ANDERSONVILLE
ASTORYOFREBELMILITARYPRISONS
FIFTEENMONTHSAGUESTOFTHESO—CALLED
SOUTHERNCONFEDERACY
APRIVATESOLDIERSEXPERIENCE
IN
RICHMOND,ANDERSONVILLE,SAVANNAH,MILLEN
BLACKSHEARANDFLORENCE
BYJOHNMcELROY
LateofCo。L。16thIllCav。
1879
TOTHEHONORABLE
NOAHH。SWAYNE。
JUSTICEOFTHESUPREMECOURTOFTHEUNITEDSTATES,AJURISTOFDISTINGUISHEDTALENTSANDEXALTEDCHARACTER;
ONEOFTHELASTOFTHAT
ADMIRABLEARRAYOFPUREPATRIOTSANDSAGACIOUSCOUNSELORS,WHO,IN
THEYEARSOFTHENATION'STRIAL,FAITHFULLYSURROUNDEDTHEGREATPRESIDENT,AND,WITHHIM,BORETHEBURDEN
OF
THOSEMOMENTOUSDAYS;
ANDWHOSEWISDOMANDFAIRNESSHAVEDONESOMUCHSINCE
TO
CONSERVEWHATWASTHENWON,THISBOOKISDEDICATEDWITHRESPECTANDAPPRECIATION,BYTHEAUTHOR。
INTRODUCTION
ThefifthpartofacenturyalmosthasspedwiththeflightoftimesincetheoutbreakoftheSlaveholder'sRebellionagainsttheUnitedStates。
Theyoungmenofto—daywerethenbabesintheircradles,or,ifmorethanthat,tooyoungtobeappalledbytheterrorofthetimes。Thosenowgraduatingfromourschoolsoflearningtobeteachersofyouthandleadersofpublicthought,iftheyareeverpreparedtoteachthehistoryofthewarfortheUnionsoastorenderadequatehonortoitsmartyrsandheroes,andatthesametimeimpresstheobviousmoraltobedrawnfromit,mustderivetheirknowledgefromauthorswhocaneachonesayofthethrillingstoryheissparedtotell:"AllofwhichIsaw,andpartofwhichIwas。"
Thewriterishonoredwiththeprivilegeofintroducingtothereaderavolumewrittenbyanauthorwhowasanactorandasuffererinthesceneshehassovividlyandfaithfullydescribed,andsentforthtothepublicbyapublisherwhoseliterarycontributionsinsupportoftheloyalcauseentitlehimtothehighestappreciation。Bothauthorandpublisherhavehadanhonorableandefficientpartinthegreatstruggle,andarethereforeworthytohanddowntothefuturearecordoftheperilsencounteredandthesufferingsenduredbypatrioticsoldiersintheprisonsoftheenemy。Thepublisher,atthebeginningofthewar,entered,withzealandardorupontheworkofraisingacompanyofmen,intendingtoleadthemtothefield。Preventedfromcarryingoutthisdesign,hisenergiesweredirectedtoamoreeffectiveservice。Hisfamous"NasbyLetters"exposedtheabsurdandsophisticalargumentationsofrebelsandtheirsympathisers,insuchbroad,attractiveandadmirableburlesque,astodirectagainstthemthe"loud,longlaughterofaworld！"Theuniqueandtellingsatireofthesepapersbecameapowerandinspirationtoourarmiesinthefieldandtotheiranxiousfriendsathome,morethanequaltothemightofwholebattalionspouredinupontheenemy。Anathleteinlogicmaylayanerrorwrithingathisfeet,andafterallitmayrecovertodogreatmischief。Butthesharpwitofthehumoristdrivesitbeforetheworld'sderisionintoshameandeverlastingcontempt。Theseletterswerereadandshoutedovergleefullyateverycamp—fireintheUnionArmy,andeagerlydevouredbycrowdsoflistenerswhenmailswereopenedatcountrypost—offices。Otherhumoristswerecontentwhentheysimplyamusedthereader,but"Nasby's"jestswerearguments——theyhadameaningtheyweresuggestedbythenecessitiesandemergenciesoftheNation'speril,andwrittentosupport,withallearnestness,amostsacredcause。
