FromColumbusweweresentbyrailtoMacon,wherewewereplacedinaprisonsomewhatsimilartoAndersonville,butofnothinglikeitspretensionstosecurity。Isoonlearnedthatitwasonlyusedasakindofreceptionplacefortheprisonerswhowerecapturedinsmallsquads,andwhentheynumberedtwoorthreehundred,theywouldbeshippedtoAndersonville,orsomeotherplaceofgreaterdimensionsandstrength。
Whatbecameoftheotherboyswhowerewithme,afterwegottoMacon,Idonotknow,forIlostsightofthemthere。Theverynextdayafterourarrival,therewereshippedtoAndersonvillefromthisprisonbetweentwoandthreehundredmen。Iwascalledontogowiththecrowd,buthavinghadasufficientexperienceofthehospitalityofthathotel,Iconcludedtoplay"oldsoldier,"soIbecametoosicktotravel。
InthiswayIescapedbeingsentofffourdifferenttimes。
Meanwhile,quitealargenumberofcommissionedofficershadbeensentupfromCharlestontobeexchangedatRoughandReady。Withthemwereaboutfortymorethanthecartelcalledfor,andtheywereleftatMaconfortendaysortwoweeks。Amongtheseofficerswereseveralofmyacquaintance,onebeingLieut。Huntlyofourregiment（IamnotquitesurethatIamrightinthenameofthisofficer,butIthinkIam）,throughwhoseinfluenceIwasallowedtogooutsidewiththemonparole。
ItwaswhileenjoyingthisparolethatIgotmorefamiliarlyacquaintedwithCaptainHurtell,orHurtrell,whowasincommandoftheprisonatMacon,andtohishonor,Ihereassert,thathewastheonlygentlemanandtheonlyofficerthathadtheleasthumanefeelinginhisbreast,whoeverhadchargeofmewhileaprisonerofwarafterweweretakenoutofthehandsofouroriginalcaptorsatJonesville,Va。
ItnowbecameveryevidentthattheRebelsweremovingtheprisonersfromAndersonvilleandelsewhere,soastoplacethembeyondthereachofShermanandStoneman。AtmypresentplaceofconfinementthefearofourrecapturehadalsotakenpossessionoftheRebelauthorities,sotheprisonersweresentoffinmuchsmallersquadsthanformerly,frequentlynotmorethantenorfifteeninagang,whereas,before,theyneverthoughtofdispatchinglessthantwoorthreehundredtogether。
IacknowledgethatIbegantogetveryuneasy,fearfulthatthe"oldsoldier"dodgewouldnotbemuchlongersuccessful,andIwouldbeforcedbacktomyoldhaunts。Itsohappened,however,thatImanagedtomakeitserveme,bygettingdetailedintheprisonhospitalasnurse,sothatIwasenabledtoplayanother"dodge"upontheRebelofficers。Atfirst,whentheSergeantwouldcomearoundtofindoutwhowereabletowalk,withassistance,tothedepot,Iwasshakingwithachill,which,accordingtomyrepresentation,hadnotabatedintheleastforseveralhours。Myteethwereactuallychatteringatthetime,forIhadlearnedhowtomakethemdoso。Iwaspassed。Thenextdaytheordersforremovalweremorestringentthanhadyetbeenissued,statingthatallwhocouldstandittoberemovedonstretchersmustgo。IconcludedatoncethatIwasgone,soassoonasIlearnedhowmatterswere,Igotoutfromundermydirtyblanket,stoodupandfoundIwasabletowalk,tomygreatastonishment,ofcourse。Anofficercameearlyinthemorningtomusterusintorankspreparatoryforremoval。Ifellinwiththerest。
Weweremarchedoutandaroundtothegateoftheprison。
Now,itsohappenedthatjustaswenearedthegateoftheprison,theprisonerswerebeingmarchedfromtheStockade。Theofficerinchargeofus——wenumberingpossiblyaboutten——undertooktoplaceusattheheadofthecolumncomingout,buttheguardinchargeofthatsquadrefusedtolethimdoso。WewerethenorderedtostandatonesidewithnoguardoverusbuttheofficerwhohadbroughtusfromtheHospital。
