HillfirstcameintoprominenceasthevictorinthemoststubbornlycontestedfightintheprisonhistoryofBelleIsle。WhenthesquadoftheOneHundredthOhio——capturedatLimestoneStation,EastTennessee,inSeptember,1863——arrivedonBelleIsle,acertainJackOliver,oftheNineteenthIndiana,wastheundisputedfisticmonarchoftheIsland。
Hedidnotbearhisblushinghonorsmodestly;fewofarightarmthatindefinitelocalityknownas"themiddleofnextweek,"issomethingthatthepossessorcanaslittleresistshowingascanagirlherfirstsolitairering。Toknowthatonecancertainlystrikeadisagreeablefellowoutoftimeisprettysuretobreedadesiretodothatthingwheneveroccasionserves。JackOliverwasonewhodidnotlethisbicepsrustininaction,butthrashedeverybodyontheIslandwhomhethoughtneededit,andhisideasastothosewhoshouldbeincludedinthisclasswideneddaily,untilitbegantoappearthathewouldsoonfeelithisdutytoletnounwhippedmanescape,butpoundeverybodyontheIsland。
OnedayhisevilgeniusledhimtoabusearatherelderlymanbelongingtoHill'smess。Ashefiredoffhistiradeofcontumely,Hillsaidwithmorethanhisusual"soft"rusticity:
"Mister——I——don't——think——it——just——right——for——a——young——man——to——call——an——old——one——such——badnames。"
JackOliverturnedonhimsavagely。
"Well！maybeyouwanttotakeitup？"
ThegrinonHill'sfacelookedstillmoreverdant,asheansweredwithgentledeliberation:
"Well——mister——I——don't——go——around——a——hunting——things——but——I——
ginerally——take——care——of——all——that's——sent——me！"
Jackfoamed,buthisfiercestblustercouldnotdrivethatinfantilesmilefromHill'sface,norprovokeachangeinthecalmslownessofhisspeech。
Itwasevidentthatnothingwoulddobutabattle—royal,andJackhadsenseenoughtoseethattheimperturbablerusticwaslikelytogivehimajobofsomedifficulty。Hewentoffandcamebackwithhisclan,whileHill'scomradesoftheOneHundredthgatheredaroundtoinsurehimfairplay。Jackpulledoffhiscoatandvest,rolleduphissleeves,andmadeotherelaboratepreparationsfortheaffray。Hill,withoutremovingagarment,said,ashesurveyedhimwithamockingsmile:
"Mister——you——seem——to——be——one——of——them——partick—e—ler——fellers。"
Jackroaredout,"By———,I'llmakeyoupartickelerbeforeIgetthroughwithyou。Now,howshallwesettlethis？Regularstand—up—andknock—down,orroughandtumble？"
IfanythingHill'sfacewasmorevacantlyserene,andhistonesblanderthanever,asheanswered:
"Strike——any——gait——that——suits——you,——Mister;——Iguess——I——will——be——
able——to——keep——up——with——you。"
Theyclosed。Hillfeintedwithhisleft,andasJackuncoveredtoguard,hecaughthimfairlyonthelowerleftribs,byablowfromhismightyrightfist,thatsounded——asoneoftheby—standersexpressedit——"likestrikingahollowlogwithamaul。"
ThecolorinJack'sfacepaled。Hedidnotseemtounderstandhowhehadlaidhimselfopentosuchapass,andmadethesamemistake,receivingagainasoundingblowintheshortribs。Thistaughthimnothing,either,foragainheopenedhisguardinresponsetoafeint,andagaincaughtablowonhislucklessleft,ribs,thatdrovethebloodfromhisfaceandthebreathfromhisbody。Hereeledbackamonghissupportersforaninstanttobreathe。Recoveringhiswind,bedashedatHillfeintedstronglywithhisright,butdeliveredaterriblekickagainstthelowerpartofthelatter'sabdomen。Bothclosedandfoughtsavagelyathalf—arm'slengthforaninstant;duringwhichHillstruckJacksofairlyinthemouthastobreakoutthreefrontteeth,whichthelatterswallowed。Thentheyclenchedandstruggledtothroweachother。Hill'ssuperiorstrengthandskillcrushedhisopponenttotheground,andhefelluponhim。Astheygrappledthere,oneofJack'sfollowerssoughttoaidhisleaderbycatchingHillbythehair,intendingtokickhimintheface。InaninstanthewasknockeddownbyastalwartmemberoftheOneHundredth,andthenliterallyliftedoutoftheringbykicks。
