Itwasasenselesswasteofthelivesofprivatesoldiers,andthepropertyoftheUnitedStatesbypretentiousblunderers,who,insomeinscrutablemanner,hadattainedtoresponsiblecommands。Inthisinstance,abunglingBrigadiernamedSeymorehadmarchedhisforcesacrosstheStateofFlorida,todohehardlyknewwhat,andintheneighborhoodofanenemyofwhosenumbers,disposition,location,andintentionshewasprofoundlyignorant。TheRebels,underGeneralFinnegan,waitedtillhehadstrunghiscommandalongthroughswampsandcanebrakes,scoresofmilesfromhissupports,andthenfellunexpectedlyuponhisadvance。Theregimentwasoverpowered,andanotherregimentthathurrieduptoitssupport,sufferedthesamefate。Thebalanceoftheregimentsweresentininthesamemanner——eacharrivingonthefieldjustafteritspredecessorhadbeenthoroughlywhippedbytheconcentratedforceoftheRebels。Themenfoughtgallantly,butthestupidityofaCommandingGeneralisathingthatthegodsthemselvesstriveagainstinvain。Wesufferedahumiliatingdefeat,withalossoftwothousandmenandafinerifledbattery,whichwasbroughttoAndersonvilleandplacedinpositiontocommandtheprison。
　　ThemajorityoftheSeventhNewHampshirewereanunwelcomeadditiontoournumbers。TheywereN'Yaarkers——oldtimecolleaguesofthosealreadyinwithus——veteranbountyjumpers,thathadbeendrawntoNewHampshirebythesizeofthebountyofferedthere,andhadbeenassignedtofillupthewastedranksoftheveteranSeventhregiment。Theyhadtriedtodesertassoonastheyreceivedtheirbounty,buttheGovernmentclungtothemliterallywithhooksofsteel,sendingmanyofthemtotheregimentinirons。Thusfoiled,theydesertedtotheRebelsduringtheretreatfromthebattlefield。TheywerequiteanaccessiontotheforceofourN'Yaarkers,andhelpedmuchtoestablishthehoodlumreignwhichwasshortlyinauguratedoverthewholeprison。
　　TheForty—EighthNewYorkerswhocameinwereasetofchapssooddineverywayastobeasourceofnever—failinginterest。Thenameoftheirregimentwas'L'EnfantsPerdu'（theLostChildren）,whichweanglicizedinto"TheLostDucks。"ItwasbelievedthateverynationinEuropewasrepresentedintheirranks,anditusedtobesaidjocularly,thatnotwoofthemspokethesamelanguage。AsnearasIcouldfindouttheywereallornearlyallSouthEuropeans,Italians,Spaniards;Portuguese,Levantines,withapredominanceoftheFrenchelement。Theyworealittlecapwithanupturnedbrim,andastraprestingonthechin,acoatwithfunnylittletalesabouttwoincheslong,andabrasschainacrossthebreast;andforpantaloonstheyhadasortofapetticoatreachingtotheknees,andsewedtogetherdownthemiddle。Theywerejustassingularotherwiseasintheirlooks,speechanduniform。Ononeoccasionthewholemobofuswentoverinamasstotheirsquadtoseethemcookandeatalargewatersnake,whichtwoofthemhadsucceededincapturingintheswamps,andcarriedofftotheirmess,jabberinginhighgleeovertheirtreasuretrove。Anyofuswerereadytoeatapieceofdog,cat,horseormule,ifwecouldgetit,but,itwasgenerallyagreed,asDawson,ofmycompanyexpressedit,that"NobodybutoneofthemdarnedqueerLostDuckswouldeatavarmintlikeawatersnake。"
　　MajorAlbertBogle,oftheEighthUnitedStates,（colored）hadfallenintothehandsoftherebelsbyreasonofaseverewoundintheleg,whichlefthimhelplessuponthefieldatOolustee。TheRebelstreatedhimwithstudiedindignity。Theyutterlyrefusedtorecognizehimasanofficer,orevenasaman。InsteadofbeingsenttoMaconorColumbia,wheretheotherofficerswere,hewassenttoAndersonville,thesameasanenlistedman。Nocarewasgivenhiswound,nosurgeonwouldexamineitordressit。Hewasthrownintoastockcar,withoutabedorblanket,andhauledovertherough,joltingroadtoAndersonville。