Takingthisinataglance,Iconcludedthatnowwasmychancetomakemysecondattempttoescape。Isteppedbehindthegateoffice（asmallframebuildingwithonlyoneroom）,whichwasnotmorethansixfeetfromme,andasluck（orProvidence）wouldhaveit,thenegromanwhosedutyitwas,asIknew,towaitonandtakecareofthisoffice,andwhohadtakenquitealikingforme,wasstandingatthebackdoor。Iwinkedathimandthrewhimmyblanketandthecup,atthesametimetellinghiminawhispertohidethemawayformeuntilheheardfrommeagain。Withagrinandanod,heacceptedthetrust,andIstarteddownalongthewallsoftheStockadealone。Inordertomakethismoreplain,andtoshowwhatariskIwasrunningatthetime,IwillstatethatbetweentheStockadeandabrickwall,fullyashighastheStockadefencethatwasparallelwithit,throughoutitsentirelengthonthatside,therewasaspaceofnotmorethanthirtyfeet。OntheoutsideofthisStockadewasaplatform,builtfortheguardstowalkon,sufficientlyclearthetoptoallowthemtolookinsidewithease,andonthisside,ontheplatform,werethreeguards。Ihadtraveledaboutfiftyfeetonly,fromthegateoffice,whenIheardthecommandto"Halt！"Ididso,ofcourse。
"Whereareyougoing,youd———dYank？"saidtheguard。
"Goingaftermyclothes,thatareoverthereinthewash,"pointingtoasmallcabinjustbeyondtheStockade,whereIhappenedtoknowthattheofficershadtheirwashingdone。
"Oh,yes,"saidhe;"youareoneoftheYank'sthat'sbeenon,parole,areyou？"
"Yes。"
"Well,hurryup,oryouwillgetleft。"
TheotherguardsheardthisconversationandthinkingitallrightIwasallowedtopasswithoutfurthertrouble。Iwenttothecabininquestion——forIsawthelastguardonthelinewatchingme,andboldlyentered。ImadeaclearstatementtothewomaninchargeofitabouthowIhadmademyescape,andaskedhertosecretemeinthehouseuntilnight。Iwassoonconvinced,however,fromwhatshetoldme,aswellasfrommyownknowledgeofhowthingsweremanagedintheConfederacy,thatitwouldnotberightformetostaythere,forifthehousewassearchedandIfoundinit,itwouldbetheworseforher。Therefore,notwishingtoentailmiseryuponanother,Ibeggedhertogivemesomethingtoeat,andgoingtotheswampnearby,succeededingettingwellwithoutdetection。
Ilaythereallday,andduringthetimehadaveryseverechillandafterwardsaburningfever,sothatwhennightcame,knowingIcouldnottravel,Iresolvedtoreturntothecabinandspendthenight,andgivemyselfupthenextmorning。Therewasnotroubleinreturning。I
learnedthatmyfearsofthemorninghadnotbeengroundless,fortheguardshadactuallysearchedthehouseforme。ThewomantoldthemthatIhadgotmyclothesandleftthehouseshortlyaftermyentrance（whichwasthetruthexceptthepartabouttheclothesIthankedherverykindlyandbeggedtobeallowedtostayinthecabintillmorning,whenIwouldpresentmyselfatCaptainH。'sofficeandsuffertheconsequences。Thissheallowedmetodo。Ishalleverfeelgratefultothiswomanforherprotection。Shewaswhiteandhergivennamewas"Sallie,"buttheotherIhaveforgotten。
AboutdaylightIstrolledoverneartheofficeandlookedaroundthereuntilIsawtheCaptaintakehisseatathisdesk。IsteppedintothedoorassoonasIsawthathewasnotoccupiedandsalutedhim"alamilitaire。"
"Whoareyou？"heasked;"youlooklikeaYank。"