Jackwassoonsobadlybeatenastobeunabletocry"enough！"Oneofhisfriendsdidthatserviceforhim,thefightceased,andthenceforthMr。Oliverresignedhispugilisticcrown,andretiredtotheshadesofprivatelife。Hediedofscurvyanddiarrhea,somemonthsafterward,inAndersonville。
ThealmosthourlyscenesofviolenceandcrimethatmarkedthedaysandnightsbeforetheRegulatorsbeganoperationswerenowsucceededbythegreatestorder。TheprisonwasfreerfromcrimethanthebestgovernedCity。Therewerefrequentsquabblesandfights,ofcourse,andmanypettylarcenies。Rationsofbreadandofwood,articlesofclothing,andthewretchedlittlecansandhalfcanteensthatformedourcookingutensils,werestillstolen,butallthesewereinasneak—thiefway。
Therewasanentireabsenceoftheaudaciousopen—dayrobberyandmurder——the"raiding"ofthepreviousfewweeks。ThesummarypunishmentinflictedonthecondemnedwassufficienttocowevenboldermenthantheRaiders,andtheywerefrightenedintoatleastquiescence。
SergeantHill'sadministrationwasvigorous,andsecuredthebestresults。Hebecameajudgeofallinfractionsofmoralsandlaw,andsatatthedoorofhistenttodispensejusticetoallcomers,liketheCadiofaMahometanVillage。HisjudicialmethodsandpunishmentsalsoremindedonestronglyoftheprimitivejudicatureofOrientallands。
Thewrongedonecamebeforehimandtoldhistale:hehadhisblouse,orhisquartcup,orhisshoes,orhiswatch,orhismoneystolenduringthenight。Thesuspectedonewasalsosummoned,confrontedwithhisaccuser,andsharplyinterrogated。Hillwouldrevolvethestoriesinhismind,decidetheinnocenceorguiltoftheaccused,andifhethoughttheaccusationsustained,ordertheculprittopunishment。HedidnotimitatehisMussulmanprototypestotheextentofbowstringingordecapitatingthecondemned,nordidhecutanythief'shandsoff,noryetnailhisearstoadoorpost,butheintroducedamodificationofthebastinadothatmadethosewhowerepunishedbyitevenwishtheyweredead。TheinstrumentusedwaswhatiscalledintheSoutha"shake"——
asplitshingle,ayardormorelong,andwithoneendwhittleddowntoformahandle。Theculpritwasmadetobenddownuntilhecouldcatcharoundhisankleswithhishands。Thepartofthebodythusbroughtintomostprominencewasdenudedofclothingand"spanked"fromonetotwentytimes,asHillordered,bythe"shake"insamestrongandwillinghand。
Itwasveryamusing——tothebystanders。The"spankee"neverseemedtoenterveryheartilyintothemirthoftheoccasion。Asarulehesleptonhisfaceforaweekorsoafter,andtookhismealsstanding。
Thefearofthespanking,andHill'sskillindetectingtheguiltyones,hadaverysalutaryeffectuponthesmallercriminals。
TheRaiderswhohadbeenputintoironswereveryrestiveundertheinfliction,andbeggedHilldailytoreleasethem。Theyprofessedthegreatestpenitence,andpromisedthemostexemplarybehaviorforthefuture。Hillrefusedtoreleasethem,declaringthattheyshouldweartheironsuntildelivereduptoourGovernment。
OneoftheRaiders——namedHeffron——had,shortlyafterhisarrest,turnedState'sevidence,andgiventestimonythatassistedmateriallyintheconvictionofhiscompanions。Onemorning,aweekorsoafterthehanging,hisbodywasfoundlyingamongtheotherdeadattheSouthGate。
Theimpressionmadebythefingersofthehandthathadstrangledhim,werestillplainlyvisibleaboutthethroat。Therewasnodoubtastowhyhehadbeenkilled,orthattheRaiderswerehismurderers,buttheactualperpetratorswereneverdiscovered。
