diff options
Diffstat (limited to '34895-8.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 34895-8.txt | 1149 |
1 files changed, 1149 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/34895-8.txt b/34895-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..efab6d1 --- /dev/null +++ b/34895-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1149 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of History of the Second Massachusetts +Regiment of Infantry: A prisoner's diary, by Samuel M. Quincy + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere 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 www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: History of the Second Massachusetts Regiment of Infantry: A prisoner's diary + A paper read at the officers' reunion in Boston, May 11, 1877 + +Author: Samuel M. Quincy + +Release Date: January 9, 2011 [EBook #34895] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 2ND MASS. REG. PRISONER'S DIARY *** + + + + +Produced by Sam W. and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from +images generously made available by The Internet +Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + HISTORY + OF THE + SECOND MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT OF INFANTRY. + + + A PRISONER'S DIARY. + + A PAPER READ AT THE OFFICERS' REUNION IN BOSTON, + MAY 11, 1877, + + BY + + SAMUEL M. QUINCY, + + CAPTAIN SECOND MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT OF INFANTRY. + BREVET BRIGADIER GENERAL VOLUNTEERS. + + + BOSTON: + George H. Ellis, Printer, 141 Franklin Street. + 1882. + + + + PRIVATELY PRINTED FOR THE ASSOCIATION. + + + + +A PRISONER'S DIARY. + + +The committee's announcement, that on this evening there would be read +by me a paper relating to the history of the regiment, I fear may have +awakened false expectations. But it was suggested that a little +personal history of my own experiences, from the moment when that +terrific flank fire caused the regiment to leave me for dead on the +field of Cedar Mountain to the moment when, three months later, I +again came under the stars and stripes at Aiken's Landing, would +interest former comrades for a short time to-night. It is safe to say, +perhaps, that our regiment passed through every possible experience of +the war. In all the various scenes of suffering and endurance, both +physical and mental, which the war could offer, the Second +Massachusetts was represented; and in that view, perhaps, the personal +adventures of those who, while separated from the corps, always +considered its membership the highest of honors, may be considered as +forming part of the general history of the regiment itself. + +I was fortunate enough to find in my blouse pocket, after acute +physical suffering had in a measure given place to the prisoner's +worst enemy, the leaden vacuity of ennui, a little duodecimo almanac +and diary for 1862, with half a lead pencil. With these, by dint of +fine writing, I succeeded in keeping a sort of journal of daily +events, with my reflections thereupon, during the whole period of my +captivity, the last entry being comprised in the words, "_A free man +at Willard's_." From this journal, I shall make copious extracts, +believing that words then written will reproduce the situation better +than any subsequent description from memory. + +At about 2 P.M. on the 8th of August, the long roll was beaten in the +camp of the Second Massachusetts, at Little Washington. As has often +happened, we fell in only to fall out again with the news that it only +meant get ready to march; and in fact it was nearly five before we +were off. The heat during the first hour or two of the march was +severe, but the latter part was by moonlight and very pleasant. Still, +I find it recorded that some unfortunate and unseasoned recruits, who +had just joined us from home with knapsacks heavy with five times what +they really needed, were utterly played out before the sun was down. +And here I take up the narration as I find it in the little book +referred to, with an occasional interpolation and explanation which +will be marked as such in brackets. + +_August 14, 1862._--One week to-day since the fight. Let us attempt a +_résumé_. On arriving at Culpeper, Friday night, after a moonlight +march which about played out the unfortunate recruits with their heavy +knapsacks, we lay down in a field, Stephen and I cracking my provision +box, which had come on with the blankets. [This was Lieutenant Stephen +Perkins of Company A with whom I had become intimate, and who shared +with me a great and innocent passion for tea. Whichever of us was +known to possess a supply of the article was sure of a visit from the +other at his camp fire after a march. Before separating that night, I +remember he said to me, "Sam, we shall see more fighting soon: I feel +it; there is a battle in the air." There was, indeed, and it ended the +battle of life for him.] We then slept on the moor, to the sound of +freshly arriving troops and wagons. In the morning, we find an army +around us. After a breakfast at the sound of the triangle [for by this +unmilitary instrument did Johnson, our caterer, call the officers' +mess to meals], under the sun, we fall in and take arms, but have +hardly done so when we stack them again and proceed to stake out +ground for a camp. But this is just done and tents beginning to rise +when Sherman, of Pope's staff, rushes by to head-quarters at a rate +which "spared not for spoiling of his steed," and which caused us to +hold our hands in expectation for a moment; and, sure enough, in two +minutes we were again in line, and this time off under a blazing sun, +though for once without our knapsacks. Through Culpeper and about six +or seven miles further in a fiery