II
StatementshowingthewholenumberofFederalsandConfederatescaptured,（lessthenumberparoledonthefield）,thenumberwhodiedwhileprisoners,andthepercentageofdeaths,1861—1865
FEDERALS
Captured……187,818
Died,（asshownbyprisonandhospitalrecordsonfile）。30,674
Percentageofdeaths……16。375
CONFEDERATES
Captured……227,570
Died26,774
Percentageofdeaths……11。768
InthedetailedstatementpreparedforCongressdatedMarch1,1869,thewholenumberofdeathsgivenasshownbyPrisonerofWarrecordswastwenty—sixthousandthreehundredandtwenty—eight,butsincethatdateevidenceofthreethousandsixhundredandtwenty—eightadditionaldeathshasbeenobtainedfromthecapturedConfederaterecords,makingatotaloftwenty—ninethousandninehundredandfifty—sixasaboveshown。ThisisbelievedtobemanythousandslessthantheactualnumberofFederalprisonerswhodiedinConfederateprisons,aswehavenorecordsfromthoseatMontgomeryAla。,Mobile,Ala。,Millen,Ga。,Marietta,Ga。,Atlanta,Ga。,Charleston,S。C。,andothers。TherecordsofFlorence,S。C。,andSalisbury,N。C。,areveryincomplete。ItalsoappearsfromConfederateinspectionreportsofConfederateprisons,thatlargepercentageofthedeathsoccurredinprisonquarterwithoutthecareorknowledgeoftheSurgeon。ForthemonthofDecember,1864alone,theConfederate"burialreport";Salisbury,N。C。,showthatout,ofelevenhundredandfiftydeaths,twohundredandtwenty—three,ortwentypercent。,diedinprisonquartersandarenotaccountedforinthereportoftheSurgeon,andthereforenottakenintoconsiderationintheabovereport,astheonlyrecordsofsaidprisonsonfile（withoneexception）
aretheHospitalrecords。Calculatingthepercentageofdeathsonthisbasiswouldgivethenumberofdeathsatthirty—seventhousandfourhundredandforty—fiveandpercentageofdeathsat20。023。
[EndoftheLettersfromtheWarDepartment。]
IfweassumethattheGovernment'srecordsofFlorenceascorrect,itwillbeapparentthatonemanineverythreediethere,since,whiletheremighthavebeenashighasfiftythousandatonetimeintheprison,duringthelastthreemonthsofitsexistenceIamquitesurethatthenumberdidnotexceedseventhousand。ThiswouldmakethemortalitymuchgreaterthanatAndersonville,whichitundoubtedlywas,sincethephysicalconditionoftheprisonersconfinedtherehadbeengreatlydepressedbytheirlongconfinement,whilethebulkctheprisonersatAndersonvillewerethosewhohadbeenbroughtthitherdirectlyfromthefield。IthinkalsothatallwhoexperiencedconfinementinthetwoplacesareunitedinpronouncingFlorencetobe,onthewhole,muchtheworsep1aceandmorefataltolife。
Themedicinesfurnishedthesickwerequitesimpleinnatureandmainlycomposedofindigenoussubstances。Fordiarrhearedpepperanddecoctionsofblackberryrootandofpineleaveweregiven。Forcoughsandlungdiseases,adecoctionofwildcherrybarkwasadministered。
Chillsandfeverweretreatedwithdecoctionsofdogwoodbark,andfeverpatientswhocravedsomethingsour,weregivenaweakaciddrink,madebyfermentingasmallquantityofmealinabarrelofwater。Alltheseremedieswerequitegoodintheirway,andwouldhavebenefittedthepatientshadtheybeenaccompaniedbypropershelter,foodandclothing。
Butitwasidletoattempttoarrestwithblackberryrootthediarrhea,orwithwildcherrybarktheconsumptionofamanlyinginacold,damp,mudhovel,devouredbyvermin,andstrugglingtomaintainlifeuponlessthanapintofunsaltedcornmealperdiem。
Findingthatthedoctorsissuedredpepperfordiarrhea,andanimitationofsweetoilmadefrompeanuts,forthegangrenoussoresabovedescribed,Ireportedtothemanimaginarycomradeinmytent,whosesymptomsindicatedthoseremedies,andsucceededindrawingasmallquantityofeach,twoorthreetimesaweek。TheredpepperIusedtowarmupourbreadandmush,andgivesomedifferenttastetothecornmeal,whichhadnowbecomesoloathsometous。Thepeanutoilservedtogiveahintoftheanimalfoodwehungeredfor。Itwasgreasy,andaswedidnothaveanymeatforthreemonths,eventhisflimsysubstitutewasinexpressiblygratefultopalateandstomach。ButonemorningtheHospitalStewardmadeamistake,andgavemecastoroilinstead,andtheconsequenceswereunpleasant。
Amoreagreeableremembranceisthatoftwosmallapples,aboutthesizeofwalnuts,givenmebyaboynamedHenryClayMontaguePorter,oftheSixteenthConnecticut。HehadrelativeslivinginNorthCarolina,whosenthimasmallpacksofeatables,outofwhich,inthefulnessofhisgeneroushearthegavemethisshare——enoughtomakemealwaysrememberhimwithkindness。
Speakingofeatablesremindsmeofanincident。JoeDarling,oftheFirstMaine,ourChiefofPolice,hadasisterlivingatAugusta,Ga。,whooccasionallycametoFlorencewithbasketoffoodandothernecessariesforherbrother。Ononeofthesejourneys,whilesittinginColonelIverson'stent,waitingforherbrothertobebroughtoutofprison,shepickedoutofherbasketanicelybrowneddoughnutandhandedittotheguardpacinginfrontofthetent,with:
"Here,guard,wouldn'tyoulikeagenuineYankeedoughnut？"
Theguard—alank,loose—jointedGeorgiacracker——whoinallhislifeseenverylittlemoreinvitingfoodthanthehishominyandmolasses,uponwhichhehadbeenraised,tookthecake,turneditoverandinspecteditcuriouslyforsometimewithoutapparentlygettingtheleastideaofwhatitwasfor,andthenhandeditbacktothedonor,saying:
"Really,mum,Idon'tbelieveI'vegotanyuseforit"
CHAPTERLXXII
DULLWINTERDAYS——TOOWEAKANDTOOSTUPIDToAMUSEOURSELVES——ATTEMPTSOF
THEREBELSTORECRUITUSINTOTHEIRARMY——THECLASSOFMENTHEYOBTAINED
——VENGEANCEON"THEGALVANIZED"——ASINGULAREXPERIENCE——RAREGLIMPSES
OFFUN——INABILITYOFTHEREBELSTOCOUNT。
TheRebelscontinuedtheireffortstoinduceprisonerstoenlistintheirarmy,andwithmuchbettersuccessthanatanyprevioustime。Manymenhadbecomesodesperatethattheywererecklessastowhattheydid。
Home,relatives,friends,happiness——alltheyhadrememberedorlookedforwardto,allthathadnervedthemuptoendurethepresentandbravethefuture——nowseemedseparatedfromthemforeverbyayawningandimpassablechasm。Formanyweeksnonewprisonershadcomeintorousetheirdroopingcouragewithnewsoftheprogressofourarmstowardsfinalvictory,orrefreshtheirremembrancesofhome,andthegladsomenessof"God'sCountry。"Beforethemtheysawnothingbutweeksofslowandpainfulprogresstowardsbitterdeath。TheotheralternativewasenlistmentintheRebelarmy。
Anotherclasswentoutandjoined,withnootherintentionthantoescapeatthefirstopportunity。TheyjustifiedtheirbadfaithtotheRebelsbyrecallingthenumberlessinstancesoftheRebels'badfaithtous,andusuallyclosedtheirargumentsindefenseoftheircoursewith:
"NooathadministeredbyaRebelcanhaveanybindingobligation。ThesemenareoutlawswhohavenotonlybrokentheiroathstotheGovernment,butwhohavedesertedfromitsservice,andturneditsarmsagainstit。
Theyareperjurersandtraitors,andinaddition,theoaththeyadministertousisundercompulsionandforthatreasonisofnoaccount。"
Stillanotherclass,mostlymadeupfromtheoldRaidercrowd,enlistedfromnaturaldepravity。Theywentoutmorethanforanythingelsebecausetheirheartswerepronetoevilandtheydidthatwhichwaswronginpreferencetowhatwasright。ByfarthelargestportionofthosetheRebelsobtainedwereofthisclass,andamoreworthlesscrowdofsoldiershasnotbeenseensinceFalstaffmusteredhisfamousrecruits。
Afterall,however,thenumberwhodesertedtheirflagwasastonishinglysmall,consideringallthecircumstances。Theofficialreportsaysthreehundredandtwenty—six,butIimagingthisisunderthetruth,sincequiteanumberwereturnedbackinaftertheirutteruselessnesshadbeendemonstrated。Isupposethatfivehundred"galvanized,"aswetermedit,butthiswasveryfewwhenthehopelessnessofexchange,thedespairoflife,andthewretchednessoftheconditionoftheelevenortwelvethousandinsidetheStockadeisremembered。
Themotivesactuatingmentodesertwerenotcloselyanalyzedbyus,butweheldallwhodidsoasdespicablescoundrels,tooviletobeadequatelydescribedinwords。Itwasnotsafeforamantoannouncehisintentionof"galvanizing,"forheincurredmuchdangerofbeingbeatenuntilhewasphysicallyunabletoreachthegate。ThosewhowentovertotheenemyhadtousegreatdiscretioninlettingtheRebelofficer,knowsomuchoftheirwishesaswouldsecuretheirbeingtakeroutside。Menwerefrequentlyknockeddownanddraggedawaywhiletellingtheofficerstheywantedtogoout。
Ononeoccasiononehundredormoreoftheraidercrowdwhohadgalvanized,werestoppedforafewhoursinsomelittleTown,ontheirwaytothefront。Theylostnotimeinstealingeverythingtheycouldlaytheirhandsupon,andthedisgustedRebelcommanderorderedthemtobereturnedtotheStockade。Theycameinintheevening,allwellriggedoutinRebeluniforms,andcarryingblankets。Wechosetoconsidertheirgoodclothesandequipmentsanaggravationoftheiroffenseandaninsulttoourselves。Wehadatthattimequiteasquadofnegrosoldiersinsidewithus。Amongthemwasagiganticfellowwithafistlikeawoodenbeetle。Someofthewhiteboysresolvedtousethesetowreakthecamp'sdispleasureontheGalvanized。Theplanwascarriedoutcapitally。Thebigdarky,followedbyacrowdofsmallerandnimbler"shades,"wouldapproachoneoftheleadersamongthemwith:
"IsyouaGalvanized？"
Thesurlyreplywouldbe,"Yes,you————black————。Whatthebusinessisthatofyours？"
Atthatinstantthebonyfistofthedarky,descendinglikeapile—
driver,wouldcatchtherecreantundertheear,andlifthimaboutarod。
Ashefell,thesmallerdarkieswouldpounceuponhim,andinaninstantdespoilhimofhisblanketandperhapsthelargerportionofhiswarmclothing。Theoperationwasrepeatedwithadozenormore。Thewholecampenjoyeditasrarefun,anditwastheonlytimethatIsawnearlyeverybodyatFlorencelaugh。
AfewprisonerswerebroughtininDecember,whohadbeentakeninFoster'sattempttocuttheCharleston&SavannahRailroadatPocataligo。
AmongthemwewereastonishedtofindCharleyHirsch,amemberofCompanyI'sofourbattalion。Hehadhadastrangeexperience。HewasoriginallyamemberofaTexasregimentandwascapturedatArkansasPost。Hethentooktheoathofallegianceandenlistedwithus。WhilewewereatSavannahheapproachedaguardonedaytotradefortobacco。
ThemomenthespoketothemanherecognizedhimasaformercomradeintheTexasregiment。Thelatterknewhimalso,andsangout,"Iknowyou;you'reCharleyHirsch,thatusedtobeinmycompany。"
Charleybackedintothecrowdasquicklyaspossible;toeludethefellow'seyes,butthelattercalledfortheCorporaloftheGuard,hadhimselfrelieved,andinafewminutescameinwithanofficerinsearchofthedeserter。Hefoundhimwithlittledifficulty,andtookhimout。
ThelucklessCharleywastriedbycourtmartial,found,guilty,sentencedtobeshot,andwhilewaitingexecutionwasconfinedinthejail。BeforethesentencecouldbecarriedintoeffectShermancamesoclosetotheCitythatitwasthoughtbesttoremovetheprisoners。IntheconfusionCharleymanagedtomakehisescape,andatthemomentthebattleofPocataligoopened,waslyingconcealedbetweenthetwolinesofbattle,withoutknowing,ofcourse,thathewasinsuchadangerouslocality。
Afterthefiringopened,hethoughtitbettertoliestillthanruntheriskfromthefireofbothsides,especiallyashemomentarilyexpectedourfolkstoadvanceanddrivetheRebelsaway。Butthereversehappened;theJohnniesdroveourfellows,and,findingCharleyinhisplaceofconcealment,tookhimforoneofFoster'smen,andsenthimtoFlorence,wherehestaiduntilwewentthroughtoourlines。
Ourdayswentbyasstupidlyandeventlessascanbeconceived。
Wehadgrowntoospiritlessandlethargictodigtunnelsorplanescapes。
Wehadnothingtoread,nothingtomakeordestroy,nothingtoworkwith,nothingtoplaywith,andevennodesiretocontriveanythingforamusement。Allthecardsintheprisonwerewornoutlongago。Someoftheboyshadmadedominosfrombones,andAndrewsandIstillhadourchessmen,butweweretoolistlesstoplay。Themind,enfeebledbythelongdisuseofitexceptinafewlimitedchannels,wasunfittedforevensomucheffortaswasinvolvedinagameforpastime。
Norwerethereanyphysicalexercises,suchasthatcrowdofyoungmenwouldhavedelightedinunderothercircumstances。Therewasnorunning,boxing,jumping,wrestling,leaping,etc。Allweretooweakandhungrytomakeanyexertionbeyondthatabsolutelynecessary。Oncolddayseverybodyseemedtotallybenumbed。Thecampwouldbesilentandstill。
Littlegroupseverywherehoveredforhours,moodyandsullen,overdiminutive,flickeringfires,madewithonepoorhandfulofsplinters。
Whenthesunshone,moreactivitywasvisible。Boyswanderedaround,hunteduptheirfriends,andsawwhatgapsdeath——alwaysbusiestduringthecoldspells——hadmadeintheranksoftheiracquaintances。Duringthewarmestpartofthedayeverybodydisrobed,andspentanhourormorekillingthelicethathadwaxedandmultipliedtogrievousproportionsduringthefewdaysofcomparativeimmunity。
BesidesthewhippingoftheGalvanizedbythedarkies,IrememberbuttwootherbitsofamusementwehadwhileatFlorence。Oneofthesewasinhearingthecoloredsoldierssingpatrioticsongs,whichtheydidwithgreatgustowhentheweatherbecamemild。Theotherwastheanticsofacircusclown——amember,Ibelieve,ofaConnecticutoraNewYorkregiment,who,ontherareoccasionswhenwewerefeelingnotexactlywellsomuchassimplybetterthanwehadbeen,wouldgiveusanhourortwoofrecitationsofthedrollerieswithwhichhewaswonttosetthecrowdedcanvasinaroar。Oneofhishappiestefforts,Iremember,wasastiltedparaphraseof"OldUncleNed"asongverypopularaquarterofacenturyago,andwhichransomethinglikethis:
Therewasanolddarky,an'hisnamewasUncleNed,Buthediedlongago,longagoHehadnowoolondetopofhishead,Deplacewhardewooloughttogrouw。
CHORUS
Denlaydowndeshubelan'dehoe,Denhangupdefiddlean'debow;
Fordere'snomorehardworkforpoorUncleNedHe'sgonewhardegoodniggahsgo。
Hisfingerswarlong,likedecaneindebrake,Andhiseyeswartoodimfortosee;
Hehadnoteethtoeatdecorncake,Sohehadtoletdecorncakebe。
CHORUS。
Hislegsweresoboweddathecouldn'tliestill。
An'hehadnonailsonhistoes;
Hisneckwassocrookeddothecouldn'ttakeapill,Sohehadtotakeapillthroughhisnose。
CHORUS。
OnecoldfrostymorningoldUncleNeddied,An'detearsrandownmassa'scheeklikerain,ForheknewwhenUncleNedwaslaidindegroun',HewouldneverseepoorUncleNedagain,CHORUS。
Inthehandsofthisartistthesongbecame——
TherewasanagedandindigentAfricanwhosecognomenwasUncleEdward,Butheisdeceasedsincearemoteperiod,averyremoteperiod;
Hepossessednocapillarysubstanceonthesummitofhiscranium,TheplacedesignatedbykindNatureforthecapillarysubstancetovegetate。
CHORUS。
Thenlettheagriculturalimplementsrestrecumbentupontheground;
Andsuspendthemusicalinstrumentsinpeaceneonthewall,Forthere'snomorephysicalenergytobedisplayedbyourIndigentUncleEdwardHehasdepartedtothatplacesetapartbyabeneficentProvidenceforthereceptionofthebetterclassofAfricans。
Andsoon。Theserareflashesoffunonlyservedtothrowtheunderlyingmiseryoutingreaterrelief。Itwaslikelightningplayingacrossthesurfaceofadrearymorass。
IhavebeforealludedseveraltimestothegeneralinabilityofRebelstocountaccurately,eveninlownumbers。Onecontinuallymetphasesofthisthatseemedsimplyincomprehensibletous,whohadtakeninthemultiplicationtablealmostwithourmother'smilk,andknewtheRuleofThreeaswellasaPresbyterianboydoestheShorterCatechism。
Acadet——anundergraduateoftheSouthCarolinaMilitaryInstitute——
calledourrollatFlorence,andthoughaninbornyoungaristocrat,whobelievedhimselfmadeoffinerclaythanmostmortals,hewasnotabadfellowatall。HethoughtSouthCarolinaaristocracythefinestgentry,andtheSouthCarolinaMilitaryInstitutethegreatestinstitutionoflearning1ntheworld;butthatiscommonwithallSouthCarolinians。
Onedayhecameinsofullofsomematterofrareimportancethatwebecamesomewhatexcitedastoitsnature。Dismissingourhundredafterroll—call,heunburdenedhismind:
"Nowyoufellersareallsod———dpeartonmathematics,andsuchthings,thatyouwanttosnapmeuponeveryopportunity,butIguessI'vegotsomethingthistimethat'llsettleyou。Itssomethingthatafellowgaveoutyesterday,andColonelIverson,andalltheofficersouttherehavebeenfiguringoniteversince,andnonehavegottherightanswer,andI'mpowerfulsurethatnoneofyou,smartasyouthinkyouare,candoit。"
"Heavens,andearth,let'shearthiswonderfulproblem,"saidweall。
"Well,"saidhe,"whatisthelengthofapolestandinginariver,one—
fifthofwhichisinthemud,two—thirdsinthewater,andone—eighthabovethewater,whileonefootandthreeinchesofthetopisbrokenoff？"
Inaminuteadozenanswered,"Onehundredandfiftyfeet。"
Thecadetcouldonlylookhisamazementatthepossessionofsuchanamountoflearningbyacrowdofmudsills,andoneofourfellowssaidcontemptuously:
"Why,ifyouSouthCarolinaInstitutefellowscouldn'tanswersuchquestionsasthattheywouldn'tallowyouintheinfantclassupNorth。"
LieutenantBarrett,ourred—headedtormentor,couldnot,forthelifeofhim,countthoseinsideinhundredsandthousandsinsuchamannerastobereasonablycertainofcorrectness。Asitwouldhavecankeredhissoultofeelthathewasbeingbeatenoutofahalf—dozenrationsbythesuperiorcunningoftheYankees,headoptedaplanwhichhemusthavelearnedatsomeperiodofhislifewhenhewasahogorsheepdrover。
EverySundaymorningallinthecampweredrivenacrosstheCreektotheEastSide,andthenmadetofileslowlyback——oneatatime——betweentwoguardsstationedonthelittlebridgethatspannedtheCreek。Bythismeans,ifhewasabletocountuptoonehundred,hecouldgetournumbercorrectly。
Thefirsttimethiswasdoneafterourarrivalhegaveusadisplayofhiswantonmalevolence。WewerenearlyallassembledontheEastSide,andwerestandinginranks,attheedgeoftheswamp,facingthewest。
Barrettwaswalkingalongtheoppositeedgeoftheswamp,and,comingtoalittlegullyjumped,it。Hewasveryawkward,andcamenearfallingintothemud。Weallyelledderisively。Heturnedtowardusinafury,shookhisfist,andshoutedcursesandimprecations。Weyelledstilllouder。Hesnatchedouthisrevolver,andbeganfiringatourline。Thedistancewasconsiderable——sayfourorfivehundredfeet——andthebulletsstruckinthemudinadvanceoftheline。Westillyelled。Thenhejerkedagunfromaguardandfired,buthisaimwasstillbad,andthebulletsangoverourheads,strikinginthebankaboveus。Hepostedoftogetanothergun,buthisfitsubsidedbeforeheobtainedit。
CHAPTERLXXIII。
CHRISTMAS——ANDTHEWAYTHEWASPASSED——THEDAILYROUTINEOFRATION
DRAWING——SOMEPECULIARITIESOFLIVINGANDDYING。
Christmas,withitsswellingfloodofhappymemories,——memoriesnowbitterbecausetheymarkedthehightidewhenceourfortuneshadrecededtothisdespicablestate——came,butbroughtnochangetomarkitscoming。
Itistruethatwehadexpectednochange;wehadnotlookedforwardtotheday,andhardlyknewwhenitarrived,soindifferentwerewetothelapseoftime。
WhenremindedthatthedaywasonethatinallChristendomwassacredtogoodcheerandjoyfulmeetings;thatwherevertheupraisedcrossproclaimedfollowersofHimwhopreached"PeaceonEarthandgoodwilltomen,"parentsandchildren,brothersandsisters,long—timefriends,andallcongenialspiritsweregatheringaroundhospitableboardstodelightineachother'ssociety,andstrengthenthebondsofunitybetweenthem,welistenedastoataletoldofsomeforeignlandfromwhichwehadpartedforevermore。
Itseemedyearssincewehadknownanythingofthekind。Theexperiencewehadhadofitbelongedtothedimandirrevocablepast。Itcouldnotcometousagain,norwegotoit。Squalor,hunger,coldandwastingdiseasehadbecometheordinaryconditionsofexistence,fromwhichtherewaslittlehopethatwewouldeverbeexempt。
Perhapsitwaswell,toacertaindegree,thatwefeltso。Itsoftenedthepoignancyofourreflectionsoverthedifferenceintheconditionofourselvesandourhappiercomradeswhowereelsewhere。
Theweatherwasinharmonywithourfeelings。Thedull,gray,leadenskywasassharpacontrastwiththecrisp,bracingsharpnessofaNorthernChristmasmorning,asourbeggarlylittlerationofsaltlesscornmealwastothesumptuouscheerthatloadedthedinner—tablesofourNorthernhomes。
Weturnedoutlanguidlyinthemorningtoroll—call,enduredsilentlytheravingabuseofthecowardlybruteBarrett,hungstupidlyovertheflickeringlittlefires,untilthegatesopenedtoadmittherations。
Foranhourtherewasbustleandanimation。Allstoodaroundandcountedeachsackofmeal,togetanideaoftherationswewerelikelytoreceive。
Thiswasadailycustom。Thenumberintendedfortheday'sissuewereallbroughtinandpiledupinthestreet。Thentherewasadivisionofthesackstothethousands,theSergeantofeachbeingcalledupinturn,andallowedtopickoutandcarryawayone,untilallweretaken。Whenweenteredtheprisoneachthousandreceived,onanaverage,tenorelevensacksaday。Everyweeksawareductioninthenumber,untilbymidwinterthedailyissuetoathousandaveragedfoursacks。Letussaythatoneofthesesacksheldtwobushels,orthefour,eightbushels。
Astherearethirty—twoquartsinabushel,onethousandmenreceivedtwohundredandfifty—sixquarts,orlessthanahalfpinteach。
WethoughtwehadsoundedthedepthsofmiseryatAndersonville,butFlorenceshowedusamuchlowerdepth。Badaswasparchingundertheburningsunwhosefieryraysbredmiasmaandputrefaction,itwasstillnotsobadashavingone'slifechilledoutbyexposureinnakednessuponthefrozengroundtobitingwindsandfreezingsleet。Wretchedastherustybaconandcoarse,maggot—filledbreadofAndersonvillewas,itwouldstillgomuchfarthertowardssupportinglifethanthehandfulofsaltlessmealatFlorence。
WhileIbelieveitpossibleforanyyoungman,withtheforcesoflifestrongwithinhim,andhealthyineveryway,tosurvive,bytakingdueprecautions,suchtreatmentaswereceivedinAndersonville,IcannotunderstandhowanybodycouldlivethroughamonthofFlorence。Thatmanydidliveisonlyanastonishingillustrationofthetenacityoflifeinsomeindividuals。
Letthereaderimagine——anywherehelikes——afifteen—acrefield,withastreamrunningthroughthecenter。LethimimaginethisinclosedbyaStockadeeighteenfeethigh,madebystandinglogsonend。Lethimconceiveoftenthousandfeeblemen,debilitatedbymonthsofimprisonment,turnedinsidethisinclosure,withoutayardofcoveringgiventhem,andtoldtomaketheirhomesthere。Onequarterofthem——twothousandfivehundred——pickupbrush,piecesofrail,splitsfromlogs,etc。,sufficienttomakehutsthatwillturntheraintolerably。Thehutsareinnocaseasgoodshelterasanordinarilycarefulfarmerprovidesforhisswine。Halfoftheprisoners——fivethousand——whocannotdosowell,workthemudupintorudebricks,withwhichtheybuildsheltersthatwashdownateveryhardrain。Theremainingtwothousandfivehundreddonotdoeventhis,butliearoundontheground,onoldblanketsandovercoats,andinday—timeproptheseuponsticks,asshelterfromtherainandwind。Letthembegivennottoexceedapintofcornmealaday,andapieceofwoodaboutthesizeofanordinarystickforacookingstovetocookitwith。ThenletsuchweatherprevailasweordinarilyhaveintheNorthinNovember——freezingcoldrains,withfrequentdaysandnightswhentheiceformsasthickasapaneofglass。
Howlongdoeshethinkmencouldlivethroughthat？Hewillprobablysaythataweek,oratmostafortnight,wouldseethelastandstrongestofthesetenthousandlyingdeadinthefrozenmirewherehewallowed。HewillbeastonishedtolearnthatprobablynotmorethanfourorfivethousandofthosewhounderwentthisinFlorencediedthere。Howmanydiedafterrelease——inWashington,onthevesselscomingtoAnnapolis,inhospitalandcampatAnnapolis,oraftertheyreachedhome,nonebuttheRecordingAngelcantell。AllthatIknowisweleftatrailofdeadbehindus,whereverwemoved,solongasIwaswiththedolefulcaravan。
Lookingback,aftertheselapseofyears,themostsalientcharacteristicseemstobetheeasewithwhichmendied。There,waslittleoftheviolenceofdissolutionsocommonatAndersonville。Themachineryoflifeinallofus,wasrunningslowlyandfeebly;itwouldsimplygrowstillslowerandfeeblerinsome,andthenstopwithoutajar,withoutasensationtomanifestit。Nightlyoneoftwoorthreecomradessleepingtogetherwoulddie。Thesurvivorswouldnotknowituntiltheytriedtogethimto"spoon"over,whentheywouldfindhimrigidandmotionless。
Astheycouldnotspareevensolittleheataswasstillcontainedinhisbody,theywouldnotremovethis,butlieuptheclosertoituntilmorning。Suchathingasaboymakinganoutcrywhenhediscoveredhiscomradedead,ormanifestingany,desiretogetawayfromthecorpse,wasunknown。
Irememberonewho,asCharlesII。saidofhimself,was——
"anunconscionablelongtimeindying。"HisnamewasBickford;hebelongedtotheTwenty—FirstOhioVolunteerInfantry,lived,Ithink,nearFindlay,O。,andwasinmyhundred。Hispartnerandhewerebothinaverybadcondition,andIwasnotsurprised,onmakingmyrounds,onemorning,tofindthemapparentlyquitedead。Icalledhelp,andtookhispartnerawaytothegate。WhenwepickedupBickfordwefoundhestilllived,andhadstrengthenoughtogaspout:
"Youfellershadbetterletmealone。"Welaidhimbacktodie,aswesupposed,inanhourorso。
WhentheRebelSurgeoncameinonhisrounds,IshowedhimBickford,lyingtherewithhiseyesclosed,andlimbsmotionless。TheSurgeonsaid:
"O,thatman'sdead;whydon'tyouhavehimtakenout？"
Ireplied:"No,heisn't。Justsee。"Stooping,Ishooktheboysharply,andsaid:
"Bickford！Bickford！！Howdoyoufeel？"