Notawordwassaid。
　　Theshallowerenthusiasmthatexpressesitselfinoathsandshoutshadgivenwaytothedeep,voicelessrageofmeninadeathgrapple。TheRebellinewasarollingtorrentofflame,theirbulletsshriekedangrilyastheyflewpast,theystruckthesnowinfrontofus,andthrewitscoldflakesinfacesthatwerewhitewiththefiresofconsuminghate;
　　theyburiedthemselveswithadullthudinthequiveringbodiesoftheenragedcombatants。
　　Minutespassed;theyseemedhours。
　　Wouldthevillains,scoundrels,hell—hounds,sonsofvipersnevergo？
　　AtlengthafewRebelssprangupandtriedtofly。Theywereshotdowninstantly。
　　Thenthewholelineroseandran！
　　Thereliefwassogreatthatwejumpedtoourfeetandcheeredwildly,forgettinginourexcitementtomakeuseofourvictorybyshootingdownourflyingenemies。
　　Norwasanelementoffunlacking。ASecondLieutenantwasorderedtotakeapartyofskirmisherstothetopofahillandengagethoseoftheRebelsstationedonanotherhill—topacrossaravine。HehadbutlatelyjoinedusfromtheRegularArmy,wherehewasaDrillSergeant。
　　Naturally,hewasverymethodicalinhisway,andscornedtodootherwiseunderfirethanhewouldupontheparadeground。Hemovedhislittlecommandtothehill—top,incloseorder,andfacedthemtothefront。
　　TheJohnniesreceivedthemwithayellandavolley,whereattheboyswincedalittle,muchtotheLieutenant'sdisgust,whosworeatthem;
　　thenhadthemcountoffwithgreatdeliberation,anddeployedthemascoollyasifthemwasnot,anenemywithinahundredmiles。Afterthelinedeployed,he"dressed"it,commanded"Front！"and"Begin,firing！"
　　hisattentionwascalledanotherwayforaninstant,andwhenhelookedbackagain,therewasnotamanofhisnicelyformedskirmishlinevisible。Thelogsandstoneshadevidentlybeenputtherefortheuseofskirmishers,theboysthought,andinaninstanttheyavailedthemselvesoftheirshelter。
　　NeverwasthereanangriermanthanthatSecondLieutenant;hebrandishedhissaberandswore;heseemedtofeelthatallhissoldierlyreputationwasgone,buttheboysstucktotheirshelterforallthat,informinghimthatwhentheRebelswouldstandoutintheopenfieldandtaketheirfire,theywoulddlikewise。
　　Despiteallourefforts,theRebellinecrawledupcloseranclosertous;weweredrivenbackfromknolltoknoll,andfromonefenceafteranother。Wehadmaintainedtheunequalstruggleforeighthours;overone—fourthofournumberwerestretcheduponthesnow,killedorbadlywounded。Ourcartridgeswerenearlyallgone;thecannonhadfireditslastshotlongago,andhavingablankcartridgeleft,hadshottherammeratagatheringpartyoftheenemy。
　　JustastheWintersunwasgoingdownuponadayofgloomthebuglecalledusalluponthehillside。ThentheRebelssawforthefirsttimehowfewtherewere,andbegananalmostsimultaneouschargeallalongtheline。TheMajorraisedpieceofasheltertentuponapole。Thelinehalted。Anofficerrodeoutfromit,followedbytwoprivates。
　　ApproachingtheMajor,hesaid,"Whoisincommandthisforce？"
　　TheMajorreplied:"Iam。"
　　"Then,Sir,Idemandyoursword。"
　　"Whatisyourrank,Sir！"
　　"IamAdjutantoftheSixty—fourthVirginia。"
　　Thepunctillioussouloftheold"Regular"——forsuchtheMajorwasswelledupinstantly,andheanswered:
　　"By———,sir,Iwillneversurrendertomyinferiorinrank！"
　　TheAdjutantreinedhishorseback。HistwofollowersleveledtheirpiecesattheMajorandwaitedorderstofire。Theywerecoveredbyadozencarbinesinthehandsofourmen。TheAdjutantorderedhismento"recoverarms,"androdeawaywiththem。HepresentlyreturnedwithaColonel,andtohimtheMajorhandedhissaber。
　　Asthemenrealizedwhatwasbeingdone,thefirstthoughtofmanyofthemwastosnatchoutthecylinder'softheirrevolvers,andtheslidesoftheircarbines,andthrowthemaway,soastomakethearmsuseless。
