Afewwagonloadsofroastingearsandsweetpotatoswouldhavebanishedeverytraceofscurvyfromthecamp,healedupthewastingdysentery,andsavedthousandsoflives。AnydaythattheRebelshadchosentheycouldhavegottenathousandvolunteerswhowouldhavegiventheirsolemnparolenottoescape,andgoneanydistanceintothecountry,togatherthepotatosandcorn,andsuchothervegetablesaswerereadilyobtainable,andbring,themintothecamp。
WhateverelsemaybesaidindefenseoftheSouthernmanagementofmilitaryprisons,thepermittingseventhousandmentodieofthescurvyintheSummertime,inthemidstofanagriculturalregion,filledwithallmannerofgreenvegetation,mustforeverremainimpossibleofexplanation。
CHAPTERLI。
SOLICITUDEASTOTHEFATEOFATLANTAANDSHERMAN'SARMY——PAUCITYOFNEWS
——HOWWEHEARDTHATATLANTAHADFALLEN——ANNOUNCEMENTOFAGENERAL
EXCHANGE——WELEAVEANDERSONVILLE。
WeagainbegantobeexceedinglysolicitousoverthefateofAtlantaandSherman'sArmy:wehadheardbutlittledirectlyfromthatfrontforseveralweeks。Fewprisonershadcomeinsincethosecapturedinthebloodyengagementsofthe20th,22d,and28thofJuly。Inspiteoftheirconfidenttones,andourownsanguinehopes,theoutlookadmittedofverygravedoubts。ThebattlesofthelastweekofJulyhadbeenlookedatitinthebestlightpossible——indecisive。Ourmenhadheldtheirown,itistrue,butaninvadingarmycannotaffordtosimplyholditsown。
Anythingshortofanabsolutesuccessistoitdisguiseddefeat。ThenweknewthatthecavalrycolumnsentoutunderStonemanhadbeensobadlyhandledbythatinefficientcommanderthatithadfailedridiculouslyinitsobject,beingbeatenindetail,andsufferingthelossofitscommanderandaconsiderableportionofitsnumbers。ThishadbeenfollowedbyadefeatofourinfantryatEtowahCreek,andthencamealongintervalinwhichwereceivednonewssavewhattheRebelpaperscontained,andtheypretendednodoubtthatSherman'sfailurewasalreadydemonstrated。Nextcamewell—authenticatednewsthatShermanhadraisedthesiegeandfallenbacktotheChattahoochee,andwefeltsomethingofthebitternessofdespair。Fordaysthereafterweheardnothing,thoughthehot,closeSummerairseemedsurchargedwiththepremonitionsofawarstormabouttoburst,evenasnatureheraldsinthesamewayaconcentrationofthemightyforceoftheelementsforthegrandcrashofthethunderstorm。Wewaitedintenseexpectancyforthedecisionofthefateswhetherfinalvictoryordefeatshouldendthelongandarduouscampaign。
AtnighttheguardsintheperchesaroundtheStockadecalledouteveryhalfhour,soastoshowtheofficersthattheywereawakeandattendingtotheirduty。Theformulaforthisranthus:
"Postnumbah1;half—pasteighto'clock,anda—1—1'sw—e—l—l！"
PostNo。2repeatedthiscry,andsoitwentaround。
OneeveningwhenouranxietyastoAtlantawaswroughttothehighestpitch,oneoftheguardssangout:
"Postnumbahfoah——halfpasteighto'clock——andAtlanta's——gone——t—o——
hell"
Theheartofeverymanwithinhearingleapedtohismouth。Welookedtowardeachother,almostspeechlesswithgladsurprise,andthengaspedout:
"Did'youhearTHAT？"
Thenextinstantsucharingingcheerburstoutaswellsspontaneouslyfromthethroatsandheartsofmen,inthefirstecstaticmomentsofvictory——acheertowhichoursaddenedheartsandenfeebledlungshadlongbeenstrangers。Itwasthegenuine,honest,manlyNortherncheer,asdifferentfromtheshrillRebelyellasthehonestmastiff'sdeep—