CHAPTERXXXIX。
JULY——THEPRISONBECOMESMORECROWDED,THEWEATHERHOTTER,NATIONS
POORER,ANDMORTALITYGREATER——SOMEOFTHEPHENOMENAOFSUFFERINGAND
DEATH。
AllduringJulytheprisonerscamestreaminginbyhundredsandthousandsfromeveryportionofthelonglineofbattle,stretchingfromtheEasternbankoftheMississippitotheshoresoftheAtlantic。OveronethousandsquanderedbySturgisatGuntowncamein;twothousandofthosecapturedinthedesperateblowdealtbyHoodagainsttheArmyoftheTennesseeonthe22dofthemonthbeforeAtlanta;hundredsfromHunter'slucklesscolumnintheShenandoahValley,thousandsfromGrant'slinesinfrontofPetersburg。Inall,seventhousandonehundredandtwenty—eightwere,duringthemonth,turnedintothatseethingmassofcorruptinghumanitytobepollutedandtaintedbyit,andtoassistinturntomakeitfouleranddeadlier。Overseventyhecatombsofchosenvictims——
offairyouthsinthefirstflushofhopefulmanhood,atthethresholdofalifeofhonortothemselvesandofusefulnesstothecommunity;
beardlessboys,richinthepricelessaffectionsofhomes,fathers,mothers,sistersandsweethearts,withmindsthrillingwithhighaspirationsforthebrightfuture,weresentinasthemonthlysacrificetothisMinotauroftheRebellion,who,couchedinhisfoullair,slewthem,notwiththemercifuldeliveryofspeedydeath,ashisCretanprototypedidtheannualtributeofAthenianyouthsandmaidens,but,gloatingoverhisprey,doomedthemtolingeringdestruction。Herottedtheirfleshwiththescurvy,rackedtheirmindswithintolerablesuspense,burnedtheirbodieswiththeslowfireoffamine,anddelightedineachseparatepang,untiltheysankbeneaththefearfulaccumulation。
Theseus[Sherman。D。W。]——thedeliverer——wascoming。HisterribleswordcouldbeseengleamingasitroseandfellonthebanksoftheJames,andinthemountainsbeyondAtlanta,wherehewashewinghiswaytowardsthemandtheheartoftheSouthernConfederacy。Buthecametoolatetosavethem。Strikeasswiftlyandasheavilyashewould,hecouldnotstrikesohardnorsosureathisfoeswithsaberblowandmusketshot,astheycouldatthehaplessyouthswiththedreadfularmamentofstarvationanddisease。
ThoughthedeathswereonethousandeighthundredandseventeenmorethanwerekilledatthebattleofShiloh——thisleftthenumberintheprisonattheendofthemonththirty—onethousandsixhundredandseventy—
eight。Letmeassistthereader'scomprehensionofthemagnitudeofthisnumberbygivingthepopulationofafewimportantCities,accordingtothecensusof1870:
Cambridge,Mass89,639
Charleston,S。C。48,958
Columbus,O。31,274
Dayton,O。30,473
FallRiver,Mass26,766
KansasCity,Mo32,260
Thenumberofprisonersexceededthewholenumberofmenbetweentheagesofeighteenandforty—fiveinseveraloftheStatesandTerritoriesintheUnion。Here,forinstance,arethereturnsfor1870,ofmenofmilitaryageinsomeportionsofthecountry:
Arizona5,157
Colorado15,166
Dakota5,301
Idaho9,431
Montana12,418
Nebraska35,677
Nevada24,762
NewHampshire60,684
Oregon23,959
RhodeIsland44,377
Vermont62,450
WestVirginia6,832
Itwasmoresoldiersthancouldberaisedto—day,understrongpressure,ineitherAlabama,Arizona,Arkansas,California,Colorado,Connecticut,Dakota,Delaware,DistrictofColumbia,Florida,Idaho,Louisiana,Maine,Minnesota,Montana,Nebraska,Nevada,NewHampshire,NewMedico,Oregon,RhodeIsland,SouthCarolina,Utah,VermontorWestVirginia。
Thesethirty—onethousandsixhundredandseventy—eightactiveyoungmen,whowerelikelytofindtheconfinesofaStatetoonarrowforthem,werecoopeduponthirteenacresofground——lessthanafarmergivesforplay—
