Back,backwewent,asfastasrosinandpineknotscouldforcetheenginetomoveus。Thecarsswayedcontinuallybackandforth,momentarilythreateningtoflythecrazyroadway,androllovertheembankmentorintooneoftheadjacentswamps。Wewouldhavehailedsuchacatastrophe,asitwouldhaveprobablykilledmoreoftheguardsthanofus,andtheconfusionwouldhavegivenmanyofthesurvivorsopportunitytoescape。Butnosuchaccidenthappened,andtowardsmidnightwereachedthebridgeacrosstheGreatPedeeRiver,whereourtrainwasstoppedbyasquadofRebelcavalrymen,whobroughttheintelligencethatasKilpatrickwasexpectedintoFlorenceeveryhour,itwouldnotdototakeusthere。
Wewereorderedoffthecars,andlaiddownonthebanksoftheGreatPedee,ourguardsandthecavalryformingalinearoundus,andtakingprecautionstodefendthebridgeagainstKilpatrick,shouldhefindoutourwhereaboutsandcomeafterus。
"Well,Mc,"saidAndrews,asweadjustedouroldovercoatandblanketonthegroundforabed;"Iguessweneedn'tcarewhetherschoolkeepsornot。Ourfellowshaveevidentlygotbothendsoftheroad,andarecomingtowardsusfromeachway。There'snoroad——notevenawagonroad——fortheJohnniestorunusoffon,andIguessallwe'vegottodoistostandstillandseethesalvationoftheLord。Badasthesehoundsare,Idon'tbelievetheywillshootusdownratherthanletourfolksretakeus。Atleasttheywon'tsinceoldWinder'sdead。Ifhewasalive,he'dorderourthroatscut——onebyone——withtheguards'pocketknives,ratherthangiveusup。I'monlyafraidwe'llbeallowedtostarvebeforeourfolksreachus。"
Iconcurredinthisview。
CHAPTERLXXVIII。
RETURNTOFLORENCEANDASHORTSOJOURNTHERE——OFFTOWARDSWILMINGTON
AGAIN——CRUISINGAREBELOFFICER'SLUNCH——SIGNSOFAPPROACHINGOURLINES
——TERROROFOURRASCALLYGUARDS——ENTRANCEINTOGOD'SCOUNTRYATLAST。
ButKilpatrick,likeSherman,camenot。PerhapsheknewthatalltheprisonershadbeenremovedfromtheStockade;perhapshehadotherbusinessofmoreimportanceonhand;probablyhismovementwasonlyafeint。AtalleventsitwasdefinitelyknownthenextdaythathehadwithdrawnsofarastorenderitwhollyunlikelythatheintendedattackingFlorence,sowewerebroughtbackandreturnedtoouroldquarters。Foraweekormoreweloiteredaboutthenownearly—abandonedprison;skulkedandcrawledaroundthedismalmud—tentsliketheghostlydenizensofsomePotter'sField,who,forsomereasonhadbeenallowedtoreturntoearth,andforawhilecreeppainfullyaroundthelittlehillocksbeneathwhichtheyhadbeenentombed。
Afewscore,whosevitalpowerswerestrainedtothelastdegreeoftension,gaveuptheghost,andsanktodreamlessrest。ItmatterednowlittletothesewhenShermancame,orwhenKilpatrick'sguidonsshouldflutterthroughtheforestofsighingpines,heraldsoflife,happiness,andhome——
Afterlife'sfitfulfevertheysleptwellTreasonhaddoneitsworst。Norsteelnorpoison:
Malicedomestic,foreignlevy,nothingCouldtouchthemfarther。
Onedayanotherordercameforustobeloadedonthecars,andovertotherailroadwewentagaininthesamefashionasbefore。Thecomparativelyfewofuswhowerestillabletowalkatallwell,loadedourselvesdownwiththebundlesandblanketsofourlessfortunatecompanions,whohobbledandlimped——manyevencrawlingontheirhandsandknees——overthehard,frozenground,byoursides。
Thosenotabletocrawleven,weretakeninwagons,fortheorderswereimperativenottoleavealivingprisonerbehind。
Attherailroadwefoundtwotrainsawaitingus。Onthefrontofeachengineweretworudewhiteflags,madebyfasteningthehalvesofmealsackstoshortsticks。Thesightofthesegaveussomehope,butourbeliefthatRebelswereconstitutionalliarsanddeceiverswassofirmandfixed,thatwepersuadedourselvesthattheflagsmeantnothingmorethansomewilfuldelusionforus。
