第3章
Notawordwassaid。
Theshallowerenthusiasmthatexpressesitselfinoathsandshoutshadgivenwaytothedeep,voicelessrageofmeninadeathgrapple。TheRebellinewasarollingtorrentofflame,theirbulletsshriekedangrilyastheyflewpast,theystruckthesnowinfrontofus,andthrewitscoldflakesinfacesthatwerewhitewiththefiresofconsuminghate;
theyburiedthemselveswithadullthudinthequiveringbodiesoftheenragedcombatants。
Minutespassed;theyseemedhours。
Wouldthevillains,scoundrels,hell—hounds,sonsofvipersnevergo？
AtlengthafewRebelssprangupandtriedtofly。Theywereshotdowninstantly。
Thenthewholelineroseandran！
Thereliefwassogreatthatwejumpedtoourfeetandcheeredwildly,forgettinginourexcitementtomakeuseofourvictorybyshootingdownourflyingenemies。
Norwasanelementoffunlacking。ASecondLieutenantwasorderedtotakeapartyofskirmisherstothetopofahillandengagethoseoftheRebelsstationedonanotherhill—topacrossaravine。HehadbutlatelyjoinedusfromtheRegularArmy,wherehewasaDrillSergeant。
Naturally,hewasverymethodicalinhisway,andscornedtodootherwiseunderfirethanhewouldupontheparadeground。Hemovedhislittlecommandtothehill—top,incloseorder,andfacedthemtothefront。
TheJohnniesreceivedthemwithayellandavolley,whereattheboyswincedalittle,muchtotheLieutenant"sdisgust,whosworeatthem;
thenhadthemcountoffwithgreatdeliberation,anddeployedthemascoollyasifthemwasnot,anenemywithinahundredmiles。Afterthelinedeployed,he"dressed"it,commanded"Front！"and"Begin,firing！"
hisattentionwascalledanotherwayforaninstant,andwhenhelookedbackagain,therewasnotamanofhisnicelyformedskirmishlinevisible。Thelogsandstoneshadevidentlybeenputtherefortheuseofskirmishers,theboysthought,andinaninstanttheyavailedthemselvesoftheirshelter。
NeverwasthereanangriermanthanthatSecondLieutenant;hebrandishedhissaberandswore;heseemedtofeelthatallhissoldierlyreputationwasgone,buttheboysstucktotheirshelterforallthat,informinghimthatwhentheRebelswouldstandoutintheopenfieldandtaketheirfire,theywoulddlikewise。
Despiteallourefforts,theRebellinecrawledupcloseranclosertous;weweredrivenbackfromknolltoknoll,andfromonefenceafteranother。Wehadmaintainedtheunequalstruggleforeighthours;overone—fourthofournumberwerestretcheduponthesnow,killedorbadlywounded。Ourcartridgeswerenearlyallgone;thecannonhadfireditslastshotlongago,andhavingablankcartridgeleft,hadshottherammeratagatheringpartyoftheenemy。
JustastheWintersunwasgoingdownuponadayofgloomthebuglecalledusalluponthehillside。ThentheRebelssawforthefirsttimehowfewtherewere,andbegananalmostsimultaneouschargeallalongtheline。TheMajorraisedpieceofasheltertentuponapole。Thelinehalted。Anofficerrodeoutfromit,followedbytwoprivates。
ApproachingtheMajor,hesaid,"Whoisincommandthisforce？"
TheMajorreplied:"Iam。"
"Then,Sir,Idemandyoursword。"
"Whatisyourrank,Sir！"
"IamAdjutantoftheSixty—fourthVirginia。"
Thepunctillioussouloftheold"Regular"——forsuchtheMajorwasswelledupinstantly,andheanswered:
"By———,sir,Iwillneversurrendertomyinferiorinrank！"