voicedwelcomeisfromthehowloftheprowlingwolf。
Theshoutwastakenupallovertheprison。Eventhosewhohadnotheardtheguardunderstoodthatitmeantthat"Atlantawasoursandfairlywon,"andtheytookuptheacclamationwithasmuchenthusiasmaswehadbegunit。Allthoughtsofsleepwereputtoflight:wewouldhaveaseasonofrejoicing。Littleknotsgatheredtogether,debatedthenews,andindulgedinthemostsanguinehopesastotheeffectupontheRebels。
InsomepartsoftheStockadestumpspeechesweremade。IbelievethatBostonCorbettandhispartyorganizedaprayerandpraisemeeting。
Inourcornerwestirredupourtunefulfriend"Nosey,"whosangagainthegrandoldpatriotichymnsthatsetourthinbloodtobounding,andmadeusrememberthatwewerestillUnionsoldiers,withhigherhopesthanthatofstarvinganddyinginAndersonville。Hesangtheever—
gloriousStarSpangledBanner,asheusedtosingitaroundthecampfireinhappierdays,whenwewereinthefield。Hesangtherousing"RallyRoundtheFlag,"withitswealthofpatrioticfireandmartialvigor,andwe,withthroatshoarsefromshouting;joinedinthechorusuntilthewelkinrangagain。
TheRebelsbecameexcited,lestourexaltationofspiritswouldleadtoanassaultupontheStockade。Theygotunderarms,andremainedsountiltheenthusiasmbecamelessdemonstrative。
Afewdayslater——ontheeveningofthe6thofSeptember——theRebelSergeantswhocalledtherollenteredtheStockade,andeachassemblinghissquads,addressedthemasfollows:
"PRISONERS:IaminstructedbyGeneralWindertoinformyouthatageneralexchangehasbeenagreedupon。TwentythousandmenwillbeexchangedimmediatelyatSavannah,whereyourvesselsarenowwaitingforyou。DetachmentsfromOnetoTenwillpreparetoleaveearlyto—morrowmorning。"
Theexcitementthatthisnewsproducedwassimplyindescribable。Ihaveseenmenineverypossibleexigencythatcanconfrontmen,andalargeproportionviewedthatwhichimpendedoverthemwithatleastoutwardcomposure。Theboysaroundmehadenduredallthatwesufferedwithstoicalfirmness。Groansfrompain—rackedbodiescouldnotberepressed,andbittercursesandmaledictionsagainsttheRebelsleapedunbiddentothelipsattheslightestoccasion,buttherewasnomurmuringorwhining。Therewasnotaday——hardlyanhour——inwhichonedidnotseesuchexhibitionsofmanlyfortitudeasmadehimproudofbelongingtoaraceofwhicheveryindividualwasahero。
Buttheemotionwhichpainandsufferinganddangercouldnotdevelop,joycould,andboyssang,andshoutedandcried,anddancedasifinadelirium。"God'scountry,"fairerthanthesweetpromisedlandofCanaanappearedtotheraptvisionoftheHebrewpoetprophet,spreadoutingladvistabeforethemind'seyeofeveryone。Ithadcome——atlastithadcomethatwhichwehadsolongedfor,wishedfor,prayedfor,dreamedof;schemed,planned,toiledfor,andforwhichwentupthelastearnest,dyingwishofthethousandsofourcomradeswhowouldnowknownoexchangesaveintothateternalGod'scountry"whereSicknessandsorrow,painanddeathArefeltandfearednomore。
Our"preparations,"forleavingwerefewandsimple。Whenthemorningcame,andshortlyaftertheordertomove,AndrewsandIpickedourwell—
wornblanket,ourtatteredovercoat,ourrudechessmen,andnolessrudeboard,ourlittleblackcan,andthespoonmadeofhoop—iron,andbadefarewelltothehole—in—the—groundthathadbeenourhomefornearlysevenlongmonths。
