Afterrelievinghismindofaquantityofvigorousprofanity,andthreatsto"buckandgag"andcutofftherationsofthewholeroom,theofficerwouldreturntohisquartersintheguardhouse,butbeforehewasfairlyensconcedtherethecapandblousewouldgooutagain,andthemaddenedguardberegaledwithaspiritedandvividlyprofanelectureonthedepravityofRebelsingeneral,andhisownunworthinessinparticular。
OnenightinJanuarythingstookamoreseriousturn。Theboysonthelowerfloorofourbuildinghadlongconsideredaplanofescape。TherewerethenaboutfifteenthousandprisonersinRichmond——tenthousandonBelleIsleandfivethousandinthebuildings。OftheseonethousandfivehundredwereofficersinLibby。BesidesthereweretheprisonersinCastlesThunderandLightning。Theessentialfeaturesoftheplanwerethatatapreconcertedsignalweatthe,secondandthirdfloorsshouldappearatthewindowswithbricksandironsfromthetobaccopresses,whichashouldshowerdownontheguardsanddrivethemaway,whilethemenofthefirstfloorwouldpourout,chasetheguardsintotheboardhouseinthebasement,seizetheirarms,drivethoseawayfromaroundLibbyandtheotherprisons,releasetheofficers,organizeintoregimentsandbrigades,seizethearmory,setfiretothepublicbuildingsandretreatfromtheCity,bythesouthsideoftheJames,wheretherewasbutascantyforceofRebels,andmorecouldbepreventedfromcomingoverbyburningthebridgesbehindus。
Itwasamagnificentscheme,andmighthavebeencarriedout,buttherewasnooneinthebuildingwhowasgenerallybelievedtohavethequalitiesofaleader。
Butwhileitwasbeingdebatedafewofthehotheadsonthelowerfloorundertooktoprecipitatethecrisis。Theyseizedwhattheythoughtwasafavorableopportunity,overpoweredtheguardwhostoodatthefootofthestairs,andpouredintothestreet。Theotherguardsfellbackandopenedfireonthem;othertroopshastenedup,andsoondrovethembackintothebuilding,afterkillingtenorfifteen。Weofthesecondandthirdfloorsdidnotanticipatethebreakatthattime,andweretakenasmuchbysurpriseasweretheRebels。Nearlyallwerelyingdownandmanywereasleep。Somehastenedtothewindows,anddroppedmissilesout,butbeforeanyconcertedactioncouldbetakenitwasseenthatthecasewashopeless,andweremainedquiet。
Amongthosewholedintheassaultwasadrummer—boyofsomeNewYorkRegiment,arecklesslybravelittlerascal。Hehadsomehowsmuggledasmallfour—shooterinwithhim,andwhentheyrushedouthefireditoffattheguards。
Aftertheprisonersweredrivenback,theRebelofficerscameinandvaporedaroundconsiderably,butconfinedthemselvestobigwords。Theywereparticularlyanxioustofindtherevolver,andorderedageneralandrigoroussearchforit。Theprisonerswereallrangedononesideoftheroomandcarefullyexaminedbyoneparty,whileanotherhuntedthroughtheblanketsandbundles。Itwasallinvain;nopistolcouldbefound。
Theboyhadaloafofwheatbread,boughtfromabakerduringtheday。
Itwasaroundloaf,settogetherintwopieceslikeabiscuit。Hepulledtheseapart,laidthefourshooterbetweenthem,pressedthetwohalvestogether,andwentoncalmlynibblingawayattheloafwhilethesearchwasprogressing。
Twogunboatswerebroughtupthenextmorning,andanchoredinthecanalnearus,withtheirheavygunstraineduponthebuilding。Itwasthoughtthatthiswouldintimidateasfromarepetitionoftheattack,butoursailorsconceivedthat,astheylaidagainsttheshorenexttous,theycouldbeeasilycaptured,andtheirartillerymadetoassistus。