TheAdjutantreinedhishorseback。HistwofollowersleveledtheirpiecesattheMajorandwaitedorderstofire。Theywerecoveredbyadozencarbinesinthehandsofourmen。TheAdjutantorderedhismento"recoverarms,"androdeawaywiththem。HepresentlyreturnedwithaColonel,andtohimtheMajorhandedhissaber。
Asthemenrealizedwhatwasbeingdone,thefirstthoughtofmanyofthemwastosnatchoutthecylinder"softheirrevolvers,andtheslidesoftheircarbines,andthrowthemaway,soastomakethearmsuseless。
Wewereovercomewithrageandhumiliationatbeingcompelledtoyieldtoanenemywhomwehadhatedsobitterly。Aswestoodthereonthebleakmountain—side,thebitingwindsoughingthroughtheleaflessbranches,theshadowsofagloomywinternightclosingaroundus,thegroansandshrieksofourwoundedminglingwiththetriumphantyellsoftheRebelsplunderingourtents,itseemedasifFatecouldpresstoman"slipsnocupwithbittererdregsinitthanthis。
CHAPTERV。
THEREACTION——DEPRESSION——BITTINGCOLD——SHARPHUNGERANDSADREFLEXION。
"OfbeingtakenbytheInsolentfoe。"——Othello。
Thenightthatfollowedwasinexpressiblydreary:Thehigh—wroughtnervoustension,whichhadbeenprotractedthroughthelonghoursthatthefightlasted,wassucceededbyaproportionatementaldepression,suchasnaturallyfollowsanystrainuponthemind。Thiswasintensifiedinourcasesbythesharpstingofdefeat,thehumiliationofhavingtoyieldourselves,ourhorsesandourarmsintothepossessionoftheenemy,theuncertaintyastothefuture,andthesorrowwefeltatthelossofsomanyofourcomrades。
CompanyLhadsufferedveryseverely,butourchiefregretwasforthegallantOsgood,ourSecondLieutenant。He,aboveallothers,wasourtrustedleader。TheCaptainandFirstLieutenantwerebravemen,andgoodenoughsoldiers,butOsgoodwastheone"whoseadoptiontried,wegrappledtooursoulswithhooksofsteel。"Therewasneveranydifficultyingettingallthevolunteershewantedforascoutingparty。
Aquiet,pleasantspokengentleman,pastmiddleage,helookedmuchbetterfittedfortheofficeofJusticeofthePeace,towhichhisfellow—citizensofUrbana,Illinois,hadelectedandreelectedhim,thantocommandatroopofroughridersinagreatcivilwar。Butnonemoregallantthanheevervaultedintosaddletodobattlefortheright。
HewentintotheArmysolelyasamatterofprinciple,anddidhisdutywiththeunflaggingzealofanoldenPuritanfightingforlibertyandhissoul"ssalvation。Hewasasuperbhorseman——asalltheolderIllinoisansareand,forallhistwo—scoreyearsandten,herecognizedfewsuperiorsforstrengthandactivityintheBattalion。Aradical,uncompromisingAbolitionist,hehadfrequentlyassertedthathewouldratherdiethanyieldtoaRebel,andhekepthiswordinthisasineverythingelse。
Asforhim,itwasprobablythewayhedesiredtodie。NoonebelievedmoreardentlythanhethatWhetheronthescaffoldhigh,Orinthebattle"svan;
Thefittestplaceformantodie,Iswherehediesforman。
AmongthemanywhohadlostchumsandfriendswasNedJohnson,ofCompanyK。NedwasayoungEnglishman,withmuchofthesuggestivenessofthebull—dogcommontothelowerclassofthatnation。Hisfistwasreadierthanhistongue。Hischum,WalterSavagewasofthesamesurlytype。