Myfeetwerestillinmiserableconditionfromthelacerationsreceivedintheattempttoescape,butItookoneofourtentpolesasastaffandhobbledaway。Were—passedthegateswhichwehadenteredonthatFebruarynight,agessince,itseemed,andcrawledslowlyovertothedepot。
IhadcometoregardtheRebelsaroundusassuchmeasurelessliarsthatmyfirstimpulsewastobelievethereverseofanythingtheysaidtous;
andevennow,whileIhopedforthebest,myoldhabitofmindwassostronglyuponmethatIhadsomedoubtsofourgoingtobeexchanged,simplybecauseitwasaRebelwhohadsaidso。ButinthecrowdofRebelswhostoodclosetotheroaduponwhichwewerewalkingwasayoungSecondLieutenant,whosaidtoaColonelasIpassed:
"Weil,thosefellowscansing'HomewardBound,'can'tthey？"
Thissetmylastmisgivingatrest。NowIwascertainthatweweregoingtobeexchanged,andmyspiritssoaredtotheskies。
Enteringthecarswethumpedandpoundedtoilsomelyalong,afterthemannerofSouthernrailroads,attherateofsixoreightmilesanhour。
Savannahwastwohundredandfortymilesaway,andtoourimpatientmindsitseemedasifwewouldnevergetthere。TheroutelaythewholedistancethroughthecheerlesspinebarrenswhichcoverthegreaterpartofGeorgia。TheonlyconsiderabletownonthewaywasMacon,whichhadthenapopulationoffivethousandorthereabouts。Forscoresofmilestherewouldnotbeasignofahumanhabitation,andintheonehundredandeightymilesbetweenMaconandSavannahtherewereonlythreeinsignificantvillages。Therewasastationeverytenmiles,atwhichtheonlybuildingwasanopenshed,toshelterfromsunandrainacasualpassenger,orabitofgoods。
Theoccasionalspecimensofthepoorwhite"cracker"populationthatwesaw,seemedindigenousproductsofthestarvedsoil。Theysuitedtheirpoverty—strickensurroundingsaswellasthegnarledandscrubbyvegetationsuitedthesterilesand。Thin—chested,round—shouldered,scraggy—bearded,dull—eyedandopen—mouthed,theyalllookedalike——alllookedasignorant,asstupid,andaslazyastheywerepoorandweak。
Theywere"low—downers"ineveryrespect,andmadeourroughandsimple。
mindedEastTennesseanslooklikemodelsofelegantandculturedgentlemenincontrast。
Welookedonthepoverty—strickenlandwithgood—naturedcontempt,forwethoughtwewereleavingitforever,andwouldsoonbeinonewhich,comparedtoit,wasasthefatnessatEgypttotheleannessofthedesertofSinai。
TheseconddayafterleavingAndersonvilleourtrainstruggledacrosstheswampsintoSavannah,androlledslowlydowntheliveoakshadedstreetsintothecenteroftheCity。ItseemedlikeanotherDesertedVillage,sovacantandnoiselessthestreets,andthebuildingseverywheresoovergrownwithluxuriantvegetation:Thelimbsoftheshadetreescrashedalongandbroke,uponthetopsofourcars,asifnotrainhadpassedthatwayforyears。ThroughtheintersticesbetweenthetreesandclumpsoffoliagecouldbeseenthegleamingwhitemarbleofthemonumentserectedtoGreeneandPulaski,lookinglikegianttombstonesinaCityoftheDead。Theunbrokenstillness——sodifferentfromwhatweexpectedonenteringthemetropolisofGeorgia,andaCitythatwasanimportantportinRevolutionarydays——becameabsolutelyoppressive。Wecouldnotunderstandit,butourthoughtsweremoreintentuponthecomingtransfertoourflagthanuponanyspeculationastothecauseoftheremarkablesomnolenceofSavannah。
Finallysomelittleboysstraggledouttowhereourcarwasstanding,andweopenedupaconversationwiththem:
"Say,boys,areourvesselsdownintheharboryet？"