furnace hotter even than that of +Shadrach & Co. Near the front, heard a little firing. Sergeant Parsons +fell with sun-stroke. Left two recruits with him and pushed on for the +right, where at last, panting and half dead, we got into a wood where +we stacked arms and fell down behind them. The half hour of breeze and +shade which ensued made men of us once more, so that when my company +was ordered to skirmish we were actually able to do it. The firing of +artillery commenced at about 3 P.M., as I should judge, pretty heavy +and well-sustained. Ned Abbott's company and mine were ordered to +report forward, and deployed our skirmishers on the garden fence, with +reserves behind; and there, for a couple of hours, we watched the +swayings of the artillery fight, timing the explosion of the heavy +shells, and watching the varying intervals between the shots of the +rebel batteries. At last, as the sun seemed not more than an hour +high, and just as Ned Abbott, lying by my side in the rear of our +skirmishers, had expressed his disbelief in the fight's coming off +that afternoon, an orderly, followed by Pitman of Banks' staff, came +up to where Gordon was sitting on his horse near us, watching the +field through his glass; and it seemed, for the first time, that +something was going wrong. I was near enough to hear that he wanted a +regiment of Gordon's brigade to report, as I understood it, to Banks +at the centre. "You must take him your regiment, then," said Gordon to +Colonel Andrews. Abbott and I jumped to our feet, and were ordered to +rally our men on the battalion; and hardly, panting and breathless, +had we resumed our places in line when the regiment advanced by the +right of companies to the front, until we had cleared the garden, and +then by company into line. + +Then commenced the furious and incessant roll and crash of musketry, +leaving, as Copeland expressed it, no interval in which a single other +shot could have been inserted. We plunged over the ditch and crashed +through a wood, out of which came Crane of the Third Wisconsin, +covered with blood, and reeling in his saddle, until after about a +quarter of a mile we came to a fence with a wheat-field beyond. In +this, a brigade of rebels were in line, but what they were firing at +we couldn't see. We opened fire and then were ordered to cease--why, I +don't know, as I could see no one between us and them. But, as their +line advanced, we soon re-opened fire, as the converging storm of +balls hailed upon us. + +How long this lasted, I could not tell. Their red flags advanced, but +large gaps were opening in their lines. Finally, the bullets seemed to +come from all sides at once. Pattison, my lieutenant, shouted in my +ear that Cary was down, and he had been ordered to take his company; +and he left. Then the red flags seemed close upon the fence, and it +seemed to me that the right had fallen back; and I started across the +little gap in the fence to see. Yes, the right had gone; but in that +instant I caught it, first in the right leg, then through the left +foot, and in that same instant the enemy were upon us, or rather upon +me, for what was left of my company had gone with the rest. Though +staggering, I had not yet fallen, when one rushed up, aimed at my head +with "Surrender, G--d d--n your soul!" which I did. But if I had known +then, what now I know, I would have lain there for dead till they were +gone, and then dragged myself slowly toward our side. [This refers to +the fact that one of the first pleasing pieces of information +communicated to me by my captors, who were surprised that I did not +already know it, was that, by special orders of Jeff. Davis, none of +Pope's officers were to be treated as prisoners of war or paroled, but +kept as hostages to be hanged from time to time in retaliation for +any such execution of guerrillas as was threatened in Pope's +celebrated orders, of which we then had not yet heard.] + +But as it was [the journal resumes], I gave up my sword and pistol, +sat down, borrowed my captor's knife, ripped my trousers open and shoe +off, and examined damages. An awful hole in foot and little one in +leg, at the bottom of which the bullet was plainly visible. Seeing +this, the Confederate gentleman to whom I then belonged was seized +with a desire to perform a surgical operation with the knife referred +to, but yielded to my remonstrance and request that he would be +satisfied with having put it in, and allow some gentleman of the +medical staff to undertake the bullet's extraction. Two of them then +offered to take me across the wheat-field to where their own wounded +were, asking me at the same time what money I had for them. They did +not offer any violence or undertake to search me. Had they done so, +they would have made prize of my money-belt, containing over $90 in +greenbacks and a gold watch. I gave them some ten or twelve gold +dollars which I had in my pocket, reserving one by great good luck, as +will presently appear. Then they carried me across the field, with +each arm affectionately round a rebel neck. As I passed the fence +where the right had been, there lay poor Ned,--who half an hour before +had joked about being two hours in action without losing a man,--with +white, waxen face against the dead leaves. It was just light enough +for me to recognize him. Who else of the officers had fallen, I did +not know, save that Cary was down, as Pattison had told me, before our +lines gave way. With occasional halts, they carried me across the +field, and put me down among a groaning mass of wounded of both sides. +The men next me gave me water and a knapsack for my head, a man came +along with a canteen of whiskey and I got a drink. The moon rose full +over the trees, and the cannonade recommenced. I