　　Wewereovercomewithrageandhumiliationatbeingcompelledtoyieldtoanenemywhomwehadhatedsobitterly。Aswestoodthereonthebleakmountain—side,thebitingwindsoughingthroughtheleaflessbranches,theshadowsofagloomywinternightclosingaroundus,thegroansandshrieksofourwoundedminglingwiththetriumphantyellsoftheRebelsplunderingourtents,itseemedasifFatecouldpresstoman'slipsnocupwithbittererdregsinitthanthis。
　　CHAPTERV。
　　THEREACTION——DEPRESSION——BITTINGCOLD——SHARPHUNGERANDSADREFLEXION。
　　"OfbeingtakenbytheInsolentfoe。"——Othello。
　　Thenightthatfollowedwasinexpressiblydreary:Thehigh—wroughtnervoustension,whichhadbeenprotractedthroughthelonghoursthatthefightlasted,wassucceededbyaproportionatementaldepression,suchasnaturallyfollowsanystrainuponthemind。Thiswasintensifiedinourcasesbythesharpstingofdefeat,thehumiliationofhavingtoyieldourselves,ourhorsesandourarmsintothepossessionoftheenemy,theuncertaintyastothefuture,andthesorrowwefeltatthelossofsomanyofourcomrades。
　　CompanyLhadsufferedveryseverely,butourchiefregretwasforthegallantOsgood,ourSecondLieutenant。He,aboveallothers,wasourtrustedleader。TheCaptainandFirstLieutenantwerebravemen,andgoodenoughsoldiers,butOsgoodwastheone"whoseadoptiontried,wegrappledtooursoulswithhooksofsteel。"Therewasneveranydifficultyingettingallthevolunteershewantedforascoutingparty。
　　Aquiet,pleasantspokengentleman,pastmiddleage,helookedmuchbetterfittedfortheofficeofJusticeofthePeace,towhichhisfellow—citizensofUrbana,Illinois,hadelectedandreelectedhim,thantocommandatroopofroughridersinagreatcivilwar。Butnonemoregallantthanheevervaultedintosaddletodobattlefortheright。
　　HewentintotheArmysolelyasamatterofprinciple,anddidhisdutywiththeunflaggingzealofanoldenPuritanfightingforlibertyandhissoul'ssalvation。Hewasasuperbhorseman——asalltheolderIllinoisansareand,forallhistwo—scoreyearsandten,herecognizedfewsuperiorsforstrengthandactivityintheBattalion。Aradical,uncompromisingAbolitionist,hehadfrequentlyassertedthathewouldratherdiethanyieldtoaRebel,andhekepthiswordinthisasineverythingelse。
　　Asforhim,itwasprobablythewayhedesiredtodie。NoonebelievedmoreardentlythanhethatWhetheronthescaffoldhigh,Orinthebattle'svan;
　　Thefittestplaceformantodie,Iswherehediesforman。
　　AmongthemanywhohadlostchumsandfriendswasNedJohnson,ofCompanyK。NedwasayoungEnglishman,withmuchofthesuggestivenessofthebull—dogcommontothelowerclassofthatnation。Hisfistwasreadierthanhistongue。Hischum,WalterSavagewasofthesamesurlytype。
　　ThetwohadcomefromEnglandtwelveyearsbefore,andhadbeentogethereversince。Savagewaskilledinthestruggleforthefencedescribedintheprecedingchapter。Nedcouldnotrealizeforawhilethathisfriendwasdead。Itwasonlywhenthebodyrapidlystiffenedonitsicybed,andtheeyeswhichhadbeengleamingdeadlyhatewhenhewasstrickendownwereglazedoverwiththedullfilmofdeath,thathebelievedhewasgonefromhimforever。Thenhisragewasterrible。Fortherestofthedayhewasattheheadofeveryassaultupontheenemy。Hisvoicecouldeverbeheardabovethefiring,cursingtheRebelsbitterly,andurgingtheboysto"Standupto'em！Standrightupto'em！Don'tgiveainch！Letthemhavethebestyougotintheshop！Shootlow,anddon'twasteacartridge！"
　　Whenwesurrendered,Nedseemedtoyieldsullenlytotheinevitable。
　　Hethrewhisbeltandapparentlyhisrevolverwithituponthesnow。