Thereplycameinthatpiercingtrebleshriekinwhichaboyoftenortwelvemakesevenhismostconfidentialcommunications:
"Idon'tknow。"
"Well,"（withourconfidenceinexchangesomewhatdashed,）"theyintendtoexchangeushere,don'tthey？"
Anotherfalsettoscream,"Idon'tknow。"
"Well,"（withsomethingofaquaverinthequestioner'svoice,）"whataretheygoingtodo,withus,anyway？"
"O,"（thetrebleshriekbecamealmostdemoniac）"theyarefixingupaplaceoverbytheoldjailforyou。"
Whatasinkingofheartswastherethen！AndrewsandIwouldnotgiveuphopesospeedilyassomeothersdid,andresolvedtobelieve,forawhileatleast,thatweweregoingtobeexchanged。
Orderedoutofthecars,weweremarchedalongthestreet。Acrowdofsmallboys,fullofthecuriosityoftheanimal,gatheredaroundusaswemarched。Suddenlyadoorinarathernicehouseopened;anangry—facedwomanappearedonthestepsandshoutedout:
"Boys！BOYS！Whatareyoudoin'there！Comeuponthestepsimmejitely！
Comeawayfromthemn—a—s—t—ythings！"
Iwilladmitthatwewerenotprepossessinginappearance;norwereweascleanlyasyounggentlemenshouldhabituallybe;infact,ImayaswellconfessthatIwouldnotnow,ifIcouldhelpit,allowatramp,asdilapidatedinraiment,asunwashed,unshorn,uncombed,andpopulouswithinsectsaswewere,tocomewithinseveralrodsofme。Nevertheless,itwasnotpleasanttohearsoaccurateadescriptionofourpersonalappearancesentforthonthewingsofthewindbyashrill—voicedRebelfemale。
Ashortmarchbroughtustotheplace"theywerefixingforusbytheoldjail。"Itwasanotherpen,withhighwallsofthickpineplank,whichtoldusonlytooplainlyhowvainwereourexpectationsofexchange。
Whenwewereturnedinside,andIrealizedthatthegatesofanotherprisonhadcloseduponme,hopeforsookme。Iflungourodiouslittlepossessions—ourcan,chess—board,overcoat,andblanket—upontheground,and,sittingdownbesidethem,gavewaytothebitterestdespair。
Iwantedtodie,O,sobadly。NeverinallmylifehadIdesiredanythingintheworldsomuchasIdidnowtogetoutofit。HadIhadpistol,knife,rope,orpoison,Iwouldhaveendedmyprisonlifethenandthere,anddepartedwiththeunceremoniousnessofaFrenchleave。
IrememberedthatIcouldgetaquietusfromaguardwithverylittletrouble,butIwouldnotgiveoneofthebitterlyhatedRebelsthetriumphofshootingme。IlongedtobeanotherSamson,withthewholeSouthernConfederacygatheredinanotherTempleofDagon,thatImightpulldownthesupportingpillars,anddiehappyinslayingthousandsofmyenemies。
WhileIwasthussinkingdeeperanddeeperintheSloughofDespond,thefiringofamusket,andtheshriekofthemanwhowasstruck,attractedmyattention。Lookingtowardstheoppositeendofthe,penIsawaguardbringinghisstillsmokingmuskettoa"recoverarms,"and,notfifteenfeetfromhim,aprisonerlyingonthegroundintheagoniesofdeath。
Thelatterhadapipeinhismouthwhenhewasshot,andhisteethstillclencheditsstem。Hislegsandarmsweredrawnupconvulsively,andhewasrockingbackwardandforwardonhisback。Thechargehadstruckhimjustabovethehip—bone。
TheRebelofficerincommandoftheguardwassittingonhishorseinsidethepenatthetime,androdeforwardtoseewhatthematterwas。
LieutenantDavis,whohadcomewithusfromAndersonville,wasalsosittingonahorseinsidetheprison,andhecalledoutinhisusualharsh,disagreeablevoice:
"That'sallright,Cunnel;theman'sdonejustasIawdahedhimto。"