"Yes,sir,"saidI,"IamcalledbythatnamesinceIwascapturedintheFederalArmy。"
"Well,whatareyoudoinghere,andwhatisyourname？"
Itoldhim。
"Whydidn'tyouanswertoyournamewhenitwascalledatthegateyesterday,sir？"
"Ineverheardanyonecallmyname。"Wherewereyou？"
"Iranawaydownintotheswamp。"
"Wereyoure—capturedandbroughtback？"
"No,sir,Icamebackofmyownaccord。"
"Whatdoyoumeanbythisevasion？"
"Iamnottryingtoevade,sir,orImightnothavebeenherenow。Thetruthis,Captain,Ihavebeeninmanyprisonssincemycapture,andhavebeentreatedverybadlyinallofthem,untilIcamehere。"
"IthenexplainedtohimfreelymyescapefromAndersonville,andmysubsequentre—capture,howitwasthatIhadplayed"oldsoldier"etc。
"Now,"saidI,"Captain,aslongasIamaprisonerofwar,Iwishtostaywithyou,orunderyourcommand。Thisismyreasonforrunningawayyesterday,whenIfeltconfidentthatifIdidnotdosoIwouldbereturnedunderWirz'scommand,and,ifIhadbeensoreturned,Iwouldhavekilledmyselfratherthansubmittotheuntoldtortureswhichhewouldhaveputmeto,forhavingtheaudacitytoattemptanescapefromhim。"
TheCaptain'sattentionwasherecalledtosomeothermattersinhand,andIwassentbackintotheStockadewithacommandverypleasantlygiven,thatIshouldstaythereuntilorderedout,whichIverygratefullypromisedtodo,anddid。ThiswasthelastchanceIeverhadtotalktoCaptainHurtrell,tomygreatsorrow,forIhadreallyformedalikingfortheman,notwithstandingthefactthathewasaRebel,andacommanderofprisoners。
ThenextdayweallhadtoleaveMacon。Whetherwewereableornot,theorderwasimperative。GreatwasmyjoywhenIlearnedthatwewereonthewaytoSavannahandnottoAndersonville。Wetraveledoverthesameroad,sowelldescribedinoneofyourarticlesonAndersonville,andarrivedinSavannahsometimeintheafternoonofthe21stdayofNovember,1864。Oursquadwasplacedinsomebarracksandconfinedthereuntilthenextday。Iwassickatthetime,sosickinfact,thatI
couldhardlyholdmyheadup。Soonafter,weweretakentotheFloridadepot,astheytoldus,tobeshippedtosomeprisoninthosedismalswamps。Icamenearfaintingwhenthiswastoldtous,forIwasconfidentthatIcouldnotsurviveanothersiegeofprisonlife,ifitwasanythingtocompareto—whatIhadalreadysuffered。Whenwearrivedatthedepot,itwasraining。Theofficerinchargeofuswantedtoknowwhattraintoputuson,forthereweretwo,ifnotthree,trainswaitingorderstostart。Hewastoldtomarchusontoacertainflatcar,nearby,butbeforegivingtheorderhedemandedareceiptforus,whichthetrainofficerrefused。Wewereaccordinglytakenbacktoourquarters,whichprovedtobeamostfortunatecircumstance。
Onthe23ddayofNovember,toourgreatrelief,wewerecalledupontosignaparolepreparatorytobeingsentdowntheriverontheflat—boattoourexchangeships,thenlyingintheharbor。WhenIsaywe,ImeanthoseofusthathadrecentlycomefromMacon,andafewothers,whohadalsobeenfortunateinreachingSavannahinsmallsquads。Theotherpoorfellows,whohadalreadybeenloadedonthetrains,weretakenawaytoFlorida,andmanyofthemneverlivedtoreturn。Onthe24ththoseofuswhohadbeenparoledweretakenonboardourships,andwereoncemoresafelyhousedunderthatgreat,gloriousandbeautifulStarSpangledBanner。Longmayshewave。
CHAPTERLXIII。
DREARYWEATHER——THECOLDRAINSDISTRESSALLANDKILLHUNDREDS——EXCHANGE
OFTENTHOUSANDSICK——CAPTAINBOWESTURNSAPRETTY,BUTNOTVERYHONEST,PENNY。