　　Aguardwasformedaroundus,andwegatheredaboutthefiresthatwerestarted。Nedsatapart,hisarmsfolded,hisheaduponhisbreast,broodingbitterlyuponWalter'sdeath。Ahorseman,evidentlyaColonelorGeneral,clattereduptogivesomedirectionsconcerningus。AtthesoundofhisvoiceNedraisedhisheadandgavehimaswiftglance;thegoldstarsupontheRebel'scollarledhimtobelievethathewasthecommanderoftheenemy。Nedsprangtohisfeet,madealongstrideforward,snatchedfromthebreastofhisovercoattherevolverhehadbeenhidingthere,cockeditandleveleditattheRebel'sbreast。
　　BeforehecouldpullthetriggerOrderlySergeantCharlesBentley,ofhisCompany,whowaswatchinghim,leapedforward,caughthiswristandthrewtherevolverup。Othersjoinedin,tooktheweaponaway,andhandeditovertotheofficer,whothenorderedusalltobesearchedforarms,androdeaway。
　　Allourdejectioncouldnotmakeusforgetthatwewereintenselyhungry。
　　Wehadeatennothingallday。Thefightbeganbeforewehadtimetogetanybreakfast,andofcoursetherewasnointervalforrefreshmentsduringtheengagement。TheRebelswerenobetteroffthanwe,havingbeenmarchedrapidlyallnightinordertocomeuponusbydaylight。
　　Lateintheeveningafewsacksofmealweregivenus,andwetookthefirstlessoninanartthatlongandpainfulpracticeafterwardwastomakeveryfamiliartous。Wehadnothingtomixthemealin,anditlookedasifwewouldhavetoeatitdry,untilahappythoughtstrucksomeonethatourcapswoulddoforkneadingtroughs。Atonceeverycapwasdevotedtothis。Gettingwaterfromanadjacentspring,eachmanmadealittlewadofdough——unsalted——andspreadingituponaflatstoneorachip,setitupinfrontofthefiretobake。Assoonasitwasbrownedononeside,itwaspulledoffthestone,andtheothersideturnedtothefire。ItwasaveryprimitivewayofcookingandIbecamethoroughlydisgustedwithit。ItwasfortunateformethatIlittledreamedthatthiswasthewayIshouldhavetogetmymealsforthenextfifteenmonths。
　　Aftersomewhatoftheedgehadbeentakenoffourhungerbythisfood,wecrouchedaroundthefires,talkedovertheeventsoftheday,speculatedastowhatwastobedonewithus,andsnatchedsuchsleepasthebitingcoldwouldpermit。
　　CHAPTER
　　"ONTORICHMOND！"——MARCHINGONFOOTOVERTHEMOUNTAINS——MYHORSEHASA
　　NEWRIDER——UNSOPHISTICATEDMOUNTAINGIRLS——DISCUSSINGTHEISSUESOFTHE
　　WAR——PARTINGWITH"HIATOGA。"
　　Atdawnweweregatheredtogether,moremealissuedtous,whichwecookedinthesameway,andthenwerestartedunderheavyguardtomarchonfootoverthemountainstoBristol,astationatthepointwheretheVirginiaandTennesseeRailroadcrossesthelinebetweenVirginiaandTennessee。
　　AswewerepreparingtosetoutaSergeantoftheFirstVirginiacavalrycamegallopinguptousonmyhorse！Thesightofmyfaithful"Hiatoga"
　　bestridbyaRebel,wrungmyheart。DuringtheactionIhadforgottenhim,butwhenitceasedIbegantoworryabouthisfate。AsheandhisridercamenearIcalledouttohim;hestoppedandgaveawhinnyofrecognition,whichseemedalsoaplaintiveappealforanexplanationofthechangedconditionofaffairs。
　　TheSergeantwasapleasant,gentlemanlyboyofaboutmyownage。
　　Herodeuptomeandinquiredifitwasmyhorse,towhichIrepliedintheaffirmative,andaskedpermissiontotakefromthesaddlepocketssomeletters,picturesandothertrinkets。Hegrantedthis,andwebecamefriendsfromthenceonuntilweseparated。Herodebymysideasweploddedoverthesteep,slipperyhills,andwebeguiledthewaybychattingofthethousandthingsthatsoldiersfindtotalkabout,andexchangedreminiscencesoftheserviceonbothsides。ButthesubjecthewasfondestofwasthatwhichIrelishedleast:my——nowhis——horse。Intotheopenulcerofmyhearthepouredtheacidofallmannerofquestionsconcerningmyloststeed'squalitiesandcapabilities:wouldheswim？