got a piece of the +wounded rebel's blanket next me over my shoulder, lay as near him as I +could; for, though the day had been blazing, the night mist and loss +of blood made me shiver; and I slept. Once I was waked by some one +attempting to pull off my seal ring; but he desisted when I pulled my +hand away, remarked, "A handsome ring," and went on. Very likely he +thought me dead, as my companion under the blanket was by that time. + +Before daylight, the pain of my shattered bones brought me again to +consciousness. Somehow, I hated to see the sky begin to brighten, +knowing how soon the sun would blaze furiously down upon us. And yet I +didn't seem to realize the horrors of the position, but looked upon +myself as acting a part for which I had expected to be cast, and with +the stage business of which I was perfectly familiar; and all the +wounded took it more or less as a business matter. As the sun rose, I +gradually dragged myself under trees with the rest of the groaning +set, leaving those who had died to sleep it out. A rebel soldier +passed with two canteens on. "What will you sell me one of those +canteens for?" said I. "I'll give you a dollar." He laughed and was +passing on. "A gold dollar," said I. He stopped: "What, Yank! Have you +got a gold dollar?" "Yes," said I, "you go to the branch, fill the +canteen with fresh water, and here's the dollar." If he had been a +wretch, he might have taken it away and left me to die, for there was +no one else near except wounded; but, after considering a few minutes, +he went off to the stream, filled the canteen, brought it to me, took +the dollar, and left. And that canteen, I think, saved my life; for +soon the sun rose so that no more shade could be had. I tore up my +handkerchief, bound my wounds, and kept them moist, kept the canteen +under me and took little sips when my thirst became unbearable, and so +got through the day, making the water last until evening. By and by, +they began to pick up the wounded by threes and pairs, in ambulances. +When, however,--I should think about 3 P.M.,--there were about five or +six of us left, and I the only Yankee, a sudden rush of men through +the woods and stampede of wagons down the road, with an accompaniment +of "Yankees are coming!" swept every sound man away from us. Every +man that had legs used them at double quick. Then the prayers of the +wounded to the wagoners, as they flogged their teams past: "Oh, take +me away from here, help me into a wagon; for God's sake, don't leave +me to the Yankees!" One poor fellow, all of whose clothes had been +taken off by the surgeon engaged on his wounds, raised himself, stark +naked and covered with blood, against a tree, and implored every +teamster in turn to stop and take him in. The effect was grisly. It +struck me that, if they were really coming, some of the rebs then +rushing by might take occasion to settle one Yankee "_en passant_": so +I got my blouse off, covered myself with dead rebel sergeant's coat, +and lay low. A section of artillery extricated itself from the wagons, +and wheeled into battery; and, finding myself just in point-blank +range, I succeeded by painful endeavor in getting behind a big stump. + +But, alas! the excitement subsided, the wagons were stopped and +ordered back, officers cursed the originators of the panic, and it was +all over. But a real charge or a few shots just then would have +started "secesh" with a rush, and saved the captain of Company E, +Second Massachusetts Volunteers. After awhile, an ambulance came and +picked up the last two of us and carried us to where the hospital +flies were pitched. My driver, after making sure that nobody heard +him, informed me that he had always been for the Union, and voted +against "secesh"; "and when they started this war," said he, "I swore +they'd have to fight it out without me; but I was wrong there, for +they've got me." He drove me up to a fly under which were some dozen +or twenty wounded on hospital cots. At first, they said there was no +room; but then somebody discovered that his neighbor was dead, and +suggested that the Yankee might take his place. So they moved the dead +man out under the eaves inside the guys, and gave me the cot. The +surgeon examined and bound up my foot, relieving me with the assurance +that it would probably stay on, though I should be always lame. The +bullet came out of my leg very easily, for, oddly enough, it hadn't +pierced my drawers, but had carried them deep into the leg in a sort +of bag. A thunder-storm now burst upon us, and with the first gust +down came our house, over living and dead. After a long staggering and +flapping, they got her set again. The rain thundered on the canvas and +cascaded in sheets over the dead man under the eaves, but he was +beyond even water cure. The scene was dismal: in the intervals of +rain, they took to burying legs and arms upon the hill, and it would +not have made a bad slide for a stereoscope, on the whole. But, as +night fell, I took my supper with some relish,--a piece of hard-tack +and ham, given me by a rebel private on the field,--and with the help +of the dead rebel's blanket of last night, which I had sense enough to +bag when they picked me up, I slept once more. + +In the morning, they sent me in an ambulance or "avalanche," as they +call it, to head-quarters. Thought at first I was going before Felix +or Stonewall himself; turned out to be General Hill. He came and +looked into the ambulance. "What regiment?" "Second Massachusetts." +"Let's see, Gordon's old regiment?" "Yes." "Best regiment in Banks' +army; cut all to pieces, though: I've been over the ground," and exit. +He ordered me sent to Orange Court House; countermanded, and they +dumped me out by a blacksmith's shop. A surgeon came along and