Theauthor,whenveryyoung,engagedinjournalisticwork,untilthedrumoftherecruitingofficercalledhimtojointheranksofhiscountry'sdefenders。Asthereaderistold,hewasmadeaprisoner。Hetookwithhimintotheterribleprisonenclosurenotonlyabrave,vigorous,youthfulspirit,butinvaluablehabitsofmindandthoughtforstoringuptheincidentsandexperiencesofhisprisonlife。Asajournalisthehadacquiredthehabitofnoticingandmemorizingeverystrikingorthrillingincident,andtheexperiencesofhisprisonlifewereadaptedtoenstampthemselvesindeliblyonbothfeelingandmemory。Hespeaksfrompersonalexperienceandfromthestand—paintoftenderandcompletesympathywiththoseofhiscomradeswhosufferedmorethanhedidhimself。Ofhisqualifications,thewriteroftheseintroductorywordsneednotspeak。
Thesketchesthemselvestestifytohisabilitywithsuchforcethatnocommendationisrequired。
Thisworkisneeded。Agenerationisarisingwhodonotknowwhatthepreservationofourfreegovernmentcostinbloodandsuffering。Eventhemenofthepassinggenerationbegintobeforgetful,ifwemayjudgefromtherecklessnessorcarelessnessoftheirpoliticalaction。Thesoldierisnotalwaysrememberednorhonoredasheshouldbe。But,whattothefutureofthegreatRepublicismoreimportant,thereisgreatdangerofourpeopleunder—estimatingthebitteranimusandterriblemalignitytotheUnionanditsdefenderscherishedbythosewhomadewaruponit。Thisisapointwecannotaffordtobemistakenabout。Andyet,rightatthispointthisvolumewillmeetitsseverestcriticism,andatthispointitstestimonyismostvitalandnecessary。
Manywillbeslowtobelieveallthatisheretoldmosttruthfullyofthetyrannyandcrueltyofthecaptorsofourbraveboysinblue。TherearenoparallelstothecrueltiesandmalignitiesheredescribedinNorthernsociety。Thesystemofslavery,maintainedforovertwohundredyearsattheSouth,hadperformedamostperverting,morallydesolating,andwemightsay,demonizingworkonthedominantrace,whichpeoplebredunderourfreecivilizationcannotatonceunderstand,norscarcelybelievewhenitisdeclareduntothem。Thisreluctancetobelieveunwelcometruthshasbeenthesnareofournationallife。Wehavenotbeenwillingtobelievehowhardened,despotic,andcruelthewieldersofirresponsiblepowermaybecome。
Whentheanti—slaveryreformersofthirtyyearsagosetforththecrueltiesoftheslavesystem,theyweremetwithastormofindignantdenial,villificationandrebuke。WhenTheodoreD。Weldissuedhis"TestimonyofaThousandWitnesses,"tothecrueltyofslavery,heintroduceditwithafewwords,pregnantwithsoundphilosophy,whichcanbeappliedtotheworknowintroduced,andmayhelpthereaderbettertoacceptandappreciateitsstatements。Mr。Weldsaid:
SupposeIshouldseizeyou,robyouofyourliberty,driveyouintothefield,andmakeyouworkwithoutpayaslongasyoulived。Wouldthatbejustice？Woulditbekindness？Orwoulditbemonstrousinjusticeandcruelty？Now,isthemanwhorobsyoueverydaytootender—heartedevertocufforkickyou？Hecanemptyyourpocketswithoutremorse,butifyourstomachisempty,itcutshimtothequick。Hecanmakeyouworkalife—timewithoutpay,butlovesyoutoowelltoletyougohungry。
Hefleecesyouofyourrightswitharelish,butisshockedifyouworkbare—headedinsummer,orwithoutwarmstockingsinwinter。Hecanmakeyougowithoutyourliberty,butneverwithoutashirt。Hecancrushinyouallhopeofbetteringyourconditionbyvowingthatyoushalldiehisslave,butthoughhecanthuscruellytortureyourfeelings,hewillneverlacerateyourback——hecanbreakyourheart,butisverytenderofyourskin。Hecanstripyouofallprotectionoflaw,andallcomfortinreligion,andthusexposeyoutoalloutrages,butifyouareexposedtotheweather,half—cladandhalf—sheltered,howyearnhistenderbowels！