groundforahalfdozencoltsorasmallflockofsheep。Therewashardlyroomforalltoliedownatnight,andtowalkafewhundredfeetinanydirectionwouldrequireanhour'spatientthreadingofthemassofmenandtents。
Theweatherbecamehotterandhotter;atmiddaythesandwouldburnthehand。Thethinskinsoffairandauburn—hairedmenblisteredunderthesun'srays,andswelledupingreatwaterypuffs,whichsoonbecamethebreedinggroundsofthehideousmaggots,orthestillmoredeadlygangrene。Theloathsomeswampgrewinrankoffensivenesswitheveryburninghour。Thepestilenceliterallystalkedatnoon—day,andstruckhisvictimsdownoneveryhand。OnecouldnotlookarodinanydirectionwithoutseeingatleastadozenmeninthelastfrightfulstagesofrottingDeath。
LetmedescribethesceneimmediatelyaroundmyowntentduringthelasttwoweeksofJuly,asasampleoftheconditionofthewholeprison:
Iwilltakeaspacenotlargerthanagoodsizedparlororsittingroom。
Onthiswereatleastfiftyofus。Directlyinfrontofmelaytwobrothers——namedSherwood——belongingtoCompanyI,ofmybattalion,whocameoriginallyfromMissouri。Theywerenowinthelaststagesofscurvyanddiarrhea。Everyparticleofmuscleandfatabouttheirlimbsandbodieshadapparentlywastedaway,leavingtheskinclingingclosetotheboneoftheface,arms,hands,ribsandthighs——everywhereexceptthefeetandlegs,whereitwasswollentenseandtransparent,distendedwithgallonsofpurulentmatter。Theirlividgums,fromwhichmostoftheirteethhadalreadyfallen,protrudedfarbeyondtheirlips。TotheirleftlayaSergeantandtwoothersoftheircompany,allthreeslowlydyingfromdiarrhea,andbeyondwasafair—hairedGerman,youngandintelligentlooking,whoselifewasebbingtediouslyaway。TomyrightwasahandsomeyoungSergeantofanIllinoisInfantryRegiment,capturedatKenesaw。Hisleftarmhadbeenamputatedbetweentheshoulderandelbow,andhewasturnedintotheStockadewiththestumpallundressed,savetheligatingofthearteries。Ofcourse,hehadnotbeeninsideanhouruntilthemaggotflieshadlaideggsintheopenwound,andbeforethedaywasgonethewormswerehatchedout,andriotingamidtheinflamedandsuper—sensitivenerves,wheretheireverymotionwasagony。
Accustomedasweweretomisery,wefoundastilllowerdepthinhismisfortune,andIwouldbehappiercouldIforgethispale,drawnface,ashewandereduncomplaininglytoandfro,holdinghismaimedlimbwithhisrighthand,occasionallystoppingtosqueezeit,asonedoesaboil,andpressfromitastreamofmaggotsandpus。Idonotthinkheateorsleptforaweekbeforehedied。NexttohimstaidanIrishSergeantofaNewYorkRegiment,afinesoldierlyman,who,withpardonablepride,wore,conspicuouslyonhisleftbreast,amedalgainedbygallantrywhileaBritishsoldierintheCrimea。Hewaswastingawaywithdiarrhea,anddiedbeforethemonthwasout。
Thiswaswhatonecouldseeoneverysquarerodoftheprison。WhereI
waswasnotonlynoworsethantherestoftheprison,butwasprobablymuchbetterandhealthier,asitwasthehighestgroundinside,farthestfromtheSwamp,andhavingthedeadlineontwosides,hadaventilationthatthosenearerthecentercouldnotpossiblyhave。Yet,withalltheseconditionsinourfavor,themortalitywasasIhavedescribed。
Nearusanexasperatingidiot,whoplayedtheflute,hadestablishedhimself。Likeallpoorplayers,heaffectedthelow,mournfulnotes,asplaintiveasthedistantcooingofthedoveinlowering,weather。
Heplayedorrathertootedawayinhis"blues"inducingstrainhourafterhour,despiteourenergeticprotests,andoccasionallyflingingaclubathim。Therewasnomorestoptohimthantoamanwithahand—organ,andtothisdaythelow,sadnotesofaflutearetheswiftestremindertomeofthosesorrowful,death—ladendays。
