Therewaslittlechanceforanyonetoaccumulatefleshontherationswewerereceiving。IsayitinallsobernessthatIdonotbelievethatahealthyhencouldhavegrownfatuponthem。Iamsurethatanygood—
　　sized"shanghai"eatsmoreeverydaythanthemeagerhalfloafthatwehadtomaintainlifeupon。Scantyasthiswas,andhungryasallwere,verymanycouldnoteatit。Theirstomachsrevoltedagainstthetrash;
　　itbecamesonauseoustothemthattheycouldnotforceitdown,evenwhenfamishing,andtheydiedofstarvationwiththechunksoftheso—
　　calledbreadundertheirhead。Ifoundmyselfrapidlyapproachingthiscondition。Ihadbeenblessedwithagooddigestionandatalentforsleepingunderthemostdiscouragingcircumstances。These,Ihavenodoubt,wereofthegreatestassistancetomeinmystruggleforexistence。Butnowtherationsbecamefearfullyobnoxioustome,anditwasonlywiththegreatesteffort——pullingthebreadintolittlepiecesandswallowingeach,oftheseasonewouldapill——thatIsucceededinworryingthestuffdown。Ihadnotasyetfallenawayverymuch,butasIhadnever,up,tothattime,weighedsomuchasonehundredandtwenty—
　　fivepounds,therewasnogreatamountofadiposetolose。Itwasevidentthatunlesssomechangeoccurredmytimewasnearathand。
　　Therewasnotonlyhungerformorefood,butlongingwithanintensitybeyondexpressionforalterationofsomekindintherations。
　　Thechangelessmonotonyofthemiserablesaltlessbread,orworsemush,fordays,weeksandmonths,becameunbearable。Ifthosewretchedmuleteamshadonlyonceamonthhauledinsomethingdifferent——iftheyhadcomeinloadedwithsweetpotatos,greencornorwheatflour,therewouldbethousandsofmenstilllivingwhonowslumberbeneaththosemelancholypines。Itwouldhavegivensomethingtolookforwardto,andrememberwhenpast。Buttoknoweachdaythatthegateswouldopentoadmitthesamedistastefulapologiesforfoodtookawaytheappetiteandraisedone'sgorge,evenwhilefamishingforsomethingtoeat。
　　Wecouldforawhileforgetthestench,thelice,theheat,themaggots,thedeadanddyingaroundus,theinsultingmalignanceofourjailors;
　　butitwas,veryhardworktobanishthoughtsandlongingsforfoodfromourminds。Hundredsbecameactuallyinsanefrombroodingoverit。Crazymencouldbefoundinallpartsofthecamp。Numbersofthemwanderedaroundentirelynaked。Theirbabblingsandmaunderingsaboutsomethingtoeatwerepainfultohear。IhavebeforementionedthecaseofthePlymouthPilgrimnearme,whoseinsanitytooktheformofimaginingthathewassittingatthetablewithhisfamily,andwhowouldgothroughtheshowofhelpingthemtoimaginaryviandsanddelicacies。Thecravingsforgreenfoodofthoseafflictedwiththescurvywere,agonizing。Largenumbersofwatermelonswerebroughttotheprison,andsoldtothosewhohadthemoneytopayforthematfromonetofivedollars,greenbacks,apiece。Aboywhohadmeanstobuyapieceofthesewouldbefollowedaboutwhileeatingitbyacrowdofperhapstwenty—fiveorthirtylivid—
　　gummedscorbutics,eachimploringhimfortherindwhenhewasthroughwithit。
　　Wethoughtoffoodallday,andwerevisitedwithtorturingdreamsofitatnight。Oneofthepleasantrecollectionsofmypre—militarylifewasabanquetatthe"Planter'sHouse,"St。Louis,atwhichIwasaboyishguest。Itwas,doubtless,anordinaryaffair,asbanquetsgo,buttomethen,withallthekeenappreciationofyouthandfirstexperience,itwasafeastworthyofLucullus。Butnowthisdelightfulreminiscencebecameatorment。HundredsoftimesIdreamedIwasagainatthe"Planter's。"Isawthewidecorridors,withtheirmosaicpavement;
