第1章

ANDERSONVILLE

ASTORYOFREBELMILITARYPRISONS

FIFTEENMONTHSAGUESTOFTHESO—CALLED

SOUTHERNCONFEDERACY

APRIVATESOLDIERSEXPERIENCE

IN

RICHMOND,ANDERSONVILLE,SAVANNAH,MILLEN

BLACKSHEARANDFLORENCE

BYJOHNMcELROY

LateofCo。L。16thIllCav。

1879

TOTHEHONORABLE

NOAHH。SWAYNE。

JUSTICEOFTHESUPREMECOURTOFTHEUNITEDSTATES,AJURISTOFDISTINGUISHEDTALENTSANDEXALTEDCHARACTER;

ONEOFTHELASTOFTHAT

ADMIRABLEARRAYOFPUREPATRIOTSANDSAGACIOUSCOUNSELORS,WHO,IN

THEYEARSOFTHENATION"STRIAL,FAITHFULLYSURROUNDEDTHEGREATPRESIDENT,AND,WITHHIM,BORETHEBURDEN

OF

THOSEMOMENTOUSDAYS;

ANDWHOSEWISDOMANDFAIRNESSHAVEDONESOMUCHSINCE

TO

CONSERVEWHATWASTHENWON,THISBOOKISDEDICATEDWITHRESPECTANDAPPRECIATION,BYTHEAUTHOR。

INTRODUCTION

ThefifthpartofacenturyalmosthasspedwiththeflightoftimesincetheoutbreakoftheSlaveholder"sRebellionagainsttheUnitedStates。

Theyoungmenofto—daywerethenbabesintheircradles,or,ifmorethanthat,tooyoungtobeappalledbytheterrorofthetimes。Thosenowgraduatingfromourschoolsoflearningtobeteachersofyouthandleadersofpublicthought,iftheyareeverpreparedtoteachthehistoryofthewarfortheUnionsoastorenderadequatehonortoitsmartyrsandheroes,andatthesametimeimpresstheobviousmoraltobedrawnfromit,mustderivetheirknowledgefromauthorswhocaneachonesayofthethrillingstoryheissparedtotell:"AllofwhichIsaw,andpartofwhichIwas。"

Thewriterishonoredwiththeprivilegeofintroducingtothereaderavolumewrittenbyanauthorwhowasanactorandasuffererinthesceneshehassovividlyandfaithfullydescribed,andsentforthtothepublicbyapublisherwhoseliterarycontributionsinsupportoftheloyalcauseentitlehimtothehighestappreciation。Bothauthorandpublisherhavehadanhonorableandefficientpartinthegreatstruggle,andarethereforeworthytohanddowntothefuturearecordoftheperilsencounteredandthesufferingsenduredbypatrioticsoldiersintheprisonsoftheenemy。Thepublisher,atthebeginningofthewar,entered,withzealandardorupontheworkofraisingacompanyofmen,intendingtoleadthemtothefield。Preventedfromcarryingoutthisdesign,hisenergiesweredirectedtoamoreeffectiveservice。Hisfamous"NasbyLetters"exposedtheabsurdandsophisticalargumentationsofrebelsandtheirsympathisers,insuchbroad,attractiveandadmirableburlesque,astodirectagainstthemthe"loud,longlaughterofaworld！"Theuniqueandtellingsatireofthesepapersbecameapowerandinspirationtoourarmiesinthefieldandtotheiranxiousfriendsathome,morethanequaltothemightofwholebattalionspouredinupontheenemy。Anathleteinlogicmaylayanerrorwrithingathisfeet,andafterallitmayrecovertodogreatmischief。Butthesharpwitofthehumoristdrivesitbeforetheworld"sderisionintoshameandeverlastingcontempt。Theseletterswerereadandshoutedovergleefullyateverycamp—fireintheUnionArmy,andeagerlydevouredbycrowdsoflistenerswhenmailswereopenedatcountrypost—offices。Otherhumoristswerecontentwhentheysimplyamusedthereader,but"Nasby"s"jestswerearguments——theyhadameaningtheyweresuggestedbythenecessitiesandemergenciesoftheNation"speril,andwrittentosupport,withallearnestness,amostsacredcause。