What！talkofamantreatingyouwellwhilerobbingyouofallyouget,andasfastasyougetit？Androbbingyouofyourself,too,yourhandsandfeet,yourmuscles,limbsandsenses,yourbodyandmind,yourlibertyandearnings,yourfreespeechandrightsofconscience,yourrighttoacquireknowledge,propertyandreputation,andyetyouarecontenttobelievewithoutquestionthatmenwhodoallthisbytheirslaveshavesoftheartsoozingoutsolovinglytowardtheirhumanchattlesthattheyalwayskeepthemwellhousedandwellclad,neverpushthemtoohardinthefield,nevermaketheirdearbackssmart,norlettheirdearstomachsgetempty！"
Inlikemannerwemayask,arenotthecrueltiesandoppressionsdescribedinthefollowingpageswhatweshouldlegitimatelyexpectfrommenwho,alltheirlives,haveusedwhipandthumb—screw,shot—gunandbloodhound,tokeephumanbeingssubservienttotheirwill？Arewetoexpectnothingbutchivalrictendernessandcompassionfrommenwhomadewaronatolerantgovernmenttomakemoresecuretheirbarbaricsystemofoppression？
Thesethingsarewrittenbecausetheyaretrue。Dutytothebravedead,totheheroicliving,whohaveenduredthepangsofahundreddeathsfortheircountry'ssake;dutytothegovernmentwhichdependsonthewisdomandconstancyofitsgoodcitizensforitssupportandperpetuity,callsforthis"round,unvarnishedtale"ofsufferingenduredforfreedom'ssake。
ThepublisherofthisworkurgedhisfriendandassociateinjournalismtowriteandsendforththesesketchesbecausethetimesdemandedjustsuchanexposeoftheinnerhelloftheSouthernprisons。Thetendermerciesofoppressorsarecruel。Wemustacceptthetruthandactinviewofit。Actingwiselyonthewarningsofthepast,weshallbeabletopreventtreason,withallitsfearfulconcomitants,frombeingagainthescourgeandterrorofourbelovedland。
ROBERTMcCUNE。
AUTHOR'SPREFACE
Fifteenmonthsago——andonemonthbeforeitwasbegun——IhadnomoreideaofwritingthisbookthanIhavenowoftakingupmyresidenceinChina。
WhileIhavealwaysbeendeeplyimpressedwiththeideathatthepublicshouldknowmuchmoreofthehistoryofAndersonvilleandotherSouthernprisonsthanitdoes,ithadneveroccurredtomethatIwasinanywaychargedwiththedutyofincreasingthatenlightenment。
Noaffecteddeprecationofmyownabilitieshadanypartisthis。
Icertainlyknewenoughofthematter,asdideveryotherboywhohadevenamonth'sexperienceinthoseterribleplaces,buttheverymagnitudeofthatknowledgeoverpoweredme,byshowingmethevastrequirementsofthesubject—requirementsthatseemedtomakeitpresumptionforanybutthegreatestpensinourliteraturetoattemptthework。OnedayatAndersonvilleorFlorencewouldbetaskenoughforthegeniusofCarlyleorHugo;lesserthantheywouldfailpreposterouslytorisetothelevelofthetheme。NowritereverdescribedsuchadelugeofwoesassweptovertheunfortunatesconfinedinRebelprisonsinthelastyear—and—a—halfoftheConfederacy'slife。Nomanwasevercalledupontodescribethespectacleandtheprocessofseventythousandyoung,strong,able—bodiedmen,starvingandrottingtodeath。Suchagigantictragedyasthisstunsthemindandbenumbstheimagination。