AsNovemberworeawaylong—continued,chill,searchingrainsdesolatedourdaysandnights……Thegreat,colddropspelteddownslowly,dismally,andincessantly。Eachseemedtobeatthroughouremaciatedframesagainsttheverymarrowofourbones,andtobebatteringitswayremorselesslyintothecitadeloflife,likethecrueldropsthatfellfromthebasinoftheinquisitorsuponthefirmly—fastenedheadoftheirvictim,untilhisreasonfled,andthedeath—agonycrampedhishearttostillness。
Thelagging,leadenhourswereinexpressiblydreary。Comparedwithmanyothers,wewerequitecomfortable,asourhutprotectedusfromtheactualbeatingoftherainuponourbodies;butweweremuchmoremiserablethanundertheswelteringheatofAndersonville,aswelayalmostnakeduponourbedofpineleaves,shiveringintheraw,raspingair,andlookedoutoveracresofwretcheslyingdumblyonthesoddensand,receivingthebenumbingdrenchofthesullenskieswithoutagroanoramotion。
Itwasenoughtokillhealthy,vigorousmen,activeandresolute,withbodieswell—nourishedandwellclothed,andwithmindsvivaciousandhopeful,tostandtheseday—and—night—longsoliddrenchings。NoonecanimaginehowfatalitwastoboyswhosevitalitywassappedbylongmonthsinAndersonville,bycoarse,meager,changelessfood,bygrovelingonthebareearth,andbyhopelessnessastoanyimprovementofcondition。
Fever,rheumatism,throatandlungdiseasesanddespairnowcametocompletetheworkbegunbyscurvy,dysenteryandgangrene,inAndersonville。
Hundreds,wearyofthelongstruggle,andofhopingagainsthope,laidthemselvesdownandyieldedtotheirfate。InthesixweeksthatwewereatMillen,onemanineverytendied。Theghostlypinestheresighovertheunnotedgravesofsevenhundredboys,forwhomlife'smorningclosedinthegloomiestshadows。Asmanyaswouldformasplendidregiment——asmanyasconstitutethefirstbornofapopulousCity——morethanthreetimesasmanyaswereslainoutrightonoursideinthebloodybattleofFranklin,succumbedtothisnewhardship。Thecountryforwhichtheydieddoesnotevenhavearecordoftheirnames。Theyweresimplyblottedoutofexistence;theybecameasthoughtheyhadneverbeen。
AboutthemiddleofthemonththeRebelsyieldedtotheimportunitiesofourGovernmentsofarastoagreetoexchangetenthousandsick。TheRebelSurgeonstookpraiseworthycarethatourGovernmentshouldprofitaslittleaspossiblebythis,bysendingeveryhopelesscase,everymanwhoseleaseoflifewasnotlikelytoextendmuchbeyondhisreachingtheparoleboat。Ifheoncereachedourreceivingofficersitwasallthatwasnecessary;hecountedtothemasmuchasifhehadbeenaGoliath。
Averylargeportionofthosesentthroughdiedonthewaytoourlines,orwithinafewhoursaftertheirtransportsatbeingoncemoreundertheoldStarsandStripeshadmoderated。
Thesendingofthesickthroughgaveourcommandant——CaptainBowes——afineopportunitytofillhispockets,byconnivingatthepassageofwellmen。Therewasstillconsiderablemoneyinthehandsofafewprisoners。
Allthis,andmore,too,weretheywillingtogivefortheirlives。
InthefirstbatchthatwentawayweretwooftheleadingsutlersatAndersonville,whohadaccumulatedperhapsonethousanddollarseachbytheirshrewdandsuccessfulbartering。ItwasgenerallybelievedthattheygaveeverycenttoBowesfortheprivilegeofleaving。Iknownothingofthetruthofthis,butIamreasonablycertainthattheypaidhimveryhandsomely。