Theauthor,whenveryyoung,engagedinjournalisticwork,untilthedrumoftherecruitingofficercalledhimtojointheranksofhiscountry"sdefenders。Asthereaderistold,hewasmadeaprisoner。Hetookwithhimintotheterribleprisonenclosurenotonlyabrave,vigorous,youthfulspirit,butinvaluablehabitsofmindandthoughtforstoringuptheincidentsandexperiencesofhisprisonlife。Asajournalisthehadacquiredthehabitofnoticingandmemorizingeverystrikingorthrillingincident,andtheexperiencesofhisprisonlifewereadaptedtoenstampthemselvesindeliblyonbothfeelingandmemory。Hespeaksfrompersonalexperienceandfromthestand—paintoftenderandcompletesympathywiththoseofhiscomradeswhosufferedmorethanhedidhimself。Ofhisqualifications,thewriteroftheseintroductorywordsneednotspeak。

Thesketchesthemselvestestifytohisabilitywithsuchforcethatnocommendationisrequired。

Thisworkisneeded。Agenerationisarisingwhodonotknowwhatthepreservationofourfreegovernmentcostinbloodandsuffering。Eventhemenofthepassinggenerationbegintobeforgetful,ifwemayjudgefromtherecklessnessorcarelessnessoftheirpoliticalaction。Thesoldierisnotalwaysrememberednorhonoredasheshouldbe。But,whattothefutureofthegreatRepublicismoreimportant,thereisgreatdangerofourpeopleunder—estimatingthebitteranimusandterriblemalignitytotheUnionanditsdefenderscherishedbythosewhomadewaruponit。Thisisapointwecannotaffordtobemistakenabout。Andyet,rightatthispointthisvolumewillmeetitsseverestcriticism,andatthispointitstestimonyismostvitalandnecessary。

Manywillbeslowtobelieveallthatisheretoldmosttruthfullyofthetyrannyandcrueltyofthecaptorsofourbraveboysinblue。TherearenoparallelstothecrueltiesandmalignitiesheredescribedinNorthernsociety。Thesystemofslavery,maintainedforovertwohundredyearsattheSouth,hadperformedamostperverting,morallydesolating,andwemightsay,demonizingworkonthedominantrace,whichpeoplebredunderourfreecivilizationcannotatonceunderstand,norscarcelybelievewhenitisdeclareduntothem。Thisreluctancetobelieveunwelcometruthshasbeenthesnareofournationallife。Wehavenotbeenwillingtobelievehowhardened,despotic,andcruelthewieldersofirresponsiblepowermaybecome。

Whentheanti—slaveryreformersofthirtyyearsagosetforththecrueltiesoftheslavesystem,theyweremetwithastormofindignantdenial,villificationandrebuke。WhenTheodoreD。Weldissuedhis"TestimonyofaThousandWitnesses,"tothecrueltyofslavery,heintroduceditwithafewwords,pregnantwithsoundphilosophy,whichcanbeappliedtotheworknowintroduced,andmayhelpthereaderbettertoacceptandappreciateitsstatements。Mr。Weldsaid:

SupposeIshouldseizeyou,robyouofyourliberty,driveyouintothefield,andmakeyouworkwithoutpayaslongasyoulived。Wouldthatbejustice？Woulditbekindness？Orwoulditbemonstrousinjusticeandcruelty？Now,isthemanwhorobsyoueverydaytootender—heartedevertocufforkickyou？Hecanemptyyourpocketswithoutremorse,butifyourstomachisempty,itcutshimtothequick。Hecanmakeyouworkalife—timewithoutpay,butlovesyoutoowelltoletyougohungry。