AgainwestartedoffinthedirectionofWilmington,andtraversedthesamecountrydescribedinthepreviouschapter。AgainAndrewsandI
foundourselvesinthenextboxcartothepassengercoachcontainingtheRebelofficers。Againwecutaholethroughtheend,withoursaw,andagainfoundadarkyservantsittingontherearplatform。Andrewswentoutandsatdownalongsideofhim,andfoundthathewasseateduponalargegunny—bagsackcontainingthecookedrationsoftheRebelofficers。
TheintelligencethattherewassomethingthereworthtakingAndrewscommunicatedtomebyanexpressivesignal,ofwhichsoldierscampaigningtogetheraslongasheandIhad,alwayshaveanextensiveandwellunderstoodcode。
Itookaseatintheholewehadmadeintheendofthecar,inreachofAndrews。Andrewscalledtheattentionofthenegrotosomefeatureofthecountrynearby,andaskedhimaquestioninregardtoit。Ashelookedinthedirectionindicated,Andrewsslippedhishandintothemouthofthebag,andpulledoutasmallsackofwheatbiscuits,whichhepassedtomeandIconcealed。ThedarkyturnedandtoldAndrewsallaboutthematterinregardtowhichtheinterrogationhadbeenmade。
Andrewsbecamesomuchinterestedinwhatwasbeingtoldhim,thathesatupcloserandclosertothedarky,whointurnmovedfartherawayfromthesack。
Nextweranthroughaturpentineplantation,andasthedarkywaspointingoutwherethestill,themaster'splace,the"quarters,"etc。,were,Andrewsmanagedtofishoutofthatbagandpasstomethreeroastedchickens。Thenagreatswampcalledfordescription,andbeforewewerethroughwithit,Ihadaboutapeckofboiledsweetpotatos。
Andrewsemptiedthebagasthedarkywasshowinghimagreatpeanutplantation,takingfromitasmallfrying—pan,acanteenofmolasses,andahalf—gallontinbucket,whichhadbeenusedtomakecoffeein。
Wedividedupourwealthofeatableswiththerestoftheboysinthecar,notforgettingtokeepenoughtogiveourselvesamagnificentmeal。
Asweranalongwesearchedcarefullyfortheplacewherewehadseentheline—of—battle,expectingthatitwouldnowbemarkedwithsignsofaterribleconflict,butwecouldseenothing。Wecouldnotevenfixthelocalitywherethelinestood。
AsitbecameapparentthatweweregoingdirectlytowardWilmington,asfastasourenginescouldpullus,theexcitementrose。WehadmanymisgivingsastowhetherourfolksstillretainedpossessionofWilmington,andwhether,iftheydid,theRebelscouldnotstopatapointoutsideofourlines,andtransferustosomeotherroad。
Forhourswehadseennobodyinthecountrythroughwhichwewerepassing。Whatfewhouseswerevisiblewereapparentlydeserted,andtherewerenoTownsorstationsanywhere。Wewereveryanxioustoseesomeone,inhopesofgettingahintofwhatthestateofaffairswasinthedirectionweweregoing。Atlengthwesawayoungman——apparentlyascout——onhorseback,buthisclotheswereequallydividedbetweentheblueandthebutternut,astogivenocluetowhichsidehebelonged。
Anhourlaterwesawtwoinfantrymen,whowereevidentlyoutforaging。
Theyhadsacksofsomethingontheirbacks,andworeblueclothes。Thiswasaveryhopefulsignofanearapproachtoourlines,butbitterexperienceinthepastwarnedusagainstbeingtoosanguine。
About4o'clockP。M。,thetrainsstoppedandwhistledlongandloud。
LookingoutIcouldsee——perhapshalf—a—mileaway——alineofriflepitsrunningatrightangleswiththetrack。Guards,whosegunsflashedastheyturned,werepacingupanddown,buttheyweretoofarawayformetodistinguishtheiruniforms。
Thesuspensebecamefearful。
ButIreceivedmuchencouragementfromthesingularconductofourguards。FirstInoticedaCaptain,whohadbeenespeciallymeantouswhileatFlorence。