ordered +me sent to Rapidan Station, on the box seat of an "avalanche"; and an +awful "avalanche" it was,--four men with legs and arms off inside. It +was eight miles over rocks and through rivers, and generally such a +drive of damnation as never entered into the heart of man to conceive. +Luckily, I kept my strength; but why the inside passengers didn't die +before we got half way is the marvel. "The lamentable chorus, the cry +of agony, the endless groan," as we bounced and jolted over corduroy +road and river bed, was an ill thing to hear. We arrived at the +railroad about dusk, just as I was calculating about how much longer +I could stand it without fainting, and they put us out on the grass +among those already arrived. The train came along after dark, and, +finding that I must shift for myself or be left in the field, I made +my painful way on hands and knees, among horses' feet and under the +awful "avalanche," to the platform, where, after a while, they picked +me up and put me aboard; turned seat back, put my foot up, and slept. + +An interval of broken oblivion in the dark car, with occasional +wakings to a semi-consciousness of rumbling wheels, brakes, and once +familiar railroad sounds, mingled strangely with groans, cries, +stench, squalor, and misery. But, as the night was only a succession +of frightful dreams, I didn't undertake to decide which was reality, +but took the benefit of the doubt, which was a species of relief. But +with the gray dawn illusions vanished, and the miserable reality stood +out, bald and unmistakable. Where we were going, I didn't know; but +after a while the impression seemed to prevail that it wasn't +Richmond, but Staunton; and at about twelve we arrived here. The train +at once became a menagerie, wherein the Yankee wild beasts were +stirred up and stared at by the town. One citizen, I remember, was +turned out of the car by a rebel sergeant for insulting the prisoners. +They took us out at last, one or two rebs who had died in the night +being first served. Finally, about evening, they took the two Yankee +captains, in almost an upside-down position, with heads in straw and +feet in air, through the town to the hospital, women coming to the +windows with various expressions of countenance, pity being the +scarcest. I've often seen them look out to see soldiers pass, but +never expected to figure in this sort of a pageant for their +edification. + +[The reflections and moralizings on my situation, which follow, it was +my first impulse to omit from this paper entirely; but on the whole I +decide to let them stand as I find them, requesting only that comrades +will consider them as given in a sort of family confidence.] + +Of my life, if life it may be called [continues the diary], in this +place, I desire to make no record, the _olim haec meminisse_ principle +having no application here. Let the waters of oblivion cover it +forever, if I am ever again a free man. To lie a crippled and helpless +butt for the exulting Philistine and his women ten thousand times +worse than himself, while such tremendous history is being made of +which we can only guess at the reality, is a living death. And with +such a companion! What is happening behind the impenetrable curtain +between us and the North? Until the news that God has abdicated and +Satan reigns is confirmed beyond a peradventure, so long will I +believe that the right will triumph in the end. But where the end may +be, this year or twenty hence, _quien sabe_? + +Of my own chances for life and liberty, I cannot even guess. The +blackness of darkness surrounds me on every hand, with no perceptible +ray or glimmer from any quarter, as yet. But, doubtless, many a man +who thinks he sees his path of life stretching away in far perspective +is really as blind as I, and can discern no further beyond his nose. +When the tide of war shall turn, as turn it will, what will be done +with us? where shall I be,--here or in the Libby? Well, each place has +its merits: here, enough to eat and no bracelets; there, the company +of gentlemen. Oh Harry Russell! if you and I were together to cheer +each other with regimental chat, or gallant Major Jim, _sans peur et +sans reproche_, in your company I could suffer and be strong unto the +end. But I fear that, through desperate wounds, his mortal body has +had no longer strength to retain the soul of one of the bravest +Christian gentlemen that ever drew sword for the right since the world +began. + +And Stephen, my friend, man of culture, reading, and intellect, whose +only complaint of camp life was the loss of time and opportunity for +the growth of mind,--that such lights should be forever extinguished +by the bullets of men so few degrees above the brute level, saddens +the soul. And shall all this have been in vain? Answer, freemen and +gentlemen of the North, with unborn generations waiting: to bless or +curse your memory,--answer now! + +[The above allusion to "no bracelets" refers to the assertion of a +Richmond paper, immediately communicated to us by way of cheering our +spirits, that Pope's officers, on arriving at the Libby, had all been +handcuffed. But, although this proved to be erroneous, yet my own +boast of no bracelets in the hospital was somewhat premature, as the +following incident will show. One evening after supper, just as a +half-drunk rebel officer had become so abusive to us that I almost +expected the cowardice of a blow, entered the sergeant of the guard, +who put a stop to that fun, but, to our great disgust, after the +officer had gone, produced a pair of handcuffs, which he informed us +he was ordered to apply to "that Yankee," indicating Captain Bush of +the Twenty-eighth New York, who, being wounded in the arm, was walking +up and down the room, which