Soonweheardthatonehundredandfiftydollarseachhadbeensufficienttobuysomemenout;thenonehundred,seventy—five,fifty,thirty,twenty,ten,andatlastfivedollars。WhethertheuprightBowesdrewthelineatthelatterfigure,andrefusedtosellhishonorforlessthantherulingratesofastreet—walker'svirtue,Iknownot。Itwasthelowestquotationthatcametomyknowledge,buthemayhavegonecheaper。Ihavealwaysobservedthatwhenmenorwomenbegintotrafficinthemselves,theirpricefallsasrapidlyasthatofapieceoftaintedmeatinhotweather。Ifonecouldbuythemattheratetheywindupwith,andsellthemattheirfirstprice,therewouldberoomforanenormousprofit。
ThecheapestIeverknewaRebelofficertobeboughtwassomeweeksafterthisatFlorence。Thesickexchangewasstillgoingon。IhavebeforespokenoftheRebelpassionforbrightgiltbuttons。Itusedtobeaproverbialcommentuponthesmalltreasonsthatwereofdailyoccurrenceonbothsides,thatyoucouldbuythesoulofameanmaninourcrowdforapintofcornmeal,andthesoulofaRebelguardforahalfdozenbrassbuttons。AboyoftheFifth—fourthOhio,whosehomewasatornearLima,O。,woreabluevest,withthegilt,bright—trimmedbuttonsofastaffofficer。TheRebelSurgeonwhowasexaminingthesickforexchangesawthebuttonsandadmiredthemverymuch。Theboysteppedback,borrowedaknifefromacomrade,cutthebuttonsoff,andhandedthemtotheDoctor。
"Allright,sir,"saidheashisitchingpalmclosedoverthecovetedornaments;"youcanpass,"andpasshedidtohomeandfriends。
CaptainBowes'smerchandizinginthematterofexchangewasasopenastheissuingofrations。HisagentinconductingthebargainingwasaRaider——aNewYorkgamblerandstool—pigeon——whomwecalled"Mattie。"
Hedealtquitefairly,forseveraltimeswhentheexchangewasinterrupted,Bowessentthemoneybacktothosewhohadpaidhim,andreceiveditagainwhentheexchangewasrenewed。
HaditbeenpossibletobuyourwayoutforfivecentseachAndrewsandI
wouldhavehadtostayback,sincewehadnothadthatmuchmoneyformonths,andallourfriendswereinanequallybadplight。Likealmosteverybodyelsewehadspentthefewdollarswehappenedtohaveonenteringprison,inaweekorso,andsincethenwehadbeenentirelypenniless。
TherewasnohopeleftforusbuttotrytopasstheSurgeonsasdesperatelysick,andweexpendedourenergiesinsimulatingthiscondition。Rheumatismwasourforte,andIflattermyselfwegotuptwocasesthatwereapparentlybadenoughtoserveasillustrationsforapatentmedicineadvertisement。Butitwouldnotdo。Badaswemadeourconditionappear,thereweresomanymorewhowereinfinitelyworse,thatwestoodnoshowinthecompetitiveexamination。Idoubtifwewouldhavebeengivenanaverageof"50"inareport。Wehadtostandback,andseeaboutonequarterofournumbermarchoutandawayhome。
Wecouldnotcomplainatthis——muchaswewantedtogoourselves,sincetherecouldbenoquestionthatthesepoorfellowsdeservedtheprecedence。Wedidgrumblesavagely,however,atCaptainBowes'svenality,insellingoutchancestomoneyedmen,sincethesewereinvariablythosewhowerebestpreparedtowithstandthehardshipsofimprisonment,astheyweremostlynewmen,andallhadgoodclothesandblankets。Wedidnotblamethemen,however,sinceitwasnotinhumannaturetoresistanopportunitytogetaway——atanycost—fromthataccursedplace。"Allthatamanhathhewillgiveforhislife,"andI
thinkthatifIhadownedtheCityofNewYorkinfeesimple,Iwouldhavegivenitawaywillingly,ratherthanstandinprisonanothermonth。