　　Ienteredthegranddining—room,keepingtimidlynearthefriendtowhosekindnessIowedthiswonderfulfavor;Isawagainthemirror—linedwalls,theevergreendeckedceilings,thefestoonsandmottos,thetablesgleamingwithcutglassandsilver,thebuffetswithwinesandfruits,thebrigadeofsleek,black,white—apronedwaiters,headedbyonewhohadpresenceenoughforamajorGeneral。AgainIreveledinallthedaintiesanddishesonthebill—of—fare;callingforeverythingthatIdaredto,justtoseewhateachwaslike,andtobeabletosayafterwardsthatI
　　hadpartakenofit;allthesebewilderingdelightsofthefirstrealizationofwhataboyhasreadandwonderedmuchover,andlongedfor,woulddancetheirroutandreelthroughmysomnolentbrain。ThenI
　　wouldawaketofindmyselfahalf—naked,half—starved,vermin—eatenwretch,crouchinginaholeintheground,waitingformykeeperstoflingmeachunkofcornbread。
　　Naturallytheboys——andespeciallythecountryboysandnewprisoners——
　　talkedmuchofvictuals——whattheyhadhad,andwhattheywouldhaveagain,whentheygotout。Takethisasasampleoftheconversationwhichmightbeheardinanygroupofboys,sittingtogetheronthesand,killinliceandtalkingofexchange:
　　Tom——"Well,Bill,whenwegetbacktoGod'scountry,youandJimandJohnmustallcometomyhouseandtakedinnerwithme。Iwanttogiveyouasquaremeal。Iwanttoshowyoujustwhatgoodlivin'is。Youknowmymotherisjustthebestcookinallthatsection。Whenshelaysherselfouttogetupamealalltheotherwomenintheneighborhoodjuststandbackandadmire"
　　Bill——"O,that'sallright;butI'llbetshecan'tholdacandletomymother,whenitcomestogoodcooking。"
　　Jim——"No,nortomine。"
　　John——（withpatronizingcontempt。）"O,shucks！Noneofyoufellerswereeveratourhouse,evenwhenwehadoneofourcommonweekdaydinners。"
　　Tom——（unheedfulofthecounterclaims。）Ihevteenstudyin'upthedinnerI'dlike,andthebill—of—fareI'dsetoutforyoufellerswhenyoucomeovertoseeme。First,ofcourse,we'lllaythefoundationlikewithanice,juicyloinroast,andsomemashedpotatos。
　　Bill——（interrupting。）"Now,doyoulikemashedpotatoswithbeef？Thewaymaymotherdoesistoparethepotatos,andlaytheminthepanalongwiththebeef。Then,youknow,theycomeoutjustasniceandcrisp,andbrown,;theyhavesoakedupallthebeefgravy,andtheycrinklebetweenyourteeth——"
　　Jim——"Now,Itellyou,mashedNeshannockswithbutteron'emisplentygoodenoughforme。"
　　John——"Ifyou'detsomeofthenewkindofpeachblowsthatweraisedintheoldpasturelottheyearbeforeIenlisted,you'dneversayanotherwordaboutyourNeshannocks。"
　　Tom——（takingbreathandstartinginfresh。）"Thenwe'llhevsomefriedSpringchickens,ofourdominickbreed。Themdominicksofourshavethenicest,tenderestmeat,better'nquail,adarnedsight,andthewaymymothercanfrySpringchickens————"
　　Bill——（asidetoJim。）"Everydurnedwomaninthecountrythinksshecan'sprychingfrickens;'butmymother———"
　　John——"Youfellersallknowthatthere'snobodyknowshalfasmuchaboutchickendoin'sasthese'tinerantMethodis'preachers。Theygive'emchickenwherevertheygo,andfolksdosaythatoutinthenewsettlementstheycan'tgetnopreachin',nogospel,nornothin',untilthechickensbecomesoplentythatapreacherisreasonablysureofhavin'oneforhisdinnerwhereverhemaygo。Now,there'soldPeterCartwright,whohastraveledoverIllinoyandIndiannysincetheYearOne,andpreachedmoregoodsermonsthananyothermanwhoeversetonsaddle—bags,andhasetmorechickensthantherearebirdsinabigpigeonroost。Well,hetookdinneratourhousewhenhecameuptodedicatethebig,whitechurchatSimpkin'sCorners,andwhenhepasseduphisplatethethirdtimeformorechicken,hesez,sezhe:——I'veetatagreatmanyhundredtablesinthefiftyyearsIhavelaboredinthevineyardoftheRedeemer,butImustsay,Mrs。Kiggins,thatyourwayoffryingchickensisaleetlethenicestthatIeverknew。Ionlywishthatthesistersgenerallywouldgetyourreseet。'Yes,that'swhathesaid,——'aleetlethenicest。'"