InomorefeltmyselfcompetenttothetaskthantoaccomplishoneofMichaelAngelo'sgrandcreationsinsculptureorpainting。
Studyofthesubjectsinceconfirmsmeinthisview,andmyonlyclaimforthisbookisthatitisacontribution——arecordofindividualobservationandexperience——whichwilladdsomethingtothematerialwhichthehistorianofthefuturewillfindavailableforhiswork。
TheworkwasbegunatthesuggestionofMr。D。R。Locke,（PetroleumV。
Nasby）,theeminentpoliticalsatirist。AtfirstitwasonlyintendedtowriteafewshortserialsketchesofprisonlifeforthecolumnsoftheTOLEDOBLADE。Theexceedingfavorwithwhichthefirstoftheserieswasreceivedinducedagreatwideningoftheirscope,untilfinallytheytooktherangetheynowhave。
Iknowthatwhatiscontainedhereinwillbebitterlydenied。Iampreparedforthis。InmyboyhoodIwitnessedthesavageryoftheSlaveryagitation——inmyyouthIfeltthefiercenessofthehatreddirectedagainstallthosewhostoodbytheNation。Iknowthathellhathnofurylikethevindictivenessofthosewhoarehurtbythetruthbeingtoldofthem。Iapprehendbeingassailedbyasiroccoofcontradictionandcalumny。ButIsolemnlyaffirminadvancetheentireandabsolutetruthofeverymaterialfact,statementanddescription。Iassertthat,sofarfromtherebeinganyexaggerationinanyparticular,thatinnoinstancehasthehalfofthetruthbeentold,norcoulditbe,savebyaninspiredpen。Iamreadytodemonstratethisbyanytestthatthedeniersofthismayrequire,andIamfortifiedinmypositionbyunsolicitedlettersfromover3,000survivingprisoners,warmlyindorsingtheaccountasthoroughlyaccurateineveryrespect。
IthasbeenchargedthathatredoftheSouthistheanimusofthiswork。
Nothingcanbefartherfromthetruth。NoonehasadeeperloveforeverypartofourcommoncountrythanI,andnooneto—daywillmakemoreeffortsandsacrificestobringtheSouthtothesameplaneofsocialandmaterialdevelopmentwiththerestoftheNationthanIwill。IfIcouldseethatthesufferingsatAndersonvilleandelsewherecontributedinanyconsiderabledegreetothatend,andIshouldnotregretthattheyhadbeen。Bloodandtearsmarkevery,stepintheprogressoftherace,andhumanmiseryseemsunavoidableinsecuringhumanadvancement。ButIamnaturallyembitteredbythefruitlessness,aswellastheuselessnessofthemiseryofAndersonville。Therewasnevertheleastmilitaryorotherreasonforinflictingallthatwretchednessuponmen,and,asfarasmortaleyecandiscern,noearthlygoodresultedfromthemartyrdomofthosetensofthousands。IwishIcouldseesomehopethattheirwantonlyshedbloodhassownseedsthatwillonedayblossom,andbeararichfruitageofbenefittomankind,butitsaddensmebeyondexpressionthatIcannot。
Theyears1864—5wereaseasonofdesperatebattles,butinthattimemanymoreUnionsoldierswereslainbehindtheRebelarmies,bystarvationandexposure,thanwerekilledinfrontofthembycannonandrifle。Thecountryhasheardmuchoftheheroismandsacrificesofthoseloyalyouthswhofellonthefieldofbattle;butithasheardlittleofthestillgreaternumberwhodiedinprisonpen。Itknowsfullwellhowgrandlyhersonsmetdeathinfrontoftheserriedranksoftreason,andbutlittleofthesublimefirmnesswithwhichtheyendureduntothedeath,allthattheingeniouscrueltyoftheirfoescouldinflictuponthemwhileincaptivity。