Thesutlers,towhomIhavealludedabove,hadaccumulatedsufficienttosupplythemselveswithallthenecessariesandsomeofthecomfortsoflife,duringanyprobabletermofimprisonment,andstillhaveasnugamountleft,butthey,wouldrathergiveitallupandreturntoservicewiththeirregimentsinthefield,thantakethechancesofanylongercontinuanceinprison。
IcanonlysurmisehowmuchBowesrealizedoutoftheprisonersbyhisvenality,butIfeelsurethatitcouldnothavebeenlessthanthreethousanddollars,andIwouldnotbeastonishedtolearnthatitwastenthousanddollarsingreen。
CHAPTERLXIV
ANOTHERREMOVAL——SHERMAN'SADVANCESCARESTHEREBELSINTORUNNINGUSAWAY
FROMMILLEN——WEARETAKENTOSAVANNAH,ANDTHENCEDOWNTHEATLANTIC&
GULFROADTOBLACKSHEAR
Onenight,towardthelastofNovember,therewasageneralalarmaroundtheprison。AgunwasfiredfromtheFort,thelong—rollwasbeateninthevariouscampsoftheguards,andtheregimentsansweredbygettingunderarmsinhaste,andformingneartheprisongates。
Thereasonforthis,whichwedidnotlearnuntilweekslater,wasthatSherman,whohadcutloosefromAtlantaandstartedonhisfamousMarchtotheSea,hadtakensuchacourseasrendereditprobablethatMillenwasoneofhisobjectivepoints。Itwas,therefore,necessarythatweshouldbehurriedawaywithallpossiblespeed。AswehadhadnonewsfromShermansincetheendoftheAtlantacampaign,andwereignorantofhishavingbegunhisgreatraid,wewereatanutterlosstoaccountforthecommotionamongourkeepers。
About3o'clockinthemorningtheRebelSergeants,whocalledtheroll,cameinandorderedustoturnoutimmediatelyandgetreadytomove。
ThemorningwasoneofthemostcheerlessIeverknew。Acoldrainpouredrelentlesslydownuponushalf—naked,shiveringwretches,aswegropedaroundinthedarknessforourpitifullittlebelongingsofragsandcookingutensils,andhuddledtogetheringroups,urgedoncontinuallybythecursesandabuseoftheRebelofficerssentintogetusreadytomove。
Thoughrousedat3o'clock,thecarswerenotreadytoreceiveustillnearlynoon。Inthemeantimewestoodinranks——numb,trembling,andheart—sick。Theguardsarounduscrouchedoverfires,andshieldedthemselvesasbesttheycouldwithblanketsandbitsoftentcloth。
Wehadnothingtobuildfireswith,andwerenotallowedtoapproachthoseoftheguards。
Arounduseverywherewasthedull,cold,gray,hopelessdesolationoftheapproachofminter。Thehard,wirygrassthatthinlycoveredtheonceandsand,theoccasionalstuntedweeds,andthesparsefoliageofthegnarledanddwarfishundergrowth,allwereparchedbrownandserebythefieryheatofthelongSummer,andnowrattleddrearilyunderthepitiless,coldrain,streamingfromloweringcloudsthatseemedtohavefloateddowntousfromthecheerlesssummitofsomegreaticeberg;thetall,nakedpinesmoanedandshivered;dead,saplessleavesfellwearilytothesoddenearth,likewitheredhopesdriftingdowntodeepensomeSloughofDespond。
Scoresofourcrowdfoundthistheculminationoftheirmisery。Theylaiddownuponthegroundandyieldedtodeathasswelcomerelief,andweleftthemlyingthereunburiedwhenwemovedtothecars。
AswepassedthroughtheRebelcampatdawn,onourwaytothecars,AndrewsandInoticedanestoffourlarge,bright,newtinpans——ararethingintheConfederacyatthattime。Wemanagedtosnatchthemwithouttheguard'sattentionbeingattracted,andinaninstanthadthemwrappedupinourblanket。Buttheblanketwasfullofholes,andinspiteofallourefforts,itwouldslipatthemostinconvenienttimes,soastoshowabroadglareofthebrightmetal,justwhenitseemeditcouldnothelpattractingtheattentionoftheguardsortheirofficers。Adozentimesatleastwewereontheimminentbrinkofdetection,butwefinallygotourtreasuressafelytothecars,andsatdownuponthem。