no one else was able to do. (This officer, +by the way, had voluntarily accompanied his regiment into action, +armed with a cane, being under arrest and deprived of his sword.) His +wound was severe, and the surgeon had expressed doubts of saving the +arm. We all remonstrated against the barbarity of handcuffing the only +man whom it would really hurt. No use: he had got his orders, and on +went the irons. Bush didn't say a word, but, after the sergeant had +gone, with a sharp stick which his neighbor whittled out for him, and +a piece of string poked into the lock of the handcuff, succeeding in +pulling back the catch, and slipped one wrist out. The other, he +didn't mind. Before the ward surgeon came round the next morning, he +slipped it in again. The surgeon was indignant,--not at the barbarity, +but at the interference with his case,--and off he rushed to the +surgeon in command, to have the handcuffs removed. But all he obtained +was an order that Bush be sent to Richmond, handcuffs and all. We +heard, however, that the ward surgeon had them removed as soon as Bush +was clear of the hospital yard. + +The story we heard, probably true, was that Hay, the medical director +in command, reading the account of the Richmond handcuffing, one night +when he was tight, was fired with the idea of emulating such a noble +example, and ordered the bracelets to be applied at once to any Yankee +who was well enough to be walking about. Even our visitors were rather +ashamed of this performance, and invented an absurd story that Bush +had tried to escape,--a man with a shattered arm trying to escape from +the only chance of saving it!] + +[Journal resumed.] It seems that an opportunity may turn up for +sending this little book off to the North by a man who will shortly +get his parole, and I think will undertake to smuggle it through. +These jottings have been almost my only resource to pass away the +leaden hours. With no companion to whom I can open my soul, I must +soliloquize, if only to convince myself that I have not yet sunk to +the level of my surroundings. + +_Saturday, September 20._--Six weeks to-day since the fight in which +we became dead to the world. "Hope springs eternal," etc. If it +didn't, how many would turn their faces to the wall! One man got his +everlasting furlough the other day, just at supper time; but they +pulled the sheet over his face and went on with the bread and +molasses; and, when that was over, down he went to the dead-house. + +This, in my opinion, is for the country the very moment of convulsion +and travail, out of which some new state of things,--the commencement +of some new era,--for better or for worse, will surely come. "When the +pain is sorest, the child is born; and the night is darkest before the +dawn of the day of the Lord at hand." But at this critical moment to +be walled up alive, where only faint echoes and uncertain sounds from +the great fields reach us,--the fields where our fellow-soldiers are +playing out the great game of the age is,--a chance of war, and +nothing to complain of while we still live. A great battle has been in +Maryland, and, although they make it out that we were worsted, yet +from signs and tokens we draw our own inferences. First and greatest, +the women haven't been up to crow victory over the Yankee prisoners, +_ergo_ the first despatch did not announce a success; the doctors have +said nothing, and last night Dr. Hay, with a dozen others and all the +dressers that could be spared, left for Maryland. Charley, the nigger, +yesterday reported that the folks in town felt very bad about it. +Reports fly about of fifty thousand killed and wounded on both sides; +and, as they can't know ours, theirs must have been tremendous to have +started such reports. (Here come the women to the menagerie.) At all +events, it's such a victory as they can't stand a repetition of; and +now, if the North will pour in reinforcements, there may be a glimmer +of daylight for the cause, if not for me. + +A man has come into this room, wounded at Port Republic, First +Sergeant Seventh Ohio, the most awful specimen of emaciation that I +ever saw or would have believed consistent with the vital spark. The +articulation of each joint, covered only by the tense polished skin, +is as distinct as in a skeleton. + +Another horror: a rebel deserter, who was put in with the Yankees in +order to be under guard, has just been sheared, on account of one of +the plagues of Egypt; and his head was a sight to dream of, not to +tell. He had been living in the woods since he deserted, was +immediately taken down with typhoid fever, and I thought wanted to +die. + +The room now consists as follows, beginning with my next neighbor: +Corporal James Shipp, known as Jimmy, the pet of the room, doctors and +nurses inclusive: a nice, simple-hearted boy of seventeen, brave and +good; shot in shoulder, scapula taken out; recovering. Private Smith, +Forty-sixth Pennsylvania: good fellow, apparently; has taken laudanum +enough to float a ship, and seems to be getting fat on it. + +The skeleton sergeant comes next. He keeps a journal, and his wound +drives me from the room, whenever opened. + +The deserter and company. He wouldn't have needed John Phoenix's +tape-worm, in order to use the editorial "we." + +A bragging squirt of a Georgian, who got scratched in the finger in +Maryland, and marched all the way here to save his precious hide and +boast of the Yankees he had killed. + +George Peet, Fifth Ohio: a good young fellow; lost his foot the other +day, after six weeks trying to save it. + +Henry Shaw, One Hundred and Second New York: a little, white-headed +Harlemite, a little conceited; talks a little better English than the +rest of them; shot in back; recovering. + +Arthur Jordan, Tenth