Itistohelpsupplythisdeficiencythatthisbookiswritten。ItisamitecontributedtothebetterremembrancebytheircountrymenofthosewhointhiswayenduredanddiedthattheNationmightlive。Itisanofferingoftestimonytofuturegenerationsofthemeasurelesscostoftheexpiationofanationalsin,andofthepreservationofournationalunity。
Thisisa11。IknowIspeakforallthosestilllivingcomradeswhowentwithmethroughthescenesthatIhaveattemptedtodescribe,whenIsaythatwehavenorevengestosatisfy,nohatredstoappease。Wedonotaskthatanyoneshallbepunished。WeonlydesirethattheNationshallrecognizeandrememberthegrandfidelityofourdeadcomrades,andtakeabundantcarethattheyshallnothavediedinvain。
ForthegreatmassofSouthernpeoplewehaveonlythekindliestfeeling。
Webuthateavicioussocialsystem,thelingeringshadowofadarkerage,towhichtheyyield,andwhich,byelevatingbadmentopower,hasprovedtheirownandtheircountry'sbane。
ThefollowingstorydoesnotclaimtobeinanysenseahistoryofSouthernprisons。Itissimplyarecordoftheexperienceofoneindividual——oneboy——whostaidallthetimewithhiscomradesinsidetheprison,andhadnobetteropportunitiesforgaininginformationthananyotherofhis60,000companions。
ThemajorityoftheillustrationsinthisworkarefromtheskilledpencilofCaptainO。J。Hopkins,ofToledo,whoservedthroughthewarintheranksoftheForty—secondOhio。Hisarmyexperiencehasbeenofpeculiarvaluetothework,asithasenabledhimtofurnishaseriesofillustrationswhoselife—likefidelityofaction,poseanddetailareadmirable。
Somethirtyofthepictures,includingthefrontispiece,andtheallegoricalillustrationsofWarandPeace,arefromtheatelierofMr。
O。Reich,Cincinnati,O。
Awordastothespelling:Havingalwaysbeenanardentbelieverinthereformationofourpresentpreposteroussystem——orrather,nosystem——oforthography,Iamanxioustodowhateverliesinmypowertopromoteit。
InthefollowingpagesthespellingissimplifiedtothelastdegreeallowedbyWebster。Ihopethatthetimeisnearwheneventhatadvancedspellingreformerwillbeleftfarintherearbytheprogressofapeoplethoroughlywearyoflongerslaverytotheorthographicalabsurditieshandeddowntousfromaremoteandgrosslyunlearnedancestry。
Toledo,O。,Dec。10,1879。
JOHNMcELROY。
WewaitbeneaththefurnaceblastThepangsoftransformation;
NotpainlesslydothGodrecastAndmoldanewthenation。
HotburnsthefireWherewrongsexpire;
NorsparesthehandThatfromthelandUprootstheancientevil。
Thehand—breadthcloudthesagesfearedItsbloodyrainisdropping;
ThepoisonplantthefatherssparedAllelseisovertopping。
East,West,South,North,Itcursestheearth;
Alljusticedies,AndfraudandliesLiveonlyinitsshadow。
ThenlettheselfishlipbedumbAndhushedthebreathofsighing;
BeforethejoyofpeacemustcomeThepainsofpurifying。
GodgiveusgraceEachinhisplaceTobearhislot,And,murmuringnot,Endureandwaitandlabor！
WHITTIER
ANDERSONVILLE
ASTORYOFREBELMILITARYPRISONS
CHAPTERI。
ASTRANGELAND——THEHEARTOFTHEAPPALACHIANS——THEGATEWAYOFANEMPIRE
——ASEQUESTEREDVALE,ANDAPRIMITIVE,ARCADIAN,NON—PROGRESSIVEPEOPLE。