Hewaswalkingonthegroundbythetrain。Hisfacewaspale,histeethset,andhiseyesshonewithexcitement。Hecalledoutinastrange,forcedvoicetohismenandboysontheroofofthecars"Here,youfellersgitdownoff'entharandformaline。"
Thefellowsdidso,inaslow,constrained,frightenedwaysandhuddledtogether,inthemostunsoldierlymanner。
ThewholethingremindedmeofasceneIoncesawinourline,whereaweak—kneedCaptainwasorderedtotakeapartyofratherchicken—heartedrecruitsoutontheskirmish—line。
Weimmediatelydivinedwhatwasthematter。Thelinesinfrontofuswerereallythoseofourpeople,andtheidiotsofguards,notknowingoftheirentiresafetywhenprotectedbyaflagoftruce,werescaredhalfoutoftheirsmallwitsatapproachingsoneartoarmedYankees。
Weshoweredtauntsandjeersuponthem。AnIrishmaninmycaryelledout:
"Och,yedirtyspalpeens;it'snotshootin'prisonersyearenow;it'scumin'wheretheYankeeb'yshevthegun;andtheminnityesaythimyerwhiteliversshowthemselvesinyerpalefaces。Badlucktotheblatherin'bastardsthatyezare,andtothemothersthatboreye。"
AtlengthourtrainmovedupsoneartothelinethatIcouldseeitwasthegrand,oldloyalbluethatclothedtheformsofthemenwhowerepacingupanddown。
Andcertainlytheworlddoesnotholdassuperblookingmenastheseappearedtome。Finelyformed,stalwart,full—fedandwellclothed,theyformedthemostdelightfulcontrastwiththescrawny,shambling,villain—
visagedlittleclay—eatersandwhitetrashwhohadlookeddownuponusfromthesentryboxesformanylongmonths。
Isprangoutofthecarsandbeganwashingmyfaceandhandsintheditchatthesideoftheroad。TheRebelCaptain,noticingme,said,intheold,hateful,brutal,imperioustone:
"Gitbackindatcah,dah。"
AnhourbeforeIwouldhavescrambledbackasquicklyaspossible,knowingthataninstant'shesitationwouldbefollowedbyabullet。
Now,Ilookedhimintheface,andsaidasirritatinglyaspossible:
"O,yougoto————,youRebel。I'mgoingintoUncleSam'slineswithaslittleRebelfilthonmeaspossible。"
Hepassedmewithoutreplying。
Hisdayofshootingwaspast。
Descendingfromthecars,wepassedthroughtheguardsintoourlines,aRebelandaUnionclerkcheckingusoffaswepassed。Bythetimeitwasdarkwewereallunderourflagagain。
TheplacewherewecamethroughwasseveralmileswestofWilmington,wheretherailroadcrossedabranchoftheCapeFearRiver。ThepointwasheldbyabrigadeofSchofield'sarmy——theTwenty—ThirdArmyCorps。
Theboyslavishedunstintedkindnessuponus。Allofthebrigadeoffdutycrowdedaround,offeringusblankets,shirtsshoes,pantaloonsandotherarticlesofclothingandsimilarthingsthatwewereobviouslyinthegreatestneedof。Thesickwerecarried,byhundredsofwillinghands,toashelteredspot,andlaidupongood,comfortablebedsimprovisedwithleavesandblankets。Agreatlineofhuge,generousfireswasbuilt,thateveryoneofuscouldhaveplentyofplacearoundthem。
ByandbyalineofwagonscameoverfromWilmingtonladenwithrations,andtheyweredispensedtouswithwhatseemedrecklessprodigality。
Thelidofaboxofhardtackwouldbeknockedoff,andthecontentshandedtousaswefiledpast,withabsolutedisregardastoquantity。
Ifaprisonerlookedwistfulafterreceivingonehandfulofcrackers,anotherwashandedtohim;ifhislong—famishedeyesstilllingeredasifenchainedbytheraredisplayoffood,themenwhowereissuingsaid:
"Here,oldfellow,there'splentyofit:takejustasmuchasyoucancarryinyourarms。"
Soitwasalsowiththepickledpork,thecoffee,thesugar,etc。Wehadbeenstintedandstarvedsolongthatwecouldnotcomprehendthattherewasanywhereactuallyenoughofanything。