Hefleecesyouofyourrightswitharelish,butisshockedifyouworkbare—headedinsummer,orwithoutwarmstockingsinwinter。Hecanmakeyougowithoutyourliberty,butneverwithoutashirt。Hecancrushinyouallhopeofbetteringyourconditionbyvowingthatyoushalldiehisslave,butthoughhecanthuscruellytortureyourfeelings,hewillneverlacerateyourback——hecanbreakyourheart,butisverytenderofyourskin。Hecanstripyouofallprotectionoflaw,andallcomfortinreligion,andthusexposeyoutoalloutrages,butifyouareexposedtotheweather,half—cladandhalf—sheltered,howyearnhistenderbowels！

What！talkofamantreatingyouwellwhilerobbingyouofallyouget,andasfastasyougetit？Androbbingyouofyourself,too,yourhandsandfeet,yourmuscles,limbsandsenses,yourbodyandmind,yourlibertyandearnings,yourfreespeechandrightsofconscience,yourrighttoacquireknowledge,propertyandreputation,andyetyouarecontenttobelievewithoutquestionthatmenwhodoallthisbytheirslaveshavesoftheartsoozingoutsolovinglytowardtheirhumanchattlesthattheyalwayskeepthemwellhousedandwellclad,neverpushthemtoohardinthefield,nevermaketheirdearbackssmart,norlettheirdearstomachsgetempty！"

Inlikemannerwemayask,arenotthecrueltiesandoppressionsdescribedinthefollowingpageswhatweshouldlegitimatelyexpectfrommenwho,alltheirlives,haveusedwhipandthumb—screw,shot—gunandbloodhound,tokeephumanbeingssubservienttotheirwill？Arewetoexpectnothingbutchivalrictendernessandcompassionfrommenwhomadewaronatolerantgovernmenttomakemoresecuretheirbarbaricsystemofoppression？

Thesethingsarewrittenbecausetheyaretrue。Dutytothebravedead,totheheroicliving,whohaveenduredthepangsofahundreddeathsfortheircountry"ssake;dutytothegovernmentwhichdependsonthewisdomandconstancyofitsgoodcitizensforitssupportandperpetuity,callsforthis"round,unvarnishedtale"ofsufferingenduredforfreedom"ssake。

ThepublisherofthisworkurgedhisfriendandassociateinjournalismtowriteandsendforththesesketchesbecausethetimesdemandedjustsuchanexposeoftheinnerhelloftheSouthernprisons。Thetendermerciesofoppressorsarecruel。Wemustacceptthetruthandactinviewofit。Actingwiselyonthewarningsofthepast,weshallbeabletopreventtreason,withallitsfearfulconcomitants,frombeingagainthescourgeandterrorofourbelovedland。

ROBERTMcCUNE。

AUTHOR"SPREFACE

Fifteenmonthsago——andonemonthbeforeitwasbegun——IhadnomoreideaofwritingthisbookthanIhavenowoftakingupmyresidenceinChina。

WhileIhavealwaysbeendeeplyimpressedwiththeideathatthepublicshouldknowmuchmoreofthehistoryofAndersonvilleandotherSouthernprisonsthanitdoes,ithadneveroccurredtomethatIwasinanywaychargedwiththedutyofincreasingthatenlightenment。

Noaffecteddeprecationofmyownabilitieshadanypartisthis。

Icertainlyknewenoughofthematter,asdideveryotherboywhohadevenamonth"sexperienceinthoseterribleplaces,buttheverymagnitudeofthatknowledgeoverpoweredme,byshowingmethevastrequirementsofthesubject—requirementsthatseemedtomakeitpresumptionforanybutthegreatestpensinourliteraturetoattemptthework。OnedayatAndersonvilleorFlorencewouldbetaskenoughforthegeniusofCarlyleorHugo;lesserthantheywouldfailpreposterouslytorisetothelevelofthetheme。NowritereverdescribedsuchadelugeofwoesassweptovertheunfortunatesconfinedinRebelprisonsinthelastyear—and—a—halfoftheConfederacy"slife。Nomanwasevercalledupontodescribethespectacleandtheprocessofseventythousandyoung,strong,able—bodiedmen,starvingandrottingtodeath。Suchagigantictragedyasthisstunsthemindandbenumbstheimagination。