Aschemetoaccomplishthiswasbeingwroughtout,whenwereceivednoticetomove,anditcametonaught。
CHAPTERX。
THEEXCHANGEANDTHECAUSEOFITSINTERRUPTION——BRIEFRESUMEOFTHE
DIFFERENTCARTELS,ANDTHEDIFFICULTIESTHATLEDTOTHEIRSUSPENSION。
FewquestionsintimatelyconnectedwiththeactualoperationsoftheRebellionhavebeenenvelopedwithsuchamassofconflictingstatementastheresponsibilityfortheinterruptionoftheexchange。Southernwritersandpoliticians,naturallyanxioustodiminishasmuchaspossiblethegreatodiumrestingupontheirsectionforthetreatmentofprisonersofwarduringthelastyearandahalfoftheConfederacy'sexistence,havevehementlychargedthattheGovernmentoftheUnitedStatesdeliberatelyandpitilesslyresignedtotheirfatesuchofitssoldiersasfellintothehandsoftheenemy,andrepelledalladvancesfromtheRebelGovernmentlookingtowardaresumptionofexchange。Itisallegedonourside,ontheotherhand,thatourGovernmentdidallthatwaspossible,consistentwithNationaldignityandmilitaryprudence,tosecureareleaseofitsunfortunatemeninthepoweroftheRebels。
Overthisvexedquestiontherehasbeenwagedanacrimoniouswarofwords,whichhasapparentlyledtonodecision,noranyconvictions——thedisputants,oneandall,remainingonthesidesofthecontroversyoccupiedbythemwhenthedebatebegan。
Imaynotbeinpossessionofallthefactsbearinguponthecase,andmaybewarpedinjudgmentbyprejudicesinfavorofmyownGovernment'swisdomandhumanity,but,howeverthismaybe,thefollowingismyfirmbeliefastothecontrollingfactsinthislamentableaffair:
1。ForsometimeafterthebeginningofhostilitiesourGovernmentrefusedtoexchangeprisonerswiththeRebels,onthegroundthatthismightbeheldbytheEuropeanpowerswhowereseekingapretextforacknowledgingtheConfederacy,tobeadmissionbyusthatthewarwasnolongeraninsurrectionbutarevolution,whichhadresultedinthe'defacto'establishmentofanewnation。ThisdifficultywasfinallygottenoverbyrecognizingtheRebelsasbelligerents,which,whileitplacedthemonasomewhatdifferentplanefrommereinsurgents,didnotelevatethemtothepositionofsoldiersofaforeignpower。
2。ThenthefollowingcartelwasagreeduponbyGeneralsDigonoursideandHillonthatoftheRebels:
HAXALL'SLANDING,ONJAMESRIVER,July22,1882。
Theundersigned,havingbeencommissionedbytheauthoritiestheyrespectivelyrepresenttomakearrangementsforageneralexchangeofprisonersofwar,haveagreedtothefollowingarticles:
ARTICLEI。——Itisherebyagreedandstipulated,thatallprisonersofwar,heldbyeitherparty,includingthosetakenonprivatearmedvessels,knownasprivateers,shallbeexchangedupontheconditionsandtermsfollowing:
Prisonerstobeexchangedmanformanandofficerforofficer。
Privateerstobeplaceduponthefootingofofficersandmenofthenavy。
Menandofficersoflowergradesmaybeexchangedforofficersofahighergrade,andmenandofficersofdifferentservicesmaybeexchangedaccordingtothefollowingscaleofequivalents:
AGeneral—commanding—in—chief,oranAdmiral,shallbeexchangedforofficersofequalrank,orforsixtyprivatesorcommonseamen。
ACommodore,carryingabroadpennant,oraBrigadierGeneral,shallbeexchangedforofficersofequalrank,ortwentyprivatesorcommonseamen。
ACaptainintheNavy,oraColonel,shallbeexchangedforofficersofequalrank,orforfifteenprivatesorcommonseamen。