Ifoundthatlyingaroundinsidewereanumberofbitsofplank——eachaboutfivefeetlong,whichhadbeensawedoffbythecarpentersengagedinbuildingtheprison。Thegroundbeingabarecommon,wasdestituteofallshelter,andthepieceslookedasiftheywouldbequiteusefulinbuildingatent。Theremayhavebeenanorderissuedforbiddingtheprisonerstotouchthem,butifso,Ihadnotheardit,andIimaginethefirstintimationtotheprisonerjustkilledthattheboardswerenottobetakenwasthebulletwhichpenetratedhisvitals。Twenty—fivecentswouldbealiberalappraisementofthevalueofthelumberforwhichtheboylosthislife。
Halfanhourafterwardwethoughtwesawalltheguardsmarchoutofthefrontgate。Therewasstillanotherpileofthesesamekindofpiecesofboardlyingatthefurthersideoftheprison。Thecrowdaroundmenoticedit,andweallmadearushforit。InspiteofmylamefeetI
outstrippedtherest,andwasjustintheactofstoopingdowntopicktheboardsupwhenaloudyellfromthosebehindstartledme。GlancingtomyleftIsawaguardcockinghisgunandbringingituptoshootme。
Withonefrightenedspring,asquickasaflash,andbeforehecouldcoverme,Ilandedfullyarodbackinthecrowd,andmixedwithit。
Thefellowtriedhardtodrawabeadonme,butIwastooquickforhim,andhefinallyloweredhisgunwithanoathexpressiveofdisappointmentinnotbeingabletokillaYankee。
WalkingbacktomyplacethefullludicrousnessofthethingdawneduponmesoforciblythatIforgotallaboutmyexcitementandscare,andlaughedaloud。Here,notanhourageIwasmurmuringbecauseIcouldfindnowaytodie;Isighedfordeathasabridegroomforthecomingofhisbride,anyet,whenaRebelhadpointedhisgunatme,ithadnearlyscaredmeoutofayear'sgrowth,andmademejumpfartherthanIcouldpossiblydowhenmyfeetwerewell,andIwasingoodconditionotherwise。
CHAPTERII。
SAVANNAH——DEVICESTOOBTAINMATERIALSFORATENT——THEIRULTIMATESUCCESS
——RESUMPTIONOFTUNNELING——ESCAPINGBYWHOLESALEANDBEINGRECAPTUREDEN
MASSE——THEOBSTACLESTHATLAYBETWEENUSANDOURLINES。
AndrewsandIdidnotletthefateoftheboywhowaskilled,normyownnarrowescapefromlosingthetopofmyhead,deterusfromfarthereffortstosecurepossessionofthosecovetedboards。Myreadersrememberthestoryoftheboywho,diggingvigorouslyatahole,repliedtotheremarkofapassingtravelerthattherewasprobablynoground—hogthere,and,eveniftherewas,"ground—hogwasmightypooreatin',anyway,"with:
"Mister,there'sgottobeaground—hogthere;ourfamily'souto'meat！"
Thatwaswhatactuatedus:wewereoutofmaterialforatent。Oursolitaryblankethadrottedandwornfullofholesbyitslongdoubleduty,asbed—clothesandtentatAndersonville,andtherewasanimperativecallforasubstitute。
AndrewsandIflatteredourselvesthatwhenwematchedourcollectiveorindividualwitsagainstthoseofaJohnnyhisdefeatwasprettycertain,andwiththischeerfulestimateofourownpowerstoanimateus,wesettoworktostealtheboardsfromundertheguard'snose。TheJohnnyhadmaliceinhisheartandbuck—and—ballinhismusket,buthiseyeswerenotsufficientlynumeroustoadequatelydischargeallthedutieslaiduponhim。Hehadtoomanydifferentthingstowatchatthesametime。