Thecarswereopenflats。Therainstillbeatdownunrelentingly。
AndrewsandIhuddledourselvestogethersoastomakeourbodiesaffordasmuchheataspossible,pulledourfaithfuloldovercoataroundusasfarasitwouldgo,andenduredtheinclemencyasbestwecould。
OurtrainheadedbacktoSavannah,andagainourheartswarmedupwithhopesofexchange。ItseemedasiftherecouldbenootherpurposeoftakingusoutofaprisonsorecentlyestablishedandatsuchcostasMillen。
Asweapproachedthecoasttherainceased,butapiercingcoldwindsetin,thatthreatenedtoconvertoursoakedragsintoicicles。
Verymanydiedontheway。WhenwearrivedatSavannahalmost,ifnotquite,everycarhaduponitonewhomhungernolongergnawedordiseasewasted;whomcoldhadpinchedforthelasttime,andforwhomthegoldenportalsoftheBeyondhadopenedforanexchangethatneitherDavisnorhisdespicabletool,Winder,couldcontrol。
Wedidnotsentimentalizeoverthese。Wecouldnotmourn;thethousandsthatwehadseenpassawaymadethatemotionhackneyedandwearisome;
withthedeathofsomefriendandcomradeasregularlyaneventofeachdayasrollcallanddrawingrations,thesentimentofgriefhadbecomenearlyobsolete。Wewerenothardened;wehadsimplycometolookupondeathascommonplaceandordinary。Tohavehadnoonedeadordyingarounduswouldhavebeenregardedassingular。
Besides,whyshouldwefeelanyregretatthepassingawayofthosewhoseconditionwouldprobablybebetteredthereby！Itwasdifficulttoseewherewewhostilllivedwereanybetteroffthantheywhoweregonebeforeandnow"foreveratpeace,eachinhiswindowlesspalaceofrest。"
Ifimprisonmentwastocontinueonlyanothermonth,wewouldratherbewiththem。
ArrivingatSavannah,wewereorderedoffthecars。Asquadfromeachcarcarriedthedeadtoadesignatedspot,andlandtheminarow,composingtheirlimbsaswellaspossible,butgivingnootherfuneralrites,notevenmakingarecordoftheirnamesandregiments。Negrolaborerscamealongafterwards,withcarts,tookthebodiestosomevacantground,andsunkthemoutofsightinthesand。
Weweregivenafewcrackerseach——thesamerudeimitationof"hardtack"
thathadbeenservedouttouswhenwearrivedatSavannahthefirsttime,andthenweremarchedoverandputuponatrainontheAtlantic&
GulfRailroad,runningfromSavannahalongtheseacoasttowardsFlorida。
Whatthismeantwehadlittleconception,buthope,whichsprangeternalintheprisoner'sbreast,whisperedthatperhapsitwasexchange;thattherewassomedifficultyaboutourvesselscomingtoSavannah,andwewerebeingtakentosomeothermoreconvenientseaport;probablytoFlorida,todeliverustoourfolksthere。Wesatisfiedourselvesthatwewererunningalongtheseacoastbytastingthewaterinthestreamswecrossed,wheneverwecouldgetanopportunitytodipupsome。Aslongasthewatertastedsaltyweknewwewerenearthesea,andhopeburnedbrightly。
Thetruthwas——asweafterwardslearned——theRebelswereterriblypuzzledwhattodowithus。WewerebroughttoSavannah,butthatdidnotsolvetheproblem;andweweresentdowntheAtlantic&GulfroadasatemporaryexpedientTherailroadwastheworstofthemanybadoneswhichitwasmyfortunetorideuponinmyexcursionswhileaguestoftheSouthernConfederacy。