ALieutenantColonel,orCommanderintheNavy,shallbeexchangedforofficersofequalrank,orfortenprivatesorcommonseamen。
ALieutenant,oraMasterintheNavy,oraCaptainintheArmyormarinesshallbeexchangedforofficersofequalrank,orsixprivatesorcommonseamen。
Master's—matesintheNavy,orLieutenantsorEnsignsintheArmy,shallbeexchangedforofficersofequalrank,orfourprivatesorcommonseamen。Midshipmen,warrantofficersintheNavy,mastersofmerchantvesselsandcommandersofprivateers,shallbeexchangedforofficersofequalrank,orthreeprivatesorcommonseamen;SecondCaptains,Lieutenantsormatesofmerchantvesselsorprivateers,andallpettyofficersintheNavy,andallnoncommissionedofficersintheArmyormarines,shallbeseverallyexchangedforpersonsofequalrank,orfortwoprivatesorcommonseamen;andprivatesoldiersorcommonseamenshallbeexchangedforeachothermanforman。
ARTICLEII。——Local,State,civilandmilitiarankheldbypersonsnotinactualmilitaryservicewillnotberecognized;thebasisofexchangebeingthegradeactuallyheldinthenavalandmilitaryserviceoftherespectiveparties。
ARTICLEIII。——Ifcitizensheldbyeitherpartyonchargesofdisloyalty,oranyallegedciviloffense,areexchanged,itshallonlybeforcitizens。Capturedsutlers,teamsters,andallciviliansintheactualserviceofeitherparty,tobeexchangedforpersonsinsimilarpositions。
ARTICLEIV。——Allprisonersofwartobedischargedonparoleintendaysaftertheircapture;andtheprisonersnowheld,andthosehereaftertaken,tobetransportedtothepointsmutuallyagreedupon,attheexpenseofthecapturingparty。Thesurplusprisonersnotexchangedshallnotbepermittedtotakeuparmsagain,nortoserveasmilitarypoliceorconstabularyforceinanyfort,garrisonorfield—work,heldbyeitheroftherespectiveparties,norasguardsofprisoners,depositsorstores,nortodischargeanydutyusuallyperformedbysoldiers,untilexchangedundertheprovisionsofthiscartel。Theexchangeisnottobeconsideredcompleteuntiltheofficerorsoldierexchangedforhasbeenactuallyrestoredtothelinestowhichhebelongs。
ARTICLEV。——Eachpartyuponthedischargeofprisonersoftheotherpartyisauthorizedtodischargeanequalnumberoftheirownofficersormenfromparole,furnishing,atthesametime,totheotherpartyalistoftheirprisonersdischarged,andoftheirownofficersandmenrelievedfromparole;thusenablingeachpartytorelievefromparolesuchoftheirofficersandmenasthepartymaychoose。Theliststhusmutuallyfurnished,willkeepbothpartiesadvisedofthetrueconditionoftheexchangeofprisoners。
ARTICLEVI。——Thestipulationsandprovisionsabovementionedtobeofbindingobligationduringthecontinuanceofthewar,itmattersnotwhichpartymayhavethesurplusofprisoners;thegreatprinciplesinvolvedbeing,First,Anequitableexchangeofprisoners,manforman,orofficerforofficer,orofficersofhighergradeexchangedforofficersoflowergrade,orforprivates,accordingtoscaleofequivalents。Second,Thatprivatesandofficersandmenofdifferentservicesmaybeexchangedaccordingtothesamescaleofequivalents。
Third,Thatallprisoners,ofwhateverarmofservice,aretobeexchangedorparoledintendaysfromthetimeoftheircapture,ifitbepracticabletotransferthemtotheirownlinesinthattime;ifnot,sosoonthereafteraspracticable。Fourth,Thatnoofficer,orsoldier,employedintheserviceofeitherparty,istobeconsideredasexchangedandabsolvedfromhisparoleuntilhisequivalenthasactuallyreachedthelinesofhisfriends。Fifth,Thatparoleforbidstheperformanceoffield,garrison,police,orguardorconstabularyduty。
