells spontaneously + from the throats and hearts of men, in the first ecstatic moments of + victory—a cheer to which our saddened hearts and enfeebled lungs had + long been strangers. It was the genuine, honest, manly Northern cheer, as + different from the shrill Rebel yell as the honest mastiff's + deep-voiced welcome is from the howl of the prowling wolf. + </p> + <p> + The shout was taken up all over the prison. Even those who had not heard + the guard understood that it meant that “Atlanta was ours and fairly + won,” and they took up the acclamation with as much enthusiasm as we + had begun it. All thoughts of sleep were put to flight: we would have a + season of rejoicing. Little knots gathered together, debated the news, and + indulged in the most sanguine hopes as to the effect upon the Rebels. In + some parts of the Stockade stump speeches were made. I believe that Boston + Corbett and his party organized a prayer and praise meeting. In our corner + we stirred up our tuneful friend “Nosey,” who sang again the + grand old patriotic hymns that set our thin blood to bounding, and made us + remember that we were still Union soldiers, with higher hopes than that of + starving and dying in Andersonville. He sang the ever-glorious Star + Spangled Banner, as he used to sing it around the camp fire in happier + days, when we were in the field. He sang the rousing “Rally Round + the Flag,” with its wealth of patriotic fire and martial vigor, and + we, with throats hoarse from shouting; joined in the chorus until the + welkin rang again. + </p> + <p> + The Rebels became excited, lest our exaltation of spirits would lead to an + assault upon the Stockade. They got under arms, and remained so until the + enthusiasm became less demonstrative. + </p> + <p> + A few days later—on the evening of the 6th of September—the + Rebel Sergeants who called the roll entered the Stockade, and each + assembling his squads, addressed them as follows: + </p> + <p> + “PRISONERS: I am instructed by General Winder to inform you that a + general exchange has been agreed upon. Twenty thousand men will be + exchanged immediately at Savannah, where your vessels are now waiting for + you. Detachments from One to Ten will prepare to leave early to-morrow + morning.” + </p> + <p> + The excitement that this news produced was simply indescribable. I have + seen men in every possible exigency that can confront men, and a large + proportion viewed that which impended over them with at least outward + composure. The boys around me had endured all that we suffered with + stoical firmness. Groans from pain-racked bodies could not be repressed, + and bitter curses and maledictions against the Rebels leaped unbidden to + the lips at the slightest occasion, but there was no murmuring or whining. + There was not a day—hardly an hour—in which one did not see + such exhibitions of manly fortitude as made him proud of belonging to a + race of which every individual was a hero. + </p> + <p> + But the emotion which pain and suffering and danger could not develop, joy + could, and boys sang, and shouted and cried, and danced as if in a + delirium. “God's country,” fairer than the sweet + promised land of Canaan appeared to the rapt vision of the Hebrew poet + prophet, spread out in glad vista before the mind's eye of every + one. It had come—at last it had come that which we had so longed + for, wished for, prayed for, dreamed of; schemed, planned, toiled for, and + for which went up the last earnest, dying wish of the thousands of our + comrades who would now know no exchange save into that eternal “God's + country” where + </p> + <table> + <tr> + <td> + Sickness and sorrow, pain and death<br> Are felt and feared no more.<br> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> <a name="p397" id="p397"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p397.jpg (45K)" src="images/p397.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + Our “preparations,” for leaving were few and simple. When the + morning came, and shortly after the order to move, Andrews and I picked + our well-worn blanket, our tattered overcoat, our rude chessmen, and no + less rude board, our little black can, and the spoon made of hoop-iron, + and bade farewell to the hole-in-the-ground that had been our home for + nearly seven long months. + </p> + <p> + My feet were still in miserable condition from the lacerations received in + the attempt to escape, but I took one of our tent poles as a staff and + hobbled away. We re-passed the gates which we had entered on that February + night, ages since, it seemed, and crawled slowly over to the depot. + </p> + <p> + I had come to regard the Rebels around us as such measureless liars that + my first impulse was to believe the reverse of anything they said to us; + and even now, while I hoped for the best, my old habit of mind was so + strongly upon me that I had some doubts of our going to be exchanged, + simply because it was a Rebel who had said so. But in the crowd of Rebels + who stood close to the road upon which we were walking was a young Second + Lieutenant, who said to a Colonel as I passed: + </p> + <p> + “Weil, those fellows can sing 'Homeward Bound,' can't + they?” + </p> + <p> + This set my last misgiving at rest. Now I was certain that we were going + to be exchanged, and my spirits soared to the skies. + </p> + <p> + Entering the cars we thumped and pounded toilsomely along, after the + manner of Southern railroads, at the rate of six or eight miles an hour. + Savannah was two hundred and forty miles away, and to our impatient minds + it seemed as if we would never get there. The route lay the whole distance + through the cheerless pine barrens which cover the greater part of + Georgia. The only considerable town on the way was Macon, which had then a + population of five thousand or thereabouts. For scores of miles there + would not be a sign of a human habitation, and in the one hundred and + eighty miles between Macon and Savannah there were only three + insignificant villages. There was a station every ten miles, at which the + only building was an open shed, to shelter from sun and rain a casual + passenger, or a bit of goods. + </p> + <p> + The occasional specimens of the poor white “cracker” + population that we saw, seemed indigenous products of the starved soil. + They suited their poverty-stricken surroundings as well as the gnarled and + scrubby vegetation suited the sterile sand. Thin-chested, + round-shouldered, scraggy-bearded, dull-eyed and open-mouthed, they all + looked alike—all looked as ignorant, as stupid, and as lazy as they + were poor and weak. They were “low-downers” in every respect, + and made our rough and simple. minded East Tennesseans look like models of + elegant and cultured gentlemen in contrast. <br><br><br><br> <a + name="p399" id="p399"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p399.jpg (58K)" src="images/p399.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + We looked on the poverty-stricken land with good-natured contempt, for we + thought we were leaving it forever, and would soon be in one which, + compared to it, was as the fatness at Egypt to the leanness of the desert + of Sinai. + </p> + <p> + The second day after leaving Andersonville our train struggled across the + swamps into Savannah, and rolled slowly down the live oak shaded streets + into the center of the City. It seemed like another Deserted Village, so + vacant and noiseless the streets, and the buildings everywhere so + overgrown with luxuriant vegetation: The limbs of the shade trees crashed + along and broke, upon the tops of our cars, as if no train had passed that + way for years. Through the interstices between the trees and clumps of + foliage could be seen the gleaming white marble of the monuments erected + to Greene and Pulaski, looking like giant tombstones in a City of the + Dead. The unbroken stillness—so different from what we expected on + entering the metropolis of Georgia, and a City that was an important port + in Revolutionary days—became absolutely oppressive. We could not + understand it, but our thoughts were more intent upon the coming transfer + to our flag than upon any speculation as to the cause of the remarkable + somnolence of Savannah. + </p> + <p> + Finally some little boys straggled out to where our car was standing, and + we opened up a conversation with them: + </p> + <p> + “Say, boys, are our vessels down in the harbor yet?” + </p> + <p> + The reply came in that piercing treble shriek in which a boy of ten or + twelve makes even his most confidential communications: + </p> + <p> + “I don't know.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” (with our confidence in exchange somewhat dashed,) + “they intend to exchange us here, don't they?” + </p> + <p> + Another falsetto scream, “I don't know.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” (with something of a quaver in the questioner's + voice,) “what are they going to do, with us, any way?” + </p> + <p> + “O,” (the treble shriek became almost demoniac) “they + are fixing up a place over by the old jail for you.” + </p> + <p> + What a sinking of hearts was there then! Andrews and I would not give up + hope so speedily as some others did, and resolved to believe, for awhile + at least, that we were going to be exchanged. + </p> + <p> + Ordered out of the cars, we were marched along the street. A crowd of + small boys, full of the curiosity of the animal, gathered around us as we + marched. Suddenly a door in a rather nice house opened; an angry-faced + woman appeared on the steps and shouted out: + </p> + <p> + “Boys! BOYS! What are you doin' there! Come up on the steps + immejitely! Come away from them n-a-s-t-y things!” + </p> + <p> + I will admit that we were not prepossessing in appearance; nor were we as + cleanly as young gentlemen should habitually be; in fact, I may as well + confess that I would not now, if I could help it, allow a tramp, as + dilapidated in raiment, as unwashed, unshorn, uncombed, and populous with + insects as we were, to come within several rods of me. Nevertheless, it + was not pleasant to hear so accurate a description of our personal + appearance sent forth on the wings of the wind by a shrill-voiced Rebel + female. + </p> + <p> + A short march brought us to the place “they were fixing for us by + the old jail.” It was another pen, with high walls of thick pine + plank, which told us only too plainly how vain were our expectations of + exchange. + </p> + <p> + When we were turned inside, and I realized that the gates of another + prison had closed upon me, hope forsook me. I flung our odious little + possessions-our can, chess-board, overcoat, and blanket-upon the ground, + and, sitting down beside them, gave way to the bitterest despair. I wanted + to die, O, so badly. Never in all my life had I desired anything in the + world so much as I did now to get out of it. Had I had pistol, knife, + rope, or poison, I would have ended my prison life then and there, and + departed with the unceremoniousness of a French leave. I remembered that I + could get a quietus from a guard with very little trouble, but I would not + give one of the bitterly hated Rebels the triumph of shooting me. I longed + to be another Samson, with the whole Southern Confederacy gathered in + another Temple of Dagon, that I might pull down the supporting pillars, + and die happy in slaying thousands of my enemies. + </p> + <p> + While I was thus sinking deeper and deeper in the Slough of Despond, the + firing of a musket, and the shriek of the man who was struck, attracted my + attention. Looking towards the opposite end of the pen I saw a guard + bringing his still smoking musket to a “recover arms,” and, + not fifteen feet from him, a prisoner lying on the ground in the agonies + of death. The latter had a pipe in his mouth when he was shot, and his + teeth still clenched its stem. His legs and arms were drawn up + convulsively, and he was rocking backward and forward on his back. The + charge had struck him just above the hip-bone. + </p> + <p> + The Rebel officer in command of the guard was sitting on his horse inside + the pen at the time, and rode forward to see what the matter was. + Lieutenant Davis, who had come with us from Andersonville, was also + sitting on a horse inside the prison, and he called out in his usual + harsh, disagreeable voice: + </p> + <p> + “That's all right, Cunnel; the man's done just as I + awdahed him to.” + </p> + <p> + I found that lying around inside were a number of bits of plank—each + about five feet long, which had been sawed off by the carpenters engaged + in building the prison. The ground being a bare common, was destitute of + all shelter, and the pieces looked as if they would be quite useful in + building a tent. There may have been an order issued forbidding the + prisoners to touch them, but if so, I had not heard it, and I imagine the + first intimation to the prisoner just killed that the boards were not to + be taken was the bullet which penetrated his vitals. Twenty-five cents + would be a liberal appraisement of the value of the lumber for which the + boy lost his life. + </p> + <p> + Half an hour afterward we thought we saw all the guards march out of the + front gate. There was still another pile of these same kind of pieces of + board lying at the further side of the prison. The crowd around me noticed + it, and we all made a rush for it. In spite of my lame feet I outstripped + the rest, and was just in the act of stooping down to pick the boards up + when a loud yell from those behind startled me. Glancing to my left I saw + a guard cocking his gun and bringing it up to shoot me. With one + frightened spring, as quick as a flash, and before he could cover me, I + landed fully a rod back in the crowd, and mixed with it. The fellow tried + hard to draw a bead on me, but I was too quick for him, and he finally + lowered his gun with an oath expressive of disappointment in not being + able to kill a Yankee. + </p> + <p> + Walking back to my place the full ludicrousness of the thing dawned upon + me so forcibly that I forgot all about my excitement and scare, and + laughed aloud. Here, not an hour age I was murmuring because I could find + no way to die; I sighed for death as a bridegroom for the coming of his + bride, an yet, when a Rebel had pointed his gun at me, it had nearly + scared me out of a year's growth, and made me jump farther than I + could possibly do when my feet were well, and I was in good condition + otherwise. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch52" id="ch52"></a>CHAPTER LII. + </h2> + <p> + SAVANNAH—DEVICES TO OBTAIN MATERIALS FOR A TENT—THEIR ULTIMATE + SUCCESS —RESUMPTION OF TUNNELING—ESCAPING BY WHOLESALE AND + BEING RECAPTURED EN MASSE—THE OBSTACLES THAT LAY BETWEEN US AND OUR + LINES. + </p> + <p> + Andrews and I did not let the fate of the boy who was killed, nor my own + narrow escape from losing the top of my head, deter us from farther + efforts to secure possession of those coveted boards. My readers remember + the story of the boy who, digging vigorously at a hole, replied to the + remark of a passing traveler that there was probably no ground-hog there, + and, even if there was, “ground-hog was mighty poor eatin', + any way,” with: + </p> + <p> + “Mister, there's got to be a ground-hog there; our family's + out o' meat!” + </p> + <p> + That was what actuated us: we were out of material for a tent. Our + solitary blanket had rotted and worn full of holes by its long double + duty, as bed-clothes and tent at Andersonville, and there was an + imperative call for a substitute. <br><br><br><br> <a + name="p406" id="p406"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p406.jpg (27K)" src="images/p406.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + Andrews and I flattered ourselves that when we matched our collective or + individual wits against those of a Johnny his defeat was pretty certain, + and with this cheerful estimate of our own powers to animate us, we set to + work to steal the boards from under the guard's nose. The Johnny had + malice in his heart and buck-and-ball in his musket, but his eyes were not + sufficiently numerous to adequately discharge all the duties laid upon + him. He had too many different things to watch at the same time. I would + approach a gap in the fence not yet closed as if I intended making a dash + through it for liberty, and when the Johnny had concentrated all his + attention on letting me have the contents of his gun just as soon as he + could have a reasonable excuse for doing so, Andrews would pick u a couple + of boards and slip away with them. Then I would fall back in pretended + (and some real) alarm, and—Andrew would come up and draw his + attention by a similar feint, while I made off with a couple more pieces. + After a few hours c this strategy, we found ourselves the possessors of + some dozen planks, with which we made a lean-to, that formed a tolerable + shelter for our heads and the upper portion of our bodies. As the boards + were not over five feet long, and the slope reduce the sheltered space to + about four-and-one-half feet, it left the lower part of our naked feet and + legs to project out-of-doors. Andrews used to lament very touchingly the + sunburning his toe-nails were receiving. He knew that his complexion was + being ruined for life, and all the Balm of a Thousand Flowers in the world + would not restore his comely ankles to that condition of pristine + loveliness which would admit of their introduction into good society + again. Another defect was that, like the fun in a practical joke, it was + all on one side; there was not enough of it to go clear round. It was very + unpleasant, when a storm came up in a direction different from that we had + calculated upon, to be compelled to get out in the midst of it, and build + our house over to face the other way. <br><br><br><br> <a + name="p405" id="p405"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p405.jpg (32K)" src="images/p405.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + Still we had a tent, and were that much better off than three-fourths of + our comrades who had no shelter at all. We were owners of a brown stone + front on Fifth Avenue compared to the other fellows. + </p> + <p> + Our tent erected, we began a general survey of our new abiding place. The + ground was a sandy common in the outskirts of Savannah. The sand was + covered with a light sod. The Rebels, who knew nothing of our burrowing + propensities, had neglected to make the plank forming the walls of the + Prison project any distance below the surface of the ground, and had put + up no Dead Line around the inside; so that it looked as if everything was + arranged expressly to invite us to tunnel out. We were not the boys to + neglect such an invitation. By night about three thousand had been + received from Andersonville, and placed inside. When morning came it + looked as if a colony of gigantic rats had been at work. There was a + tunnel every ten or fifteen feet, and at least twelve hundred of us had + gone out through them during the night. I never understood why all in the + pen did not follow our example, and leave the guards watching a forsaken + Prison. There was nothing to prevent it. An hour's industrious work + with a half-canteen would take any one outside, or if a boy was too lazy + to dig his own tunnel, he could have the use of one of the hundred others + that had been dug. + </p> + <p> + But escaping was only begun when the Stockade was passed. The site of + Savannah is virtually an island. On the north is the Savannah River; to + the east, southeast and south, are the two Ogeechee rivers, and a chain of + sounds and lagoons connecting with the Atlantic Ocean. To the west is a + canal connecting the Savannah and Big Ogeechee Rivers. We found ourselves + headed off by water whichever way we went. All the bridges were guarded, + and all the boats destroyed. Early in the morning the Rebels discovered + our absence, and the whole garrison of Savannah was sent out on patrol + after us. They picked up the boys in squads of from ten to thirty, lurking + around the shores of the streams waiting for night to come, to get across, + or engaged in building rafts for transportation. By evening the whole mob + of us were back in the pen again. As nobody was punished for running away, + we treated the whole affair as a lark, and those brought back first stood + around the gate and yelled derisively as the others came in. + </p> + <p> + That night big fires were built all around the Stockade, and a line of + guards placed on the ground inside of these. In spite of this precaution, + quite a number escaped. The next day a Dead Line was put up inside of the + Prison, twenty feet from the Stockade. This only increased the labor of + burrowing, by making us go farther. Instead of being able to tunnel out in + an hour, it now took three or four hours. That night several hundred of + us, rested from our previous performance, and hopeful of better luck, + brought our faithful half canteens—now scoured very bright by + constant use-into requisition again, and before the morning. dawned we had + gained the high reeds of the swamps, where we lay concealed until night. + </p> + <p> + In this way we managed to evade the recapture that came to most of those + who went out, but it was a fearful experience. Having been raised in a + country where venomous snakes abounded, I had that fear and horror of them + that inhabitants of those districts feel, and of which people living in + sections free from such a scourge know little. I fancied that the Southern + swamps were filled with all forms of loathsome and poisonous reptiles, and + it required all my courage to venture into them barefooted. Besides, the + snags and roots hurt our feet fearfully. Our hope was to find a boat + somewhere, in which we could float out to sea, and trust to being picked + up by some of the blockading fleet. But no boat could we find, with all + our painful and diligent search. We learned afterward that the Rebels made + a practice of breaking up all the boats along the shore to prevent negros + and their own deserters from escaping to the blockading fleet. We thought + of making a raft of logs, but had we had the strength to do this, we would + doubtless have thought it too risky, since we dreaded missing the vessels, + and being carried out to sea to perish of hunger. During the night we came + to the railroad bridge across the Ogeechee. We had some slender hope that, + if we could reach this we might perhaps get across the river, and find + better opportunities for escape. But these last expectations were blasted + by the discovery that it was guarded. There was a post and a fire on the + shore next us, and a single guard with a lantern was stationed on one of + the middle spans. Almost famished with hunger, and so weary and footsore + that we could scarcely move another step, we went back to a cleared place + on the high ground, and laid down to sleep, entirely reckless as to what + became of us. Late in the morning we were awakened by the Rebel patrol and + taken back to the prison. Lieutenant Davis, disgusted with the perpetual + attempts to escape, moved the Dead Line out forty feet from the Stockade; + but this restricted our room greatly, since the number of prisoners in the + pen had now risen to about six thousand, and, besides, it offered little + additional protection against tunneling. + </p> + <p> + It was not much more difficult to dig fifty feet than it had been to dig + thirty feet. Davis soon realized this, and put the Dead Line back to + twenty feet. His next device was a much more sensible one. A crowd of one + hundred and fifty negros dug a trench twenty feet wide and five feet deep + around the whole prison on the outside, and this ditch was filled with + water from the City Water Works. No one could cross this without + attracting the attention of the guards. + </p> + <p> + Still we were not discouraged, and Andrews and I joined a crowd that was + constructing a large tunnel from near our quarters on the east side of the + pen. We finished the burrow to within a few inches of the edge of the + ditch, and then ceased operations, to await some stormy night, when we + could hope to get across the ditch unnoticed. + </p> + <p> + Orders were issued to guards to fire without warning on men who were + observed to be digging or carrying out dirt after nightfall. They + occasionally did so, but the risk did not keep anyone from tunneling. Our + tunnel ran directly under a sentry box. When carrying dirt away the bearer + of the bucket had to turn his back on the guard and walk directly down the + street in front of him, two hundred or three hundred feet, to the center + of the camp, where he scattered the sand around—so as to give no + indication of where it came from. Though we always waited till the moon + went down, it seemed as if, unless the guard were a fool, both by nature + and training, he could not help taking notice of what was going on under + his eyes. I do not recall any more nervous promenades in my life, than + those when, taking my turn, I received my bucket of sand at the mouth of + the tunnel, and walked slowly away with it. The most disagreeable part was + in turning my back to the guard. Could I have faced him, I had sufficient + confidence in my quickness of perception, and talents as a dodger, to + imagine that I could make it difficult for him to hit me. But in walling + with my back to him I was wholly at his mercy. Fortune, however, favored + us, and we were allowed to go on with our work—night after night—without + a shot. + </p> + <p> + In the meanwhile another happy thought slowly gestated in Davis's + alleged intellect. How he came to give birth to two ideas with no more + than a week between them, puzzled all who knew him, and still more that he + survived this extraordinary strain upon the gray matter of the cerebrum. + His new idea was to have driven a heavily-laden mule cart around the + inside of the Dead Line at least once a day. The wheels or the mule's + feet broke through the thin sod covering the tunnels and exposed them. Our + tunnel went with the rest, and those of our crowd who wore shoes had + humiliation added to sorrow by being compelled to go in and spade the hole + full of dirt. This put an end to subterranean engineering. <br><br><br><br> + <a name="p410" id="p410"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p410.jpg (41K)" src="images/p410.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + One day one of the boys watched his opportunity, got under the ration + wagon, and clinging close to the coupling pole with hands and feet, was + carried outside. He was detected, however, as he came from under the + wagon, and brought back. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p411" id="p411"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p411.jpg (49K)" src="images/p411.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch53" id="ch53"></a>CHAPTER LIII. + </h2> + <p> + FRANK REVERSTOCK'S ATTEMPT AT ESCAPE—PASSING OFF AS REBEL BOY + HE REACHES GRISWOLDVILLE BY RAIL, AND THEN STRIKES ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR + SHERMAN, BUT IS CAUGHT WITHIN TWENTY MILES OF OUR LINES. + </p> + <p> + One of the shrewdest and nearest successful attempts to escape that came + under my notice was that of my friend Sergeant Frank Reverstock, of the + Third West Virginia Cavalry, of whom I have before spoken. Frank, who was + quite small, with a smooth boyish face, had converted to his own use a + citizen's coat, belonging to a young boy, a Sutler's + assistant, who had died in Andersonville. He had made himself a pair of + bag pantaloons and a shirt from pieces of meal sacks which he had + appropriated from day to day. He had also the Sutler's assistant's + shoes, and, to crown all, he wore on his head one of those hideous looking + hats of quilted calico which the Rebels had taken to wearing in the lack + of felt hats, which they could neither make nor buy. Altogether Frank + looked enough like a Rebel to be dangerous to trust near a country store + or a stable full of horses. When we first arrived in the prison quite a + crowd of the Savannahians rushed in to inspect us. The guards had some + difficulty in keeping them and us separate. While perplexed with this + annoyance, one of them saw Frank standing in our crowd, and, touching him + with his bayonet, said, with some sharpness: + </p> + <p> + “See heah; you must stand back; you musn't crowd on them + prisoners so.” <br><br><br><br> <a name="p413" id="p413"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p413.jpg (33K)" src="images/p413.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + Frank stood back. He did it promptly but calmly, and then, as if his + curiosity as to Yankees was fully satisfied, he walked slowly away up the + street, deliberating as he went on a plan for getting out of the City. He + hit upon an excellent one. Going to the engineer of a freight train making + ready to start back to Macon, he told him that his father was working in + the Confederate machine shops at Griswoldville, near Macon; that he + himself was also one of the machinists employed there, and desired to go + thither but lacked the necessary means to pay his passage. If the engineer + would let him ride up on the engine he would do work enough to pay the + fare. Frank told the story ingeniously, the engineer and firemen were won + over, and gave their consent. + </p> + <p> + No more zealous assistant ever climbed upon a tender than Frank proved to + be. He loaded wood with a nervous industry, that stood him in place of + great strength. He kept the tender in perfect order, and anticipated, as + far as possible, every want of the engineer and his assistant. They were + delighted with him, and treated him with the greatest kindness, dividing + their food with him, and insisting that he should share their bed when + they “laid by” for the night. Frank would have gladly declined + this latter kindness with thanks, as he was conscious that the quantity of + “graybacks” his clothing contained did not make him a very + desirable sleeping companion for any one, but his friends were so pressing + that he was compelled to accede. + </p> + <p> + His greatest trouble was a fear of recognition by some one of the + prisoners that were continually passing by the train load, on their way + from Andersonville to other prisons. He was one of the best known of the + prisoners in Andersonville; bright, active, always cheerful, and forever + in motion during waking hours,—every one in the Prison speedily + became familiar with him, and all addressed him as “Sergeant + Frankie.” If any one on the passing trains had caught a glimpse of + him, that glimpse would have been followed almost inevitably with a shout + of: + </p> + <p> + “Hello, Sergeant Frankie! What are you doing there?” + </p> + <p> + Then the whole game would have been up. Frank escaped this by persistent + watchfulness, and by busying himself on the opposite side of the engine, + with his back turned to the other trains. + </p> + <p> + At last when nearing Griswoldville, Frank, pointing to a large white house + at some distance across the fields, said: + </p> + <p> + “Now, right over there is where my uncle lives, and I believe I'll + just run over and see him, and then walk into Griswoldville.” + </p> + <p> + He thanked his friends fervently for their kindness, promised to call and + see them frequently, bade them good by, and jumped off the train. <br><br><br><br> + <a name="p415" id="p415"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p415.jpg (22K)" src="images/p415.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + He walked towards the white house as long as he thought he could be seen, + and then entered a large corn field and concealed himself in a thicket in + the center of it until dark, when he made his way to the neighboring + woods, and began journeying northward as fast as his legs could carry him. + When morning broke he had made good progress, but was terribly tired. It + was not prudent to travel by daylight, so he gathered himself some ears of + corn and some berries, of which he made his breakfast, and finding a + suitable thicket he crawled into it, fell asleep, and did not wake up + until late in the afternoon. + </p> + <p> + After another meal of raw corn and berries he resumed his journey, and + that night made still better progress. + </p> + <p> + He repeated this for several days and nights—lying in the woods in + the day time, traveling by night through woods, fields, and by-paths + avoiding all the fords, bridges and main roads, and living on what he + could glean from the fields, that he might not take even so much risk as + was involved in going to the negro cabins for food. + </p> + <p> + But there are always flaws in every man's armor of caution—even + in so perfect a one as Frank's. His complete success so far had the + natural effect of inducing a growing carelessness, which wrought his ruin. + One evening he started off briskly, after a refreshing rest and sleep. He + knew that he must be very near Sherman's lines, and hope cheered him + up with the belief that his freedom would soon be won. + </p> + <p> + Descending from the hill, in whose dense brushwood he had made his bed all + day, he entered a large field full of standing corn, and made his way + between the rows until he reached, on the other side, the fence that + separated it from the main road, across which was another corn-field, that + Frank intended entering. + </p> + <p> + But he neglected his usual precautions on approaching a road, and instead + of coming up cautiously and carefully reconnoitering in all directions + before he left cover, he sprang boldly over the fence and strode out for + the other side. As he reached the middle of the road, his ears were + assailed with the sharp click of a musket being cocked, and the harsh + command: + </p> + <p> + “Halt! halt, dah, I say!” + </p> + <p> + Turning with a start to his left he saw not ten feet from him, a mounted + patrol, the sound of whose approach had been masked by the deep dust of + the road, into which his horse's hoofs sank noiselessly. + </p> + <p> + Frank, of course, yielded without a word, and when sent to the officer in + command he told the old story about his being an employee of the + Griswoldville shops, off on a leave of absence to make a visit to sick + relatives. But, unfortunately, his captors belonged to that section + themselves, and speedily caught him in a maze of cross-questioning from + which he could not extricate himself. It also became apparent from his + language that he was a Yankee, and it was not far from this to the + conclusion that he was a spy—a conclusion to which the proximity of + Sherman's lines, then less than twenty miles distant-greatly + assisted. + </p> + <p> + By the next morning this belief had become so firmly fixed in the minds of + the Rebels that Frank saw a halter dangling alarmingly near, and he + concluded the wisest plan was to confess who he really was. + </p> + <p> + It was not the smallest of his griefs to realize by how slight a chance he + had failed. Had he looked down the road before he climbed the fence, or + had he been ten minutes earlier or later, the patrol would not have been + there, he could have gained the next field unperceived, and two more + nights of successful progress would have taken him into Sherman's + lines at Sand Mountain. The patrol which caught him was on the look-out + for deserters and shirking conscripts, who had become unusually numerous + since the fall of Atlanta. + </p> + <p> + He was sent back to us at Savannah. As he came into the prison gate + Lieutenant Davis was standing near. He looked sternly at Frank and his + Rebel garments, and muttering, + </p> + <p> + “By God, I'll stop this!” caught the coat by the tails, + tore it to the collar, and took it and his hat away from Frank. + </p> + <p> + There was a strange sequel to this episode. A few weeks afterward a + special exchange for ten thousand was made, and Frank succeeded in being + included in this. He was given the usual furlough from the paroled camp at + Annapolis, and went to his home in a little town near Mansfield, O. + </p> + <p> + One day while on the cars going—I think to Newark, O., he saw + Lieutenant Davis on the train, in citizens' clothes. He had been + sent by the Rebel Government to Canada with dispatches relating to some of + the raids then harassing our Northern borders. Davis was the last man in + the world to successfully disguise himself. He had a large, coarse mouth, + that made him remembered by all who had ever seen him. Frank recognized + him instantly and said: + </p> + <p> + “You are Lieutenant Davis?” + </p> + <p> + Davis replied: + </p> + <p> + “You are totally mistaken, sah, I am ——.” + </p> + <p> + Frank insisted that he was right. Davis fumed and blustered, but though + Frank was small, he was as game as a bantam rooster, and he gave Davis to + understand that there had been a vast change in their relative positions; + that the one, while still the same insolent swaggerer, had not regiments + of infantry or batteries of artillery to emphasize his insolence, and the + other was no longer embarrassed in the discussion by the immense odds in + favor of his jailor opponent. + </p> + <p> + After a stormy scene Frank called in the assistance of some other soldiers + in the car, arrested Davis, and took him to Camp Chase—near + Columbus, O.,—where he was fully identified by a number of paroled + prisoners. He was searched, and documents showing the nature of his + mission beyond a doubt, were found upon his person. + </p> + <p> + A court martial was immediately convened for his trial. + </p> + <p> + This found him guilty, and sentenced him to be hanged as a spy. + </p> + <p> + At the conclusion of the trial Frank stepped up to the prisoner and said: + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Davis, I believe we're even on that coat, now.” + </p> + <p> + Davis was sent to Johnson's Island for execution, but influences + were immediately set at work to secure Executive clemency. What they were + I know not, but I am informed by the Rev. Robert McCune, who was then + Chaplain of the One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Ohio Infantry and the Post + of Johnson's Island and who was the spiritual adviser appointed to + prepare Davis for execution, that the sentence was hardly pronounced + before Davis was visited by an emissary, who told him to dismiss his + fears, that he should not suffer the punishment. + </p> + <p> + It is likely that leading Baltimore Unionists were enlisted in his behalf + through family connections, and as the Border State Unionists were then + potent at Washington, they readily secured a commutation of his sentence + to imprisonment during the war. + </p> + <p> + It seems that the justice of this world is very unevenly dispensed when so + much solicitude is shown for the life of such a man, and none at all for + the much better men whom he assisted to destroy. + </p> + <p> + The official notice of the commutation of the sentence was not published + until the day set for the execution, but the certain knowledge that it + would be forthcoming enabled Davis to display a great deal of bravado on + approaching what was supposed to be his end. As the reader can readily + imagine, from what I have heretofore said of him, Davis was the man to + improve to the utmost every opportunity to strut his little hour, and he + did it in this instance. He posed, attitudinized and vapored, so that the + camp and the country were filled with stories of the wonderful coolness + with which he contemplated his approaching fate. + </p> + <p> + Among other things he said to his guard, as he washed himself elaborately + the night before the day announced for the execution: + </p> + <p> + “Well, you can be sure of one thing; to-morrow night there will + certainly be one clean corpse on this Island.” + </p> + <p> + Unfortunately for his braggadocio, he let it leak out in some way that he + had been well aware all the time that he would not be executed. + </p> + <p> + He was taken to Fort Delaware for confinement, and died there some time + after. + </p> + <p> + Frank Beverstock went back to his regiment, and served with it until the + close of the war. He then returned home, and, after awhile became a banker + at Bowling Green, O. He was a fine business man and became very + prosperous. But though naturally healthy and vigorous, his system carried + in it the seeds of death, sown there by the hardships of captivity. He had + been one of the victims of the Rebels' vaccination; the virus + injected into his blood had caused a large part of his right temple to + slough off, and when it healed it left a ghastly cicatrix. + </p> + <p> + Two years ago he was taken suddenly ill, and died before his friends had + any idea that his condition was serious. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch54" id="ch54"></a>CHAPTER LIV. + </h2> + <p> + SAVANNAH PROVES TO BE A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER—ESCAPE FROM THE BRATS + OF GUARDS—COMPARISON BETWEEN WIRZ AND DAVIS—A BRIEF INTERVAL + OF GOOD RATIONS—WINDER, THE MAN WITH THE EVIL EYE —THE + DISLOYAL WORK OF A SHYSTER. + </p> + <p> + After all Savannah was a wonderful improvement on Andersonville. We got + away from the pestilential Swamp and that poisonous ground. Every mouthful + of air was not laden with disease germs, nor every cup of water polluted + with the seeds of death. The earth did not breed gangrene, nor the + atmosphere promote fever. As only the more vigorous had come away, we were + freed from the depressing spectacle of every third man dying. The keen + disappointment prostrated very many who had been of average health, and I + imagine, several hundred died, but there were hospital arrangements of + some kind, and the sick were taken away from among us. Those of us who + tunneled out had an opportunity of stretching our legs, which we had not + had for months in the overcrowded Stockade we had left. The attempts to + escape did all engaged in them good, even though they failed, since they + aroused new ideas and hopes, set the blood into more rapid circulation, + and toned up the mind and system both. I had come away from Andersonville + with considerable scurvy manifesting itself in my gums and feet. Soon + these signs almost wholly disappeared. + </p> + <p> + We also got away from those murderous little brats of Reserves, who + guarded us at Andersonville, and shot men down as they would stone apples + out of a tree. Our guards now were mostly, sailors, from the Rebel fleet + in the harbor—Irishmen, Englishmen and Scandinavians, as free + hearted and kindly as sailors always are. I do not think they ever fired a + shot at one of us. The only trouble we had was with that portion of the + guard drawn from the infantry of the garrison. They had the same + rattlesnake venom of the Home Guard crowd wherever we met it, and shot us + down at the least provocation. Fortunately they only formed a small part + of the sentinels. + </p> + <p> + Best of all, we escaped for a while from the upas-like shadow of Winder + and Wirz, in whose presence strong men sickened and died, as when near + some malign genii of an Eastern story. The peasantry of Italy believed + firmly in the evil eye. Did they ever know any such men as Winder and his + satellite, I could comprehend how much foundation they could have for such + a belief. + </p> + <p> + Lieutenant Davis had many faults, but there was no comparison between him + and the Andersonville commandant. He was a typical young Southern man; + ignorant and bumptious as to the most common matters of school-boy + knowledge, inordinately vain of himself and his family, coarse in tastes + and thoughts, violent in his prejudices, but after all with some streaks + of honor and generosity that made the widest possible difference between + him and Wirz, who never had any. As one of my chums said to me: + </p> + <p> + “Wirz is the most even-tempered man I ever knew; he's always + foaming mad.” + </p> + <p> + This was nearly the truth. I never saw Wirz when he was not angry; if not + violently abusive, he was cynical and sardonic. Never, in my little + experience with him did I detect a glint of kindly, generous humanity; if + he ever was moved by any sight of suffering its exhibition in his face + escaped my eye. If he ever had even a wish to mitigate the pain or + hardship of any man the expression of such wish never fell on my ear. How + a man could move daily through such misery as he encountered, and never be + moved by it except to scorn and mocking is beyond my limited + understanding. + </p> + <p> + Davis vapored a great deal, swearing big round oaths in the broadest of + Southern patois; he was perpetually threatening to: + </p> + <p> + “Open on ye wid de ahtillery,” but the only death that I knew + him to directly cause or sanction was that I have described in the + previous chapter. He would not put himself out of the way to annoy and + oppress prisoners, as Wirz would, but frequently showed even a disposition + to humor them in some little thing, when it could be done without danger + or trouble to himself. + </p> + <p> + By-and-by, however, he got an idea that there was some money to be made + out of the prisoners, and he set his wits to work in this direction. One + day, standing at the gate, he gave one of his peculiar yells that he used + to attract the attention of the camp with: + </p> + <p> + “Wh-ah-ye!!” + </p> + <p> + We all came to “attention,” and he announced: + </p> + <p> + “Yesterday, while I wuz in the camps (a Rebel always says camps,) + some of you prisoners picked my pockets of seventy-five dollars in + greenbacks. Now, I give you notice that I'll not send in any moah + rations till the money's returned to me.” <br><br><br><br> + <a name="p422" id="p422"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p422.jpg (48K)" src="images/p422.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + This was a very stupid method of extortion, since no one believed that he + had lost the money, and at all events he had no business to have the + greenbacks, as the Rebel laws imposed severe penalties upon any citizen, + and still more upon any soldier dealing with, or having in his possession + any of “the money of the enemy.” We did without rations until + night, when they were sent in. There was a story that some of the boys in + the prison had contributed to make up part of the sum, and Davis took it + and was satisfied. I do not know how true the story was. At another time + some of the boys stole the bridle and halter off an old horse that was + driven in with a cart. The things were worth, at a liberal estimate, one + dollar. Davis cut off the rations of the whole six thousand of us for one + day for this. We always imagined that the proceeds went into his pocket. + </p> + <p> + A special exchange was arranged between our Navy Department and that of + the Rebels, by which all seamen and marines among us were exchanged. Lists + of these were sent to the different prisons and the men called for. About + three-fourths of them were dead, but many soldiers divining, the situation + of affairs, answered to the dead men's names, went away with the + squad and were exchanged. Much of this was through the connivance of the + Rebel officers, who favored those who had ingratiated themselves with + them. In many instances money was paid to secure this privilege, and I + have been informed on good authority that Jack Huckleby, of the Eighth + Tennessee, and Ira Beverly, of the One Hundredth Ohio, who kept the big + sutler shop on the North Side at Andersonville, paid Davis five hundred + dollars each to be allowed to go with the sailors. As for Andrews and me, + we had no friends among the Rebels, nor money to bribe with, so we stood + no show. + </p> + <p> + The rations issued to us for some time after our arrival seemed riotous + luxury to what we had been getting at Andersonville. Each of us received + daily a half-dozen rude and coarse imitations of our fondly-remembered + hard tack, and with these a small piece of meat or a few spoonfuls of + molasses, and a quart or so of vinegar, and several plugs of tobacco for + each “hundred.” How exquisite was the taste of the crackers + and molasses! It was the first wheat bread I had eaten since my entry into + Richmond —nine months before—and molasses had been a stranger + to me for years. After the corn bread we had so long lived upon, this was + manna. It seems that the Commissary at Savannah labored under the delusion + that he must issue to us the same rations as were served out to the Rebel + soldiers and sailors. It was some little time before the fearful mistake + came to the knowledge of Winder. I fancy that the news almost threw him + into an apoplectic fit. Nothing, save his being ordered to the front, + could have caused him such poignant sorrow as the information that so much + good food had been worse than wasted in undoing his work by building up + the bodies of his hated enemies. + </p> + <p> + Without being told, we knew that he had been heard from when the tobacco, + vinegar and molasses failed to come in, and the crackers gave way to corn + meal. Still this was a vast improvement on Andersonville, as the meal was + fine and sweet, and we each had a spoonful of salt issued to us regularly. + </p> + <p> + I am quite sure that I cannot make the reader who has not had an + experience similar to ours comprehend the wonderful importance to us of + that spoonful of salt. Whether or not the appetite for salt be, as some + scientists claim, a purely artificial want, one thing is certain, and that + is, that either the habit of countless generations or some other cause, + has so deeply ingrained it into our common nature, that it has come to be + nearly as essential as food itself, and no amount of deprivation can + accustom us to its absence. Rather, it seemed that the longer we did + without it the more overpowering became our craving. I could get along + to-day and to-morrow, perhaps the whole week, without salt in my food, + since the lack would be supplied from the excess I had already swallowed, + but at the end of that time Nature would begin to demand that I renew the + supply of saline constituent of my tissues, and she would become more + clamorous with every day that I neglected her bidding, and finally summon + Nausea to aid Longing. + </p> + <p> + The light artillery of the garrison of Savannah—four batteries, + twenty-four pieces—was stationed around three sides of the prison, + the guns unlimbered, planted at convenient distance, and trained upon us, + ready for instant use. We could see all the grinning mouths through the + cracks in the fence. There were enough of them to send us as high as the + traditional kite flown by Gilderoy. The having at his beck this array of + frowning metal lent Lieutenant Davis such an importance in his own eyes + that his demeanor swelled to the grandiose. It became very amusing to see + him puff up and vaunt over it, as he did on every possible occasion. For + instance, finding a crowd of several hundred lounging around the gate, he + would throw open the wicket, stalk in with the air of a Jove threatening a + rebellious world with the dread thunders of heaven, and shout: + </p> + <p> + “W-h-a-a y-e-e! Prisoners, I give you jist two minutes to cleah away + from this gate, aw I'll open on ye wid de ahtillery!” + </p> + <p> + One of the buglers of the artillery was a superb musician—evidently + some old “regular” whom the Confederacy had seduced into its + service, and his instrument was so sweet toned that we imagined that it + was made of silver. The calls he played were nearly the same as we used in + the cavalry, and for the first few days we became bitterly homesick every + time he sent ringing out the old familiar signals, that to us were so + closely associated with what now seemed the bright and happy days when we + were in the field with our battalion. If we were only back in the valleys + of Tennessee with what alacrity we would respond to that “assembly;” + no Orderly's patience would be worn out in getting laggards and lazy + ones to “fall in for roll-call;” how eagerly we would attend + to “stable duty;” how gladly mount our faithful horses and + ride away to “water,” and what bareback races ride, going and + coming. We would be even glad to hear “guard” and “drill” + sounded; and there would be music in the disconsolate “surgeon's + call:” + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + “Come-get-your-q-n-i-n-i-n-e; come, get your quinine; It'll + make you sad: It'll make you sick. Come, come.” + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + O, if we were only back, what admirable soldiers we would be! One morning, + about three or four o'clock, we were awakened by the ground shaking + and a series of heavy, dull thumps sounding oft seaward. Our silver-voiced + bugler seemed to be awakened, too. He set the echoes ringing with a + vigorously played “reveille;” a minute later came an equally + earnest “assembly,” and when “boots and saddles” + followed, we knew that all was not well in Denmark; the thumping and + shaking now had a significance. It meant heavy Yankee guns somewhere near. + We heard the gunners hitching up; the bugle signal “forward,” + the wheels roll off, and for a half hour afterwards we caught the receding + sound of the bugle commanding “right turn,” “left turn,” + etc., as the batteries marched away. Of course, we became considerably + wrought up over the matter, as we fancied that, knowing we were in + Savannah, our vessels were trying to pass up to the City and take it. The + thumping and shaking continued until late in the afternoon. + </p> + <p> + We subsequently learned that some of our blockaders, finding time banging + heavy upon their hands, had essayed a little diversion by knocking Forts + Jackson and Bledsoe—two small forts defending the passage of the + Savannah—about their defenders' ears. After capturing the + forts our folks desisted and came no farther. + </p> + <p> + Quite a number of the old Raider crowd had come with us from + Andersonville. Among these was the shyster, Peter Bradley. They kept up + their old tactics of hanging around the gates, and currying favor with the + Rebels in every possible way, in hopes to get paroles outside or other + favors. The great mass of the prisoners were so bitter against the Rebels + as to feel that they would rather die than ask or accept a favor from + their hands, and they had little else than contempt for these trucklers. + The raider crowd's favorite theme of conversation with the Rebels + was the strong discontent of the boys with the manner of their treatment + by our Government. The assertion that there was any such widespread + feeling was utterly false. We all had confidence—as we continue to + have to this day—that 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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.] + </p> + <p> + 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.” + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + Bradley concluded his speech in some such language as this: + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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:” <br><br> + </p> + <p> + “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: + </p> + <p> + “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. + </p> + <p> + “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. + </p> + <p> + “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? + </p> + <p> + “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. + </p> + <p> + “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. + </p> + <p> + “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> + <blockquote> + <p> + “P. BRADLEY, + </p> + <p> + “Chairman of Committee in behalf of Prisoners.” + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br><br> + </p> + <p> + 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. + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch55" id="ch55"></a>CHAPTER LV. + </h2> + <p> + WHY WE WERE HURRIED OUT OF ANDERSONVILLE—THE FALL OF ATLANTA —OUR + LONGING TO HEAR THE NEWS—ARRIVAL OF SOME FRESH FISH—HOW WE + KNEW THEY WERE WESTERN BOYS—DIFFERENCE IN THE APPEARANCE OF THE + SOLDIERS OF THE TWO ARMIES. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + There was nothing left undone to rouse the apprehensions of the Rebels in + that direction. The humiliating surrender of General Stoneman at Macon in + July, showed them what our folks were thinking of, and awakened their + minds to the disastrous consequences of such a movement when executed by a + bolder and abler commander. Two days of one of Kilpatrick's swift, + silent marches would carry his hard-riding troopers around Hood's + right flank, and into the streets of Macon, where a half hour's work + with the torch on the bridges across the Ocmulgee and the creeks that + enter it at that point, would have cut all of the Confederate Army of the + Tennessee's communications. Another day and night of easy marching + would bring his guidons fluttering through the woods about the Stockade at + Andersonville, and give him a reinforcement of twelve or fifteen thousand + able-bodied soldiers, with whom he could have held the whole Valley of the + Chattahoochie, and become the nether millstone, against which Sherman + could have ground Hood's army to powder. + </p> + <p> + Such a thing was not only possible, but very probable, and doubtless would + have occurred had we remained in Andersonville another week. + </p> + <p> + Hence the haste to get us away, and hence the lie about exchange, for, had + it not been for this, one-quarter at least of those taken on the cars + would have succeeded in getting off and attempted to have reached Sherman's + lines. + </p> + <p> + The removal went on with such rapidity that by the end of September only + eight thousand two hundred and eighteen remained at Andersonville, and + these were mostly too sick to be moved; two thousand seven hundred died in + September, fifteen hundred and sixty in October, and four hundred and + eighty-five in November, so that at the beginning of December there were + only thirteen hundred and fifty-nine remaining. The larger part of those + taken out were sent on to Charleston, and subsequently to Florence and + Salisbury. About six or seven thousand of us, as near as I remember, were + brought to Savannah. <br> + </p> + <hr> + <p> + <br> + </p> + <p> + We were all exceedingly anxious to know how the Atlanta campaign had + ended. So far our information only comprised the facts that a sharp battle + had been fought, and the result was the complete possession of our great + objective point. The manner of accomplishing this glorious end, the + magnitude of the engagement, the regiments, brigades and corps + participating, the loss on both sides, the completeness of the victories, + etc., were all matters that we knew nothing of, and thirsted to learn. + </p> + <p> + The Rebel papers said as little as possible about the capture, and the + facts in that little were so largely diluted with fiction as to convey no + real information. But few new, prisoners were coming in, and none of these + were from Sherman. However, toward the last of September, a handful of + “fresh fish” were turned inside, whom our experienced eyes + instantly told us were Western boys. + </p> + <p> + There was never any difficulty in telling, as far as he could be seen, + whether a boy belonged to the East or the west. First, no one from the + Army of the Potomac was ever without his corps badge worn conspicuously; + it was rare to see such a thing on one of Sherman's men. Then there + was a dressy air about the Army of the Potomac that was wholly wanting in + the soldiers serving west of the Alleghanies. + </p> + <p> + The Army, of the Potomac was always near to its base of supplies, always + had its stores accessible, and the care of the clothing and equipments of + the men was an essential part of its discipline. A ragged or shabbily + dressed man was a rarity. Dress coats, paper collars, fresh woolen shirts, + neat-fitting pantaloons, good comfortable shoes, and trim caps or hats, + with all the blazing brass of company letters an inch long, regimental + number, bugle and eagle, according to the Regulations, were as common to + Eastern boys as they were rare among the Westerners. + </p> + <p> + The latter usually wore blouses, instead of dress coats, and as a rule + their clothing had not been renewed since the opening, of the campaign + —and it showed this. Those who wore good boots or shoes generally + had to submit to forcible exchanges by their captors, and the same was + true of head gear. The Rebels were badly off in regard to hats. They did + not have skill and ingenuity enough to make these out of felt or straw, + and the make-shifts they contrived of quilted calico and long-leaved pine, + were ugly enough to frighten horned cattle. + </p> + <p> + I never blamed them much for wanting to get rid of these, even if they did + have to commit a sort of highway robbery upon defenseless prisoners to do + so. To be a traitor in arms was bad certainly, but one never appreciated + the entire magnitude of the crime until he saw a Rebel wearing a calico or + a pine-leaf hat. Then one felt as if it would be a great mistake to ever + show such a man mercy. + </p> + <p> + The Army of Northern Virginia seemed to have supplied themselves with + head-gear of Yankee manufacture of previous years, and they then quit + taking the hats of their prisoners. Johnston's Army did not have + such good luck, and had to keep plundering to the end of the war. + </p> + <p> + Another thing about the Army of the Potomac was the variety of the + uniforms. There were members of Zouave regiments, wearing baggy breeches + of various hues, gaiters, crimson fezes, and profusely braided jackets. I + have before mentioned the queer garb of the “Lost Ducks.” (Les + Enfants Perdu, Forty-eighth New York.) + </p> + <p> + One of the most striking uniforms was that of the “Fourteenth + Brooklyn.” They wore scarlet pantaloons, a blue jacket handsomely + braided, and a red fez, with a white cloth wrapped around the head, + turban-fashion. As a large number of them were captured, they formed quite + a picturesque feature of every crowd. They were generally good fellows and + gallant soldiers. + </p> + <p> + Another uniform that attracted much, though not so favorable, attention + was that of the Third New Jersey Cavalry, or First New Jersey Hussars, as + they preferred to call themselves. The designer of the uniform must have + had an interest in a curcuma plantation, or else he was a fanatical + Orangeman. Each uniform would furnish occasion enough for a dozen New York + riots on the 12th of July. Never was such an eruption of the yellows seen + outside of the jaundiced livery of some Eastern potentate. Down each leg + of the pantaloons ran a stripe of yellow braid one and one-half inches + wide. The jacket had enormous gilt buttons, and was embellished with + yellow braid until it was difficult to tell whether it was blue cloth + trimmed with yellow, or yellow adorned with blue. From the shoulders swung + a little, false hussar jacket, lined with the same flaring yellow. The + vizor-less cap was similarly warmed up with the hue of the perfected + sunflower. Their saffron magnificence was like the gorgeous gold of the + lilies of the field, and Solomon in all his glory could not have beau + arrayed like one of them. I hope he was not. I want to retain my respect + for him. We dubbed these daffodil cavaliers “Butterflies,” and + the name stuck to them like a poor relation. + </p> + <p> + Still another distinction that was always noticeable between the two + armies was in the bodily bearing of the men. The Army of the Potomac was + drilled more rigidly than the Western men, and had comparatively few long + marches. Its members had something of the stiffness and precision of + English and German soldiery, while the Western boys had the long, “reachy” + stride, and easy swing that made forty miles a day a rather commonplace + march for an infantry regiment. + </p> + <p> + This was why we knew the new prisoners to be Sherman's boys as soon + as they came inside, and we started for them to hear the news. Inviting + them over to our lean-to, we told them our anxiety for the story of the + decisive blow that gave us the Central Gate of the Confederacy, and asked + them to give it to us. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch56" id="ch56"></a>CHAPTER LVI. + </h2> + <p> + WHAT CAUSED THE FALL OF ATLANTA—A DISSERTATION UPON AN IMPORTANT + PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEM—THE BATTLE OF JONESBORO—WHY IT WAS + FOUGHT —HOW SHERMAN DECEIVED HOOD—A DESPERATE BAYONET CHARGE, + AND THE ONLY SUCCESSFUL ONE IN THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN—A GALLANT + COLONEL AND HOW HE DIED—THE HEROISM OF SOME ENLISTED MEN—GOING + CALMLY INTO CERTAIN DEATH. + </p> + <p> + An intelligent, quick-eyed, sunburned boy, without an ounce of surplus + flesh on face or limbs, which had been reduced to gray-hound condition by + the labors and anxieties of the months of battling between Chattanooga and + Atlanta, seemed to be the accepted talker of the crowd, since all the rest + looked at him, as if expecting him to answer for them. He did so: + </p> + <p> + “You want to know about how we got Atlanta at last, do you? Well, if + you don't know, I should think you would want to. If I didn't, + I'd want somebody to tell me all about it just as soon as he could + get to me, for it was one of the neatest little bits of work that 'old + Billy' and his boys ever did, and it got away with Hood so bad that + he hardly knew what hurt him. + </p> + <p> + “Well, first, I'll tell you that we belong to the old + Fourteenth Ohio Volunteers, which, if you know anything about the Army of + the Cumberland, you'll remember has just about as good a record as + any that trains around old Pap Thomas—and he don't 'low + no slouches of any kind near him, either—you can bet $500 to a cent + on that, and offer to give back the cent if you win. Ours is Jim Steedman's + old regiment—you've all heard of old Chickamauga Jim, who + slashed his division of 7,000 fresh men into the Rebel flank on the second + day at Chickamauga, in a way that made Longstreet wish he'd staid on + the Rappahannock, and never tried to get up any little sociable with the + Westerners. If I do say it myself, I believe we've got as good a + crowd of square, stand-up, trust'em-every-minute-in-your-life boys, + as ever thawed hard-tack and sowbelly. We got all the grunters and weak + sisters fanned out the first year, and since then we've been on a + business basis, all the time. We're in a mighty good brigade, too. + Most of the regiments have been with us since we formed the first brigade + Pap Thomas ever commanded, and waded with him through the mud of Kentucky, + from Wild Cat to Mill Springs, where he gave Zollicoffer just a little the + awfulest thrashing that a Rebel General ever got. That, you know, was in + January, 1862, and was the first victory gained by the Western Army, and + our people felt so rejoiced over it that—” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, yes; we've read all about that,” we broke in, + “and we'd like to hear it again, some other time; but tell us + now about Atlanta.” + </p> + <p> + “All right. Let's see: where was I? O, yes, talking about our + brigade. It is the Third Brigade, of the Third Division, of the Fourteenth + Corps, and is made up of the Fourteenth Ohio, Thirty-eighth Ohio, Tenth + Kentucky, and Seventy-fourth Indiana. Our old Colonel—George P. Este + —commands it. We never liked him very well in camp, but I tell you + he's a whole team in a fight, and he'd do so well there that + all would take to him again, and he'd be real popular for a while.” + </p> + <p> + “Now, isn't that strange,” broke in Andrews, who was + given to fits of speculation of psychological phenomena: “None of us + yearn to die, but the surest way to gain the affection of the boys is to + show zeal in leading them into scrapes where the chances of getting shot + are the best. Courage in action, like charity, covers a multitude of sins. + I have known it to make the most unpopular man in the battalion, the most + popular inside of half an hour. Now, M.(addressing himself to me,) you + remember Lieutenant H., of our battalion. You know he was a very fancy + young fellow; wore as snipish' clothes as the tailor could make, had + gold lace on his jacket wherever the regulations would allow it, decorated + his shoulders with the stunningest pair of shoulder knots I ever saw, and + so on. Well, he did not stay with us long after we went to the front. He + went back on a detail for a court martial, and staid a good while. When he + rejoined us, he was not in good odor, at all, and the boys weren't + at all careful in saying unpleasant things when he could hear them, A + little while after he came back we made that reconnaissance up on the + Virginia Road. We stirred up the Johnnies with our skirmish line, and + while the firing was going on in front we sat on our horses in line, + waiting for the order to move forward and engage. You know how solemn such + moments are. I looked down the line and saw Lieutenant H. at the right of + Company—, in command of it. I had not seen him since he came back, + and I sung out: + </p> + <p> + “'Hello, Lieutenant, how do you feel?' + </p> + <p> + “The reply came back, promptly, and with boyish cheerfulness: + </p> + <p> + “'Bully, by ——; I'm going to lead seventy + men of Company into action today!' + </p> + <p> + “How his boys did cheer him. When the bugle sounded—'forward, + trot,' his company sailed in as if they meant it, and swept the + Johnnies off in short meter. You never heard anybody say anything against + Lieutenant after that.” + </p> + <p> + “You know how it was with Captain G., of our regiment,” said + one of the Fourteenth to another. “He was promoted from Orderly + Sergeant to a Second Lieutenant, and assigned to Company D. All the + members of Company D went to headquarters in a body, and protested against + his being put in their company, and he was not. Well, he behaved so well + at Chickamauga that the boys saw that they had done him a great injustice, + and all those that still lived went again to headquarters, and asked to + take all back that they had said, and to have him put into the company.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, that was doing the manly thing, sure; but go on about + Atlanta.” + </p> + <p> + “I was telling about our brigade,” resumed the narrator. + “Of course, we think our regiment's the best by long odds in + the army—every fellow thinks that of his regiment—but next to + it come the other regiments of our brigade. There's not a cent of + discount on any of them. + </p> + <p> + “Sherman had stretched out his right away to the south and west of + Atlanta. About the middle of August our corps, commanded by Jefferson C. + Davis, was lying in works at Utoy Creek, a couple of miles from Atlanta. + We could see the tall steeples and the high buildings of the City quite + plainly. Things had gone on dull and quiet like for about ten days. This + was longer by a good deal than we had been at rest since we left Resaca in + the Spring. We knew that something was brewing, and that it must come to a + head soon. + </p> + <p> + “I belong to Company C. Our little mess—now reduced to three + by the loss of two of our best soldiers and cooks, Disbrow and Sulier, + killed behind head-logs in front of Atlanta, by sharpshooters—had + one fellow that we called 'Observer,' because he had such a + faculty of picking up news in his prowling around headquarters. He brought + us in so much of this, and it was generally so reliable that we frequently + made up his absence from duty by taking his place. He was never away from + a fight, though. On the night of the 25th of August, 'Observer' + came in with the news that something was in the wind. Sherman was getting + awful restless, and we had found out that this always meant lots of + trouble to our friends on the other side. + </p> + <p> + “Sure enough, orders came to get ready to move, and the next night + we all moved to the right and rear, out of sight of the Johnnies. Our well + built works were left in charge of Garrard's Cavalry, who concealed + their horses in the rear, and came up and took our places. The whole army + except the Twentieth Corps moved quietly off, and did it so nicely that we + were gone some time before the enemy suspected it. Then the Twentieth + Corps pulled out towards the North, and fell back to the Chattahoochie, + making quite a shove of retreat. The Rebels snapped up the bait greedily. + They thought the siege was being raised, and they poured over their works + to hurry the Twentieth boys off. The Twentieth fellows let them know that + there was lots of sting in them yet, and the Johnnies were not long in + discovering that it would have been money in their pockets if they had let + that 'moon-and-star' (that's the Twentieth's + badge, you know) crowd alone. + </p> + <p> + “But the Rebs thought the rest of us were gone for good and that + Atlanta was saved. Naturally they felt mighty happy over it; and resolved + to have a big celebration—a ball, a meeting of jubilee, etc. Extra + trains were run in, with girls and women from the surrounding country, and + they just had a high old time. + </p> + <p> + “In the meantime we were going through so many different kinds of + tactics that it looked as if Sherman was really crazy this time, sure. + Finally we made a grand left wheel, and then went forward a long way in + line of battle. It puzzled us a good deal, but we knew that Sherman couldn't + get us into any scrape that Pap Thomas couldn't get us out of, and + so it was all right. + </p> + <p> + “Along on the evening of the 31st our right wing seemed to have run + against a hornet's nest, and we could hear the musketry and cannon + speak out real spiteful, but nothing came down our way. We had struck the + railroad leading south from Atlanta to Macon, and began tearing it up. The + jollity at Atlanta was stopped right in the middle by the appalling news + that the Yankees hadn't retreated worth a cent, but had broken out + in a new and much worse spot than ever. Then there was no end of trouble + all around, and Hood started part of his army back after us. + </p> + <p> + “Part of Hardee's and Pat Cleburne's command went into + position in front of us. We left them alone till Stanley could come up on + our left, and swing around, so as to cut off their retreat, when we would + bag every one of them. But Stanley was as slow as he always was, and did + not come up until it was too late, and the game was gone. + </p> + <p> + “The sun was just going down on the evening of the 1st of September, + when we began to see we were in for it, sure. The Fourteenth Corps wheeled + into position near the railroad, and the sound of musketry and artillery + became very loud and clear on our front and left. We turned a little and + marched straight toward the racket, becoming more excited every minute. We + saw the Carlin's brigade of regulars, who were some distance ahead + of us, pile knapsacks, form in line, fix bayonets, and dash off with + arousing cheer. + </p> + <p> + “The Rebel fire beat upon them like a Summer rain-storm, the ground + shook with the noise, and just as we reached the edge of the cotton field, + we saw the remnant of the brigade come flying back out of the awful, + blasting shower of bullets. The whole slope was covered with dead and + wounded.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” interrupts one of the Fourteenth; “and they made + that charge right gamely, too, I can tell you. They were good soldiers, + and well led. When we went over the works, I remember seeing the body of a + little Major of one of the regiments lying right on the top. If he hadn't + been killed he'd been inside in a half-a-dozen steps more. There's + no mistake about it; those regulars will fight.” + </p> + <p> + “When we saw this,” resumed the narrator, “it set our + fellows fairly wild; they became just crying mad; I never saw them so + before. The order came to strip for the charge, and our knapsacks were + piled in half a minute. A Lieutenant of our company, who was then on the + staff of Gen. Baird, our division commander, rode slowly down the line and + gave us our instructions to load our guns, fix bayonets, and hold fire + until we were on top of the Rebel works. Then Colonel Este sang out clear + and steady as a bugle signal: + </p> + <p> + “'Brigade, forward! Guide center! MARCH!!' + </p> + <p> + “And we started. Heavens, how they did let into us, as we came up + into range. They had ten pieces of artillery, and more men behind the + breastworks than we had in line, and the fire they poured on us was simply + withering. We walked across the hundreds of dead and dying of the regular + brigade, and at every step our own men fell down among them. General Baud's + horse was shot down, and the General thrown far over his head, but he + jumped up and ran alongside of us. Major Wilson, our regimental commander, + fell mortally wounded; Lieutenant Kirk was killed, and also Captain + Stopfard, Adjutant General of the brigade. Lieutenants Cobb and Mitchell + dropped with wounds that proved fatal in a few days. Captain Ugan lost an + arm, one-third of the enlisted men fell, but we went straight ahead, the + grape and the musketry becoming worse every step, until we gained the edge + of the hill, where we were checked a minute by the brush, which the Rebels + had fixed up in the shape of abattis. Just then a terrible fire from a new + direction, our left, swept down the whole length of our line. The Colonel + of the Seventeenth New York—as gallant a man as ever lived saw the + new trouble, took his regiment in on the run, and relieved us of this, but + he was himself mortally wounded. If our boys were half-crazy before, they + were frantic now, and as we got out of the entanglement of the brush, we + raised a fearful yell and ran at the works. We climbed the sides, fired + right down into the defenders, and then began with the bayonet and sword. + For a few minutes it was simply awful. On both sides men acted like + infuriated devils. They dashed each other's brains out with clubbed + muskets; bayonets were driven into men's bodies up to the muzzle of + the gun; officers ran their swords through their opponents, and revolvers, + after being emptied into the faces of the Rebels, were thrown with + desperate force into the ranks. In our regiment was a stout German butcher + named Frank Fleck. He became so excited that he threw down his sword, and + rushed among the Rebels with his bare fists, knocking down a swath of + them. He yelled to the first Rebel he met: + </p> + <p> + “Py Gott, I've no patience mit you,' and knocked him + sprawling. He caught hold of the commander of the Rebel Brigade, and + snatched him back over the works by main strength. Wonderful to say, he + escaped unhurt, but the boys will probably not soon let him hear the last + of, + </p> + <p> + “Py Gott, I've no patience mit you.' + </p> + <p> + “The Tenth Kentucky, by the queerest luck in the world, was matched + against the Rebel Ninth Kentucky. The commanders of the two regiments were + brothers-in-law, and the men relatives, friends, acquaintances and + schoolmates. They hated each other accordingly, and the fight between them + was more bitter, if possible, than anywhere else on the line. The + Thirty-Eighth Ohio and Seventy-fourth Indiana put in some work that was + just magnificent. We hadn't time to look at it then, but the dead + and wounded piled up after the fight told the story. + </p> + <p> + “We gradually forced our way over the works, but the Rebels were + game to the last, and we had to make them surrender almost one at a time. + The artillerymen tried to fire on us when we were so close we could lay + our hands on the guns. + </p> + <p> + “Finally nearly all in the works surrendered, and were disarmed and + marched back. Just then an aid came dashing up with the information that + we must turn the works, and get ready to receive Hardee, who was advancing + to retake the position. We snatched up some shovels lying near, and began + work. We had no time to remove the dead and dying Rebels on the works, and + the dirt we threw covered them up. It proved a false alarm. Hardee had as + much as he could do to save his own hide, and the affair ended about dark. + </p> + <p> + “When we came to count up what we had gained, we found that we had + actually taken more prisoners from behind breastworks than there were in + our brigade when we started the charge. We had made the only really + successful bayonet charge of the campaign. Every other time since we left + Chattanooga the party standing on the defensive had been successful. Here + we had taken strong double lines, with ten guns, seven battle flags, and + over two thousand prisoners. We had lost terribly—not less than + one-third of the brigade, and many of our best men. Our regiment went into + the battle with fifteen officers; nine of these were killed or wounded, + and seven of the nine lost either their limbs or lives. The Thirty-Eighth + Ohio, and the other regiments of the brigade lost equally heavy. We + thought Chickamauga awful, but Jonesboro discounted it.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you know,” said another of the Fourteenth, “I heard + our Surgeon telling about how that Colonel Grower, of the Seventeenth New + York, who came in so splendidly on our left, died? They say he was a Wall + Street broker, before the war. He was hit shortly after he led his + regiment in, and after the fight, was carried back to the hospital. While + our Surgeon was going the rounds Colonel Grower called him, and said + quietly, 'When you get through with the men, come and see me, + please.' + </p> + <p> + “The Doctor would have attended to him then, but Grower wouldn't + let him. After he got through he went back to Grower, examined his wound, + and told him that he could only live a few hours. Grower received the news + tranquilly, had the Doctor write a letter to his wife, and gave him his + things to send her, and then grasping the Doctor's hand, he said: + </p> + <p> + “Doctor, I've just one more favor to ask; will you grant it?' + </p> + <p> + “The Doctor said, 'Certainly; what is it?' + </p> + <p> + “You say I can't live but a few hours?' + </p> + <p> + “Yes; that is true.' “And that I will likely be in great + pain!' + </p> + <p> + “I am sorry to say so.' + </p> + <p> + “Well, then, do give me morphia enough to put me to sleep, so that I + will wake up only in another world.' + </p> + <p> + “The Doctor did so; Colonel Grower thanked him; wrung his hand, bade + him good-by, and went to sleep to wake no more.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you believe in presentiments and superstitions?” said + another of the Fourteenth. There was Fisher Pray, Orderly Sergeant of + Company I. He came from Waterville, O., where his folks are now living. + The day before we started out he had a presentiment that we were going + into a fight, and that he would be killed. He couldn't shake it off. + He told the Lieutenant, and some of the boys about it, and they tried to + ridicule him out of it, but it was no good. When the sharp firing broke + out in front some of the boys said, 'Fisher, I do believe you are + right,' and he nodded his head mournfully. When we were piling + knapsacks for the charge, the Lieutenant, who was a great friend of Fisher's, + said: + </p> + <p> + “Fisher, you stay here and guard the knapsacks.' + </p> + <p> + “Fisher's face blazed in an instant. + </p> + <p> + “No, sir,' said he; I never shirked a fight yet, and I won't + begin now.' + </p> + <p> + “So he went into the fight, and was killed, as he knew he would be. + Now, that's what I call nerve.” + </p> + <p> + “The same thing was true of Sergeant Arthur Tarbox, of Company A,” + said the narrator; “he had a presentiment, too; he knew he was going + to be killed, if he went in, and he was offered an honorable chance to + stay out, but he would not take it, and went in and was killed.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, we staid there the next day, buried our dead, took care of + our wounded, and gathered up the plunder we had taken from the Johnnies. + The rest of the army went off, 'hot blocks,' after Hardee and + the rest of Hood's army, which it was hoped would be caught outside + of entrenchments. But Hood had too much the start, and got into the works + at Lovejoy, ahead of our fellows. The night before we heard several very + loud explosions up to the north. We guessed what that meant, and so did + the Twentieth Corps, who were lying back at the Chattahoochee, and the + next morning the General commanding—Slocum—sent out a + reconnaissance. It was met by the Mayor of Atlanta, who said that the + Rebels had blown up their stores and retreated. The Twentieth Corps then + came in and took possession of the City, and the next day—the + 3d—Sherman came in, and issued an order declaring the campaign at an + end, and that we would rest awhile and refit. + </p> + <p> + “We laid around Atlanta a good while, and things quieted down so + that it seemed almost like peace, after the four months of continual + fighting we had gone through. We had been under a strain so long that now + we boys went in the other direction, and became too careless, and that's + how we got picked up. We went out about five miles one night after a lot + of nice smoked hams that a nigger told us were stored in an old cotton + press, and which we knew would be enough sight better eating for Company + C, than the commissary pork we had lived on so long. We found the cotton + press, and the hams, just as the nigger told us, and we hitched up a team + to take them into camp. As we hadn't seen any Johnny signs anywhere, + we set our guns down to help load the meat, and just as we all came + stringing out to the wagon with as much meat as we could carry, a company + of Ferguson's Cavalry popped out of the woods about one hundred + yards in front of us and were on top of us before we could say I scat. You + see they'd heard of the meat, too.” <br><br><br><br> <a + name="p445" id="p445"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p445.jpg (10K)" src="images/p445.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch57" id="ch57"></a>CHAPTER LVII. + </h2> + <p> + A FAIR SACRIFICE—THE STORY OF ONE BOY WHO WILLINGLY GAVE HIS YOUNG + LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY. + </p> + <p> + Charley Barbour was one of the truest-hearted and best-liked of my + school-boy chums and friends. For several terms we sat together on the + same uncompromisingly uncomfortable bench, worried over the same + boy-maddening problems in “Ray's Arithmetic-Part III.,” + learned the same jargon of meaningless rules from “Greene's + Grammar,” pondered over “Mitchell's Geography and Atlas,” + and tried in vain to understand why Providence made the surface of one + State obtrusively pink and another ultramarine blue; trod slowly and + painfully over the rugged road “Bullion” points out for + beginners in Latin, and began to believe we should hate ourselves and + everybody else, if we were gotten up after the manner shown by “Cutter's + Physiology.” We were caught together in the same long series of + school-boy scrapes—and were usually ferruled together by the same + strong-armed teacher. We shared nearly everything —our fun and work; + enjoyment and annoyance—all were generally meted out to us together. + We read from the same books the story of the wonderful world we were going + to see in that bright future “when we were men;” we spent our + Saturdays and vacations in the miniature explorations of the rocky hills + and caves, and dark cedar woods around our homes, to gather ocular helps + to a better comprehension of that magical land which we were convinced + began just beyond our horizon, and had in it, visible to the eye of him + who traveled through its enchanted breadth, all that “Gulliver's + Fables,” the “Arabian Nights,” and a hundred books of + travel and adventure told of. + </p> + <p> + We imagined that the only dull and commonplace spot on earth was that + where we lived. Everywhere else life was a grand spectacular drama, full + of thrilling effects. + </p> + <p> + Brave and handsome young men were rescuing distressed damsels, beautiful + as they were wealthy; bloody pirates and swarthy murderers were being + foiled by quaint spoken backwoodsmen, who carried unerring rifles; gallant + but blundering Irishmen, speaking the most delightful brogue, and making + the funniest mistakes, were daily thwarting cool and determined villains; + bold tars were encountering fearful sea perils; lionhearted adventurers + were cowing and quelling whole tribes of barbarians; magicians were + casting spells, misers hoarding gold, scientists making astonishing + discoveries, poor and unknown boys achieving wealth and fame at a single + bound, hidden mysteries coming to light, and so the world was going on, + making reams of history with each diurnal revolution, and furnishing + boundless material for the most delightful books. + </p> + <p> + At the age of thirteen a perusal of the lives of Benjamin Franklin and + Horace Greeley precipitated my determination to no longer hesitate in + launching my small bark upon the great ocean. I ran away from home in a + truly romantic way, and placed my foot on what I expected to be the first + round of the ladder of fame, by becoming “devil boy” in a + printing office in a distant large City. Charley's attachment to his + mother and his home was too strong to permit him to take this step, and we + parted in sorrow, mitigated on my side by roseate dreams of the future. + </p> + <p> + Six years passed. One hot August morning I met an old acquaintance at the + Creek, in Andersonville. He told me to come there the next morning, after + roll-call, and he would take me to see some person who was very anxious to + meet me. I was prompt at the rendezvous, and was soon joined by the other + party. He threaded his way slowly for over half an hour through the + closely-jumbled mass of tents and burrows, and at length stopped in front + of a blanket-tent in the northwestern corner. The occupant rose and took + my hand. For an instant I was puzzled; then the clear, blue eyes, and + well-remembered smile recalled to me my old-time comrade, Charley Barbour. + His story was soon told. He was a Sergeant in a Western Virginia cavalry + regiment—the Fourth, I think. At the time Hunter was making his + retreat from the Valley of Virginia, it was decided to mislead the enemy + by sending out a courier with false dispatches to be captured. There was a + call for a volunteer for this service. Charley was the first to offer, + with that spirit of generous self-sacrifice that was one of his + pleasantest traits when a boy. He knew what he had to expect. Capture + meant imprisonment at Andersonville; our men had now a pretty clear + understanding of what this was. Charley took the dispatches and rode into + the enemy's lines. He was taken, and the false information produced + the desired effect. On his way to Andersonville he was stripped of all his + clothing but his shirt and pantaloons, and turned into the Stockade in + this condition. When I saw him he had been in a week or more. He told his + story quietly—almost diffidently—not seeming aware that he had + done more than his simple duty. I left him with the promise and + expectation of returning the next day, but when I attempted to find him + again, I was lost in the maze of tents and burrows. I had forgotten to ask + the number of his detachment, and after spending several days in hunting + for him, I was forced to give the search up. He knew as little of my + whereabouts, and though we were all the time within seventeen hundred feet + of each other, neither we nor our common acquaintance could ever manage to + meet again. This will give the reader an idea of the throng compressed + within the narrow limits of the Stockade. After leaving Andersonville, + however, I met this man once more, and learned from him that Charley had + sickened and died within a month after his entrance to prison. + </p> + <p> + So ended his day-dream of a career in the busy world. <br><br><br><br> + <a name="p448" id="p448"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p448.jpg (22K)" src="images/p448.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch58" id="ch58"></a>CHAPTER LVIII. + </h2> + <p> + WE LEAVE SAVANNAH—MORE HOPES OF EXCHANGE—SCENES AT DEPARTURE + —“FLANKERS”—ON THE BACK TRACK TOWARD ANDERSONVILLE—ALARM + THEREAT —AT THE PARTING OF TWO WAYS—WE FINALLY BRING UP AT + CAMP LAWTON. + </p> + <p> + On the evening of the 11th of October there came an order for one thousand + prisoners to fall in and march out, for transfer to some other point. + </p> + <p> + Of course, Andrews and I “flanked” into this crowd. That was + our usual way of doing. Holding that the chances were strongly in favor of + every movement of prisoners being to our lines, we never failed to be + numbered in the first squad of prisoners that were sent out. The seductive + mirage of “exchange” was always luring us on. It must come + some time, certainly, and it would be most likely to come to those who + were most earnestly searching for it. At all events, we should leave no + means untried to avail ourselves of whatever seeming chances there might + be. There could be no other motive for this move, we argued, than + exchange. The Confederacy was not likely to be at the trouble and expense + of hauling us about the country without some good reason—something + better than a wish to make us acquainted with Southern scenery and + topography. It would hardly take us away from Savannah so soon after + bringing us there for any other purpose than delivery to our people. + </p> + <p> + The Rebels encouraged this belief with direct assertions of its truth. + They framed a plausible lie about there having arisen some difficulty + concerning the admission of our vessels past the harbor defenses of + Savannah, which made it necessary to take us elsewhere—probably to + Charleston—for delivery to our men. + </p> + <p> + Wishes are always the most powerful allies of belief. There is little + difficulty in convincing a man of that of which he wants to be convinced. + We forgot the lie told us when we were taken from Andersonville, and + believed the one which was told us now. + </p> + <p> + Andrews and I hastily snatched our worldly possessions—our overcoat, + blanket, can, spoon, chessboard and men, yelled to some of our neighbors + that they could have our hitherto much-treasured house, and running down + to the gate, forced ourselves well up to the front of the crowd that was + being assembled to go out. + </p> + <p> + The usual scenes accompanying the departure of first squads were being + acted tumultuously. Every one in the camp wanted to be one of the + supposed-to-be-favored few, and if not selected at first, tried to “flank + in”—that is, slip into the place of some one else who had had + better luck. This one naturally resisted displacement, 'vi et armis,' + and the fights would become so general as to cause a resemblance to the + famed Fair of Donnybrook. The cry would go up: + </p> + <p> + “Look out for flankers!” + </p> + <p> + The lines of the selected would dress up compactly, and outsiders trying + to force themselves in would get mercilessly pounded. + </p> + <p> + We finally got out of the pen, and into the cars, which soon rolled away + to the westward. We were packed in too densely to be able to lie down. We + could hardly sit down. Andrews and I took up our position in one corner, + piled our little treasures under us, and trying to lean against each other + in such a way as to afford mutual support and rest, dozed fitfully through + a long, weary night. + </p> + <p> + When morning came we found ourselves running northwest through a poor, + pine-barren country that strongly resembled that we had traversed in + coming to Savannah. The more we looked at it the more familiar it became, + and soon there was no doubt we were going back to Andersonville. + </p> + <p> + By noon we had reached Millen—eighty miles from Savannah, and + fifty-three from Augusta. It was the junction of the road leading to Macon + and that running to Augusta. We halted a little while at the “Y,” + and to us the minutes were full of anxiety. If we turned off to the left + we were going back to Andersonville. If we took the right hand road we + were on the way to Charleston or Richmond, with the chances in favor of + exchange. + </p> + <p> + At length we started, and, to our joy, our engine took the right hand + track. We stopped again, after a run of five miles, in the midst of one of + the open, scattering forests of long leaved pine that I have before + described. We were ordered out of the cars, and marching a few rods, came + in sight of another of those hateful Stockades, which seemed to be as + natural products of the Sterile sand of that dreary land as its desolate + woods and its breed of boy murderers and gray-headed assassins. + </p> + <p> + Again our hearts sank, and death seemed more welcome than incarceration in + those gloomy wooden walls. We marched despondently up to the gates of the + Prison, and halted while a party of Rebel clerks made a list of our names, + rank, companies, and regiments. As they were Rebels it was slow work. + Reading and writing never came by nature, as Dogberry would say, to any + man fighting for Secession. As a rule, he took to them as reluctantly as + if, he thought them cunning inventions of the Northern Abolitionist to + perplex and demoralize him. What a half-dozen boys taken out of our own + ranks would have done with ease in an hour or so, these Rebels worried + over all of the afternoon, and then their register of us was so imperfect, + badly written and misspelled, that the Yankee clerks afterwards detailed + for the purpose, never could succeed in reducing it to intelligibility. + </p> + <p> + We learned that the place at which we had arrived was Camp Lawton, but we + almost always spoke of it as “Millen,” the same as Camp Sumter + is universally known as Andersonville. + </p> + <p> + Shortly after dark we were turned inside the Stockade. Being the first + that had entered, there was quite a quantity of wood—the offal from + the timber used in constructing the Stockade—lying on the ground. + The night was chilly one we soon had a number of fires blazing. Green + pitch pine, when burned, gives off a peculiar, pungent odor, which is + never forgotten by one who has once smelled it. I first became acquainted + with it on entering Andersonville, and to this day it is the most powerful + remembrance I can have of the opening of that dreadful Iliad of woes. On + my journey to Washington of late years the locomotives are invariably fed + with pitch pine as we near the Capital, and as the well-remembered smell + reaches me, I grow sick at heart with the flood of saddening recollections + indissolubly associated with it. + </p> + <p> + As our fires blazed up the clinging, penetrating fumes diffused themselves + everywhere. The night was as cool as the one when we arrived at + Andersonville, the earth, meagerly sodded with sparse, hard, wiry grass, + was the same; the same piney breezes blew in from the surrounding trees, + the same dismal owls hooted at us; the same mournful whip-poor-will + lamented, God knows what, in the gathering twilight. What we both felt in + the gloomy recesses of downcast hearts Andrews expressed as he turned to + me with: + </p> + <p> + “My God, Mc, this looks like Andersonville all over again.” + </p> + <p> + A cupful of corn meal was issued to each of us. I hunted up some water. + Andrews made a stiff dough, and spread it about half an inch thick on the + back of our chessboard. He propped this up before the fire, and when the + surface was neatly browned over, slipped it off the board and turned it + over to brown the other side similarly. This done, we divided it carefully + between us, swallowed it in silence, spread our old overcoat on the + ground, tucked chess-board, can, and spoon under far enough to be out of + the reach of thieves, adjusted the thin blanket so as to get the most + possible warmth out of it, crawled in close together, and went to sleep. + This, thank Heaven, we could do; we could still sleep, and Nature had some + opportunity to repair the waste of the day. We slept, and forgot where we + were. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p454" id="p454"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p454.jpg (51K)" src="images/p454.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch59" id="ch59"></a>CHAPTER LIX. + </h2> + <p> + OUR NEW QUARTERS AT CAMP LAWTON—BUILDING A HUT—AN EXCEPTIONAL + COMMANDANT—HE IS a GOOD MAN, BUT WILL TAKE BRIBES—RATIONS. + </p> + <p> + In the morning we took a survey of our new quarters, and found that we + were in a Stockade resembling very much in construction and dimensions + that at Andersonville. The principal difference was that the upright logs + were in their rough state, whereas they were hewed at Andersonville, and + the brook running through the camp was not bordered by a swamp, but had + clean, firm banks. + </p> + <p> + Our next move was to make the best of the situation. We were divided into + hundreds, each commanded by a Sergeant. Ten hundreds constituted a + division, the head of which was also a Sergeant. I was elected by my + comrades to the Sergeantcy of the Second Hundred of the First Division. As + soon as we were assigned to our ground, we began constructing shelter. For + the first and only time in my prison experience, we found a full supply of + material for this purpose, and the use we made of it showed how infinitely + better we would have fared if in each prison the Rebels had done even so + slight a thing as to bring in a few logs from the surrounding woods and + distribute them to us. A hundred or so of these would probably have saved + thousands of lives at Andersonville and Florence. + </p> + <p> + A large tree lay on the ground assigned to our hundred. Andrews and I took + possession of one side of the ten feet nearest the butt. Other boys + occupied the rest in a similar manner. One of our boys had succeeded in + smuggling an ax in with him, and we kept it in constant use day and night, + each group borrowing it for an hour or so at a time. It was as dull as a + hoe, and we were very weak, so that it was slow work “niggering off”—(as + the boys termed it) a cut of the log. It seemed as if beavers could have + gnawed it off easier and more quickly. We only cut an inch or so at a + time, and then passed the ax to the next users. Making little wedges with + a dull knife, we drove them into the log with clubs, and split off long, + thin strips, like the weatherboards of a house, and by the time we had + split off our share of the log in this slow and laborious way, we had a + fine lot of these strips. We were lucky enough to find four forked sticks, + of which we made the corners of our dwelling, and roofed it carefully with + our strips, held in place by sods torn up from the edge of the creek bank. + The sides and ends were enclosed; we gathered enough pine tops to cover + the ground to a depth of several inches; we banked up the outside, and + ditched around it, and then had the most comfortable abode we had during + our prison career. It was truly a house builded with our own hands, for we + had no tools whatever save the occasional use of the aforementioned dull + axe and equally dull knife. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p457" id="p457"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p457.jpg (60K)" src="images/p457.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + The rude little hut represented as much actual hard, manual labor as would + be required to build a comfortable little cottage in the North, but we + gladly performed it, as we would have done any other work to better our + condition. + </p> + <p> + For a while wood was quite plentiful, and we had the luxury daily of warm + fires, which the increasing coolness of the weather made important + accessories to our comfort. + </p> + <p> + Other prisoners kept coming in. Those we left behind at Savannah followed + us, and the prison there was broken up. Quite a number also came in from—Andersonville, + so that in a little while we had between six and seven thousand in the + Stockade. The last comers found all the material for tents and all the + fuel used up, and consequently did not fare so well as the earlier + arrivals. + </p> + <p> + The commandant of the prison—one Captain Bowes—was the best of + his class it was my fortune to meet. Compared with the senseless brutality + of Wirz, the reckless deviltry of Davis, or the stupid malignance of + Barrett, at Florence, his administration was mildness and wisdom itself. + </p> + <p> + He enforced discipline better than any of those named, but has what they + all lacked—executive ability—and he secured results that they + could not possibly attain, and without anything, like the friction that + attended their efforts. I do not remember that any one was shot during our + six weeks' stay at Millen—a circumstance simply remarkable, + since I do not recall a single week passed anywhere else without at least + one murder by the guards. + </p> + <p> + One instance will illustrate the difference of his administration from + that of other prison commandants. He came upon the grounds of our division + one morning, accompanied by a pleasant-faced, intelligent-appearing lad of + about fifteen or sixteen. He said to us: + </p> + <p> + “Gentlemen: (The only instance during our imprisonment when we + received so polite a designation.) This is my son, who will hereafter call + your roll. He will treat you as gentlemen, and I know you will do the same + to him.” + </p> + <p> + This understanding was observed to the letter on both sides. Young Bowes + invariably spoke civilly to us, and we obeyed his orders with a prompt + cheerfulness that left him nothing to complain of. + </p> + <p> + The only charge I have to make against Bowes is made more in detail in + another chapter, and that is, that he took money from well prisoners for + giving them the first chance to go through on the Sick Exchange. How + culpable this was I must leave each reader to decide for himself. I + thought it very wrong at the time, but possibly my views might have been + colored highly by my not having any money wherewith to procure my own + inclusion in the happy lot of the exchanged. + </p> + <p> + Of one thing I am certain: that his acceptance of money to bias his + official action was not singular on his part. I am convinced that every + commandant we had over us—except Wirz—was habitually in the + receipt of bribes from prisoners. I never heard that any one succeeded in + bribing Wirz, and this is the sole good thing I can say of that fellow. + Against this it may be said, however, that he plundered the boys so + effectually on entering the prison as to leave them little of the + wherewithal to bribe anybody. + </p> + <p> + Davis was probably the most unscrupulous bribe-taker of the lot. He + actually received money for permitting prisoners to escape to our lines, + and got down to as low a figure as one hundred dollars for this sort of + service. I never heard that any of the other commandants went this far. + </p> + <p> + The rations issued to us were somewhat better than those of Andersonville, + as the meal was finer and better, though it was absurdedly insufficient in + quantity, and we received no salt. On several occasions fresh beef was + dealt out to us, and each time the excitement created among those who had + not tasted fresh meat for weeks and months was wonderful. On the first + occasion the meat was simply the heads of the cattle killed for the use of + the guards. Several wagon loads of these were brought in and distributed. + We broke them up so that every man got a piece of the bone, which was + boiled and reboiled, as long as a single bubble of grease would rise to + the surface of the water; every vestige of meat was gnawed and scraped + from the surface and then the bone was charred until it crumbled, when it + was eaten. No one who has not experienced it can imagine the inordinate + hunger for animal food of those who had eaten little else than corn bread + for so long. Our exhausted bodies were perishing for lack of proper + sustenance. Nature indicated fresh beef as the best medium to repair the + great damage already done, and our longing for it became beyond + description. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p459" id="p459"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p459.jpg (20K)" src="images/p459.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch60" id="ch60"></a>CHAPTER LX + </h2> + <p> + THE RAIDERS REAPPEAR ON THE SCENE—THE ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE THOSE + WHO WERE CONCERNED IN THE EXECUTION—A COUPLE OF LIVELY FIGHTS, IN + WHICH THE RAIDERS ARE DEFEATED—HOLDING AN ELECTION. + </p> + <p> + Our old antagonists—the Raiders—were present in strong force + in Millen. Like ourselves, they had imagined the departure from + Andersonville was for exchange, and their relations to the Rebels were + such that they were all given a chance to go with the first squads. A + number had been allowed to go with the sailors on the Special Naval + Exchange from Savannah, in the place of sailors and marines who had died. + On the way to Charleston a fight had taken place between them and the real + sailors, during which one of their number—a curly-headed Irishman + named Dailey, who was in such high favor with the Rebels that he was given + the place of driving the ration wagon that came in the North Side at + Andersonville —was killed, and thrown under the wheels of the moving + train, which passed over him. + </p> + <p> + After things began to settle into shape at Millen, they seemed to believe + that they were in such ascendancy as to numbers and organization that they + could put into execution their schemes of vengeance against those of us + who had been active participants in the execution of their confederates at + Andersonville. + </p> + <p> + After some little preliminaries they settled upon Corporal “Wat” + Payne, of my company, as their first victim. The reader will remember + Payne as one of the two Corporals who pulled the trigger to the scaffold + at the time of the execution. + </p> + <p> + Payne was a very good man physically, and was yet in fair condition. The + Raiders came up one day with their best man—Pete Donnelly—and + provoked a fight, intending, in the course of it, to kill Payne. We, who + knew Payee, felt reasonably confident of his ability to handle even so + redoubtable a pugilist as Donnelly, and we gathered together a little + squad of our friends to see fair play. + </p> + <p> + The fight began after the usual amount of bad talk on both sides, and we + were pleased to see our man slowly get the better of the New York + plug-ugly. After several sharp rounds they closed, and still Payne was + ahead, but in an evil moment he spied a pine knot at his feet, which he + thought he could reach, and end the fight by cracking Donnelly's + head with it. Donnelly took instant advantage of the movement to get it, + threw Payne heavily, and fell upon him. His crowd rushed in to finish our + man by clubbing him over the head. We sailed in to prevent this, and after + a rattling exchange of blows all around, succeeded in getting Payne away. + </p> + <p> + The issue of the fight seemed rather against us, however, and the Raiders + were much emboldened. Payne kept close to his crowd after that, and as we + had shown such an entire willingness to stand by him, the Raiders —with + their accustomed prudence when real fighting was involved—did not + attempt to molest him farther, though they talked very savagely. + </p> + <p> + A few days after this Sergeant Goody and Corporal Ned Carrigan, both of + our battalion, came in. I must ask the reader to again recall the fact + that Sergeant Goody was one of the six hangmen who put the meal-sacks over + the heads, and the ropes around the necks of the condemned. Corporal + Carrigan was the gigantic prize fighter, who was universally acknowledged + to be the best man physically among the whole thirty-four thousand in + Andersonville. The Raiders knew that Goody had come in before we of his + own battalion did. They resolved to kill him then and there, and in broad + daylight. He had secured in some way a shelter tent, and was inside of it + fixing it up. The Raider crowd, headed by Pete Donnelly, and Dick Allen, + went up to his tent and one of them called to him: + </p> + <p> + “Sergeant, come out; I want to see you.” + </p> + <p> + Goody, supposing it was one of us, came crawling out on his hands and + knees. As he did so their heavy clubs crashed down upon his head. He was + neither killed nor stunned, as they had reason to expect. He succeeded in + rising to his feet, and breaking through the crowd of assassins. He dashed + down the side of the hill, hotly pursued by them. Coming to the Creek, he + leaped it in his excitement, but his pursuers could not, and were checked. + One of our battalion boys, who saw and comprehended the whole affair, ran + over to us, shouting: + </p> + <p> + “Turn out! turn out, for God's sake! the Raiders are killing + Goody!” + </p> + <p> + We snatched up our clubs and started after the Raiders, but before we + could reach them, Ned Carrigan, who also comprehended what the trouble + was, had run to the side of Goody, armed with a terrible looking club. The + sight of Ned, and the demonstration that he was thoroughly aroused, was + enough for the Raider crew, and they abandoned the field hastily. We did + not feel ourselves strong enough to follow them on to their own dung hill, + and try conclusions with them, but we determined to report the matter to + the Rebel Commandant, from whom we had reason to believe we could expect + assistance. We were right. He sent in a squad of guards, arrested Dick + Allen, Pete Donnelly, and several other ringleaders, took them out and put + them in the stocks in such a manner that they were compelled to lie upon + their stomachs. A shallow tin vessel containing water was placed under + their faces to furnish them drink. + </p> + <p> + They staid there a day and night, and when released, joined the Rebel + Army, entering the artillery company that manned the guns in the fort + covering the prison. I used to imagine with what zeal they would send us + over; a round of shell or grape if they could get anything like an excuse. + </p> + <p> + This gave us good riddance—of our dangerous enemies, and we had + little further trouble with any of them. + </p> + <p> + The depression in the temperature made me very sensible of the + deficiencies in my wardrobe. Unshod feet, a shirt like a fishing net, and + pantaloons as well ventilated as a paling fence might do very well for the + broiling sun at Andersonville and Savannah, but now, with the thermometer + nightly dipping a little nearer the frost line, it became unpleasantly + evident that as garments their office was purely perfunctory; one might + say ornamental simply, if he wanted to be very sarcastic. They were worn + solely to afford convenient quarters for multitudes of lice, and in + deference to the prejudice which has existed since the Fall of Man against + our mingling with our fellow creatures in the attire provided us by + Nature. Had I read Darwin then I should have expected that my long + exposure to the weather would start a fine suit of fur, in the effort of + Nature to adapt, me to my environment. But no more indications of this + appeared than if I had been a hairless dog of Mexico, suddenly + transplanted to more northern latitudes. Providence did not seem to be in + the tempering-the-wind-to-the-shorn-lamb business, as far as I was + concerned. I still retained an almost unconquerable prejudice against + stripping the dead to secure clothes, and so unless exchange or death came + speedily, I was in a bad fix. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p463" id="p463"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p463.jpg (26K)" src="images/p463.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + One morning about day break, Andrews, who had started to go to another + part of the camp, came slipping back in a state of gleeful excitement. At + first I thought he either had found a tunnel or had heard some good news + about exchange. It was neither. He opened his jacket and handed me an + infantry man's blouse, which he had found in the main street, where + it had dropped out of some fellow's bundle. We did not make any + extra exertion to find the owner. Andrews was in sore need of clothes + himself, but my necessities were so much greater that the generous fellow + thought of my wants first. We examined the garment with as much interest + as ever a belle bestowed on a new dress from Worth's. It was in fair + preservation, but the owner had cut the buttons off to trade to the guard, + doubtless for a few sticks of wood, or a spoonful of salt. We supplied the + place of these with little wooden pins, and I donned the garment as a + shirt and coat and vest, too, for that matter. The best suit I ever put on + never gave me a hundredth part the satisfaction that this did. Shortly + after, I managed to subdue my aversion so far as to take a good shoe which + a one-legged dead man had no farther use for, and a little later a comrade + gave me for the other foot a boot bottom from which he had cut the top to + make a bucket. <br><br> + </p> + <p> + ........................... <br><br> + </p> + <p> + The day of the Presidential election of 1864 approached. The Rebels were + naturally very much interested in the result, as they believed that the + election of McClellan meant compromise and cessation of hostilities, while + the re-election of Lincoln meant prosecution of the War to the bitter end. + The toadying Raiders, who were perpetually hanging around the gate to get + a chance to insinuate themselves into the favor of the Rebel officers, + persuaded them that we were all so bitterly hostile to our Government for + not exchanging us that if we were allowed to vote we would cast an + overwhelming majority in favor of McClellan. + </p> + <p> + The Rebels thought that this might perhaps be used to advantage as + political capital for their friends in the North. They gave orders that we + might, if we chose, hold an election on the same day of the Presidential + election. They sent in some ballot boxes, and we elected Judges of the + Election. + </p> + <p> + About noon of that day Captain Bowes, and a crowd of tightbooted, + broad-hatted Rebel officers, strutted in with the peculiar “Ef-yer-don't-b'lieve—I'm-a-butcher-jest-smell-o'-mebutes” + swagger characteristic of the class. They had come in to see us all voting + for McClellan. Instead, they found the polls surrounded with ticket + pedlers shouting: + </p> + <p> + “Walk right up here now, and get your + Unconditional-Union-Abraham-Lincoln -tickets!” + </p> + <p> + “Here's your straight-haired prosecution-of-the-war ticket.” + </p> + <p> + “Vote the Lincoln ticket; vote to whip the Rebels, and make peace + with them when they've laid down their arms.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't vote a McClellan ticket and gratify Rebels, everywhere,” + etc. + </p> + <p> + The Rebel officers did not find the scene what their fancy painted it, and + turning around they strutted out. + </p> + <p> + When the votes came to be counted out there were over seven thousand for + Lincoln, and not half that many hundred for McClellan. The latter got very + few votes outside the Raider crowd. The same day a similar election was + held in Florence, with like result. Of course this did not indicate that + there was any such a preponderance of Republicans among us. It meant + simply that the Democratic boys, little as they might have liked Lincoln, + would have voted for him a hundred times rather than do anything to please + the Rebels. + </p> + <p> + I never heard that the Rebels sent the result North. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch61" id="ch61"></a>CHAPTER LXI + </h2> + <p> + THE REBELS FORMALLY PROPOSE TO US TO DESERT TO THEM—CONTUMELIOUS + TREATMENT OF THE PROPOSITION—THEIR RAGE—AN EXCITING TIME—AN + OUTBREAK THREATENED—DIFFICULTIES ATTENDING DESERTION TO THE REBELS. + </p> + <p> + One day in November, some little time after the occurrences narrated in + the last chapter, orders came in to make out rolls of all those who were + born outside of the United States, and whose terms of service had expired. + </p> + <p> + We held a little council among ourselves as to the meaning of this, and + concluded that some partial exchange had been agreed on, and the Rebels + were going to send back the class of boys whom they thought would be of + least value to the Government. Acting on this conclusion the great + majority of us enrolled ourselves as foreigners, and as having served out + our terms. I made out the roll of my hundred, and managed to give every + man a foreign nativity. Those whose names would bear it were assigned to + England, Ireland, Scotland France and Germany, and the balance were + distributed through Canada and the West Indies. After finishing the roll + and sending it out, I did not wonder that the Rebels believed the battles + for the Union were fought by foreign mercenaries. The other rolls were + made out in the same way, and I do not suppose that they showed five + hundred native Americans in the Stockade. + </p> + <p> + The next day after sending out the rolls, there came an order that all + those whose names appeared thereon should fall in. We did so, promptly, + and as nearly every man in camp was included, we fell in as for other + purposes, by hundreds and thousands. We were then marched outside, and + massed around a stump on which stood a Rebel officer, evidently waiting to + make us a speech. We awaited his remarks with the greatest impatience, but + He did not begin until the last division had marched out and came to a + parade rest close to the stump. + </p> + <p> + It was the same old story: + </p> + <p> + “Prisoners, you can no longer have any doubt that your Government + has cruelly abandoned you; it makes no efforts to release you, and refuses + all our offers of exchange. We are anxious to get our men back, and have + made every effort to do so, but it refuses to meet us on any reasonable + grounds. Your Secretary of War has said that the Government can get along + very well without you, and General Halleck has said that you were nothing + but a set of blackberry pickers and coffee boilers anyhow. + </p> + <p> + “You've already endured much more than it could expect of you; + you served it faithfully during the term you enlisted for, and now, when + it is through with you, it throws you aside to starve and die. You also + can have no doubt that the Southern Confederacy is certain to succeed in + securing its independence. It will do this in a few months. It now offers + you an opportunity to join its service, and if you serve it faithfully to + the end, you will receive the same rewards as the rest of its soldiers. + You will be taken out of here, be well clothed and fed, given a good + bounty, and, at the conclusion of the War receive a land warrant for a + nice farm. If you”— + </p> + <p> + But we had heard enough. The Sergeant of our division—a man with a + stentorian voice sprang out and shouted: + </p> + <p> + “Attention, first Division!” + </p> + <p> + We Sergeants of hundreds repeated the command down the line. Shouted he: + </p> + <p> + “First Division, about—” + </p> + <p> + Said we: + </p> + <p> + “First Hundred, about—” + </p> + <p> + “Second Hundred, about—” + </p> + <p> + “Third Hundred, about—” + </p> + <p> + “Fourth Hundred, about—” etc., etc. + </p> + <p> + Said he:— + </p> + <p> + “FACE!!” + </p> + <p> + Ten Sergeants repeated “Face!” one after the other, and each + man in the hundreds turned on his heel. Then our leader commanded— + </p> + <p> + “First Division, forward! MARCH!” and we strode back into the + Stockade, followed immediately by all the other divisions, leaving the + orator still standing on the stump. + </p> + <p> + The Rebels were furious at this curt way of replying. We had scarcely + reached our quarters when they came in with several companies, with loaded + guns and fixed bayonets. They drove us out of our tents and huts, into one + corner, under the pretense of hunting axes and spades, but in reality to + steal our blankets, and whatever else they could find that they wanted, + and to break down and injure our huts, many of which, costing us days of + patient labor, they destroyed in pure wantonness. + </p> + <p> + We were burning with the bitterest indignation. A tall, slender man named + Lloyd, a member of the Sixty-First Ohio—a rough, uneducated fellow, + but brim full of patriotism and manly common sense, jumped up on a stump + and poured out his soul in rude but fiery eloquence: “Comrades,” + he said, “do not let the blowing of these Rebel whelps discourage + you; pay no attention to the lies they have told you to-day; you know well + that our Government is too honorable and just to desert any one who serves + it; it has not deserted us; their hell-born Confederacy is not going to + succeed. I tell you that as sure as there is a God who reigns and judges + in Israel, before the Spring breezes stir the tops of these blasted old + pines their Confederacy and all the lousy graybacks who support it will be + so deep in hell that nothing but a search warrant from the throne of God + Almighty can ever find it again. And the glorious old Stars and Stripes—” + </p> + <p> + Here we began cheering tremendously. A Rebel Captain came running up, said + to the guard, who was leaning on his gun, gazing curiously at Lloyd: + </p> + <p> + “What in —— are you standing gaping there for? Why don't + you shoot the —— —— Yankee son—— + — - ——-?” and snatching the gun away from him, + cocked and leveled it at Lloyd, but the boys near jerked the speaker down + from the stump and saved his life. + </p> + <p> + We became fearfully, wrought up. Some of the more excitable shouted out to + charge on the line of guards, snatch they guns away from them, and force + our way through the gate The shouts were taken up by others, and, as if in + obedience to the suggestion, we instinctively formed in line-of-battle + facing the guards. A glance down the line showed me an array of desperate, + tensely drawn faces, such as one sees who looks a men when they are + summoning up all their resolution for some deed of great peril. The Rebel + officers hastily retreated behind the line of guards, whose faces + blanched, but they leveled the muskets and prepared to receive us. + </p> + <p> + Captain Bowes, who was overlooking the prison from an elevation outside, + had, however, divined the trouble at the outset, an was preparing to meet + it. The gunners, who had shotted the pieces and trained them upon us when + we came out to listen t the speech, had again covered us with them, and + were ready to sweep the prison with grape and canister at the instant of + command. The long roll was summoning the infantry regiments back into + line, and some of the cooler-headed among us pointed these facts out and + succeeded in getting the line to dissolve again into groups of muttering, + sullen-faced men. When this was done, the guards marched out, by a + cautious indirect maneuver, so as not to turn their backs to us. + </p> + <p> + It was believed that we had some among us who would like to avail + themselves of the offer of the Rebels, and that they would try to inform + the Rebels of their desires by going to the gate during the night and + speaking to the Officer-of-the-Guard. A squad armed themselves with clubs + and laid in wait for these. They succeeded in catching several —snatching + some of then back even after they had told the guard their wishes in a + tone so loud that all near could hear distinctly. The Officer-of-the-Guard + rushed in two or three times in a vain attempt to save the would be + deserter from the cruel hands that clutched him and bore him away to where + he had a lesson in loyalty impressed upon the fleshiest part of his person + by a long, flexible strip of pine wielded by very willing hands. + </p> + <p> + After this was kept up for several nights different ideas began I to + prevail. It was felt that if a man wanted to join the Rebels, the best way + was to let him go and get rid of him. He was of no benefit to the + Government, and would be of none to the Rebels. After this no restriction + was put upon any one who desired to go outside and take the oath. But very + few did so, however, and these were wholly confined to the Raider crowd. + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch62" id="ch62"></a>CHAPTER LXII. + </h2> + <p> + SERGEANT LEROY L. KEY—HIS ADVENTURES SUBSEQUENT TO THE EXECUTIONS + —HE GOES OUTSIDE AT ANDERSONVILLE ON PAROLE—LABORS IN THE + COOK-HOUSE —ATTEMPTS TO ESCAPE—IS RECAPTURED AND TAKEN TO + MACON—ESCAPES FROM THERE, BUT IS COMPELLED TO RETURN—IS + FINALLY EXCHANGED AT SAVANNAH. <br><br><br> <a name="p472" id="p472"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p472.jpg (29K)" src="images/p472.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + Leroy L. Key, the heroic Sergeant of Company M, Sixteenth Illinois + Cavalry, who organized and led the Regulators at Andersonville in their + successful conflict with and defeat of the Raiders, and who presided at + the execution of the six condemned men on the 11th of July, furnishes, at + the request of the author, the following story of his prison career + subsequent to that event: + </p> + <p> + On the 12th day of July, 1864, the day after the hanging of the six + Raiders, by the urgent request of my many friends (of whom you were one), + I sought and obtained from Wirz a parole for myself and the six brave men + who assisted as executioners of those desperados. It seemed that you were + all fearful that we might, after what had been done, be assassinated if we + remained in the Stockade; and that we might be overpowered, perhaps, by + the friends of the Raiders we had hanged, at a time possibly, when you + would not be on hand to give us assistance, and thus lose our lives for + rendering the help we did in getting rid of the worst pestilence we had to + contend with. + </p> + <p> + On obtaining my parole I was very careful to have it so arranged and + mutually understood, between Wirz and myself, that at any time that my + squad (meaning the survivors of my comrades, with whom I was originally + captured) was sent away from Andersonville, either to be exchanged or to + go to another prison, that I should be allowed to go with them. This was + agreed to, and so written in my parole which I carried until it absolutely + wore out. I took a position in the cook-house, and the other boys either + went to work there, or at the hospital or grave-yard as occasion required. + I worked here, and did the best I could for the many starving wretches + inside, in the way of preparing their food, until the eighth day of + September, at which time, if you remember, quite a train load of men were + removed, as many of us thought, for the purpose of exchange; but, as we + afterwards discovered, to be taken to another prison. Among the crowd so + removed was my squad, or, at least, a portion of them, being my intimate + mess-mates while in the Stockade. As soon as I found this to be the case I + waited on Wirz at his office, and asked permission to go with them, which + he refused, stating that he was compelled to have men at the cookhouse to + cook for those in the Stockade until they were all gone or exchanged. I + reminded him of the condition in my parole, but this only had the effect + of making him mad, and he threatened me with the stocks if I did not go + back and resume work. I then and there made up my mind to attempt my + escape, considering that the parole had first been broken by the man that + granted it. + </p> + <p> + On inquiry after my return to the cook-house, I found four other boys who + were also planning an escape, and who were only too glad to get me to join + them and take charge of the affair. Our plans were well laid and well + executed, as the sequel will prove, and in this particular my own + experience in the endeavor to escape from Andersonville is not entirely + dissimilar from yours, though it had different results. I very much regret + that in the attempt I lost my penciled memorandum, in which it was my + habit to chronicle what went on around me daily, and where I had the names + of my brave comrades who made the effort to escape with me. Unfortunately, + I cannot now recall to memory the name of one of them or remember to what + commands they belonged. + </p> + <p> + I knew that our greatest risk was run in eluding the guards, and that in + the morning we should be compelled to cheat the blood-hounds. The first we + managed to do very well, not without many hairbreadth escapes, however; + but we did succeed in getting through both lines of guards, and found + ourselves in the densest pine forest I ever saw. We traveled, as nearly as + we could judge, due north all night until daylight. From our fatigue and + bruises, and the long hours that had elapsed since 8 o'clock, the + time of our starting, we thought we had come not less than twelve or + fifteen miles. Imagine our surprise and mortification, then, when we could + plainly hear the reveille, and almost the Sergeant's voice calling + the roll, while the answers of “Here!” were perfectly + distinct. We could not possibly have been more than a mile, or a + mile-and-a-half at the farthest, from the Stockade. + </p> + <p> + Our anxiety and mortification were doubled when at the usual hour—as + we supposed—we heard the well-known and long-familiar sound of the + hunter's horn, calling his hounds to their accustomed task of making + the circuit of the Stockade, for the purpose of ascertaining whether or + not any “Yankee” had had the audacity to attempt an escape. + The hounds, anticipating, no doubt, this usual daily work, gave forth glad + barks of joy at being thus called forth to duty. We heard them start, as + was usual, from about the railroad depot (as we imagined), but the sounds + growing fainter and fainter gave us a little hope that our trail had been + missed. Only a short time, however, were we allowed this pleasant + reflection, for ere long—it could not have been more than an hour—we + could plainly see that they were drawing nearer and nearer. They finally + appeared so close that I advised the boys to climb a tree or sapling in + order to keep the dogs from biting them, and to be ready to surrender when + the hunters came up, hoping thus to experience as little misery as + possible, and not dreaming but that we were caught. On, on came the + hounds, nearer and nearer still, till we imagined that we could see the + undergrowth in the forest shaking by coming in contact with their bodies. + Plainer and plainer came the sound of the hunter's voice urging them + forward. Our hearts were in our throats, and in the terrible excitement we + wondered if it could be possible for Providence to so arrange it that the + dogs would pass us. This last thought, by some strange fancy, had taken + possession of me, and I here frankly acknowledge that I believed it would + happen. Why I believed it, God only knows. My excitement was so great, + indeed, that I almost lost sight of our danger, and felt like shouting to + the dogs myself, while I came near losing my hold on the tree in which I + was hidden. By chance I happened to look around at my nearest neighbor in + distress. His expression was sufficient to quell any enthusiasm I might + have had, and I, too, became despondent. In a very few minutes our + suspense was over. The dogs came within not less than three hundred yards + of us, and we could even see one of them, God in Heaven can only imagine + what great joy was then, brought to our aching hearts, for almost + instantly upon coming into sight, the hounds struck off on a different + trail, and passed us. Their voices became fainter and fainter, until + finally we could hear them no longer. About noon, however, they were + called back and taken to camp, but until that time not one of us left our + position in the trees. + </p> + <p> + When we were satisfied that we were safe for the present, we descended to + the ground to get what rest we could, in order to be prepared for the + night's march, having previously agreed to travel at night and sleep + in the day time. “Our Father, who art in Heaven,” etc., were + the first words that escaped my lips, and the first thoughts that came to + my mind as I landed on terra firma. Never before, or since, had I + experienced such a profound reverence for Almighty God, for I firmly + believe that only through some mighty invisible power were we at that time + delivered from untold tortures. Had we been found, we might have been torn + and mutilated by the dogs, or, taken back to Andersonville, have suffered + for days or perhaps weeks in the stocks or chain gang, as the humor of + Wirz might have dictated at the time—either of which would have been + almost certain death. + </p> + <p> + It was very fortunate for us that before our escape from Andersonville we + were detailed at the cook-house, for by this means we were enabled to + bring away enough food to live for several days without the necessity of + theft. Each one of us had our haversacks full of such small delicacies as + it was possible for us to get when we started, these consisting of corn + bread and fat bacon—nothing less, nothing more. Yet we managed to + subsist comfortably until our fourth day out, when we happened to come + upon a sweet potato patch, the potatos in which had not been dug. In a + very short space of time we were all well supplied with this article, and + lived on them raw during that day and the next night. + </p> + <p> + Just at evening, in going through a field, we suddenly came across three + negro men, who at first sight of us showed signs of running, thinking, as + they told us afterward, that we were the “patrols.” After + explaining to them who we were and our condition, they took us to a very + quiet retreat in the woods, and two of them went off, stating that they + would soon be back. In a very short time they returned laden with well + cooked provisions, which not only gave us a good supper, but supplied us + for the next day with all that we wanted. They then guided us on our way + for several miles, and left us, after having refused compensation for what + they had done. + </p> + <p> + We continued to travel in this way for nine long weary nights, and on the + morning of the tenth day, as we were going into the woods to hide as + usual, a little before daylight, we came to a small pond at which there + was a negro boy watering two mules before hitching them to a cane mill, it + then being cane grinding time in Georgia. He saw us at the same time we + did him, and being frightened put whip to the animals and ran off. We + tried every way to stop him, but it was no use. He had the start of us. We + were very fearful of the consequences of this mishap, but had no remedy, + and being very tired, could do nothing else but go into the woods, go to + sleep and trust to luck. + </p> + <p> + The next thing I remembered was being punched in the ribs by my comrade + nearest to me, and aroused with the remark, “We are gone up.” + On opening my eyes, I saw four men, in citizens' dress, each of whom + had a shot gun ready for use. We were ordered to get up. The first + question asked us was: + </p> + <p> + “Who are you.” + </p> + <p> + This was spoken in so mild a tone as to lead me to believe that we might + possibly be in the hands of gentlemen, if not indeed in those of friends. + It was some time before any one answered. The boys, by their looks and the + expression of their countenances, seemed to appeal to me for a reply to + get them out of their present dilemma, if possible. Before I had time to + collect my thoughts, we were startled by these words, coming from the same + man that had asked the original question: + </p> + <p> + “You had better not hesitate, for we have an idea who you are, and + should it prove that we are correct, it will be the worse for you.” + </p> + <p> + “'Who do you think we are?' I inquired.” + </p> + <p> + “'Horse thieves and moss-backs,' was the reply.” + </p> + <p> + I jumped at the conclusion instantly that in order to save our lives, we + had better at once own the truth. In a very few words I told them who we + were, where we were from, how long we had been on the road, etc. At this + they withdrew a short distance from us for consultation, leaving us for + the time in terrible suspense as to what our fate might be. Soon, how + ever, they returned and informed us that they would be compelled to take + us to the County Jail, to await further orders from the Military Commander + of the District. While they were talking together, I took a hasty + inventory of what valuables we had on hand. I found in the crowd four + silver watches, about three hundred dollars in Confederate money, and + possibly, about one hundred dollars in greenbacks. Before their return, I + told the boys to be sure not to refuse any request I should make. Said I: + </p> + <p> + “'Gentlemen, we have here four silver watches and several + hundred dollars in Confederate money and greenbacks, all of which we now + offer you, if you will but allow us to proceed on our journey, we taking + our own chances in the future.'” + </p> + <p> + This proposition, to my great surprise, was refused. I thought then that + possibly I had been a little indiscreet in exposing our valuables, but in + this I was mistaken, for we had, indeed, fallen into the hands of + gentlemen, whose zeal for the Lost Cause was greater than that for + obtaining worldly wealth, and who not only refused the bribe, but took us + to a well-furnished and well-supplied farm house close by, gave us an + excellent breakfast, allowing us to sit at the table in a beautiful + dining-room, with a lady at the head, filled our haversacks with good, + wholesome food, and allowed us to keep our property, with an admonition to + be careful how we showed it again. We were then put into a wagon and taken + to Hamilton, a small town, the county seat of Hamilton County, Georgia, + and placed in jail, where we remained for two days and nights —fearing, + always, that the jail would be burned over our heads, as we heard frequent + threats of that nature, by the mob on the streets. But the same kind + Providence that had heretofore watched over us, seemed not to have + deserted us in this trouble. + </p> + <p> + One of the days we were confined at this place was Sunday, and some + kind-hearted lady or ladies (I only wish I knew their names, as well as + those of the gentlemen who had us first in charge, so that I could + chronicle them with honor here) taking compassion upon our forlorn + condition, sent us a splendid dinner on a very large china platter. + Whether it was done intentionally or not, we never learned, but it was a + fact, however, that there was not a knife, fork or spoon upon the dish, + and no table to set it upon. It was placed on the floor, around which we + soon gathered, and, with grateful hearts, we “got away” with + it all, in an incredibly short space of time, while many men and boys + looked on, enjoying our ludicrous attitudes and manners. + </p> + <p> + From here we were taken to Columbus, Ga., and again placed in jail, and in + the charge of Confederate soldiers. We could easily see that we were + gradually getting into hot water again, and that, ere many days, we would + have to resume our old habits in prison. Our only hope now was that we + would not be returned to Andersonville, knowing well that if we got back + into the clutches of Wirz our chances for life would be slim indeed. From + Columbus we were sent by rail to Macon, where we were placed in a prison + somewhat similar to Andersonville, but of nothing like its pretensions to + security. I soon learned that it was only used as a kind of reception + place for the prisoners who were captured in small squads, and when they + numbered two or three hundred, they would be shipped to Andersonville, or + some other place of greater dimensions and strength. What became of the + other boys who were with me, after we got to Macon, I do not know, for I + lost sight of them there. The very next day after our arrival, there were + shipped to Andersonville from this prison between two and three hundred + men. I was called on to go with the crowd, but having had a sufficient + experience of the hospitality of that hotel, I concluded to play “old + soldier,” so I became too sick to travel. In this way I escaped + being sent off four different times. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile, quite a large number of commissioned officers had been sent up + from Charleston to be exchanged at Rough and Ready. With them were about + forty more than the cartel called for, and they were left at Macon for ten + days or two weeks. Among these officers were several of my acquaintance, + one being Lieut. Huntly of our regiment (I am not quite sure that I am + right in the name of this officer, but I think I am), through whose + influence I was allowed to go outside with them on parole. It was while + enjoying this parole that I got more familiarly acquainted with Captain + Hurtell, or Hurtrell, who was in command of the prison at Macon, and to + his honor, I here assert, that he was the only gentleman and the only + officer that had the least humane feeling in his breast, who ever had + charge of me while a prisoner of war after we were taken out of the hands + of our original captors at Jonesville, Va. + </p> + <p> + It now became very evident that the Rebels were moving the prisoners from + Andersonville and elsewhere, so as to place them beyond the reach of + Sherman and Stoneman. At my present place of confinement the fear of our + recapture had also taken possession of the Rebel authorities, so the + prisoners were sent off in much smaller squads than formerly, frequently + not more than ten or fifteen in a gang, whereas, before, they never + thought of dispatching less than two or three hundred together. I + acknowledge that I began to get very uneasy, fearful that the “old + soldier” dodge would not be much longer successful, and I would be + forced back to my old haunts. It so happened, however, that I managed to + make it serve me, by getting detailed in the prison hospital as nurse, so + that I was enabled to play another “dodge” upon the Rebel + officers. At first, when the Sergeant would come around to find out who + were able to walk, with assistance, to the depot, I was shaking with a + chill, which, according to my representation, had not abated in the least + for several hours. My teeth were actually chattering at the time, for I + had learned how to make them do so. I was passed. The next day the orders + for removal were more stringent than had yet been issued, stating that all + who could stand it to be removed on stretchers must go. I concluded at + once that I was gone, so as soon as I learned how matters were, I got out + from under my dirty blanket, stood up and found I was able to walk, to my + great astonishment, of course. An officer came early in the morning to + muster us into ranks preparatory for removal. I fell in with the rest. We + were marched out and around to the gate of the prison. + </p> + <p> + Now, it so happened that just as we neared the gate of the prison, the + prisoners were being marched from the Stockade. The officer in charge of + us—we numbering possibly about ten—undertook to place us at + the head of the column coming out, but the guard in charge of that squad + refused to let him do so. We were then ordered to stand at one side with + no guard over us but the officer who had brought us from the Hospital. + </p> + <p> + Taking this in at a glance, I concluded that now was my chance to make my + second attempt to escape. I stepped behind the gate office (a small frame + building with only one room), which was not more than six feet from me, + and as luck (or Providence) would have it, the negro man whose duty it + was, as I knew, to wait on and take care of this office, and who had taken + quite a liking for me, was standing at the back door. I winked at him and + threw him my blanket and the cup, at the same time telling him in a + whisper to hide them away for me until he heard from me again. With a grin + and a nod, he accepted the trust, and I started down along the walls of + the Stockade alone. In order to make this more plain, and to show what a + risk I was running at the time, I will state that between the Stockade and + a brick wall, fully as high as the Stockade fence that was parallel with + it, throughout its entire length on that side, there was a space of not + more than thirty feet. On the outside of this Stockade was a platform, + built for the guards to walk on, sufficiently clear the top to allow them + to look inside with ease, and on this side, on the platform, were three + guards. I had traveled about fifty feet only, from the gate office, when I + heard the command to “Halt!” I did so, of course. + </p> + <p> + “Where are you going, you d—-d Yank?” said the guard. + <br><br><br><br> <a name="p482" id="p482"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p482.jpg (43K)" src="images/p482.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + “Going after my clothes, that are over there in the wash,” + pointing to a small cabin just beyond the Stockade, where I happened to + know that the officers had their washing done. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, yes,” said he; “you are one of the Yank's + that's been on, parole, are you?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, hurry up, or you will get left.” + </p> + <p> + The other guards heard this conversation and thinking it all right I was + allowed to pass without further trouble. I went to the cabin in question—for + I saw the last guard on the line watching me, and boldly entered. I made a + clear statement to the woman in charge of it about how I had made my + escape, and asked her to secrete me in the house until night. I was soon + convinced, however, from what she told me, as well as from my own + knowledge of how things were managed in the Confederacy, that it would not + be right for me to stay there, for if the house was searched and I found + in it, it would be the worse for her. Therefore, not wishing to entail + misery upon another, I begged her to give me something to eat, and going + to the swamp near by, succeeded in getting well without detection. + </p> + <p> + I lay there all day, and during the time had a very severe chill and + afterwards a burning fever, so that when night came, knowing I could not + travel, I resolved to return to the cabin and spend the night, and give + myself up the next morning. There was no trouble in returning. I learned + that my fears of the morning had not been groundless, for the guards had + actually searched the house for me. The woman told them that I had got my + clothes and left the house shortly after my entrance (which was the truth + except the part about the clothes), I thanked her very kindly and begged + to be allowed to stay in the cabin till morning, when I would present + myself at Captain H.'s office and suffer the consequences. This she + allowed me to do. I shall ever feel grateful to this woman for her + protection. She was white and her given name was “Sallie,” but + the other I have forgotten. + </p> + <p> + About daylight I strolled over near the office and looked around there + until I saw the Captain take his seat at his desk. I stepped into the door + as soon as I saw that he was not occupied and saluted him “a la + militaire.” + </p> + <p> + “Who are you?” he asked; “you look like a Yank.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sir,” said I, “I am called by that name since I + was captured in the Federal Army.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, what are you doing here, and what is your name?” + </p> + <p> + I told him. + </p> + <p> + “Why didn't you answer to your name when it was called at the + gate yesterday, sir?” + </p> + <p> + “I never heard anyone call my name. Where were you?” + </p> + <p> + “I ran away down into the swamp.” + </p> + <p> + “Were you re-captured and brought back?” + </p> + <p> + “No, sir, I came back of my own accord.” + </p> + <p> + “What do you mean by this evasion?” + </p> + <p> + “I am not trying to evade, sir, or I might not have been here now. + The truth is, Captain, I have been in many prisons since my capture, and + have been treated very badly in all of them, until I came here.” + </p> + <p> + “I then explained to him freely my escape from Andersonville, and my + subsequent re-capture, how it was that I had played 'old soldier' + etc.” + </p> + <p> + “Now,” said I, “Captain, as long as I am a prisoner of + war, I wish to stay with you, or under your command. This is my reason for + running away yesterday, when I felt confident that if I did not do so I + would be returned under Wirz's command, and, if I had been so + returned, I would have killed myself rather than submit to the untold + tortures which he would have put me to, for having the audacity to attempt + an escape from him.” + </p> + <p> + The Captain's attention was here called to some other matters in + hand, and I was sent back into the Stockade with a command very pleasantly + given, that I should stay there until ordered out, which I very gratefully + promised to do, and did. This was the last chance I ever had to talk to + Captain Hurtrell, to my great sorrow, for I had really formed a liking for + the man, notwithstanding the fact that he was a Rebel, and a commander of + prisoners. + </p> + <p> + The next day we all had to leave Macon. Whether we were able or not, the + order was imperative. Great was my joy when I learned that we were on the + way to Savannah and not to Andersonville. We traveled over the same road, + so well described in one of your articles on Andersonville, and arrived in + Savannah sometime in the afternoon of the 21st day of November, 1864. Our + squad was placed in some barracks and confined there until the next day. I + was sick at the time, so sick in fact, that I could hardly hold my head + up. Soon after, we were taken to the Florida depot, as they told us, to be + shipped to some prison in those dismal swamps. I came near fainting when + this was told to us, for I was confident that I could not survive another + siege of prison life, if it was anything to compare to-what I had already + suffered. When we arrived at the depot, it was raining. The officer in + charge of us wanted to know what train to put us on, for there were two, + if not three, trains waiting orders to start. He was told to march us on + to a certain flat car, near by, but before giving the order he demanded a + receipt for us, which the train officer refused. We were accordingly taken + back to our quarters, which proved to be a most fortunate circumstance. + </p> + <p> + On the 23d day of November, to our great relief, we were called upon to + sign a parole preparatory to being sent down the river on the flat-boat to + our exchange ships, then lying in the harbor. When I say we, I mean those + of us that had recently come from Macon, and a few others, who had also + been fortunate in reaching Savannah in small squads. The other poor + fellows, who had already been loaded on the trains, were taken away to + Florida, and many of them never lived to return. On the 24th those of us + who had been paroled were taken on board our ships, and were once more + safely housed under that great, glorious and beautiful Star Spangled + Banner. Long may she wave. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch63" id="ch63"></a>CHAPTER LXIII. + </h2> + <p> + DREARY WEATHER—THE COLD RAINS DISTRESS ALL AND KILL HUNDREDS—EXCHANGE + OF TEN THOUSAND SICK—CAPTAIN BOWES TURNS A PRETTY, BUT NOT VERY + HONEST, PENNY. + </p> + <p> + As November wore away long-continued, chill, searching rains desolated our + days and nights. The great, cold drops pelted down slowly, dismally, and + incessantly. Each seemed to beat through our emaciated frames against the + very marrow of our bones, and to be battering its way remorselessly into + the citadel of life, like the cruel drops that fell from the basin of the + inquisitors upon the firmly-fastened head of their victim, until his + reason fled, and the death-agony cramped his heart to stillness. + </p> + <p> + The lagging, leaden hours were inexpressibly dreary. Compared with many + others, we were quite comfortable, as our hut protected us from the actual + beating of the rain upon our bodies; but we were much more miserable than + under the sweltering heat of Andersonville, as we lay almost naked upon + our bed of pine leaves, shivering in the raw, rasping air, and looked out + over acres of wretches lying dumbly on the sodden sand, receiving the + benumbing drench of the sullen skies without a groan or a motion. + </p> + <p> + It was enough to kill healthy, vigorous men, active and resolute, with + bodies well-nourished and well clothed, and with minds vivacious and + hopeful, to stand these day-and-night-long solid drenchings. No one can + imagine how fatal it was to boys whose vitality was sapped by long months + in Andersonville, by coarse, meager, changeless food, by groveling on the + bare earth, and by hopelessness as to any improvement of condition. + </p> + <p> + Fever, rheumatism, throat and lung diseases and despair now came to + complete the work begun by scurvy, dysentery and gangrene, in + Andersonville. + </p> + <p> + Hundreds, weary of the long struggle, and of hoping against hope, laid + themselves down and yielded to their fate. In the six weeks that we were + at Millen, one man in every ten died. The ghostly pines there sigh over + the unnoted graves of seven hundred boys, for whom life's morning + closed in the gloomiest shadows. As many as would form a splendid regiment—as + many as constitute the first born of a populous City—more than three + times as many as were slain outright on our side in the bloody battle of + Franklin, succumbed to this new hardship. The country for which they died + does not even have a record of their names. They were simply blotted out + of existence; they became as though they had never been. + </p> + <p> + About the middle of the month the Rebels yielded to the importunities of + our Government so far as to agree to exchange ten thousand sick. The Rebel + Surgeons took praiseworthy care that our Government should profit as + little as possible by this, by sending every hopeless case, every man + whose lease of life was not likely to extend much beyond his reaching the + parole boat. If he once reached our receiving officers it was all that was + necessary; he counted to them as much as if he had been a Goliath. A very + large portion of those sent through died on the way to our lines, or + within a few hours after their transports at being once more under the old + Stars and Stripes had moderated. + </p> + <p> + The sending of the sick through gave our commandant—Captain Bowes—a + fine opportunity to fill his pockets, by conniving at the passage of well + men. There was still considerable money in the hands of a few prisoners. + All this, and more, too, were they willing to give for their lives. In the + first batch that went away were two of the leading sutlers at + Andersonville, who had accumulated perhaps one thousand dollars each by + their shrewd and successful bartering. It was generally believed that they + gave every cent to Bowes for the privilege of leaving. I know nothing of + the truth of this, but I am reasonably certain that they paid him very + handsomely. + </p> + <p> + Soon we heard that one hundred and fifty dollars each had been sufficient + to buy some men out; then one hundred, seventy-five, fifty, thirty, + twenty, ten, and at last five dollars. Whether the upright Bowes drew the + line at the latter figure, and refused to sell his honor for less than the + ruling rates of a street-walker's virtue, I know not. It was the + lowest quotation that came to my knowledge, but he may have gone cheaper. + I have always observed that when men or women begin to traffic in + themselves, their price falls as rapidly as that of a piece of tainted + meat in hot weather. If one could buy them at the rate they wind up with, + and sell them at their first price, there would be room for an enormous + profit. + </p> + <p> + The cheapest I ever knew a Rebel officer to be bought was some weeks after + this at Florence. The sick exchange was still going on. I have before + spoken of the Rebel passion for bright gilt buttons. It used to be a + proverbial comment upon the small treasons that were of daily occurrence + on both sides, that you could buy the soul of a mean man in our crowd for + a pint of corn meal, and the soul of a Rebel guard for a half dozen brass + buttons. A boy of the Fifth-fourth Ohio, whose home was at or near Lima, + O., wore a blue vest, with the gilt, bright-trimmed buttons of a staff + officer. The Rebel Surgeon who was examining the sick for exchange saw the + buttons and admired them very much. The boy stepped back, borrowed a knife + from a comrade, cut the buttons off, and handed them to the Doctor. + </p> + <p> + “All right, sir,” said he as his itching palm closed over the + coveted ornaments; “you can pass,” and pass he did to home and + friends. + </p> + <p> + Captain Bowes's merchandizing in the matter of exchange was as open + as the issuing of rations. His agent in conducting the bargaining was a + Raider—a New York gambler and stool-pigeon—whom we called + “Mattie.” He dealt quite fairly, for several times when the + exchange was interrupted, Bowes sent the money back to those who had paid + him, and received it again when the exchange was renewed. + </p> + <p> + Had it been possible to buy our way out for five cents each Andrews and I + would have had to stay back, since we had not had that much money for + months, and all our friends were in an equally bad plight. Like almost + everybody else we had spent the few dollars we happened to have on + entering prison, in a week or so, and since then we had been entirely + penniless. + </p> + <p> + There was no hope left for us but to try to pass the Surgeons as + desperately sick, and we expended our energies in simulating this + condition. Rheumatism was our forte, and I flatter myself we got up two + cases that were apparently bad enough to serve as illustrations for a + patent medicine advertisement. But it would not do. Bad as we made our + condition appear, there were so many more who were infinitely worse, that + we stood no show in the competitive examination. I doubt if we would have + been given an average of “50” in a report. We had to stand + back, and see about one quarter of our number march out and away home. We + could not complain at this—much as we wanted to go ourselves, since + there could be no question that these poor fellows deserved the + precedence. We did grumble savagely, however, at Captain Bowes's + venality, in selling out chances to moneyed men, since these were + invariably those who were best prepared to withstand the hardships of + imprisonment, as they were mostly new men, and all had good clothes and + blankets. We did not blame the men, however, since it was not in human + nature to resist an opportunity to get away—at any cost-from that + accursed place. “All that a man hath he will give for his life,” + and I think that if I had owned the City of New York in fee simple, I + would have given it away willingly, rather than stand in prison another + month. + </p> + <p> + The sutlers, to whom I have alluded above, had accumulated sufficient to + supply themselves with all the necessaries and some of the comforts of + life, during any probable term of imprisonment, and still have a snug + amount left, but they, would rather give it all up and return to service + with their regiments in the field, than take the chances of any longer + continuance in prison. + </p> + <p> + I can only surmise how much Bowes realized out of the prisoners by his + venality, but I feel sure that it could not have been less than three + thousand dollars, and I would not be astonished to learn that it was ten + thousand dollars in green. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch64" id="ch64"></a>CHAPTER LXIV + </h2> + <p> + ANOTHER REMOVAL—SHERMAN'S ADVANCE SCARES THE REBELS INTO + RUNNING US AWAY FROM MILLEN—WE ARE TAKEN TO SAVANNAH, AND THENCE + DOWN THE ATLANTIC & GULF ROAD TO BLACKSHEAR + </p> + <p> + One night, toward the last of November, there was a general alarm around + the prison. A gun was fired from the Fort, the long-roll was beaten in the + various camps of the guards, and the regiments answered by getting under + arms in haste, and forming near the prison gates. + </p> + <p> + The reason for this, which we did not learn until weeks later, was that + Sherman, who had cut loose from Atlanta and started on his famous March to + the Sea, had taken such a course as rendered it probable that Millen was + one of his objective points. It was, therefore, necessary that we should + be hurried away with all possible speed. As we had had no news from + Sherman since the end of the Atlanta campaign, and were ignorant of his + having begun his great raid, we were at an utter loss to account for the + commotion among our keepers. + </p> + <p> + About 3 o'clock in the morning the Rebel Sergeants, who called the + roll, came in and ordered us to turn out immediately and get ready to + move. + </p> + <p> + The morning was one of the most cheerless I ever knew. A cold rain poured + relentlessly down upon us half-naked, shivering wretches, as we groped + around in the darkness for our pitiful little belongings of rags and + cooking utensils, and huddled together in groups, urged on continually by + the curses and abuse of the Rebel officers sent in to get us ready to + move. + </p> + <p> + Though roused at 3 o'clock, the cars were not ready to receive us + till nearly noon. In the meantime we stood in ranks—numb, trembling, + and heart-sick. The guards around us crouched over fires, and shielded + themselves as best they could with blankets and bits of tent cloth. We had + nothing to build fires with, and were not allowed to approach those of the + guards. + </p> + <p> + Around us everywhere was the dull, cold, gray, hopeless desolation of the + approach of minter. The hard, wiry grass that thinly covered the once and + sand, the occasional stunted weeds, and the sparse foliage of the gnarled + and dwarfish undergrowth, all were parched brown and sere by the fiery + heat of the long Summer, and now rattled drearily under the pitiless, cold + rain, streaming from lowering clouds that seemed to have floated down to + us from the cheerless summit of some great iceberg; the tall, naked pines + moaned and shivered; dead, sapless leaves fell wearily to the sodden + earth, like withered hopes drifting down to deepen some Slough of Despond. + </p> + <p> + Scores of our crowd found this the culmination of their misery. They laid + down upon the ground and yielded to death as s welcome relief, and we left + them lying there unburied when we moved to the cars. + </p> + <p> + As we passed through the Rebel camp at dawn, on our way to the cars, + Andrews and I noticed a nest of four large, bright, new tin pans—a + rare thing in the Confederacy at that time. We managed to snatch them + without the guard's attention being attracted, and in an instant had + them wrapped up in our blanket. But the blanket was full of holes, and in + spite of all our efforts, it would slip at the most inconvenient times, so + as to show a broad glare of the bright metal, just when it seemed it could + not help attracting the attention of the guards or their officers. A dozen + times at least we were on the imminent brink of detection, but we finally + got our treasures safely to the cars, and sat down upon them. + </p> + <p> + The cars were open flats. The rain still beat down unrelentingly. Andrews + and I huddled ourselves together so as to make our bodies afford as much + heat as possible, pulled our faithful old overcoat around us as far as it + would go, and endured the inclemency as best we could. + </p> + <p> + Our train headed back to Savannah, and again our hearts warmed up with + hopes of exchange. It seemed as if there could be no other purpose of + taking us out of a prison so recently established and at such cost as + Millen. + </p> + <p> + As we approached the coast the rain ceased, but a piercing cold wind set + in, that threatened to convert our soaked rags into icicles. + </p> + <p> + Very many died on the way. When we arrived at Savannah almost, if not + quite, every car had upon it one whom hunger no longer gnawed or disease + wasted; whom cold had pinched for the last time, and for whom the golden + portals of the Beyond had opened for an exchange that neither Davis nor + his despicable tool, Winder, could control. + </p> + <p> + We did not sentimentalize over these. We could not mourn; the thousands + that we had seen pass away made that emotion hackneyed and wearisome; with + the death of some friend and comrade as regularly an event of each day as + roll call and drawing rations, the sentiment of grief had become nearly + obsolete. We were not hardened; we had simply come to look upon death as + commonplace and ordinary. To have had no one dead or dying around us would + have been regarded as singular. + </p> + <p> + Besides, why should we feel any regret at the passing away of those whose + condition would probably be bettered thereby! It was difficult to see + where we who still lived were any better off than they who were gone + before and now “forever at peace, each in his windowless palace of + rest.” If imprisonment was to continue only another month, we would + rather be with them. + </p> + <p> + Arriving at Savannah, we were ordered off the cars. A squad from each car + carried the dead to a designated spot, and land them in a row, composing + their limbs as well as possible, but giving no other funeral rites, not + even making a record of their names and regiments. Negro laborers came + along afterwards, with carts, took the bodies to some vacant ground, and + sunk them out of sight in the sand. + </p> + <p> + We were given a few crackers each—the same rude imitation of “hard + tack” that had been served out to us when we arrived at Savannah the + first time, and then were marched over and put upon a train on the + Atlantic & Gulf Railroad, running from Savannah along the sea coast + towards Florida. What this meant we had little conception, but hope, which + sprang eternal in the prisoner's breast, whispered that perhaps it + was exchange; that there was some difficulty about our vessels coming to + Savannah, and we were being taken to some other more convenient sea port; + probably to Florida, to deliver us to our folks there. We satisfied + ourselves that we were running along the sea coast by tasting the water in + the streams we crossed, whenever we could get an opportunity to dip up + some. As long as the water tasted salty we knew we were near the sea, and + hope burned brightly. + </p> + <p> + The truth was—as we afterwards learned—the Rebels were + terribly puzzled what to do with us. We were brought to Savannah, but that + did not solve the problem; and we were sent down the Atlantic & Gulf + road as a temporary expedient. + </p> + <p> + The railroad was the worst of the many bad ones which it was my fortune to + ride upon in my excursions while a guest of the Southern Confederacy. It + had run down until it had nearly reached the worn-out condition of that + Western road, of which an employee of a rival route once said, “that + all there was left of it now was two streaks of rust and the right of way.” + As it was one of the non-essential roads to the Southern Confederacy, it + was stripped of the best of its rolling-stock and machinery to supply the + other more important lines. + </p> + <p> + I have before mentioned the scarcity of grease in the South, and the + difficulty of supplying the railroads with lubricants. Apparently there + had been no oil on the Atlantic & Gulf since the beginning of the war, + and the screeches of the dry axles revolving in the worn-out boxes were + agonizing. Some thing would break on the cars or blow out on the engine + every few miles, necessitating a long stop for repairs. Then there was no + supply of fuel along the line. When the engine ran out of wood it would + halt, and a couple of negros riding on the tender would assail a panel of + fence or a fallen tree with their axes, and after an hour or such matter + of hard chopping, would pile sufficient wood upon the tender to enable us + to renew our journey. + </p> + <p> + Frequently the engine stopped as if from sheer fatigue or inanition. The + Rebel officers tried to get us to assist it up the grade by dismounting + and pushing behind. We respectfully, but firmly, declined. We were + gentlemen of leisure, we said, and decidedly averse to manual labor; we + had been invited on this excursion by Mr. Jeff. Davis and his friends, who + set themselves up as our entertainers, and it would be a gross breach of + hospitality to reflect upon our hosts by working our passage. If this was + insisted upon, we should certainly not visit them again. Besides, it made + no difference to us whether the train got along or not. We were not losing + anything by the delay; we were not anxious to go anywhere. One part of the + Southern Confederacy was just as good as another to us. So not a finger + could they persuade any of us to raise to help along the journey. + </p> + <p> + The country we were traversing was sterile and poor—worse even than + that in the neighborhood of Andersonville. Farms and farmhouses were + scarce, and of towns there were none. Not even a collection of houses big + enough to justify a blacksmith shop or a store appeared along the whole + route. But few fields of any kind were seen, and nowhere was there a farm + which gave evidence of a determined effort on the part of its occupants to + till the soil and to improve their condition. + </p> + <p> + When the train stopped for wood, or for repairs, or from exhaustion, we + were allowed to descend from the cars and stretch our numbed limbs. It did + us good in other ways, too. It seemed almost happiness to be outside of + those cursed Stockades, to rest our eyes by looking away through the + woods, and seeing birds and animals that were free. They must be happy, + because to us to be free once more was the summit of earthly happiness. + </p> + <p> + There was a chance, too, to pick up something green to eat, and we were + famishing for this. The scurvy still lingered in our systems, and we were + hungry for an antidote. A plant grew rather plentifully along the track + that looked very much as I imagine a palm leaf fan does in its green + state. The leaf was not so large as an ordinary palm leaf fan, and came + directly out of the ground. The natives called it “bull-grass,” + but anything more unlike grass I never saw, so we rejected that + nomenclature, and dubbed them “green fans.” They were very + hard to pull up, it being usually as much as the strongest of us could do + to draw them out of the ground. When pulled up there was found the + smallest bit of a stock—not as much as a joint of one's little + finger—that was eatable. It had no particular taste, and probably + little nutriment, still it was fresh and green, and we strained our weak + muscles and enfeebled sinews at every opportunity, endeavoring to pull up + a “green fan.” + </p> + <p> + At one place where we stopped there was a makeshift of a garden, one of + those sorry “truck patches,” which do poor duty about Southern + cabins for the kitchen gardens of the Northern, farmers, and produce a few + coarse cow peas, a scanty lot of collards (a coarse kind of cabbage, with + a stalk about a yard long) and some onions to vary the usual side-meat and + corn pone, diet of the Georgia “cracker.” Scanning the patch's + ruins of vine and stalk, Andrews espied a handful of onions, which had; + remained ungathered. They tempted him as the apple did Eve. Without + stopping to communicate his intention to me, he sprang from the car, + snatched the onions from their bed, pulled up, half a dozen collard stalks + and was on his way back before the guard could make up his mind to fire + upon him. The swiftness of his motions saved his life, for had he been + more deliberate the guard would have concluded he was trying to, escape, + and shot him down. As it was he was returning back before the guard could + get his gun up. The onions he had, secured were to us more delicious than + wine upon the lees. They seemed to find their way into every fiber of our + bodies, and invigorate every organ. The collard stalks he had snatched up, + in the expectation of finding in them something resembling the nutritious + “heart” that we remembered as children, seeking and, finding + in the stalks of cabbage. But we were disappointed. The stalks were as dry + and rotten as the bones of Southern, society. Even hunger could find no + meat in them. + </p> + <p> + After some days of this leisurely journeying toward the South, we halted + permanently about eighty-six miles from Savannah. There was no reason why + we should stop there more than any place else where we had been or were + likely to go. It seemed as if the Rebels had simply tired of hauling us, + and dumped us, off. We had another lot of dead, accumulated since we left + Savannah, and the scenes at that place were repeated. + </p> + <p> + The train returned for another load of prisoners. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch65" id="ch65"></a>CHAPTER LXV. + </h2> + <p> + BLACKSHEAR AND PIERCE COUNTRY—WE TAKE UP NEW QUARTERS, BUT ARE + CALLED OUT FOR EXCHANGE—EXCITEMENT OVER SIGNING THE PAROLE—A + HAPPY JOURNEY TO SAVANNAH—GRIEVOUS DISAPPOINTMENT + </p> + <p> + We were informed that the place we were at was Blackshear, and that it was + the Court House, i. e., the County seat of Pierce County. Where they kept + the Court House, or County seat, is beyond conjecture to me, since I could + not see a half dozen houses in the whole clearing, and not one of them was + a respectable dwelling, taking even so low a standard for respectable + dwellings as that afforded by the majority of Georgia houses. + </p> + <p> + Pierce County, as I have since learned by the census report, is one of the + poorest Counties of a poor section of a very poor State. A population of + less than two thousand is thinly scattered over its five hundred square + miles of territory, and gain a meager subsistence by a weak simulation of + cultivating patches of its sandy dunes and plains in “nubbin” + corn and dropsical sweet potatos. A few “razor-back” hogs + —a species so gaunt and thin that I heard a man once declare that he + had stopped a lot belonging to a neighbor from crawling through the cracks + of a tight board fence by simply tying a knot in their tails—roam + the woods, and supply all the meat used. + </p> + <p> + Andrews used to insist that some of the hogs which we saw were so thin + that the connection between their fore and hindquarters was only a single + thickness of skin, with hair on both sides—but then Andrews + sometimes seemed to me to have a tendency to exaggerate. + </p> + <p> + The swine certainly did have proportions that strongly resembled those of + the animals which children cut out of cardboard. They were like the + geometrical definition of a superfice—all length and breadth, and no + thickness. A ham from them would look like a palm-leaf fan. + </p> + <p> + I never ceased to marvel at the delicate adjustment of the development of + animal life to the soil in these lean sections of Georgia. The poor land + would not maintain anything but lank, lazy men, with few wants, and none + but lank, lazy men, with few wants, sought a maintenance from it. I may + have tangled up cause and effect, in this proposition, but if so, the + reader can disentangle them at his leisure. + </p> + <p> + I was not astonished to learn that it took five hundred square miles of + Pierce County land to maintain two thousand “crackers,” even + as poorly as they lived. I should want fully that much of it to support + one fair-sized Northern family as it should be. + </p> + <p> + After leaving the cars we were marched off into the pine woods, by the + side of a considerable stream, and told that this was to be our camp. A + heavy guard was placed around us, and a number of pieces of artillery + mounted where they would command the camp. + </p> + <p> + We started in to make ourselves comfortable, as at Millen, by building + shanties. The prisoners we left behind followed us, and we soon had our + old crowd of five or six thousand, who had been our companions at Savannah + and Millers, again with us. The place looked very favorable for escape. We + knew we were still near the sea coast—really not more than forty + miles away—and we felt that if we could once get there we should be + safe. Andrews and I meditated plans of escape, and toiled away at our + cabin. + </p> + <p> + About a week after our arrival we were startled by an order for the one + thousand of us who had first arrived to get ready to move out. In a few + minutes we were taken outside the guard line, massed close together, and + informed in a few words by a Rebel officer that we were about to be taken + back to Savannah for exchange. + </p> + <p> + The announcement took away our breath. For an instant the rush of emotion + made us speechless, and when utterance returned, the first use we made of + it was to join in one simultaneous outburst of acclamation. Those inside + the guard line, understanding what our cheer meant, answered us with a + loud shout of congratulation—the first real, genuine, hearty + cheering that had been done since receiving the announcement of the + exchange at Andersonville, three months before. + </p> + <p> + As soon as the excitement had subsided somewhat, the Rebel proceeded to + explain that we would all be required to sign a parole. This set us to + thinking. After our scornful rejection of the proposition to enlist in the + Rebel army, the Rebels had felt around among us considerably as to how we + were disposed toward taking what was called the “Non-Combatant's + Oath;” that is, the swearing not to take up arms against the + Southern Confederacy again during the war. To the most of us this seemed + only a little less dishonorable than joining the Rebel army. We held that + our oaths to our own Government placed us at its disposal until it chose + to discharge us, and we could not make any engagements with its enemies + that might come in contravention of that duty. In short, it looked very + much like desertion, and this we did not feel at liberty to consider. + </p> + <p> + There were still many among us, who, feeling certain that they could not + survive imprisonment much longer, were disposed to look favorably upon the + Non-Combatant's Oath, thinking that the circumstances of the case + would justify their apparent dereliction from duty. Whether it would or + not I must leave to more skilled casuists than myself to decide. It was a + matter I believed every man must settle with his own conscience. The + opinion that I then held and expressed was, that if a boy, felt that he + was hopelessly sick, and that he could not live if he remained in prison, + he was justified in taking the Oath. In the absence of our own Surgeons he + would have to decide for himself whether he was sick enough to be + warranted in resorting to this means of saving his life. If he was in as + good health as the majority of us were, with a reasonable prospect of + surviving some weeks longer, there was no excuse for taking the Oath, for + in that few weeks we might be exchanged, be recaptured, or make our + escape. I think this was the general opinion of the prisoners. + </p> + <p> + While the Rebel was talking about our signing the parole, there flashed + upon all of us at the same moment, a suspicion that this was a trap to + delude us into signing the Non-Combatant's Oath. Instantly there + went up a general shout: + </p> + <p> + “Read the parole to us.” + </p> + <p> + The Rebel was handed a blank parole by a companion, and he read over the + printed condition at the top, which was that those signing agreed not to + bear arms against the Confederates in the field, or in garrison, not to + man any works, assist in any expedition, do any sort of guard duty, serve + in any military constabulary, or perform any kind of military service + until properly exchanged. + </p> + <p> + For a minute this was satisfactory; then their ingrained distrust of any + thing a Rebel said or did returned, and they shouted: + </p> + <p> + “No, no; let some of us read it; let Ilinoy' read it—” + </p> + <p> + The Rebel looked around in a puzzled manner. + </p> + <p> + “Who the h—l is 'Illinoy!' Where is he?” + said he. + </p> + <p> + I saluted and said: + </p> + <p> + “That's a nickname they give me.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well,” said he, “get up on this stump and read + this parole to these d—-d fools that won't believe me.” + </p> + <p> + I mounted the stump, took the blank from his hand and read it over slowly, + giving as much emphasis as possible to the all-important clause at the end—“until + properly exchanged.” I then said: + </p> + <p> + “Boys, this seems all right to me,” and they answered, with + almost one voice: + </p> + <p> + “Yes, that's all right. We'll sign that.” + </p> + <p> + I was never so proud of the American soldier-boy as at that moment. They + all felt that signing that paper was to give them freedom and life. They + knew too well from sad experience what the alternative was. Many felt that + unless released another week would see them in their graves. All knew that + every day's stay in Rebel hands greatly lessened their chances of + life. Yet in all that thousand there was not one voice in favor of + yielding a tittle of honor to save life. They would secure their freedom + honorably, or die faithfully. Remember that this was a miscellaneous crowd + of boys, gathered from all sections of the country, and from many of whom + no exalted conceptions of duty and honor were expected. I wish some one + would point out to me, on the brightest pages of knightly record, some + deed of fealty and truth that equals the simple fidelity of these unknown + heros. I do not think that one of them felt that he was doing anything + especially meritorious. He only obeyed the natural promptings of his loyal + heart. + </p> + <p> + The business of signing the paroles was then begun in earnest. We were + separated into squads according to the first letters of our names, all + those whose name began with A being placed in one squad, those beginning + with B, in another, and so on. Blank paroles for each letter were spread + out on boxes and planks at different places, and the signing went on under + the superintendence of a Rebel Sergeant and one of the prisoners. The + squad of M's selected me to superintend the signing for us, and I + stood by to direct the boys, and sign for the very few who could not + write. After this was done we fell into ranks again, called the roll of + the signers, and carefully compared the number of men with the number of + signatures so that nobody should pass unparoled. The oath was then + administered to us, and two day's rations of corn meal and fresh + beef were issued. + </p> + <p> + This formality removed the last lingering doubt that we had of the + exchange being a reality, and we gave way to the happiest emotions. We + cheered ourselves hoarse, and the fellows still inside followed our + example, as they expected that they would share our good fortune in a day + or two. + </p> + <p> + Our next performance was to set to work, cook our two days' rations + at once and eat them. This was not very difficult, as the whole supply for + two days would hardly make one square meal. That done, many of the boys + went to the guard line and threw their blankets, clothing, cooking + utensils, etc., to their comrades who were still inside. No one thought + they would have any further use for such things. + </p> + <p> + “To-morrow, at this time, thank Heaven,” said a boy near me, + as he tossed his blanket and overcoat back to some one inside, “we'll + be in God's country, and then I wouldn't touch them d—-d + lousy old rags with a ten-foot pole.” + </p> + <p> + One of the boys in the M squad was a Maine infantryman, who had been with + me in the Pemberton building, in Richmond, and had fashioned himself a + little square pan out of a tin plate of a tobacco press, such as I have + described in an earlier chapter. He had carried it with him ever since, + and it was his sole vessel for all purposes—for cooking, carrying + water, drawing rations, etc. He had cherished it as if it were a farm or a + good situation. But now, as he turned away from signing his name to the + parole, he looked at his faithful servant for a minute in undisguised + contempt; on the eve of restoration to happier, better things, it was a + reminder of all the petty, inglorious contemptible trials and sorrows he + had endured; he actually loathed it for its remembrances, and flinging it + upon the ground he crushed it out of all shape and usefulness with his + feet, trampling upon it as he would everything connected with his prison + life. Months afterward I had to lend this man my little can to cook his + rations in. + </p> + <p> + Andrews and I flung the bright new tin pans we had stolen at Millen inside + the line, to be scrambled for. It was hard to tell who were the most + surprised at their appearance—the Rebels or our own boys—for + few had any idea that there were such things in the whole Confederacy, and + certainly none looked for them in the possession of two such + poverty-stricken specimens as we were. We thought it best to retain + possession of our little can, spoon, chess-board, blanket, and overcoat. + </p> + <p> + As we marched down and boarded the train, the Rebels confirmed their + previous action by taking all the guards from around us. Only some eight + or ten were sent to the train, and these quartered themselves in the + caboose, and paid us no further attention. + </p> + <p> + The train rolled away amid cheering by ourselves and those we left behind. + One thousand happier boys than we never started on a journey. We were + going home. That was enough to wreathe the skies with glory, and fill the + world with sweetness and light. The wintry sun had something of geniality + and warmth, the landscape lost some of its repulsiveness, the dreary + palmettos had less of that hideousness which made us regard them as very + fitting emblems of treason. We even began to feel a little good-humored + contempt for our hateful little Brats of guards, and to reflect how much + vicious education and surroundings were to be held responsible for their + misdeeds. + </p> + <p> + We laughed and sang as we rolled along toward Savannah—going back + much faster than the came. We re-told old stories, and repeated old jokes, + that had become wearisome months and months ago, but were now freshened up + and given their olden pith by the joyousness of the occasion. We revived + and talked over old schemes gotten up in the earlier days of prison life, + of what “we would do when we got out,” but almost forgotten + since, in the general uncertainty of ever getting out. We exchanged + addresses, and promised faithfully to write to each other and tell how we + found everything at home. + </p> + <p> + So the afternoon and night passed. We were too excited to sleep, and + passed the hours watching the scenery, recalling the objects we had passed + on the way to Blackshear, and guessing how near we were to Savannah. + </p> + <p> + Though we were running along within fifteen or twenty miles of the coast, + with all our guards asleep in the caboose, no one thought of escape. We + could step off the cars and walk over to the seashore as easily as a man + steps out of his door and walks to a neighboring town, but why should we? + Were we not going directly to our vessels in the harbor of Savannah, and + was it not better to do this, than to take the chances of escaping, and + encounter the difficulties of reaching our blockaders! We thought so, and + we staid on the cars. + </p> + <p> + A cold, gray Winter morning was just breaking as we reached Savannah. Our + train ran down in the City, and then whistled sharply and ran back a mile + or so; it repeated this maneuver two or three times, the evident design + being to keep us on the cars until the people were ready to receive us. + Finally our engine ran with all the speed she was capable of, and as the + train dashed into the street we found ourselves between two heavy lines of + guards with bayonets fixed. + </p> + <p> + The whole sickening reality was made apparent by one glance at the guard + line. Our parole was a mockery, its only object being to get us to + Savannah as easily as possible, and to prevent benefit from our recapture + to any of Sherman's Raiders, who might make a dash for the railroad + while we were in transit. There had been no intention of exchanging us. + There was no exchange going on at Savannah. + </p> + <p> + After all, I do not think we felt the disappointment as keenly as the + first time we were brought to Savannah. Imprisonment had stupefied us; we + were duller and more hopeless. + </p> + <p> + Ordered down out of the cars, we were formed in line in the street. + </p> + <p> + Said a Rebel officer: + </p> + <p> + “Now, any of you fellahs that ah too sick to go to Chahlston, step + fohwahd one pace.” + </p> + <p> + We looked at each other an instant, and then the whole line stepped + forward. We all felt too sick to go to Charleston, or to do anything else + in the world. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch66" id="ch66"></a>CHAPTER LXVI. + </h2> + <p> + SPECIMEN CONVERSATION WITH AN AVERAGE NATIVE GEORGIAN—WE LEARN THAT + SHERMAN IS HEADING FOR SAVANNAH—THE RESERVES GET A LITTLE SETTLING + DOWN. + </p> + <p> + As the train left the northern suburbs of Savannah we came upon a scene of + busy activity, strongly contrasting with the somnolent lethargy that + seemed to be the normal condition of the City and its inhabitants. Long + lines of earthworks were being constructed, gangs of negros were felling + trees, building forts and batteries, making abatis, and toiling with + numbers of huge guns which were being moved out and placed in position. + </p> + <p> + As we had had no new prisoners nor any papers for some weeks—the + papers being doubtless designedly kept away from us—we were at a + loss to know what this meant. We could not understand this erection of + fortifications on that side, because, knowing as we did how well the + flanks of the City were protected by the Savannah and Ogeeche Rivers, we + could not see how a force from the coast—whence we supposed an + attack must come, could hope to reach the City's rear, especially as + we had just come up on the right flank of the City, and saw no sign of our + folks in that direction. + </p> + <p> + Our train stopped for a few minutes at the edge of this line of works, and + an old citizen who had been surveying the scene with senile interest, + tottered over to our car to take a look at us. He was a type of the old + man of the South of the scanty middle class, the small farmer. Long white + hair and beard, spectacles with great round, staring glasses, a + broad-brimmed hat of ante-Revolutionary pattern, clothes that had + apparently descended to him from some ancestor who had come over with + Oglethorpe, and a two-handed staff with a head of buckhorn, upon which he + leaned as old peasants do in plays, formed such an image as recalled to me + the picture of the old man in the illustrations in “The Dairyman's + Daughter.” He was as garrulous as a magpie, and as opinionated as a + Southern white always is. Halting in front of our car, he steadied himself + by planting his staff, clasping it with both lean and skinny hands, and + leaning forward upon it, his jaws then addressed themselves to motion + thus: + </p> + <p> + “Boys, who mout these be that ye got?” + </p> + <p> + One of the Guards:—“O, these is some Yanks that we've + bin hivin' down at Camp Sumter.” <br><br><br><br> <a + name="p506" id="p506"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p506.jpg (14K)" src="images/p506.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + “Yes?” (with an upward inflection of the voice, followed by a + close scrutiny of us through the goggle-eyed glasses,) “Wall, they're + a powerful ornary lookin' lot, I'll declah.” <br><br><br><br> + <a name="p509" id="p509"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p509.jpg (49K)" src="images/p509.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + It will be seen that the old, gentleman's perceptive powers were + much more highly developed than his politeness. + </p> + <p> + “Well, they ain't what ye mout call purty, that's a + fack,” said the guard. + </p> + <p> + “So yer Yanks, air ye?” said the venerable Goober-Grabber, + (the nick-name in the South for Georgians), directing his conversation to + me. “Wall, I'm powerful glad to see ye, an' 'specially + whar ye can't do no harm; I've wanted to see some Yankees ever + sence the beginnin' of the wah, but hev never had no chance. Whah + did ye cum from?” + </p> + <p> + I seemed called upon to answer, and said: “I came from Illinois; + most of the boys in this car are from Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan + and Iowa.” + </p> + <p> + “'Deed! All Westerners, air ye? Wall, do ye know I alluz liked + the Westerners a heap sight better than them blue-bellied New England + Yankees.” + </p> + <p> + No discussion with a Rebel ever proceeded very far without his making an + assertion like this. It was a favorite declaration of theirs, but its + absurdity was comical, when one remembered that the majority of them could + not for their lives tell the names of the New England States, and could no + more distinguish a Downeaster from an Illinoisan than they could tell a + Saxon from a Bavarian. One day, while I was holding a conversation similar + to the above with an old man on guard, another guard, who had been + stationed near a squad made up of Germans, that talked altogether in the + language of the Fatherland, broke in with: + </p> + <p> + “Out there by post numbah foahteen, where I wuz yesterday, there's + a lot of Yanks who jest jabbered away all the hull time, and I hope I may + never see the back of my neck ef I could understand ary word they said, + Are them the regular blue-belly kind?” + </p> + <p> + The old gentleman entered upon the next stage of the invariable routine of + discussion with a Rebel: + </p> + <p> + “Wall, what air you'uns down heah, a-fightin' we'uns + foh?” + </p> + <p> + As I had answered this question several hundred times, I had found the + most extinguishing reply to be to ask in return: + </p> + <p> + “What are you'uns coming up into our country to fight we'uns + for?” + </p> + <p> + Disdaining to notice this return in kind, the old man passed on to the + next stage: + </p> + <p> + “What are you'uns takin' ouah niggahs away from us foh?” + </p> + <p> + Now, if negros had been as cheap as oreoide watches, it is doubtful + whether the speaker had ever had money enough in his possession at one + time to buy one, and yet he talked of taking away “ouah niggahs,” + as if they were as plenty about his place as hills of corn. As a rule, the + more abjectly poor a Southerner was, the more readily he worked himself + into a rage over the idea of “takin' away ouah niggahs.” + </p> + <p> + I replied in burlesque of his assumption of ownership: + </p> + <p> + “What are you coming up North to burn my rolling mills and rob my + comrade here's bank, and plunder my brother's store, and burn + down my uncle's factories?” + </p> + <p> + No reply, to this counter thrust. The old man passed to the third + inevitable proposition: + </p> + <p> + “What air you'uns puttin' ouah niggahs in the field to + fight we'uns foh?” + </p> + <p> + Then the whole car-load shouted back at him at once: + </p> + <p> + “What are you'uns putting blood-hounds on our trails to hunt + us down, for?” + </p> + <p> + Old Man—(savagely), “Waal, ye don't think ye kin ever + lick us; leastways sich fellers as ye air?” + </p> + <p> + Myself—“Well, we warmed it to you pretty lively until you + caught us. There were none of us but what were doing about as good work as + any stock you fellows could turn out. No Rebels in our neighborhood had + much to brag on. We are not a drop in the bucket, either. There's + millions more better men than we are where we came from, and they are all + determined to stamp out your miserable Confederacy. You've got to + come to it, sooner or later; you must knock under, sure as white blossoms + make little apples. You'd better make up your mind to it.” + </p> + <p> + Old Man—“No, sah, nevah. Ye nevah kin conquer us! We're + the bravest people and the best fighters on airth. Ye nevah kin whip any + people that's a fightin' fur their liberty an' their + right; an' ye nevah can whip the South, sah, any way. We'll + fight ye until all the men air killed, and then the wimmen'll fight + ye, sah.” + </p> + <p> + Myself—“Well, you may think so, or you may not. From the way + our boys are snatching the Confederacy's real estate away, it begins + to look as if you'd not have enough to fight anybody on pretty soon. + What's the meaning of all this fortifying?” + </p> + <p> + Old Man—“Why, don't you know? Our folks are fixin' + up a place foh Bill Sherman to butt his brains out gain'.” + </p> + <p> + “Bill Sherman!” we all shouted in surprise: “Why he ain't + within two hundred miles of this place, is he?” + </p> + <p> + Old Man—“Yes, but he is, tho'. He thinks he's + played a sharp Yankee trick on Hood. He found out he couldn't lick + him in a squar' fight, nohow; he'd tried that on too often; so + he just sneaked 'round behind him, and made a break for the center + of the State, where he thought there was lots of good stealin' to be + done. But we'll show him. We'll soon hev him just whar we want + him, an' we'll learn him how to go traipesin' 'round + the country, stealin' nigahs, burnin' cotton, an' runnin' + off folkses' beef critters. He sees now the scrape he's got + into, an' he's tryin' to get to the coast, whar the + gun-boats'll help 'im out. But he'll nevah git thar, + sah; no sah, nevah. He's mouty nigh the end of his rope, sah, and we'll + purty' soon hev him jist whar you fellows air, sah.” + </p> + <p> + Myself—“Well, if you fellows intended stopping him, why didn't + you do it up about Atlanta? What did you let him come clear through the + State, burning and stealing, as you say? It was money in your pockets to + head him off as soon as possible.” + </p> + <p> + Old Man—“Oh, we didn't set nothing afore him up thar + except Joe Brown's Pets, these sorry little Reserves; they're + powerful little account; no stand-up to'em at all; they'd + break their necks runnin' away ef ye so much as bust a cap near to + 'em.” + </p> + <p> + Our guards, who belonged to these Reserves, instantly felt that the + conversation had progressed farther than was profitable and one of them + spoke up roughly: + </p> + <p> + “See heah, old man, you must go off; I can't hev ye talkin' + to these prisoners; hits agin my awdahs. Go 'way now!” + </p> + <p> + The old fellow moved off, but as he did he flung this Parthian arrow: + </p> + <p> + “When Sherman gits down deep, he'll find somethin' + different from the little snots of Reserves he ran over up about + Milledgeville; he'll find he's got to fight real soldiers.” + <br><br><br><br> <a id="p510"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p510.jpg (50K)" src="images/p510.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + We could not help enjoying the rage of the guards, over the low estimate + placed upon the fighting ability of themselves and comrades, and as they + raved, around about what they would do if they were only given an + opportunity to go into a line of battle against Sherman, we added fuel to + the flames of their anger by confiding to each other that we always + “knew that little Brats whose highest ambition was to murder a + defenseless prisoner, could be nothing else than cowards end skulkers in + the field.” + </p> + <p> + “Yaas — sonnies,” said Charlie Burroughs, of the Third + Michigan, in that nasal Yankee drawl, that he always assumed, when he + wanted to say anything very cutting; “you — trundle — + bed — soldiers — who've never — seen — a + — real — wild — Yankee — don't — know + — how — different — they — are — from + — the kind — that — are — starved — down + — to tameness. They're — jest — as — + different — as — a — lion in — a — menagerie + — is — from — his — brother — in — the + woods — who — has — a — nigger — every day + — for-dinner. You — fellows — will — go — + into — a — circus — tent — and — throw + — tobacco — quids in — the — face — of + — the — lion — in — the — cage — when + — you — haven't — spunk enough — to — + look — a woodchuck — in — the — eye — if + — you — met — him — alone. It's — lots + — o' — fun — to you — to — shoot + — down — a — sick — and — starving-man + — in — the — Stockade, but — when — you + — see — a — Yank with — a — gun — in + — his — hand — your — livers get — so + — white — that — chalk — would — make + — a — black — mark — on — 'em.” + </p> + <p> + A little later, a paper, which some one had gotten hold of, in some + mysterious manner, was secretly passed to me. I read it as I could find + opportunity, and communicated its contents to the rest of the boys. The + most important of these was a flaming proclamation by Governor Joe Brown, + setting forth that General Sherman was now traversing the State, + committing all sorts of depredations; that he had prepared the way for his + own destruction, and the Governor called upon all good citizens to rise en + masse, and assist in crushing the audacious invader. Bridges must be + burned before and behind him, roads obstructed, and every inch of soil + resolutely disputed. + </p> + <p> + We enjoyed this. It showed that the Rebels were terribly alarmed, and we + began to feel some of that confidence that “Sherman will come out + all right,” which so marvelously animated all under his command. + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch67" id="ch67"></a>CHAPTER LXVII. + </h2> + <p> + OFF TO CHARLESTON—PASSING THROUGH THE RICE SWAMPS—TWO EXTREMES + OF SOCIETY—ENTRY INTO CHARLESTON—LEISURELY WARFARE—SHELLING + THE CITY AT REGULAR INTERVALS—WE CAMP IN A MASS OF RUINS—DEPARTURE + FOR FLORENCE. + </p> + <p> + The train started in a few minutes after the close of the conversation + with the old Georgian, and we soon came to and crossed the Savannah River + into South Carolina. The river was wide and apparently deep; the tide was + setting back in a swift, muddy current; the crazy old bridge creaked and + shook, and the grinding axles shrieked in the dry journals, as we pulled + across. It looked very much at times as if we were to all crash down into + the turbid flood—and we did not care very much if we did, if we were + not going to be exchanged. + </p> + <p> + The road lay through the tide swamp region of South Carolina, a peculiar + and interesting country. Though swamps and fens stretched in all + directions as far as the eye could reach, the landscape was more grateful + to the eye than the famine-stricken, pine-barrens of Georgia, which had + become wearisome to the sight. The soil where it appeared, was rich, + vegetation was luxuriant; great clumps of laurel showed glossy richness in + the greenness of its verdure, that reminded us of the fresh color of the + vegetation of our Northern homes, so different from the parched and + impoverished look of Georgian foliage. Immense flocks of wild fowl + fluttered around us; the Georgian woods were almost destitute of living + creatures; the evergreen live-oak, with its queer festoons of Spanish + moss, and the ugly and useless palmettos gave novelty and interest to the + view. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p514" id="p514"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p514.jpg (16K)" src="images/p514.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + The rice swamps through which we were passing were the princely + possessions of the few nabobs who before the war stood at the head of + South Carolina aristocracy—they were South Carolina, in fact, as + absolutely as Louis XIV. was France. In their hands—but a few score + in number—was concentrated about all there was of South Carolina + education, wealth, culture, and breeding. They represented a pinchbeck + imitation of that regime in France which was happily swept out of + existence by the Revolution, and the destruction of which more than + compensated for every drop of blood shed in those terrible days. Like the + provincial 'grandes seigneurs' of Louis XVI's reign, + they were gay, dissipated and turbulent; “accomplished” in the + superficial acquirements that made the “gentleman” one hundred + years ago, but are grotesquely out of place in this sensible, solid age, + which demands that a man shall be of use, and not merely for show. They + ran horses and fought cocks, dawdled through society when young, and + intrigued in politics the rest of their lives, with frequent spice-work of + duels. Esteeming personal courage as a supreme human virtue, and never + wearying of prating their devotion to the highest standard of intrepidity, + they never produced a General who was even mediocre; nor did any one ever + hear of a South Carolina regiment gaining distinction. Regarding politics + and the art of government as, equally with arms, their natural vocations, + they have never given the Nation a statesman, and their greatest + politicians achieved eminence by advocating ideas which only attracted + attention by their balefulness. <br><br><br><br> <a id="p515"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p515.jpg (29K)" src="images/p515.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + Still further resembling the French 'grandes seigneurs' of the + eighteenth century, they rolled in wealth wrung from the laborer by + reducing the rewards of his toil to the last fraction that would support + his life and strength. The rice culture was immensely profitable, because + they had found the secret for raising it more cheaply than even the pauper + laborer of the of world could. Their lands had cost them nothing + originally, the improvements of dikes and ditches were comparatively, + inexpensive, the taxes were nominal, and their slaves were not so + expensive to keep as good horses in the North. + </p> + <p> + Thousands of the acres along the road belonged to the Rhetts, thousands to + the Heywards, thousands to the Manigault the Lowndes, the Middletons, the + Hugers, the Barnwells, and the Elliots—all names too well known in + the history of our country's sorrows. Occasionally one of their + stately mansions could be seen on some distant elevation, surrounded by + noble old trees, and superb grounds. Here they lived during the healthy + part of the year, but fled thence to summer resort in the highlands as the + miasmatic season approached. + </p> + <p> + The people we saw at the stations along our route were melancholy + illustrations of the evils of the rule of such an oligarchy. There was no + middle class visible anywhere—nothing but the two extremes. A man + was either a “gentleman,” and wore white shirt and city-made + clothes, or he was a loutish hind, clad in mere apologies for garments. We + thought we had found in the Georgia “cracker” the lowest + substratum of human society, but he was bright intelligence compared to + the South Carolina “clay-eater” and “sand-hiller.” + The “cracker” always gave hopes to one that if he had the + advantage of common schools, and could be made to understand that laziness + was dishonorable, he might develop into something. There was little + foundation for such hope in the average low South Carolinian. His mind was + a shaking quagmire, which did not admit of the erection of any + superstructure of education upon it. The South Carolina guards about us + did not know the name of the next town, though they had been raised in + that section. They did not know how far it was there, or to any place + else, and they did not care to learn. They had no conception of what the + war was being waged for, and did not want to find out; they did not know + where their regiment was going, and did not remember where it had been; + they could not tell how long they had been in service, nor the time they + had enlisted for. They only remembered that sometimes they had had “sorter + good times,” and sometimes “they had been powerful bad,” + and they hoped there would be plenty to eat wherever they went, and not + too much hard marching. Then they wondered “whar a feller'd be + likely to make a raise of a canteen of good whisky?” + </p> + <p> + Bad as the whites were, the rice plantation negros were even worse, if + that were possible. Brought to the country centuries ago, as brutal + savages from Africa, they had learned nothing of Christian civilization, + except that it meant endless toil, in malarious swamps, under the lash of + the taskmaster. They wore, possibly, a little more clothing than their + Senegambian ancestors did; they ate corn meal, yams and rice, instead of + bananas, yams and rice, as their forefathers did, and they had learned a + bastard, almost unintelligible, English. These were the sole blessings + acquired by a transfer from a life of freedom in the jungles of the Gold + Coast, to one of slavery in the swamps of the Combahee. + </p> + <p> + I could not then, nor can I now, regret the downfall of a system of + society which bore such fruits. + </p> + <p> + Towards night a distressingly cold breeze, laden with a penetrating mist, + set in from the sea, and put an end to future observations by making us + too uncomfortable to care for scenery or social conditions. We wanted most + to devise a way to keep warm. Andrews and I pulled our overcoat and + blanket closely about us, snuggled together so as to make each one's + meager body afford the other as much heat as possible—and endured. + </p> + <p> + We became fearfully hungry. It will be recollected that we ate the whole + of the two days' rations issued to us at Blackshear at once, and we + had received nothing since. We reached the sullen, fainting stage of great + hunger, and for hours nothing was said by any one, except an occasional + bitter execration on Rebels and Rebel practices. + </p> + <p> + It was late at night when we reached Charleston. The lights of the City, + and the apparent warmth and comfort there cheered us up somewhat with the + hopes that we might have some share in them. Leaving the train, we were + marched some distance through well-lighted streets, in which were plenty + of people walking to and fro. There were many stores, apparently stocked + with goods, and the citizens seemed to be going about their business very + much as was the custom up North. + </p> + <p> + At length our head of column made a “right turn,” and we + marched away from the lighted portion of the City, to a part which I could + see through the shadows was filled with ruins. An almost insupportable + odor of gas, escaping I suppose from the ruptured pipes, mingled with the + cold, rasping air from the sea, to make every breath intensely + disagreeable. + </p> + <p> + As I saw the ruins, it flashed upon me that this was the burnt district of + the city, and they were putting us under the fire of our own guns. At + first I felt much alarmed. Little relish as I had on general principles, + for being shot I had much less for being killed by our own men. Then I + reflected that if they put me there—and kept me—a guard would + have to be placed around us, who would necessarily be in as much clanger + as we were, and I knew I could stand any fire that a Rebel could. <br><br><br><br> + <a name="p518" id="p518"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p518.jpg (33K)" src="images/p518.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + We were halted in a vacant lot, and sat down, only to jump up the next + instant, as some one shouted: + </p> + <p> + “There comes one of 'em!” + </p> + <p> + It was a great shell from the Swamp Angel Battery. Starting from a point + miles away, where, seemingly, the sky came down to the sea, was a narrow + ribbon of fire, which slowly unrolled itself against the star-lit vault + over our heads. On, on it came, and was apparently following the sky down + to the horizon behind us. As it reached the zenith, there came to our ears + a prolonged, but not sharp, + </p> + <p> + “Whish—ish-ish-ish-ish!” + </p> + <p> + We watched it breathlessly, and it seemed to be long minutes in running + its course; then a thump upon the ground, and a vibration, told that it + had struck. For a moment there was a dead silence. Then came a loud roar, + and the crash of breaking timber and crushing walls. The shell had + bursted. + </p> + <p> + Ten minutes later another shell followed, with like results. For awhile we + forgot all about hunger in the excitement of watching the messengers from + “God's country.” What happiness to be where those shells + came from. Soon a Rebel battery of heavy guns somewhere near and in front + of us, waked up, and began answering with dull, slow thumps that made the + ground shudder. This continued about an hour, when it quieted down again, + but our shells kept coming over at regular intervals with the same slow + deliberation, the same prolonged warning, and the same dreadful crash when + they struck. They had already gone on this way for over a year, and were + to keep it up months longer until the City was captured. <br><br><br><br> + <a name="p519" id="p519"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p519.jpg (28K)" src="images/p519.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + The routine was the same from day to day, month in, and month out, from + early in August, 1863, to the middle of April, 1865. Every few minutes + during the day our folks would hurl a great shell into the beleaguered + City, and twice a day, for perhaps an hour each time, the Rebel batteries + would talk back. It must have been a lesson to the Charlestonians of the + persistent, methodical spirit of the North. They prided themselves on the + length of the time they were holding out against the enemy, and the papers + each day had a column headed: + </p> + <h3> + “390th DAY OF THE SIEGE,” + </h3> + <p> + or 391st, 393d, etc., as the number might be since our people opened fire + upon the City. The part where we lay was a mass of ruins. Many large + buildings had been knocked down; very many more were riddled with shot + holes and tottering to their fall. One night a shell passed through a + large building about a quarter of a mile from us. It had already been + struck several times, and was shaky. The shell went through with a + deafening crash. All was still for an instant; then it exploded with a + dull roar, followed by more crashing of timber and walls. The sound died + away and was succeeded by a moment of silence. Finally the great building + fell, a shapeless heap of ruins, with a noise like that of a dozen field + pieces. We wanted to cheer but restrained ourselves. This was the nearest + to us that any shell came. + </p> + <p> + There was only one section of the City in reach of our guns and this was + nearly destroyed. Fires had come to complete the work begun by the shells. + Outside of the boundaries of this region, the people felt themselves as + safe as in one of our northern Cities to-day. They had an abiding faith + that they were clear out of reach of any artillery that we could mount. I + learned afterwards from some of the prisoners, who went into Charleston + ahead of us, and were camped on the race course outside of the City, that + one day our fellows threw a shell clear over the City to this race course. + There was an immediate and terrible panic among the citizens. They thought + we had mounted some new guns of increased range, and now the whole city + must go. But the next shell fell inside the established limits, and those + following were equally well behaved, so that the panic abated. I have + never heard any explanation of the matter. It may have been some freak of + the gun-squad, trying the effect of an extra charge of powder. Had our + people known of its signal effect, they could have depopulated the place + in a few hours. + </p> + <p> + The whole matter impressed me queerly. The only artillery I had ever seen + in action were field pieces. They made an earsplitting crash when they + were discharged, and there was likely to be oceans of trouble for + everybody in that neighborhood about that time. I reasoned from this that + bigger guns made a proportionally greater amount of noise, and bred an + infinitely larger quantity of trouble. Now I was hearing the giants of the + world's ordnance, and they were not so impressive as a lively + battery of three-inch rifles. Their reports did not threaten to shatter + everything, but had a dull resonance, something like that produced by + striking an empty barrel with a wooden maul. Their shells did not come at + one in that wildly, ferocious way, with which a missile from a six-pounder + convinces every fellow in a long line of battle that he is the identical + one it is meant for, but they meandered over in a lazy, leisurely manner, + as if time was no object and no person would feel put out at having to + wait for them. Then, the idea of firing every quarter of an hour for a + year—fixing up a job for a lifetime, as Andrews expressed it,—and + of being fired back at for an hour at 9 o'clock every morning and + evening; of fifty thousand people going on buying and selling, eating, + drinking and sleeping, having dances, drives and balls, marrying and + giving in marriage, all within a few hundred yards of where the shells + were falling-struck me as a most singular method of conducting warfare. + <br><br><br><br> <a name="p521" id="p521"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p521.jpg (33K)" src="images/p521.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + We received no rations until the day after our arrival, and then they were + scanty, though fair in quality. We were by this time so hungry and faint + that we could hardly move. We did nothing for hours but lie around on the + ground and try to forget how famished we were. At the announcement of + rations, many acted as if crazy, and it was all that the Sergeants could + do to restrain the impatient mob from tearing the food away and devouring + it, when they were trying to divide it out. Very many—perhaps thirty—died + during the night and morning. No blame for this is attached to the + Charlestonians. They distinguished themselves from the citizens of every + other place in the Southern Confederacy where we had been, by making + efforts to relieve our condition. They sent quite a quantity of food to + us, and the Sisters of Charity came among us, seeking and ministering to + the sick. I believe our experience was the usual one. The prisoners who + passed through Charleston before us all spoke very highly of the kindness + shown them by the citizens there. + </p> + <p> + We remained in Charleston but a few days. One night we were marched down + to a rickety depot, and put aboard a still more rickety train. When + morning came we found ourselves running northward through a pine barren + country that resembled somewhat that in Georgia, except that the pine was + short-leaved, there was more oak and other hard woods, and the vegetation + generally assumed a more Northern look. We had been put into close box + cars, with guards at the doors and on top. During the night quite a number + of the boys, who had fabricated little saws out of case knives and + fragments of hoop iron, cut holes through the bottoms of the cars, through + which they dropped to the ground and escaped, but were mostly recaptured + after several days. There was no hole cut in our car, and so Andrews and I + staid in. + </p> + <p> + Just at dusk we came to the insignificant village of Florence, the + junction of the road leading from Charleston to Cheraw with that running + from Wilmington to Kingsville. It was about one hundred and twenty miles + from Charleston, and the same distance from Wilmington. As our train ran + through a cut near the junction a darky stood by the track gazing at us + curiously. When the train had nearly passed him he started to run up the + bank. In the imperfect light the guards mistook him for one of us who had + jumped from the train. They all fired, and the unlucky negro fell, pierced + by a score of bullets. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p523" id="p523"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p523.jpg (31K)" src="images/p523.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + That night we camped in the open field. When morning came we saw, a few + hundred yards from us, a Stockade of rough logs, with guards stationed + around it. It was another prison pen. They were just bringing the dead + out, and two men were tossing the bodies up into the four-horse wagon + which hauled them away for burial. The men were going about their business + as coolly as if loading slaughtered hogs. One of them would catch + the body by the feet, and the other by the arms. They would give it a + swing—“One, two, three,” and up it would go into the + wagon. This filled heaping full with corpses, a negro mounted the wheel + horse, grasped the lines, and shouted to his animals: + </p> + <p> + “Now, walk off on your tails, boys.” + </p> + <p> + The horses strained, the wagon moved, and its load of what were once + gallant, devoted soldiers, was carted off to nameless graves. This was a + part of the daily morning routine. + </p> + <p> + As we stood looking at the sickeningly familiar architecture of the prison + pen, a Seventh Indianian near me said, in tones of wearisome disgust: + </p> + <p> + “Well, this Southern Confederacy is the d—-dest country to + stand logs on end on God Almighty's footstool.” <a name="p530" id="p530"></a> <br><br> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p530 (47K)" src="images/p530.