　　OnceaRebelofficerrodeupandfiredseveralshotsathim,ashelayhelplessonthecarfloor。FortunatelytheRebel'smarksmanshipwasasbadashisintentions,andnoneoftheshotstookeffect。Hewasplacedinasquadnearme,andcompelledtogetupandhobbleintolinewhentherestweremusteredforroll—call。Noopportunitytoinsult,"theniggerofficer,"wasneglected,andtheN'YaarkersviedwiththeRebelsinheapingabuseuponhim。Hewasafine,intelligentyoungman,andboreitallwithdignifiedself—possession,untilafteralapseofsomeweekstheRebelschangedtheirpolicyandtookhimfromtheprisontosendtowheretheotherofficerswere。
　　Thenegrosoldierswerealsotreatedasbadlyaspossible。ThewoundedwereturnedintotheStockadewithouthavingtheirhurtsattendedto。
　　Onestalwart,soldierlySergeanthadreceivedabulletwhichhadforceditswayunderthescalpforsomedistance,andpartiallyimbeddeditselfintheskull,whereitstillremained。Hesufferedintenseagony,andwouldpassthewholenightwalkingupanddownthestreetinfrontofourtent,moaningdistressingly。The,bulletcouldbefeltplainlywiththefingers,andweweresurethatitwouldnotbeaminute'swork,withasharpknife,toremoveitandgivethemanrelief。ButwecouldnotprevailupontheRebelSurgeonseventoseetheman。Finallyinflammationsetinandhedied。
　　Thenegrosweremadeintoasquadbythemselves,andtakenouteverydaytoworkaroundtheprison。AwhiteSergeantwasplacedoverthem,whowastheobjectofthecontumelyoftheguardsandotherRebels。Onedayashewasstandingnearthegate,waitinghisorderstocomeout,thegateguard,withoutanyprovocationwhatever,droppedhisgununtilthemuzzlerestedagainsttheSergeant'sstomach,andfired,killinghiminstantly。
　　TheSergeantcywasthenofferedtome,butasIhadnoaccidentpolicy,I
　　wasconstrainedtodeclinethehonor。
　　CHAPTERXXIV。
　　APRIL——LONGINGTOGETOUT——THEDEATHRATE——THEPLAGUEOFLICE
　　——THESO—CALLEDHOSPITAL。
　　Aprilbroughtsunnyskiesandbalmyweather。Existencebecamemuchmoretolerable。Withfreedomitwouldhavebeenenjoyable,evenhadwebeennobetterfed,clothedandsheltered。Butimprisonmenthadneverseemedsohardtobear——eveninthefirstfewweeks——asnow。Itwaseasiertosubmittoconfinementtoalimitedarea,whencoldandrainwereaidinghungertobenumbthefacultiesandchilltheenergiesthanitwasnow,whenNaturewasrousingherslumberingforcestoactivity,andearth,andairandskywerefilledwithstimulustomantoimitateherexample。
　　Theyearningtobeupanddoingsomething—toturnthesegoldenhourstogoodaccountforselfandcountry——pressedintoheartandbrainasthevivifyingsappressedintotree—ductandplantcell,awakingallvegetationtoenergeticlife。
　　Tobecompelled,atsuchatime,toliearoundinvacuousidleness——
　　tospenddaysthatshouldbecrowdedfullofactioninamonotonous,objectlessroutineofhuntinglice,gatheringatroll—call,anddrawingandcookingourscantyrations,wastorturing。
　　Buttomanyofournumbertheaspirationsforfreedomwerenot,aswithus,thedesireforawider,manlierfieldofaction,somuchasanintenselongingtogetwherecareandcomfortswouldarresttheirswiftprogresstotheshadowyhereafter。Thecruelrainshadsappedawaytheirstamina,andtheycouldnotrecoveritwiththemeagerandinnutritiousdietofcoarsemeal,andanoccasionalscrapofsaltmeat。Quickconsumption,bronchitis,pneumonia,lowfeveranddiarrheaseizeduponthesereadyvictimsfortheirravages,andborethemoffattherateofnearlyascoreaday。