Alow,square,plainly—hewnstone,setnearthesummitoftheeasternapproachtotheformidablenaturalfortressofCumberlandGap,indicatestheboundariesof——thethreegreatStatesofVirginia,KentuckyandTennessee。Itissuchaplaceas,rememberingtheoldGreekandRomanmythsandsuperstitions,onewouldrecognizeasfittingtomarktheconfinesoftheterritoriesofgreatmassesofstrong,aggressive,andfrequentlyconflictingpeoples。TherethegodTerminusshouldhavehadoneofhischieftemples,wherehisshrinewouldbeshadowedbybarriersrisingabovetheclouds,andhissacredsolitudeguardedfromtherudeinvasionofarmedhostsbyrangeonrangeofbattlementedrocks,crowningalmostinaccessiblemountains,interposedacrosseveryapproachfromtheusualhauntsofmen。
Roundaboutthelandisfullofstrangenessandmystery。ThethroesofsomegreatconvulsionofNaturearewrittenonthefaceofthefourthousandsquaremilesofterritory,ofwhichCumberlandGapisthecentralpoint。Milesofgranitemountainsarethrustuplikegiantwalls,hundredsoffeethigh,andassmoothandregularasthesideofamonument。
Huge,fantastically—shapedrocksaboundeverywhere——sometimesrisingintopinnaclesonloftysummits——sometimeshangingoverthevergeofbeetlingcliffs,asifplacedthereinwaitingforatimewhentheycouldbehurleddownuponthepathofanadvancingarmy,andsweepitaway。
Largestreamsofwaterburstoutinthemostunexpectedplanes,frequentlyfarupmountainsides,andfallinsilverveilsuponstonesbeatenroundbytheceaselessdashforages。Caves,richinquaintlyformedstalactitesandstalagmites,andtheirrecessesfilledwithmetallicsaltsofthemostpowerfulanddiversenatures;breakthemountainsidesatfrequentintervals。Everywhereoneismetbysurprisesandanomalies。Eventherankvegetationiseccentric,andaspronetodevelopintobizarreformsasaretherocksandmountains。
Thedreadedpantherrangesthroughtheprimeval,rarelytroddenforests;
everycreviceintherockshasfortenantsrattlesnakesorstealthycopperheads,whilelong,wonderfullyswift"blueracers"haunttheedgesofthewoods,andlingeraroundthefieldstochillhisbloodwhocatchesaglimpseoftheiruprearedheads,withtheirgreat,balefullybrighteyes,and"white—collar"encircledthroats。
Thehumaneventshappeningherehavebeeninharmonywiththenaturalones。Ithasalwaysbeenalandofconflict。In1540——339yearsago——
DeSoto,inthatenergeticbutfruitlesssearchforgoldwhichoccupiedhislateryears,penetratedtothisregion,andfounditthefastnessoftheXualans,abold,aggressiverace,continuallywarringwithitsneighbors。Whennextthewhitemanreachedthecountry——acenturyandahalflater——hefoundtheXualanshadbeensweptawaybytheconqueringCherokees,andhewitnessedtherethemostsanguinarycontestbetweenIndiansofwhichourannalsgiveanyaccount——apitchedbattletwodaysinduration,betweentheinvadingShawnees,wholordeditoverwhatisnowKentucky,OhioandIndiana——andtheCherokees,whodominatedthecountrythesoutheastoftheCumberlandrange。AgaintheCherokeeswerevictorious,andthediscomfitedShawneesretirednorthoftheGap。
Thenthewhitemandeliveredbattleforthepossessiontheland,andboughtitwiththelivesofmanygallantadventurers。HalfacenturylaterBooneandhishardycompanionfollowed,andforcedtheirwayintoKentucky。
AnotherhalfcenturysawtheGapthefavoritehauntofthegreatestofAmericanbandits——thenotedJohnA。Murrell——andhisgang。Theyinfestedthecountryforyears,nowwaylayingthetraderordroverthreadinghistoilsomewayoverthelone]mountains,nowdescendinguponsomelittletown,toplunderitsstoresandhouses。