ThetwohadcomefromEnglandtwelveyearsbefore,andhadbeentogethereversince。Savagewaskilledinthestruggleforthefencedescribedintheprecedingchapter。Nedcouldnotrealizeforawhilethathisfriendwasdead。Itwasonlywhenthebodyrapidlystiffenedonitsicybed,andtheeyeswhichhadbeengleamingdeadlyhatewhenhewasstrickendownwereglazedoverwiththedullfilmofdeath,thathebelievedhewasgonefromhimforever。Thenhisragewasterrible。Fortherestofthedayhewasattheheadofeveryassaultupontheenemy。Hisvoicecouldeverbeheardabovethefiring,cursingtheRebelsbitterly,andurgingtheboysto"Standupto"em！Standrightupto"em！Don"tgiveainch！Letthemhavethebestyougotintheshop！Shootlow,anddon"twasteacartridge！"
Whenwesurrendered,Nedseemedtoyieldsullenlytotheinevitable。
Hethrewhisbeltandapparentlyhisrevolverwithituponthesnow。
Aguardwasformedaroundus,andwegatheredaboutthefiresthatwerestarted。Nedsatapart,hisarmsfolded,hisheaduponhisbreast,broodingbitterlyuponWalter"sdeath。Ahorseman,evidentlyaColonelorGeneral,clattereduptogivesomedirectionsconcerningus。AtthesoundofhisvoiceNedraisedhisheadandgavehimaswiftglance;thegoldstarsupontheRebel"scollarledhimtobelievethathewasthecommanderoftheenemy。Nedsprangtohisfeet,madealongstrideforward,snatchedfromthebreastofhisovercoattherevolverhehadbeenhidingthere,cockeditandleveleditattheRebel"sbreast。
BeforehecouldpullthetriggerOrderlySergeantCharlesBentley,ofhisCompany,whowaswatchinghim,leapedforward,caughthiswristandthrewtherevolverup。Othersjoinedin,tooktheweaponaway,andhandeditovertotheofficer,whothenorderedusalltobesearchedforarms,androdeaway。
Allourdejectioncouldnotmakeusforgetthatwewereintenselyhungry。
Wehadeatennothingallday。Thefightbeganbeforewehadtimetogetanybreakfast,andofcoursetherewasnointervalforrefreshmentsduringtheengagement。TheRebelswerenobetteroffthanwe,havingbeenmarchedrapidlyallnightinordertocomeuponusbydaylight。
Lateintheeveningafewsacksofmealweregivenus,andwetookthefirstlessoninanartthatlongandpainfulpracticeafterwardwastomakeveryfamiliartous。Wehadnothingtomixthemealin,anditlookedasifwewouldhavetoeatitdry,untilahappythoughtstrucksomeonethatourcapswoulddoforkneadingtroughs。Atonceeverycapwasdevotedtothis。Gettingwaterfromanadjacentspring,eachmanmadealittlewadofdough——unsalted——andspreadingituponaflatstoneorachip,setitupinfrontofthefiretobake。Assoonasitwasbrownedononeside,itwaspulledoffthestone,andtheothersideturnedtothefire。ItwasaveryprimitivewayofcookingandIbecamethoroughlydisgustedwithit。ItwasfortunateformethatIlittledreamedthatthiswasthewayIshouldhavetogetmymealsforthenextfifteenmonths。
Aftersomewhatoftheedgehadbeentakenoffourhungerbythisfood,wecrouchedaroundthefires,talkedovertheeventsoftheday,speculatedastowhatwastobedonewithus,andsnatchedsuchsleepasthebitingcoldwouldpermit。
CHAPTER
"ONTORICHMOND！"——MARCHINGONFOOTOVERTHEMOUNTAINS——MYHORSEHASA
NEWRIDER——UNSOPHISTICATEDMOUNTAINGIRLS——DISCUSSINGTHEISSUESOFTHE
WAR——PARTINGWITH"HIATOGA。"
Atdawnweweregatheredtogether,moremealissuedtous,whichwecookedinthesameway,andthenwerestartedunderheavyguardtomarchonfootoverthemountainstoBristol,astationatthepointwheretheVirginiaandTennesseeRailroadcrossesthelinebetweenVirginiaandTennessee。