InomorefeltmyselfcompetenttothetaskthantoaccomplishoneofMichaelAngelo"sgrandcreationsinsculptureorpainting。

Studyofthesubjectsinceconfirmsmeinthisview,andmyonlyclaimforthisbookisthatitisacontribution——arecordofindividualobservationandexperience——whichwilladdsomethingtothematerialwhichthehistorianofthefuturewillfindavailableforhiswork。

TheworkwasbegunatthesuggestionofMr。D。R。Locke,（PetroleumV。

Nasby）,theeminentpoliticalsatirist。AtfirstitwasonlyintendedtowriteafewshortserialsketchesofprisonlifeforthecolumnsoftheTOLEDOBLADE。Theexceedingfavorwithwhichthefirstoftheserieswasreceivedinducedagreatwideningoftheirscope,untilfinallytheytooktherangetheynowhave。

Iknowthatwhatiscontainedhereinwillbebitterlydenied。Iampreparedforthis。InmyboyhoodIwitnessedthesavageryoftheSlaveryagitation——inmyyouthIfeltthefiercenessofthehatreddirectedagainstallthosewhostoodbytheNation。Iknowthathellhathnofurylikethevindictivenessofthosewhoarehurtbythetruthbeingtoldofthem。Iapprehendbeingassailedbyasiroccoofcontradictionandcalumny。ButIsolemnlyaffirminadvancetheentireandabsolutetruthofeverymaterialfact,statementanddescription。Iassertthat,sofarfromtherebeinganyexaggerationinanyparticular,thatinnoinstancehasthehalfofthetruthbeentold,norcoulditbe,savebyaninspiredpen。Iamreadytodemonstratethisbyanytestthatthedeniersofthismayrequire,andIamfortifiedinmypositionbyunsolicitedlettersfromover3,000survivingprisoners,warmlyindorsingtheaccountasthoroughlyaccurateineveryrespect。

IthasbeenchargedthathatredoftheSouthistheanimusofthiswork。

Nothingcanbefartherfromthetruth。NoonehasadeeperloveforeverypartofourcommoncountrythanI,andnooneto—daywillmakemoreeffortsandsacrificestobringtheSouthtothesameplaneofsocialandmaterialdevelopmentwiththerestoftheNationthanIwill。IfIcouldseethatthesufferingsatAndersonvilleandelsewherecontributedinanyconsiderabledegreetothatend,andIshouldnotregretthattheyhadbeen。Bloodandtearsmarkevery,stepintheprogressoftherace,andhumanmiseryseemsunavoidableinsecuringhumanadvancement。ButIamnaturallyembitteredbythefruitlessness,aswellastheuselessnessofthemiseryofAndersonville。Therewasnevertheleastmilitaryorotherreasonforinflictingallthatwretchednessuponmen,and,asfarasmortaleyecandiscern,noearthlygoodresultedfromthemartyrdomofthosetensofthousands。IwishIcouldseesomehopethattheirwantonlyshedbloodhassownseedsthatwillonedayblossom,andbeararichfruitageofbenefittomankind,butitsaddensmebeyondexpressionthatIcannot。

Theyears1864—5wereaseasonofdesperatebattles,butinthattimemanymoreUnionsoldierswereslainbehindtheRebelarmies,bystarvationandexposure,thanwerekilledinfrontofthembycannonandrifle。Thecountryhasheardmuchoftheheroismandsacrificesofthoseloyalyouthswhofellonthefieldofbattle;butithasheardlittleofthestillgreaternumberwhodiedinprisonpen。Itknowsfullwellhowgrandlyhersonsmetdeathinfrontoftheserriedranksoftreason,andbutlittleofthesublimefirmnesswithwhichtheyendureduntothedeath,allthattheingeniouscrueltyoftheirfoescouldinflictuponthemwhileincaptivity。