Maine: obliging, pleasant, nice fellow; had the +measles, and was sent to the "measly ward," from which he has just +made his escape on his own hook, returning here at the risk of being +put in the guard-house. + +Sergeant Henry Holloway, Fifth Connecticut: the only one with whom I +can fraternize at all; a railroad man, engine driver, etc., infected +with the insubordinate ideas natural to his regiment; otherwise, a +good fellow. + +Captain ----, ---- ----, selfishness incarnate. It takes all sorts of +men to make up a world, but let us hope that it takes few such as he. + +_Thursday, September 25._--Great news in yesterday's paper. It seems +Pope's officers have been paroled. That is a glimmer of daylight, and +looks as if the winter might not be passed in shop ward No. 7, or the +Libby. General Prince is courteously alluded to as "the ringleader of +the gang." For pure malignity of venom, these Richmond editors would +beat even the witches' toad that was stewed after his month's nap +under the stone. + +_Sunday, 28th._--Away with visions of home and ease! Wilder Dwight has +been killed, and I am Major, I suppose.... Now to play the man and be +prepared to go to the majority in either sense, when God's will is. + +Just had a visit from Joshua Munroe,--and a cheering visit, indeed,--a +descendant of Israel Munroe of Lexington fight, and here an Israelite +among the Philistines. Rebel soldier, just leaving for his regiment, +shakes hands all round with our men, who enjoin him to take care of +himself. And how soon these men may be putting daylight through each +other! Note: I have experienced from rebel privates almost uniform +kindness, good-fellowship, _camaraderie_; they treat one as +fellow-soldier. And as for our men, they fraternize as though the +strawberry mark of brotherhood was on every arm. All the insult, all +the bitterness and ill-treatment, have come from officers and citizens +of high position in society, and from the women, whose envenomed +tongues are let loose upon the wounded prisoner without mercy. This +space [referring to the space in the diary under the printed date of +Saturday, May 24] is the date of our midnight fight on the dark road; +and this [Sunday 25] of our fight and flight to the Potomac, when hell +broke loose in Winchester town; and this Sunday is just such another, +cool and bright; and this morning [Monday, May 26] A, B, E, and K, +were left on picket at the fence and in woods, with a section of +Cothran, under Lieutenant Peabody. That was the work that tried our +souls. Ned and Dick, brave fellows, both gone before. "We a little +longer wait, but how little who can know!" + +Two men have died on this floor within the last twelve hours,--the old +man Carter with the consumption, and the lieutenant with the typhoid, +the former last night and the latter just now. This afternoon +[Wednesday, May 28], we crossed the river; and how good camp was! + +_Monday, October 6._--Got letters from home last night, through Jim +Savage, who still lives,--God be praised!--though with one leg off, +and a shattered shoulder. Add to that that we are promised the parole +of the yard; add to that orders expected for Richmond in a few days. +I'll bet my knapsack will be packed when the assembly beats. However, +we'll not count this chicken before he chips the shell, as +old ---- has tried to addle the egg all he could. + +_Tuesday, October 7._--One chicken incubated and made his appearance. +Hay, yesterday afternoon, in the intervals of carving below (the +hospital operating room was immediately beneath us), sends up word +that, if we will write out our parole of the yard, he will sign it. +And old ---- not being on hand to botch the thing, I cooked up a +document, got it signed and sent down, to which the illustrious chief +then affixed his sign-manual, and we are henceforward free of yard and +grounds. Bully for that! [I remember now, I was the first to test the +document's efficacy, for we could hardly believe that it would really +pass us out. The guard stopped me, of course, called the corporal, and +finally decided that it was a genuine thing; and I hobbled painfully +down four steep flights and out,--looked up and saw the rest all +crowding to the window and waving hands and hats to see me actually +emerge, like a rat, from the trap which had held us through long weary +months.] I find that the art of crutch progression is quite a science, +and has its outside edges and its backward rolls, etc., which are not +to be learned without much practice and balancing. Up and down stairs +with ease, confidence, and grace, is somewhat of an attainment. + +_Thursday, 9th._--Struggled out to pond and washed; first decent wash +for three months. Had to steal a piece of black soap, and push out a +board over the mud,--hard work for a cripple. Stopped in at +carpenter's shop and saw Dr. Hay slice an arm off, _secundum artem_. + +_October 13._--Suffering with the first cold snap. The sergeant's +wound keeps every window open, and we might as well or better be _sub +Jove frigido_. Rumors of small-pox pervade the air. + +_Tuesday, 14th._--An alarm of small-pox yesterday afternoon in our +ward turned out false, I believe, but has scared everybody most out of +their wits. It seems, however, there were cases elsewhere; for, +endeavoring to visit the pond again, I was stopped by a guard, and +told that some tents just pitched by the shore contained the small-pox +patients, whom no one was allowed to approach within one hundred +yards. After they had recovered or died, the tents were set on fire as +they stood. + +_Wednesday, 15th._--To-day, I followed Dr. Hay's trail all day, bent +on a personal interview, until I earthed him at last in his office; +and the result is that we are off for Richmond to-morrow. [I