Thekind—heartedboyswhowereactingasourhostsbeganpreparingfoodforthesick,buttheSurgeons,whohadarrivedinthemeanwhile,werecompelledtorepressthem,asitwasplainthatwhileitwasadangerousexperimenttogiveanyofusallwecouldorwouldeat,itwouldneverdotogivethesicksuchatemptationtokillthemselves,andonlyalimitedamountoffoodwasallowedtobegiventhosewhowereunabletowalk。
AndrewsandIhungeredforcoffee,thedelightfulfumesofwhichfilledtheairandintoxicatedoursenses。Weprocuredenoughtomakeourhalf—
gallonbucketfullandverystrong。
WedranksomuchofthisthatAndrewsbecamepositivelydrunk,andfellhelplesslyintosomebrush。Ipulledhimoutanddraggedhimawaytoaplacewherewehadmadeourrudebed。
Iwasdazed。Icouldnotcomprehendthatthelong—lookedfor,often—
despaired—ofeventhadactuallyhappened。Ifearedthatitwasoneofthosetantalizingdreamsthathadsooftenhauntedmysleep,onlytobefollowedbyawretchedawakening。ThenIbecameseizedwithasuddenfearlesttheRebelattempttoretakeme。Thelineofguardsaroundusseemedveryslight。Itmightbeforcedinthenight,andallofusrecaptured。Shiveringatthisthought,absurdthoughitwas,Iarosefromourbed,andtakingAndrewswithme,crawledtwoorthreehundredyardsintoadenseundergrowth,whereintheeventofourlinesbeingforced,wewouldbeoverlooked。
CHAPTERLXXIX。
GETTINGUSEDTOFREEDOM——DELIGHTSOFALANDWHERETHEREISENOUGHOF
EVERYTHING——FIRSTGLIMPSEOFTHEOLDFLAG——WILMINGTONANDITSHISTORY
——LIEUTENANTCUSHING——FIRSTACQUAINTANCEWITHTHECOLOREDTROOPS——LEAVING
FORHOME——DESTRUCTIONOFTHE"THORN"BYATORPEDO——THEMOCKMONITOR'S
ACHIEVEMENT。
Afterasoundsleep,AndrewsandIawoketotheenjoymentofourfirstdayoffreedomandexistenceinGod'scountry。Thesunhadalreadyrisen,brightandwarm,consonantwiththehappinessofthenewlifenowopeningupforus。
Buttonearlyascoreofourpartyhisbeamsbroughtnoawakeninggladness。Theyfelluponstony,staringeyes,fromoutofwhichthelightoflifehadnowfaded,asthelightofhopehaddonelongago。
Thedeadlaythereupontherudebedsoffallenleaves,scrapedtogetherbythoughtfulcomradesthenightbefore,theirclenchedteethshowingthroughpartedlips,facesfleshlessandpinched,long,unkemptandraggedhairandwhiskersjuststirredbythelazybreeze,therottingfeetandlimbsdrawnup,andskinnyhandsclenchedinthelastagonies。
Theirfateseemedharderthanthatofanywhohaddiedbeforethem。
Itwasdoubtfulifmanyofthemknewthattheywereatlastinsideofourownlines。
Againthekind—heartedboysofthebrigadecrowdedarounduswithproffersofservice。OfanOhioboywhodirectedhiskindtenderstoAndrewsandme,weprocuredachunkofcoarserosinsoapaboutasbigasapackofcards,andatowel。Neverwasthereasgreataquantityofsolidcomfortgotoutofthatmuchsoapasweobtained。ItwasthefirstthatwehadsincethatwhichIstoleinWirz'sheadquarters,inJune——
ninemonthsbefore。WefeltthatthedirtwhichhadaccumulateduponussincethenwouldsubjectustoassessmentasrealestateifwewereintheNorth。
Hurryingofftoalittlecreekwebeganourablutions,anditwasnotlonguntilAndrewsdeclaredthattherewasaperceptiblesand—barforminginthestream,fromwhatwewashedoff。DirtdepositsofthePlioceneerarolledofffeetandlegs。Eoceneincrustationsletloosereluctantlyfromneckandears;thehairwasamassoftangledlocksmattedwithninemonths'accumulationofpitchpinetar,rosinsoot,andSouthCarolinasand,thatwedidnotthinkwehadbetterstartinuponituntilweeitherhadtheshockcutoff,orhadawholeoceanandavatofsoaptowashitoutwith。
Afterscrubbinguntilwewereexhaustedwegotoffthefirstfewouterlayers——theposttertiaryformation,ageologistwouldtermit——andthesmellofmanybreakfastscooking,comingdownoverthehill,setourstomachsinamutinyagainstanylongerfasting。
Wewentback,rosy,panting,glowing,buthappy,togetourselvessomebreakfast。