Itistohelpsupplythisdeficiencythatthisbookiswritten。ItisamitecontributedtothebetterremembrancebytheircountrymenofthosewhointhiswayenduredanddiedthattheNationmightlive。Itisanofferingoftestimonytofuturegenerationsofthemeasurelesscostoftheexpiationofanationalsin,andofthepreservationofournationalunity。

Thisisa11。IknowIspeakforallthosestilllivingcomradeswhowentwithmethroughthescenesthatIhaveattemptedtodescribe,whenIsaythatwehavenorevengestosatisfy,nohatredstoappease。Wedonotaskthatanyoneshallbepunished。WeonlydesirethattheNationshallrecognizeandrememberthegrandfidelityofourdeadcomrades,andtakeabundantcarethattheyshallnothavediedinvain。

ForthegreatmassofSouthernpeoplewehaveonlythekindliestfeeling。

Webuthateavicioussocialsystem,thelingeringshadowofadarkerage,towhichtheyyield,andwhich,byelevatingbadmentopower,hasprovedtheirownandtheircountry"sbane。

ThefollowingstorydoesnotclaimtobeinanysenseahistoryofSouthernprisons。Itissimplyarecordoftheexperienceofoneindividual——oneboy——whostaidallthetimewithhiscomradesinsidetheprison,andhadnobetteropportunitiesforgaininginformationthananyotherofhis60,000companions。

ThemajorityoftheillustrationsinthisworkarefromtheskilledpencilofCaptainO。J。Hopkins,ofToledo,whoservedthroughthewarintheranksoftheForty—secondOhio。Hisarmyexperiencehasbeenofpeculiarvaluetothework,asithasenabledhimtofurnishaseriesofillustrationswhoselife—likefidelityofaction,poseanddetailareadmirable。

Somethirtyofthepictures,includingthefrontispiece,andtheallegoricalillustrationsofWarandPeace,arefromtheatelierofMr。

O。Reich,Cincinnati,O。

Awordastothespelling:Havingalwaysbeenanardentbelieverinthereformationofourpresentpreposteroussystem——orrather,nosystem——oforthography,Iamanxioustodowhateverliesinmypowertopromoteit。

InthefollowingpagesthespellingissimplifiedtothelastdegreeallowedbyWebster。Ihopethatthetimeisnearwheneventhatadvancedspellingreformerwillbeleftfarintherearbytheprogressofapeoplethoroughlywearyoflongerslaverytotheorthographicalabsurditieshandeddowntousfromaremoteandgrosslyunlearnedancestry。

Toledo,O。,Dec。10,1879。

JOHNMcELROY。

WewaitbeneaththefurnaceblastThepangsoftransformation;

NotpainlesslydothGodrecastAndmoldanewthenation。

HotburnsthefireWherewrongsexpire;

NorsparesthehandThatfromthelandUprootstheancientevil。

Thehand—breadthcloudthesagesfearedItsbloodyrainisdropping;

ThepoisonplantthefatherssparedAllelseisovertopping。

East,West,South,North,Itcursestheearth;

Alljusticedies,AndfraudandliesLiveonlyinitsshadow。

ThenlettheselfishlipbedumbAndhushedthebreathofsighing;