JOHNA。DIX,MajorGeneral。
D。H。HILL,MajorGeneral,C。S。A。
SUPPLEMENTARYARTICLES。
ARTICLEVII。——Allprisonersofwarnowheldoneitherside,andallprisonershereaftertaken,shallbesentwithallreasonabledispatchtoA。M。Aiken's,belowDutchGap,ontheJamesRiver,inVirginia,ortoVicksburg,ontheMississippiRiver,intheStateofMississippi,andthereexchangedofparoleduntilsuchexchangecanbeeffected,noticebeingpreviouslygivenbyeachpartyofthenumberofprisonersitwillsend,andthetimewhentheywillbedeliveredatthosepointsrespectively;andincasethevicissitudesofwarshallchangethemilitaryrelationsoftheplacesdesignatedinthisarticletothecontendingparties,soastorenderthesameinconvenientforthedeliveryandexchangeofprisoners,otherplacesbearingasnearlyasmaybethepresentlocalrelationsofsaidplacestothelinesofsaidparties,shallbe,bymutualagreement,substituted。Butnothinginthisarticlecontainedshallpreventthecommandersofthetwoopposingarmiesfromexchangingprisonersorreleasingthemonparole,atotherpointsmutuallyagreedonbysaidcommanders。
ARTICLEVIII。——Forthepurposeofcarryingintoeffecttheforegoingarticlesofagreement,eachpartywillappointtwoagentsfortheexchangeofprisonersofwar,whosedutyitshallbetocommunicatewitheachotherbycorrespondenceandotherwise;topreparethelistsofprisoners;toattendtothedeliveryoftheprisonersattheplacesagreedon,andtocarryoutpromptly,effectually,andingoodfaith,allthedetailsandprovisionsofthesaidarticlesofagreement。
ARTICLEIX。——And,incaseanymisunderstandingshallariseinregardtoanyclauseorstipulationintheforegoingarticles,itismutuallyagreedthatsuchmisunderstandingshallnotaffectthereleaseofprisonersonparole,ashereinprovided,butshallbemadethesubjectoffriendlyexplanation,inorderthattheobjectofthisagreementmayneitherbedefeatednorpostponed。
JOHNA。DIX,MajorGeneral。
D。H。HILL,MajorGeneral。C。S。A。
Thisplandidnotworkwell。Menonbothsides,whowantedalittlerestfromsoldiering,couldobtainitbysostragglinginthevicinityoftheenemy。Theirparole——followingcloseupontheircapture,frequentlyuponthespot——allowedthemtovisithome,andsojournawhilewherewerepleasanterpasturesthanatthefront。ThentheRebelsgrewintothehabitofparolingeverybodythattheycouldconstrainintobeingaprisonerofwar。Peaceable,unwarlikeanddecrepitcitizensofKentucky,EastTennessee,WestVirginia,MissouriandMarylandwere"captured"andparoled,andsetoffagainstregularRebelsoldierstakenbyus。
3。Aftersomemonthsoftrialofthisscheme,amodificationofthecartelwasagreedupon,themainfeatureofwhichwasthatallprisonersmustbereducedtopossession,anddeliveredtotheexchangeofficerseitheratCityPoint,Va。,orVicksburg,Miss。Thisworkedverywellforsomemonths,untilourGovernmentbeganorganizingnegrotroops。TheRebelsthenissuedanorderthatneitherthesetroopsnortheirofficersshouldbeheldasamenabletothelawsofwar,butthat,whencaptured,themenshouldbereturnedtoslavery,andtheofficersturnedovertotheGovernorsoftheStatesinwhichtheyweretaken,tobedealtwithaccordingtothestringentlawpunishingtheincitementofservileinsurrection。OurGovernmentcouldnotpermitthisforaday。ItwasboundbyeveryconsiderationofNationalhonortoprotectthosewhoworeitsuniformandboreitsflag。TheRebelGovernmentwaspromptlyinformedthatrebelofficersandmenwouldbeheldashostagesforthepropertreatmentofsuchmembersofcoloredregimentsasmightbetaken。