ShouldProvidence,forsomeinscrutablereason,vouchsafemetheyearsofMethuselah,oneofthepleasantestrecollectionsthatwillabidewithmetothecloseoftheninehundredthandsixty—ninthyear,willbeofthatdelightfulodorofcookingfoodwhichregaledoursensesaswecameback。
FromtheboilingcoffeeandthemeatfryinginthepanroseanincensesweetertothesensesathousandtimesthanalltheperfumesoffarArabia。Itdifferedfromtheloathsomeodorofcookingcornmealasmuchasitdidfromtheeffluviaofasewer。
Ournoseswerethefirstofoursensestobeartestimonythatwehadpassedfromthelandofstarvationtothatofplenty。AndrewsandI
hastenedofftogetourownbreakfast,andsoonhadahalf—gallonofstrongcoffee,andafrying—panfull,ofmeatcookingoverthefire——notoneofthebeggarlyskimpedlittlefireswehadcrouchedoverduringourmonthsofimprisonment,butaroyal,generousfire,fedwithlogsinsteadofshavingsandsplinters,andgivingoutheatenoughtowarmaregiment。
Havingeatenpositivelyallthatwecouldswallow,thoseofuswhocouldwalkwereorderedtofallinandmarchovertoWilmington。Wecrossedthebranchoftheriveronapontoonbridge,andtooktheroadthatledacrossthenarrowsandyislandbetweenthetwobranches,Wilmingtonbeingsituatedontheoppositebankofthefartherone。
Whenabouthalfwayashoutfromsomeoneinadvancecausedustolookup,andthenwesaw,flyingfromatallsteepleinWilmington,thegloriousoldStarsandStripes,resplendentinthemorningsun,andmorebeautifulthanthemostgorgeouswebfromTyrianlooms。Westoppedwithoneaccord,andshoutedandcheeredandcrieduntileverythroatwassoreandeveryeyeredandblood—shot。Itseemedasifourcupofhappinesswouldcertainlyrunoverifanymoreadditionsweremadetoit。
WhenwearrivedatthebankoftheriveroppositeWilmington,awholeworldofnewandinterestingsightsopenedupbeforeus。Wilmington,duringthelastyear—and—a—halfofthewar,was,nexttoRichmond,themostimportantplaceintheSouthernConfederacy。Itwastheonlyporttowhichblockaderunningwasatallsafeenoughtobelucrative。TheRebelsheldthestrongfortsofCaswellandFisher,atthemouthofCapeFearRiver,andoutside,theFryingPanShoals,whichextendedalongthecoastfortyorfiftymiles,keptourblockadingfleetsofaroff,andmadethelinesoweakandscattered,thattherewascomparativelylittlerisktothesmall,swift—sailingvesselsemployedbytheblockaderunnersinrunningthroughit。TheonlywaythatblockaderunningcouldbestoppedwasbythereductionofFortsCaswellandFisher,anditwasnotstoppeduntilthiswasdone。
BeforethewarWilmingtonwasadull,sleepyNorthCarolinaTown,withaslittleanimationofanykindasaBretonPillage。Theonlybusinesswasthehandlingofthetar,turpentine,rosin,andpeanutsproducedinthesurroundingcountry,abusinessneverlivelyenoughtoexcitemorethanalazyrippleinthesluggishlagoonsoftrade。Butverynewwinewasputintothisoldbottlewhenblockaderunningbegantodevelopinimportance。ThenthisSleepyhollowofaplacetookontheappearanceofSanFranciscointhehightofthegoldfever。TheEnglishhousesengagedinblockaderunningestablishedbranchesthereconductedbyyoungmenwholivedlikeprinces。AllthebesthousesintheCitywereleasedbythemandfittedupinthemostgorgeousstyle。Theyliterallyclothedthemselvesinpurpleandfinelinenandfaredsumptuouslyeveryday,withtheirfinewinesandimporteddelicaciesandretinueofservantstowaituponthem。FastyoungRebelofficers,eagerforaseasonofdissipation,couldimaginenothingbetterthanaleaveofabsencetogotoWilmington。
Moneyflowedlikewater。Thecommonsailors——thescumofallforeignports——whomannedtheblockaderunners,receivedashighasonehundreddollarsingoldpermonth,andabountyoffiftydollarsforeverysuccessfultrip,whichfromNassaucouldbeeasilymadeinsevendays。