BeforethejoyofpeacemustcomeThepainsofpurifying。

GodgiveusgraceEachinhisplaceTobearhislot,And,murmuringnot,Endureandwaitandlabor！

WHITTIER

ANDERSONVILLE

ASTORYOFREBELMILITARYPRISONS

CHAPTERI。

ASTRANGELAND——THEHEARTOFTHEAPPALACHIANS——THEGATEWAYOFANEMPIRE

——ASEQUESTEREDVALE,ANDAPRIMITIVE,ARCADIAN,NON—PROGRESSIVEPEOPLE。

Alow,square,plainly—hewnstone,setnearthesummitoftheeasternapproachtotheformidablenaturalfortressofCumberlandGap,indicatestheboundariesof——thethreegreatStatesofVirginia,KentuckyandTennessee。Itissuchaplaceas,rememberingtheoldGreekandRomanmythsandsuperstitions,onewouldrecognizeasfittingtomarktheconfinesoftheterritoriesofgreatmassesofstrong,aggressive,andfrequentlyconflictingpeoples。TherethegodTerminusshouldhavehadoneofhischieftemples,wherehisshrinewouldbeshadowedbybarriersrisingabovetheclouds,andhissacredsolitudeguardedfromtherudeinvasionofarmedhostsbyrangeonrangeofbattlementedrocks,crowningalmostinaccessiblemountains,interposedacrosseveryapproachfromtheusualhauntsofmen。

Roundaboutthelandisfullofstrangenessandmystery。ThethroesofsomegreatconvulsionofNaturearewrittenonthefaceofthefourthousandsquaremilesofterritory,ofwhichCumberlandGapisthecentralpoint。Milesofgranitemountainsarethrustuplikegiantwalls,hundredsoffeethigh,andassmoothandregularasthesideofamonument。

Huge,fantastically—shapedrocksaboundeverywhere——sometimesrisingintopinnaclesonloftysummits——sometimeshangingoverthevergeofbeetlingcliffs,asifplacedthereinwaitingforatimewhentheycouldbehurleddownuponthepathofanadvancingarmy,andsweepitaway。

Largestreamsofwaterburstoutinthemostunexpectedplanes,frequentlyfarupmountainsides,andfallinsilverveilsuponstonesbeatenroundbytheceaselessdashforages。Caves,richinquaintlyformedstalactitesandstalagmites,andtheirrecessesfilledwithmetallicsaltsofthemostpowerfulanddiversenatures;breakthemountainsidesatfrequentintervals。Everywhereoneismetbysurprisesandanomalies。Eventherankvegetationiseccentric,andaspronetodevelopintobizarreformsasaretherocksandmountains。

Thedreadedpantherrangesthroughtheprimeval,rarelytroddenforests;

everycreviceintherockshasfortenantsrattlesnakesorstealthycopperheads,whilelong,wonderfullyswift"blueracers"haunttheedgesofthewoods,andlingeraroundthefieldstochillhisbloodwhocatchesaglimpseoftheiruprearedheads,withtheirgreat,balefullybrighteyes,and"white—collar"encircledthroats。

Thehumaneventshappeningherehavebeeninharmonywiththenaturalones。Ithasalwaysbeenalandofconflict。In1540——339yearsago——

DeSoto,inthatenergeticbutfruitlesssearchforgoldwhichoccupiedhislateryears,penetratedtothisregion,andfounditthefastnessoftheXualans,abold,aggressiverace,continuallywarringwithitsneighbors。Whennextthewhitemanreachedthecountry——acenturyandahalflater——hefoundtheXualanshadbeensweptawaybytheconqueringCherokees,andhewitnessedtherethemostsanguinarycontestbetweenIndiansofwhichourannalsgiveanyaccount——apitchedbattletwodaysinduration,betweentheinvadingShawnees,wholordeditoverwhatisnowKentucky,OhioandIndiana——andtheCherokees,whodominatedthecountrythesoutheastoftheCumberlandrange。AgaintheCherokeeswerevictorious,andthediscomfitedShawneesretirednorthoftheGap。

Thenthewhitemandeliveredbattleforthepossessiontheland,andboughtitwiththelivesofmanygallantadventurers。HalfacenturylaterBooneandhishardycompanionfollowed,andforcedtheirwayintoKentucky。

AnotherhalfcenturysawtheGapthefavoritehauntofthegreatestofAmericanbandits——thenotedJohnA。Murrell——andhisgang。Theyinfestedthecountryforyears,nowwaylayingthetraderordroverthreadinghistoilsomewayoverthelone]mountains,nowdescendinguponsomelittletown,toplunderitsstoresandhouses。