AtlengthMurrellandhisbandweredrivenout,andsoughtanewfieldofoperationsontheLowerMississippi。Theyleftgermsbehindthem,however,thatdevelopedintohorsethievecounterfeiters,andlaterintoguerrillasandbushwhackers。
WhentheRebellionbrokeouttheregionatoncebecameththeaterofmilitaryoperations。TwiceCumberlandGapwasseizedbytheRebels,andtwicewasitwrestedawayfromthem。In1861itwasthepointwhenceZollicofferlaunchedoutwithhislegionsto"liberateKentucky,"anditwaswhithertheyfled,beatenandshattered,afterthedisastersofWildCatandMillSprings。In1862KirbySmithledhisarmythroughtheGaponhiswaytooverrunKentuckyandinvadetheNorth。Threemonthslaterhisbeatenforcessoughtrefugefromtheirpursuersbehinditsimpregnablefortifications。AnotheryearsawBurnsideburstthroughtheGapwithaconqueringforceandredeemloyalEastTennesseefromitsRebeloppressors。
HadtheSoutheverbeenabletoseparatefromtheNorththeboundarywouldhavebeenestablishedalongthisline。
BetweenthemainridgeuponwhichCumberlandGapissituated,andthenextrangeonthesoutheastwhichrunsparallelwithit,isanarrow,long,veryfruitfulvalley,walledinoneithersideforahundredmilesbytallmountainsasaCitystreetisbyhighbuildings。ItiscalledPowell'sValley。Initdwellasimple,primitivepeople,shutoutfromtheworldalmostasmuchasiftheylivedinNewZealand,andwiththespeech,mannersandideasthattheirfathersbroughtintotheValleywhentheysettleditacenturyago。Therehasbeenbutlittlechangesincethen。TheyoungmenwhohaveannuallydrivencattletothedistantmarketsinKentucky,TennesseeandVirginia,havebroughtbackoccasionalstraybitsoffineryforthe"womenfolks,"andthelatestimprovedfire—
armsforthemselves,butthisisaboutalltheinnovationstheprogressoftheworldhasbeenallowedtomake。Wheeledvehiclesarealmostunknown;menandwomentravelonhorsebackastheydidacenturyago,theclothingistheproductofthefarmandthebusyloomsofthewomen,andlifeisasruralandArcadianasanyeverdescribedinapastoral。
Thepeoplearerichincattle,hogs,horses,sheepandtheproductsofthefield。Thefatsoilbringsforththesubstantialsoflifeinopulentplenty。Havingthisthereseemstobelittlecareformore。Ambitionnoravarice,noryetcravingafterluxury,disturbtheircontentedsoulsordragthemawayfromthenon—progressiveroundofsimplelifebequeathedthembytheirfathers。
CHAPTERII。
SCARCITYOFFOODFORTHEARMY——RAIDFORFORAGE——ENCOUNTERWITTHEREBELS
——SHARPCAVALRYFIGHT——DEFEATOFTHE"JOHNNIES"——POWELL'SVALLEYOPENED
UP。
AstheAutumnof1863advancedtowardsWinterthedifficultyofsupplyingtheforcesconcentratedaroundCumberlandGap——aswellastherestofBurnside'sarmyinEastTennessee——becamegreaterandgreater。ThebaseofsupplieswasatCampNelson,nearLexington,Ky。,onehundredandeightymilesfromtheGap,andallthattheArmyusedhadtobehauledthatdistancebymuleteamsoverroadsthat,intheirbeststatewerewretched,andwhichthecopiousrainsandheavytraffichadrenderedwell—nighimpassable。Allthecountrytoourpossessionhadbeendrainedofitsstockofwhateverwouldcontributetothesupportofmanorbeast。
ThatportionofPowell'sValleyextendingfromtheGapintoVirginiawasstillinthehandsoftheRebels;itsstockofproductswasasyetalmostexemptfrommilitarycontributions。ConsequentlyaraidwasprojectedtoreducetheValleytoourpossession,andsecureitsmuchneededstores。