had seen +the Richmond paper with the official list of Yankees paroled from the +Libby, among whom were several whom I knew to be Pope's officers; and +I determined not to rot another day, as food for Confederate vermin, +without claiming my rights as prisoner of war. So when, after repeated +rebuffs, my obstinacy prevailed and Hay gave orders to let me in, he +wasn't in a good humor. But I told him, I forget in what terms, that I +had discovered that I was no longer a hostage liable to be hanged in +retaliation for the execution of guerrillas, but a prisoner of war, +with all that that implied, and that, in behalf of all who were able +to travel, I demanded to be sent to the Libby. He said we were better +off where we were. I agreed, but told him I would suffer anything to +know that my name was on the list to be paroled when my turn came, and +that it was my right to have it there. Finally he said, "Will you be +ready to start before light to-morrow?" "Let me go back for my +blanket," said I, "and I'll start now." "Well," said he, "go back, and +tell all who the ward surgeon says are able, to be ready by half-past +four." I saluted, faced about, and was in the doorway when he stopped +me and, seeming to recover his temper, asked me and any of my friends +who could to come over to his office after supper and take a farewell +drink.] In the evening [the journal resumes], we attended in Dr. Hay's +office, to take a social drink. Hay talked fire and fury, "secesh" +running up as the whiskey ran down. A lawyer and colonel joined in, +and the telegram of the Governor of North Carolina to the Governor of +South Carolina was so often quoted that I was fain to back down from +what was fast becoming a three-minute crowd. We had an amputation to +diversify the spree,--soldier brought in, who I suspect had applied +for a discharge by shooting off two fingers of his right hand. They +were badly mangled, so Hay put him down on the floor and took them off +again, short metre, not without cutting his own in the operation, he +was so tight. I came away then, fearing that my crutches might not be +as whiskey-proof as erst was wooden leg of Sawin, and the descent of +the front steps requiring that eye, hand, and foot (literally, foot) +should keep true time. There wasn't much sleep in No. 7 that night, +and early next morning we were off, leaving George and the skeleton +sergeant, who is fast going down to the dead, though he doesn't know +it. We had an awful trip, being detained six hours by a smash-up of +the night before, killing seven and wounding seventy-five,--a mere +skirmish. Shortly before we arrived, at about 1 A.M., an officer came +through the car, caught sight of my shoulder-straps, stopped: "You are +a captain?" "Yes." "Have you got any federal greenbacks?" "Yes, a +few." "Well, I want some to pay a debt I owe at the North, and I'll +give you Confederate money for them. You'll want some, for you'll +probably lie for months in the Libby, and you'll die if you don't send +out and buy good food." Said I, "Thank you, I guess I'll hold on to my +greenbacks till I get there." + +The fact that nearly all the hospital officials had made the same +request on various pretexts was significant enough to me. At 2 A.M., +we arrived, where I now write, in the Libby prison, being received +with the once familiar cry of "Corporal of the Guard, Post No. 1." The +corporal came and let us in. The officer, cross and sleepy (the +infernal traitor, Peacock, by the way), sent us to the hospital +department, up three flights,--immense room in large tobacco +warehouse, lighted with a single dip, which only made darkness +visible. A ragged young nurse, with his hair on end, welcomed us to +the scene of despair. We were put on cots of sacking, with nothing +under or over us, and shivered ourselves into oblivion. The next +morning, the familiar notes of reveille on the fife, accompanied by +the bass and snare-drum of the side-show, which Andrews used to detest +so, brought us again to consciousness. I was about to put my head out +of the window, but was forcibly informed that I'd better not, unless I +wanted it shot off. This day, a party went off which we had hoped to +join, but were disappointed; and a squad of sixty odd came in from +Macon, Georgia. I thought that I had seen filth, squalor, and +wretchedness before, but I never even conceived the meaning of the +words; and what these men had been through would have been incredible, +except to those who saw them. They said the Libby was heaven, in +comparison to what they had come from. Saw a dress-parade of the +regiment on duty here, which would have shamed the cadets for +measliness of turnout. + +_Saturday._--In hell, _alias_ the Libby prison. + +_Sunday._--This morning before breakfast, little spitfire clerk came +up to take our paroles. I could have embraced the little devil, but I +didn't, only waited till my name was called, when I toed the mark +_instanter_, and quite won his heart with the promptitude with which I +recited my descriptive list, insomuch that he asked me to take a +letter to his sweetheart. After this, the wretched crew were packed +into coaches and wagons, under command of the black-hearted traitor +Captain Peacock, and we left Libby, the sergeant and I being in with +two half-dead wretches of the Macon crowd, swarming with vermin. + +But after a miserable jolt of fifteen miles, our nigger driver pointed +out the boat lying in a distant bend. "And dar de flag," said he with +a grin, "ober de starn," indicating a small red streak, which was "the +star-spangled banner, Oh, long may it wa-a-ve," etc. I confess to +embracing the staff when I got aboard, and realized that Jeff. Davis +himself couldn't take me away without a fight. But before they let us +go aboard there