　　Itnowbecameapartof,theday'sregularroutinetotakeawalkpastthegatesinthemorning,inspectandcountthedead,andseeifanyfriendswereamongthem。Clotheshavingbythistimebecomeaveryimportantconsiderationwiththeprisoners,itwasthecustomofthemessinwhichamandiedtoremovefromhispersonallgarmentsthatwereofanyaccount,andsomanybodieswerecarriedoutnearlynaked。Thehandswerecrosseduponthebreast,thebigtoestiedtogetherwithabitofstring,andaslipofpapercontainingtheman'sname,rank,companyandregimentwaspinnedonthebreastofhisshirt。
　　Theappearanceofthedeadwasindescribablyghastly。Theunclosedeyesshonewithastonyglitter——
　　Anorphan'scursewoulddragtohellAspiritfromonhigh:
　　But,O,moreterriblethanthat,Isthecurseinadeadman'seye。
　　Thelipsandnostrilsweredistortedwithpainandhunger,thesallow,dirt—grimedskindrawntenselyoverthefacialbones,andthewholeframedwiththelong,lank,mattedhairandbeard。Millionsofliceswarmedoverthewastedlimbsandridgedribs。Theseverminouspestshadbecomesonumerous——owingtoourlackofchangesofclothing,andoffacilitiesforboilingwhatwehad——thatthemostahealthymancoulddowastokeepthenumberfeedinguponhispersondowntoareasonablelimit——sayafewtablespoonfuls。Whenamanbecamesosickastobeunabletohelphimself,theparasitesspeedilyincreasedintomillions,or,tospeakmorecomprehensively,intopintsandquarts。Itdidnotevenseemexaggerationwhensomeonedeclaredthatliehadseenadeadmanwithmorethanagallonofliceonhim。
　　Thereisnodoubtthattheirritationfromthebitingofthesemyriadsmateriallythedaysofthosewhodied。
　　Whereasickmanhadfriendsorcomrades,ofcoursepartoftheirduty,intakingcareofhim,wasto"louse"hisclothing。Oneofthemosteffectualwaysofdoingthiswastoturnthegarmentswrongsideoutandholdtheseamsasclosetothefireaspossible,withoutburningthecloth。Inashorttimethelicewouldswellupandburstopen,likepop—
　　corn。Thismethodwasafavoriteoneforanotherreasonthanitsefficacy:itgaveoneakeenersenseofrevengeuponhisrascallylittletormentorsthanhecouldgetinanyotherway。
　　Astheweathergrewwarmerandthenumberintheprisonincreased,thelicebecamemoreunendurable。Theyevenfilledthehotsandunderourfeet,andvoracioustroopswouldclimbupononelikestreamsofantsswarmingupatree。WebegantohaveafullcomprehensionofthethirdplaguewithwhichtheLordvisitedtheEgyptians:
　　AndtheLordsaiduntoMoses,SayuntoAaron,Stretchoutthyrod,andsmitethedustoftheland,thatitmaybecomelicethroughallthelandofEgypt。
　　Andtheydidso;forAaronstretchedouthishandwithhisrod,andsmotethedustoftheearth,anditbecameliceinmanandinbeast;
　　allthedustofthelandbecamelicethroughoutallthelandofEgypt。
　　ThetotalnumberofdeathsinApril,accordingtotheofficialreport,wasfivehundredandseventy—six,oranaverageofovernineteenaday。
　　Therewasanaverageoffivethousandprisoner'sinthependuringallbutthelastfewdaysofthemonth,whenthenumberwasincreasedbythearrivalofthecapturedgarrisonofPlymouth。Thiswouldmakethelossoverelevenpercent。,andsoworsethandecimation。Atthatrateweshouldallhavediedinabouteightmonths。Wecouldhavegonethroughasharpcampaignlastingthosethirtydaysandnotlostsogreataproportionofourforces。TheBritishhadaboutasmanymenaswereintheStockadeatthebattleofNewOrleans,yettheirlossinkilledfellmuchshortofthedeathsinthepeninApril。