4。Thisdiscussiondidnotputastoptotheexchange,butwhileitwasgoingonVicksburgwascaptured,andthebattleofGettysburgwasfought。
Thefirstplacedoneoftheexchangepointsinourhands。AttheopeningofthefightatGettysburgLeecapturedsomesixthousandPennsylvaniamilitia。HesenttoMeadetohavetheseexchangedonthefieldofbattle。Meadedeclinedtodosofortworeasons:first,becauseitwasagainstthecartel,whichprescribedthatprisonersmustbereducedtopossession;andsecond,becausehewasanxioustohaveLeehamperedwithsuchabodyofprisoners,sinceitwasverydoubtfulifhecouldgethisbeatenarmybackacrossthePotomac,letalonehisprisoners。LeethensentacommunicationtoGeneralCouch,commandingthePennsylvaniamilitia,askinghimtoreceiveprisonersonparole,andCouch,notknowingwhatMeadehaddone,accededtotherequest。OurGovernmentdisavowedCouch'sactioninstantly,andorderedtheparolestobetreatedasofnoforce,whereupontheRebelGovernmentorderedbackintothefieldtwelvethousandoftheprisonerscapturedbyGrant'sarmyatVicksburg。
5。Theparolingnowstoppedabruptly,leavinginthehandsofbothsidestheprisonerscapturedatGettysburg,exceptthemilitiaabovementioned。
TheRebelsaddedconsiderablytothoseintheirhandsbytheircapturesatChickamauga,whilewegainedagreatmanyatMissionRidge,CumberlandGapandelsewhere,sothatatthetimewearrivedinRichmondtheRebelshadaboutfifteenthousandprisonersintheirhandsandourGovernmenthadabouttwenty—fivethousand。
6。Therebelsnowbegandemandingthattheprisonersonbothsidesbeexchanged——manforman——asfarastheywent,andtheremainderparoled。
OurGovernmentofferedtoexchangemanforman,butdeclined——onaccountofthepreviousbadfaithoftheRebels——toreleasethebalanceonparole。TheRebelsalsorefusedtomakeanyconcessionsinregardtothetreatmentofofficersandmenofcoloredregiments。
7。AtthisjunctureGeneralB。F。ButlerwasappointedtothecommandoftheDepartmentoftheBlackwater,whichmadehimanex—officioCommissionerofExchange。TheRebelsinstantlyrefusedtotreatwithhim,onthegroundthathewasoutlawedbytheproclamationofJeffersonDavis。GeneralButlerverypertinentlyrepliedthatthisonlyplacedhimnearertheirlevel,asJeffersonDavisandallassociatedwithhimintheRebelGovernmenthadbeenoutlawedbytheproclamationofPresidentLincoln。TheRebelsscornedtonoticethishomethrustbytheUnionGeneral。
8。OnFebruary12,1864,GeneralButleraddressedalettertotheRebelCommissionerOuld,inwhichbeasked,forthesakeofhumanity,thatthequestionsinterruptingtheexchangebelefttemporarilyinabeyancewhileaninformalexchangewasputinoperation。HewouldsendfivehundredprisonerstoCityPoint;letthembemetbyasimilarnumberofUnionprisoners。Thiscouldgoonfromdaytodayuntilallineachother'shandsshouldbetransferredtotheirrespectiveflags。
ThefivehundredsentwiththeGeneral'sletterwerereceived,andfivehundredUnionprisonersreturnedforthem。Anotherfivehundred,sentthenextday,wererefused,andsothisreasonableandhumanepropositionendedinnothing。