　　howwasheinfording？didhejumpwell！howdidhestandfire？
　　Ismotheredmyirritation,andansweredaspleasantlyasIcould。
　　Intheafternoonofthethirddayafterthecapture,wecameuptowhereapartyofrusticbelleswerecollectedat"quilting。"The"Yankees"
　　wereinstantlyobjectsofgreaterinterestthantheparadeofamenageriewouldhavebeen。TheSergeanttoldthegirlsweweregoingtocampforthenightamileorsoahead,andiftheywouldbeatacertainhouse,hewouldhaveaYankeeforthemforcloseinspection。Afterhalting,theSergeantobtainedleavetotakemeoutwithaguard,andIwaspresentlyusheredintoaroominwhichthedamselsweremassedinforce,——acarnation—checked,staring,open—mouthed,linsey—cladcrowd,asignorantofcorsetsandglovesasofHebrew,andwithapropensitytogigglethatwaschronicandirrepressible。Whenweenteredtheroomtherewasageneralgiggle,andthenashowerofcommentsuponmyappearance,——eachsentencepunctuatedwiththechorusoffemininecachination。Aremarkwasmadeaboutmyhairandeyes,andtheirrisiblesgaveway;judgmentwaspassedonmynose,andthencamearippleoflaughter。Igotveryredintheface,anduncomfortablegenerally。
　　Attentionwascalledtothesizeofmyfeetandhands,andtheusualchorusfollowed。Thoseusefulmembersofmybodyseemedtoswellupastheydotoayoungmanathisfirstparty。
　　ThenIsawthatinthemindsofthesebucolicmaidensIwasscarcely,ifatall,human;theydidnotunderstandthatIbelongedtotherace;
　　Iwasa"Yankee"——asomethingofthenon—humanclass,asthegorillaorthechimpanzee。Theyfeltasfreetodiscussmypointsbeforemyfaceastheywouldtotalkofahorseorawildanimalinashow。Myequanimitywaspartiallyrestoredbythisreflection,butIwasstilltooyoungtoescapeembarrassmentandirritationatbeingthusdissectedandgiggledatbyapartyofgirls,eveniftheywereignorantVirginiamountaineers。
　　IturnedaroundtospeaktotheSergeant,andinsodoingshowedmybacktotheladies。Thehumofcommentdeepenedintosurprise,thathalfstoppedandthenintensifiedthegiggle。
　　Iwaspuzzledforaminute,andthenthedirectionoftheirglances,andtheirremarksexplaineditall。Attherearofthelowerpartofthecavalryjacket,aboutwheretheupperornamentalbuttonsareonthetailofafrockcoat,aretwofunnytabs,aboutthesizeofsmallpin—
　　cushions。Theyarefastenedbytheedge,andstickoutstraightbehind。
　　Theiruseistosupporttheheavybeltintherear,asthebuttonsdoinfront。WhenthebeltisoffitwouldpuzzletheSevenWiseMentoguesswhattheyarefor。Theunsophisticatedyoungladies,withthatswiftintuitionwhichisoneoflovelywoman'ssalientmentaltraits,immediatelyjumpedattheconclusionthattheprojectionscoveredsomepeculiarconformationoftheYankeeanatomy——someincipient,dromedary—
　　likehumps,orperchancethehornsofwhichtheyhadheardsomuch。
　　Thisanatomicalphenomenawasdiscussedintentlyforafewminutes,duringwhichIheardoneofthegirlsinquirewhether"itwouldhurthimtocut'emoff？"andanotherhazardedtheopinionthat"itwouldprobablybleedhimtodeath。"
　　Thenanewideaseizedthem,andtheysaidtotheSergeant"Makehimsing！Makehimsing！"
　　ThiswastoomuchfortheSergeant,whohadbeenintenselyamusedatthegirls'wonderment。Heturnedtome,veryredintheface,with:
　　"Sergeant:thegirlswanttohearyousing。"
　　IrepliedthatIcouldnotsinganote。Saidhe:
　　"Oh,comenow。Iknowbetterthanthat;IneverseedorheerdofaYankeethatcouldn'tsing。"