　　AmakeshiftofahospitalwasestablishedinthenortheasterncorneroftheStockade。Aportionofthegroundwasdividedfromtherestoftheprisonbyarailing,afewtentflieswerestretched,andinthesethelongleavesofthepineweremadeintoapologiesforbedsofaboutthegoodnessofthestrawonwhichaNorthernfarmerbedshisstock。Thesicktakentherewerenobetteroffthaniftheyhadstaidwiththeircomrades。
　　Whattheyneededtobringabouttheirrecoverywascleanclothing,nutritiousfood,shelterandfreedomfromthetorturesofthelice。
　　Theyobtainednoneofthese。Saveafewdecoctionsofroots,therewerenomedicines;thesickwerefedthesamecoarsecornmealthatbroughtaboutthemalignantdysenteryfromwhichtheyallsuffered;theyworeandsleptinthesamevermin—infestedclothes,andtherecouldbebutoneresult:theofficialrecordsshowthatseventy—sixpercent。ofthosetakentothehospitalsdiedthere。
　　Theestablishmentofthehospitalwasspeciallyunfortunateformylittlesquad。Thegroundrequiredforitcompelledageneralreductionofthespacewealloccupied。Wehadtoteardownourhutsandmove。Bythistimethematerialshadbecomesodrythatwecouldnotrebuildwiththem,asthepinetuftsfelltopieces。Thisreducedthetentandbeddingmaterialofourparty——nownumberingfive——toacavalryovercoatandablanket。Wescoopedaholeafootdeepinthesandandstuckourtent—
　　polesaroundit。Bydaywespreadourblanketoverthepolesforatent。
　　Atnightwelaydownupontheovercoatandcoveredourselveswiththeblanket。Itrequiredconsiderablestretchingtomakeitgooverfive;
　　thetwooutsidefellowsusedtogetverychilly,andsqueezethethreeinsideonesuntiltheyfeltnothickerthanawafer。Butithadtodo,andwetookturnssleepingontheoutside。InthecourseofafewweeksthreeofmychumsdiedandleftmyselfandB。B。Andrews（nowDr。
　　Andrews,ofAstoria,Ill。）soleheirstoandoccupantsof,theovercoatandblanket。
　　CHAPTERXXV。
　　THE"PLYMOUTHPILGRIMS"——SADTRANSITIONFROMCOMFORTABLEBARRACKSTO
　　ANDERSONVILLE——ACRAZEDPENNSYLVANIAN——DEVELOPMENTOFTHEBUTLER
　　BUSINESS。
　　Weawokeonemorning,inthelastpartofApril,tofindabouttwothousandfreshlyarrivedprisonerslyingasleepinthemainstreetsrunningfromthegates。Theywereattiredinstylishnewuniforms,withfancyhatsandshoes;theSergeantsandCorporalsworepatentleatherorsilkchevrons,andeachmanhadalarge,well—filledknapsack,ofthekindnewrecruitsusuallycarriedoncomingfirsttothefront,andwhichtheoldersoldiersspokeofhumorouslyas"bureaus。"Theywerethesnuggest,nattiestlotofsoldierswehadeverseen,outsideofthe"papercollar"fellowsformingtheheadquarterguardofsomeGeneralinalargeCity。Asoneofmycompanionssurveyedthem,hesaid:
　　"Hulloa！I'mblankediftheJohnnieshaven'tcaughtaregimentofBrigadierGenerals,somewhere。"
　　By—and—bythe"freshfish,"asallnewarrivalsweretermed,begantowakeup,andthenwelearnedthattheybelongedtoabrigadeconsistingoftheEighty—FifthNewYork,OneHundredandFirstandOneHundredandThirdPennsylvania,SixteenthConnecticut,Twenty—FourthNewYorkBattery,twocompaniesofMassachusettsheavyartillery,andacompanyoftheTwelfthNewYorkCavalry。
　　TheyhadbeengarrisoningPlymouth,N。C。,animportantseaportontheRoanokeRiver。Threesmallgunboatsassistedthemintheirduty。TheRebelsconstructedapowerfulironcladcalledthe"Albemarle,"atapointfurtheruptheRoanoke,andontheafternoonofthe17th,withherandthreebrigadesofinfantry,madeanattackuponthepost。