Otherpeoplewerepaidinproportion,andastheoldproverbsays,"WhatcomesovertheDevil'sbackisspentunderhisbreast,"themoneysoobtainedwassquanderedrecklessly,andallsortsofdebaucheryranriot。
Onthegroundwherewewerestandinghadbeenerectedseverallargesteamcottonpresses,builttocompresscottonfortheblockaderunners。
Aroundthemwerestoredimmensequantitiesofcotton,andnearbywerenearlyasgreatstoresofturpentine,rosinandtar。Alittlefartherdowntheriverwasnavyyardwithdocks,etc。,fortheaccommodation,buildingandrepairofblockaderunners。AtthetimeourfolkstookFortFisherandadvancedonWilmingtonthedockswerefilledwithvessels。
TheretreatingRebelssetfiretoeverything——cotton,cottonpresses,turpentine,rosin,tar,navyyard,navalstores,timber,docks,andvessels,andthefiremadecleanwork。Ourpeoplearrivedtoolatetosaveanything,andwhenwecameinthesmokefromtheburnedcotton,turpentine,etc。,stillfilledthewoods。Itwasasignalillustrationoftheravagesofwar。Herehadbeendestroyed,inafewhours,morepropertythanahalf—millionindustriousmenwouldaccumulateintheirlives。
Almostasgratifyingasthesightoftheoldflagflyingintriumph,wastheexhibitionofournavalpowerintheriverbeforeus。ThelargerpartofthegreatNorthAtlanticsquadron,whichhaddonesuchexcellentserviceinthereductionofthedefensesofWilmington,waslyingatanchor,withtheirhundredsofhugegunsyawningasifardentformoregreatfortstobeatdown,morevesselstosink,moreheavyartillerytocrush,moreRebelstoconquer。ItseemedasiftherewerecannonenoughtheretoblowthewholeConfederacyintokingdom—come。Allwaslifeandanimationaroundthefleet。Onthedeckstheofficerswerepacingupanddown。Oneoneachvesselcarriedalongtelescope,withwhichhealmostconstantlysweptthehorizon。Numberlesssmallboats,eachrowedbyneatly—uniformedmen,andcarryingaflaginthestern,dartedhitherandthither,carryingofficersonerrandsofdutyorpleasure。Itwassuchasceneasenabledmetorealizeinameasure,thedescriptionsIhadreadofthepompandcircumstanceofnavalwarfare。
Whilewewerestanding,contemplatingalltheinterestingsightswithinview,asmallsteamer,aboutthesizeofacanal—boat,andcarryingseveralbrightbrassguns,ranswiftlyandnoiselesslyuptothedocknearby,andayoung,pale—facedofficer,slenderinbuildandnervousinmanner,steppedashore。Someofthebluejacketswhoweretalkingtouslookedathimandthevesselwiththegreatestexpressionofinterest,andsaid:
"Hello！there'sthe'Monticello'andLieutenantCushing。"
This,then,wasthenavalboyhero,withwhoseexploitsthewholecountrywasringing。Oursailorfriendsproceededtotellusofhisachievements,ofwhichtheywerejustlyproud。Theytoldusofhisperilousscoutsandhishairbreadthescapes,ofhiswonderfulaudacityandstillmorewonderfulsuccess——ofhiscaptureofTownswithahandfulofsailors,andthedestructionofvaluablestores,etc。Ifeltverysorrythatthemanwasnotacavalrycommander。Therehewouldhavehadfullscopeforhispeculiargenius。HehadcomeprominentlyintonoticeintheprecedingAutumn,whenhehad,byoneofthemostdaringperformancesnarratedinnavalhistory,destroyedtheformidableram"Albermarle。"ThisvesselhadbeenconstructedbytheRebelsontheRoanokeRiver,andhaddonethemverygoodservice,firstbyassistingtoreducethefortsandcapturethegarrisonatPlymouth,N。C。,andafterwardinsomeminorengagements。InOctober,1864,shewaslyingatPlymouth。Aroundherwasaboomoflogstopreventsuddenapproachesofboatsorvesselsfromourfleet。Cushing,whowasthenbarelytwenty—