　　IneverthelessassuredhimthattherereallyweresomeYankeesthatdidnothaveanymusicalaccomplishments,andthatIwasoneofthatunfortunatenumber。Iaskedhimtogettheladiestosingforme,andtothistheyaccededquitereadily。Onegirl,withafairsoprano,whoseemedtobetheleaderofthecrowd,sang"TheHomespunDress,"asongverypopularintheSouth,andhavingthesametuneasthe"BonnieBlueFlag。"Itbegan,IenvynottheNortherngirlTheirsilksandjewelsfine,andproceededtocomparethehomespunhabilimentsoftheSouthernwomentothefineryandfripperyoftheladiesontheothersideofMasonandDixon'slineinamannerverydisadvantageoustothelatter。
　　Therestofthegirlsmadeafineexhibitionofthelung—poweracquiredinclimbingtheirprecipitousmountains,whentheycameinonthechorusHurra！Hurra！forsouthernrightsHurra！
　　Hurraforthehomespundress,TheSouthernladieswear。
　　Thisendedtheentertainment。
　　OnourjourneytoBristolwemetmanyRebelsoldiers,ofallranks,andasmallnumberofcitizens。Astheconscriptionhadthenbeenenforcedprettysharplyforoverayeartheonlyable—bodiedmenseenincivillifewerethosewhohadsometradewhichexemptedthemfrombeingforcedintoactiveservice。Itgreatlyastonishedusatfirsttofindthatnearlyallthemechanicswereincludedamongtheexempts,orcouldbeiftheychose;butaverylittlereflectionshowedusthewisdomofsuchapolicy。TheSouthisasnearlyapurelyagriculturalcountryasisRussiaorSouthAmerica。Thepeoplehave,littleinclinationorcapacityforanythingelsethanpastoralpursuits。Consequentlymechanicsareveryscarce,andmanufactoriesmuchscarcer。ThelimitedquantityofproductsofmechanicalskillneededbythepeoplewasmostlyimportedfromtheNorthorEurope。Boththesesourcesofsupplywerecutoffbythewar,andthecountrywasthrownuponitsownslendermanufacturingresources。Toforceitsmechanicsintothearmywouldthereforebesuicidal。TheArmywouldgainafewthousandmen,butitsoperationswouldbeembarrassed,ifnotstoppedaltogether,byawantofsupplies。ThisconditionofaffairsremindedoneofthesingularpaucityofmechanicalskillamongtheBedouinsofthedesert,whichrendersthelifeofablacksmithsacred。Nomatterhowbitterthefeudbetweentribes,noonewillkilltheother'sworkersofiron,andinstancesaretoldofwarriorssavingtheirlivesatcriticalperiodsbyfallingontheirkneesandmakingwiththeirgarmentsanimitationoftheactionofasmith'sbellows。
　　Allwhomwemetwereeagertodiscusswithusthecauses,phasesandprogressofthewar,andwheneveropportunityofferedorcouldbemade,thoseofuswhowereinclinedtotalkwerespeedilyinvolvedinanargumentwithcrowdsofsoldiersandcitizens。But,owingtothepolemicpovertyofouropponents,theargumentwasmoreinnamethaninfact。
　　Likeallpeopleofslenderoruntrainedintellectualpowerstheylaboredunderthehallucinationthatassertingwasreasoning,andtheemphaticreiterationofbaldstatements,logic。Thenarrowroundwhichallfromhighesttolowest——traveledwassometimescomical,andsometimesirritating,accordingtoone'smood！Thedisputeinvariablybeganbytheirasking:
　　"Well,whatareyou'unsdownherea—fightin'we'unsfor？
　　Asthiswasrepliedtothenewtonefollowed:
　　"Whyareyou'unstakin'ourniggersawayfromwe'unsfor？"
　　Thencame:
　　"Whatdoyou'unsputourniggerstofightin'we'unsfor？"Thewindupalwayswas:"Well,letmetellyou,sir,youcanneverwhippeoplethatarefightingforliberty,sir。"
　　EvenGeneralGiltner,whohadachievedconsiderablemilitaryreputationascommanderofadivisionofKentuckycavalry,seemedtobeasslenderlyfurnishedwithlogicalammunitionasthebalance,forashehaltedbyusheopenedtheconversationwiththewell—wornformula:
　　"Well:whatareyou'unsdownherea—fightingwe'unsfor？"
　　Thequestionhadbecomeraspinglymonotonoustome,whomheaddressed,andIrepliedwithmarkedacerbity:
　　"BecausewearetheNorthernmudsillswhomyouaffecttodespise,andwecamedownheretolickyouintorespectingus。"