　　The"Albemarle"ranpastthefortsunharmed,sankoneofthegunboats,anddrovetheothersaway。Shethenturnedherattentiontothegarrison,whichshetookintherear,whiletheinfantryattackedinfront。Ourmenheldoutuntilthe20th,whentheycapitulated。
　　Theywereallowedtoretaintheirpersonaleffects,ofallkinds,and,asisthecasewithallmeningarrison,thesewereconsiderable。
　　TheOneHundredandFirstandOneHundredandThirdPennsylvaniaandEighty—FifthNewYorkhadjust"veteranized,"andreceivedtheirfirstinstalmentofveteranbounty。Hadtheynotbeenattackedtheywouldhavesailedforhomeinadayortwo,ontheirveteranfurlough,andthisaccountedfortheirfineraiment。TheyweremadeupofboysfromgoodNewYorkandPennsylvaniafamilies,andwere,asarule,intelligentandfairlyeducated。
　　Theirhorrorattheappearanceoftheirplaceofincarcerationwasbeyondexpression。Atonemomenttheycouldnotcomprehendthatwedirtyandhaggardtatterdemalionshadoncebeenclean,self—respecting,well—fedsoldierslikethemselves;atthenexttheywouldaffirmthattheyknewtheycouldnotstanditamonth,inherewehadthenendureditfromfourtoninemonths。Theytookit,ineveryway,thehardestofanyprisonersthatcamein,exceptsomeofthe'Hundred—Days'men,whowerebroughtininAugust,fromtheValleyofVirginia。Theyhadservednearlyalltheirtimeinvariousgarrisonsalongtheseacoast——fromFortressMonroetoBeaufort——wheretheyhadhadcomparativelylittleoftheactualhardshipsofsoldieringinthefield。Theyhadnearlyalwayshadcomfortablequarters,anabundanceoffood,fewhardmarchesorothersevereservice。
　　ConsequentlytheywerenotsowellhardenedforAndersonvilleasthemajoritywhocamein。Inotherrespectstheywerebetterprepared,astheyhadanabundanceofclothing,blanketsandcookingutensils,andeachmanhadsomeofhisveteranbountystillinpossession。
　　Itwaspainfultoseehowrapidlymanyofthemsankunderthemiseriesofthesituation。Theygaveupthemomentthegateswerecloseduponthem,andbeganpiningaway。Weolderprisonersbuoyedourselvesupcontinuallywithhopesofescapeorexchange。Wedugtunnelswiththepersistenceofbeavers,andwewatchedeverypossibleopportunitytogetoutsidetheaccursedwallsofthepen。Butwecouldnotenlisttheinterestofthesediscouragedonesinanyofourschemes,ortalk。
　　TheyresignedthemselvestoDeath,andwaiteddespondinglytillhecame。
　　Amiddle—agedOneHundredandFirstPennsylvanian,whohadtakenuphisquartersnearme,wasanobjectofpeculiarinterest。Reasonablyintelligentandfairlyread,IpresumethathewasarespectablemechanicbeforeenteringtheArmy。Hewasevidentlyaverydomesticman,whosewholehappinesscenteredinhisfamily。
　　Whenhefirstcameinhewasthoroughlydazedbythegreatnessofhismisfortune。Hewouldsitforhourswithhisfaceinhishandsandhiselbowsonhisknees,gazingoutuponthemassofmenandhuts,withvacant,lack—lustereyes。Wecouldnotinteresthiminanything。
　　Wetriedtoshowhimhowtofixhisblanketuptogivehimsomeshelter,buthewentattheworkinadisheartenedway,andfinallysmiledfeeblyandstopped。Hehadsomelettersfromhisfamilyandamelaineotypeofaplain—facedwoman——hiswife——andherchildren,andspentmuchtimeinlookingatthem。Atfirstheatehisrationswhenhedrewthem,butfinallybegantoreject,them。Inafewdayshewasdeliriouswithhungerandhomesickness。Hewouldsitonthesandforhoursimaginingthatbewasathisfamilytable,dispensinghisfrugalhospitalitiestohiswifeandchildren。
　　Makingamotion,asifpresentingadish,hewouldsay:
　　"Janie,haveanotherbiscuit,do！"
　　Or,"Eddie,son,won'tyouhaveanotherpieceofthisnicesteak？"
　　Or,"Maggie,havesomemorepotatos,"andsoon,throughawholefamilyofsix,ormore。Itwasarelieftouswhenhediedinaboutamonthafterhecamein。
　　Asstatedabove,thePlymouthmenbroughtinalargeamountofmoney——
　　variouslyestimatedatfromtenthousandtoonehundredthousanddollars。
　　Thepresenceofthisquantityofcirculatingmediumimmediatelystartedalivelycommerce。Allsortsofdeviceswereresortedtobytheotherprisonerstogetalittleofthiswealth。Rudechuck—a—luckboardswereconstructedoutofsuchmaterialaswasattainable,andputinoperation。
　　Diceandcardswerebroughtoutbythoseskilledinsuchmatters。
　　AsthoseofusalreadyintheStockadeoccupiedalltheground,therewasnodispositiononthepartofmanytosurrenderaportionoftheirspacewithoutexactingapecuniarycompensation。Messeshavinggroundinagoodlocationwouldfrequentlydemandandgettendollarsforpermissionfortwoorthreetoquarterwiththem。Thentherewasagreatdemandforpolestostretchblanketsovertomaketents;theRebels,withtheirusualstupidcruelty,wouldnotsupplythese,norallowtheprisonerstogooutandgetthemthemselves。Manyoftheolderprisonershadpolestosparewhichtheyweresayingupforfuel。TheysoldthesetothePlymouthfolksattherateoftendollarsforthree——enoughtoputupablanket。
　　Themostconsiderabletradingwasdonethroughthegates。TheRebelguardswerefoundquiteaskeentobarterastheyhadbeeninRichmond。
　　Thoughthelawsagainsttheirdealinginthemoneyoftheenemywerestillasstringentasever,theirthirstforgreenbackswasnotabatedonewhit,andtheywerereadytosellanythingtheyhadforthecovetedcurrency。TherateofexchangewassevenoreightdollarsinConfederatemoneyforonedollaringreenbacks。Wood,tobacco,meat,flour,beans,molasses,onionsandavillainouskindofwhiskymadefromsorghum,werethestaplearticlesoftrade。Awholeraceoflittletraffickersinthesearticlessprangup,andfinallySelden,theRebelQuartermaster,establishedasutlershopinthecenteroftheNorthSide,whichheputinchargeofIraBeverly,oftheOneHundredthOhio,andCharlieHuckleby,oftheEighthTennessee。Itwasafineillustrationofthedevelopmentofthecommercialinstinctinsomemen。Nomoreunlikelyplaceformakingmoneycouldbeimagined,yetstartinginwithoutacent,theycontrivedtoturnandtwistandtrade,untiltheyhadtransferredtotheirpocketsaportionofthefundswhichwereinsomeoneelse's。
　　TheRebels,ofcourse,gotnineoutofeverytendollarstherewasintheprison,butthesemiddlemencontrivedtohavealittleofitsticktotheirfingers。
　　Itwasonlytheveryfewwhowereabletodothis。Ninehundredandninety—nineoutofeverythousandwere,likemyself,eitherwhollydestituteofmoneyandunabletogetitfromanybodyelse,ortheypaidoutwhatmoneytheyhadtothemiddlemen,inexorbitantpricesforarticlesoffood。
　　TheN'Yaarkershadstillanothermethodforgettingfood,money,blanketsandclothing。Theyformedlittlebandscalled"Raiders,"undertheleadershipofachiefvillain。Oneofthesebandswouldselectastheirvictimamanwhohadgoodblankets,clothes,awatch,orgreenbacks。
　　Frequentlyhewouldbeoneofthelittletraders,withasackofbeans,apieceofmeat,orsomethingofthatkind。Pouncinguponhimatnighttheywouldsnatchawayhispossessions,knockdownhisfriendswhocametohisassistance,andscurryawayintothedarkness。
　　CHAPTERXXVI
　　LONGINGSFORGOD'SCOUNTRY——CONSIDERATIONSOFTHEMETHODSOFGETTING