ThiswastheconditionofaffairsinFebruary,1864,whentheRebelauthoritiesconcludedtosendustoAndersonville。IfthereaderwillfixthesefactsinhismindsIwillexplainotherphasesastheydevelop。
CHAPTERXL
PUTTINGINTHETIME——RATIONS——COOKINGUTENSILS——"FIATSOUP——"SPOONING"——
AFRICANNEWSPAPERVENDERS——TRADINGGREENBACKSFORCONFEDERATEMONEY——
VISITFROMJOHNMORGAN。
TheWinterdayspassedon,onebyone,afterthemannerdescribedinaformerchapter,——themorningsinill—naturehunger;theafternoonsandeveningsintolerablecomfort。Therationskeptgrowinglighterandlighter;thequantityofbreadremainedthesame,butthemeatdiminished,andoccasionaldayswouldpasswithoutanybeingissued。
Thenwereceiveapintorlessofsoupmadefromthebeansorpeasbeforementioned,butthis,too,sufferedcontinuedchange,inthegraduallyincreasingproportionofJamesRiverwater,anddecreasingofthatofthebeans。
ThewateroftheJamesRiverisdoubtlessexcellent:itlookswell——atadistance——andissaidtoservethepurposesofablutionandnavigationadmirably。Thereseemstobealimithowever,totheextentofitsadvantageouscombinationwiththebean（orpea）fornutritivepurposes。
This,though,wasorviewofthecase,merely,andnotsharedintoanyappreciablyextentbythegentlemenwhoweremanagingourboardinghouse。
Weseemedtoviewthematterthroughallopathicspectacles,theythroughhomoeopathiclenses。Wethoughtthattheatomicweightofpeas（orbeans）andtheJamesRiverfluidwereaboutequal,whichwouldindicatethatthepropercombiningproportionswouldbe,sayabucketofbeans（orpeas）toabucketofwater。Theyheldthatthenutritivepotencywasincreasedbythedilution,andthebestresultswereobtainablewhenthesymptomsofhungerwerecombatedbythetriturationofabucketfulofthepeas—beanswithabarrelof'aquajamesiana。'
Myfirstexperiencewiththis"flat"soupwasveryinstructive,ifnotagreeable。Ihadcomeintoprison,asdidmostotherprisoners,absolutelydestituteofdishes,orcookingutensils。Thewell—used,half—canteenfrying—pan,theblackenedquartcup,andthespoon,whichformedtheusualkitchenoutfitofthecavalrymaninthefield,wereinthehaversackonmysaddle,andwerelosttomewhenIseparatedfrommyhorse。Now,whenweweretoldthatweweretodrawsoup,Iwasingreatdangeroflosingmyrationfromhavingnovesselinwhichtoreceiveit。
Therewerebutfewtincupsintheprison,andthesewere,ofcourse,wantedbytheirowners。BygreatgoodfortuneIfoundanemptyfruitcan,holdingaboutaquart。Iwasalsoluckyenoughtofindapiecefromwhichtomakeabail。Inextmanufacturedaspoonandknifecombinedfromabitofhoop—iron。
Thesetwohumbleutensilsatonceplacedmyselfandmyimmediatechumsonanotherplane,asfarasworldlygoodswereconcerned。Wewerebetteroffthanthemass,andaswelloffasthemostfortunate。Itwasacuriousillustrationofthatlawofpoliticaleconomywhichteachesthatso—calledintrinsicvalueislargelyadventitious。Theirpossessiongaveusinfinitelymoreconsiderationamongourfellowsthanwouldthepossessionofabrown—stonefrontinaneligiblelocation,furnishedwithhotandcoldwaterthroughout,andallthemodernimprovements。Itwasaplacewherecookingutensilswereindemand,andtitle—deedstobrown—
stonefrontswerenot。Wewereinpossessionofsomethingwhicheveryoneneededeveryday,and,therefore,werepersonsofconsequenceandconsiderationtothosearounduswhowerepresentorprospectiveborrowers。