　　Tom——"An'then,we'llhevbiscuitsan'butter。I'lljustbetfivehundreddollarstoacent,andgivebackthecentifIwin,thatwehavethebestbutteratourhousethatthereisinCentralIllinoy。Youcan'tneverhevgoodbutteronlessyouhaveaspringhouse;there'snouseoftalkin'——allthepatentchurnsthatlazymeneverinvented——allthefancymilkpansan'coolers,can'tmakeupforaspringhouse。Locationsforaspringhousearescarcerthanhen'steethinIllinoy,butwehevone,andthereain'tabetteroneinOrangeCounty,NewYork。Thenyou'llseedomeofthebiscuitsmymothermakes。"
　　Bill——"Well,now,mymother'sabossbiscuit—maker,too。"
　　Jim——"Youkinjustgamblethatmineis。"
　　John——"O,that'sthewayyoufellersoughttothinkan'talk,butmymother————"
　　Tom——（cominginagainwithfreshvigor）"They'rejestaslightan'fluffyasadandelionpuff,andtheymeltinyourmonthlikearipeBartlettpear。Youjustpull'emopen——[NowyouknowthatIthinkthere'snothin'
　　thatshowsaperson'sraisin'sowellastoseehimeatbiscuitsan'
　　butter。Ifhe'sbeenraisedmostlyoncornbread,an'commondoins,'
　　an'don'tknowmuchaboutgoodthingstoeat,he'llmostlikelycuthisbiscuitopenwithacaseknife,an'makeitfallasflatasoneo'
　　yesterday'spancakes。Butifheisusedtobiscuits,hashad'emoftenathishouse,he'll——justpull'emopen,slowan'easylike,thenhe'lllayalittlesliceofbutterinside,anddropafewdropsofclearhoneyonthis,an'stickthetwohalvesback,togetheragain,an——"
　　"Oh,forGodAlmighty'ssake,stoptalkingthatinfernalnonsense,"roaroutahalfdozenofthesurroundingcrowd,whosemouthshavebeenwateringoverthisunctuousrecitalofthegoodthingsofthetable。
　　"Youblamedfools,doyouwanttodriveyourselvesandeverybodyelsecrazywithsuchstuffasthat。Dryupandtrytothinkofsomethingelse。"
　　CHAPTERXLVI。
　　SURLYBRITON——THESTOLIDCOURAGETHATMAKESTHEENGLISHFLAGABANNEROF
　　TRIUMPH——OURCOMPANYBUGLER,HISCHARACTERISTICSANDHISDEATH——URGENT
　　DEMANDFORMECHANICS——NONEWANTTOGO——TREATMENTOFAREBELSHOEMAKER——
　　ENLARGEMENTOFTHESTOCKADE——ITISBROKENBYASTORM——
　　THEWONDERFULSPRING。
　　EarlyinAugust,F。Marriott,ourCompanyBugler,died。PrevioustocomingtoAmericahehadbeenformanyyearsanEnglishsoldier,andI
　　acceptedhimasatypeofthatstolid,doggedlybraveclass,whichformsthebulkoftheEnglisharmies,andhasforcenturiescarriedtheBritishflagwithdauntlesscourageintoeverylandunderthesun。Rough,surlyandunsocial,hedidhisdutywiththeunemotionalsteadinessofamachine。Heknewnothingbuttoobeyorders,andobeyedthemunderallcircumstancespromptly,butwithstonyimpassiveness。Withthecommandtomoveforwardintoaction,hemovedforwardwithoutaword,andwithfaceasblankasasideofsoleleather。Hewentasfarasordered,haltedattheword,andretiredatcommandasphlegmaticallyasheadvanced。Ifhecaredastrawwhetherheadvancedorretreated,ifitmatteredtotheextentofapinchofsaltwhetherwewhippedtheRebelsortheydefeatedus,hekeptthatfeelingsodeeplyhiddenintherecessesofhissturdybosomthatnooneeversuspectedit。Intheexcitementofactiontherestoftheboysshouted,andswore,andexpressedtheirtensefeelingsinvariousways,butMarriottmightaswellhavebeenagravenimage,foralltheexpressionthathesufferedtoescape。Doubtless,iftheCaptainhadorderedhimtoshootoneofthecompanythroughtheheart,hewouldhaveexecutedthecommandaccordingtothemanualofarms,broughthiscarbinetoa"recover,"andatthewordmarchedbacktohisquarterswithoutaninquiryastothecauseoftheproceedings。Hemadenofriends,andthoughhissurlinessrepelledus,hemadefewenemies。Indeed,hewasratherafavorite,sincehewasagenuinecharacter;hisgruffnesshadnotaintofselfishgreedinit;