　　THERE——EXCHANGEANDESCAPE——DIGGINGTUNNELS,ANDTHEDIFFICULTIES
　　CONNECTEDTHEREWITH——PUNISHMENTOFATRAITOR。
　　Toourmindstheworldnowcontainedbuttwogranddivisions,aswidelydifferentfromeachotherashappinessandmisery。Thefirst——thatportionoverwhichourflagfloatedwasusuallyspokenofas"God'sCountry;"theother——thatunderthebanefulshadowofthebannerofrebellion——wasdesignatedbythemostopprobriousepithetsatthespeaker'scommand。
　　Togetfromthelattertotheformerwastoattain,atonebound,thehighestgood。BettertobeadoorkeeperintheHouseoftheLord,undertheStarsandStripes,thantodwellinthetentsofwickedness,underthehatefulSouthernCross。
　　Totakeeventhehumblestandhardestofserviceinthefieldnowwouldbeadelightsomechange。Wedidnotasktogohome——wewouldbecontentwithanything,solongasitwasinthatblestplace"withinourlines。"
　　Onlyletusgetbackonce,andtherewouldbenomoregrumblingatrationsorguardduty——wewouldwillinglyendureallthehardshipsandprivationsthatsoldierfleshisheirto。
　　Thereweretwowaysofgettingback——escapeandexchange。Exchangewasliketheeverrecedingmirageofthedesert,thatluresthethirstytraveleronovertheparchedsands,withillusionsofrefreshingsprings,onlytoleavehisbonesatlasttowhitenbythesideofthoseofhisunrememberedpredecessors。Everydaytherecamesomethingtobuildupthehopesthatexchangewasnearathand——everydaybroughtsomethingtoextinguishthehopesoftheprecedingone。Wetookthesevaryingphasesaccordingtoourseveraltemperaments。Thesanguinebuiltthemselvesupontheencouragingreports;thedespondingsankdownanddiedunderthediscouragingones。
　　Escapewasaperpetualallurement。Totheactivelyinclinedamongusitseemedalwayspossible,anddaring,busybrainswereindefatigableinconcoctingschemesforit。TheonlybitofRebelbrainworkthatIeversawforwhichIdidnotfeelcontemptwastheperfectprecautionstakentopreventourescape。Thisisshownbythefactthat,although,fromfirsttolast,therewerenearlyfiftythousandprisonersinAndersonville,andthreeoutofeveryfiveofthesewereeveronthealerttotakeFrenchleaveoftheircaptors,onlythreehundredandtwenty—eightsucceededingettingsofarawayfromAndersonvilleastoleaveittobepresumedthattheyhadreachedourlines。
　　Thefirst,andalmostsuperhumandifficultywastogetoutsidetheStockade。Itwassimplyimpossibletoscaleit。Theguardsweretooclosetogethertoallowaninstant'shopetothemostsanguine,thathecouldevenpasstheDeadLinewithoutbeingshotbysomeoneofthem。
　　Thissameclosenesspreventedanyhopeofbribingthem。Tobesuccessfulhalfthoseonpostwouldhavetobebribed,aseverypartoftheStockadewasclearlyvisiblefromeveryotherpart,andtherewasnonightsodarkasnottoallowaplainviewtoanumberofguardsofthedarkfigureoutlinedagainstthelightcoloredlogsofanyYankeewhoshouldessaytoclambertowardsthetopofthepalisades。
　　Thegatesweresocarefullyguardedeverytimetheywereopenedastoprecludehopeofslippingoutthroughtheme。Theywereonlyunclosedtwiceorthriceaday——oncetoadmit,thementocalltheroll,oncetoletthemoutagain,oncetoletthewagonscomeinwithrations,andonce,perhaps,toadmit,newprisoners。Atallthesetimeseveryprecautionwastakentopreventanyonegettingoutsurreptitiously。
　　Thisnarroweddownthepossibilitiesofpassingthelimitsofthepenalive,totunneling。Thiswasalsosurroundedbyalmostinsuperabledifficulties。First,itrequirednotlessthanfiftyfeetofsubterraneanexcavationtogetout,whichwasanenormousworkwithourlimitedmeans。ThenthelogsformingtheStockadeweresetinthegroundtoadepthoffivefeet,andthetunnelhadtogodownbeneaththem。