　　Theanswerseemedtoticklehim,apleasanterlightcameintohissinistergrayeyes,helaughedlightly,andbadeusakindlygoodday。
　　FourdaysafterourcapturewearrivedinBristol。Theguardswhohadbroughtusoverthemountainswererelievedbyothers,theSergeantbademegoodby,struckhisspursinto"Hiatoga's"sides,andheandmyfaithfulhorseweresoonlosttoviewinthedarkness。
　　Anewandkeenersenseofdesolationcameovermeatthefinalseparationfrommytriedandtruefour—footedfriend,whohadbeenmyconstantcompanionthroughsomanyperilsandhardships。WehadenduredtogethertheWinter'scold,thedispiritingdrenchoftherain,thefatigueofthelongmarch,thediscomfortsofthemuddycamp,thegripingsofhunger,thewearinessofthedrillandreview,theperilsofthevidettepost,thecourierservice,thescoutandthefight。WehadsharedincommonThewhipsandscornsoftime,Theoppressor'swrong,theproudman'scontumely,Theinsolenceofoffice,andthespurnswhichapatientprivateandhishorseoftheunworthytake;wehadhadourfrequentlyrecurringrowswithotherfellowsandtheirhorses,overquestionsofprecedenceatwateringplaces,andgrass—plots,hadhadlivelytiltswithguardsofforagepilesinsurreptitiousattemptstogetadditionalrations,sometimescomingoffvictoriousandsometimesbeingdrivenoffingloriously。Ihadoftengonehungrythathemighthavetheonlyearofcornobtainable。Iamnotskilledenoughinhorseloretospeakofhispointsorpedigree。Ionlyknowthathisstronglimbsneverfailedme,andthathewasalwaysreadyfordutyandeverwilling。
　　Nowatlastourpathsdiverged。Iwasretiredfromactualservicetoaprison,andheborehisnewmasterofftobattleagainsthisoldfriends。
　　Packedcloselyinold,dilapidatedstockandboxcars,asifcattleinshipmenttomarket,wepoundedalongslowly,andapparentlyinterminably,towardtheRebelcapital。
　　TherailroadsoftheSouthwerealreadyinverybadcondition。Theywerenevermorethanpassablygood,evenintheirbestestate,butnow,withalargepartoftheskilledmenengageduponthemescapedbacktotheNorth,withallrenewal,improvement,oranybutthemostnecessaryrepairsstoppedforthreeyears,andwithamarkedabsenceofevenordinaryskillandcareintheirmanagement,theywereasnearlyruinedastheycouldwellbeandstillrun。
　　Oneofthesevereembarrassmentsunderwhichtheroadslaboredwasalackofoil。ThereisverylittlefattymatterofanykindintheSouth。
　　Theclimateandthefoodplantsdonotfavortheaccumulationofadiposetissuebyanimals,andthereisnoothersourceofsupply。Lardoilandtallowwereveryscarceandheldatexorbitantprices。
　　Attemptsweremadetoobtainlubricantsfromthepeanutandthecottonseed。Thefirstyieldedafineblandoil,resemblingtheordinarygradeofoliveoil,butitwasentirelytooexpensiveforuseinthearts。
　　Thecottonseedoilcouldbeproducedmuchcheaper,butithadinitsuchaquantityofgummymatterastorenderitworsethanuselessforemploymentonmachinery。
　　Thisscarcityofoleaginousmatterproducedacorrespondingscarcityofsoapandsimilardetergents,butthiswasadeprivationwhichcausedtheRebels,asawhole,aslittleinconvenienceasanythattheysufferedfrom。Ihaveseenmanythousandsofthemwhowereobviouslygreatlyinneedofsoap,butiftheywererentwithanysufferingonthataccounttheyconcealeditwithmarvelousself—control。
　　Thereseemedtobeascantysupplyofoilprovidedforthelocomotives,butthecarshadtorunwithunlubricatedaxles,andthescreakingandgroaningofthegrindingjournalsinthedryboxeswassometimesalmostdeafening,especiallywhenweweregoingaroundacurve。
　　Ourenginewentoffthewretchedtrackseveraltimes,butasshewasnotrunningmuchfasterthanamancouldwalk,theworstconsequencetouswasaseverejolting。Shewassmall,andwaseasilypriedbackuponthetrack,andsentagainuponherwheezy,strainingway。