　　hemindedhisownbusinessstrictly,andwantedotherstodothesame。
　　Whenhefirstcameintothecompany,itistrue,hegainedtheenmityofnearlyeverybodyinit,butanincidentoccurredwhichturnedthetideinhisfavor。Someannoyinglittledepredationshadbeenpracticedontheboys,anditneededbutawordofsuspiciontoinflamealltheirmindsagainstthesurlyEnglishmanastheunknownperpetrator。Thefeelingintensified,untilabouthalfofthecompanywereinamoodtokilltheBugleroutright。Aswewerereturningfromstabledutyoneevening,somelittleoccurrencefannedthesmolderingangerintoafierceblaze;
　　acoupleofthesmallerboysbegananattackuponhim;othershastenedtotheirassistance,andsoonhalfthecompanywereengagedintheassault。
　　Hesucceededindisengaginghimselffromhisassailants,and,squaringhimselfoff,said,defiantly:
　　"Domyercowardlyheyes;jestcomehatmeonehatatime,handhI'llwollopthe'oleganguvye's。"
　　OneofourSergeantsstyledhimselfproudly"aChicagorough,"andwasasvainofhispugilisticabilitiesasasmallboyisofafatherwhoplaysintheband。Weallhatedhimcordially——evenmorethanwedidMarriott。
　　Hethoughtthiswasagoodtimetoshowoff,andforcinghiswaythroughthecrowd,hesaid,vauntingly:
　　"Justfallbackandformaring,boys,andseemepolishoffthe———fool。"
　　Theringwasformed,withtheBuglerandtheSergeantinthecenter。
　　ThoughthelatterwastheyoungerandstrongerthefirstroundshowedhimthatitwouldhaveprofitedhimmuchmoretohaveletMarriott'schallengepassunheeded。Asarule,itisaswelltoignoreallinvitationsofthiskindfromEnglishmen,andespeciallyfromthosewho,likeMarriott,haveservedaterminthearmy,fortheyarelikelytobesohandywiththeirfistsastomaketheconsequencesofanacceptancemorelivelythandesirable。
　　SotheSergeantfound。"Marriott,"asoneofthespectatorsexpressedit,"wentaroundhimlikeacooperaroundabarrel。"Heplantedhisblowsjustwherehewished,totheintensedelightoftheboys,whoyelledenthusiasticallywheneverhegotin"ahotone,"andtheirdelightatseeingtheSergeantdrubbedsothoroughlyandartistically,workedanentirerevolutioninhisfavor。
　　Thenceforwardweviewedhiseccentricitieswithlenienteyes,andbecameratherproudofhisbull—dogstolidityandsurliness。Thewholebattalionsooncametosharethisfeeling,andeverybodyenjoyedhearinghisdeep—tonedgrowl,whichmischievousboyswouldincitebysomepettyannoyancesdeliberatelydesignedforthatpurpose。Iwillmentionincidentally,thatafterhisencounterwiththeSergeantnooneeveragainvolunteeredto"polish"himoff。
　　Andersonvilledidnotimproveeitherhistemperorhiscommunicativeness。
　　Heseemedtowanttogetasfarawayfromtherestofusaspossible,andtookuphisquartersinaremotecorneroftheStockade,amongutterstrangers。Thoseofuswhowanderedupinhisneighborhoodoccasionally,toseehowhewasgettingalong,werereceivedwithsuchscantcourtesy,thatwedidnothastentorepeatthevisit。Atlength,afternoneofushadseenhimforweeks,wethoughtthatcomradeshipdemandedanothervisit。Wefoundhiminthelaststagesofscurvyanddiarrhea。Chunksofuneatencornbreadlaybyhishead。Theywereatleastaweekold。
　　Therationssincethenhadevidentlybeenstolenfromthehelplessmanbythosearoundhim。Theplacewherehelaywasindescribablyfilthy,andhisbodywasswarmingwithvermin。SomegoodSamaritanhadfilledhislittleblackoystercanwithwater,andplaceditwithinhisreach。
　　Foraweek,atleast,hehadnotbeenabletorisefromtheground;