one,resolvedtoattemptherdestruction。Hefittedupasteamlaunchwithalongspartowhichheattachedatorpedo。OnthenightofOctober27th,withthirteencompanions,heranquietlyuptheSoundandwasnotdiscovereduntilhisboatstrucktheboom,whenaterrificfirewasopeneduponhim。Backingashortdistance,heranattheboomwithsuchvelocitythathisboatleapedacrossitintothewaterbeyond。Inaninstantmorehistorpedostruckthesideofthe"Albemarle"andexploded,tearingagreatholeinherhull,whichsankherinafewminutes。Atthemomentthetorpedowentoffthe"Albermarle"firedoneofhergreatgunsdirectlyintothelaunch,tearingitcompletelytopieces。
LieutenantCushingandonecomraderosetothesurfaceoftheseethingwaterand,swimmingashore,escaped。Whatbecameoftherestisnotknown,buttheirfatecanhardlybeamatterofdoubt。
WewereferriedacrosstheriverintoWilmington,andmarchedupthestreetstosomevacantgroundneartherailroaddepot,wherewefoundmostofouroldFlorencecomradesalreadyassembled。WhentheyleftusinthemiddleofFebruarytheyweretakentoWilmington,andthencetoGoldsboro,N。C。,wheretheywerekeptuntiltherapidclosinginofourArmiesmadeitimpracticabletoholdthemanylonger,whentheyweresentbacktoWilmingtonandgivenuptoourforcesaswehadbeen。
Itwasnownearlynoon,andwewereorderedtofallinanddrawrations,abewilderingordertous,whohadbeensolonginthehabitofdrawingfoodbutonceaday。Wefellininsinglerank,andmarchedup,oneatatime,pastwhereagroupofemployeesoftheCommissaryDepartmentdealtoutthefood。Onehandedeachprisonerashepassedalargesliceofmeat;anothergavehimahandfulofgroundcoffee;athirdahandfulofsugar;afourthgavehimapickle,whileafifthandsixthhandedhimanonionandaloafoffreshbread。Thisfilledthehornofourplentyfull。Tohavealltheseinoneday——meat,coffee,sugar,onionsandsoftbread——wassimplytoriotinundreamed—ofluxury。Manyoftheboys——poorfellows——couldnotyetrealizethattherewasenoughforall,ortheycouldnotgiveuptheirold"flanking"tricks,andtheystolearound,andfallingintotherear,cameupagainfor'anothershare。Welaughedatthem,asdidtheCommissarymen,who,nevertheless,duplicatedtherationsalreadyreceived,,andsentthemawayhappyandcontent。
WhatagloriousdinnerAndrewsandIhad,withourhalfgallonofstrongcoffee,oursoftbread,andapanfulloffriedporkandonions！Suchanenjoyablefeastwillneverbe,eatenagainbyus。
Herewesawnegrotroopsunderarmsforthefirsttime——themostoftheorganizationofcoloredsoldiershavingbeen,donesinceourcapture。
Itwasstartlingatfirsttoseeastalwart,coal—blacknegrostalkingalongwithaSergeant'schevronsonhisarm,ortogazeonaregimentallineofduskyfacesondressparade,butwesoongotusedtoit。Thefirststrongpeculiarityofthenegrosoldierthatimpresseditself,uponuswashisliteralobedienceoforders。Awhitesoldierusuallyallowshimselfconsiderablediscretioninobeyingorders——heaimsmoreatthespirit,whilethenegroadherestothestrictletterofthecommand。
Forinstance,theseconddayafterourarrivalalineofguardswereplacedaroundus,withordersnottoallowanyofustogouptownwithoutapass。Thereasonofthiswasthatmanyweak——evendying—menwouldpersistinwanderingabout,andwouldbefoundexhausted,frequentlydead,invariouspartsoftheCity。AndrewsandIconcludedtogouptown。Approachinganegrosentinelhewarnedusbackwith,"Standback,dah;don'tcomeanyfurder;it'sagindeawdahs;youcan'tpass。"
Hewouldnotallowustoarguethecase,butbroughthisguntosuchathreateningpositionthatwefellback。Goingdownthelinealittlefarther,wecametoawhitesentinel,towhomIsaid:
"Comrade,whatareyourorders:
Hereplied:
"Myordersarenottoletanyofyoufellowspass,butmybeatonlyextendstothatout—housethere。"