AtlengthMurrellandhisbandweredrivenout,andsoughtanewfieldofoperationsontheLowerMississippi。Theyleftgermsbehindthem,however,thatdevelopedintohorsethievecounterfeiters,andlaterintoguerrillasandbushwhackers。

WhentheRebellionbrokeouttheregionatoncebecameththeaterofmilitaryoperations。TwiceCumberlandGapwasseizedbytheRebels,andtwicewasitwrestedawayfromthem。In1861itwasthepointwhenceZollicofferlaunchedoutwithhislegionsto"liberateKentucky,"anditwaswhithertheyfled,beatenandshattered,afterthedisastersofWildCatandMillSprings。In1862KirbySmithledhisarmythroughtheGaponhiswaytooverrunKentuckyandinvadetheNorth。Threemonthslaterhisbeatenforcessoughtrefugefromtheirpursuersbehinditsimpregnablefortifications。AnotheryearsawBurnsideburstthroughtheGapwithaconqueringforceandredeemloyalEastTennesseefromitsRebeloppressors。

HadtheSoutheverbeenabletoseparatefromtheNorththeboundarywouldhavebeenestablishedalongthisline。

BetweenthemainridgeuponwhichCumberlandGapissituated,andthenextrangeonthesoutheastwhichrunsparallelwithit,isanarrow,long,veryfruitfulvalley,walledinoneithersideforahundredmilesbytallmountainsasaCitystreetisbyhighbuildings。ItiscalledPowell"sValley。Initdwellasimple,primitivepeople,shutoutfromtheworldalmostasmuchasiftheylivedinNewZealand,andwiththespeech,mannersandideasthattheirfathersbroughtintotheValleywhentheysettleditacenturyago。Therehasbeenbutlittlechangesincethen。TheyoungmenwhohaveannuallydrivencattletothedistantmarketsinKentucky,TennesseeandVirginia,havebroughtbackoccasionalstraybitsoffineryforthe"womenfolks,"andthelatestimprovedfire—

armsforthemselves,butthisisaboutalltheinnovationstheprogressoftheworldhasbeenallowedtomake。Wheeledvehiclesarealmostunknown;menandwomentravelonhorsebackastheydidacenturyago,theclothingistheproductofthefarmandthebusyloomsofthewomen,andlifeisasruralandArcadianasanyeverdescribedinapastoral。

Thepeoplearerichincattle,hogs,horses,sheepandtheproductsofthefield。Thefatsoilbringsforththesubstantialsoflifeinopulentplenty。Havingthisthereseemstobelittlecareformore。Ambitionnoravarice,noryetcravingafterluxury,disturbtheircontentedsoulsordragthemawayfromthenon—progressiveroundofsimplelifebequeathedthembytheirfathers。

CHAPTERII。

SCARCITYOFFOODFORTHEARMY——RAIDFORFORAGE——ENCOUNTERWITTHEREBELS

——SHARPCAVALRYFIGHT——DEFEATOFTHE"JOHNNIES"——POWELL"SVALLEYOPENED

UP。

AstheAutumnof1863advancedtowardsWinterthedifficultyofsupplyingtheforcesconcentratedaroundCumberlandGap——aswellastherestofBurnside"sarmyinEastTennessee——becamegreaterandgreater。ThebaseofsupplieswasatCampNelson,nearLexington,Ky。,onehundredandeightymilesfromtheGap,andallthattheArmyusedhadtobehauledthatdistancebymuleteamsoverroadsthat,intheirbeststatewerewretched,andwhichthecopiousrainsandheavytraffichadrenderedwell—nighimpassable。Allthecountrytoourpossessionhadbeendrainedofitsstockofwhateverwouldcontributetothesupportofmanorbeast。

ThatportionofPowell"sValleyextendingfromtheGapintoVirginiawasstillinthehandsoftheRebels;itsstockofproductswasasyetalmostexemptfrommilitarycontributions。ConsequentlyaraidwasprojectedtoreducetheValleytoourpossession,andsecureitsmuchneededstores。