　　hecouldbarelyreachforthewaternearhim。HegaveussuchaglareofrecognitionasIrememberedtohaveseenlightupthefast—darkeningeyesofasavageoldmastiff,thatIandmyboyishcompanionsoncefounddyinginthewoodsofdiseaseandhurts。Hadhebeenablehewouldhavedrivenusaway,oratleastassaileduswithbitingEnglishepithets。Thushehaddoubtlessdrivenawayallthosewhohadattemptedtohelphim。
　　Wedidwhatlittlewecould,andstaidwithhimuntilthenextafternoon,whenhedied。Wepreparedhisbody,inthecustomaryway:foldedthehandsacrosshisbreast,tiedthetoestogether,andcarrieditoutside,notforgettingeachofus,tobringbackaloadofwood。
　　ThescarcityofmechanicsofallkindsintheConfederacy,andtheurgentneedsofthepeopleformanythingswhichthewarandtheblockadepreventedtheirobtaining,ledtocontinualinducementsbeingofferedtotheartizansamongustogooutsideandworkattheirtrade。Shoemakersseemedmostindemand;nexttotheseblacksmiths,machinists,moldersandmetalworkersgenerally。NotaweekpassedduringmyimprisonmentthatI
　　didnotseeaRebelemissaryofsomekindabouttheprisonseekingtoengageskilledworkmenforsomepurposeoranother。WhileinRichmondthemanagersoftheTredegarIronWorkswerebrazenandpersistentintheireffortstoseducewhataretermed"malleableironworkers,"toentertheiremploy。Aboywhowasmasterofanyoneofthecommonertradeshadbuttomakehiswishesknown,andhewouldbeallowedtogooutonparoletowork。Iwasaprinter,andIthinkthatatleastadozentimesIwasapproachedbyRebelpublisherswithoffersofaparole,andworkatgoodprices。OnefromColumbia,S。C。,offeredmetwodollarsandahalfa"thousand"forcomposition。AsthehighestpriceforsuchworkthatIhadreceivedbeforeenlistingwasthirtycentsathousand,thisseemedachancetoaccumulateu4toldwealth。Sinceamanworkingindaytimecansetfromthirty—fivetofifty"thousand"aweek,thiswouldmakeweeklywagesrunfromeighty—sevendollarsandfiftycentstoonehundredandtwenty—fivedollars——butitwasinConfederatemoney,thenworthfromtentotwentycentsonthedollar。
　　Stillbetteroffersweremadetoironworkersofallkinds,toshoemakers,tanners,weavers,tailors,hatters,engineers,machinists,millers,railroadmen,andsimilartradesmen。Anyofthesecouldhavemadeahandsomethingbyacceptingtheoffersmadethemalmostweekly。
　　Asnearlyallintheprisonhadusefultrades,itwouldhavebeenofimmensebenefittotheConfederacyiftheycouldhavebeeninducedtoworkatthem。ThereisnomeasuringthebenefititwouldhavebeentotheSoutherncauseifallthehundredsoftannersandshoemakersintheStockadecouldhave,beenpersuadedtogooutsideandlaborinprovidingleatherandshoesforthealmostshoelesspeopleandsoldiery。ThemachinistsalonecouldhavedonemoregoodtotheSouthernConfederacythanoneofourbrigadeswasdoingharm,byconsentingtogototherailroadshopsatGriswoldvilleandplytheirhandicraft。ThelackofmaterialresourcesintheSouthwasoneofthestrongestalliesourarmshad。Thislackofresourceswasprimarilycausedbyalackofskilledlabortodevelopthoseresources,andnowherecouldtherebefoundafinercollectionofskilledlaborersthaninthethirty—threethousandprisonersincarceratedinAndersonville。
　　Allsolicitationstoacceptaparoleandgooutsidetoworkatone'stradeweretreatedwiththescorntheydeserved。Ifanymechanicyieldedtothem,thefactdidnotcomeundermynotice。Theusualreplytoinvitationsofthiskindwas:
　　"No,Sir！ByGod,I'llstayinheretillIrot,andthemaggotscarrymeoutthroughthecracksintheStockade,beforeI'llsomuchasraisemylittlefingertohelptheinfernalConfederacy,orRebels,inanyshapeorform。"