IwouldapproachagapinthefencenotyetclosedasifIintendedmakingadashthroughitforliberty,andwhentheJohnnyhadconcentratedallhisattentiononlettingmehavethecontentsofhisgunjustassoonashecouldhaveareasonableexcusefordoingso,Andrewswouldpickuacoupleofboardsandslipawaywiththem。ThenIwouldfallbackinpretended（andsomereal）alarm,and——Andrewwouldcomeupanddrawhisattentionbyasimilarfeint,whileImadeoffwithacouplemorepieces。Afterafewhourscthisstrategy,wefoundourselvesthepossessorsofsomedozenplanks,withwhichwemadealean—to,thatformedatolerableshelterforourheadsandtheupperportionofourbodies。Astheboardswerenotoverfivefeetlong,andtheslopereducetheshelteredspacetoaboutfour—and—one—halffeet,itleftthlowerpartofournakedfeetandlegstoprojectout—of—doors。Andrewsusedtolamentverytouchinglythesunburninghistoe—nailswerereceiving。
Heknewthathiscomplexionwasbeingruinedforlife,andalltheBalmofaThousandFlowersintheworldwouldnotrestorehiscomelyanklestothatconditionofpristinelovelinesswhichwouldadmitoftheirintroductionintogoodsocietyagain。Anotherdefectwasthat,likethefuninapracticaljoke,itwasallononeside;therewasnotenoughofittogoclearround。Itwasveryunpleasant,whenastormcameupinadirectiondifferentfromthatwehadcalculatedupon,tobecompelledtogetoutinthemidstofit,andbuildourhouseovertofacetheotherway。
Stillwehadatent,andwerethatmuchbetteroffthanthree—fourthsofourcomradeswhohadnoshelteratall。WewereownersofabrownstonefrontonFifthAvenuecomparedtotheotherfellows。
Ourtenterected,webeganageneralsurveyofournewabidingplace。
ThegroundwasasandycommonintheoutskirtsofSavannah。Thesandwascoveredwithalightsod。TheRebels,whoknewnothingofourburrowingpropensities,hadneglectedtomaketheplankformingthewallsofthePrisonprojectanydistancebelowthesurfaceoftheground,andhadputupnoDeadLinearoundtheinside;sothatitlookedasifeverythingwasarrangedexpresslytoinviteustotunnelout。Wewerenottheboystoneglectsuchaninvitation。BynightaboutthreethousandhadbeenreceivedfromAndersonville,andplacedinside。Whenmorningcameitlookedasifacolonyofgiganticratshadbeenatwork。Therewasatunneleverytenorfifteenfeet,andatleasttwelvehundredofushadgoneoutthroughthemduringthenight。Ineverunderstoodwhyallinthependidnotfollowourexample,andleavetheguardswatchingaforsakenPrison。Therewasnothingtopreventit。Anhour'sindustriousworkwithahalf—canteenwouldtakeanyoneoutside,orifaboywastoolazytodighisowntunnel,hecouldhavetheuseofoneofthehundredothersthathadbeendug。
ButescapingwasonlybegunwhentheStockadewaspassed。ThesiteofSavannahisvirtuallyanisland。OnthenorthistheSavannahRiver;totheeast,southeastandsouth,arethetwoOgeecheerivers,andachainofsoundsandlagoonsconnectingwiththeAtlanticOcean。TothewestisacanalconnectingtheSavannahandBigOgeecheeRivers。Wefoundourselvesheadedoffbywaterwhicheverwaywewent。Allthebridgeswereguarded,andalltheboatsdestroyed。EarlyinthemorningtheRebelsdiscoveredourabsence,andthewholegarrisonofSavannahwassentoutonpatrolafterus。Theypickeduptheboysinsquadsoffromtentothirty,lurkingaroundtheshoresofthestreamswaitingfornighttocome,togetacross,orengagedinbuildingraftsfortransportation。
Byeveningthewholemobofuswerebackinthepenagain。Asnobodywaspunishedforrunningaway,wetreatedthewholeaffairasalark,andthosebroughtbackfirststoodaroundthegateandyelledderisivelyastheotherscamein。