ItwasguardedbytheSixty—fourthVirginia,amountedregiment,madeupoftheyoungmenofthelocality,whohadthenbeenintheserviceabouttwoyears。

Maj。C。H。Beer"sthirdBattalion,SixteenthIllinoisCavalry——fourcompanies,eachabout75strong——wassentontheerrandofdrivingouttheRebelsandopeninguptheValleyforourforagingteams。Thewriterwasinvitedtoattendtheexcursion。Asheheldthehonorable,butnotverylucrativepositionof"high,private"inCompanyL,oftheBattalion,andtheinvitationcamefromhisCaptain,hedidnotfeelatlibertytodecline。Hewent,asprivatesoldiershavebeeninthehabitofdoingeversincethedaysoftheoldCenturion,whosaidwiththecharacteristicboastfulnessofoneofthelowergradesofcommissionedofficerswhenhehappenstobeasnob:

ForIamalsoamansetunderauthority,havingundermesoldiers,andIsayuntoone,Go;andhegoeth;andtoanother,Come,andhecometh;andtomyservant,Dothis,andhedoethit。

Rather"airy"talkthatforamanwhonowadayswouldtakerankwithCaptainsofinfantry。

Threehundredofusrespondedtothesignalof"bootsandsaddles,"

buckledonthreehundredmoreorlesstrustysabersandrevolvers,saddledthreehundredmoreorlessgallantsteeds,cameintoline"ascompanies"withtheautomaticlistlessnessoftheoldsoldiers,"countedoffbyfours"inthatqueergamut—runningstylethatmakesacompanyofmen"countingoff"——eachshoutinganumberinadifferentvoicefromhisneighbor——soundlikerunningthescalesonsomegreatorganbadlyoutoftune;somethinglikethis:

One。Two。Three。Four。One。Two。Three。Four。One。Two。Three。

Four。

Then,asthebuglesounded"Rightforward！foursright！"wemovedoffatawalkthroughthemelancholymistthatsoakedthroughtheveryfiberofmanandhorse,andreducedthemindsofbothtoaconditionoflimpindifferenceastothingspast,presentandfuture。

Whitherweweregoingweknewnot,norcared。Suchmattershadlongsinceceasedtoexciteanyinterest。Acavalrymansoonrecognizesastheleastastonishingthinginhisexistencethesignalto"Fallin！"andstartsomewhere。Hefeelsthatheisthe"PoorJoe"oftheArmy——underperpetualordersto"moveon。"

Downwewoundovertheroadthatzig—taggedthroughtheforts,batteriesandrifle—pitscoveringtheeasternascenttotheFlap—pastthewonderfulMurrellSpring——so—calledbecausetherobberchiefhadkilled,ashestoopedtodrinkofitscrystalwaters,arichdrover,whomhewaspretendingtopilotthroughthemountains——downtowherethe"Virginiaroad"turnedoffsharplytotheleftandenteredPowell"sValley。Themisthadbecomeachill,drearyrain,through,whichweploddedsilently,untilnightclosedinaroundussometenmilesfromtheGap。Aswehaltedtogointocamp,anindignantVirginianresentedtheinvasionofthesacredsoilbyfiringatoneoftheguardsmovingouttohisplace。

Theguardlookedatthefellowcontemptuously,asifhehatedtowastepowderonamanwhohadnobettersensethantostayoutinsucharain,whenhecouldgoin—doors,andthebushwhackerescaped,withoutevenareturnshot。

Fireswerebuilt,coffeemade,horsesrubbed,andwelaiddownwithfeettothefiretogetwhatsleepwecould。

Beforemorningwewereawakenedbythebittercold。Ithadclearedoffduringthenightandturnedsocoldthateverythingwasfrozenstiff。

Thiswasbetterthantherain,atallevents。Agoodfireandahotcupofcoffeewouldmakethecoldquiteendurable。