　　InAugustaMaconshoemakercameintogetsomeofhistradetogobackwithhimtoworkintheConfederateshoefactory。HeprosecutedhissearchfortheseuntilhereachedthecenterofthecampontheNorthSide,whensomeoftheshoemakerswhohadgatheredaroundhim,apparentlyconsideringhispropositions,seizedhimandthrewhimintoawell。
　　Hewaskeptthereawholeday,andonlyreleasedwhenWirzcutofftherationsoftheprisonforthatday,andannouncedthatnomorewouldbeissueduntilthemanwasreturnedsafeandsoundtothegate。
　　TheterriblecrowdingwassomewhatamelioratedbytheopeninginJulyofanaddition——sixhundredfeetlong——totheNorthSideoftheStockade。
　　Thisincreasedtheroominsidetotwentyacres,givingaboutanacretoeveryonethousandsevenhundredmen,——apreposterouslycontractedareastill。Thenewgroundwasnotahotbedofvirulentpoisonliketheoldshowever,andthosewhomovedontoithadthatmuchintheirfavor。
　　Thepalisadesbetweenthenewandtheoldportionsofthepenwereleftstandingwhenthenewportionwasopened。Wewerestillsufferingagreatdealofinconveniencefromlackofwood。Thatnightthestandingtimberswereattackedbythousandsofprisonersarmedwitheveryspeciesofatooltocutwood,fromacase—knifetoanax。Theyworkedthelive—
　　longnightwithsuchenergythatbymorningnotonlyeveryinchofthelogsabovegroundhaddisappeared,butthatbelowhadbeendugup,andtherewasnotenoughleftoftheeighthundredfootwalloftwenty—five—
　　footlogstomakeaboxofmatches。
　　Oneafternoon——earlyinAugust——oneoftheviolentrainstormscommontothatsectionsprungup,andinalittlewhilethewaterwasfallingintorrents。Thelittlecreekrunningthroughthecampswelledupimmensely,andsweptoutlargegapsintheStockade,bothinthewestandeastsides。TheRebelsnoticedthebreachesassoonastheprisoners。
　　TwogunswerefiredfromtheStarTort,andalltheguardsrushedout,andformedsoastopreventanyegress,ifonewasattempted。Takenbysurprise,wewerenotinaconditiontoprofitbytheopportunityuntilitwastoolate。
　　Thestormdidonegoodthing:itsweptawayagreatdealoffilth,andleftthecampmuchmorewholesome。Thefoulstenchrisingfromthecampmadeanexcellentelectricalconductor,andthelightningstruckseveraltimeswithinonehundredfeetoftheprison。
　　TowardtheendofAugusttherehappenedwhatthereligouslyinclinedtermedaProvidentialDispensation。ThewaterintheCreekwasindescribablybad。Noamountoffamiliaritywithit,noincreaseofintimacywithouroffensivesurroundings,couldlessenthedisgustatthepollutedwater。AsIhavesaidpreviously,beforethestreamenteredtheStockade,itwasrenderedtoofilthyforanyusebythecontaminationsfromthecampsoftheguards,situatedaboutahalf—mileabove。
　　ImmediatelyonenteringtheStockadethecontaminationbecameterrible。
　　Theoozyseepatthebottomofthehillsidesdraineddirectlyintoitallthemassoffilthfromapopulationofthirty—threethousand。Imaginetheconditionofanopensewer,passingthroughtheheartofacityofthatmanypeople,andreceivingalltheoffensiveproductofsodenseagatheringintoashallow,sluggishstream,ayardwideandfiveinchesdeep,andheatedbytheburningraysofthesuninthethirty—seconddegreeoflatitude。Imagine,ifonecan,withoutbecomingsickatthestomach,allofthesepeoplehavingtowashinanddrinkofthisfoulflow。
　　Thereisnotascintillaofexaggerationinthisstatement。Thatitiswithintheexacttruthisdemonstrablebythetestimonyofanyman——RebelorUnion——whoeversawtheinsideoftheStockadeatAndersonville。Iamquitecontenttohaveitstruth——aswellasthatofanyotherstatementmadeinthisbook——bedeterminedbytheevidenceofanyone,nomatterhowbitterhishatredoftheUnion,whohadanypersonalknowledgeoftheconditionofaffairsatAndersonville。Noonecansuccessfullydenythattherewereatleastthirty—threethousandprisonersintheStockade,andthattheoneshallow,narrowcreek,whichpassedthroughtheprison,wasatoncetheirmainsewerandtheirsourceofsupplyofwaterforbathing,drinkingandwashing。Withthesemainfactsadmitted,thereader'scommonsenseofnaturalconsequenceswillfurnishtherestofthedetails。