Ihadanillustrationonemorningofhowfardecompositionwouldprogressinaman'sbodybeforehedied。MychumandIfoundatreasure—troveinthestreets,intheshapeofthebodyofamanwhodiedduringthenight。
Thevalueofthis"find"wasthatifwetookittothegate,wewouldbeallowedtocarryitoutsidetothedeadhouse,andonourwaybackhaveanopportunitytopickupachunkofwood,touseincooking。Whilediscussingourgoodluckanotherpartycameupandclaimedthebody。
Averbaldisputeledtooneofblows,inwhichwecameoffvictorious,andIhastilycaughtholdofthearmneartheelbowtohelpbearthebodyaway。Theskingavewayundermyhand,andslippedwithitdowntothewrist,likeatornsleeve。Itwassickening,butIclungtomyprize,andsecuredaverygoodchunkofwoodwhileoutsidewithit。Thewoodwasverymuchneededbymymess,asoursquadhadthenhadnoneformorethanaweek。
CHAPTERXL。
THEBATTLEOFTHE22DOFJULY——THEARMSOFTHETENNESSEEASSAULTEDFRONT
ANDREAR——DEATHOFGENERALMCPHERSON——ASSUMPTIONOFCOMMANDBYGENERAL
LOGAN——RESULTOFTHEBATTLE。
Naturally,wehadaconsuminghungerfornewsofwhatwasbeingaccomplishedbyourarmiestowardcrushingtheRebellion。Now,morethanever,hadwereasontoardentlywishforthedestructionoftheRebelpower。Beforecapturewehadloveofcountryandanaturaldesireforthetriumphofherflagtoanimateus。NowwehadahatredoftheRebelsthatpassedexpression,andafiercelongingtoseethosewhodailytorturedandinsultedustrampleddowninthedustofhumiliation。
Thedailyarrivalofprisonerskeptustolerablywellinformedastothegeneralprogressofthecampaign,andweaddedtotheinformationthusobtainedbygetting——almostdaily——insomemanneroranother——acopyofaRebelpaper。MostfrequentlythesewereAtlantapapers,oranissueofthe"Memphis—Corinth—Jackson—Grenada—Chattanooga—Resacca—Marietta—AtlantaAppeal,"astheyusedtofacetiouslytermaMemphispaperthatleftthatCitywhenitwastakenin1862,andfortwoyearsfellbackfromplacetoplace,asSherman'sArmyadvanced,untilatlastitgaveupthestruggleinSeptember,1864,inalittleTownsouthofAtlanta,afterabouttwothousandmilesofwearyretreatfromanindefatigablepursuer。Thepaperswerebroughtinby"freshfish,"purchasedfromtheguardsatfromfiftycentstoonedollarapiece,oroccasionallythrownintouswhentheyhadsomespeciallydisagreeableintelligence,likethedefeatofBanks,orSturgis,orBunter,toexultover。Iwasparticularlyfortunateingettingholdofthese。Becominginstalledasgeneralreaderforaneighborhoodofseveralthousandmen,everythingofthiskindwasimmediatelybroughttome,tobereadaloudforthebenefitofeverybody。
Alltheolderprisonersknewmebythenick—nameof"Illinoy"——
adesignationarisingfrommywearingonmycap,whenIenteredprison,aneatlittlewhitemetalbadgeof"ILLS。"Whenanyreadingmatterwasbroughtintoourneighborhood,therewouldbeageneralcryof:
"Takeitupto'Illinoy,'"andthenhundredswouldmassaroundmyquarterstobearthenewsread。
TheRebelpapersusuallyhadverymeagerreportsoftheoperationsofthearmies,andtheseweregreatlydistorted,buttheywerestillveryinteresting,andaswealwaysstartedintoreadwiththeexpectationthatthewholestatementwasamassofperversionsandlies,wheretruthwasaninfrequentaccident,wewerenotlikelytobemuchimpressedwithit。
Therewasamarleddifferenceinthetoneofthereportsbroughtinfromthedifferentarmies。Sherman'smenwerealwayssanguine。Theyhadnodoubtthattheywerepushingtheenemystraighttothewall,andthateverydaybroughttheSouthernConfederacymuchneareritsdownfall。