ThatnightbigfireswerebuiltallaroundtheStockade,andalineofguardsplacedonthegroundinsideofthese。Inspiteofthisprecaution,quiteanumberescaped。ThenextdayaDeadLinewasputupinsideofthePrison,twentyfeetfromtheStockade。Thisonlyincreasedthelaborofburrowing,bymakingusgofarther。Insteadofbeingabletotunneloutinanhour,itnowtookthreeorfourhours。Thatnightseveralhundredofus,restedfromourpreviousperformance,andhopefulofbetterluck,broughtourfaithfulhalfcanteens——nowscouredverybrightbyconstantuse—intorequisitionagain,andbeforethemorning。
dawnedwehadgainedthehighreedsoftheswamps,wherewelayconcealeduntilnight。
Inthiswaywemanagedtoevadetherecapturethatcametomostofthosewhowentout,butitwasafearfulexperience。Havingbeenraisedinacountrywherevenomoussnakesabounded,Ihadthatfearandhorrorofthemthatinhabitantsofthosedistrictsfeel,andofwhichpeoplelivinginsectionsfreefromsuchascourgeknowlittle。IfanciedthattheSouthernswampswerefilledwithallformsofloathsomeandpoisonousreptiles,anditrequiredallmycouragetoventureintothembarefooted。
Besides,thesnagsandrootshurtourfeetfearfully。Ourhopewastofindaboatsomewhere,inwhichwecouldfloatouttosea,andtrusttobeingpickedupbysomeoftheblockadingfleet。Butnoboatcouldwefind,withallourpainfulanddiligentsearch。WelearnedafterwardthattheRebelsmadeapracticeofbreakingupalltheboatsalongtheshoretopreventnegrosandtheirowndesertersfromescapingtotheblockadingfleet。Wethoughtofmakingaraftoflogs,buthadwehadthestrengthtodothis,wewoulddoubtlesshavethoughtittoorisky,sincewedreadedmissingthevessels,andbeingcarriedouttoseatoperishofhunger。DuringthenightwecametotherailroadbridgeacrosstheOgeechee。Wehadsomeslenderhopethat,ifwecouldreachthiswemightperhapsgetacrosstheriver,andfindbetteropportunitiesforescape。Buttheselastexpectationswereblastedbythediscoverythatitwasguarded。Therewasapostandafireontheshorenextus,andasingleguardwithalanternwasstationedononeofthemiddlespans。Almostfamishedwithhunger,andsowearyandfootsorethatwecouldscarcelymoveanotherstep,wewentbacktoaclearedplaceonthehighground,andlaiddowntosleep,entirelyrecklessastowhatbecameofus。LateinthemorningwewereawakenedbytheRebelpatrolandtakenbacktotheprison。LieutenantDavis,disgustedwiththeperpetualattemptstoescape,movedtheDeadLineoutfortyfeetfromtheStockade;
butthisrestrictedourroomgreatly,sincethenumberofprisonersinthepenhadnowrisentoaboutsixthousand,and,besides,itofferedlittleadditionalprotectionagainsttunneling。
Itwasnotmuchmoredifficulttodigfiftyfeetthanithadbeentodigthirtyfeet。Davissoonrealizedthis,andputtheDeadLinebacktotwentyfeet。Hisnextdevicewasamuchmoresensibleone。Acrowdofonehundredandfiftynegrosdugatrenchtwentyfeetwideandfivefeetdeeparoundthewholeprisonontheoutside,andthisditchwasfilledwithwaterfromtheCityWaterWorks。Noonecouldcrossthiswithoutattractingtheattentionoftheguards。
Stillwewerenotdiscouraged,andAndrewsandIjoinedacrowdthatwasconstructingalargetunnelfromnearourquartersontheeastsideofthepen。Wefinishedtheburrowtowithinafewinchesoftheedgeoftheditch,andthenceasedoperations,toawaitsomestormynight,whenwecouldhopetogetacrosstheditchunnoticed。
Orderswereissuedtoguardstofirewithoutwarningonmenwhowereobservedtobediggingorcarryingoutdirtafternightfall。Theyoccasionallydidso,buttheriskdidnotkeepanyonefromtunneling。