　　Thedepressionwhichhadweighedusdownforanightandadayafterourcapturehadnowbeensucceededbyamorecheerfulfeeling。Webegantolookuponourconditionasthefortuneofwar。Wewereproudofourresistancetooverwhelmingnumbers。Weknewwehadsoldourselvesatapricewhich,iftheRebelshadittodooveragain,theywouldnotpayforus。Webelievedthatwehadkilledandseriouslywoundedasmanyofthemastheyhadkilled,woundedandcapturedofus。Wehadnothingtoblameourselvesfor。Moreover,webegantobebuoyedupwiththeexpectationthatwewouldbeexchangedimmediatelyuponourarrivalatRichmond,andtheRebelofficersconfidentlyassuredusthatthiswouldbeso。Therewasthenatemporaryhitchintheexchange,butitwouldallbestraightenedoutinafewdays,anditmightnotbeamonthuntilwewereagainmarchingoutofCumberlandGap,onanavengingforayagainstsomeoftheforcewhichhadassistedinourcapture。
　　FortunatelyforthisdelusivehopefulnesstherewasnoweirdandbodingCassandratopiercetheveilofthefutureforus,andrevealthelengthandtheghastlyhorroroftheValleyoftheShadowofDeath,throughwhichwemustpassforhundredsofsaddays,stretchingoutintolongmonthsofsufferinganddeath。HappilytherewasnoonetotellusthatofeveryfiveinthatpartyfourwouldneverstandundertheStarsandStripesagain,butsuccumbingtochronicstarvation,long—continuedexposure,thebulletofthebrutalguard,theloathsomescurvy,thehideousgangrene,andtheheartsicknessofhopedeferred,wouldfindrespitefrompainlowinthebarrensandsofthathungrySouthernsoil。
　　Wereeverydoomforetokenedbyappropriateomens,theravensalongourroutewouldhavecroakedthemselveshoarse。
　　But,farfrombeingoppressedbyanypresentimentofcomingevil,webegantoappreciateandenjoythepicturesquegrandeurofthescenerythroughwhichweweremoving。TheruggedsternnessoftheAppalachianmountainrange,inwhoserock—ribbedheartwehadfoughtourlosingfight,wasnowsofteningintolessstrong,butmoregracefuloutlinesasweapproachedthepine—clad,sandyplainsoftheseaboard,uponwhichRichmondisbuilt。WewereskirtingalongtheeasternbaseofthegreatBlueRidge,aboutwhosedistantandloftysummitshungaperpetualveilofdeep,dark,buttranslucentblue,whichrefractedtheslantingraysofthemorningandeveningsunintomassesofcolormoregorgeousthanadreamer'svisionofanenchantedland。AtLynchburgwesawthefamedPeaksofOtter——twentymilesaway——liftingtheirproudheadsfarintotheclouds,likegiantwatch—towerssentinelingthegatewaythatthemightywatersoftheJameshadforcedthroughthebarriersofsolidadamantlyingacrosstheirpathtothefar—offsea。Whatwehadseenmanymilesbackstartfromthemountainsidesasslenderrivulets,brawlingoverthewornboulders,werenowgreat,rushing,full—tidestreams,enoughoftheminanyfiftymilesofourjourneytofurnishwaterpowerforallthefactoriesofNewEngland。Theiramazingopulenceofmechanicalenergyhaslainunutilized,almostunnoticed;inthetwoandone—halfcenturiesthatthewhitemanhasdweltnearthem,whileinMassachusettsandhernearneighborseveryrillthatcanturnawheelhasbeenputintoharnessandforcedtodoitsshareoflaborforthebenefitofthemenwhohavemadethemselvesitsmasters。
　　Hereisoneofthedifferencesbetweenthetwosections:IntheNorthmanwassetfree,andtheelementsmadetodohiswork。IntheSouthmanwasthedegradedslave,andtheelementswantonedoninundisturbedfreedom。
　　Aswewenton,theValleysoftheJamesandtheAppomattox,downwhichourwaylay,broadenedintoanexpanseofarableacres,andthefacesofthosestreamswerefrequentlyfleckedbygem—likelittleislands。