ThosefromtheArmyofthePotomacwereneversohopeful。TheywouldadmitthatGrantwaspoundingLeeterribly,buttheshadowofthefrequentdefeatsoftheArmyofthePotomacseemedtohangdepressinglyoverthem。
Therecameaday,however,whenoursanguinehopesastoShermanwerecheckedbyapossibilitythathehadfailed;thathislongcampaigntowardsAtlantahadculminatedinsuchareverseundertheverywallsoftheCityaswouldcompelanabandonmentoftheenterprise,andpossiblyahumiliatingretreat。WeknewthatJeff。DavisandhisGovernmentwerestronglydissatisfiedwiththeFabianpolicyofJoeJohnston。ThepapershadtoldusoftheRebelPresident'svisittoAtlanta,ofhisbittercommentsonJohnston'stactics;ofhisgoingsofarastosneeraboutthenecessityofprovidingpontoonsatKeyWest,sothatJohnstonmightcontinuehisretreateventoCuba。ThencamethenewsofJohnston'sSupersessionbyHood,andthepaperswerefulloftheexultingpredictionsofwhatwouldnowbeaccomplished"whenthatgallantyoungsoldierisoncefairlyinthesaddle。"
AllthismeantonesupremeefforttoarresttheonwardcourseofSherman。
ItindicatedaresolvetostakethefateofAtlanta,andthefortunesoftheConfederacyintheWest,uponthehazardofonedesperatefight。
WewatchedthesummoningupofeveryRebelenergyfortheblowwithapprehension。WedreadedanotherChickamauga。
Theblowfellonthe22dofJuly。Itwaswellplanned。TheArmyoftheTennessee,theleftofSherman'sforces,wasthepartstruck。Onthenightofthe21stHoodmarchedaheavyforcearounditsleftflankandgaineditsrear。Onthe22dthisforcefellontherearwiththeimpetuousviolenceofacyclone,whiletheRebelsintheworksimmediatelyaroundAtlantaattackedfuriouslyinfront。
Itwasanordealthatnootherarmyeverpassedthroughsuccessfully。
ThesteadiesttroopsinEuropewouldthinkitfoolhardinesstoattempttowithstandanassaultinforceinfrontandrearatthesametime。
Thefinestlegionsthatfollowanyflagto—daymustalmostinevitablysuccumbtosuchamodeofattack。ButtheseasonedveteransoftheArmyoftheTennesseeencounteredtheshockwithanobstinacywhichshowedthatthefinestmaterialforsoldierythisplanetholdswasthatinwhichundauntedheartsbeatbeneathblueblouses。Springingoverthefrontoftheirbreastworks,theydrovebackwithawitheringfiretheforceassailingthemintherear。Thisbeatenoff,theyjumpedbacktotheirproperplaces,andrepulsedtheassaultinfront。Thiswasthewaythebattlewaswageduntilnightcompelledacessationofoperations。OurboyswerealternatelybehindthebreastworksfiringatRebelsadvancinguponthefront,andinfrontoftheworksfiringuponthosecomingupintherear。Sometimespartofourlinewouldbeononesideoftheworks,andpartontheother。
Intheprisonweweregreatlyexcitedovertheresultoftheengagement,ofwhichwewereuncertainformanydays。Ahostofnewprisonersperhapstwothousand——wasbroughtinfromthere,butastheywerecapturedduringtheprogressofthefight,theycouldnotspeakdefinitelyastoitsissue。TheRebelpapersexultedwithoutstintoverwhattheytermed"agloriousvictory。"TheywereparticularlyjubilantoverthedeathofMcPherson,who,theyclaimed,wasthebrainandguidinghandofSherman'sarmy。Onepaperlikenedhimtothepilot—fish,whichguidesthesharktohisprey。Nowthathewasgone,saidthepaper,Sherman'sarmybecomesagreatlumberinghulk,withnooneinitcapableofdirectingit,anditmustsoonfalltoutterruinundertheskilfullydeliveredstrokesofthegallantHood。
Wealsoknewthatgreatnumbersofwoundedhadbeenbroughttotheprisonhospital,andthisseemedtoconfirmtheRebelclaimofavictory,asitshowedtheyretainedpossessionofthebattlefield。