　　Theyhadanunpleasanthabitofdroppingdownintotheburrowunderthem。
　　Itaddedmuchtothediscouragementsoftunnelingtothinkofoneofthesemassivetimbersdroppinguponafellowasheworkedhismole—likewayunderit,andeithercrushinghimtodeathoutright,orpinninghimtheretodieofsuffocationorhunger。
　　Inoneinstance,inatunnelnearme,butinwhichIwasnotinterested,thelogslippeddownafterthediggerhadgotoutbeyondit。
　　Heimmediatelybegandiggingforthesurface,forlife,andwasfortunatelyabletobreakthroughbeforehesuffocated。Hegothisheadabovetheground,andthenfainted。Theguardoutsidesawhim,pulledhimoutofthehole,andwhenherecoveredsensibilityhurriedhimbackintotheStockade。
　　Inanothertunnel,alsonearus,abroad—shoulderedGerman,oftheSecondMinnesota,wentintotakehisturnatdigging。Hewassomuchlargerthananyofhispredecessorsthathestuckfastinanarrowpart,anddespitealltheeffortsofhimselfandcomrades,itwasfoundimpossibletomovehimonewayortheother。ThecomradeswereatlastreducedtothehumiliationofinformingtheOfficeroftheGuardoftheirtunnelandtheconditionoftheirfriend,andofaskingassistancetoreleasehim,whichwasgiven。
　　Thegreattunnelingtoolwastheindispensablehalf—canteen。Theinventivegeniusofourpeople,stimulatedbythewar,producednothingforthecomfortandeffectivenessofthesoldierequalinusefulnesstothishumbleandunrecognizedutensil。Itwillberememberedthatacanteenwascomposedoftwopiecesoftinstruckupintotheshapeofsaucers,andsolderedtogetherattheedges。Afterasoldierhadbeeninthefieldalittlewhile,andthrownawayorlostthecuriousandcomplicatedkitchenfurniturehestartedoutwith,hefoundthatbymeltingthehalvesofhiscanteenapart,hehadavesselmuchhandierineverywaythananyhehadpartedwith。Itcouldbeusedforanything——
　　tomakesouporcoffeein,bakebread,browncoffee,stewvegetables,etc。,etc。Asufficienthandlewasmadewithasplitstick。Whenthecookingwasdone,thehandlewasthrownaway,andthehalfcanteenslippedoutoftheroadintothehaversack。Thereseemedtobenoendoftheusestowhichthisever—readydiskofblackenedsheetironcouldbeturned。Severalinstancesareonrecordwhereinfantryregiments,withnoothertoolsthanthis,coveredthemselvesonthefieldwithquiterespectableriflepits。
　　ThestartingpointofatunnelwasalwayssometentclosetotheDeadLine,andsufficientlywellclosedtoscreentheoperationsfromthesightoftheguardsnearby。Thepartyengagedintheworkorganizedbygivingeverymananumbertosecuretheproperapportionmentofthelabor。NumberOnebegandiggingwithhishalfcanteen。Afterhehadworkeduntiltired,hecameout,andNumberTwotookhisplace,andsoon。Thetunnelwassimplyaround,rat—likeburrow,alittlelargerthanaman'sbody。Thediggerlayonhisstomach,dugaheadofhim,threwthedirtunderhim,andworkeditbackwithhisfeettillthemanbehindhim,alsolyingonhisstomach,couldcatchitandworkitbacktothenext。
　　Asthetunnellengthenedthenumberofmenbehindeachotherinthiswayhadtobeincreased,sothatinatunnelseventy—fivefeetlongtherewouldbefromeighttotenmenlyingonebehindtheother。Whenthedirtwaspushedbacktothemouthofthetunnelitwastakenupinimprovisedbags,madebytyingupthebottomsofpantaloonlegs,carriedtotheSwamp,andemptied。Theworkinthetunnelwasveryexhausting,andthediggerhadtoberelievedeveryhalf—hour。