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br> <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch68" id="ch68"></a>CHAPTER LXVIII. + </h2> + <p> + FIRST DAYS AT FLORENCE—INTRODUCTION TO LIEUTENANT BARRETT, THE + RED-HEADED KEEPER—A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF OUR NEW QUARTERS—WINDERS + MALIGN INFLUENCE MANIFEST. + </p> + <p> + It did not require a very acute comprehension to understand that the + Stockade at which we were gazing was likely to be our abiding place for + some indefinite period in the future. + </p> + <p> + As usual, this discovery was the death-warrant of many whose lives had + only been prolonged by the hoping against hope that the movement would + terminate inside our lines. When the portentous palisades showed to a + fatal certainty that the word of promise had been broken to their hearts, + they gave up the struggle wearily, lay back on the frozen ground, and + died. + </p> + <p> + Andrews and I were not in the humor for dying just then. The long + imprisonment, the privations of hunger, the scourging by the elements, the + death of four out of every five of our number had indeed dulled and + stupefied us—bred an indifference to our own suffering and a seeming + callosity to that of others, but there still burned in our hearts, and in + the hearts of every one about us, a dull, sullen, smoldering fire of hate + and defiance toward everything Rebel, and a lust for revenge upon those + who had showered woes upon our heads. There was little fear of death; even + the King of Terrors loses most of his awful character upon tolerably close + acquaintance, and we had been on very intimate terms with him for a year + now. He was a constant visitor, who dropped in upon us at all hours of the + day and night, and would not be denied to any one. + </p> + <p> + Since my entry into prison fully fifteen thousand boys had died around me, + and in no one of them had I seen the least, dread or reluctance to go. I + believe this is generally true of death by disease, everywhere. Our ever + kindly mother, Nature, only makes us dread death when she desires us to + preserve life. When she summons us hence she tenderly provides that we + shall willingly obey the call. + </p> + <p> + More than for anything else, we wanted to live now to triumph over the + Rebels. To simply die would be of little importance, but to die unrevenged + would be fearful. If we, the despised, the contemned, the insulted, the + starved and maltreated; could live to come back to our oppressors as the + armed ministers of retribution, terrible in the remembrance of the wrongs + of ourselves and comrade's, irresistible as the agents of heavenly + justice, and mete out to them that Biblical return of seven-fold of what + they had measured out to us, then we would be content to go to death + afterwards. Had the thrice-accursed Confederacy and our malignant gaolers + millions of lives, our great revenge would have stomach for them all. + </p> + <p> + The December morning was gray and leaden; dull, somber, snow-laden clouds + swept across the sky before the soughing wind. + </p> + <p> + The ground, frozen hard and stiff, cut and hurt our bare feet at every + step; an icy breeze drove in through the holes in our rags, and smote our + bodies like blows from sticks. The trees and shrubbery around were as + naked and forlorn as in the North in the days of early Winter before the + snow comes. + </p> + <p> + Over and around us hung like a cold miasma the sickening odor peculiar to + Southern forests in Winter time. + </p> + <p> + Out of the naked, repelling, unlovely earth rose the Stockade, in hideous + ugliness. At the gate the two men continued at their monotonous labor of + tossing the dead of the previous day into the wagon-heaving into that rude + hearse the inanimate remains that had once tempted gallant, manly hearts, + glowing with patriotism and devotion to country—piling up listlessly + and wearily, in a mass of nameless, emaciated corpses, fluttering with + rags, and swarming with vermin, the pride, the joy of a hundred fair + Northern homes, whose light had now gone out forever. + </p> + <p> + Around the prison walls shambled the guards, blanketed like Indians, and + with faces and hearts of wolves. Other Rebels—also clad in dingy + butternut—slouched around lazily, crouched over diminutive fires, + and talked idle gossip in the broadest of “nigger” dialect. + Officers swelled and strutted hither and thither, and negro servants + loitered around, striving to spread the least amount of work over the + greatest amount of time. + </p> + <p> + While I stood gazing in gloomy silence at the depressing surroundings + Andrews, less speculative and more practical, saw a good-sized pine stump + near by, which had so much of the earth washed away from it that it looked + as if it could be readily pulled up. We had had bitter experience in other + prisons as to the value of wood, and Andrews reasoned that as we would be + likely to have a repetition of this in the Stockade we were about to + enter, we should make an effort to secure the stump. We both attacked it, + and after a great deal of hard work, succeeded in uprooting it. It was + very lucky that we did, since it was the greatest help in preserving our + lives through the three long months that we remained at Florence. + </p> + <p> + While we were arranging our stump so as to carry it to the best advantage, + a vulgar-faced man, with fiery red hair, and wearing on his collar the + yellow bars of a Lieutenant, approached. This was Lieutenant Barrett, + commandant of the interior of the prison, and a more inhuman wretch even + than Captain Wirz, because he had a little more brains than the commandant + at Andersonville, and this extra intellect was wholly devoted to cruelty. + As he came near he commanded, in loud, brutal tones: + </p> + <p> + “Attention, Prisoners!” + </p> + <p> + We all stood up and fell in in two ranks. Said he: + </p> + <p> + “By companies, right wheel, march!” + </p> + <p> + This was simply preposterous. As every soldier knows, wheeling by + companies is one of the most difficult of manuvers, and requires some + preparation of a battalion before attempting to execute it. Our thousand + was made up of infantry, cavalry and artillery, representing, perhaps, one + hundred different regiments. We had not been divided off into companies, + and were encumbered with blankets, tents, cooking utensils, wood, etc., + which prevented our moving with such freedom as to make a company wheel, + even had we been divided up into companies and drilled for the maneuver. + The attempt to obey the command was, of course, a ludicrous failure. The + Rebel officers standing near Barrett laughed openly at his stupidity in + giving such an order, but he was furious. He hurled at us a torrent of the + vilest abuse the corrupt imagination of man can conceive, and swore until + he was fairly black in the face. He fired his revolver off over our heads, + and shrieked and shouted until he had to stop from sheer exhaustion. + Another officer took command then, and marched us into prison. + </p> + <p> + We found this a small copy of Andersonville. There was a stream running + north and south, on either side of which was a swamp. A Stockade of rough + logs, with the bark still on, inclosed several acres. The front of the + prison was toward the West. A piece of artillery stood before the gate, + and a platform at each corner bore a gun, elevated high enough to rake the + whole inside of the prison. A man stood behind each of these guns + continually, so as to open with them at any moment. The earth was thrown + up against the outside of the palisades in a high embankment, along the + top of which the guards on duty walked, it being high enough to elevate + their head, shoulders and breasts above the tops of the logs. Inside the + inevitable dead-line was traced by running a furrow around the + prison-twenty feet from the Stockade—with a plow. In one respect it + was an improvement on Andersonville: regular streets were laid off, so + that motion about the camp was possible, and cleanliness was promoted. + Also, the crowd inside was not so dense as at Camp Sumter. + </p> + <p> + The prisoners were divided into hundreds and thousands, with Sergeants at + the heads of the divisions. A very good police force-organized and + officered by the prisoners—maintained order and prevented crime. + Thefts and other offenses were punished, as at Andersonville, by the Chief + of Police sentencing the offenders to be spanked or tied up. + </p> + <p> + We found very many of our Andersonville acquaintances inside, and for + several days comparisons of experience were in order. They had left + Andersonville a few days after us, but were taken to Charleston instead of + Savannah. The same story of exchange was dinned into their ears until they + arrived at Charleston, when the truth was told them, that no exchange was + contemplated, and that they had been deceived for the purpose of getting + them safely out of reach of Sherman. + </p> + <p> + Still they were treated well in Charleston—better than they had been + anywhere else. Intelligent physicians had visited the sick, prescribed for + them, furnished them with proper medicines, and admitted the worst cases + to the hospital, where they were given something of the care that one + would expect in such an institution. Wheat bread, molasses and rice were + issued to them, and also a few spoonfuls of vinegar, daily, which were + very grateful to them in their scorbutic condition. The citizens sent in + clothing, food and vegetables. The Sisters of Charity were indefatigable + in ministering to the sick and dying. Altogether, their recollections of + the place were quite pleasant. + </p> + <p> + Despite the disagreeable prominence which the City had in the Secession + movement, there was a very strong Union element there, and many men found + opportunity to do favors to the prisoners and reveal to them how much they + abhorred Secession. + </p> + <p> + After they had been in Charleston a fortnight or more, the yellow fever + broke out in the City, and soon extended its ravages to the prisoners, + quite a number dying from it. + </p> + <p> + Early in October they had been sent away from the City to their present + location, which was then a piece of forest land. There was no stockade or + other enclosure about them, and one night they forced the guard-line, + about fifteen hundred escaping, under a pretty sharp fire from the guards. + After getting out they scattered, each group taking a different route, + some seeking Beaufort, and other places along the seaboard, and the rest + trying to gain the mountains. The whole State was thrown into the greatest + perturbation by the occurrence. The papers magnified the proportion of the + outbreak, and lauded fulsomely the gallantry of the guards in endeavoring + to withstand the desperate assaults of the frenzied Yankees. The people + were wrought up into the highest alarm as to outrages and excesses that + these flying desperados might be expected to commit. One would think that + another Grecian horse, introduced into the heart of the Confederate Troy, + had let out its fatal band of armed men. All good citizens were enjoined + to turn out and assist in arresting the runaways. The vigilance of all + patrolling was redoubled, and such was the effectiveness of the measures + taken that before a month nearly every one of the fugitives had been + retaken and sent back to Florence. Few of these complained of any special + ill-treatment by their captors, while many reported frequent acts of + kindness, especially when their captors belonged to the middle and upper + classes. The low-down class—the clay-eaters—on the other hand, + almost always abused their prisoners, and sometimes, it is pretty certain, + murdered them in cold blood. + </p> + <p> + About this time Winder came on from Andersonville, and then everything + changed immediately to the complexion of that place. He began the erection + of the Stockade, and made it very strong. The Dead Line was established, + but instead of being a strip of plank upon the top of low posts, as at + Andersonville, it was simply a shallow trench, which was sometimes plainly + visible, and sometimes not. The guards always resolved matters of doubt + against the prisoners, and fired on them when they supposed them too near + where the Dead Line ought to be. Fifteen acres of ground were enclosed by + the palisades, of which five were taken up by the creek and swamp, and + three or four more by the Dead Line; main streets, etc., leaving about + seven or eight for the actual use of the prisoners, whose number swelled + to fifteen thousand by the arrivals from Andersonville. This made the + crowding together nearly as bad as at the latter place, and for awhile the + same fatal results followed. The mortality, and the sending away of + several thousand on the sick exchange, reduced the aggregate number at the + time of our arrival to about eleven thousand, which gave more room to all, + but was still not one-twentieth of the space which that number of men + should have had. + </p> + <p> + No shelter, nor material for constructing any, was furnished. The ground + was rather thickly wooded, and covered with undergrowth, when the Stockade + was built, and certainly no bit of soil was ever so thoroughly cleared as + this was. The trees and brush were cut down and worked up into hut + building materials by the same slow and laborious process that I have + described as employed in building our huts at Millen. + </p> + <p> + Then the stumps were attacked for fuel, and with such persistent + thoroughness that after some weeks there was certainly not enough woody + material left in that whole fifteen acres of ground to kindle a small + kitchen fire. The men would begin work on the stump of a good sized tree, + and chip and split it off painfully and slowly until they had followed it + to the extremity of the tap root ten or fifteen feet below the surface. + The lateral roots would be followed with equal determination, and trenches + thirty feet long, and two or three feet deep were dug with case-knives and + half-canteens, to get a root as thick as one's wrist. The roots of + shrubs and vines were followed up and gathered with similar industry. The + cold weather and the scanty issues of wood forced men to do this. + </p> + <p> + The huts constructed were as various as the materials and the tastes of + the builders. Those who were fortunate enough to get plenty of timber + built such cabins as I have described at Millen. Those who had less eked + out their materials in various ways. Most frequently all that a squad of + three or four could get would be a few slender poles and some brush. They + would dig a hole in the ground two feet deep and large enough for them all + to lie in. Then putting up a stick at each end and laying a ridge pole + across, they, would adjust the rest of their material so as to form + sloping sides capable of supporting earth enough to make a water-tight + roof. The great majority were not so well off as these, and had + absolutely, nothing of which to build. They had recourse to the clay of + the swamp, from which they fashioned rude sun-dried bricks, and made adobe + houses, shaped like a bee hive, which lasted very well until a hard rain + came, when they dissolved into red mire about the bodies of their + miserable inmates. + </p> + <p> + Remember that all these makeshifts were practiced within a half-a-mile of + an almost boundless forest, from which in a day's time the camp + could have been supplied with material enough to give every man a + comfortable hut. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch69" id="ch69"></a>CHAPTER LXIX. + </h2> + <p> + BARRETT'S INSANE CRUELTY—HOW HE PUNISHED THOSE ALLEGED TO BE + ENGAGED IN TUNNELING—THE MISERY IN THE STOCKADE—MEN'S + LIMBS ROTTING OFF WITH DRY GANGRENE. + </p> + <p> + Winder had found in Barrett even a better tool for his cruel purposes than + Wirz. The two resembled each other in many respects. Both were absolutely + destitute of any talent for commanding men, and could no more handle even + one thousand men properly than a cabin boy could navigate a great ocean + steamer. Both were given to the same senseless fits of insane rage, coming + and going without apparent cause, during which they fired revolvers and + guns or threw clubs into crowds of prisoners, or knocked down such as were + within reach of their fists. These exhibitions were such as an overgrown + child might be expected to make. They did not secure any result except to + increase the prisoners' wonder that such ill-tempered fools could be + given any position of responsibility. + </p> + <p> + A short time previous to our entry Barrett thought he had reason to + suspect a tunnel. He immediately announced that no more rations should be + issued until its whereabouts was revealed and the ringleaders in the + attempt to escape delivered up to him. The rations at that time were very + scanty, so that the first day they were cut off the sufferings were + fearful. The boys thought he would surely relent the next day, but they + did not know their man. He was not suffering any, why should he relax his + severity? He strolled leisurely out from his dinner table, picking his + teeth with his penknife in the comfortable, self-satisfied way of a coarse + man who has just filled his stomach to his entire content—an + attitude and an air that was simply maddening to the famishing wretches, + of whom he inquired tantalizingly: + </p> + <p> + “Air ye're hungry enough to give up them G-d d d s—s of + b——s yet?” + </p> + <p> + That night thirteen thousand men, crazy, fainting with hunger, walked + hither and thither, until exhaustion forced them to become quiet, sat on + the ground and pressed their bowels in by leaning against sticks of wood + laid across their thighs; trooped to the Creek and drank water until their + gorges rose and they could swallow no more—did everything in fact + that imagination could suggest—to assuage the pangs of the deadly + gnawing that was consuming their vitals. All the cruelties of the terrible + Spanish Inquisition, if heaped together, would not sum up a greater + aggregate of anguish than was endured by them. The third day came, and + still no signs of yielding by Barrett. The Sergeants counseled together. + Something must be done. The fellow would starve the whole camp to death + with as little compunction as one drowns blind puppies. It was necessary + to get up a tunnel to show Barrett, and to get boys who would confess to + being leaders in the work. A number of gallant fellows volunteered to + brave his wrath, and save the rest of their comrades. It required high + courage to do this, as there was no question but that the punishment meted + out would be as fearful as the cruel mind of the fellow could conceive. + The Sergeants decided that four would be sufficient to answer the purpose; + they selected these by lot, marched them to the gate and delivered them + over to Barrett, who thereupon ordered the rations to be sent in. He was + considerate enough, too, to feed the men he was going to torture. + </p> + <p> + The starving men in the Stockade could not wait after the rations were + issued to cook them, but in many instances mixed the meal up with water, + and swallowed it raw. Frequently their stomachs, irritated by the long + fast, rejected the mess; any very many had reached the stage where they + loathed food; a burning fever was consuming them, and seething their + brains with delirium. Hundreds died within a few days, and hundreds more + were so debilitated by the terrible strain that they did not linger long + afterward. + </p> + <p> + The boys who had offered themselves as a sacrifice for the rest were put + into a guard house, and kept over night that Barrett might make a day of + the amusement of torturing them. After he had laid in a hearty breakfast, + and doubtless fortified himself with some of the villainous sorgum whisky, + which the Rebels were now reduced to drinking, he set about his + entertainment. + </p> + <p> + The devoted four were brought out—one by one—and their hands + tied together behind their backs. Then a noose of a slender, strong hemp + rope was slipped over the first one's thumbs and drawn tight, after + which the rope was thrown over a log projecting from the roof of the guard + house, and two or three Rebels hauled upon it until the miserable Yankee + was lifted from the ground, and hung suspended by the thumbs, while his + weight seemed tearing his limbs from his shoulder blades. The other three + were treated in the same manner. + </p> + <p> + The agony was simply excruciating. The boys were brave, and had resolved + to stand their punishment without a groan, but this was too much for human + endurance. Their will was strong, but Nature could not be denied, and they + shrieked aloud so pitifully that a young Reserve standing near fainted. + Each one screamed: + </p> + <p> + “For God's sake, kill me! kill me! Shoot me if—you want + to, but let me down from here!” The only effect of this upon Barrett + was to light up his brutal face with a leer of fiendish satisfaction. He + said to the guards with a gleeful wink: + </p> + <p> + “By God, I'll learn these Yanks to be more afeard of me than + of the old devil himself. They'll soon understand that I'm not + the man to fool with. I'm old pizen, I am, when I git started. Jest + hear 'em squeal, won't yer?” + </p> + <p> + Then walking from one prisoner to another, he said: + </p> + <p> + “D—-n yer skins, ye'll dig tunnels, will ye? Ye'll + try to git out, and run through the country stealin' and carryin' + off niggers, and makin' more trouble than yer d——d necks + are worth. I'll learn ye all about that. If I ketch ye at this sort + of work again, d——d ef I don't kill ye ez soon ez I + ketch ye.” + </p> + <p> + And so on, ad infinitum. How long the boys were kept up there undergoing + this torture can not be said. Perhaps it was an hour or more. To the + locker-on it seemed long hours, to the poor fellows themselves it was + ages. When they were let down at last, all fainted, and were carried away + to the hospital, where they were weeks in recovering from the effects. + Some of them were crippled for life. + </p> + <p> + When we came into the prison there were about eleven thousand there. More + uniformly wretched creatures I had never before seen. Up to the time of + our departure from Andersonville the constant influx of new prisoners had + prevented the misery and wasting away of life from becoming fully + realized. Though thousands were continually dying, thousands more of + healthy, clean, well-clothed men were as continually coming in from the + front, so that a large portion of those inside looked in fairly good + condition. Put now no new prisoners had come in for months; the money + which made such a show about the sutler shops of Andersonville had been + spent; and there was in every face the same look of ghastly emaciation, + the same shrunken muscles and feeble limbs, the same lack-luster eyes and + hopeless countenances. + </p> + <p> + One of the commonest of sights was to see men whose hands and feet were + simply rotting off. The nights were frequently so cold that ice a quarter + of an inch thick formed on the water. The naked frames of starving men + were poorly calculated to withstand this frosty rigor, and thousands had + their extremities so badly frozen as to destroy the life in those parts, + and induce a rotting of the tissues by a dry gangrene. The rotted flesh + frequently remained in its place for a long time —a loathsome but + painless mass, that gradually sloughed off, leaving the sinews that passed + through it to stand out like shining, white cords. + </p> + <p> + While this was in some respects less terrible than the hospital gangrene + at Andersonville, it was more generally diffused, and dreadful to the last + degree. The Rebel Surgeons at Florence did not follow the habit of those + at Andersonville, and try to check the disease by wholesale amputation, + but simply let it run its course, and thousands finally carried their + putrefied limbs through our lines, when the Confederacy broke up in the + Spring, to be treated by our Surgeons. + </p> + <p> + I had been in prison but a little while when a voice called out from a + hole in the ground, as I was passing: + </p> + <p> + “S-a-y, Sergeant! Won't you please take these shears and cut + my toes off?” + </p> + <p> + “What?” said I, in amazement, stopping in front of the dugout. + <br><br><br><br> <a name="p536" id="p536"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p536.jpg (23K)" src="images/p536.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + “Just take these shears, won't you, and cut my toes off?” + answered the inmate, an Indiana infantryman—holding up a pair of + dull shears in his hand, and elevating a foot for me to look at. + </p> + <p> + I examined the latter carefully. All the flesh of the toes, except little + pads at the ends, had rotted off, leaving the bones as clean as if + scraped. The little tendons still remained, and held the bones to their + places, but this seemed to hurt the rest of the feet and annoy the man. + </p> + <p> + “You'd better let one of the Rebel doctors see this,” I + said, after finishing my survey, “before you conclude to have them + off. May be they can be saved.” + </p> + <p> + “No; d——d if I'm going to have any of them Rebel + butchers fooling around me. I'd die first, and then I wouldn't,” + was the reply. “You can do it better than they can. It's just + a little snip. Just try it.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't like to,” I replied. “I might lame you + for life, and make you lots of trouble.” + </p> + <p> + “O, bother! what business is that of yours? They're my toes, + and I want 'em off. They hurt me so I can't sleep. Come, now, + take the shears and cut 'em off.” + </p> + <p> + I yielded, and taking the shears, snipped one tendon after another, close + to the feet, and in a few seconds had the whole ten toes lying in a heap + at the bottom of the dug-out. I picked them up and handed them to their + owner, who gazed at them, complacently, and remarked: + </p> + <p> + “Well, I'm darned glad they're off. I won't be + bothered with corns any more, I flatter myself.” <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch70" id="ch70"></a>CHAPTER LXX + </h2> + <p> + HOUSE AND CLOTHES—EFFORTS TO ERECT A SUITABLE RESIDENCE—DIFFICULTIES + ATTENDING THIS—VARIETIES OF FLORENTINE ARCHITECTURE—WAITING + FOR DEAD MEN'S CLOTHES—CRAVING FOR TOBACCO. + </p> + <p> + We were put into the old squads to fill the places of those who had + recently died, being assigned to these vacancies according to the initials + of our surnames, the same rolls being used that we had signed as paroles. + This separated Andrews and me, for the “A's” were taken + to fill up the first hundreds of the First Thousand, while the “M's,” + to which I belonged, went into the next Thousand. + </p> + <p> + I was put into the Second Hundred of the Second Thousand, and its Sergeant + dying shortly after, I was given his place, and commanded the hundred, + drew its rations, made out its rolls, and looked out for its sick during + the rest of our stay there. + </p> + <p> + Andrews and I got together again, and began fixing up what little we could + to protect ourselves against the weather. Cold as this was we decided that + it was safer to endure it and risk frost-biting every night than to build + one of the mud-walled and mud-covered holes that so many, lived in. These + were much warmer than lying out on the frozen ground, but we believed that + they were very unhealthy, and that no one lived long who inhabited them. + </p> + <p> + So we set about repairing our faithful old blanket—now full of great + holes. We watched the dead men to get pieces of cloth from their garments + to make patches, which we sewed on with yarn raveled from other fragments + of woolen cloth. Some of our company, whom we found in the prison, donated + us the three sticks necessary to make tent-poles —wonderful + generosity when the preciousness of firewood is remembered. We hoisted our + blanket upon these; built a wall of mud bricks at one end, and in it a + little fireplace to economize our scanty fuel to the last degree, and were + once more at home, and much better off than most of our neighbors. + </p> + <p> + One of these, the proprietor of a hole in the ground covered with an arch + of adobe bricks, had absolutely no bed-clothes except a couple of short + pieces of board—and very little other clothing. He dug a trench in + the bottom of what was by courtesy called his tent, sufficiently large to + contain his body below his neck. At nightfall he would crawl into this, + put his two bits of board so that they joined over his breast, and then + say: “Now, boys, cover me over;” whereupon his friends would + cover him up with dry sand from the sides of his domicile, in which he + would slumber quietly till morning, when he would rise, shake the sand + from his garments, and declare that he felt as well refreshed as if he had + slept on a spring mattress. + </p> + <p> + There has been much talk of earth baths of late years in scientific and + medical circles. I have been sorry that our Florence comrade if he still + lives—did not contribute the results of his experience. + </p> + <p> + The pinching cold cured me of my repugnance to wearing dead men's + clothes, or rather it made my nakedness so painful that I was glad to + cover it as best I could, and I began foraging among the corpses for + garments. For awhile my efforts to set myself up in the mortuary + second-hand clothing business were not all successful. I found that dying + men with good clothes were as carefully watched over by sets of fellows + who constituted themselves their residuary legatees as if they were men of + fortune dying in the midst of a circle of expectant nephews and nieces. + Before one was fairly cold his clothes would be appropriated and divided, + and I have seen many sharp fights between contesting claimants. + </p> + <p> + I soon perceived that my best chance was to get up very early in the + morning, and do my hunting. The nights were so cold that many could not + sleep, and they would walk up and down the streets, trying to keep warm by + exercise. Towards morning, becoming exhausted, they would lie down on the + ground almost anywhere, and die. I have frequently seen so many as fifty + of these. My first “find” of any importance was a young + Pennsylvania Zouave, who was lying dead near the bridge that crossed the + Creek. His clothes were all badly worn, except his baggy, dark trousers, + which were nearly new. I removed these, scraped out from each of the + dozens of great folds in the legs about a half pint of lice, and drew the + garments over my own half-frozen limbs, the first real covering those + members had had for four or five months. The pantaloons only came down + about half-way between my knees and feet, but still they were wonderfully + comfortable to what I had been—or rather not been—wearing. I + had picked up a pair of boot bottoms, which answered me for shoes, and now + I began a hunt for socks. This took several morning expeditions, but on + one of them I was rewarded with finding a corpse with a good brown one + —army make—and a few days later I got another, a good, thick + genuine one, knit at home, of blue yarn, by some patient, careful + housewife. Almost the next morning I had the good fortune to find a dead + man with a warm, whole, infantry dress-coat, a most serviceable garment. + As I still had for a shirt the blouse Andrews had given me at Millen, I + now considered my wardrobe complete, and left the rest of the clothes to + those who were more needy than I. + </p> + <p> + Those who used tobacco seemed to suffer more from a deprivation of the + weed than from lack of food. There were no sacrifices they would not make + to obtain it, and it was no uncommon thing for boys to trade off half + their rations for a chew of “navy plug.” As long as one had + anything—especially buttons—to trade, tobacco could be + procured from the guards, who were plentifully supplied with it. When + means of barter were gone, chewers frequently became so desperate as to + beg the guards to throw them a bit of the precious nicotine. Shortly after + our arrival at Florence, a prisoner on the East Side approached one of the + Reserves with the request: + </p> + <p> + “Say, Guard, can't you give a fellow a chew of tobacco?” + </p> + <p> + To which the guard replied: + </p> + <p> + “Yes; come right across the line there and I'll drop you down + a bit.” + </p> + <p> + The unsuspecting prisoner stepped across the Dead Line, and the guard—a + boy of sixteen—raised his gun and killed him. + </p> + <p> + At the North Side of the prison, the path down to the Creek lay right + along side of the Dead Line, which was a mere furrow in the ground. + </p> + <p> + At night the guards, in their zeal to kill somebody, were very likely to + imagine that any one going along the path for water was across the Dead + Line, and fire upon him. It was as bad as going upon the skirmish line to + go for water after nightfall. Yet every night a group of boys would be + found standing at the head of the path crying out: + </p> + <p> + “Fill your buckets for a chew of tobacco.” + </p> + <p> + That is, they were willing to take all the risk of running that gauntlet + for this moderate compensation. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch71" id="ch71"></a>CHAPTER LXXI. + </h2> + <p> + DECEMBER—RATIONS OF WOOD AND FOOD GROW LESS DAILY—UNCERTAINTY + AS TO THE MORTALITY AT FLORENCE—EVEN THE GOVERNMENT'S + STATISTICS ARE VERY DEFICIENT—CARE FOB THE SICK. + </p> + <p> + The rations of wood grew smaller as the weather grew colder, until at last + they settled down to a piece about the size of a kitchen rolling-pin per + day for each man. This had to serve for all purposes—cooking, as + well as warming. We split the rations up into slips about the size of a + carpenter's lead pencil, and used them parsimoniously, never + building a fire so big that it could not be covered with a half-peck + measure. We hovered closely over this—covering it, in fact, with our + hands and bodies, so that not a particle of heat was lost. Remembering the + Indian's sage remark, “That the white man built a big fire and + sat away off from it; the Indian made a little fire and got up close to + it,” we let nothing in the way of caloric be wasted by distance. The + pitch-pine produced great quantities of soot, which, in cold and rainy + days, when we hung over the fires all the time, blackened our faces until + we were beyond the recognition of intimate friends. + </p> + <p> + There was the same economy of fuel in cooking. Less than half as much as + is contained in a penny bunch of kindling was made to suffice in preparing + our daily meal. If we cooked mush we elevated our little can an inch from + the ground upon a chunk of clay, and piled the little sticks around it so + carefully that none should burn without yielding all its heat to the + vessel, and not one more was burned than absolutely necessary. If we baked + bread we spread the dough upon our chessboard, and propped it up before + the little fire-place, and used every particle of heat evolved. We had to + pinch and starve ourselves thus, while within five minutes' walk + from the prison-gate stood enough timber to build a great city. + </p> + <p> + The stump Andrews and I had the foresight to save now did us excellent + service. It was pitch pine, very fat with resin, and a little piece split + off each day added much to our fires and our comfort. + </p> + <p> + One morning, upon examining the pockets of an infantryman of my hundred + who had just died, I had the wonderful luck to find a silver quarter. I + hurried off to tell Andrews of our unexpected good fortune. By an effort + he succeeded in calming himself to the point of receiving the news with + philosophic coolness, and we went into Committee of the Whole Upon the + State of Our Stomachs, to consider how the money could be spent to the + best advantage. At the south side of the Stockade on the outside of the + timbers, was a sutler shop, kept by a Rebel, and communicating with the + prison by a hole two or three feet square, cut through the logs. The Dead + Line was broken at this point, so as to permit prisoners to come up to the + hole to trade. The articles for sale were corn meal and bread, flour and + wheat bread, meat, beaus, molasses, honey, sweet potatos, etc. I went down + to the place, carefully inspected the stock, priced everything there, and + studied the relative food value of each. I came back, reported my + observations and conclusions to Andrews, and then staid at the tent while + he went on a similar errand. The consideration of the matter was continued + during the day and night, and the next morning we determined upon + investing our twenty-five cents in sweet potatos, as we could get nearly a + half-bushel of them, which was “more fillin' at the price,” + to use the words of Dickens's Fat Boy, than anything else offered + us. We bought the potatos, carried them home in our blanket, buried them + in the bottom of our tent, to keep them from being stolen, and restricted + ourselves to two per day until we had eaten them all. + </p> + <p> + The Rebels did something more towards properly caring for the sick than at + Andersonville. A hospital was established in the northwestern corner of + the Stockade, and separated from the rest of the camp by a line of police, + composed of our own men. In this space several large sheds were erected, + of that rude architecture common to the coarser sort of buildings in the + South. There was not a nail or a bolt used in their entire construction. + Forked posts at the ends and sides supported poles upon which were laid + the long “shakes,” or split shingles, forming the roofs, and + which were held in place by other poles laid upon them. The sides and ends + were enclosed by similar “shakes,” and altogether they formed + quite a fair protection against the weather. Beds of pine leaves were + provided for the sick, and some coverlets, which our Sanitary Commission + had been allowed to send through. But nothing was done to bathe or cleanse + them, or to exchange their lice-infested garments for others less full of + torture. The long tangled hair and whiskers were not cut, nor indeed were + any of the commonest suggestions for the improvement of the condition of + the sick put into execution. Men who had laid in their mud hovels until + they had become helpless and hopeless, were admitted to the hospital, + usually only to die. + </p> + <p> + The diseases were different in character from those which swept off the + prisoners at Andersonville. There they were mostly of the digestive + organs; here of the respiratory. The filthy, putrid, speedily fatal + gangrene of Andersonville became here a dry, slow wasting away of the + parts, which continued for weeks, even months, without being necessarily + fatal. Men's feet and legs, and less frequently their hands and + arms, decayed and sloughed off. The parts became so dead that a knife + could be run through them without causing a particle of pain. The dead + flesh hung on to the bones and tendons long after the nerves and veins had + ceased to perform their functions, and sometimes startled one by dropping + off in a lump, without causing pain or hemorrhage. <br><br><br><br> + <a name="p545" id="p545"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p545.jpg (24K)" src="images/p545.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + The appearance of these was, of course, frightful, or would have been, had + we not become accustomed to them. The spectacle of men with their feet and + legs a mass of dry ulceration, which had reduced the flesh to putrescent + deadness, and left the tendons standing out like cords, was too common to + excite remark or even attention. Unless the victim was a comrade, no one + specially heeded his condition. Lung diseases and low fevers ravaged the + camp, existing all the time in a more or less virulent condition, + according to the changes of the weather, and occasionally ragging in + destructive epidemics. I am unable to speak with any degree of + definiteness as to the death rate, since I had ceased to interest myself + about the number dying each day. I had now been a prisoner a year, and had + become so torpid and stupefied, mentally and physically, that I cared + comparatively little for anything save the rations of food and of fuel. + The difference of a few spoonfuls of meal, or a large splinter of wood in + the daily issues to me, were of more actual importance than the increase + or decrease of the death rate by a half a score or more. At Andersonville + I frequently took the trouble to count the number of dead and living, but + all curiosity of this kind had now died out. + </p> + <p> + Nor can I find that anybody else is in possession of much more than my own + information on the subject. Inquiry at the War Department has elicited the + following letters: + </p> + <p> + I. + </p> + <p> + The prison records of Florence, S. C., have never come to light, and + therefore the number of prisoners confined there could not be ascertained + from the records on file in this office; nor do I think that any statement + purporting to show that number has ever been made. + </p> + <p> + In the report to Congress of March 1, 1869, it was shown from records as + follows: + </p> + <p> + Escaped, fifty-eight; paroled, one; died, two thousand seven hundred and + ninety-three. Total, two thousand eight hundred and fifty-two. + </p> + <p> + Since date of said report there have been added to the records as follows: + </p> + <p> + Died, two hundred and twelve; enlisted in Rebel army, three hundred and + twenty-six. Total, five hundred and thirty-eight. + </p> + <p> + Making a total disposed of from there, as shown by records on file, of + three thousand three hundred and ninety. + </p> + <p> + This, no doubt, is a small proportion of the number actually confined + there. + </p> + <p> + The hospital register on file contains that part only of the alphabet + subsequent to, and including part of the letter S, but from this register, + it is shown that the prisoners were arranged in hundreds and thousands, + and the hundred and thousand to which he belonged is recorded opposite + each man's name on said register. Thus: + </p> + <p> + “John Jones, 11th thousand, 10th hundred.” + </p> + <p> + Eleven thousand being the highest number thus recorded, it is fair to + presume that not less than that number were confined there on a certain + date, and that more than that number were confined there during the time + it was continued as a prison. + </p> + <p> + II. + </p> + <p> + Statement showing the whole number of Federals and Confederates captured, + (less the number paroled on the field), the number who died while + prisoners, and the percentage of deaths, 1861-1865 + </p> +<table> +<tr><th colspan="2"> FEDERALS</th></tr> +<tr><td>Captured .................................................. </td><td class="tdr">187,818</td></tr> +<tr><td>Died, (as shown by prison and hospital records on file).... </td><td class="tdr">30,674</td></tr> +<tr><td>Percentage of deaths ...................................... </td><td class="tdr">16.375</td></tr> +</table> +<table> +<tr><th colspan="2"> CONFEDERATES</th></tr> +<tr><td>Captured .................................................. </td><td class="tdr">227,570</td></tr> +<tr><td>Died ...................................................... </td><td class="tdr">26,774</td></tr> +<tr><td>Percentage of deaths ...................................... </td><td class="tdr">11.768</td></tr> +</table> + <p> + In the detailed statement prepared for Congress dated March 1, 1869, the + whole number of deaths given as shown by Prisoner of War records was + twenty-six thousand three hundred and twenty-eight, but since that date + evidence of three thousand six hundred and twenty-eight additional deaths + has been obtained from the captured Confederate records, making a total of + twenty-nine thousand nine hundred and fifty-six as above shown. This is + believed to be many thousands less than the actual number of Federal + prisoners who died in Confederate prisons, as we have no records from + those at Montgomery Ala., Mobile, Ala., Millen, Ga., Marietta, Ga., + Atlanta, Ga., Charleston, S. C., and others. The records of Florence, S. + C., and Salisbury, N. C., are very incomplete. It also appears from + Confederate inspection reports of Confederate prisons, that large + percentage of the deaths occurred in prison quarter without the care or + knowledge of the Surgeon. For the month of December, 1864 alone, the + Confederate “burial report”; Salisbury, N. C., show that out, + of eleven hundred and fifty deaths, two hundred and twenty-three, or + twenty per cent., died in prison quarters and are not accounted for in the + report of the Surgeon, and therefore not taken into consideration in the + above report, as the only records of said prisons on file (with one + exception) are the Hospital records. Calculating the percentage of deaths + on this basis would give the number of deaths at thirty-seven thousand + four hundred and forty-five and percentage of deaths at 20.023. <br><br> + </p> + <p> + [End of the Letters from the War Department.] <br><br> + </p> + <p> + If we assume that the Government's records of Florence as correct, + it will be apparent that one man in every three die there, since, while + there might have been as high as fifty thousand at one time in the prison, + during the last three months of its existence I am quite sure that the + number did not exceed seven thousand. This would make the mortality much + greater than at Andersonville, which it undoubtedly was, since the + physical condition of the prisoners confined there had been greatly + depressed by their long confinement, while the bulk c the prisoners at + Andersonville were those who had been brought thither directly from the + field. I think also that all who experienced confinement in the two places + are united in pronouncing Florence to be, on the whole, much the worse + place and more fatal to life. + </p> + <p> + The medicines furnished the sick were quite simple in nature and mainly + composed of indigenous substances. For diarrhea red pepper and decoctions + of blackberry root and of pine leave were given. For coughs and lung + diseases, a decoction of wild cherry bark was administered. Chills and + fever were treated with decoctions of dogwood bark, and fever patients who + craved something sour, were given a weak acid drink, made by fermenting a + small quantity of meal in a barrel of water. All these remedies were quite + good in their way, and would have benefitted the patients had they been + accompanied by proper shelter, food and clothing. But it was idle to + attempt to arrest with blackberry root the diarrhea, or with wild cherry + bark the consumption of a man lying in a cold, damp, mud hovel, devoured + by vermin, and struggling to maintain life upon less than a pint of + unsalted corn meal per diem. + </p> + <p> + Finding that the doctors issued red pepper for diarrhea, and an imitation + of sweet oil made from peanuts, for the gangrenous sores above described, + I reported to them an imaginary comrade in my tent, whose symptoms + indicated those remedies, and succeeded in drawing a small quantity of + each, two or three times a week. The red pepper I used to warm up our + bread and mush, and give some different taste to the corn meal, which had + now become so loathsome to us. The peanut oil served to give a hint of the + animal food we hungered for. It was greasy, and as we did not have any + meat for three months, even this flimsy substitute was inexpressibly + grateful to palate and stomach. But one morning the Hospital Steward made + a mistake, and gave me castor oil instead, and the consequences were + unpleasant. + </p> + <p> + A more agreeable remembrance is that of two small apples, about the size + of walnuts, given me by a boy named Henry Clay Montague Porter, of the + Sixteenth Connecticut. He had relatives living in North Carolina, who sent + him a small packs of eatables, out of which, in the fulness of his + generous heart he gave me this share—enough to make me always + remember him with kindness. + </p> + <p> + Speaking of eatables reminds me of an incident. Joe Darling, of the First + Maine, our Chief of Police, had a sister living at Augusta, Ga., who + occasionally came to Florence with basket of food and other necessaries + for her brother. On one of these journeys, while sitting in Colonel + Iverson's tent, waiting for her brother to be brought out of prison, + she picked out of her basket a nicely browned doughnut and handed it to + the guard pacing in front of the tent, with: + </p> + <p> + “Here, guard, wouldn't you like a genuine Yankee doughnut?” + </p> + <p> + The guard-a lank, loose-jointed Georgia cracker—who in all his life + seen very little more inviting food than the his hominy and molasses, upon + which he had been raised, took the cake, turned it over and inspected it + curiously for some time without apparently getting the least idea of what + it was for, and then handed it back to the donor, saying: + </p> + <p> + “Really, mum, I don't believe I've got any use for it” + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch72" id="ch72"></a>CHAPTER LXXII. + </h2> + <p> + DULL WINTER DAYS—TOO WEAK AND TOO STUPID To AMUSE OURSELVES—ATTEMPTS + OF THE REBELS TO RECRUIT US INTO THEIR ARMY—THE CLASS OF MEN THEY + OBTAINED —VENGEANCE ON “THE GALVANIZED”—A SINGULAR + EXPERIENCE—RARE GLIMPSES OF FUN—INABILITY OF THE REBELS TO + COUNT. + </p> + <p> + The Rebels continued their efforts to induce prisoners to enlist in their + army, and with much better success than at any previous time. Many men had + become so desperate that they were reckless as to what they did. Home, + relatives, friends, happiness—all they had remembered or looked + forward to, all that had nerved them up to endure the present and brave + the future—now seemed separated from them forever by a yawning and + impassable chasm. For many weeks no new prisoners had come in to rouse + their drooping courage with news of the progress of our arms towards final + victory, or refresh their remembrances of home, and the gladsomeness of + “God's Country.” Before them they saw nothing but weeks + of slow and painful progress towards bitter death. The other alternative + was enlistment in the Rebel army. + </p> + <p> + Another class went out and joined, with no other intention than to escape + at the first opportunity. They justified their bad faith to the Rebels by + recalling the numberless instances of the Rebels' bad faith to us, + and usually closed their arguments in defense of their course with: + </p> + <p> + “No oath administered by a Rebel can have any binding obligation. + These men are outlaws who have not only broken their oaths to the + Government, but who have deserted from its service, and turned its arms + against it. They are perjurers and traitors, and in addition, the oath + they administer to us is under compulsion and for that reason is of no + account.” + </p> + <p> + Still another class, mostly made up from the old Raider crowd, enlisted + from natural depravity. They went out more than for anything else because + their hearts were prone to evil and they did that which was wrong in + preference to what was right. By far the largest portion of those the + Rebels obtained were of this class, and a more worthless crowd of soldiers + has not been seen since Falstaff mustered his famous recruits. + </p> + <p> + After all, however, the number who deserted their flag was astonishingly + small, considering all the circumstances. The official report says three + hundred and twenty-six, but I imaging this is under the truth, since quite + a number were turned back in after their utter uselessness had been + demonstrated. I suppose that five hundred “galvanized,” as we + termed it, but this was very few when the hopelessness of exchange, the + despair of life, and the wretchedness of the condition of the eleven or + twelve thousand inside the Stockade is remembered. + </p> + <p> + The motives actuating men to desert were not closely analyzed by us, but + we held all who did so as despicable scoundrels, too vile to be adequately + described in words. It was not safe for a man to announce his intention of + “galvanizing,” for he incurred much danger of being beaten + until he was physically unable to reach the gate. Those who went over to + the enemy had to use great discretion in letting the Rebel officer, know + so much of their wishes as would secure their being taker outside. Men + were frequently knocked down and dragged away while telling the officers + they wanted to go out. + </p> + <p> + On one occasion one hundred or more of the raider crowd who had + galvanized, were stopped for a few hours in some little Town, on their way + to the front. They lost no time in stealing everything they could lay + their hands upon, and the disgusted Rebel commander ordered them to be + returned to the Stockade. They came in in the evening, all well rigged out + in Rebel uniforms, and carrying blankets. We chose to consider their good + clothes and equipments an aggravation of their offense and an insult to + ourselves. We had at that time quite a squad of negro soldiers inside with + us. Among them was a gigantic fellow with a fist like a wooden beetle. + Some of the white boys resolved to use these to wreak the camp's + displeasure on the Galvanized. The plan was carried out capitally. The big + darky, followed by a crowd of smaller and nimbler “shades,” + would approach one of the leaders among them with: + </p> + <p> + “Is you a Galvanized?” + </p> + <p> + The surly reply would be, + </p> + <p> + “Yes, you —— black ——. What the business is + that of yours?” + </p> + <p> + At that instant the bony fist of the darky, descending like a pile-driver, + would catch the recreant under the ear, and lift him about a rod. As he + fell, the smaller darkies would pounce upon him, and in an instant despoil + him of his blanket and perhaps the larger portion of his warm clothing. + The operation was repeated with a dozen or more. The whole camp enjoyed it + as rare fun, and it was the only time that I saw nearly every body at + Florence laugh. + </p> + <p> + A few prisoners were brought in in December, who had been taken in Foster's + attempt to cut the Charleston & Savannah Railroad at Pocataligo. Among + them we were astonished to find Charley Hirsch, a member of Company I's + of our battalion. He had had a strange experience. He was originally a + member of a Texas regiment and was captured at Arkansas Post. He then took + the oath of allegiance and enlisted with us. While we were at Savannah he + approached a guard one day to trade for tobacco. The moment he spoke to + the man he recognized him as a former comrade in the Texas regiment. The + latter knew him also, and sang out, + </p> + <p> + “I know you; you're Charley Hirsch, that used to be in my + company.” + </p> + <p> + Charley backed into the crowd as quickly as possible; to elude the fellow's + eyes, but the latter called for the Corporal of the Guard, had himself + relieved, and in a few minutes came in with an officer in search of the + deserter. He found him with little difficulty, and took him out. The + luckless Charley was tried by court martial, found, guilty, sentenced to + be shot, and while waiting execution was confined in the jail. Before the + sentence could be carried into effect Sherman came so close to the City + that it was thought best to remove the prisoners. In the confusion Charley + managed to make his escape, and at the moment the battle of Pocataligo + opened, was lying concealed between the two lines of battle, without + knowing, of course, that he was in such a dangerous locality. After the + firing opened, he thought it better to lie still than run the risk from + the fire of both sides, especially as he momentarily expected our folks to + advance and drive the Rebels away. But the reverse happened; the Johnnies + drove our fellows, and, finding Charley in his place of concealment, took + him for one of Foster's men, and sent him to Florence, where he + staid until we went through to our lines. + </p> + <p> + Our days went by as stupidly and eventless as can be conceived. We had + grown too spiritless and lethargic to dig tunnels or plan escapes. We had + nothing to read, nothing to make or destroy, nothing to work with, nothing + to play with, and even no desire to contrive anything for amusement. All + the cards in the prison were worn out long ago. Some of the boys had made + dominos from bones, and Andrews and I still had our chessmen, but we were + too listless to play. The mind, enfeebled by the long disuse of it except + in a few limited channels, was unfitted for even so much effort as was + involved in a game for pastime. + </p> + <p> + Nor were there any physical exercises, such as that crowd of young men + would have delighted in under other circumstances. There was no running, + boxing, jumping, wrestling, leaping, etc. All were too weak and hungry to + make any exertion beyond that absolutely necessary. On cold days everybody + seemed totally benumbed. The camp would be silent and still. Little groups + everywhere hovered for hours, moody and sullen, over diminutive, + flickering fires, made with one poor handful of splinters. When the sun + shone, more activity was visible. Boys wandered around, hunted up their + friends, and saw what gaps death—always busiest during the cold + spells—had made in the ranks of their acquaintances. During the + warmest part of the day everybody disrobed, and spent an hour or more + killing the lice that had waxed and multiplied to grievous proportions + during the few days of comparative immunity. + </p> + <p> + Besides the whipping of the Galvanized by the darkies, I remember but two + other bits of amusement we had while at Florence. One of these was in + hearing the colored soldiers sing patriotic songs, which they did with + great gusto when the weather became mild. The other was the antics of a + circus clown—a member, I believe, of a Connecticut or a New York + regiment, who, on the rare occasions when we were feeling not exactly well + so much as simply better than we had been, would give us an hour or two of + recitations of the drolleries with which he was wont to set the crowded + canvas in a roar. One of his happiest efforts, I remember, was a stilted + paraphrase of “Old Uncle Ned” a song very popular a quarter of + a century ago, and which ran something like this: <br><br> + </p> + <table> + <tr> + <td> + <br>There was an old darky, an' his name was Uncle Ned, <br>But + he died long ago, long ago <br>He had no wool on de top of his head, + <br>De place whar de wool ought to grouw. + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br> + </p> + <h3> + CHORUS + </h3> + <table> + <tr> + <td> + <br> Den lay down de shubel an' de hoe, <br> Den hang up de + fiddle an' de bow; <br> For dere's no more hard work for + poor Uncle Ned <br> He's gone whar de good niggahs go. <br> + <br>His fingers war long, like de cane in de brake, <br>And his eyes + war too dim for to see; <br>He had no teeth to eat de corn cake, + <br>So he had to let de corn cake be. + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br> + </p> + <h3> + CHORUS. + </h3> + <p> + <br> + </p> + <table> + <tr> + <td> + <br>His legs were so bowed dat he couldn't lie still. <br>An' + he had no nails on his toes; <br> <br>His neck was so crooked dot he + couldn't take a pill, <br>So he had to take a pill through his + nose. + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br> + </p> + <h3> + CHORUS. + </h3> + <p> + <br> + </p> + <table> + <tr> + <td> + <br>One cold frosty morning old Uncle Ned died, <br>An' de + tears ran down massa's cheek like rain, <br>For he knew when + Uncle Ned was laid in de groun', <br>He would never see poor + Uncle Ned again, + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br> <br> <br>In the hands of this artist the song became— <br> + </p> + <h3> + CHORUS. + </h3> + <table> + <tr> + <td> + <br>There was an aged and indigent African whose cognomen was Uncle + Edward, <br>But he is deceased since a remote period, a very remote + period; <br>He possessed no capillary substance on the summit of his + cranium, <br>The place designated by kind Nature for the capillary + substance to vegetate. + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br> + </p> + <h3> + CHORUS. + </h3> + <p> + <br> + </p> + <table> + <tr> + <td> + <br>Then let the agricultural implements rest recumbent upon the + ground; <br>And suspend the musical instruments in peace neon the + wall, <br>For there's no more physical energy to be displayed + by our Indigent Uncle Edward <br>He has departed to that place set + apart by a beneficent Providence for the <br>reception of the better + class of Africans. + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br><br> + </p> + <p> + And so on. These rare flashes of fun only served to throw the underlying + misery out in greater relief. It was like lightning playing across the + surface of a dreary morass. + </p> + <p> + I have before alluded several times to the general inability of Rebels to + count accurately, even in low numbers. One continually met phases of this + that seemed simply incomprehensible to us, who had taken in the + multiplication table almost with our mother's milk, and knew the + Rule of Three as well as a Presbyterian boy does the Shorter Catechism. A + cadet—an undergraduate of the South Carolina Military Institute + —called our roll at Florence, and though an inborn young aristocrat, + who believed himself made of finer clay than most mortals, he was not a + bad fellow at all. He thought South Carolina aristocracy the finest + gentry, and the South Carolina Military Institute the greatest institution + of learning in the world; but that is common with all South Carolinians. + </p> + <p> + One day he came in so full of some matter of rare importance that we + became somewhat excited as to its nature. Dismissing our hundred after + roll-call, he unburdened his mind: + </p> + <p> + “Now you fellers are all so d—-d peart on mathematics, and + such things, that you want to snap me up on every opportunity, but I guess + I've got something this time that'll settle you. Its something + that a fellow gave out yesterday, and Colonel Iverson, and all the + officers out there have been figuring on it ever since, and none have got + the right answer, and I'm powerful sure that none of you, smart as + you think you are, can do it.” + </p> + <p> + “Heavens, and earth, let's hear this wonderful problem,” + said we all. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said he, “what is the length of a pole standing + in a river, one-fifth of which is in the mud, two-thirds in the water, and + one-eighth above the water, while one foot and three inches of the top is + broken off?” + </p> + <p> + In a minute a dozen answered, “One hundred and fifty feet.” + </p> + <p> + The cadet could only look his amazement at the possession of such an + amount of learning by a crowd of mudsills, and one of our fellows said + contemptuously: + </p> + <p> + “Why, if you South Carolina Institute fellows couldn't answer + such questions as that they wouldn't allow you in the infant class + up North.” + </p> + <p> + Lieutenant Barrett, our red-headed tormentor, could not, for the life of + him, count those inside in hundreds and thousands in such a manner as to + be reasonably certain of correctness. As it would have cankered his soul + to feel that he was being beaten out of a half-dozen rations by the + superior cunning of the Yankees, he adopted a plan which he must have + learned at some period of his life when he was a hog or sheep drover. + Every Sunday morning all in the camp were driven across the Creek to the + East Side, and then made to file slowly back—one at a time—between + two guards stationed on the little bridge that spanned the Creek. By this + means, if he was able to count up to one hundred, he could get our number + correctly. + </p> + <p> + The first time this was done after our arrival he gave us a display of his + wanton malevolence. We were nearly all assembled on the East Side, and + were standing in ranks, at the edge of the swamp, facing the west. Barrett + was walking along the opposite edge of the swamp, and, coming to a little + gully jumped, it. He was very awkward, and came near falling into the mud. + We all yelled derisively. He turned toward us in a fury, shook his fist, + and shouted curses and imprecations. We yelled still louder. He snatched + out his revolver, and began firing at our line. The distance was + considerable—say four or five hundred feet—and the bullets + struck in the mud in advance of the line. We still yelled. Then he jerked + a gun from a guard and fired, but his aim was still bad, and the bullet + sang over our heads, striking in the bank above us. He posted of to get + another gun, but his fit subsided before he obtained it. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch73" id="ch73"></a>CHAPTER LXXIII. + </h2> + <p> + CHRISTMAS—AND THE WAY THE WAS PASSED—THE DAILY ROUTINE OF + RATION DRAWING—SOME PECULIARITIES OF LIVING AND DYING. + </p> + <p> + Christmas, with its swelling flood of happy memories,—memories now + bitter because they marked the high tide whence our fortunes had receded + to this despicable state—came, but brought no change to mark its + coming. It is true that we had expected no change; we had not looked + forward to the day, and hardly knew when it arrived, so indifferent were + we to the lapse of time. + </p> + <p> + When reminded that the day was one that in all Christendom was sacred to + good cheer and joyful meetings; that wherever the upraised cross + proclaimed followers of Him who preached “Peace on Earth and good + will to men,” parents and children, brothers and sisters, long-time + friends, and all congenial spirits were gathering around hospitable boards + to delight in each other's society, and strengthen the bonds of + unity between them, we listened as to a tale told of some foreign land + from which we had parted forever more. + </p> + <p> + It seemed years since we had known anything of the kind. The experience we + had had of it belonged to the dim and irrevocable past. It could not come + to us again, nor we go to it. Squalor, hunger, cold and wasting disease + had become the ordinary conditions of existence, from which there was + little hope that we would ever be exempt. + </p> + <p> + Perhaps it was well, to a certain degree, that we felt so. It softened the + poignancy of our reflections over the difference in the condition of + ourselves and our happier comrades who were elsewhere. + </p> + <p> + The weather was in harmony with our feelings. The dull, gray, leaden sky + was as sharp a contrast with the crisp, bracing sharpness of a Northern + Christmas morning, as our beggarly little ration of saltless corn meal was + to the sumptuous cheer that loaded the dinner-tables of our Northern + homes. + </p> + <p> + We turned out languidly in the morning to roll-call, endured silently the + raving abuse of the cowardly brute Barrett, hung stupidly over the + flickering little fires, until the gates opened to admit the rations. For + an hour there was bustle and animation. All stood around and counted each + sack of meal, to get an idea of the rations we were likely to receive. + </p> + <p> + This was a daily custom. The number intended for the day's issue + were all brought in and piled up in the street. Then there was a division + of the sacks to the thousands, the Sergeant of each being called up in + turn, and allowed to pick out and carry away one, until all were taken. + When we entered the prison each thousand received, on an average, ten or + eleven sacks a day. Every week saw a reduction in the number, until by + midwinter the daily issue to a thousand averaged four sacks. Let us say + that one of these sacks held two bushels, or the four, eight bushels. As + there are thirty-two quarts in a bushel, one thousand men received two + hundred and fifty-six quarts, or less than a half pint each. + </p> + <p> + We thought we had sounded the depths of misery at Andersonville, but + Florence showed us a much lower depth. Bad as was parching under the + burning sun whose fiery rays bred miasma and putrefaction, it was still + not so bad as having one's life chilled out by exposure in nakedness + upon the frozen ground to biting winds and freezing sleet. Wretched as the + rusty bacon and coarse, maggot-filled bread of Andersonville was, it would + still go much farther towards supporting life than the handful of saltless + meal at Florence. + </p> + <p> + While I believe it possible for any young man, with the forces of life + strong within him, and healthy in every way, to survive, by taking due + precautions, such treatment as we received in Andersonville, I cannot + understand how anybody could live through a month of Florence. That many + did live is only an astonishing illustration of the tenacity of life in + some individuals. + </p> + <p> + Let the reader imagine—anywhere he likes—a fifteen-acre field, + with a stream running through the center. Let him imagine this inclosed by + a Stockade eighteen feet high, made by standing logs on end. Let him + conceive of ten thousand feeble men, debilitated by months of + imprisonment, turned inside this inclosure, without a yard of covering + given them, and told to make their homes there. One quarter of them—two + thousand five hundred—pick up brush, pieces of rail, splits from + logs, etc., sufficient to make huts that will turn the rain tolerably. The + huts are in no case as good shelter as an ordinarily careful farmer + provides for his swine. Half of the prisoners—five thousand—who + cannot do so well, work the mud up into rude bricks, with which they build + shelters that wash down at every hard rain. The remaining two thousand + five hundred do not do even this, but lie around on the ground, on old + blankets and overcoats, and in day-time prop these up on sticks, as + shelter from the rain and wind. Let them be given not to exceed a pint of + corn meal a day, and a piece of wood about the size of an ordinary stick + for a cooking stove to cook it with. Then let such weather prevail as we + ordinarily have in the North in November—freezing cold rains, with + frequent days and nights when the ice forms as thick as a pane of glass. + How long does he think men could live through that? He will probably say + that a week, or at most a fortnight, would see the last and strongest of + these ten thousand lying dead in the frozen mire where he wallowed. He + will be astonished to learn that probably not more than four or five + thousand of those who underwent this in Florence died there. How many died + after release—in Washington, on the vessels coming to Annapolis, in + hospital and camp at Annapolis, or after they reached home, none but the + Recording Angel can tell. All that I know is we left a trail of dead + behind us, wherever we moved, so long as I was with the doleful caravan. + </p> + <p> + Looking back, after these lapse of years, the most salient characteristic + seems to be the ease with which men died. There, was little of the + violence of dissolution so common at Andersonville. The machinery of life + in all of us, was running slowly and feebly; it would simply grow still + slower and feebler in some, and then stop without a jar, without a + sensation to manifest it. Nightly one of two or three comrades sleeping + together would die. The survivors would not know it until they tried to + get him to “spoon” over, when they would find him rigid and + motionless. As they could not spare even so little heat as was still + contained in his body, they would not remove this, but lie up the closer + to it until morning. Such a thing as a boy making an outcry when he + discovered his comrade dead, or manifesting any, desire to get away from + the corpse, was unknown. + </p> + <p> + I remember one who, as Charles II. said of himself, was —“an + unconscionable long time in dying.” His name was Bickford; he + belonged to the Twenty-First Ohio Volunteer Infantry, lived, I think, near + Findlay, O., and was in my hundred. His partner and he were both in a very + bad condition, and I was not surprised, on making my rounds, one morning, + to find them apparently quite dead. I called help, and took his partner + away to the gate. When we picked up Bickford we found he still lived, and + had strength enough to gasp out: + </p> + <p> + “You fellers had better let me alone.” We laid him back to + die, as we supposed, in an hour or so. + </p> + <p> + When the Rebel Surgeon came in on his rounds, I showed him Bickford, lying + there with his eyes closed, and limbs motionless. The Surgeon said: + </p> + <p> + “O, that man's dead; why don't you have him taken out?” + </p> + <p> + I replied: “No, he isn't. Just see.” Stooping, I shook + the boy sharply, and said: + </p> + <p> + “Bickford! Bickford!! How do you feel?” + </p> + <p> + The eyes did not unclose, but the lips opened slowly, and said with a + painful effort: + </p> + <p> + “F-i-r-s-t R-a-t-e!” + </p> + <p> + This scene was repeated every morning for over a week. Every day the Rebel + Surgeon would insist that the man should betaken out, and every morning + Bickford would gasp out with troublesome exertion that he felt: + </p> + <p> + “F-i-r-s-t R-a-t-e!” + </p> + <p> + It ended one morning by his inability, to make his usual answer, and then + he was carried out to join the two score others being loaded into the + wagon. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch74" id="ch74"></a>CHAPTER LXXIV. + </h2> + <p> + NEW YEAR'S DAY—DEATH OF JOHN H. WINDER—HE DIES ON HIS + WAY TO A DINNER —SOMETHING AS TO CHARACTER AND CAREER—ONE OF + THE WORST MEN THAT EVER LIVED. + </p> + <p> + On New Year's Day we were startled by the information that our + old-time enemy—General John H. Winder—was dead. It seemed that + the Rebel Sutler of the Post had prepared in his tent a grand New Year's + dinner to which all the officers were invited. Just as Winder bent his + head to enter the tent he fell, and expired shortly after. The boys said + it was a clear case of Death by Visitation of the Devil, and it was always + insisted that his last words were: + </p> + <p> + “My faith is in Christ; I expect to be saved. Be sure and cut down + the prisoners' rations.” + </p> + <p> + Thus passed away the chief evil genius of the Prisoners-of-War. American + history has no other character approaching his in vileness. I doubt if the + history of the world can show another man, so insignificant in abilities + and position, at whose door can be laid such a terrible load of human + misery. There have been many great conquerors and warriors who have <br> + </p> + <table> + <tr> + <td> + Waded through slaughter to a throne,<br> And shut the gates of mercy + on mankind,<br> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br> + </p> + <p> + but they were great men, with great objects, with grand plans to carry + out, whose benefits they thought would be more than an equivalent for the + suffering they caused. The misery they inflicted was not the motive of + their schemes, but an unpleasant incident, and usually the sufferers were + men of other races and religions, for whom sympathy had been dulled by + long antagonism. + </p> + <p> + But Winder was an obscure, dull old man—the commonplace descendant + of a pseudo-aristocrat whose cowardly incompetence had once cost us the + loss of our National Capital. More prudent than his runaway father, he + held himself aloof from the field; his father had lost reputation and + almost his commission, by coming into contact with the enemy; he would + take no such foolish risks, and he did not. When false expectations of the + ultimate triumph of Secession led him to cast his lot with the Southern + Confederacy, he did not solicit a command in the field, but took up his + quarters in Richmond, to become a sort of Informer-General, + High-Inquisitor and Chief Eavesdropper for his intimate friend, Jefferson + Davis. He pried and spied around into every man's bedroom and family + circle, to discover traces of Union sentiment. The wildest tales malice + and vindictiveness could concoct found welcome reception in his ears. He + was only too willing to believe, that he might find excuse for harrying + and persecuting. He arrested, insulted, imprisoned, banished, and shot + people, until the patience even of the citizens of Richmond gave way, and + pressure was brought upon Jefferson Davis to secure the suppression of his + satellite. For a long while Davis resisted, but at last yielded, and + transferred Winder to the office of Commissary General of Prisoners. The + delight of the Richmond people was great. One of the papers expressed it + in an article, the key note of which was: + </p> + <p> + “Thank God that Richmond is at last rid of old Winder. God have + mercy upon those to whom he has been sent.” + </p> + <p> + Remorseless and cruel as his conduct of the office of Provost Marshal + General was, it gave little hint of the extent to which he would go in + that of Commissary General of Prisoners. Before, he was restrained + somewhat by public opinion and the laws of the land. These no longer + deterred him. From the time he assumed command of all the Prisons east of + the Mississippi—some time in the Fall of 1863—until death + removed him, January 1, 1865—certainly not less than twenty-five + thousand incarcerated men died in the most horrible manner that the mind + can conceive. He cannot be accused of exaggeration, when, surveying the + thousands of new graves at Andersonville, he could say with a quiet + chuckle that he was “doing more to kill off the Yankees than twenty + regiments at the front.” No twenty regiments in the Rebel Army ever + succeeded in slaying anything like thirteen thousand Yankees in six + months, or any other time. His cold blooded cruelty was such as to disgust + even the Rebel officers. Colonel D. T. Chandler, of the Rebel War + Department, sent on a tour of inspection to Andersonville, reported back, + under date of August 5, 1864: + </p> + <p> + “My duty requires me respectfully to recommend a change in the + officer in command of the post, Brigadier General John H. Winder, and the + substitution in his place of some one who unites both energy and good + judgment with some feelings of humanity and consideration for the welfare + and comfort, as far as is consistent with their safe keeping, of the vast + number of unfortunates placed under his control; some one who, at least, + will not advocate deliberately, and in cold blood, the propriety of + leaving them in their present condition until their number is sufficiently + reduced by death to make the present arrangements suffice for their + accommodation, and who will not consider it a matter of self-laudation and + boasting that he has never been inside of the Stockade —a place the + horrors of which it is difficult to describe, and which is a disgrace to + civilization—the condition of which he might, by the exercise of a + little energy and judgment, even with the limited means at his command, + have considerably improved.” + </p> + <p> + In his examination touching this report, Colonel Chandler says: + </p> + <p> + “I noticed that General Winder seemed very indifferent to the + welfare of the prisoners, indisposed to do anything, or to do as much as I + thought he ought to do, to alleviate their sufferings. I remonstrated with + him as well as I could, and he used that language which I reported to the + Department with reference to it—the language stated in the report. + When I spoke of the great mortality existing among the prisoners, and + pointed out to him that the sickly season was coming on, and that it must + necessarily increase unless something was done for their relief—the + swamp, for instance, drained, proper food furnished, and in better + quantity, and other sanitary suggestions which I made to him—he + replied to me that he thought it was better to see half of them die than + to take care of the men.” + </p> + <p> + It was he who could issue such an order as this, when it was supposed that + General Stoneman was approaching Andersonville: <br><br> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + HEADQUARTERS MILITARY PRISON, + </p> + <p> + ANDERSONVILLE, Ga., July 27, 1864. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + The officers on duty and in charge of the Battery of Florida Artillery at + the time will, upon receiving notice that the enemy has approached within + seven miles of this post, open upon the Stockade with grapeshot, without + reference to the situation beyond these lines of defense. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + JOHN H. WINDER, + </p> + <p> + Brigadier General Commanding. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br><br> + </p> + <p> + This man was not only unpunished, but the Government is to-day supporting + his children in luxury by the rent it pays for the use of his property + —the well-known Winder building, which is occupied by one of the + Departments at Washington. + </p> + <p> + I confess that all my attempts to satisfactorily analyze Winder's + character and discover a sufficient motive for his monstrous conduct have + been futile. Even if we imagine him inspired by a hatred of the people of + the North that rose to fiendishness, we can not understand him. It seems + impossible for the mind of any man to cherish so deep and insatiable an + enmity against his fellow-creatures that it could not be quenched and + turned to pity by the sight of even one day's misery at + Andersonville or Florence. No one man could possess such a grievous sense + of private or national wrongs as to be proof against the daily spectacle + of thousands of his own fellow citizens, inhabitants of the same country, + associates in the same institutions, educated in the same principles, + speaking the same language—thousands of his brethren in race, creed, + and all that unite men into great communities, starving, rotting and + freezing to death. + </p> + <p> + There is many a man who has a hatred so intense that nothing but the death + of the detested one will satisfy it. A still fewer number thirst for a + more comprehensive retribution; they would slay perhaps a half-dozen + persons; and there may be such gluttons of revenge as would not be + satisfied with the sacrifice of less than a score or two, but such would + be monsters of whom there have been very few, even in fiction. How must + they all bow their diminished heads before a man who fed his animosity fat + with tens of thousands of lives. + </p> + <p> + But, what also militates greatly against the presumption that either + revenge or an abnormal predisposition to cruelty could have animated + Winder, is that the possession of any two such mental traits so strongly + marked would presuppose a corresponding activity of other intellectual + faculties, which was not true of him, as from all I can learn of him his + mind was in no respect extraordinary. + </p> + <p> + It does not seem possible that he had either the brain to conceive, or the + firmness of purpose to carry out so gigantic and long-enduring a career of + cruelty, because that would imply superhuman qualities in a man who had + previously held his own very poorly in the competition with other men. + </p> + <p> + The probability is that neither Winder nor his direct superiors—Howell + Cobb and Jefferson Davis—conceived in all its proportions the + gigantic engine of torture and death they were organizing; nor did they + comprehend the enormity of the crime they were committing. But they were + willing to do much wrong to gain their end; and the smaller crimes of + to-day prepared them for greater ones to-morrow, and still greater ones + the day following. Killing ten men a day on Belle Isle in January, by + starvation and hardship, led very easily to killing one hundred men a day + in Andersonville, in July, August and September. Probably at the beginning + of the war they would have felt uneasy at slaying one man per day by such + means, but as retribution came not, and as their appetite for slaughter + grew with feeding, and as their sympathy with human misery atrophied from + long suppression, they ventured upon ever widening ranges of + destructiveness. Had the war lasted another year, and they lived, five + hundred deaths a day would doubtless have been insufficient to disturb + them. + </p> + <p> + Winder doubtless went about his part of the task of slaughter coolly, + leisurely, almost perfunctorily. His training in the Regular Army was + against the likelihood of his displaying zeal in anything. He instituted + certain measures, and let things take their course. That course was a + rapid transition from bad to worse, but it was still in the direction of + his wishes, and, what little of his own energy was infused into it was in + the direction of impetus,-not of controlling or improving the course. To + have done things better would have involved soma personal discomfort. He + was not likely to incur personal discomfort to mitigate evils that were + only afflicting someone else. By an effort of one hour a day for two weeks + he could have had every man in Andersonville and Florence given good + shelter through his own exertions. He was not only too indifferent and too + lazy to do this, but he was too malignant; and this neglect to allow—simply + allow, remember—the prisoners to protect their lives by providing + their own shelter, gives the key to his whole disposition, and would stamp + his memory with infamy, even if there were no other charges against him. + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch75" id="ch75"></a>CHAPTER LXXV. + </h2> + <p> + ONE INSTANCE OF A SUCCESSFUL ESCAPE—THE ADVENTURES OF SERGEANT + WALTER HARTSOUGH, OF COMPANY K, SIXTEENTH ILLINOIS CAVALRY—HE GETS + AWAY FROM THE REBELS AT THOMASVILLE, AND AFTER A TOILSOME AND DANGEROUS + JOURNEY OF SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES, REACHES OUR LINES IN FLORIDA. + </p> + <p> + While I was at Savannah I got hold of a primary geography in possession of + one of the prisoners, and securing a fragment of a lead pencil from one + comrade, and a sheet of note paper from another, I made a copy of the + South Carolina and Georgia sea coast, for the use of Andrews and myself in + attempting to escape. The reader remembers the ill success of all our + efforts in that direction. When we were at Blackshear we still had the + map, and intended to make another effort, “as soon as the sign got + right.” One day while we were waiting for this, Walter Hartsough, a + Sergeant of Company g, of our battalion, came to me and said: + </p> + <p> + “Mc., I wish you'd lend me your map a little while. I want to + make a copy.” + </p> + <p> + I handed it over to him, and never saw him more, as almost immediately + after we were taken out “on parole” and sent to Florence. I + heard from other comrades of the battalion that he had succeeded in + getting past the guard line and into the Woods, which was the last they + ever heard of him. Whether starved to death in some swamp, whether torn to + pieces by dogs, or killed by the rifles of his pursuers, they knew not. + The reader can judge of my astonishment as well as pleasure, at receiving + among the dozens of letters which came to me every day while this account + was appearing in the BLADE, one signed “Walter Hartsough, late of + Co. K, Sixteenth Illinois Cavalry.” It was like one returned from + the grave, and the next mail took a letter to him, inquiring eagerly of + his adventures after we separated. I take pleasure in presenting the + reader with his reply, which was only intended as a private communication + to myself. The first part of the letter I omit, as it contains only gossip + about our old comrades, which, however interesting to myself, would hardly + be so to the general reader. <br><br> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + GENOA, WAYNE COUNTY, IA., + </p> + <p> + May 27, 1879. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + Dear Comrade Mc.: + </p> + <p> + ..................... + </p> + <p> + I have been living in this town for ten years, running a general store, + under the firm name of Hartsough & Martin, and have been more + successful than I anticipated. + </p> + <p> + I made my escape from Thomasville, Ga., Dec. 7, 1864, by running the + guards, in company with Frank Hommat, of Company M, and a man by the name + of Clipson, of the Twenty-First Illinois Infantry. I had heard the + officers in charge of us say that they intended to march us across to the + other road, and take us back to Andersonville. We concluded we would take + a heavy risk on our lives rather than return there. By stinting ourselves + we had got a little meal ahead, which we thought we would bake up for the + journey, but our appetites got the better of us, and we ate it all up + before starting. We were camped in the woods then, with no Stockade—only + a line of guards around us. We thought that by a little strategy and + boldness we could pass these. We determined to try. Clipson was to go to + the right, Hommat in the center, and myself to the left. We all slipped + through, without a shot. Our rendezvous was to be the center of a small + swamp, through which flowed a small stream that supplied the prisoners + with water. Hommat and I got together soon after passing the guard lines, + and we began signaling for Clipson. We laid down by a large log that lay + across the stream, and submerged our limbs and part of our bodies in the + water, the better to screen ourselves from observation. Pretty soon a + Johnny came along with a bunch of turnip tops, that he was taking up to + the camp to trade to the prisoners. As he passed over the log I could have + caught him by the leg, which I intended to do if he saw us, but he passed + along, heedless of those concealed under his very feet, which saved him a + ducking at least, for we were resolved to drown him if he discovered us. + Waiting here a little longer we left our lurking place and made a circuit + of the edge of the swamp, still signaling for Clipson. But we could find + nothing of him, and at last had to give him up. + </p> + <p> + We were now between Thomasville and the camp, and as Thomasville was the + end of the railroad, the woods were full of Rebels waiting transportation, + and we approached the road carefully, supposing that it was guarded to + keep their own men from going to town. We crawled up to the road, but + seeing no one, started across it. At that moment a guard about thirty + yards to our left, who evidently supposed that we were Rebels, sang out: + </p> + <p> + “Whar ye gwine to thar boys?” + </p> + <p> + I answered: + </p> + <p> + “Jest a-gwine out here a little ways.” + </p> + <p> + Frank whispered me to run, but I said, “No; wait till he halts us, + and then run.” He walked up to where we had crossed his beat—looked + after us a few minutes, and then, to our great relief, walked back to his + post. After much trouble we succeeded in getting through all the troops, + and started fairly on our way. We tried to shape our course toward + Florida. The country was very swampy, the night rainy and dark, no stars + were out to guide us, and we made such poor progress that when daylight + came we were only eight miles from our starting place, and close to a road + leading from Thomasville to Monticello. Finding a large turnip patch, we + filled our pockets, and then hunted a place to lie concealed in during the + day. We selected a thicket in the center of a large pasture. We crawled + into this and laid down. Some negros passed close to us, going to their + work in an adjoining field. They had a bucket of victuals with them for + dinner, which they hung on the fence in such a way that we could have + easily stolen it without detection. The temptation to hungry men was very + great, but we concluded that it was best and safest to let it alone. + </p> + <p> + As the negros returned from work in the evening they separated, one old + man passing on the opposite side of the thicket from the rest. We halted + him and told him that we were Rebs, who had taken a French leave of + Thomasville; that we were tired of guarding Yanks, and were going home; + and further, that we were hungry, and wanted something to eat. He told us + that he was the boss on the plantation. His master lived in Thomasville. + He, himself, did not have much to eat, but he would show us where to stay, + and when the folks went to bed he would bring us some food. Passing up + close to the negro quarters we got over the fence and lay down behind it, + to wait for our supper. + </p> + <p> + We had been there but a short time when a young negro came out, and + passing close by us, went into a fence corner a few panels distant and, + kneeling down, began praying aloud, and very, earnestly, and stranger + still, the burden of his supplication was for the success of our armies. I + thought it the best prayer I ever listened to. Finishing his devotions he + returned to the house, and shortly after the old man came with a good + supper of corn bread, molasses and milk. He said that he had no meat, and + that he had done the best he could for us. After we had eaten, he said + that as the young people had gone to bed, we had better come into his + cabin and rest awhile, which we did. + </p> + <p> + Hommat had a full suit of Rebel clothes, and I had stolen sacks enough at + Andersonville, when they were issuing rations, to make me a shirt and + pantaloons, which a sailor fabricated for me. I wore these over what was + left of my blue clothes. The old negro lady treated us very coolly. In a + few minutes a young negro came in, whom the old gentleman introduced as + his son, and whom I immediately recognized as our friend of the prayerful + proclivities. He said that he had been a body servant to his young master, + who was an officer in the Rebel army. + </p> + <p> + “Golly!” says he, “if you 'uns had stood a little + longer at Stone River, our men would have run.” + </p> + <p> + I turned to him sharply with the question of what he meant by calling us + “You 'uns,” and asked him if he believed we were + Yankees. He surveyed us carefully for a few seconds, and then said: + </p> + <p> + “Yes; I bleav you is Yankees.” + </p> + <p> + He paused a second, and added: + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I know you is.” + </p> + <p> + I asked him how he knew it, and he said that we neither looked nor talked + like their men. I then acknowledged that we were Yankee prisoners, trying + to make our escape to our lines. This announcement put new life into the + old lady, and, after satisfying herself that we were really Yankees, she + got up from her seat, shook hands with us, and declared we must have a + better supper than we had had. She set immediately about preparing it for + us. Taking up a plank in the floor, she pulled out a nice flitch of bacon, + from which she cut as much as we could eat, and gave us some to carry with + us. She got up a real substantial supper, to which we did full justice, in + spite of the meal we had already eaten. + </p> + <p> + They gave us a quantity of victuals to take with us, and instructed us as + well as possible as to our road. They warned us to keep away from the + young negros, but trust the old ones implicitly. Thanking them over and + over for their exceeding kindness, we bade them good-by, and started again + on our journey. Our supplies lasted two days, during which time we made + good progress, keeping away from the roads, and flanking the towns, which + were few and insignificant. We occasionally came across negros, of whom we + cautiously inquired as to the route and towns, and by the assistance of + our map and the stars, got along very well indeed, until we came to the + Suwanee River. We had intended to cross this at Columbus or Alligator. + When within six miles of the river we stopped at some negro huts to get + some food. The lady who owned the negros was a widow, who was born and + raised in Massachusetts. Her husband had died before the war began. An old + negro woman told her mistress that we were at the quarters, and she sent + for us to come to the house. She was a very nice-looking lady, about + thirty-five years of age, and treated us with great kindness. Hommat being + barefooted, she pulled off her own shoes and stockings and gave them to + him, saying that she would go to Town the next day and get herself another + pair. She told us not to try to cross the river near Columbus, as their + troops had been deserting in great numbers, and the river was closely + picketed to catch the runaways. She gave us directions how to go so as to + cross the river about fifty miles below Columbus. We struck the river + again the next night, and I wanted to swim it, but Hommat was afraid of + alligators, and I could not induce him to venture into the water. + </p> + <p> + We traveled down the river until we came to Moseley's Ferry, where + we stole an old boat about a third full of water, and paddled across. + There was quite a little town at that place, but we walked right down the + main street without meeting any one. Six miles from the river we saw an + old negro woman roasting sweet potatos in the back yard of a house. We + were very hungry, and thought we would risk something to get food. Hommat + went around near her, and asked her for something to eat. She told him to + go and ask the white folks. This was the answer she made to every + question. He wound up by asking her how far it was to Mossley's + Ferry, saying that he wanted to go there, and get something to eat. She at + last ran into the house, and we ran away as fast as we could. We had gone + but a short distance when we heard a horn, and soon-the-cursed hounds + began bellowing. We did our best running, but the hounds circled around + the house a few times and then took our trail. For a little while it + seemed all up with us, as the sound of the baying came closer and closer. + But our inquiry about the distance to Moseley's Ferry seems to have + saved us. They soon called the hounds in, and started them on the track we + had come, instead of that upon which we were going. The baying shortly + died away in the distance. We did not waste any time congratulating + ourselves over our marvelous escape, but paced on as fast as we could for + about eight miles farther. On the way we passed over the battle ground of + Oolustee, or Ocean Pond. + </p> + <p> + Coming near to Lake City we fell in with some negros who had been brought + from Maryland. We stopped over one day with them, to rest, and two of them + concluded to go with us. We were furnished with a lot of cooked + provisions, and starting one night made forty-two miles before morning. We + kept the negros in advance. I told Hommat that it was a poor command that + could not afford an advance guard. After traveling two nights with the + negros, we came near Baldwin. Here I was very much afraid of recapture, + and I did not want the negros with us, if we were, lest we should be shot + for slave-stealing. About daylight of the second morning we gave them the + slip. + </p> + <p> + We had to skirt Baldwin closely, to head the St. Mary's River, or + cross it where that was easiest. After crossing the river we came to a + very large swamp, in the edge of which we lay all day. Before nightfall we + started to go through it, as there was no fear of detection in these + swamps. We got through before it was very dark, and as we emerged from it + we discovered a dense cloud of smoke to our right and quite close. We + decided this was a camp, and while we were talking the band began to play. + This made us think that probably our forces had come out from Fernandina, + and taken the place. I proposed to Hommat that we go forward and + reconnoiter. He refused, and leaving him alone, I started forward. I had + gone but a short distance when a soldier came out from the camp with a + bucket. He began singing, and the song he sang convinced me that he was a + Rebel. Rejoining Hommat, we held a consultation and decided to stay where + we were until it became darker, before trying to get out. It was the night + of the 22d of December, and very cold for that country. The camp guard had + small fires built, which we could see quite plainly. After starting we saw + that the pickets also had fires, and that we were between the two lines. + This discovery saved us from capture, and keeping about an equal distance + between the two, we undertook to work our way out. + </p> + <p> + We first crossed a line of breastworks, then in succession the Fernandina + Railroad, the Jacksonville Railroad, and pike, moving all the time nearly + parallel with the picket line. Here we had to halt. Hommat was suffering + greatly with his feet. The shoes that had been given him by the widow lady + were worn out, and his feet were much torn and cut by the terribly rough + road we had traveled through swamps, etc. We sat down on a log, and I, + pulling off the remains of my army shirt, tore it into pieces, and Hommat + wrapped his feet up in them. A part I reserved and tore into strips, to + tie up the rents in our pantaloons. Going through the swamps and briers + had torn them into tatters, from waistband to hem, leaving our skins bare + to be served in the same way. + </p> + <p> + We started again, moving slowly and bearing towards the picket fires, + which we could see for a distance on our left. After traveling some little + time the lights on our left ended, which puzzled us for a while, until we + came to a fearful big swamp, that explained it all, as this, considered + impassable, protected the right of the camp. We had an awful time in + getting through. In many places we had to lie down and crawl long + distances through the paths made in the brakes by hogs and other animals. + As we at length came out, Hommat turned to me and whispered that in the + morning we would have some Lincoln coffee. He seemed to think this must + certainly end our troubles. + </p> + <p> + We were now between the Jacksonville Railroad and the St. John's + River. We kept about four miles from the railroad, for fear of running + into the Rebel outposts. We had traveled but a few miles when Hommat said + he could go no farther, as his feet and legs were so swelled and numb that + he could not tell when he set them upon the ground. I had some matches + that a negro had given me, and gathering together a few pine knots we made + a fire—the first that we had lighted on the trip—and laid down + with it between us. We had slept but a few minutes when I awoke and found + Hommat's clothes on fire. Rousing him we put out the flames before + he was badly burned, but the thing had excited him so as to give him new + life, and be proposed to start on again. + </p> + <p> + By sunrise we were within eight miles of our lines, and concluding that it + would be safe to travel in the daytime, we went ahead, walking along the + railroad. The excitement being over, Hommat began to move very slowly + again. His feet and legs were so swollen that he could scarcely walk, and + it took us a long while to pass over those eight miles. + </p> + <p> + At last we came in sight of our pickets. They were negros. They halted us, + and Hommat went forward to speak to them. They called for the Officer of + the Guard, who came, passed us inside, and shook hands cordially with us. + His first inquiry was if we knew Charley Marseilles, whom you remember ran + that little bakery at Andersonville. + </p> + <p> + We were treated very kindly at Jacksonville. General Scammon was in + command of the post, and had only been released but a short time from + prison, so he knew how it was himself. I never expect to enjoy as happy a + moment on earth as I did when I again got under the protection of the old + flag. Hommat went to the hospital a few days, and was then sent around to + New York by sea. + </p> + <p> + Oh, it was a fearful trip through those Florida swamps. We would very + often have to try a swamp in three or four different places before we + could get through. Some nights we could not travel on account of its being + cloudy and raining. There is not money enough in the United States to + induce me to undertake the trip again under the same circumstances. Our + friend Clipson, that made his escape when we did, got very nearly through + to our lines, but was taken sick, and had to give himself up. He was taken + back to Andersonville and kept until the next Spring, when he came through + all right. There were sixty-one of Company K captured at Jonesville, and I + think there was only seventeen lived through those horrible prisons. + </p> + <p> + You have given the best description of prison life that I have ever seen + written. The only trouble is that it cannot be portrayed so that persons + can realize the suffering and abuse that our soldiers endured in those + prison hells. Your statements are all correct in regard to the treatment + that we received, and all those scenes you have depicted are as vivid in + my mind today as if they had only occurred yesterday. Please let me hear + from you again. Wishing you success in all your undertakings, I remain + your friend, + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + WALTER, HARTSOUGH, + </p> + <p> + Late of K Company, Sixteenth Illinois Volunteer of Infantry. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch76" id="ch76"></a>CHAPTER LXXVI. + </h2> + <p> + THE PECULIAR TYPE OF INSANITY PREVALENT AT FLORENCE—BARRETT'S + WANTONNESS OF CRUELTY—WE LEARN OF SHERMAN'S ADVANCE INTO SOUTH + CAROLINA—THE REBELS BEGIN MOVING THE PRISONERS AWAY—ANDREWS + AND I CHANGE OUR TACTICS, AND STAY BEHIND—ARRIVAL OF FIVE PRISONERS + FROM SHERMAN'S COMMAND—THEIR UNBOUNDED CONFIDENCE IN SHERMAN'S + SUCCESS, AND ITS BENEFICIAL EFFECT UPON US. + </p> + <p> + One terrible phase of existence at Florence was the vast increase of + insanity. We had many insane men at Andersonville, but the type of the + derangement was different, partaking more of what the doctors term + melancholia. Prisoners coming in from the front were struck aghast by the + horrors they saw everywhere. Men dying of painful and repulsive diseases + lined every step of whatever path they trod; the rations given them were + repugnant to taste and stomach; shelter from the fiery sun there was none, + and scarcely room enough for them to lie down upon. Under these + discouraging circumstances, home-loving, kindly-hearted men, especially + those who had passed out of the first flush of youth, and had left wife + and children behind when they entered the service, were speedily overcome + with despair of surviving until released; their hopelessness fed on the + same germs which gave it birth, until it became senseless, vacant-eyed, + unreasoning, incurable melancholy, when the victim would lie for hours, + without speaking a word, except to babble of home, or would wander + aimlessly about the camp—frequently stark naked—until he died + or was shot for coming too near the Dead Line. Soldiers must not suppose + that this was the same class of weaklings who usually pine themselves into + the Hospital within three months after their regiment enters the field. + They were as a rule, made up of seasoned soldiery, who had become inured + to the dangers and hardships of active service, and were not likely to + sink down under any ordinary trials. + </p> + <p> + The insane of Florence were of a different class; they were the boys who + had laughed at such a yielding to adversity in Andersonville, and felt a + lofty pity for the misfortunes of those who succumbed so. But now the long + strain of hardship, privation and exposure had done for them what + discouragement had done for those of less fortitude in Andersonville. The + faculties shrank under disuse and misfortune, until they forgot their + regiments, companies, places and date of capture, and finally, even their + names. I should think that by the middle of January, at least one in every + ten had sunk to this imbecile condition. It was not insanity so much as + mental atrophy—not so much aberration of the mind, as a paralysis of + mental action. The sufferers became apathetic idiots, with no desire or + wish to do or be anything. If they walked around at all they had to be + watched closely, to prevent their straying over the Dead Line, and giving + the young brats of guards the coveted opportunity of killing them. Very + many of such were killed, and one of my Midwinter memories of Florence was + that of seeing one of these unfortunate imbeciles wandering witlessly up + to the Dead Line from the Swamp, while the guard—a boy of seventeen—stood + with gun in hand, in the attitude of a man expecting a covey to be + flushed, waiting for the poor devil to come so near the Dead Line as to + afford an excuse for killing him. Two sane prisoners, comprehending the + situation, rushed up to the lunatic, at the risk of their own lives, + caught him by the arms, and drew him back to safety. + </p> + <p> + The brutal Barrett seemed to delight in maltreating these demented + unfortunates. He either could not be made to understand their condition, + or willfully disregarded it, for it was one of the commonest sights to see + him knock down, beat, kick or otherwise abuse them for not instantly + obeying orders which their dazed senses could not comprehend, or their + feeble limbs execute, even if comprehended. + </p> + <p> + In my life I have seen many wantonly cruel men. I have known numbers of + mates of Mississippi river steamers—a class which seems carefully + selected from ruffians most proficient in profanity, obscenity and + swift-handed violence; I have seen negro-drivers in the slave marts of St. + Louis, Memphis and New Orleans, and overseers on the plantations of + Mississippi and Louisiana; as a police reporter in one of the largest + cities in America, I have come in contact with thousands of the brutalized + scoundrels—the thugs of the brothel, bar-room and alley—who + form the dangerous classes of a metropolis. I knew Captain Wirz. But in + all this exceptionally extensive and varied experience, I never met a man + who seemed to love cruelty for its own sake as well as Lieutenant Barrett. + He took such pleasure in inflicting pain as those Indians who slice off + their prisoners' eyelids, ears, noses and hands, before burning them + at the stake. + </p> + <p> + That a thing hurt some one else was always ample reason for his doing it. + The starving, freezing prisoners used to collect in considerable numbers + before the gate, and stand there for hours gazing vacantly at it. There + was no special object in doing this, only that it was a central point, the + rations came in there, and occasionally an officer would enter, and it was + the only place where anything was likely to occur to vary the dreary + monotony of the day, and the boys went there because there was nothing + else to offer any occupation to their minds. It became a favorite + practical joke of Barrett's to slip up to the gate with an armful of + clubs, and suddenly opening the wicket, fling them one after another, into + the crowd, with all the force he possessed. Many were knocked down, and + many received hurts which resulted in fatal gangrene. If he had left the + clubs lying where thrown, there would have been some compensation for his + meanness, but he always came in and carefully gathered up such as he could + get, as ammunition for another time. + </p> + <p> + I have heard men speak of receiving justice—even favors from Wirz. I + never heard any one saying that much of Barrett. Like Winder, if he had a + redeeming quality it was carefully obscured from the view of all that I + ever met who knew him. + </p> + <p> + Where the fellow came from, what State was entitled to the discredit of + producing and raising him, what he was before the War, what became of him + after he left us, are matters of which I never heard even a rumor, except + a very vague one that he had been killed by our cavalry, some returned + prisoner having recognized and shot him. + </p> + <p> + Colonel Iverson, of the Fifth Georgia, was the Post Commander. He was a + man of some education, but had a violent, ungovernable temper, during fits + of which he did very brutal things. At other times he would show a + disposition towards fairness and justice. The worst point in my indictment + against him is that he suffered Barrett to do as he did. + </p> + <p> + Let the reader understand that I have no personal reasons for my opinion + of these men. They never did anything to me, save what they did to all of + my companions. I held myself aloof from them, and shunned intercourse so + effectually that during my whole imprisonment I did not speak as many + words to Rebel officers as are in this and the above paragraphs, and most + of those were spoken to the Surgeon who visited my hundred. I do not + usually seek conversation with people I do not like, and certainly did not + with persons for whom I had so little love as I had for Turner, Ross, + Winder, Wirz, Davis, Iverson, Barrett, et al. Possibly they felt badly + over my distance and reserve, but I must confess that they never showed it + very palpably. + </p> + <p> + As January dragged slowly away into February, rumors of the astonishing + success of Sherman began to be so definite and well authenticated as to + induce belief. We knew that the Western Chieftain had marched almost + unresisted through Georgia, and captured Savannah with comparatively + little difficulty. We did not understand it, nor did the Rebels around us, + for neither of us comprehended the Confederacy's near approach to + dissolution, and we could not explain why a desperate attempt was not made + somewhere to arrest the onward sweep of the conquering armies of the West. + It seemed that if there was any vitality left in Rebeldom it would deal a + blow that would at least cause the presumptuous invader to pause. As we + knew nothing of the battles of Franklin and Nashville, we were ignorant of + the destruction of Hood's army, and were at a loss to account for + its failure to contest Sherman's progress. The last we had heard of + Hood, he had been flanked out of Atlanta, but we did not understand that + the strength or morale of his force had been seriously reduced in + consequence. + </p> + <p> + Soon it drifted in to us that Sherman had cut loose from Savannah, as from + Atlanta, and entered South Carolina, to repeat there the march through her + sister State. Our sources of information now were confined to the gossip + which our men—working outside on parole,—could overhear from + the Rebels, and communicate to us as occasion served. These occasions were + not frequent, as the men outside were not allowed to come in except + rarely, or stay long then. Still we managed to know reasonably, soon that + Sherman was sweeping resistlessly across the State, with Hardee, Dick + Taylor, Beauregard, and others, vainly trying to make head against him. It + seemed impossible to us that they should not stop him soon, for if each of + all these leaders had any command worthy the name the aggregate must make + an army that, standing on the defensive, would give Sherman a great deal + of trouble. That he would be able to penetrate into the State as far as we + were never entered into our minds. + </p> + <p> + By and by we were astonished at the number of the trains that we could + hear passing north on the Charleston & Cheraw Railroad. Day and night + for two weeks there did not seem to be more than half an hour's + interval at any time between the rumble and whistles of the trains as they + passed Florence Junction, and sped away towards Cheraw, thirty-five miles + north of us. We at length discovered that Sherman had reached Branchville, + and was singing around toward Columbia, and other important points to the + north; that Charleston was being evacuated, and its garrison, munitions + and stores were being removed to Cheraw, which the Rebel Generals intended + to make their new base. As this news was so well confirmed as to leave no + doubt of it, it began to wake up and encourage all the more hopeful of us. + We thought we could see some premonitions of the glorious end, and that we + were getting vicarious satisfaction at the hands of our friends under the + command of Uncle Billy. + </p> + <p> + One morning orders came for one thousand men to get ready to move. Andrews + and I held a council of war on the situation, the question before the + house being whether we would go with that crowd, or stay behind. The + conclusion we came to was thus stated by Andrews: + </p> + <p> + “Now, Mc., we've flanked ahead every time, and see how we've + come out. We flanked into the first squad that left Richmond, and we were + consequently in the first that got into Andersonville. May be if we'd + staid back we'd got into that squad that was exchanged. We were in + the first squad that left Andersonville. We were the first to leave + Savannah and enter Millen. May be if we'd staid back, we'd got + exchanged with the ten thousand sick. We were the first to leave Millen + and the first to reach Blackshear. We were again the first to leave + Blackshear. Perhaps those fellows we left behind then are exchanged. Now, + as we've played ahead every time, with such infernal luck, let's + play backward this time, and try what that brings us.” + </p> + <p> + “But, Lale,” (Andrews's nickname—his proper name + being Bezaleel), said I, “we made something by going ahead every + time—that is, if we were not going to be exchanged. By getting into + those places first we picked out the best spots to stay, and got + tent-building stuff that those who came after us could not. And certainly + we can never again get into as bad a place as this is. The chances are + that if this does not mean exchange, it means transfer to a better prison.” + </p> + <p> + But we concluded, as I said above, to reverse our usual order of procedure + and flank back, in hopes that something would favor our escape to Sherman. + Accordingly, we let the first squad go off without us, and the next, and + the next, and so on, till there were only eleven hundred —mostly + those sick in the Hospital—remaining behind. Those who went away—we + afterwards learned, were run down on the cars to Wilmington, and + afterwards up to Goldsboro, N. C. + </p> + <p> + For a week or more we eleven hundred tenanted the Stockade, and by burning + up the tents of those who had gone had the only decent, comfortable fires + we had while in Florence. In hunting around through the tents for fuel we + found many bodies of those who had died as their comrades were leaving. As + the larger portion of us could barely walk, the Rebels paroled us to + remain inside of the Stockade or within a few hundred yards of the front + of it, and took the guards off. While these were marching down, a dozen or + more of us, exulting in even so much freedom as we had obtained, climbed + on the Hospital shed to see what the outlook was, and perched ourselves on + the ridgepole. Lieutenant Barrett came along, at a distance of two hundred + yards, with a squad of guards. Observing us, he halted his men, faced them + toward us, and they leveled their guns as if to fire. He expected to see + us tumble down in ludicrous alarm, to avoid the bullets. But we hated him + and them so bad, that we could not give them the poor satisfaction of + scaring us. Only one of our party attempted to slide down, but the moment + we swore at him he came back and took his seat with folded arms alongside + of us. Barrett gave the order to fire, and the bullets shrieked aver our + heads, fortunately not hitting anybody. We responded with yells of + derision, and the worst abuse we could think of. + </p> + <p> + Coming down after awhile, I walked to the now open gate, and looped + through it over the barren fields to the dense woods a mile away, and a + wild desire to run off took possession of me. It seemed as if I could not + resist it. The woods appeared full of enticing shapes, beckoning me to + come to them, and the winds whispered in my ears: + </p> + <p> + “Run! Run! Run!” + </p> + <p> + But the words of my parole were still fresh in my mind, and I stilled my + frenzy to escape by turning back into the Stockade and looking away from + the tempting view. + </p> + <p> + Once five new prisoners, the first we had seen in a long time, were + brought in from Sherman's army. They were plump, well-conditioned, + well-dressed, healthy, devil-may-care young fellows, whose confidence in + themselves and in Sherman was simply limitless, and their contempt for all + Rebels and especially those who terrorized over us, enormous. + </p> + <p> + “Come up here to headquarters,” said one of the Rebel officers + to them as they stood talking to us; “and we'll parole you.” + </p> + <p> + “O go to h—- with your parole,” said the spokesman of + the crowd, with nonchalant contempt; “we don't want none of + your paroles. Old Billy'll parole us before Saturday.” + </p> + <p> + To us they said: + </p> + <p> + “Now, you boys want to cheer right up; keep a stiff upper lip. This + thing's workin' all right. Their old Confederacy's goin' + to pieces like a house afire. Sherman's promenadin' through it + just as it suits him, and he's liable to pay a visit at any hour. We're + expectin' him all the time, because it was generally understood all + through the Army that we were to take the prison pen here in on our way.” + </p> + <p> + I mentioned my distrust of the concentration of Rebels at Cheraw, and + their faces took on a look of supreme disdain. + </p> + <p> + “Now, don't let that worry you a minute,” said the + confident spokesman. “All the Rebels between here and Lee's + Army can't prevent Sherman from going just where he pleases. Why, we've + quit fightin' 'em except with the Bummers advance. We haven't + had to go into regular line of battle against them for I don't know + how long. Sherman would like anything better than to have 'em make a + stand somewhere so that he could get a good fair whack at 'em.” + </p> + <p> + No one can imagine the effect of all this upon us. It was better than a + carload of medicines and a train load of provisions would have been. From + the depths of despondency we sprang at once to tip-toe on the + mountain-tops of expectation. We did little day and night but listen for + the sound of Sherman's guns and discuss what we would do when he + came. We planned schemes of terrible vengeance on Barrett and Iverson, but + these worthies had mysteriously disappeared—whither no one knew. + There was hardly an hour of any night passed without some one of us + fancying that he heard the welcome sound of distant firing. As everybody + knows, by listening intently at night, one can hear just exactly what he + is intent upon hearing, and so was with us. In the middle of the night + boys listening awake with strained ears, would say: + </p> + <p> + “Now, if ever I heard musketry firing in my life, that's a + heavy skirmish line at work, and sharply too, and not more than three + miles away, neither.” + </p> + <p> + Then another would say: + </p> + <p> + “I don't want to ever get out of here if that don't + sound just as the skirmishing at Chancellorsville did the first day to us. + We were lying down about four miles off, when it began pattering just as + that is doing now.” + </p> + <p> + And so on. + </p> + <p> + One night about nine or ten, there came two short, sharp peals of thunder, + that sounded precisely like the reports of rifled field pieces. We sprang + up in a frenzy of excitement, and shouted as if our throats would split. + But the next peal went off in the usual rumble, and our excitement had to + subside. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch77" id="ch77"></a>CHAPTER LXXVII + </h2> + <p> + FRUITLESS WAITING FOR SHERMAN—WE LEAVE FLORENCE—INTELLIGENCE + OF THE FALL OF WILMINGTON COMMUNICATED TO US BY A SLAVE—THE + TURPENTINE REGION OF NORTH CAROLINA—WE COME UPON A REBEL LINE OF + BATTLE—YANKEES AT BOTH ENDS OF THE ROAD. + </p> + <p> + Things had gone on in the way described in the previous chapter until past + the middle of February. For more than a week every waking hour was spent + in anxious expectancy of Sherman—listening for the far-off rattle of + his guns—straining our ears to catch the sullen boom of his + artillery—scanning the distant woods to see the Rebels falling back + in hopeless confusion before the pursuit of his dashing advance. Though we + became as impatient as those ancient sentinels who for ten long years + stood upon the Grecian hills to catch the first glimpse of the flames of + burning Troy, Sherman came not. We afterwards learned that two expeditions + were sent down towards us from Cheraw, but they met with unexpected + resistance, and were turned back. + </p> + <p> + It was now plain to us that the Confederacy was tottering to its fall, and + we were only troubled by occasional misgivings that we might in some way + be caught and crushed under the toppling ruins. It did not seem possible + that with the cruel tenacity with which the Rebels had clung to us they + would be willing to let us go free at last, but would be tempted in the + rage of their final defeat to commit some unparalleled atrocity upon us. + </p> + <p> + One day all of us who were able to walk were made to fall in and march + over to the railroad, where we were loaded into boxcars. The sick —except + those who were manifestly dying—were loaded into wagons and hauled + over. The dying were left to their fate, without any companions or nurses. + </p> + <p> + The train started off in a northeasterly direction, and as we went through + Florence the skies were crimson with great fires, burning in all + directions. We were told these were cotton and military stores being + destroyed in anticipation of a visit from, a part of Sherman's + forces. + </p> + <p> + When morning came we were still running in the same direction that we + started. In the confusion of loading us upon the cars the previous + evening, I had been allowed to approach too near a Rebel officer's + stock of rations, and the result was his being the loser and myself the + gainer of a canteen filled with fairly good molasses. Andrews and I had + some corn bread, and we, breakfasted sumptuously upon it and the molasses, + which was certainly none-the-less sweet from having been stolen. + </p> + <p> + Our meal over, we began reconnoitering, as much for employment as anything + else. We were in the front end of a box car. With a saw made on the back + of a case-knife we cut a hole through the boards big enough to permit us + to pass out, and perhaps escape. We found that we were on the foremost box + car of the train—the next vehicle to us being a passenger coach, in + which were the Rebel officers. On the rear platform of this car was seated + one of their servants—a trusty old slave, well dressed, for a negro, + and as respectful as his class usually was. Said I to him: + </p> + <p> + “Well, uncle, where are they taking us?” + </p> + <p> + He replied: + </p> + <p> + “Well, sah, I couldn't rightly say.” + </p> + <p> + “But you could guess, if you tried, couldn't you?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes sah.” + </p> + <p> + He gave a quick look around to see if the door behind him was so securely + shut that he could not be overheard by the Rebels inside the car, his + dull, stolid face lighted up as a negro's always does in the + excitement of doing something cunning, and he said in a loud whisper: + </p> + <p> + “Dey's a-gwine to take you to Wilmington—ef dey kin get + you dar!” + </p> + <p> + “Can get us there!” said I in astonishment. “Is there + anything to prevent them taking us there?” + </p> + <p> + The dark face filled with inexpressible meaning. I asked: + </p> + <p> + “It isn't possible that there are any Yankees down there to + interfere, is it?” + </p> + <p> + The great eyes flamed up with intelligence to tell me that I guessed + aright; again he glanced nervously around to assure himself that no one + was eavesdropping, and then he said in a whisper, just loud enough to be + heard above the noise of the moving train: + </p> + <p> + “De Yankees took Wilmington yesterday mawning.” + </p> + <p> + The news startled me, but it was true, our troops having driven out the + Rebel troops, and entered Wilmington, on the preceding day—the 22d + of February, 1865, as I learned afterwards. How this negro came to know + more of what was going on than his masters puzzled me much. That he did + know more was beyond question, since if the Rebels in whose charge we were + had known of Wilmington's fall, they would not have gone to the + trouble of loading us upon the cars and hauling us one, hundred miles in + the direction of a City which had come into the hands of our men. + </p> + <p> + It has been asserted by many writers that the negros had some occult means + of diffusing important news among the mass of their people, probably by + relays of swift runners who traveled at night, going twenty-five or thirty + miles and back before morning. Very astonishing stories are told of things + communicated in this way across the length or breadth of the Confederacy. + It is said that our officers in the blockading fleet in the Gulf heard + from the negros in advance of the publication in the Rebel papers of the + issuance of the Proclamation of Emancipation, and of several of our most + important Victories. The incident given above prepares me to believe all + that has been told of the perfection to which the negros had brought their + “grapevine telegraph,” as it was jocularly termed. + </p> + <p> + The Rebels believed something of it, too. In spite of their rigorous + patrol, an institution dating long before the war, and the severe + punishments visited upon negros found off their master's premises + without a pass, none of them entertained a doubt that the young negro men + were in the habit of making long, mysterious journeys at night, which had + other motives than love-making or chicken-stealing. Occasionally a young + man would get caught fifty or seventy-five miles from his “quarters,” + while on some errand of his own, the nature of which no punishment could + make him divulge. His master would be satisfied that he did not intend + running away, because he was likely going in the wrong direction, but + beyond this nothing could be ascertained. It was a common belief among + overseers, when they saw an active, healthy young “buck” + sleepy and languid about his work, that he had spent the night on one of + these excursions. + </p> + <p> + The country we were running through—if such straining, toilsome + progress as our engine was making could be called running—was a rich + turpentine district. We passed by forests where all the trees were marked + with long scores through the bark, and extended up to a hight of twenty + feet or more. Into these, the turpentine and rosin, running down, were + caught, and conveyed by negros to stills near by, where it was prepared + for market. The stills were as rude as the mills we had seen in Eastern + Tennessee and Kentucky, and were as liable to fiery destruction as a + powder-house. Every few miles a wide space of ground, burned clean of + trees and underbrush, and yet marked by a portion of the stones which had + formed the furnace, showed where a turpentine still, managed by careless + and ignorant blacks, had been licked up by the breath of flame. They never + seemed to re-build on these spots—whether from superstition or other + reasons, I know not. + </p> + <p> + Occasionally we came to great piles of barrels of turpentine, rosin and + tar, some of which had laid there since the blockade had cut off + communication with the outer world. Many of the barrels of rosin had + burst, and their contents melted in the heat of the sun, had run over the + ground like streams of lava, covering it to a depth of many inches. At the + enormous price rosin, tar and turpentine were commanding in the markets of + the world, each of these piles represented a superb fortune. Any one of + them, if lying upon the docks of New York, would have yielded enough to + make every one of us upon the train comfortable for life. But a few months + after the blockade was raised, and they sank to one-thirtieth of their + present value. + </p> + <p> + These terebinthine stores were the property of the plantation lords of the + lowlands of North Carolina, who correspond to the pinchbeck barons of the + rice districts of South Carolina. As there, the whites and negros we saw + were of the lowest, most squalid type of humanity. The people of the + middle and upland districts of North Carolina are a much superior race to + the same class in South Carolina. They are mostly of Scotch-Irish descent, + with a strong infusion of English-Quaker blood, and resemble much the best + of the Virginians. They make an effort to diffuse education, and have many + of the virtues of a simple, non-progressive, tolerably industrious middle + class. It was here that the strong Union sentiment of North Carolina + numbered most of its adherents. The people of the lowlands were as + different as if belonging to another race. The enormous mass of ignorance—the + three hundred and fifty thousand men and women who could not read or write—were + mostly black and white serfs of the great landholders, whose plantations + lie within one hundred miles of the Atlantic coast. + </p> + <p> + As we approached the coast the country became swampier, and our old + acquaintances, the cypress, with their malformed “knees,” + became more and more numerous. + </p> + <p> + About the middle of the afternoon our train suddenly stopped. Looking out + to ascertain the cause, we were electrified to see a Rebel line of battle + stretched across the track, about a half mile ahead of the engine, and + with its rear toward us. It was as real a line as was ever seen on any + field. The double ranks of “Butternuts,” with arms gleaming in + the afternoon sun, stretched away out through the open pine woods, farther + than we could see. Close behind the motionless line stood the company + officers, leaning on their drawn swords. Behind these still, were the + regimental officers on their horses. On a slight rise of the ground, a + group of horsemen, to whom other horsemen momentarily dashed up to or sped + away from, showed the station of the General in command. On another knoll, + at a little distance, were several-field pieces, standing “in + battery,” the cannoneers at the guns, the postillions dismounted and + holding their horses by the bits, the caisson men standing in readiness to + serve out ammunition. Our men were evidently close at hand in strong + force, and the engagement was likely to open at any instant. + </p> + <p> + For a minute we were speechless with astonishment. Then came a surge of + excitement. What should we do? What could we do? Obviously nothing. Eleven + hundred, sick, enfeebled prisoners could not even overpower their guards, + let alone make such a diversion in the rear of a line-of-battle as would + assist our folks to gain a victory. But while we debated the engine + whistled sharply—a frightened shriek it sounded to us—and + began pushing our train rapidly backward over the rough and wretched + track. Back, back we went, as fast as rosin and pine knots could force the + engine to move us. The cars swayed continually back and forth, momentarily + threatening to fly the crazy roadway, and roll over the embankment or into + one of the adjacent swamps. We would have hailed such a catastrophe, as it + would have probably killed more of the guards than of us, and the + confusion would have given many of the survivors opportunity to escape. + But no such accident happened, and towards midnight we reached the bridge + across the Great Pedee River, where our train was stopped by a squad of + Rebel cavalrymen, who brought the intelligence that as Kilpatrick was + expected into Florence every hour, it would not do to take us there. + </p> + <p> + We were ordered off the cars, and laid down on the banks of the Great + Pedee, our guards and the cavalry forming a line around us, and taking + precautions to defend the bridge against Kilpatrick, should he find out + our whereabouts and come after us. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Mc,” said Andrews, as we adjusted our old overcoat and + blanket on the ground for a bed; “I guess we needn't care + whether school keeps or not. Our fellows have evidently got both ends of + the road, and are coming towards us from each way. There's no road—not + even a wagon road —for the Johnnies to run us off on, and I guess + all we've got to do is to stand still and see the salvation of the + Lord. Bad as these hounds are, I don't believe they will shoot us + down rather than let our folks retake us. At least they won't since + old Winder's dead. If he was alive, he'd order our throats cut—one + by one—with the guards' pocket knives, rather than give us up. + I'm only afraid we'll be allowed to starve before our folks + reach us.” + </p> + <p> + I concurred in this view. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch78" id="ch78"></a>CHAPTER LXXVIII. + </h2> + <p> + RETURN TO FLORENCE AND A SHORT SOJOURN THERE—OFF TOWARDS WILMINGTON + AGAIN—CRUISING A REBEL OFFICER'S LUNCH—SIGNS OF + APPROACHING OUR LINES —TERROR OF OUR RASCALLY GUARDS—ENTRANCE + INTO GOD'S COUNTRY AT LAST. + </p> + <p> + But Kilpatrick, like Sherman, came not. Perhaps he knew that all the + prisoners had been removed from the Stockade; perhaps he had other + business of more importance on hand; probably his movement was only a + feint. At all events it was definitely known the next day that he had + withdrawn so far as to render it wholly unlikely that he intended + attacking Florence, so we were brought back and returned to our old + quarters. For a week or more we loitered about the now nearly-abandoned + prison; skulked and crawled around the dismal mud-tents like the ghostly + denizens of some Potter's Field, who, for some reason had been + allowed to return to earth, and for awhile creep painfully around the + little hillocks beneath which they had been entombed. + </p> + <p> + A few score, whose vital powers were strained to the last degree of + tension, gave up the ghost, and sank to dreamless rest. It mattered now + little to these when Sherman came, or when Kilpatrick's guidons + should flutter through the forest of sighing pines, heralds of life, + happiness, and home— <br> + </p> + <table> + <tr> + <td> + <br> <br> After life's fitful fever they slept well <br> + Treason had done its worst. Nor steel nor poison: <br> Malice + domestic, foreign levy, nothing <br> Could touch them farther. + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br><br> + </p> + <p> + One day another order came for us to be loaded on the cars, and over to + the railroad we went again in the same fashion as before. The + comparatively few of us who were still able to walk at all well, loaded + ourselves down with the bundles and blankets of our less fortunate + companions, who hobbled and limped—many even crawling on their hands + and knees—over the hard, frozen ground, by our sides. + </p> + <p> + Those not able to crawl even, were taken in wagons, for the orders were + imperative not to leave a living prisoner behind. + </p> + <p> + At the railroad we found two trains awaiting us. On the front of each + engine were two rude white flags, made by fastening the halves of meal + sacks to short sticks. The sight of these gave us some hope, but our + belief that Rebels were constitutional liars and deceivers was so firm and + fixed, that we persuaded ourselves that the flags meant nothing more than + some wilful delusion for us. + </p> + <p> + Again we started off in the direction of Wilmington, and traversed the + same country described in the previous chapter. Again Andrews and I found + ourselves in the next box car to the passenger coach containing the Rebel + officers. Again we cut a hole through the end, with our saw, and again + found a darky servant sitting on the rear platform. Andrews went out and + sat down alongside of him, and found that he was seated upon a large + gunny-bag sack containing the cooked rations of the Rebel officers. + </p> + <p> + The intelligence that there was something there worth taking Andrews + communicated to me by an expressive signal, of which soldiers campaigning + together as long as he and I had, always have an extensive and well + understood code. + </p> + <p> + I took a seat in the hole we had made in the end of the car, in reach of + Andrews. Andrews called the attention of the negro to some feature of the + country near by, and asked him a question in regard to it. As he looked in + the direction indicated, Andrews slipped his hand into the mouth of the + bag, and pulled out a small sack of wheat biscuits, which he passed to me + and I concealed. The darky turned and told Andrews all about the matter in + regard to which the interrogation had been made. Andrews became so much + interested in what was being told him, that he sat up closer and closer to + the darky, who in turn moved farther away from the sack. + </p> + <p> + Next we ran through a turpentine plantation, and as the darky was pointing + out where the still, the master's place, the “quarters,” + etc., were, Andrews managed to fish out of that bag and pass to me three + roasted chickens. Then a great swamp called for description, and before we + were through with it, I had about a peck of boiled sweet potatos. + </p> + <p> + Andrews emptied the bag as the darky was showing him a great peanut + plantation, taking from it a small frying-pan, a canteen of molasses, and + a half-gallon tin bucket, which had been used to make coffee in. We + divided up our wealth of eatables with the rest of the boys in the car, + not forgetting to keep enough to give ourselves a magnificent meal. <br><br><br><br> + <a name="p594" id="p594"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p594.jpg (44K)" src="images/p594.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + As we ran along we searched carefully for the place where we had seen the + line-of-battle, expecting that it would now be marked with signs of a + terrible conflict, but we could see nothing. We could not even fix the + locality where the line stood. + </p> + <p> + As it became apparent that we were going directly toward Wilmington, as + fast as our engines could pull us, the excitement rose. We had many + misgivings as to whether our folks still retained possession of + Wilmington, and whether, if they did, the Rebels could not stop at a point + outside of our lines, and transfer us to some other road. + </p> + <p> + For hours we had seen nobody in the country through which we were passing. + What few houses were visible were apparently deserted, and there were no + Towns or stations anywhere. We were very anxious to see some one, in hopes + of getting a hint of what the state of affairs was in the direction we + were going. At length we saw a young man—apparently a scout—on + horseback, but his clothes were equally divided between the blue and the + butternut, as to give no clue to which side he belonged. + </p> + <p> + An hour later we saw two infantrymen, who were evidently out foraging. + They had sacks of something on their backs, and wore blue clothes. This + was a very hopeful sign of a near approach to our lines, but bitter + experience in the past warned us against being too sanguine. + </p> + <p> + About 4 o'clock P. M., the trains stopped and whistled long and + loud. Looking out I could see—perhaps half-a-mile away—a line + of rifle pits running at right angles with the track. Guards, whose guns + flashed as they turned, were pacing up and down, but they were too far + away for me to distinguish their uniforms. + </p> + <p> + The suspense became fearful. + </p> + <p> + But I received much encouragement from the singular conduct of our guards. + First I noticed a Captain, who had been especially mean to us while at + Florence. + </p> + <p> + He was walking on the ground by the train. His face was pale, his teeth + set, and his eyes shone with excitement. He called out in a strange, + forced voice to his men and boys on the roof of the cars: + </p> + <p> + “Here, you fellers git down off'en thar and form a line.” + </p> + <p> + The fellows did so, in a slow, constrained, frightened ways and huddled + together, in the most unsoldierly manner. + </p> + <p> + The whole thing reminded me of a scene I once saw in our line, where a + weak-kneed Captain was ordered to take a party of rather chicken-hearted + recruits out on the skirmish-line. + </p> + <p> + We immediately divined what was the matter. The lines in front of us were + really those of our people, and the idiots of guards, not knowing of their + entire safety when protected by a flag of truce, were scared half out of + their small wits at approaching so near to armed Yankees. + </p> + <p> + We showered taunts and jeers upon them. An Irishman in my car yelled out: + </p> + <p> + “Och, ye dirty spalpeens; it's not shootin' prisoners ye + are now; it's cumin' where the Yankee b'ys hev the gun; + and the minnit ye say thim yer white livers show themselves in yer pale + faces. Bad luck to the blatherin' bastards that yez are, and to the + mothers that bore ye.” + </p> + <p> + At length our train moved up so near to the line that I could see it was + the grand, old loyal blue that clothed the forms of the men who were + pacing up and down. + </p> + <p> + And certainly the world does not hold as superb looking men as these + appeared to me. Finely formed, stalwart, full-fed and well clothed, they + formed the most delightful contrast with the scrawny, shambling, + villain-visaged little clay-eaters and white trash who had looked down + upon us from the sentry boxes for many long months. + </p> + <p> + I sprang out of the cars and began washing my face and hands in the ditch + at the side of the road. The Rebel Captain, noticing me, said, in the old, + hateful, brutal, imperious tone: + </p> + <p> + “Git back in dat cah, dah.” + </p> + <p> + An hour before I would have scrambled back as quickly as possible, knowing + that an instant's hesitation would be followed by a bullet. Now, I + looked him in the face, and said as irritatingly as possible: + </p> + <p> + “O, you go to ——, you Rebel. I'm going into Uncle + Sam's lines with as little Rebel filth on me as possible.” + </p> + <p> + He passed me without replying. + </p> + <p> + His day of shooting was past. + </p> + <p> + Descending from the cars, we passed through the guards into our lines, a + Rebel and a Union clerk checking us off as we passed. By the time it was + dark we were all under our flag again. + </p> + <p> + The place where we came through was several miles west of Wilmington, + where the railroad crossed a branch of the Cape Fear River. The point was + held by a brigade of Schofield's army—the Twenty-Third Army + Corps. + </p> + <p> + The boys lavished unstinted kindness upon us. All of the brigade off duty + crowded around, offering us blankets, shirts shoes, pantaloons and other + articles of clothing and similar things that we were obviously in the + greatest need of. The sick were carried, by hundreds of willing hands, to + a sheltered spot, and laid upon good, comfortable beds improvised with + leaves and blankets. A great line of huge, generous fires was built, that + every one of us could have plenty of place around them. + </p> + <p> + By and by a line of wagons came over from Wilmington laden with rations, + and they were dispensed to us with what seemed reckless prodigality. The + lid of a box of hard tack would be knocked off, and the contents handed to + us as we filed past, with absolute disregard as to quantity. If a prisoner + looked wistful after receiving one handful of crackers, another was handed + to him; if his long-famished eyes still lingered as if enchained by the + rare display of food, the men who were issuing said: + </p> + <p> + “Here, old fellow, there's plenty of it: take just as much as + you can carry in your arms.” + </p> + <p> + So it was also with the pickled pork, the coffee, the sugar, etc. We had + been stinted and starved so long that we could not comprehend that there + was anywhere actually enough of anything. + </p> + <p> + The kind-hearted boys who were acting as our hosts began preparing food + for the sick, but the Surgeons, who had arrived in the meanwhile, were + compelled to repress them, as it was plain that while it was a dangerous + experiment to give any of us all we could or would eat, it would never do + to give the sick such a temptation to kill themselves, and only a limited + amount of food was allowed to be given those who were unable to walk. + </p> + <p> + Andrews and I hungered for coffee, the delightful fumes of which filled + the air and intoxicated our senses. We procured enough to make our + half-gallon bucket full and very strong. + </p> + <p> + We drank so much of this that Andrews became positively drunk, and fell + helplessly into some brush. I pulled him out and dragged him away to a + place where we had made our rude bed. + </p> + <p> + I was dazed. I could not comprehend that the long-looked for, + often-despaired-of event had actually happened. I feared that it was one + of those tantalizing dreams that had so often haunted my sleep, only to be + followed by a wretched awakening. Then I became seized with a sudden fear + lest the Rebel attempt to retake me. The line of guards around us seemed + very slight. It might be forced in the night, and all of us recaptured. + Shivering at this thought, absurd though it was, I arose from our bed, and + taking Andrews with me, crawled two or three hundred yards into a dense + undergrowth, where in the event of our lines being forced, we would be + overlooked. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch79" id="ch79"></a>CHAPTER LXXIX. + </h2> + <p> + GETTING USED TO FREEDOM—DELIGHTS OF A LAND WHERE THERE IS ENOUGH OF + EVERYTHING—FIRST GLIMPSE OF THE OLD FLAG—WILMINGTON AND ITS + HISTORY —LIEUTENANT CUSHING—FIRST ACQUAINTANCE WITH THE + COLORED TROOPS—LEAVING FOR HOME—DESTRUCTION OF THE “THORN” + BY A TORPEDO—THE MOCK MONITOR'S ACHIEVEMENT. + </p> + <p> + After a sound sleep, Andrews and I awoke to the enjoyment of our first day + of freedom and existence in God's country. The sun had already + risen, bright and warm, consonant with the happiness of the new life now + opening up for us. + </p> + <p> + But to nearly a score of our party his beams brought no awakening + gladness. They fell upon stony, staring eyes, from out of which the light + of life had now faded, as the light of hope had done long ago. The dead + lay there upon the rude beds of fallen leaves, scraped together by + thoughtful comrades the night before, their clenched teeth showing through + parted lips, faces fleshless and pinched, long, unkempt and ragged hair + and whiskers just stirred by the lazy breeze, the rotting feet and limbs + drawn up, and skinny hands clenched in the last agonies. + </p> + <p> + Their fate seemed harder than that of any who had died before them. It was + doubtful if many of them knew that they were at last inside of our own + lines. + </p> + <p> + Again the kind-hearted boys of the brigade crowded around us with proffers + of service. Of an Ohio boy who directed his kind tenders to Andrews and + me, we procured a chunk of coarse rosin soap about as big as a pack of + cards, and a towel. Never was there as great a quantity of solid comfort + got out of that much soap as we obtained. It was the first that we had + since that which I stole in Wirz's headquarters, in June —nine + months before. We felt that the dirt which had accumulated upon us since + then would subject us to assessment as real estate if we were in the + North. + </p> + <p> + Hurrying off to a little creek we began our ablutions, and it was not long + until Andrews declared that there was a perceptible sand-bar forming in + the stream, from what we washed off. Dirt deposits of the Pliocene era + rolled off feet and legs. Eocene incrustations let loose reluctantly from + neck and ears; the hair was a mass of tangled locks matted with nine + months' accumulation of pitch pine tar, rosin soot, and South + Carolina sand, that we did not think we had better start in upon it until + we either had the shock cut off, or had a whole ocean and a vat of soap to + wash it out with. + </p> + <p> + After scrubbing until we were exhausted we got off the first few outer + layers—the post tertiary formation, a geologist would term it—and + the smell of many breakfasts cooking, coming down over the hill, set our + stomachs in a mutiny against any longer fasting. + </p> + <p> + We went back, rosy, panting, glowing, but happy, to get our selves some + breakfast. + </p> + <p> + Should Providence, for some inscrutable reason, vouchsafe me the years of + Methuselah, one of the pleasantest recollections that will abide with me + to the close of the nine hundredth and sixty-ninth year, will be of that + delightful odor of cooking food which regaled our senses as we came back. + From the boiling coffee and the meat frying in the pan rose an incense + sweeter to the senses a thousand times than all the perfumes of far + Arabia. It differed from the loathsome odor of cooking corn meal as much + as it did from the effluvia of a sewer. + </p> + <p> + Our noses were the first of our senses to bear testimony that we had + passed from the land of starvation to that of plenty. Andrews and I + hastened off to get our own breakfast, and soon had a half-gallon of + strong coffee, and a frying-pan full, of meat cooking over the fire—not + one of the beggarly skimped little fires we had crouched over during our + months of imprisonment, but a royal, generous fire, fed with logs instead + of shavings and splinters, and giving out heat enough to warm a regiment. + </p> + <p> + Having eaten positively all that we could swallow, those of us who could + walk were ordered to fall in and march over to Wilmington. We crossed the + branch of the river on a pontoon bridge, and took the road that led across + the narrow sandy island between the two branches, Wilmington being + situated on the opposite bank of the farther one. + </p> + <p> + When about half way a shout from some one in advance caused us to look up, + and then we saw, flying from a tall steeple in Wilmington, the glorious + old Stars and Stripes, resplendent in the morning sun, and more beautiful + than the most gorgeous web from Tyrian looms. We stopped with one accord, + and shouted and cheered and cried until every throat was sore and every + eye red and blood-shot. It seemed as if our cup of happiness would + certainly run over if any more additions were made to it. + </p> + <p> + When we arrived at the bank of the river opposite Wilmington, a whole + world of new and interesting sights opened up before us. Wilmington, + during the last year-and-a-half of the war, was, next to Richmond, the + most important place in the Southern Confederacy. It was the only port to + which blockade running was at all safe enough to be lucrative. The Rebels + held the strong forts of Caswell and Fisher, at the mouth of Cape Fear + River, and outside, the Frying Pan Shoals, which extended along the coast + forty or fifty miles, kept our blockading fleet so far off, and made the + line so weak and scattered, that there was comparatively little risk to + the small, swift-sailing vessels employed by the blockade runners in + running through it. The only way that blockade running could be stopped + was by the reduction of Forts Caswell and Fisher, and it was not stopped + until this was done. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p603" id="p603"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p603.jpg (69K)" src="images/p603.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + Before the war Wilmington was a dull, sleepy North Carolina Town, with as + little animation of any kind as a Breton Pillage. The only business was + the handling of the tar, turpentine, rosin, and peanuts produced in the + surrounding country, a business never lively enough to excite more than a + lazy ripple in the sluggish lagoons of trade. But very new wine was put + into this old bottle when blockade running began to develop in importance. + Then this Sleepy hollow of a place took on the appearance of San Francisco + in the hight of the gold fever. The English houses engaged in blockade + running established branches there conducted by young men who lived like + princes. All the best houses in the City were leased by them and fitted up + in the most gorgeous style. They literally clothed themselves in purple + and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day, with their fine wines and + imported delicacies and retinue of servants to wait upon them. Fast young + Rebel officers, eager for a season of dissipation, could imagine nothing + better than a leave of absence to go to Wilmington. Money flowed like + water. The common sailors—the scum of all foreign ports—who + manned the blockade runners, received as high as one hundred dollars in + gold per month, and a bounty of fifty dollars for every successful trip, + which from Nassau could be easily made in seven days. Other people were + paid in proportion, and as the old proverb says, “What comes over + the Devil's back is spent under his breast,” the money so + obtained was squandered recklessly, and all sorts of debauchery ran riot. + </p> + <p> + On the ground where we were standing had been erected several large steam + cotton presses, built to compress cotton for the blockade runners. Around + them were stored immense quantities of cotton, and near by were nearly as + great stores of turpentine, rosin and tar. A little farther down the river + was navy yard with docks, etc., for the accommodation, building and repair + of blockade runners. At the time our folks took Fort Fisher and advanced + on Wilmington the docks were filled with vessels. The retreating Rebels + set fire to everything—cotton, cotton presses, turpentine, rosin, + tar, navy yard, naval stores, timber, docks, and vessels, and the fire + made clean work. Our people arrived too late to save anything, and when we + came in the smoke from the burned cotton, turpentine, etc., still filled + the woods. It was a signal illustration of the ravages of war. Here had + been destroyed, in a few hours, more property than a half-million + industrious men would accumulate in their lives. + </p> + <p> + Almost as gratifying as the sight of the old flag flying in triumph, was + the exhibition of our naval power in the river before us. The larger part + of the great North Atlantic squadron, which had done such excellent + service in the reduction of the defenses of Wilmington, was lying at + anchor, with their hundreds of huge guns yawning as if ardent for more + great forts to beat down, more vessels to sink, more heavy artillery to + crush, more Rebels to conquer. It seemed as if there were cannon enough + there to blow the whole Confederacy into kingdom-come. All was life and + animation around the fleet. On the decks the officers were pacing up and + down. One on each vessel carried a long telescope, with which he almost + constantly swept the horizon. Numberless small boats, each rowed by + neatly-uniformed men, and carrying a flag in the stern, darted hither and + thither, carrying officers on errands of duty or pleasure. It was such a + scene as enabled me to realize in a measure, the descriptions I had read + of the pomp and circumstance of naval warfare. + </p> + <p> + While we were standing, contemplating all the interesting sights within + view, a small steamer, about the size of a canal-boat, and carrying + several bright brass guns, ran swiftly and noiselessly up to the dock near + by, and a young, pale-faced officer, slender in build and nervous in + manner, stepped ashore. Some of the blue jackets who were talking to us + looked at him and the vessel with the greatest expression of interest, and + said: + </p> + <p> + “Hello! there's the 'Monticello' and Lieutenant + Cushing.” + </p> + <p> + This, then, was the naval boy hero, with whose exploits the whole country + was ringing. Our sailor friends proceeded to tell us of his achievements, + of which they were justly proud. They told us of his perilous scouts and + his hairbreadth escapes, of his wonderful audacity and still more + wonderful success—of his capture of Towns with a handful of sailors, + and the destruction of valuable stores, etc. I felt very sorry that the + man was not a cavalry commander. There he would have had full scope for + his peculiar genius. He had come prominently into notice in the preceding + Autumn, when he had, by one of the most daring performances narrated in + naval history, destroyed the formidable ram “Albermarle.” This + vessel had been constructed by the Rebels on the Roanoke River, and had + done them very good service, first by assisting to reduce the forts and + capture the garrison at Plymouth, N. C., and afterward in some minor + engagements. In October, 1864, she was lying at Plymouth. Around her was a + boom of logs to prevent sudden approaches of boats or vessels from our + fleet. Cushing, who was then barely twenty-one, resolved to attempt her + destruction. He fitted up a steam launch with a long spar to which he + attached a torpedo. On the night of October 27th, with thirteen + companions, he ran quietly up the Sound and was not discovered until his + boat struck the boom, when a terrific fire was opened upon him. Backing a + short distance, he ran at the boom with such velocity that his boat leaped + across it into the water beyond. In an instant more his torpedo struck the + side of the “Albemarle” and exploded, tearing a great hole in + her hull, which sank her in a few minutes. At the moment the torpedo went + off the “Albermarle” fired one of her great guns directly into + the launch, tearing it completely to pieces. Lieutenant Cushing and one + comrade rose to the surface of the seething water and, swimming ashore, + escaped. What became of the rest is not known, but their fate can hardly + be a matter of doubt. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p600" id="p600"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p600.jpg (58K)" src="images/p600.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + We were ferried across the river into Wilmington, and marched up the + streets to some vacant ground near the railroad depot, where we found most + of our old Florence comrades already assembled. When they left us in the + middle of February they were taken to Wilmington, and thence to Goldsboro, + N. C., where they were kept until the rapid closing in of our Armies made + it impracticable to hold them any longer, when they were sent back to + Wilmington and given up to our forces as we had been. + </p> + <p> + It was now nearly noon, and we were ordered to fall in and draw rations, a + bewildering order to us, who had been so long in the habit of drawing food + but once a day. We fell in in single rank, and marched up, one at a time, + past where a group of employees of the Commissary Department dealt out the + food. One handed each prisoner as he passed a large slice of meat; another + gave him a handful of ground coffee; a third a handful of sugar; a fourth + gave him a pickle, while a fifth and sixth handed him an onion and a loaf + of fresh bread. This filled the horn of our plenty full. To have all these + in one day—meat, coffee, sugar, onions and soft bread—was + simply to riot in undreamed-of luxury. Many of the boys—poor fellows—could + not yet realize that there was enough for all, or they could not give up + their old “flanking” tricks, and they stole around, and + falling into the rear, came up again for' another share. We laughed + at them, as did the Commissary men, who, nevertheless, duplicated the + rations already received, and sent them away happy and content. + </p> + <p> + What a glorious dinner Andrews and I had, with our half gallon of strong + coffee, our soft bread, and a pan full of fried pork and onions! Such an + enjoyable feast will never be, eaten again by us. + </p> + <p> + Here we saw negro troops under arms for the first time—the most of + the organization of colored soldiers having been, done since our capture. + It was startling at first to see a stalwart, coal-black negro stalking + along with a Sergeant's chevrons on his arm, or to gaze on a + regimental line of dusky faces on dress parade, but we soon got used to + it. The first strong peculiarity of the negro soldier that impressed + itself, upon us was his literal obedience of orders. A white soldier + usually allows himself considerable discretion in obeying orders—he + aims more at the spirit, while the negro adheres to the strict letter of + the command. + </p> + <p> + For instance, the second day after our arrival a line of guards were + placed around us, with orders not to allow any of us to go up town without + a pass. The reason of this was that many weak—even dying-men would + persist in wandering about, and would be found exhausted, frequently dead, + in various parts of the City. Andrews and I concluded to go up town. + Approaching a negro sentinel he warned us back with, + </p> + <p> + “Stand back, dah; don't come any furder; it's agin de + awdahs; you can't pass.” + </p> + <p> + He would not allow us to argue the case, but brought his gun to such a + threatening position that we fell back. Going down the line a little + farther, we came to a white sentinel, to whom I said: + </p> + <p> + “Comrade, what are your orders:” + </p> + <p> + He replied: + </p> + <p> + “My orders are not to let any of you fellows pass, but my beat only + extends to that out-house there.” + </p> + <p> + Acting on this plain hint, we walked around the house and went up-town. + The guard simply construed his orders in a liberal spirit. He reasoned + that they hardly applied to us, since we were evidently able to take care + of ourselves. + </p> + <p> + Later we had another illustration of this dog like fidelity of the colored + sentinel. A number of us were quartered in a large and empty warehouse. On + the same floor, and close to us, were a couple of very fine horses + belonging to some officer. We had not been in the warehouse very long + until we concluded that the straw with which the horses were bedded would + be better used in making couches for ourselves, and this suggestion was + instantly acted upon, and so thoroughly that there was not a straw left + between the animals and the bare boards. Presently the owner of the horses + came in, and he was greatly incensed at what had been done. He relieved + his mind of a few sulphurous oaths, and going out, came back soon with a + man with more straw, and a colored soldier whom he stationed by the + horses, saying: + </p> + <p> + “Now, look here. You musn't let anybody take anything sway + from these stalls; d'you understand me?—not a thing.” + </p> + <p> + He then went out. Andrews and I had just finished cooking dinner, and were + sitting down to eat it. Wishing to lend our frying-pan to another mess, I + looked around for something to lay our meat upon. Near the horses I saw a + book cover, which would answer the purpose admirably. Springing up, I + skipped across to where it was, snatched it up, and ran back to my place. + As I reached it a yell from the boys made me look around. The darky was + coming at me “full tilt,” with his gun at a “charge + bayonets.” As I turned he said: + </p> + <p> + “Put dat right back dah!” + </p> + <p> + I said: + </p> + <p> + “Why, this don't amount to anything, this is only an old book + cover. It hasn't anything in the world to do with the horses.” + </p> + <p> + He only replied: + </p> + <p> + “Put dat right back dah!” + </p> + <p> + I tried another appeal: + </p> + <p> + “Now, you woolly-headed son of thunder, haven't you got sense + enough to know that the officer who posted you didn't mean such a + thing as this! He only meant that we should not be allowed to take any of + the horses' bedding or equipments; don't you see?” + </p> + <p> + I might as well have reasoned with a cigar store Indian. He set his teeth, + his eyes showed a dangerous amount of white, and foreshortening his musket + for a lunge, he hissed out again “Put dat right back dah, I tell + you!” + </p> + <p> + I looked at the bayonet; it was very long, very bright, and very sharp. It + gleamed cold and chilly like, as if it had not run through a man for a + long time, and yearned for another opportunity. Nothing but the whites of + the darky's eyes could now be seen. I did not want to perish there + in the fresh bloom of my youth and loveliness; it seemed to me as if it + was my duty to reserve myself for fields of future usefulness, so I walked + back and laid the book cover precisely on the spot whence I had obtained + it, while the thousand boys in the house set up a yell of sarcastic + laughter. + </p> + <p> + We staid in Wilmington a few days, days of almost purely animal enjoyment—the + joy of having just as much to eat as we could possibly swallow, and no one + to molest or make us afraid in any way. How we did eat and fill up. The + wrinkles in our skin smoothed out under the stretching, and we began to + feel as if we were returning to our old plumpness, though so far the + plumpness was wholly abdominal. + </p> + <p> + One morning we were told that the transports would begin going back with + us that afternoon, the first that left taking the sick. Andrews and I, + true to our old prison practices, resolved to be among those on the first + boat. We slipped through the guards and going up town, went straight to + Major General Schofield's headquarters and solicited a pass to go on + the first boat—the steamer “Thorn.” General Schofield + treated us very kindly; but declined to let anybody but the helplessly + sick go on the “Thorn.” Defeated here we went down to where + the vessel was lying at the dock, and tried to smuggle ourselves aboard, + but the guard was too strong and too vigilant, and we were driven away. + Going along the dock, angry and discouraged by our failure, we saw a + Surgeon, at a little distance, who was examining and sending the sick who + could walk aboard another vessel—the “General Lyon.” We + took our cue, and a little shamming secured from him tickets which + permitted us to take our passage in her. The larger portion of those on + board were in the hold, and a few were on deck. Andrews and I found a snug + place under the forecastle, by the anchor chains. + </p> + <p> + Both vessels speedily received their complement, and leaving their docks, + started down the river. The “Thorn” steamed ahead of us, and + disappeared. Shortly after we got under way, the Colonel who was put in + command of the boat—himself a released prisoner—came around on + a tour of inspection. He found about one thousand of us aboard, and + singling me out made me the non-commissioned officer in command. I was put + in charge, of issuing the rations and of a barrel of milk punch which the + Sanitary Commission had sent down to be dealt out on the voyage to such as + needed it. I went to work and arranged the boys in the best way I could, + and returned to the deck to view the scenery. + </p> + <p> + Wilmington is thirty-four miles from the sea, and the river for that + distance is a calm, broad estuary. At this time the resources of Rebel + engineering were exhausted in defense against its passage by a hostile + fleet, and undoubtedly the best work of the kind in the Southern + Confederacy was done upon it. At its mouth were Forts Fisher and Caswell, + the strongest sea coast forts in the Confederacy. Fort Caswell was an old + United States fort, much enlarged and strengthened. Fort Fisher was a new + work, begun immediately after the beginning of the war, and labored at + incessantly until captured. Behind these every one of the thirty-four + miles to Wilmington was covered with the fire of the best guns the English + arsenals could produce, mounted on forts built at every advantageous spot. + Lines of piles running out into the water, forced incoming vessels to wind + back and forth across the stream under the point-blank range of massive + Armstrong rifles. As if this were not sufficient, the channel was thickly + studded with torpedoes that would explode at the touch of the keel of a + passing vessel. These abundant precautions, and the telegram from General + Lee, found in Fort Fisher, stating that unless that stronghold and Fort + Caswell were held he could not hold Richmond, give some idea of the + importance of the place to the Rebels. + </p> + <p> + We passed groups of hundreds of sailors fishing for torpedos, and saw many + of these dangerous monsters, which they had hauled up out of the water. We + caught up with the “Thorn,” when about half way to the sea, + passed her, to our great delight, and soon left a gap between us of nearly + half-a-mile. We ran through an opening in the piling, holding up close to + the left side, and she apparently followed our course exactly. Suddenly + there was a dull roar; a column of water, bearing with it fragments of + timbers, planking and human bodies, rose up through one side of the + vessel, and, as it fell, she lurched forward and sank. She had struck a + torpedo. I never learned the number lost, but it must have been very + great. + </p> + <p> + Some little time after this happened we approached Fort Anderson, the most + powerful of the works between Wilmington and the forts at the mouth of the + sea. It was built on the ruins of the little Town of Brunswick, destroyed + by Cornwallis during the Revolutionary War. We saw a monitor lying near + it, and sought good positions to view this specimen of the redoubtable + ironclads of which we had heard and read so much. It looked precisely as + it did in pictures, as black, as grim, and as uncompromising as the + impregnable floating fortress which had brought the “Merrimac” + to terms. + </p> + <p> + But as we approached closely we noticed a limpness about the smoke stack + that seemed very inconsistent with the customary rigidity of cylindrical + iron. Then the escape pipe seemed scarcely able to maintain itself + upright. A few minutes later we discovered that our terrible Cyclops of + the sea was a flimsy humbug, a theatrical imitation, made by stretching + blackened canvas over a wooden frame. + </p> + <p> + One of the officers on board told us its story. After the fall of Fort + Fisher the Rebels retired to Fort Anderson, and offered a desperate + resistance to our army and fleet. Owing to the shallowness of the water + the latter could not come into close enough range to do effective work. + Then the happy idea of this sham monitor suggested itself to some one. It + was prepared, and one morning before daybreak it was sent floating in on + the tide. The other monitors opened up a heavy fire from their position. + The Rebels manned their guns and replied vigorously, by concentrating a + terrible cannonade on the sham monitor, which sailed grandly on, + undisturbed by the heavy rifled bolts tearing through her canvas turret. + Almost frantic with apprehension of the result if she could not be + checked, every gun that would bear was turned upon her, and torpedos were + exploded in her pathway by electricity. All these she treated with the + silent contempt they merited from so invulnerable a monster. At length, as + she reached a good easy range of the fort, her bow struck something, and + she swung around as if to open fire. That was enough for the Rebels. With + Schofield's army reaching out to cut off their retreat, and this + dreadful thing about to tear the insides out of their fort with + four-hundred-pound shot at quarter-mile range, there was nothing for them + to do but consult their own safety, which they did with such haste that + they did not spike a gun, or destroy a pound of stores. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch80" id="ch80"></a>CHAPTER LXXX. + </h2> + <p> + VISIT TO FORT FISHER, AND INSPECTION OF THAT STRONGHOLD—THE WAY IT + WAS CAPTURED—OUT ON THE OCEAN SAILING—TERRIBLY SEASICK—RAPID + RECOVERY —ARRIVAL AT ANNAPOLIS—WASHED, CLOTHED AND FED—UNBOUNDED + LUXURY, AND DAYS OF UNADULTERATED HAPPINESS. + </p> + <p> + When we reached the mouth of Cape Fear River the wind was blowing so hard + that our Captain did not think it best to venture out, so he cast anchor. + The cabin of the vessel was filled with officers who had been released + from prison about the same time we were. I was also given a berth in the + cabin, in consideration of my being the non-commissioned officer in charge + of the men, and I found the associations quite pleasant. A party was made + up, which included me, to visit Fort Fisher, and we spent the larger part + of a day very agreeably in wandering over that great stronghold. We found + it wonderful in its strength, and were prepared to accept the statement of + those who had seen foreign defensive works, that it was much more powerful + than the famous Malakoff, which so long defied the besiegers of + Sebastopol. + </p> + <p> + The situation of the fort was on a narrow and low spit of ground between + Cape Fear River and the ocean. On this the Rebels had erected, with + prodigious labor, an embankment over a mile in length, twenty-five feet + thick and twenty feet high. About two-thirds of this bank faced the sea; + the other third ran across the spit of land to protect the fort against an + attack from the land side. Still stronger than the bank forming the front + of the fort were the traverses, which prevented an enfilading fire These + were regular hills, twenty-five to forty feet high, and broad and long in + proportion. There were fifteen or twenty of them along the face of the + fort. Inside of them were capacious bomb proofs, sufficiently large to + shelter the whole garrison. It seemed as if a whole Township had been dug + up, carted down there and set on edge. In front of the works was a strong + palisade. Between each pair of traverses were one or two enormous guns, + none less than one-hundred-and-fifty pounders. Among these we saw a great + Armstrong gun, which had been presented to the Southern Confederacy by its + manufacturer, Sir William Armstrong, who, like the majority of the English + nobility, was a warm admirer of the Jeff. Davis crowd. It was the finest + piece of ordnance ever seen in this country. The carriage was rosewood, + and the mountings gilt brass. The breech of the gun had five + reinforcements. + </p> + <p> + To attack this place our Government assembled the most powerful fleet ever + sent on such an expedition. Over seventy-five men-of-war, including six + monitors, and carrying six hundred guns, assailed it with a storm of shot + and shell that averaged four projectiles per second for several hours; the + parapet was battered, and the large guns crushed as one smashes a bottle + with a stone. The garrison fled into the bomb-proofs for protection. The + troops, who had landed above the fort, moved up to assail the land face, + while a brigade of sailors and marines attacked the sea face. + </p> + <p> + As the fleet had to cease firing to allow the charge, the Rebels ran out + of their casemates and, manning the parapet, opened such a fire of + musketry that the brigade from the fleet was driven back, but the soldiers + made a lodgment on the land face. Then began some beautiful cooperative + tactics between the Army and Navy, communication being kept up with signal + flags. Our men were on one side of the parapets and the Rebels on the + other, with the fighting almost hand-to-hand. The vessels ranged out to + where their guns would rake the Rebel line, and as their shot tore down + its length, the Rebels gave way, and falling back to the next traverse, + renewed the conflict there. Guided by the signals our vessels changed + their positions, so as to rake this line also, and so the fight went on + until twelve traverses had been carried, one after the other, when the + rebels surrendered. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p617" id="p617"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p617.jpg (39K)" src="images/p617.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + The next day the Rebels abandoned Fort Caswell and other fortifications in + the immediate neighborhood, surrendered two gunboats, and fell back to the + lines at Fort Anderson. After Fort Fisher fell, several blockade-runners + were lured inside and captured. + </p> + <p> + Never before had there been such a demonstration of the power of heavy + artillery. Huge cannon were pounded into fragments, hills of sand ripped + open, deep crevasses blown in the ground by exploding shells, wooden + buildings reduced to kindling-wood, etc. The ground was literally paved + with fragments of shot and shell, which, now red with rust from the + corroding salt air, made the interior of the fort resemble what one of our + party likened it to “an old brickyard.” + </p> + <p> + Whichever way we looked along the shores we saw abundant evidence of the + greatness of the business which gave the place its importance. In all + directions, as far as the eye could reach, the beach was dotted with the + bleaching skeletons of blockade-runners—some run ashore by their + mistaking the channel, more beached to escape the hot pursuit of our + blockaders. + </p> + <p> + Directly in front of the sea face of the fort, and not four hundred yards + from the savage mouths of the huge guns, the blackened timbers of a burned + blockade-runner showed above the water at low tide. Coming in from Nassau + with a cargo of priceless value to the gasping Confederacy, she was + observed and chased by one of our vessels, a swifter sailer, even, than + herself. The war ship closed rapidly upon her. She sought the protection + of the guns of Fort Fisher, which opened venomously on the chaser. They + did not stop her, though they were less than half a mile away. In another + minute she would have sent the Rebel vessel to the bottom of the sea, by a + broadside from her heavy guns, but the Captain of the latter turned her + suddenly, and ran her high up on the beach, wrecking his vessel, but + saving the much more valuable cargo. Our vessel then hauled off, and as + night fell, quiet was restored. At midnight two boat-loads of determined + men, rowing with muffled oars moved silently out from the blockader + towards the beached vessel. In their boats they had some cans of + turpentine, and several large shells. When they reached the + blockade-runner they found all her crew gone ashore, save one watchman, + whom they overpowered before he could give the alarm. They cautiously felt + their way around, with the aid of a dark lantern, secured the ship's + chronometer, her papers and some other desired objects. They then + saturated with the turpentine piles of combustible material, placed about + the vessel to the best advantage, and finished by depositing the shells + where their explosion would ruin the machinery. All this was done so near + to the fort that the sentinels on the parapets could be heard with the + greatest distinctness as they repeated their half-hourly cry of “All's + well.” Their preparations completed, the daring fellows touched + matches to the doomed vessel in a dozen places at once, and sprang into + their boats. The flames instantly enveloped the ship, and showed the + gunners the incendiaries rowing rapidly away. A hail of shot beat the + water into a foam around the boats, but their good fortune still attended + them, and they got back without losing a man. + </p> + <p> + The wind at length calmed sufficiently to encourage our Captain to venture + out, and we were soon battling with the rolling waves, far out of sight of + land. For awhile the novelty of the scene fascinated me. I was at last on + the ocean, of which I had heard, read and imagined so much. The creaking + cordage, the straining engine, the plunging ship, the wild waste of + tumbling billows, everyone apparently racing to where our tossing bark was + struggling to maintain herself, all had an entrancing interest for me, and + I tried to recall Byron's sublime apostrophe to the ocean: <br><br> + </p> + <table> + <tr> + <td> + <br> Thou glorious mirror, where the Almighty's form <br> + Classes itself in tempest: in all time, <br> Calm or convulsed-in + breeze, or gale, or storm, <br> Icing the pole, or in the torrid + clime <br> Dark-heaving—boundless, endless, and sublime— + <br> The image of eternity—the throne <br> Of the invisible; + even from out thy slime <br> The monsters of the deep are made; each + zone <br> Obey thee: thou goest forth, dread, fathomless, alone, + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br><br> + </p> + <p> + Just then, my reverie was broken by the strong hand of the gruff Captain + of, the vessel descending upon my shoulder, and he said: + </p> + <p> + “See, here, youngster! Ain't you the fellow that was put in + command of these men?” + </p> + <p> + I acknowledged such to be the case. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said the Captain; “I want you to 'tend to + your business and straighten them around, so that we can clean off the + decks.” + </p> + <p> + I turned from the bulwark over which I had been contemplating the vasty + deep, and saw the sorriest, most woe-begone lot that the imagination can + conceive. Every mother's son was wretchedly sea-sick. They were + paying the penalty of their overfeeding in Wilmington; and every face + looked as if its owner was discovering for the first time what the real + lower depths of human misery was. They all seemed afraid they would not + die; as if they were praying for death, but feeling certain that he was + going back on them in a most shameful way. + </p> + <p> + We straightened them around a little, washed them and the decks off with a + hose, and then I started down in the hold to see how matters were with the + six hundred down there. The boys there were much sicker than those on + deck. As I lifted the hatch there rose an odor which appeared strong + enough to raise the plank itself. Every onion that had been issued to us + in Wilmington seemed to lie down there in the last stages of + decomposition. All of the seventy distinct smells which Coleridge counted + at Cologne might have been counted in any given cubic foot of atmosphere, + while the next foot would have an entirely different and equally + demonstrative “bouquet.” + </p> + <p> + I recoiled, and leaned against the bulwark, but soon summoned up courage + enough to go half-way down the ladder, and shout out in as stern a tone as + I could command: + </p> + <p> + “Here, now! I want you fellows to straighten around there, right + off, and help clean up!” + </p> + <p> + They were as angry and cross as they were sick. They wanted nothing in the + world so much as the opportunity I had given them to swear at and abuse + somebody. Every one of them raised on his elbow, and shaking his fist at + me yelled out: + </p> + <p> + “O, you go to ——, you —— —— + ——. Just come down another step, and I'll knock the + whole head off 'en you.” + </p> + <p> + I did not go down any farther. + </p> + <p> + Coming back on the deck my stomach began to feel qualmish. Some wretched + idiot, whose grandfather's grave I hope the jackasses have defiled, + as the Turks would say, told me that the best preventive of sea-sickness + was to drink as much of the milk punch as I could swallow. + </p> + <p> + Like another idiot, I did so. + </p> + <p> + I went again to the side of the vessel, but now the fascination of the + scene had all faded out. The restless billows were dreary, savage, hungry + and dizzying; they seemed to claw at, and tear, and wrench the struggling + ship as a group of huge lions would tease and worry a captive dog. They + distressed her and all on board by dealing a blow which would send her + reeling in one direction, but before she had swung the full length that + impulse would have sent her, catching her on the opposite side with a + stunning shock that sent her another way, only to meet another rude buffet + from still another side. + </p> + <p> + I thought we could all have stood it if the motion had been like that of a + swing-backward and forward—or even if the to and fro motion had been + complicated with a side-wise swing, but to be put through every possible + bewildering motion in the briefest space of time was more than heads of + iron and stomachs of brass could stand. + </p> + <p> + Mine were not made of such perdurable stuff. + </p> + <p> + They commenced mutinous demonstrations in regard to the milk punch. + </p> + <p> + I began wondering whether the milk was not the horrible beer swill, + stump-tail kind of which I had heard so much. + </p> + <p> + And the whisky in it; to use a vigorous Westernism, descriptive of mean + whisky, it seemed to me that I could smell the boy's feet who plowed + the corn from which it was distilled. + </p> + <p> + Then the onions I had eaten in Wilmington began to rebel, and incite the + bread, meat and coffee to gastric insurrection, and I became so utterly + wretched that life had no farther attractions. + </p> + <p> + While I was leaning over the bulwark, musing on the complete hollowness of + all earthly things, the Captain of the vessel caught hold of me roughly, + and said: + </p> + <p> + “Look here, you're just playin' the very devil + a-commandin' these here men. Why in —— don't you + stiffen up, and hump yourself around, and make these men mind, or else + belt them over the head with a capstan bar! Now I want you to 'tend + to your business. D'you understand me?” + </p> + <p> + I turned a pair of weary and hopeless eyes upon him, and started to say + that a man who would talk to one in my forlorn condition of “stiffening + up,” and “belting other fellows over the head with a capstan + bar,” would insult a woman dying with consumption, but I suddenly + became too full for utterance. + </p> + <p> + The milk punch, the onions, the bread, and meat and coffee tired of + fighting it out in the narrow quarters where I had stowed them, had + started upwards tumultuously. + </p> + <p> + I turned my head again to the sea, and looking down into its smaragdine + depths, let go of the victualistic store which I had been industriously + accumulating ever since I had come through the lines. + </p> + <p> + I vomited until I felt as empty and hollow as a stove pipe. There was a + vacuum that extended clear to my toe-nails. I feared that every retching + struggle would dent me in, all over, as one sees tin preserving cans + crushed in by outside pressure, and I apprehended that if I kept on much + longer my shoe-soles would come up after the rest. + </p> + <p> + I will mention, parenthetically, that, to this day I abhor milk punch, and + also onions. + </p> + <p> + Unutterably miserable as I was I could not refrain from a ghost of a + smile, when a poor country boy near me sang out in an interval between + vomiting spells: + </p> + <p> + “O, Captain, for God's sake, stop the boat and lem'me go + ashore, and I swear I'll walk every step of the way home.” + </p> + <p> + He was like old Gonzalo in the 'Tempest:' <br><br> + </p> + <table> + <tr> + <td> + <br> Now world I give a thousand furlongs of sea for an acre of + barren <br> ground; long heath; brown furze; anything. The wills + above be done! <br> but I would fain die a dry death. + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br><br> + </p> + <p> + After this misery had lasted about two days we got past Cape Hatteras, and + out of reach of its malign influence, and recovered as rapidly as we had + been prostrated. + </p> + <p> + We regained spirits and appetites with amazing swiftness; the sun came out + warm and cheerful, we cleaned up our quarters and ourselves as best we + could, and during the remainder of the voyage were as blithe and cheerful + as so many crickets. + </p> + <p> + The fun in the cabin was rollicking. The officers had been as sick as the + men, but were wonderfully vivacious when the 'mal du mer' + passed off. In the party was a fine glee club, which had been organized at + “Camp Sorgum,” the officers' prison at Columbia. Its + leader was a Major of the Fifth Iowa Cavalry, who possessed a marvelously + sweet tenor voice, and well developed musical powers. While we were at + Wilmington he sang “When Sherman Marched Down to the Sea,” to + an audience of soldiers that packed the Opera House densely. + </p> + <p> + The enthusiasm he aroused was simply indescribable; men shouted, and the + tears ran down their faces. He was recalled time and again, each time with + an increase in the furore. The audience would have staid there all night + to listen to him sing that one song. Poor fellow, he only went home to + die. An attack of pneumonia carried him off within a fortnight after we + separated at Annapolis. + </p> + <p> + The Glee Club had several songs which they rendered in regular negro + minstrel style, and in a way that was irresistibly ludicrous. One of their + favorites was “Billy Patterson.” All standing up in a ring, + the tenors would lead off: + </p> + <p> + “I saw + an old man go riding by,” + </p> + <p> + and the baritones, flinging themselves around with the looseness of + Christy's Minstrels, in a “break down,” would reply: + </p> + <p> + “Don't + tell me! Don't tell me!” + </p> + <p> + Then the tenors would resume: + </p> + <p> + “Says + I, Ole man, your horse'll die.” + </p> + <p> + Then the baritones, with an air of exaggerated interest; + </p> + <p> + “A-ha-a-a, + Billy Patterson!” + </p> + <p> + Tenors: + </p> + <p> + “For. + It he dies, I'll tan his skin; + </p> + <p> + An' if + he lives I'll ride him agin,” + </p> + <p> + All-together, with a furious “break down” at the close: + </p> + <p> + “Then I'll + lay five dollars down, + </p> + <p> + And count + them one by one; + </p> + <p> + Then I'll + lay five dollars down, + </p> + <p> + If anybody + will show me the man + </p> + <p> + That struck + Billy Patterson.” <br><br> + </p> + <p> + And so on. It used to upset my gravity entirely to see a crowd of grave + and dignified Captains, Majors and Colonels going through this nonsensical + drollery with all the abandon of professional burnt-cork artists. + </p> + <p> + As we were nearing the entrance to Chesapeake Bay we passed a great + monitor, who was exercising her crew at the guns. She fired directly + across our course, the huge four hundred pound balls shipping along the + water, about a mile ahead of us, as we boys used to make the flat stones + skip in the play of “Ducks and Drakes.” One or two of the + shots came so. close that I feared she might be mistaking us for a Rebel + ship intent on some raid up the Bay, and I looked up anxiously to see that + the flag should float out so conspicuously that she could not help seeing + it. + </p> + <p> + The next day our vessel ran alongside of the dock at the Naval Academy at + Annapolis, that institution now being used as a hospital for paroled + prisoners. The musicians of the Post band came down with stretchers to + carry the sick to the Hospital, while those of us who were able to walk + were ordered to fall in and march up. The distance was but a few hundred + yards. On reaching the building we marched up on a little balcony, and as + we did so each one of us was seized by a hospital attendant, who, with the + quick dexterity attained by long practice, snatched every one of our + filthy, lousy rags off in the twinkling of an eye, and flung them over the + railing to the ground, where a man loaded them into a wagon with a + pitchfork. + </p> + <p> + With them went our faithful little black can, our hoop-iron spoon, and our + chessboard and men. + </p> + <p> + Thus entirely denuded, each boy was given a shove which sent him into a + little room, where a barber pressed him down upon a stool, and almost + before he understood what was being done, had his hair and beard cut off + as close as shears would do it. Another tap on the back sent the shorn + lamb into a room furnished with great tubs of water and with about six + inches of soap suds on the zinc-covered floor. <br><br><br><br> <a + name="p624" id="p624"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p624.jpg (21K)" src="images/p624.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + In another minute two men with sponges had removed every trace of prison + grime from his body, and passed him on to two more men, who wiped him dry, + and moved him on to where a man handed him a new shirt, a pair of drawers, + pair of socks, pair of pantaloons, pair of slippers, and a hospital gown, + and motioned him to go on into the large room, and array himself in his + new garments. Like everything else about the Hospital this performance was + reduced to a perfect system. Not a word was spoken by anybody, not a + moment's time lost, and it seemed to me that it was not ten minutes + after I marched up on the balcony, covered with dirt, rags, vermin, and a + matted shock of hair, until I marched out of the room, clean and well + clothed. Now I began to feel as if I was really a man again. + </p> + <p> + The next thing done was to register our names, rank, regiment, when and + where captured, when and where released. After this we were shown to our + rooms. And such rooms as they were. All the old maids in the country could + not have improved their spick-span neatness. The floors were as white as + pine plank could be scoured; the sheets and bedding as clean as cotton and + linen and woolen could be washed. Nothing in any home in the land was any + more daintily, wholesomely, unqualifiedly clean than were these little + chambers, each containing two beds, one for each man assigned to their + occupancy. + </p> + <p> + Andrews doubted if we could stand all this radical change in our habits. + He feared that it was rushing things too fast. We might have had our hair + cut one week, and taken a bath all over a week later, and so progress down + to sleeping between white sheets in the course of six months, but to do it + all in one day seemed like tempting fate. + </p> + <p> + Every turn showed us some new feature of the marvelous order of this + wonderful institution. Shortly after we were sent to our rooms, a Surgeon + entered with a Clerk. After answering the usual questions as to name, + rank, company and regiment, the Surgeon examined our tongues, eyes, limbs + and general appearance, and communicated his conclusions to the Clerk, who + filled out a blank card. This card was stuck into a little tin holder at + the head of my bed. Andrews's card was the same, except the name. + The Surgeon was followed by a Sergeant, who was Chief of the Dining-Room, + and the Clerk, who made a minute of the diet ordered for us, and moved + off. Andrews and I immediately became very solicitous to know what species + of diet No. 1 was. After the seasickness left us our appetites became as + ravenous as a buzz-saw, and unless Diet No. 1 was more than No. 1 in name, + it would not fill the bill. We had not long to remain in suspense, for + soon another non-commissioned officer passed through at the head of a + train of attendants, bearing trays. Consulting the list in his hand, he + said to one of his followers, “Two No. 1's,” and that + satellite set down two large plates, upon each of which were a cup of + coffee, a shred of meat, two boiled eggs and a couple of rolls. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said Andrews, as the procession moved away, “I + want to know where this thing's going to stop. I am trying hard to + get used to wearing a shirt without any lice in it, and to sitting down on + a chair, and to sleeping in a clean bed, but when it comes to having my + meals sent to my room, I'm afraid I'll degenerate into a + pampered child of luxury. They are really piling it on too strong. Let us + see, Mc.; how long's it been since we were sitting on the sand there + in Florence, boiling our pint of meal in that old can?” <br><br><br><br> + <a name="p626" id="p626"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p626.jpg (52K)" src="images/p626.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + “It seems many years, Lale,” I said; “but for heaven's + sake let us try to forget it as soon as possible. We will always remember + too much of it.” + </p> + <p> + And we did try hard to make the miserable recollections fade out of our + minds. When we were stripped on the balcony we threw away every visible + token that could remind us of the hateful experience we had passed + through. We did not retain a scrap of paper or a relic to recall the + unhappy past. We loathed everything connected with it. + </p> + <p> + The days that followed were very happy ones. The Paymaster came around and + paid us each two months' pay and twenty-five cents a day “ration + money” for every day we had been in prison. This gave Andrews and I + about one hundred and sixty-five dollars apiece—an abundance of + spending money. Uncle Sam was very kind and considerate to his soldier + nephews, and the Hospital authorities neglected nothing that would add to + our comfort. The superbly-kept grounds of the Naval Academy were renewing + the freshness of their loveliness under the tender wooing of the advancing + Spring, and every step one sauntered through them was a new delight. A + magnificent band gave us sweet music morning and evening. Every dispatch + from the South told of the victorious progress of our arms, and the rapid + approach of the close of the struggle. All we had to do was to enjoy the + goods the gods were showering upon us, and we did so with appreciative, + thankful hearts. After awhile all able to travel were given furloughs of + thirty days to visit their homes, with instructions to report at the + expiration of their leaves of absence to the camps of rendezvous nearest + their homes, and we separated, nearly every man going in a different + direction. <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + [CHAPTER LXXXI. Written by a Rev. Sheppard and omitted in this edition.] + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch82" id="ch82"></a>CHAPTER LXXXII. + </h2> + <p> + CAPTAIN WIRZ THE ONLY ONE OF THE PRISON-KEEPERS PUNISHED—HIS ARREST, + TRIAL AND EXECUTION. + </p> + <p> + Of all those more or less concerned in the barbarities practiced upon our + prisoners, but one—Captain Henry Wirz—was punished. The + Turners, at Richmond; Lieutenant Boisseux, of Belle Isle; Major Gee, of + Salisbury; Colonel Iverson and Lieutenant Barrett, of Florence; and the + many brutal miscreants about Andersonville, escaped scot free. What became + of them no one knows; they were never heard of after the close of the war. + They had sense enough to retire into obscurity, and stay there, and this + saved their lives, for each one of them had made deadly enemies among + those whom they had maltreated, who, had they known where they were, would + have walked every step of the way thither to kill them. + </p> + <p> + When the Confederacy went to pieces in April, 1865, Wirz was still at + Andersonville. General Wilson, commanding our cavalry forces, and who had + established his headquarters at Macon, Ga., learned of this, and sent one + of his staff—Captain H. E. Noyes, of the Fourth Regular Cavalry + —with a squad. of men, to arrest him. This was done on the 7th of + May. Wirz protested against his arrest, claiming that he was protected by + the terms of Johnson's surrender, and, addressed the following + letter to General Wilson: <br><br> + </p> + <p> + ANDERSONVILLE, + GA., May 7, 1865. + </p> + <p> + GENERAL:—It is with great reluctance that I address you these lines, + being fully aware how little time is left you to attend to such matters as + I now have the honor to lay before you, and if I could see any other way + to accomplish my object I would not intrude upon you. I am a native of + Switzerland, and was before the war a citizen of Louisiana, and by + profession a physician. Like hundreds and thousands of others, I was + carried away by the maelstrom of excitement and joined the Southern army. + I was very severely wounded at the battle of “Seven Pines,” + near Richmond, Va., and have nearly lost the use of my right arm. Unfit + for field duty, I was ordered to report to Brevet Major General John H. + Winder, in charge of the Federal prisoners of war, who ordered me to take + charge of a prison in Tuscaloosa, Ala. My health failing me, I applied for + a furlough and went to Europe, from whence I returned in February, 1864. I + was then ordered to report to the commandant of the military prison at + Andersonville, Ga., who assigned me to the command of the interior of the + prison. The duties I had to perform were arduous and unpleasant, and I am + satisfied that no man can or will justly blame me for things that happened + here, and which were beyond my power to control. I do not think that I + ought to be held responsible for the shortness of rations, for the + overcrowded state of the prison, (which was of itself a prolific source of + fearful mortality), for the inadequate supply of clothing, want of + shelter, etc., etc. Still I now bear the odium, and men who were prisoners + have seemed disposed to wreak their vengeance upon me for what they have + suffered—I, who was only the medium, or, I may better say, the tool + in the hands of my superiors. This is my condition. I am a man with a + family. I lost all my property when the Federal army besieged Vicksburg. I + have no money at present to go to any place, and, even if I had, I know of + no place where I can go. My life is in danger, and I most respectfully ask + of you help and relief. If you will be so generous as to give me some sort + of a safe conduct, or, what I should greatly prefer, a guard to protect + myself and family against violence, I should be thankful to you, and you + may rest assured that your protection will not be given to one who is + unworthy of it. My intention is to return with my family to Europe, as + soon as I can make the arrangements. In the meantime I have the honor + General, to remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, + </p> + <p> + Hy. WIRZ, + Captain C. S. A. + </p> + <p> + Major General T. H. WILSON, + </p> + <p> + Commanding, Macon. Ga. + </p> + <p> + He was kept at Macon, under guard, until May 20, when Captain Noyes was + ordered to take him, and the hospital records of Andersonville, to + Washington. Between Macon and Cincinnati the journey was a perfect + gauntlet. + </p> + <p> + Our men were stationed all along the road, and among them everywhere were + ex-prisoners, who recognized Wirz, and made such determined efforts to + kill him that it was all that Captain Noyes, backed by a strong guard, + could do to frustrate them. At Chattanooga and Nashville the struggle + between his guards and his would-be slayers, was quite sharp. + </p> + <p> + At Louisville, Noyes had Wirz clean-shaved, and dressed in a complete suit + of black, with a beaver hat, which so altered his appearance that no one + recognized him after that, and the rest of the journey was made + unmolested. + </p> + <p> + The authorities at Washington ordered that he be tried immediately, by a + court martial composed of Generals Lewis Wallace, Mott, Geary, L. Thomas, + Fessenden, Bragg and Baller, Colonel Allcock, and Lieutenant-Colonel + Stibbs. Colonel Chipman was Judge Advocate, and the trial began August 23. + <br><br><br><br> <a name="p642" id="p642"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p642.jpg (53K)" src="images/p642.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br> + </p> + <p> + The prisoner was arraigned on a formidable list of charges and + specifications, which accused him of “combining, confederating, and + conspiring together with John H. Winder, Richard B. Winder, Isaiah II. + White, W. S. Winder, R. R. Stevenson and others unknown, to injure the + health and destroy the lives of soldiers in the military service of the + United States, there held, and being prisoners of war within the lines of + the so-called Confederate States, and in the military prisons thereof, to + the end that the armies of the United States might be weakened and + impaired, in violation of the laws and customs of war.” The main + facts of the dense over-crowding, the lack of sufficient shelter, the + hideous mortality were cited, and to these added a long list of specific + acts of brutality, such as hunting men down with hounds, tearing them with + dogs, robbing them, confining them in the stocks, cruelly beating and + murdering them, of which Wirz was personally guilty. + </p> + <p> + When the defendant was called upon to plead he claimed that his case was + covered by the terms of Johnston's surrender, and furthermore, that + the country now being at peace, he could not be lawfully tried by a + court-martial. These objections being overruled, he entered a plea of not + guilty to all the charges and specifications. He had two lawyers for + counsel. + </p> + <p> + The prosecution called Captain Noyes first, who detailed the circumstances + of Wirz's arrest, and denied that he had given any promises of + protection. + </p> + <p> + The next witness was Colonel George C. Gibbs, who commanded the troops of + the post at Andersonville. He testified that Wirz was the commandant of + the prison, and had sole authority under Winder over all the prisoners; + that there was a Dead Line there, and orders to shoot any one who crossed + it; that dogs were kept to hunt down escaping prisoners; the dogs were the + ordinary plantation dogs, mixture of hound and cur. + </p> + <p> + Dr. J. C. Bates, who was a Surgeon of the Prison Hospital, (a Rebel), + testified that the condition of things in his division was horrible. + Nearly naked men, covered with lice, were dying on all sides. Many were + lying in the filthy sand and mud. + </p> + <p> + He went on and described the terrible condition of men—dying from + scurvy, diarrhea, gangrenous sores, and lice. He wanted to carry in fresh + vegetables for the sick, but did not dare, the orders being very strict + against such thing. He thought the prison authorities might easily have + sent in enough green corn to have stopped the scurvy; the miasmatic + effluvia from the prison was exceedingly offensive and poisonous, so much + so that when the surgeons received a slight scratch on their persons, they + carefully covered it up with court plaster, before venturing near the + prison. + </p> + <p> + A number of other Rebel Surgeons testified to substantially the same + facts. Several residents of that section of the State testified to the + plentifulness of the crops there in 1864. + </p> + <p> + In addition to these, about one hundred and fifty Union prisoners were + examined, who testified to all manner of barbarities which had come under + their personal observation. They had all seen Wirz shoot men, had seen him + knock sick and crippled men down and stamp upon them, had been run down by + him with hounds, etc. Their testimony occupies about two thousand pages of + manuscript, and is, without doubt, the most, terrible record of crime ever + laid to the account of any man. + </p> + <p> + The taking of this testimony occupied until October 18, when the + Government decided to close the case, as any further evidence would be + simply cumulative. + </p> + <p> + The prisoner presented a statement in which he denied that there had been + an accomplice in a conspiracy of John H. Winder and others, to destroy the + lives of United States soldiers; he also denied that there had been such a + conspiracy, but made the pertinent inquiry why he alone, of all those who + were charged with the conspiracy, was brought to trial. He said that + Winder has gone to the great judgment seat, to answer for all his + thoughts, words and deeds, “and surely I am not to be held culpable + for them. General Howell Cobb has received the pardon of the President of + the United States.” He further claimed that there was no principle + of law which would sanction the holding of him—a mere subordinate + —guilty, for simply obeying, as literally as possible, the orders of + his superiors. + </p> + <p> + He denied all the specific acts of cruelty alleged against him, such as + maltreating and killing prisoners with his own hands. The prisoners killed + for crossing the Dead Line, he claimed, should not be charged against him, + since they were simply punished for the violation of a known order which + formed part of the discipline, he believed, of all military prisons. The + statement that soldiers were given a furlough for killing a Yankee + prisoner, was declared to be “a mere idle, absurd camp rumor.” + As to the lack of shelter, room and rations for so many prisoners, he + claimed that the sole responsibility rested upon the Confederate + Government. There never were but two prisoners whipped by his order, and + these were for sufficient cause. He asked the Court to consider favorably + two important items in his defense: first, that he had of his own accord + taken the drummer boys from the Stockade, and placed them where they could + get purer air and better food. Second, that no property taken from + prisoners was retained by him, but was turned over to the Prison + Quartermaster. + </p> + <p> + The Court, after due deliberation, declared the prisoner guilty on all the + charges and specifications save two unimportant ones, and sentenced him to + be hanged by the neck until dead, at such time and place as the President + of the United States should direct. + </p> + <p> + November 3 President Johnson approved of the sentence, and ordered Major + General C. C. Augur to carry the same into effect on Friday, November 10, + which was done. The prisoner made frantic appeals against the sentence; he + wrote imploring letters to President Johnson, and lying ones to the New + York News, a Rebel paper. It is said that his wife attempted to convey + poison to him, that he might commit suicide and avoid the ignomy of being + hanged. When all hope was gone he nerved himself up to meet his fate, and + died, as thousands of other scoundrels have, with calmness. His body was + buried in the grounds of the Old Capitol Prison, alongside of that of + Azterodt, one of the accomplices in the assassination of President + Lincoln. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p643" id="p643"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p643.jpg (45K)" src="images/p643.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br><br><br><br><br> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ch83" id="ch83"></a>CHAPTER LXXXIII. + </h2> + <p> + THE RESPONSIBILITY—WHO WAS TO BLAME FOR ALL THE MISERY—AN + EXAMINATION OF THE FLIMSY EXCUSES MADE FOR THE REBELS—ONE DOCUMENT + THAT CONVICTS THEM—WHAT IS DESIRED. + </p> + <p> + I have endeavored to tell the foregoing story as calmly, as + dispassionately, as free from vituperation and prejudice as possible. How + well I have succeeded the reader must judge. How difficult this moderation + has been at times only those know who, like myself, have seen, from day to + day, the treason-sharpened fangs of Starvation and Disease gnaw nearer and + nearer to the hearts of well-beloved friends and comrades. Of the + sixty-three of my company comrades who entered prison with me, but eleven, + or at most thirteen, emerged alive, and several of these have since died + from the effects of what they suffered. The mortality in the other + companies of our battalion was equally great, as it was also with the + prisoners generally. Not less than twenty-five thousand gallant, + noble-hearted boys died around me between the dates of my capture and + release. Nobler men than they never died for any cause. For the most part + they were simple-minded, honest-hearted boys; the sterling products of our + Northern home-life, and Northern Common Schools, and that grand stalwart + Northern blood, the yeoman blood of sturdy middle class freemen—the + blood of the race which has conquered on every field since the Roman + Empire went down under its sinewy blows. They prated little of honor, and + knew nothing of “chivalry” except in its repulsive travesty in + the South. As citizens at home, no honest labor had been regarded by them + as too humble to be followed with manly pride in its success; as soldiers + in the field, they did their duty with a calm defiance of danger and + death, that the world has not seen equaled in the six thousand years that + men have followed the trade of war. In the prison their conduct was marked + by the same unostentatious but unflinching heroism. Death stared them in + the face constantly. They could read their own fate in that of the + loathsome, unburied dead all around them. Insolent enemies mocked their + sufferings, and sneered at their devotion to a Government which they + asserted had abandoned them, but the simple faith, the ingrained honesty + of these plain-mannered, plain-spoken boys rose superior to every trial. + Brutus, the noblest Roman of them all, says in his grandest flight: <br><br> + </p> + <p> + Set honor in + one eye and death in the other, + </p> + <p> + And I will + look on both indifferently. <br><br> + </p> + <p> + They did not say this: they did it. They never questioned their duty; no + repinings, no murmurings against their Government escaped their lips, they + took the dread fortunes brought to them as calmly, as unshrinkingly as + they had those in the field; they quailed not, nor wavered in their faith + before the worst the Rebels could do. The finest epitaph ever inscribed + above a soldier's grave was that graven on the stone which marked + the resting-place of the deathless three hundred who fell at Thermopylae: + <br><br> + </p> + <p> + Go, stranger, + to Lacedaemon,— + </p> + <p> + And tell + Sparta that we lie here in obedience to her laws. <br><br> + </p> + <p> + They who lie in the shallow graves of Andersonville, Belle Isle, Florence + and Salisbury, lie there in obedience to the precepts and maxims + inculcated into their minds in the churches and Common Schools of the + North; precepts which impressed upon them the duty of manliness and honor + in all the relations and exigencies of life; not the “chivalric” + prate of their enemies, but the calm steadfastness which endureth to the + end. The highest tribute that can be paid them is to say they did full + credit to their teachings, and they died as every American should when + duty bids him. No richer heritage was ever bequeathed to posterity. + </p> + <p> + It was in the year 1864, and the first three months of 1865 that these + twenty-five thousand youths mere cruelly and needlessly done to death. In + these fatal fifteen months more young men than to-day form the pride, the + hope, and the vigor of any one of our leading Cities, more than at the + beginning of the war were found in either of several States in the Nation, + were sent to their graves, “unknelled, uncoffined, and unknown,” + victims of the most barbarous and unnecessary cruelty recorded since the + Dark Ages. Barbarous, because the wit of man has not yet devised a more + savage method of destroying fellow-beings than by exposure and starvation; + unnecessary, because the destruction of these had not, and could not have + the slightest effect upon the result of the struggle. The Rebel leaders + have acknowledged that they knew the fate of the Confederacy was sealed + when the campaign of 1864 opened with the North displaying an unflinching + determination to prosecute the war to a successful conclusion. All that + they could hope for after that was some fortuitous accident, or unexpected + foreign recognition that would give them peace with victory. The prisoners + were non-important factors in the military problem. Had they all been + turned loose as soon as captured, their efforts would not have hastened + the Confederacy's fate a single day. + </p> + <p> + As to the responsibility for this monstrous cataclysm of human misery and + death: That the great mass of the Southern people approved of these + outrages, or even knew of them, I do not, for an instant, believe. They + are as little capable of countenancing such a thing as any people in the + world. But the crowning blemish of Southern society has ever been the dumb + acquiescence of the many respectable, well-disposed, right-thinking people + in the acts of the turbulent and unscrupulous few. From this direful + spring has flowed an Iliad of unnumbered woes, not only to that section + but to our common country. It was this that kept the South vibrating + between patriotism and treason during the revolution, so that it cost more + lives and treasure to maintain the struggle there than in all the rest of + the country. It was this that threatened the dismemberment of the Union in + 1832. It was this that aggravated and envenomed every wrong growing out of + Slavery; that outraged liberty, debauched citizenship, plundered the + mails, gagged the press, stiffled speech, made opinion a crime, polluted + the free soil of God with the unwilling step of the bondman, and at last + crowned three-quarters of a century of this unparalleled iniquity by + dragging eleven millions of people into a war from which their souls + revolted, and against which they had declared by overwhelming majorities + in every State except South Carolina, where the people had no voice. It + may puzzle some to understand how a relatively small band of political + desperados in each State could accomplish such a momentous wrong; that + they did do it, no one conversant with our history will deny, and that + they—insignificant as they were in numbers, in abilities, in + character, in everything save capacity and indomitable energy in mischief—could + achieve such gigantic wrongs in direct opposition to the better sense of + their communities is a fearful demonstration of the defects of the + constitution of Southern society. + </p> + <p> + Men capable of doing all that the Secession leaders were guilty of—both + before and during the war—were quite capable of revengefully + destroying twenty-five thousand of their enemies by the most hideous means + at their command. That they did so set about destroying their enemies, + wilfully, maliciously, and with malice prepense and aforethought, is + susceptible of proof as conclusive as that which in a criminal court sends + murderers to the gallows. + </p> + <p> + Let us examine some of these proofs: + </p> + <p> + 1. The terrible mortality at Andersonville and elsewhere was a matter of + as much notoriety throughout the Southern Confederacy as the military + operations of Lee and Johnson. No intelligent man—much less the + Rebel leaders—was ignorant of it nor of its calamitous proportions. + </p> + <p> + 2. Had the Rebel leaders within a reasonable time after this matter became + notorious made some show of inquiring into and alleviating the deadly + misery, there might be some excuse for them on the ground of lack of + information, and the plea that they did as well as they could would have + some validity. But this state of affairs was allowed to continue over a + year—in fact until the downfall of the Confederacy—without a + hand being raised to mitigate the horrors of those places—without + even an inquiry being made as to whether they were mitigable or not. Still + worse: every month saw the horrors thicken, and the condition of the + prisoners become more wretched. + </p> + <p> + The suffering in May, 1864, was more terrible than in April; June showed a + frightful increase over May, while words fail to paint the horrors of July + and August, and so the wretchedness waxed until the end, in April, 1865. + </p> + <p> + 3. The main causes of suffering and death were so obviously preventible + that the Rebel leaders could not have been ignorant of the ease with which + a remedy could be applied. These main causes were three in number: + </p> + <p> + a. Improper + and insufficient food. + </p> + <p> + b. Unheard-of + crowding together. + </p> + <p> + c. Utter lack + of shelter. + </p> + <p> + It is difficult to say which of these three was the most deadly. Let us + admit, for the sake of argument, that it was impossible for the Rebels to + supply sufficient and proper food. This admission, I know, will not stand + for an instant in the face of the revelations made by Sherman's + March to the Sea; and through the Carolinas, but let that pass, that we + may consider more easily demonstrable facts connected with the next two + propositions, the first of which is as to the crowding together. Was land + so scarce in the Southern Confederacy that no more than sixteen acres + could be spared for the use of thirty-five thousand prisoners? The State + of Georgia has a population of less than one-sixth that of New York, + scattered over a territory one-quarter greater than that State's, + and yet a pitiful little tract—less than the corn-patch “clearing” + of the laziest “cracker” in the State—was all that could + be allotted to the use of three-and-a-half times ten thousand young men! + The average population of the State does not exceed sixteen to the square + mile, yet Andersonville was peopled at the rate of one million four + hundred thousand to the square mile. With millions of acres of unsettled, + useless, worthless pine barrens all around them, the prisoners were wedged + together so closely that there was scarcely room to lie down at night, and + a few had space enough to have served as a grave. This, too, in a country + where the land was of so little worth that much of it had never been + entered from the Government. + </p> + <p> + Then, as to shelter and fire: Each of the prisons was situated in the + heart of a primeval forest, from which the first trees that had ever been + cut were those used in building the pens. Within a gun-shot of the + perishing men was an abundance of lumber and wood to have built every man + in prison a warm, comfortable hut, and enough fuel to supply all his + wants. Supposing even, that the Rebels did not have the labor at hand to + convert these forests into building material and fuel, the prisoners + themselves would have gladly undertaken the work, as a means of promoting + their own comfort, and for occupation and exercise. No tools would have + been too poor and clumsy for them to work with. When logs were + occasionally found or brought into prison, men tore them to pieces almost + with their naked fingers. Every prisoner will bear me out in the assertion + that there was probably not a root as large as a bit of clothes-line in + all the ground covered by the prisons, that eluded the faithfully eager + search of freezing men for fuel. What else than deliberate design can + account for this systematic withholding from the prisoners of that which + was so essential to their existence, and which it was so easy to give + them? + </p> + <p> + This much for the circumstantial evidence connecting the Rebel authorities + with the premeditated plan for destroying the prisoners. Let us examine + the direct evidence: + </p> + <p> + The first feature is the assignment to the command of the prisons of + “General” John H. Winder, the confidential friend of Mr. + Jefferson Davis, and a man so unscrupulous, cruel and bloody-thirsty that + at the time of his appointment he was the most hated and feared man in the + Southern Confederacy. His odious administration of the odious office of + Provost Marshal General showed him to be fittest of tools for their + purpose. Their selection—considering the end in view, was eminently + wise. Baron Haynau was made eternally infamous by a fraction of the wanton + cruelties which load the memory of Winder. But it can be said in + extenuation of Haynau's offenses that he was a brave, skilful and + energetic soldier, who overthrew on the field the enemies he maltreated. + If Winder, at any time during the war, was nearer the front than Richmond, + history does not mention it. Haynau was the bastard son of a German + Elector and of the daughter of a village, druggist. Winder was the son of + a sham aristocrat, whose cowardice and incompetence in the war of 1812 + gave Washington into the hands of the British ravagers. + </p> + <p> + It is sufficient indication of this man's character that he could + look unmoved upon the terrible suffering that prevailed in Andersonville + in June, July, and August; that he could see three thousand men die each + month in the most horrible manner, without lifting a finger in any way to + assist them; that he could call attention in a self-boastful way to the + fact that “I am killing off more Yankees than twenty regiments in + Lee's Army,” and that he could respond to the suggestions of + the horror-struck visiting Inspector that the prisoners be given at least + more room, with the assertion that he intended to leave matters just as + they were—the operations of death would soon thin out the crowd so + that the survivors would have sufficient room. + </p> + <p> + It was Winder who issued this order to the Commander of the Artillery: + <br><br> + </p> + <p> + ORDER No. 13. + </p> + <p> + HEADQUARTERS + MILITARY PRISON, + </p> + <p> + + ANDERSONVILLE, Ga., July 27, 1864. <br> + </p> + <p> + The officers on duty and in charge of the Battery of Florida Artillery at + the time will, upon receiving notice that the enemy has approached within + seven miles of this post, open upon the Stockade with grapeshot, without + reference to the situation beyond these lines of defense. <br> + </p> + <p> + JOHN H. + WINDER, + </p> + <p> + Brigadier + General Commanding. <br><br> + </p> + <p> + Diabolical is the only word that will come at all near fitly + characterizing such an infamous order. What must have been the nature of a + man who would calmly order twenty-five guns to be opened with grape and + canister at two hundred yards range, upon a mass of thirty thousand + prisoners, mostly sick and dying! All this, rather than suffer them to be + rescued by their friends. Can there be any terms of reprobation + sufficiently strong to properly denounce so malignant a monster? History + has no parallel to him, save among the blood-reveling kings of Dahomey, or + those sanguinary Asiatic chieftains who built pyramids of human skulls, + and paved roads with men's bones. How a man bred an American came to + display such a Timour-like thirst for human life, such an Oriental + contempt for the sufferings of others, is one of the mysteries that + perplexes me the more I study it. + </p> + <p> + If the Rebel leaders who appointed this man, to whom he reported direct, + without intervention of superior officers, and who were fully informed of + all his acts through other sources than himself, were not responsible for + him, who in Heaven's name was? How can there be a possibility that + they were not cognizant and approving of his acts? + </p> + <p> + The Rebels have attempted but one defense to the terrible charges against + them, and that is, that our Government persistently refused to exchange, + preferring to let its men rot in prison, to yielding up the Rebels it + held. This is so utterly false as to be absurd. Our Government made + overture after overture for exchange to the Rebels, and offered to yield + many of the points of difference. But it could not, with the least + consideration for its own honor, yield up the negro soldiers and their + officers to the unrestrained brutality of the Rebel authorities, nor could + it, consistent with military prudence, parole the one hundred thousand + well-fed, well-clothed, able-bodied Rebels held by it as prisoners, and + let them appear inside of a week in front of Grant or Sherman. Until it + would agree to do this the Rebels would not agree to exchange, and the + only motive—save revenge—which could have inspired the Rebel + maltreatment of the prisoners, was the expectation of raising such a + clamor in the North as would force the Government to consent to a + disadvantageous exchange, and to give back to the Confederacy, at its most + critical period one hundred thousand fresh, able-bodied soldiers. It was + for this purpose, probably, that our Government and the Sanitary + Commission were refused all permission to send us food and clothing. For + my part, and I know I echo the feelings of ninety-nine out of every + hundred of my comrades, I would rather have staid in prison till I rotted, + than that our Government should have yielded to the degrading demands of + insolent Rebels. + </p> + <p> + There is one document in the possession of the Government which seems to + me to be unanswerable proof, both of the settled policy of the Richmond + Government towards the Union prisoners, and of the relative merits of + Northern and Southern treatment of captives. The document is a letter + reading as follows: <br><br> + </p> + <p> + CITY POINT, + Va., March 17, 1863. + </p> + <p> + SIR:—A flag-of-truce boat has arrived with three hundred and fifty + political prisoners, General Barrow and several other prominent men among + them. + </p> + <p> + I wish you to send me on four o'clock Wednesday morning, all the + military prisoners (except officers), and all the political prisoners you + have. If any of the political prisoners have on hand proof enough to + convict them of being spies, or of having committed other offenses which + should subject them to punishment, so state opposite their names. Also, + state whether you think, under all the circumstances, they should be + released. The arrangement I have made works largely in our favor. WE GET + RID OF A SET OF MISERABLE WRETCHES, AND RECEIVE SOME OF THE BEST MATERIAL + I EVER SAW. + </p> + <p> + Tell Captain Turner to put down on the list of political prisoners the + names of Edward P. Eggling, and Eugenia Hammermister. The President is + anxious that they should get off. They are here now. This, of course, is + between ourselves. If you have any political prisoners whom you can send + off safely to keep her company, I would like you to send her. + </p> + <p> + Two hundred and odd more political prisoners are on their way. + </p> + <p> + I would be more full in my communication if I had time. Yours truly, + </p> + <p> + ROBERT OULD, + Commissioner of Exchange. <br><br> + </p> + <p> + To Brigadier general John H. Winder. <br><br> + </p> + <p> + But, supposing that our Government, for good military reasons, or for no + reason at all, declined to exchange prisoners, what possible excuse is + that for slaughtering them by exquisite tortures? Every Government has ap + unquestioned right to decline exchanging when its military policy suggests + such a course; and such declination conveys no right whatever to the enemy + to slay those prisoners, either outright with the edge of the sword, or + more slowly by inhuman treatment. The Rebels' attempts to justify + their conduct, by the claim that our Government refused to accede to their + wishes in a certain respect, is too preposterous to be made or listened to + by intelligent men. + </p> + <p> + The whole affair is simply inexcusable, and stands out a foul blot on the + memory of every Rebel in high place in the Confederate Government. + </p> + <p> + “Vengeance is mine,” saith the Lord, and by Him must this + great crime be avenged, if it ever is avenged. It certainly transcends all + human power. I have seen little indication of any Divine interposition to + mete out, at least on this earth, adequate punishment to those who were + the principal agents in that iniquity. Howell Cobb died as peacefully in + his bed as any Christian in the land, and with as few apparent twinges of + remorse as if he had spent his life in good deeds and prayer. The + arch-fiend Winder died in equal tranquility, murmuring some cheerful hope + as to his soul's future. Not one of the ghosts of his hunger-slain + hovered around to embitter his dying moments, as he had theirs. Jefferson + Davis “still lives, a prosperous gentleman,” the idol of a + large circle of adherents, the recipient of real estate favors from + elderly females of morbid sympathies, and a man whose mouth is full of + plaints of his wrongs, and misappreciation. The rest of the leading + conspirators have either departed this life in the odor of sanctity, + surrounded by sorrowing friends, or are gliding serenely down the mellow + autumnal vale of a benign old age. + </p> + <p> + Only Wirz—small, insignificant, miserable Wirz, the underling, the + tool, the servile, brainless, little fetcher-and-carrier of these men, was + punished—was hanged, and upon the narrow shoulders of this pitiful + scapegoat was packed the entire sin of Jefferson Davis and his crew. What + a farce! + </p> + <p> + A petty little Captain made to expiate the crimes of Generals, Cabinet + Officers, and a President. How absurd! + </p> + <p> + But I do not ask for vengeance. I do not ask for retribution for one of + those thousands of dead comrades, the glitter of whose sightless eyes will + follow me through life. I do not desire even justice on the still living + authors and accomplices in the deep damnation of their taking off. I + simply ask that the great sacrifices of my dead comrades shall not be + suffered to pass unregarded to irrevocable oblivion; that the example of + their heroic self-abnegation shall not be lost, but the lesson it teaches + be preserved and inculcated into the minds of their fellow-countrymen, + that future generations may profit by it, and others be as ready to die + for right and honor and good government as they were. And it seems to me + that if we are to appreciate their virtues, we must loathe and hold up to + opprobrium those evil men whose malignity made all their sacrifices + necessary. I cannot understand what good self-sacrifice and heroic example + are to serve in this world, if they are to be followed by such a maudlin + confusion of ideas as now threatens to obliterate all distinction between + the men who fought and died for the Right and those who resisted them for + the Wrong. <br><br><br><br> <a name="p655" id="p655"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig"> + <img alt="p655.jpg (69K)" src="images/p655.jpg"><br> + </div> + <p> + <br><br> + </p> + <p> + THE END. <br><br> + </p> + <hr> + <p> + <br><br> + </p> + +<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANDERSONVILLE, COMPLETE ***</div> +<div style='text-align:left'> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will +be renamed. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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