Onoursideweobeyedanotherlawofpoliticaleconomy:Weclungtoourpropertywithunrelaxingtenacity,madethebestuseofitinourintercoursewithourfellows,andonlygaveitupafterourreleaseandentryintoalandwheretheplenitudeofcookingutensilsofsuperiorconstructionmadeoursvalueless。Thenweflungthemintothesea,withlittlegratitudeforthegreatbenefittheyhadbeentous。Weweremoreanxioustogetridofthemanyhatefulrecollectionsclusteringaroundthem。
But,toreturntotheallegedsoup:AsIstartedtodrinkmyfirstrationitseemedtomethattherewasasuperfluityofbugsuponitssurface。
MuchasIwantedanimalfood,Ididnotcareforfreshmeatinthatform。
Iskimmedthemoffcarefully,soastoloseaslittlesoupaspossible。
Butthetoplayerseemedtobeunderlaidwithanotherequallydense。
Thiswasalsoskimmedoffasdeftlyaspossible。Butbeneaththisappearedanotherlayer,which,whenremoved,showedstillanother;andsoon,untilIhadscrapedtothebottomofthecan,andthelastofthebugswentwiththelastofmysoup。Ihavebeforespokenoftheremarkablebugfecundityofthebeans（orpeas）。Thiswasademonstrationofit。Everyscoupedoutpea（orbean）whichfounditswayintothesoupboreinsideofitsshellfromtentotwentyofthesehard—
crustedlittleweevil。AfterwardIdrankmysoupwithoutskimming。
ItwasnotthatIhatedtheweevilless,butthatIlovedthesoupmore。
ItwasonlyanothersteptowardacloserconformitytothatgrandrulewhichIhavemadetheguidingmaximofmylife:
'WhenImust,Ihadbetter。'
Irecommendthistootheryoungmenstartingontheircareer。
Theroominwhichwewerewasbarelylargeenoughforallofustoliedownatonce。Eventhenitrequiredprettyclose"spooning"together——
socloseinfactthatallsleepingalongonesidewouldhavetoturnatonce。Itwasfunnytowatchthisoperation。All,forinstance,wouldbelyingontheirrightsides。Theywouldbegintogettired,andoneoftheweariedoneswouldsingouttotheSergeantwhowasincommandoftherow——
"Sergeant:let'sspoontheotherway。"
Thatindividualwouldreply:
"Allright。Attention！LEFTSPOON！！andthewholelinewouldatonceflopoverontheirleftsides。
Thefeetoftherowthatsleptalongtheeastwallonthefloorbelowuswereinalinewiththeedgeoftheouterdoor,andachalklinedrawnfromthecrackbetweenthedoorandtheframetotheoppositewallwouldtouch,say150pairsoffeet。Theywereanoisycrowddownthere,andonenighttheirnoisesoprovokedtheguardinfrontofthedoorthathecalledouttothemtokeepquietorhewouldfireinuponthem。Theygreetedthisthreatwithachorusprofanelyuncomplimentarytothepurityoftheguard'sancestry;theydidnotimplyhisdescentalaDarwin,fromtheremotemonkey,butmoreimmediategenerationbyacommondomesticanimal。TheincensedRebelopenedthedoorwideenoughtothrusthisgunin,andhefireddirectlydownthelineoftoes。Hispiecewasapparentlyloadedwithbuckshot,andthelittleballsmusthavestruckthelegs,nippedoffthetoes,piercedthefeet,andotherwiseslightlywoundedthelowerextremitiesoffiftymen。Thesimultaneousshriekthatwentupwasdeafening。Itwassoonfoundoutthatnobodyhadbeenhurtseriously,andtherewasnotalittlefunovertheoccurrence。
OneoftheprisonersinLibbywasBrigadierGeneralNealDow,ofMaine,whohadthenaNationalreputationasaTemperanceadvocate,andtheauthorofthefamousMaineLiquorLaw。We,whoseplaceswerenearthefrontwindow,usedtoseehimfrequentlyonthestreet,accompaniedbyaguard。Hewasallowed,weunderstood,tovisitoursickinthehospital。