ItwasguardedbytheSixty—fourthVirginia,amountedregiment,madeupoftheyoungmenofthelocality,whohadthenbeenintheserviceabouttwoyears。
Maj。C。H。Beer'sthirdBattalion,SixteenthIllinoisCavalry——fourcompanies,eachabout75strong——wassentontheerrandofdrivingouttheRebelsandopeninguptheValleyforourforagingteams。Thewriterwasinvitedtoattendtheexcursion。Asheheldthehonorable,butnotverylucrativepositionof"high,private"inCompanyL,oftheBattalion,andtheinvitationcamefromhisCaptain,hedidnotfeelatlibertytodecline。Hewent,asprivatesoldiershavebeeninthehabitofdoingeversincethedaysoftheoldCenturion,whosaidwiththecharacteristicboastfulnessofoneofthelowergradesofcommissionedofficerswhenhehappenstobeasnob:
ForIamalsoamansetunderauthority,havingundermesoldiers,andIsayuntoone,Go;andhegoeth;andtoanother,Come,andhecometh;andtomyservant,Dothis,andhedoethit。
Rather"airy"talkthatforamanwhonowadayswouldtakerankwithCaptainsofinfantry。
Threehundredofusrespondedtothesignalof"bootsandsaddles,"
buckledonthreehundredmoreorlesstrustysabersandrevolvers,saddledthreehundredmoreorlessgallantsteeds,cameintoline"ascompanies"withtheautomaticlistlessnessoftheoldsoldiers,"countedoffbyfours"inthatqueergamut—runningstylethatmakesacompanyofmen"countingoff"——eachshoutinganumberinadifferentvoicefromhisneighbor——soundlikerunningthescalesonsomegreatorganbadlyoutoftune;somethinglikethis:
One。Two。Three。Four。One。Two。Three。Four。One。Two。Three。
Four。
Then,asthebuglesounded"Rightforward！foursright！"wemovedoffatawalkthroughthemelancholymistthatsoakedthroughtheveryfiberofmanandhorse,andreducedthemindsofbothtoaconditionoflimpindifferenceastothingspast,presentandfuture。
Whitherweweregoingweknewnot,norcared。Suchmattershadlongsinceceasedtoexciteanyinterest。Acavalrymansoonrecognizesastheleastastonishingthinginhisexistencethesignalto"Fallin！"andstartsomewhere。Hefeelsthatheisthe"PoorJoe"oftheArmy——underperpetualordersto"moveon。"
Downwewoundovertheroadthatzig—taggedthroughtheforts,batteriesandrifle—pitscoveringtheeasternascenttotheFlap—pastthewonderfulMurrellSpring——so—calledbecausetherobberchiefhadkilled,ashestoopedtodrinkofitscrystalwaters,arichdrover,whomhewaspretendingtopilotthroughthemountains——downtowherethe"Virginiaroad"turnedoffsharplytotheleftandenteredPowell'sValley。Themisthadbecomeachill,drearyrain,through,whichweploddedsilently,untilnightclosedinaroundussometenmilesfromtheGap。Aswehaltedtogointocamp,anindignantVirginianresentedtheinvasionofthesacredsoilbyfiringatoneoftheguardsmovingouttohisplace。
Theguardlookedatthefellowcontemptuously,asifhehatedtowastepowderonamanwhohadnobettersensethantostayoutinsucharain,whenhecouldgoin—doors,andthebushwhackerescaped,withoutevenareturnshot。
Fireswerebuilt,coffeemade,horsesrubbed,andwelaiddownwithfeettothefiretogetwhatsleepwecould。
Beforemorningwewereawakenedbythebittercold。Ithadclearedoffduringthenightandturnedsocoldthateverythingwasfrozenstiff。
Thiswasbetterthantherain,atallevents。Agoodfireandahotcupofcoffeewouldmakethecoldquiteendurable。