　　Itistruethatsomeofthemorefortunateofushadwells;thankstoourownenergyinovercomingextraordinaryobstacles;nothankstoourgaolersformakingtheslightestefforttoprovidethesenecessitiesoflife。Wedugthewellswithcaseandpocketknives,andhalfcanteenstoadepthoffromtwentytothirtyfeet,pullingupthedirtinpantaloonslegs,andrunningcontinualriskofbeingsmotheredtodeathbythecavinginoftheunwalledsides。NotonlydidtheRebelsrefusetogiveusboardswithwhichtowallthewells,andbucketsfordrawingthewater,buttheydidallintheirpowertopreventusfromdiggingthewells,andmadecontinualforaystocapturethediggingtools,becausethewellswerefrequentlyusedasthestartingplacesfortunnels。
　　ProfessorJoneslaysspecialstressonthistunnelfeatureinhistestimony,whichIhaveintroducedinapreviouschapter。
　　ThegreatmajorityoftheprisonerswhowenttotheCreekforwater,wentasnearaspossibletotheDeadLineontheWestSide,wheretheCreekenteredtheStockade,thattheymightgetwaterwithaslittlefilthinitaspossible。Inthecrowdsstrugglingtherefortheirturntotakeadip,someonenearlyeverydaygotsoclosetotheDeadLineastoarouseasuspicionintheguard'smindthathewastouchingit。Thesuspicionwastheunfortunateone'sdeathwarrant,andalsoitsexecution。Asthesluggishbrainoftheguardconceiveditheleveledhisgun;thedistancetohisvictimwasnotoveronehundredfeet;heneverfailedhisaim;thefirstwarningthewretchedprisonergotthathewassuspectedoftransgressingaprison—rulewasthechargeof"ball—and—buck"thattorethroughhisbody。Itwasluckyifhewas,theonlyoneofthegroupkilled。MorewickedandunjustifiablemurdersneverwerecommittedthanthesealmostdailyassassinationsattheCreek。
　　Onemorningthecampwasastonishedbeyondmeasuretodiscoverthatduringthenightalarge,boldspringhadburstoutontheNorthSide,aboutmidwaybetweentheSwampandthesummitofthehill。Itpouredoutitsgratefulfloodofpure,sweetwaterinanapparentlyexhaustlessquantity。Tothemanywholookedinwonderuponit,itseemedastrulyaheaven—wroughtmiracleaswhenMoses'senchantedrodsmotetheparchedrockinSinai'sdesertwaste,andthelivingwatersgushedforth。
　　Thepolicetookchargeofthespring,andeveryonewascompelledtotakehisregularturninfillinghisvessel。ThiswaskeptupduringourwholestayinAndersonville,andeverymorning,shortlyafterdaybreak,athousandmencouldbeseenstandinginline,waitingtheirturnstofilltheircansandcupswiththepreciousliquid。
　　IamtoldbycomradeswhohaverevisitedtheStockadeofrecentyears,thatthespringisyetrunningaswhenweleft,andisheldinmostpiousvenerationbythenegrosofthatvicinity,whostillpreservethetraditionofitsmiraculousorigin,andascribetoitswaterwonderfulgracegivingandhealingproperties,similartothosewhichpiousCatholicsbelieveexistintheholywaterofthefountainatLourdes。
　　ImustconfessthatIdonotthinktheyaresoveryfarfromright。
　　IfIcouldbelievethatanywaterwassacredandthaumaturgic,itwouldbeofthatfountainwhichappearedsoopportunelyforthebenefitoftheperishingthousandsofAndersonville。AndwhenIhearofpeoplebringingwaterforbaptismalpurposesfromtheJordan,Isayinmyheart,"HowmuchmorewouldIvalueformyselfandfriendstheadministrationofthechrismalsacramentwiththedivinerflowfromthatlowsand—hillinWesternGeorgia。
　　CHAPTERXLVII。