Aboutthe1stofAugustalargesquadofSherman'smen,capturedinoneoftheengagementssubsequenttothe22d,camein。Wegatheredaroundthemeagerly。AmongthemInoticedabright,curly—haired,blue—eyedinfantryman——orboy,rather,ashewasyetbeardless。Hiscapwasmarked"68thO。Y。Y。L,"hissleevesweregarnishedwithre—enlistmentstripes,andonthebreastofhisblousewasasilverarrow。TotheeyeofthesoldierthissaidthathewasaveteranmemberoftheSixty—EighthRegimentofOhioInfantry（thatis,havingalreadyservedthreeyears,hehadre—enlistedforthewar）,andthathebelongedtotheThirdDivisionoftheSeventeenthArmyCorps。Hewassoyoungandfreshlookingthatonecouldhardlybelievehimtobeaveteran,butifhisstripeshadnotsaidthis,thesoldierlyarrangementofclothingandaccouterments,andthegraceful,self—possessedposeoflimbsandbodywouldhavetoldtheobserverthathewasoneofthose"OldReliables"withwhomShermanandGranthadalreadysubduedathirdoftheConfederacy。Hisblanket,which,forawonder,theRebelshadneglectedtotakefromhim,wastightlyrolled,itsendstiedtogether,andthrownoverhisshoulderscarf—fashion。Hispantaloonsweretuckedinsidehisstockingtops,thatwerepulledupasfaraspossible,andtiedtightlyaroundhisanklewithastring。Anone—too—cleanhaversack,containingtheinevitablesootyquartcup,andevenblackerhalf—canteen,waftslungeasilyfromtheshoulderoppositetothatonwhichtheblanketrested。HandhimhisfaithfulSpringfieldrifle,putthreedays'rationsinhishaversack,andfortyroundsinhiscartridgebog,andhewouldbeready,withoutaninstant'sdemurorquestion,tomarchtotheendsoftheearth,andfightanythingthatcrossedhispath。Hewasatypeofthehonest,honorable,selfrespectingAmericanboy,who,asasoldier,theworldhasnotequaledinthesixtycenturiesthatwarhasbeenaprofession。
Isuggestedtohimthathewasratherayoungstertobewearingveteranchevrons。"Yes,"saidhe,"Iamnotsooldassomeoftherestoftheboys,butIhaveseenaboutasmuchserviceandbeeninthebusinessaboutaslongasanyofthem。Theycallme'OldDad,'IsupposebecauseIwastheyoungestboyintheRegiment,whenwefirstenteredtheservice,thoughourwholeCompany,officersandall,wereonlyalotofboys,andtheRegimenttoday,what'sleftof'em,areaboutasyoungalotofofficersandmenasthereareintheservice。Why,ouroldColonelain'tonlytwenty—fouryearsoldnow,andhehasbeenincommandeversincewewentintoVicksburg。IhavehearditsaidbyourboysthatsinceweveteranizedthewholeRegiment,officers,andmen,averagelessthantwenty—fouryearsold。Buttheyaregray—houndstomarchandstayersinafight,youbet。Why,therestofthetroopsoverinWestTennesseeusedtocallourBrigade'Leggett'sCavalry,'fortheyalwayshaduschasingOldForrest,andwekepthimskedaddling,too,prettylively。ButItellyouwedidgetintoaredhotscrimmageonthe22d。
ItjustlaidoverChampionHills,oranyofthebigfightsaroundVicksburg,andtheywerelivelyenoughtoamuseanyone。"
"Soyouwereintheaffaironthe22d,wereyou！Weareawfulanxioustohearallaboutit。Comeoverheretomyquartersandtellusallyouknow。Allweknowisthattherehasbeenabigfight,withMcPhersonkilled,andaheavylossoflifebesides,andtheRebelsclaimagreatvictory。"
"O,theybe—————。Itwasthesickestvictorytheyevergot。AboutonemorevictoryofthatkindwouldmaketheirinfernaloldConfederacyreadyforacoroner'sinquest。Well,Icantellyouprettymuchallaboutthatfight,forIreckonifthetruthwasknown,ourregimentfiredaboutthefirstandlastshotthatopenedandclosedthefightingonthatday。
Well,youseethewholeArmygotacrosstheriver,andwereclosinginaroundtheCityofAtlanta。OurCorps,theSeventeenth,wastheextremeleftofthearmy,andweremovinguptowardtheCityfromtheEast。