Hislong,snowybeardandhairgavehimavenerableandcommandingappearance。
NewsboysseemedtobeathingunknowninRichmond。Thepapersweresoldonthestreetsbynegromen。Theonewhofrequentedoursectionwiththemorningjournalshadamellow;richbaritoneforwhichwewouldbegladtoexchangetheshrillcriesofourstreetArabs。WelongrememberedhimasoneofthepeculiarfeaturesofRichmond。Hehadoneunvaryingformulaforproclaiminghiswares。Itraninthiswise:
"GreatNoozeindepapahs！
"GreatNoozefromOrangeCoahtHouse,Virginny！
"GreatNoozefromAlexandry,Virginny！
"GreatNoozefromWashingtonCity！
"GreatNoozefromChattanoogy,Tennessee！
"GreatNoozefromChahlston,Sou'Cahlina！
"GreatNoozeindepapahs！"
ItdidnotmattertohimthattheRebelshadnotbeenatsomeoftheseplacesformonths。HewouldnotchangeforsuchmeretriflesastheentireevaporationofallpossibleinterestconnectedwithChattanoogaandAlexandria。HewasatrueBourbonSoutherner——helearnednothingandforgotnothing。
Therewasaconsiderabletradedrivenbetweentheprisonersandtheguardatthedoor。Thiswasaverylucrativepositionforthelatter,andmenofacommercialturnofmindgenerallymanagedtogetstationedthere。
TheblockadehadcutofftheConfederacy'ssuppliesfromtheouterworld,andthemanytrinketsaboutaman'spersonwereingooddemandathighprices。ThemenoftheArmyofthePotomac,whowerepaidregularly,andwerealwaysneartheirsupplies,hadtheirpocketsfilledwithcombs,silkhandkerchiefs,knives,neckties,goldpens,pencils,silverwatches,playingcards,dice,etc。SuchoftheseasescapedappropriationbytheircaptorsandDickTurner,wereeagerlyboughtbytheguards,whopaidfairpricesinConfederatemoney,ortradedwheatbread,tobacco,dailypapers,etc。,forthem。
Therewasalsoconsiderablebrokerageinmoney,andthemannerofdoingthiswasanadmirableexemplificationofthefollyofthe"fiat"moneyidea。TheRebelsexhaustedtheiringenuityinframinglawstosustainthepurchasingpoweroftheirpapermoney。Itwasmadelegaltenderforalldebtspublicandprivate;itwasdecreedthatthemanwhorefusedtotakeitwasapublicenemy;alltheconsiderationsofpatriotismwereralliedtoitssupport,andthelawprovidedthatanycitizensfoundtraffickinginthemoneyoftheenemy——i。e。,greenbacks,shouldsufferimprisonmentinthePenitentiary,andanysoldiersooffendingshouldsufferdeath。
Notwithstandingallthis,inRichmond,theheadandheartoftheConfederacy,inJanuary,1864——longbeforetheRebelcausebegantolookatalldesperate——ittookadollartobuysuchaloafofbreadasnowsellsfortencents;anewspaperwasahalfdollar,andeverythingelseinproportion。Andstillworse:TherewasnotadayduringourstayinRichmondbutwhatonecouldgototheholeinthedoorbeforewhichtheguardwaspacingandcalloutinaloudwhisper:
"Say,Guard:doyouwanttobuysomegreenbacks？"
Andbesurethatthereplywouldbe,afterafurtiveglancearoundtoseethatnoofficerwaswatching:
"Yes;howmuchdoyouwantforthem？"
Thereplywasthen:"Tenforone。"
"Allright;howmuchhaveyougot？"
TheYankeewouldreply;theRebelwouldwalktothefartherendofhisbeat,countoutthenecessaryamount,and,returning,putuponehandwithit,whilewiththeotherhecaughtholdofoneendoftheYankee'sgreenback。Attheword,bothwouldreleasetheirholdssimultaneously,theexchangewascomplete,andtheRebelwouldpaceindustriouslyupanddownhisbeatwiththeairoftheschoolboywho"ain'tbeena—doin'