Ourtunnelrandirectlyunderasentrybox。Whencarryingdirtawaythebearerofthebuckethadtoturnhisbackontheguardandwalkdirectlydownthestreetinfrontofhim,twohundredorthreehundredfeet,tothecenterofthecamp,wherehescatteredthesandaround——soastogivenoindicationofwhereitcamefrom。Thoughwealwayswaitedtillthemoonwentdown,itseemedasif,unlesstheguardwereafool,bothbynatureandtraining,hecouldnothelptakingnoticeofwhatwasgoingonunderhiseyes。Idonotrecallanymorenervouspromenadesinmylife,thanthosewhen,takingmyturn,Ireceivedmybucketofsandatthemouthofthetunnel,andwalkedslowlyawaywithit。Themostdisagreeablepartwasinturningmybacktotheguard。CouldIhavefacedhim,Ihadsufficientconfidenceinmyquicknessofperception,andtalentsasadodger,toimaginethatIcouldmakeitdifficultforhimtohitme。ButinwallingwithmybacktohimIwaswhollyathismercy。Fortune,however,favoredus,andwewereallowedtogoonwithourwork——nightafternight——withoutashot。
InthemeanwhileanotherhappythoughtslowlygestatedinDavis'sallegedintellect。Howhecametogivebirthtotwoideaswithnomorethanaweekbetweenthem,puzzledallwhoknewhim,andstillmorethathesurvivedthisextraordinarystrainuponthegraymatterofthecerebrum。
Hisnewideawastohavedrivenaheavily—ladenmulecartaroundtheinsideoftheDeadLineatleastonceaday。Thewheelsorthemule'sfeetbrokethroughthethinsodcoveringthetunnelsandexposedthem。
Ourtunnelwentwiththerest,andthoseofourcrowdwhoworeshoeshadhumiliationaddedtosorrowbybeingcompelledtogoinandspadetheholefullofdirt。Thisputanendtosubterraneanengineering。
Onedayoneoftheboyswatchedhisopportunity,gotundertherationwagon,andclingingclosetothecouplingpolewithhandsandfeet,wascarriedoutside。Hewasdetected,however,ashecamefromunderthewagon,andbroughtback。
CHAPTERLIII。
FRANKREVERSTOCK'SATTEMPTATESCAPE——PASSINGOFFASREBELBOYHEREACHES
GRISWOLDVILLEBYRAIL,ANDTHENSTRIKESACROSSTHECOUNTRYFORSHERMAN,BUTISCAUGHTWITHINTWENTYMILESOFOURLINES。
OneoftheshrewdestandnearestsuccessfulattemptstoescapethatcameundermynoticewasthatofmyfriendSergeantFrankReverstock,oftheThirdWestVirginiaCavalry,ofwhomIhavebeforespoken。Frank,whowasquitesmall,withasmoothboyishface,hadconvertedtohisownuseacitizen'scoat,belongingtoayoungboy,aSutler'sassistant,whohaddiedinAndersonville。Hehadmadehimselfapairofbagpantaloonsandashirtfrompiecesofmealsackswhichhehadappropriatedfromdaytoday。HehadalsotheSutler'sassistant'sshoes,and,tocrownall,heworeonhisheadoneofthosehideouslookinghatsofquiltedcalicowhichtheRebelshadtakentowearinginthelackoffelthats,whichtheycouldneithermakenorbuy。AltogetherFranklookedenoughlikeaRebeltobedangeroustotrustnearacountrystoreorastablefullofhorses。WhenwefirstarrivedintheprisonquiteacrowdoftheSavannahiansrushedintoinspectus。Theguardshadsomedifficultyinkeepingthemandusseparate。Whileperplexedwiththisannoyance,oneofthemsawFrankstandinginourcrowd,and,touchinghimwithhisbayonet,said,withsomesharpness:
"Seeheah;youmuststandback;youmusn'tcrowdonthemprisonersso。",Frankstoodback。Hediditpromptlybutcalmly,andthen,asifhiscuriosityastoYankeeswasfullysatisfied,hewalkedslowlyawayupthestreet,deliberatingashewentonaplanforgettingoutoftheCity。