Ithadrundownuntilithadnearlyreachedtheworn—outconditionofthatWesternroad,ofwhichanemployeeofarivalrouteoncesaid,"thatalltherewasleftofitnowwastwostreaksofrustandtherightofway。"Asitwasoneofthenon—essentialroadstotheSouthernConfederacy,itwasstrippedofthebestofitsrolling—stockandmachinerytosupplytheothermoreimportantlines。
IhavebeforementionedthescarcityofgreaseintheSouth,andthedifficultyofsupplyingtherailroadswithlubricants。ApparentlytherehadbeennooilontheAtlantic&Gulfsincethebeginningofthewar,andthescreechesofthedryaxlesrevolvingintheworn—outboxeswereagonizing。Somethingwouldbreakonthecarsorblowoutontheengineeveryfewmiles,necessitatingalongstopforrepairs。Thentherewasnosupplyoffuelalongtheline。Whentheengineranoutofwooditwouldhalt,andacoupleofnegrosridingonthetenderwouldassailapaneloffenceorafallentreewiththeiraxes,andafteranhourorsuchmatterofhardchopping,wouldpilesufficientwooduponthetendertoenableustorenewourjourney。
Frequentlytheenginestoppedasiffromsheerfatigueorinanition。
TheRebelofficerstriedtogetustoassistitupthegradebydismountingandpushingbehind。Werespectfully,butfirmly,declined。
Weweregentlemenofleisure,wesaid,anddecidedlyaversetomanuallabor;wehadbeeninvitedonthisexcursionbyMr。Jeff。Davisandhisfriends,whosetthemselvesupasourentertainers,anditwouldbeagrossbreachofhospitalitytoreflectuponourhostsbyworkingourpassage。Ifthiswasinsistedupon,weshouldcertainlynotvisitthemagain。Besides,itmadenodifferencetouswhetherthetraingotalongornot。Wewerenotlosinganythingbythedelay;wewerenotanxioustogoanywhere。OnepartoftheSouthernConfederacywasjustasgoodasanothertous。Sonotafingercouldtheypersuadeanyofustoraisetohelpalongthejourney。
Thecountryweweretraversingwassterileandpoor——worseeventhanthatintheneighborhoodofAndersonville。Farmsandfarmhouseswerescarce,andoftownstherewerenone。Notevenacollectionofhousesbigenoughtojustifyablacksmithshoporastoreappearedalongthewholeroute。
Butfewfieldsofanykindwereseen,andnowherewasthereafarmwhichgaveevidenceofadeterminedeffortonthepartofitsoccupantstotillthesoilandtoimprovetheircondition。
Whenthetrainstoppedforwood,orforrepairs,orfromexhaustion,wewereallowedtodescendfromthecarsandstretchournumbedlimbs。
Itdidusgoodinotherways,too。ItseemedalmosthappinesstobeoutsideofthosecursedStockades,torestoureyesbylookingawaythroughthewoods,andseeingbirdsandanimalsthatwerefree。Theymustbehappy,becausetoustobefreeoncemorewasthesummitofearthlyhappiness。
Therewasachance,too,topickupsomethinggreentoeat,andwewerefamishingforthis。Thescurvystilllingeredinoursystems,andwewerehungryforanantidote。AplantgrewratherplentifullyalongthetrackthatlookedverymuchasIimagineapalmleaffandoesinitsgreenstate。Theleafwasnotsolargeasanordinarypalmleaffan,andcamedirectlyoutoftheground。Thenativescalledit"bull—grass,"
butanythingmoreunlikegrassIneversaw,sowerejectedthatnomenclature,anddubbedthem"greenfans。"Theywereveryhardtopullup,itbeingusuallyasmuchasthestrongestofuscoulddotodrawthemoutoftheground。Whenpulleduptherewasfoundthesmallestbitofastock——notasmuchasajointofone'slittlefinger——thatwaseatable。