was a long and to us incomprehensible delay of nearly +two hours, during which we lay on the grass just above the landing and +watched the boat, the flag, and the blue uniforms, with longing eyes. +[We learned afterward that Captain Peacock, while strutting up and +down the wharf in full Confederate uniform, had been recognized by one +of the deck hands who had belonged to his former New York regiment. +The said deck hand pointed him out to a friend, with the remark, +"Look at his forehead, and you'll see traitor written there." This +being overheard by Mr. Peacock, he demanded an apology for the insult, +swearing that, if refused, he would march us all back to the Libby. +How they pacified him I don't know, but at the end of two hours he had +cooled off enough to let us go aboard. I was the first who received +permission to go, whereat I bounced on to my one foot and two +crutches, picked up my blanket, and charged down the hill. The rebel +sentry, who hadn't yet got his orders to pass us, charged bayonets on +me for an instant, but, on a sign from Peacock, shouldered arms again; +and the next moment I was embracing the flag-staff, as afore +mentioned. The Sanitary Commission received us with open arms and some +delicious milk-punch, and in a few minutes we were under full steam +out of rebeldom, Sergeant Holloway and I leaning on the guards, +watching the foam fly past, and singing, _sotto voce_,--"We're going +home, we're going home, we're going home to die no more!" + +We were two days on board the flag-of-truce boat. The next cot to mine +was occupied by a man of a Massachusetts regiment, taken at the first +Bull Run. He was almost a skeleton, and the worst case of chills and +fever I ever saw. The second day being a shake day, he couldn't eat +his rations, and offered them to me. He said he thought he was dying. +"But," said he, "I don't complain now I've got out of hell, and I +shall live long enough to get back into God's country and die there, +which is all I've been praying for for months."] + +_Monday._--Aboard the "Commodore," off Fortress Monroe, waiting for +orders, which have just come, for Washington. And here we are at +Washington, waiting orders again. When I find myself once more a free +man in Willard's Hotel, I shall turn down the leaf of my experiences +as prisoner of war to the rebels. + +Now for philosophy. Captain gone ashore, and fearful rumors pervade +the boat about Annapolis, New York, etc. Well, it can be but a day or +two, and we are out of rebeldom. I've kept well so-- ["Far" would have +been the next word, but marching orders intervened, and the next +entry, in big letters at the bottom of the page, reads] A FREE MAN AT +WILLARD'S! + +And the first act of the free man aforesaid was to purchase some +underclothes at the furnishing store, which luckily had not closed for +the night, and to proceed therewith to the bath-room, where hot water +and soap speedily restored that self-respect which is so difficult to +retain after one is conscious of not being the only inhabitant of +one's garments. The next day, I drew my pay and replaced my ragged +blouse, bullet-pierced trowsers, and torn Confederate cap (given me on +the field to replace my broad-brimmed felt, which a Georgia gentleman +fancied), by the jauntiest uniform clothes I could find, after which I +sallied out on the avenue; and the first man I met was the captain of +the "Commodore," who at first insisted that I was mistaken, as he had +never seen me before in his life; and only my crutches and wounded +foot at last convinced him that I was the same man who had talked to +him about Harry Russell, the day before. The next day, it was just the +other way. Smart young officer rushes up: "Hallo, Captain Quincy! +thought it must be you. How are you?" "Well," said I, "I'm glad you +thought it was I; but whether it's you or not I'm sure I don't know, +for I should say I had never set eyes on you before." "What, you don't +know the man you identified yesterday?" And it turned out to be a +lieutenant of a Western regiment, and fellow-prisoner, all of whose +clothing in the Libby consisted of shirt, trowsers, and army blanket +pinned over his shoulders. Arriving in Washington, without a cent, I +had identified him at the pay department, while still in his blanket, +from which chrysalis the all-potent greenback had evoked as shiny a +blue-and-brass butterfly as any on the avenue. + +This concludes my prison history. I was never again taken, though +coming pretty near it once or twice in Louisiana, where, as an officer +of colored troops, my experiences might have been much more severe +than those above recounted. If the story has interested former +comrades or assisted in drawing closer the link which binds together +the survivors of the old regiment, I can only rejoice that the +committee asked me to relate it to you. + + + + +Transcriber's Note + +As much of this work is a direct extract from a diary, spelling, +grammar and omission of words are preserved as printed. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of History of the Second Massachusetts +Regiment of Infantry: A prisoner's diary, by Samuel M. Quincy + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 2ND MASS. REG. PRISONER'S DIARY *** + +***** This file should be named 34895-8.txt or 34895-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/8/9/34895/ + +Produced by Sam W. and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from +images generously made available by The Internet +Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions 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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere 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 www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |