Theeyesdidnotunclose,butthelipsopenedslowly,andsaidwithapainfuleffort:
"F—i—r—s—tR—a—t—e！"
Thisscenewasrepeatedeverymorningforoveraweek。EverydaytheRebelSurgeonwouldinsistthatthemanshouldbetakenout,andeverymorningBickfordwouldgaspoutwithtroublesomeexertionthathefelt:
"F—i—r—s—tR—a—t—e！"
Itendedonemorningbyhisinability,tomakehisusualanswer,andthenhewascarriedouttojointhetwoscoreothersbeingloadedintothewagon。
CHAPTERLXXIV。
NEWYEAR'SDAY——DEATHOFJOHNH。WINDER——HEDIESONHISWAYTOADINNER
——SOMETHINGASTOCHARACTERANDCAREER——ONEOFTHEWORSTMENTHATEVER
LIVED。
OnNewYear'sDaywewerestartledbytheinformationthatourold—timeenemy——GeneralJohnH。Winder——wasdead。ItseemedthattheRebelSutlerofthePosthadpreparedinhistentagrandNewYear'sdinnertowhichalltheofficerswereinvited。JustasWinderbenthisheadtoenterthetenthefell,andexpiredshortlyafter。TheboyssaiditwasaclearcaseofDeathbyVisitationoftheDevil,anditwasalwaysinsistedthathislastwordswere:
"MyfaithisinChrist;Iexpecttobesaved。Besureandcutdowntheprisoners'rations。"
ThuspassedawaythechiefevilgeniusofthePrisoners—of—War。Americanhistoryhasnoothercharacterapproachinghisinvileness。Idoubtifthehistoryoftheworldcanshowanotherman,soinsignificantinabilitiesandposition,atwhosedoorcanbelaidsuchaterribleloadofhumanmisery。TherehavebeenmanygreatconquerorsandwarriorswhohaveWadedthroughslaughtertoathrone,Andshutthegatesofmercyonmankind,buttheyweregreatmen,withgreatobjects,withgrandplanstocarryout,whosebenefitstheythoughtwouldbemorethananequivalentforthesufferingtheycaused。Themiserytheyinflictedwasnotthemotiveoftheirschemes,butanunpleasantincident,andusuallythesufferersweremenofotherracesandreligions,forwhomsympathyhadbeendulledbylongantagonism。
ButWinderwasanobscure,dulloldman——thecommonplacedescendantofapseudo—aristocratwhosecowardlyincompetencehadoncecostusthelossofourNationalCapital。Moreprudentthanhisrunawayfather,heheldhimselfalooffromthefield;hisfatherhadlostreputationandalmosthiscommission,bycomingintocontactwiththeenemy;hewouldtakenosuchfoolishrisks,andhedidnot。WhenfalseexpectationsoftheultimatetriumphofSecessionledhimtocasthislotwiththeSouthernConfederacy,hedidnotsolicitacommandinthefield,buttookuphisquartersinRichmond,tobecomeasortofInformer—General,High—
InquisitorandChiefEavesdropperforhisintimatefriend,JeffersonDavis。Hepriedandspiedaroundintoeveryman'sbedroomandfamilycircle,todiscovertracesofUnionsentiment。Thewildesttalesmaliceandvindictivenesscouldconcoctfoundwelcomereceptioninhisears。
Hewasonlytoowillingtobelieve,thathemightfindexcuseforharryingandpersecuting。Hearrested,insulted,imprisoned,banished,andshotpeople,untilthepatienceevenofthecitizensofRichmondgaveway,andpressurewasbroughtuponJeffersonDavistosecurethesuppressionofhissatellite。ForalongwhileDavisresisted,butatlastyielded,andtransferredWindertotheofficeofCommissaryGeneralofPrisoners。ThedelightoftheRichmondpeoplewasgreat。Oneofthepapersexpresseditinanarticle,thekeynoteofwhichwas:
"ThankGodthatRichmondisatlastridofoldWinder。Godhavemercyuponthosetowhomhehasbeensent。"
RemorselessandcruelashisconductoftheofficeofProvostMarshalGeneralwas,itgavelittlehintoftheextenttowhichhewouldgointhatofCommissaryGeneralofPrisoners。Before,hewasrestrainedsomewhatbypublicopinionandthelawsoftheland。Thesenolongerdeterredhim。FromthetimeheassumedcommandofallthePrisonseastoftheMississippi——sometimeintheFallof1863——untildeathremovedhim,January1,1865——certainlynotlessthantwenty—fivethousandincarceratedmendiedinthemosthorriblemannerthatthemindcanconceive。Hecannotbeaccusedofexaggeration,when,surveyingthethousandsofnewgravesatAndersonville,hecouldsaywithaquietchucklethathewas"doingmoretokillofftheYankeesthantwentyregimentsatthefront。"NotwentyregimentsintheRebelArmyeversucceededinslayinganythinglikethirteenthousandYankeesinsixmonths,oranyothertime。HiscoldbloodedcrueltywassuchastodisgusteventheRebelofficers。ColonelD。T。Chandler,oftheRebelWarDepartment,sentonatourofinspectiontoAndersonville,reportedback,underdateofAugust5,1864:
"Mydutyrequiresmerespectfullytorecommendachangeintheofficerincommandofthepost,BrigadierGeneralJohnH。Winder,andthesubstitutioninhisplaceofsomeonewhounitesbothenergyandgoodjudgmentwithsomefeelingsofhumanityandconsiderationforthewelfareandcomfort,asfarasisconsistentwiththeirsafekeeping,ofthevastnumberofunfortunatesplacedunderhiscontrol;someonewho,atleast,willnotadvocatedeliberately,andincoldblood,theproprietyofleavingthemintheirpresentconditionuntiltheirnumberissufficientlyreducedbydeathtomakethepresentarrangementssufficefortheiraccommodation,andwhowillnotconsideritamatterofself—
laudationandboastingthathehasneverbeeninsideoftheStockade——aplacethehorrorsofwhichitisdifficulttodescribe,andwhichisadisgracetocivilization——theconditionofwhichhemight,bytheexerciseofalittleenergyandjudgment,evenwiththelimitedmeansathiscommand,haveconsiderablyimproved。"
Inhisexaminationtouchingthisreport,ColonelChandlersays:
"InoticedthatGeneralWinderseemedveryindifferenttothewelfareoftheprisoners,indisposedtodoanything,ortodoasmuchasIthoughtheoughttodo,toalleviatetheirsufferings。IremonstratedwithhimaswellasIcould,andheusedthatlanguagewhichIreportedtotheDepartmentwithreferencetoit——thelanguagestatedinthereport。WhenIspokeofthegreatmortalityexistingamongtheprisoners,andpointedouttohimthatthesicklyseasonwascomingon,andthatitmustnecessarilyincreaseunlesssomethingwasdonefortheirrelief——theswamp,forinstance,drained,properfoodfurnished,andinbetterquantity,andothersanitarysuggestionswhichImadetohim——herepliedtomethathethoughtitwasbettertoseehalfofthemdiethantotakecareofthemen。"
Itwashewhocouldissuesuchanorderasthis,whenitwassupposedthatGeneralStonemanwasapproachingAndersonville:
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYPRISON,ANDERSONVILLE,Ga。,July27,1864。
TheofficersondutyandinchargeoftheBatteryofFloridaArtilleryatthetimewill,uponreceivingnoticethattheenemyhasapproachedwithinsevenmilesofthispost,openupontheStockadewithgrapeshot,withoutreferencetothesituationbeyondtheselinesofdefense。
JOHNH。WINDER,BrigadierGeneralCommanding。
Thismanwasnotonlyunpunished,buttheGovernmentisto—daysupportinghischildreninluxurybytherentitpaysfortheuseofhisproperty——
thewell—knownWinderbuilding,whichisoccupiedbyoneoftheDepartmentsatWashington。
IconfessthatallmyattemptstosatisfactorilyanalyzeWinder'scharacteranddiscoverasufficientmotiveforhismonstrousconducthavebeenfutile。EvenifweimaginehiminspiredbyahatredofthepeopleoftheNorththatrosetofiendishness,wecannotunderstandhim。
Itseemsimpossibleforthemindofanymantocherishsodeepandinsatiableanenmityagainsthisfellow—creaturesthatitcouldnotbequenchedandturnedtopitybythesightofevenoneday'smiseryatAndersonvilleorFlorence。Noonemancouldpossesssuchagrievoussenseofprivateornationalwrongsastobeproofagainstthedailyspectacleofthousandsofhisownfellowcitizens,inhabitantsofthesamecountry,associatesinthesameinstitutions,educatedinthesameprinciples,speakingthesamelanguage——thousandsofhisbrethreninrace,creed,andallthatunitemenintogreatcommunities,starving,rottingandfreezingtodeath。
Thereismanyamanwhohasahatredsointensethatnothingbutthedeathofthedetestedonewillsatisfyit。Astillfewernumberthirstforamorecomprehensiveretribution;theywouldslayperhapsahalf—
dozenpersons;andtheremaybesuchgluttonsofrevengeaswouldnotbesatisfiedwiththesacrificeoflessthanascoreortwo,butsuchwouldbemonstersofwhomtherehavebeenveryfew,eveninfiction。Howmusttheyallbowtheirdiminishedheadsbeforeamanwhofedhisanimosityfatwithtensofthousandsoflives。
But,whatalsomilitatesgreatlyagainstthepresumptionthateitherrevengeoranabnormalpredispositiontocrueltycouldhaveanimatedWinder,isthatthepossessionofanytwosuchmentaltraitssostronglymarkedwouldpresupposeacorrespondingactivityofotherintellectualfaculties,whichwasnottrueofhim,asfromallIcanlearnofhimhismindwasinnorespectextraordinary。
Itdoesnotseempossiblethathehadeitherthebraintoconceive,orthefirmnessofpurposetocarryoutsogiganticandlong—enduringacareerofcruelty,becausethatwouldimplysuperhumanqualitiesinamanwhohadpreviouslyheldhisownverypoorlyinthecompetitionwithothermen。
TheprobabilityisthatneitherWindernorhisdirectsuperiors——HowellCobbandJeffersonDavis——conceivedinallitsproportionsthegiganticengineoftortureanddeaththeywereorganizing;nordidtheycomprehendtheenormityofthecrimetheywerecommitting。Buttheywerewillingtodomuchwrongtogaintheirend;andthesmallercrimesofto—daypreparedthemforgreateronesto—morrow,andstillgreateronesthedayfollowing。KillingtenmenadayonBelleIsleinJanuary,bystarvationandhardship,ledveryeasilytokillingonehundredmenadayinAndersonville,inJuly,AugustandSeptember。Probablyatthebeginningofthewartheywouldhavefeltuneasyatslayingonemanperdaybysuchmeans,butasretributioncamenot,andastheirappetiteforslaughtergrewwithfeeding,andastheirsympathywithhumanmiseryatrophiedfromlongsuppression,theyventureduponeverwideningrangesofdestructiveness。Hadthewarlastedanotheryear,andtheylived,fivehundreddeathsadaywoulddoubtlesshavebeeninsufficienttodisturbthem。
Winderdoubtlesswentabouthispartofthetaskofslaughtercoolly,leisurely,almostperfunctorily。HistrainingintheRegularArmywasagainstthelikelihoodofhisdisplayingzealinanything。Heinstitutedcertainmeasures,andletthingstaketheircourse。Thatcoursewasarapidtransitionfrombadtoworse,butitwasstillinthedirectionofhiswishes,and,whatlittleofhisownenergywasinfusedintoitwasinthedirectionofimpetus,—notofcontrollingorimprovingthecourse。
Tohavedonethingsbetterwouldhaveinvolvedsomapersonaldiscomfort。
Hewasnotlikelytoincurpersonaldiscomforttomitigateevilsthatwereonlyafflictingsomeoneelse。ByaneffortofonehouradayfortwoweekshecouldhavehadeverymaninAndersonvilleandFlorencegivengoodshelterthroughhisownexertions。Hewasnotonlytooindifferentandtoolazytodothis,buthewastoomalignant;andthisneglecttoallow——simplyallow,remember——theprisonerstoprotecttheirlivesbyprovidingtheirownshelter,givesthekeytohiswholedisposition,andwouldstamphismemorywithinfamy,eveniftherewerenootherchargesagainsthim。
CHAPTERLXXV。
ONEINSTANCEOFASUCCESSFULESCAPE——THEADVENTURESOFSERGEANTWALTER
HARTSOUGH,OFCOMPANYK,SIXTEENTHILLINOISCAVALRY——HEGETSAWAYFROM
THEREBELSATTHOMASVILLE,ANDAFTERATOILSOMEANDDANGEROUSJOURNEY
OFSEVERALHUNDREDMILES,REACHESOURLINESINFLORIDA。
WhileIwasatSavannahIgotholdofaprimarygeographyinpossessionofoneoftheprisoners,andsecuringafragmentofaleadpencilfromonecomrade,andasheetofnotepaperfromanother,ImadeacopyoftheSouthCarolinaandGeorgiaseacoast,fortheuseofAndrewsandmyselfinattemptingtoescape。Thereaderrememberstheillsuccessofalloureffortsinthatdirection。WhenwewereatBlackshearwestillhadthemap,andintendedtomakeanothereffort,"assoonasthesigngotright。"Onedaywhilewewerewaitingforthis,WalterHartsough,aSergeantofCompanyg,ofourbattalion,cametomeandsaid:
"Mc。,Iwishyou'dlendmeyourmapalittlewhile。Iwanttomakeacopy。"
Ihandeditovertohim,andneversawhimmore,asalmostimmediatelyafterweweretakenout"onparole"andsenttoFlorence。IheardfromothercomradesofthebattalionthathehadsucceededingettingpasttheguardlineandintotheWoods,whichwasthelasttheyeverheardofhim。
Whetherstarvedtodeathinsomeswamp,whethertorntopiecesbydogs,orkilledbytheriflesofhispursuers,theyknewnot。Thereadercanjudgeofmyastonishmentaswellaspleasure,atreceivingamongthedozensofletterswhichcametomeeverydaywhilethisaccountwasappearingintheBLADE,onesigned"WalterHartsough,lateofCo。K,SixteenthIllinoisCavalry。"Itwaslikeonereturnedfromthegrave,andthenextmailtookalettertohim,inquiringeagerlyofhisadventuresafterweseparated。Itakepleasureinpresentingthereaderwithhisreply,whichwasonlyintendedasaprivatecommunicationtomyself。ThefirstpartoftheletterIomit,asitcontainsonlygossipaboutouroldcomrades,which,howeverinterestingtomyself,wouldhardlybesotothegeneralreader。
GENOA,WAYNECOUNTY,IA。,May27,1879。
DearComradeMc。:
Ihavebeenlivinginthistownfortenyears,runningageneralstore,underthefirmnameofHartsough&Martin,andhavebeenmoresuccessfulthanIanticipated。
ImademyescapefromThomasville,Ga。,Dec。7,1864,byrunningtheguards,incompanywithFrankHommat,ofCompanyM,andamanbythenameofClipson,oftheTwenty—FirstIllinoisInfantry。Ihadheardtheofficersinchargeofussaythattheyintendedtomarchusacrosstotheotherroad,andtakeusbacktoAndersonville。Weconcludedwewouldtakeaheavyriskonourlivesratherthanreturnthere。Bystintingourselveswehadgotalittlemealahead,whichwethoughtwewouldbakeupforthejourney,butourappetitesgotthebetterofus,andweateitallupbeforestarting。Wewerecampedinthewoodsthen,withnoStockade——onlyalineofguardsaroundus。Wethoughtthatbyalittlestrategyandboldnesswecouldpassthese。Wedeterminedtotry。
Clipsonwastogototheright,Hommatinthecenter,andmyselftotheleft。Weallslippedthrough,withoutashot。Ourrendezvouswastobethecenterofasmallswamp,throughwhichflowedasmallstreamthatsuppliedtheprisonerswithwater。HommatandIgottogethersoonafterpassingtheguardlines,andwebegansignalingforClipson。Welaiddownbyalargelogthatlayacrossthestream,andsubmergedourlimbsandpartofourbodiesinthewater,thebettertoscreenourselvesfromobservation。PrettysoonaJohnnycamealongwithabunchofturniptops,thathewastakinguptothecamptotradetotheprisoners。AshepassedoverthelogIcouldhavecaughthimbytheleg,whichIintendedtodoifhesawus,buthepassedalong,heedlessofthoseconcealedunderhisveryfeet,whichsavedhimaduckingatleast,forwewereresolvedtodrownhimifhediscoveredus。Waitingherealittlelongerweleftourlurkingplaceandmadeacircuitoftheedgeoftheswamp,stillsignalingforClipson。Butwecouldfindnothingofhim,andatlasthadtogivehimup。
WewerenowbetweenThomasvilleandthecamp,andasThomasvillewastheendoftherailroad,thewoodswerefullofRebelswaitingtransportation,andweapproachedtheroadcarefully,supposingthatitwasguardedtokeeptheirownmenfromgoingtotown。Wecrawleduptotheroad,butseeingnoone,startedacrossit。Atthatmomentaguardaboutthirtyyardstoourleft,whoevidentlysupposedthatwewereRebels,sangout:
"Wharyegwinetotharboys？"
Ianswered:
"Jesta—gwineoutherealittleways。"
Frankwhisperedmetorun,butIsaid,"No;waittillhehaltsus,andthenrun。"Hewalkeduptowherewehadcrossedhisbeat——lookedafterusafewminutes,andthen,toourgreatrelief,walkedbacktohispost。
Aftermuchtroublewesucceededingettingthroughallthetroops,andstartedfairlyonourway。WetriedtoshapeourcoursetowardFlorida。
Thecountrywasveryswampy,thenightrainyanddark,nostarswereouttoguideus,andwemadesuchpoorprogressthatwhendaylightcamewewereonlyeightmilesfromourstartingplace,andclosetoaroadleadingfromThomasvilletoMonticello。Findingalargeturnippatch,wefilledourpockets,andthenhuntedaplacetolieconcealedinduringtheday。Weselectedathicketinthecenterofalargepasture。Wecrawledintothisandlaiddown。Somenegrospassedclosetous,goingtotheirworkinanadjoiningfield。Theyhadabucketofvictualswiththemfordinner,whichtheyhungonthefenceinsuchawaythatwecouldhaveeasilystolenitwithoutdetection。Thetemptationtohungrymenwasverygreat,butweconcludedthatitwasbestandsafesttoletitalone。
Asthenegrosreturnedfromworkintheeveningtheyseparated,oneoldmanpassingontheoppositesideofthethicketfromtherest。WehaltedhimandtoldhimthatwewereRebs,whohadtakenaFrenchleaveofThomasville;thatweweretiredofguardingYanks,andweregoinghome;
andfurther,thatwewerehungry,andwantedsomethingtoeat。Hetoldusthathewasthebossontheplantation。HismasterlivedinThomasville。He,himself,didnothavemuchtoeat,buthewouldshowuswheretostay,andwhenthefolkswenttobedhewouldbringussomefood。Passingupclosetothenegroquarterswegotoverthefenceandlaydownbehindit,towaitforoursupper。
Wehadbeentherebutashorttimewhenayoungnegrocameout,andpassingclosebyus,wentintoafencecornerafewpanelsdistantand,kneelingdown,beganprayingaloud,andvery,earnestly,andstrangerstill,theburdenofhissupplicationwasforthesuccessofourarmies。
IthoughtitthebestprayerIeverlistenedto。Finishinghisdevotionshereturnedtothehouse,andshortlyaftertheoldmancamewithagoodsupperofcornbread,molassesandmilk。Hesaidthathehadnomeat,andthathehaddonethebesthecouldforus。Afterwehadeaten,hesaidthatastheyoungpeoplehadgonetobed,wehadbettercomeintohiscabinandrestawhile,whichwedid。
HommathadafullsuitofRebelclothes,andIhadstolensacksenoughatAndersonville,whentheywereissuingrations,tomakemeashirtandpantaloons,whichasailorfabricatedforme。Iworetheseoverwhatwasleftofmyblueclothes。Theoldnegroladytreatedusverycoolly。Inafewminutesayoungnegrocamein,whomtheoldgentlemanintroducedashisson,andwhomIimmediatelyrecognizedasourfriendoftheprayerfulproclivities。Hesaidthathehadbeenabodyservanttohisyoungmaster,whowasanofficerintheRebelarmy。
"Golly！"sayshe,"ifyou'unshadstoodalittlelongeratStoneRiver,ourmenwouldhaverun。"
Iturnedtohimsharplywiththequestionofwhathemeantbycallingus"You'uns,"andaskedhimifhebelievedwewereYankees。Hesurveyeduscarefullyforafewseconds,andthensaid:
"Yes;IbleavyouisYankees。"
Hepausedasecond,andadded:
"Yes,Iknowyouis。"
Iaskedhimhowheknewit,andhesaidthatweneitherlookednortalkedliketheirmen。IthenacknowledgedthatwewereYankeeprisoners,tryingtomakeourescapetoourlines。Thisannouncementputnewlifeintotheoldlady,and,aftersatisfyingherselfthatwewerereallyYankees,shegotupfromherseat,shookhandswithus,anddeclaredwemusthaveabettersupperthanwehadhad。Shesetimmediatelyaboutpreparingitforus。Takingupaplankinthefloor,shepulledoutaniceflitchofbacon,fromwhichshecutasmuchaswecouldeat,andgaveussometocarrywithus。Shegotuparealsubstantialsupper,towhichwedidfulljustice,inspiteofthemealwehadalreadyeaten。
Theygaveusaquantityofvictualstotakewithus,andinstructedusaswellaspossibleastoourroad。Theywarnedustokeepawayfromtheyoungnegros,buttrusttheoldonesimplicitly。Thankingthemoverandoverfortheirexceedingkindness,webadethemgood—by,andstartedagainonourjourney。Oursupplieslastedtwodays,duringwhichtimewemadegoodprogress,keepingawayfromtheroads,andflankingthetowns,whichwerefewandinsignificant。Weoccasionallycameacrossnegros,ofwhomwecautiouslyinquiredastotherouteandtowns,andbytheassistanceofourmapandthestars,gotalongverywellindeed,untilwecametotheSuwaneeRiver。WehadintendedtocrossthisatColumbusorAlligator。Whenwithinsixmilesoftheriverwestoppedatsomenegrohutstogetsomefood。Theladywhoownedthenegroswasawidow,whowasbornandraisedinMassachusetts。Herhusbandhaddiedbeforethewarbegan。Anoldnegrowomantoldhermistressthatwewereatthequarters,andshesentforustocometothehouse。Shewasaverynice—
lookinglady,aboutthirty—fiveyearsofage,andtreateduswithgreatkindness。Hommatbeingbarefooted,shepulledoffherownshoesandstockingsandgavethemtohim,sayingthatshewouldgotoTownthenextdayandgetherselfanotherpair。ShetoldusnottotrytocrosstherivernearColumbus,astheirtroopshadbeendesertingingreatnumbers,andtheriverwascloselypicketedtocatchtherunaways。ShegaveusdirectionshowtogosoastocrosstheriveraboutfiftymilesbelowColumbus。Westrucktheriveragainthenextnight,andIwantedtoswimit,butHommatwasafraidofalligators,andIcouldnotinducehimtoventureintothewater。
WetraveleddowntheriveruntilwecametoMoseley'sFerry,wherewestoleanoldboataboutathirdfullofwater,andpaddledacross。Therewasquitealittletownatthatplace,butwewalkedrightdownthemainstreetwithoutmeetinganyone。Sixmilesfromtheriverwesawanoldnegrowomanroastingsweetpotatosinthebackyardofahouse。Wewereveryhungry,andthoughtwewouldrisksomethingtogetfood。Hommatwentaroundnearher,andaskedherforsomethingtoeat。Shetoldhimtogoandaskthewhitefolks。Thiswastheanswershemadetoeveryquestion。HewoundupbyaskingherhowfaritwastoMossley'sFerry,sayingthathewantedtogothere,andgetsomethingtoeat。Sheatlastranintothehouse,andweranawayasfastaswecould。Wehadgonebutashortdistancewhenweheardahorn,andsoon—the—cursedhoundsbeganbellowing。Wedidourbestrunning,butthehoundscircledaroundthehouseafewtimesandthentookourtrail。Foralittlewhileitseemedallupwithus,asthesoundofthebayingcamecloserandcloser。ButourinquiryaboutthedistancetoMoseley'sFerryseemstohavesavedus。
Theysooncalledthehoundsin,andstartedthemonthetrackwehadcome,insteadofthatuponwhichweweregoing。Thebayingshortlydiedawayinthedistance。Wedidnotwasteanytimecongratulatingourselvesoverourmarvelousescape,butpacedonasfastaswecouldforabouteightmilesfarther。OnthewaywepassedoverthebattlegroundofOolustee,orOceanPond。
ComingneartoLakeCitywefellinwithsomenegroswhohadbeenbroughtfromMaryland。Westoppedoveronedaywiththem,torest,andtwoofthemconcludedtogowithus。Wewerefurnishedwithalotofcookedprovisions,andstartingonenightmadeforty—twomilesbeforemorning。
Wekeptthenegrosinadvance。ItoldHommatthatitwasapoorcommandthatcouldnotaffordanadvanceguard。Aftertravelingtwonightswiththe,negros,wecamenearBaldwin。HereIwasverymuchafraidofrecapture,andIdidnotwantthenegroswithus,ifwewere,lestweshouldbeshotforslave—stealing。Aboutdaylightofthesecondmorningwegavethemtheslip。
WehadtoskirtBaldwinclosely,toheadtheSt。Mary'sRiver,orcrossitwherethatwaseasiest。Aftercrossingtheriverwecametoaverylargeswamp,intheedgeofwhichwelayallday。Beforenightfallwestartedtogothroughit,astherewasnofearofdetectionintheseswamps。Wegotthroughbeforeitwasverydark,andasweemergedfromitwediscoveredadensecloudofsmoketoourrightandquiteclose。
Wedecidedthiswasacamp,andwhileweweretalkingthebandbegantoplay。ThismadeusthinkthatprobablyourforceshadcomeoutfromFernandina,andtakentheplace。IproposedtoHommatthatwegoforwardandreconnoiter。Herefused,andleavinghimalone,Istartedforward。
Ihadgonebutashortdistancewhenasoldiercameoutfromthecampwithabucket。Hebegansinging,andthesonghesangconvincedmethathewasaRebel。RejoiningHommat,weheldaconsultationanddecidedtostaywherewewereuntilitbecamedarker,beforetryingtogetout。
Itwasthenightofthe22dofDecember,andverycoldforthatcountry。
Thecampguardhadsmallfiresbuilt,whichwecouldseequiteplainly。
Afterstartingwesawthatthepicketsalsohadfires,andthatwewerebetweenthetwolines。Thisdiscoverysavedusfromcapture,andkeepingaboutanequaldistancebetweenthetwo,weundertooktoworkourwayout。
Wefirstcrossedalineofbreastworks,theninsuccessiontheFernandinaRailroad,theJacksonvilleRailroad,andpike,movingallthetimenearlyparallelwiththepicketline。Herewehadtohalt。Hommatwassufferinggreatlywithhisfeet。Theshoesthathadbeengivenhimbythewidowladywerewornout,andhisfeetweremuchtornandcutbytheterriblyroughroadwehadtraveledthroughswamps,etc。Wesatdownonalog,andI,pullingofftheremainsofmyarmyshirt,toreitintopieces,andHommatwrappedhisfeetupinthem。ApartIreservedandtoreintostrips,totieuptherentsinourpantaloons。Goingthroughtheswampsandbriershadtornthemintotatters,fromwaistbandtohem,leavingourskinsbaretobeservedinthesameway。
Westartedagain,movingslowlyandbearingtowardsthepicketfires,whichwecouldseeforadistanceonourleft。Aftertravelingsomelittletimethelightsonourleftended,whichpuzzledusforawhile,untilwecametoafearfulbigswamp,thatexplaineditall,asthis,consideredimpassable,protectedtherightofthecamp。Wehadanawfultimeingettingthrough。Inmanyplaceswehadtoliedownandcrawllongdistancesthroughthepathsmadeinthebrakesbyhogsandotheranimals。Asweatlengthcameout,HommatturnedtomeandwhisperedthatinthemorningwewouldhavesomeLincolncoffee。Heseemedtothinkthismustcertainlyendourtroubles。
WewerenowbetweentheJacksonvilleRailroadandtheSt。John'sRiver。
Wekeptaboutfourmilesfromtherailroad,forfearofrunningintotheRebeloutposts。WehadtraveledbutafewmileswhenHommatsaidhecouldgonofarther,ashisfeetandlegsweresoswelledandnumbthathecouldnottellwhenhesetthemupontheground。Ihadsomematchesthatanegrohadgivenme,andgatheringtogetherafewpineknotswemadeafire——thefirstthatwehadlightedonthetrip——andlaiddownwithitbetweenus。WehadsleptbutafewminuteswhenIawokeandfoundHommat'sclothesonfire。Rousinghimweputouttheflamesbeforehewasbadlyburned,butthethinghadexcitedhimsoastogivehimnewlife,andbeproposedtostartonagain。
Bysunrisewewerewithineightmilesofourlines,andconcludingthatitwouldbesafetotravelinthedaytime,wewentahead,walkingalongtherailroad。Theexcitementbeingover,Hommatbegantomoveveryslowlyagain。Hisfeetandlegsweresoswollenthathecouldscarcelywalk,andittookusalongwhiletopassoverthoseeightmiles。
Atlastwecameinsightofourpickets。Theywerenegros。Theyhaltedus,andHommatwentforwardtospeaktothem。TheycalledfortheOfficeroftheGuard,whocame,passedusinside,andshookhandscordiallywithus。HisfirstinquirywasifweknewCharleyMarseilles,whomyourememberranthatlittlebakeryatAndersonville。
WeweretreatedverykindlyatJacksonville。GeneralScammonwasincommandofthepost,andhadonlybeenreleasedbutashorttimefromprison,soheknewhowitwashimself。IneverexpecttoenjoyashappyamomentonearthasIdidwhenIagaingotundertheprotectionoftheoldflag。Hommatwenttothehospitalafewdays,andwasthensentaroundtoNewYorkbysea。
Oh,itwasafearfultripthroughthoseFloridaswamps。Wewouldveryoftenhavetotryaswampinthreeorfourdifferentplacesbeforewecouldgetthrough。Somenightswecouldnottravelonaccountofitsbeingcloudyandraining。ThereisnotmoneyenoughintheUnitedStatestoinducemetoundertakethetripagainunderthesamecircumstances。
OurfriendClipson,thatmadehisescapewhenwedid,gotverynearlythroughtoourlines,butwastakensick,andhadtogivehimselfup。
HewastakenbacktoAndersonvilleandkeptuntilthenextSpring,whenhecamethroughallright。Thereweresixty—oneofCompanyKcapturedatJonesville,andIthinktherewasonlyseventeenlivedthroughthosehorribleprisons。