　　"SICKCALL,"ANDTHESCENESTHATACCOMPANIEDIT——MUSTERINGTHELAME,HALT
　　ANDDISEASEDATTHESOUTHGATE——ANUNUSUALLYBADCASE——GOINGOUTTOTHE
　　HOSPITAL——ACCOMMODATIONANDTREATMENTOFTHEPATIENTSTHERE——THEHORRIBLE
　　SUFFERINGINTHEGANGRENEWARD——BUNGLINGAMPUTATIONSBYBLUNDERING
　　PRACTITIONERS——AFFECTIONBETWEENASAILORANDHISWARD——
　　DEATHOFMYCOMRADE。
　　Everymorningafterroll—call,thousandsofsickgatheredattheSouthGate,wherethedoctorsmadesomepretenseofaffordingmedicalrelief。
　　ThescenethereremindedmeoftheillustrationsinmySunday—Schoollessonsofthattimewhen"greatmultitudescameuntoHim,"bytheshoresoftheSeaofGalilee,"havingwiththemthosethatwerelame,blind,dumb,maimed,andmanyothers。"HadthecrowdswornthefloutingrobesoftheEast,thepicturewouldhavelackednothingbutthepresenceoftheSonofMantomakeitcomplete。Hereweretheburningsandsandparchingsun;hithercamescoresofgroupsofthreeorfourcomrades,laboriouslystaggeringundertheweightofablanketinwhichtheyhadcarriedadisabledanddyingfriendfromsomedistantpartoftheStockade。Besidethemhobbledthescorbuticswithswollenanddistortedlimbs,eachmoreloathsomeandnearerdeaththantheleperswhomChrist'sdivinetouchmadewhole。Dozens,unabletowalk,andhavingnocomradestocarrythem,crawledpainfullyalong,withfrequentstops,ontheirhandsandknees。Every,formofintensephysicalsufferingthatitispossiblefordiseasetoinduceinthehumanframewasvisibleatthesedailyparadesofthesickoftheprison。Asoverthreethousand（threethousandandseventy—six）diedinAugust,therewereprobablytwelvethousanddangerouslysickatanygiventimedaringthemonth;andalargepartofthesecollectedattheSouthGateeverymorning。
　　Measurably—callousedaswehadbecomebythedailysightsofhorroraroundus,weencounteredspectaclesinthesegatheringswhichnoamountofvisiblemiserycouldaccustomusto。Irememberoneespeciallythatburneditselfdeeplyintomymemory。Itwasofayoungmannotovertwenty—five,whoafewweeksago——hisclotheslookedcomparativelynew——
　　hadevidentlybeenthepictureofmanlybeautyandyouthfulvigor。
　　Hehadhadawell—knit,litheform;darkcurlinghairfelloveraforeheadwhichhadoncebeenfair,andhiseyesstillshowedthattheyhadgleamedwithabold,adventurousspirit。TheredcloverleafonhiscapshowedthathebelongedtotheFirstDivisionoftheSecondCorps,thethreechevronsonhisarmthathewasaSergeant,andthestripeathiscuffthathewasaveteran。Somekind—heartedboyshadfoundhiminamiserableconditionontheNorthSide,andcarriedhimoverinablankettowherethedoctorscouldseehim。Hehadbutlittleclothingon,savehisblouseandcap。Ulcersofsomekindhadformedinhisabdomen,andthesewerenowmassesofsquirmingworms。Itwassomuchworsethantheusualformsofsuffering,thatquitealittlecrowdofcompassionatespectatorsgatheredaroundandexpressedtheirpity。
　　Thesuffererturnedtoonewholaybesidehimwith:
　　"Comrade:IfwewereonlyundertheoldStarsandStripes,wewouldn'tcareaG—dd——nforafewworms,wouldwe？"
　　Thiswasnotprofane。Itwasanutterancefromthedepthsofabraveman'sheart,couchedinthestrongestlanguageathiscommand。Itseemedterriblethatsogallantasoulshoulddepartfromearthinthismiserablefashion。Someofus,muchmovedbythesight,wenttothedoctorsandputthecaseasstronglyaspossible,beggingthemtodosomethingtoalleviatehissuffering。Theydeclinedtoseethecase,butgotridofusbygivingusabottleofturpentine,withdirectionstopouritupontheulcerstokillthemaggots。Wedidso。Itmusthavebeencrueltorture,andasabsurdremediallyascruel,butourherosethisteethandendured,withoutagroan。Hewasthencarriedouttothehospitaltodie。