AswewerepreparingtosetoutaSergeantoftheFirstVirginiacavalrycamegallopinguptousonmyhorse！Thesightofmyfaithful"Hiatoga"
bestridbyaRebel,wrungmyheart。DuringtheactionIhadforgottenhim,butwhenitceasedIbegantoworryabouthisfate。AsheandhisridercamenearIcalledouttohim;hestoppedandgaveawhinnyofrecognition,whichseemedalsoaplaintiveappealforanexplanationofthechangedconditionofaffairs。
TheSergeantwasapleasant,gentlemanlyboyofaboutmyownage。
Herodeuptomeandinquiredifitwasmyhorse,towhichIrepliedintheaffirmative,andaskedpermissiontotakefromthesaddlepocketssomeletters,picturesandothertrinkets。Hegrantedthis,andwebecamefriendsfromthenceonuntilweseparated。Herodebymysideasweploddedoverthesteep,slipperyhills,andwebeguiledthewaybychattingofthethousandthingsthatsoldiersfindtotalkabout,andexchangedreminiscencesoftheserviceonbothsides。ButthesubjecthewasfondestofwasthatwhichIrelishedleast:my——nowhis——horse。Intotheopenulcerofmyhearthepouredtheacidofallmannerofquestionsconcerningmyloststeed"squalitiesandcapabilities:wouldheswim？
howwasheinfording？didhejumpwell！howdidhestandfire？
Ismotheredmyirritation,andansweredaspleasantlyasIcould。
Intheafternoonofthethirddayafterthecapture,wecameuptowhereapartyofrusticbelleswerecollectedat"quilting。"The"Yankees"
wereinstantlyobjectsofgreaterinterestthantheparadeofamenageriewouldhavebeen。TheSergeanttoldthegirlsweweregoingtocampforthenightamileorsoahead,andiftheywouldbeatacertainhouse,hewouldhaveaYankeeforthemforcloseinspection。Afterhalting,theSergeantobtainedleavetotakemeoutwithaguard,andIwaspresentlyusheredintoaroominwhichthedamselsweremassedinforce,——acarnation—checked,staring,open—mouthed,linsey—cladcrowd,asignorantofcorsetsandglovesasofHebrew,andwithapropensitytogigglethatwaschronicandirrepressible。Whenweenteredtheroomtherewasageneralgiggle,andthenashowerofcommentsuponmyappearance,——eachsentencepunctuatedwiththechorusoffemininecachination。Aremarkwasmadeaboutmyhairandeyes,andtheirrisiblesgaveway;judgmentwaspassedonmynose,andthencamearippleoflaughter。Igotveryredintheface,anduncomfortablegenerally。
Attentionwascalledtothesizeofmyfeetandhands,andtheusualchorusfollowed。Thoseusefulmembersofmybodyseemedtoswellupastheydotoayoungmanathisfirstparty。
ThenIsawthatinthemindsofthesebucolicmaidensIwasscarcely,ifatall,human;theydidnotunderstandthatIbelongedtotherace;
Iwasa"Yankee"——asomethingofthenon—humanclass,asthegorillaorthechimpanzee。Theyfeltasfreetodiscussmypointsbeforemyfaceastheywouldtotalkofahorseorawildanimalinashow。Myequanimitywaspartiallyrestoredbythisreflection,butIwasstilltooyoungtoescapeembarrassmentandirritationatbeingthusdissectedandgiggledatbyapartyofgirls,eveniftheywereignorantVirginiamountaineers。
IturnedaroundtospeaktotheSergeant,andinsodoingshowedmybacktotheladies。Thehumofcommentdeepenedintosurprise,thathalfstoppedandthenintensifiedthegiggle。
Iwaspuzzledforaminute,andthenthedirectionoftheirglances,andtheirremarksexplaineditall。Attherearofthelowerpartofthecavalryjacket,aboutwheretheupperornamentalbuttonsareonthetailofafrockcoat,aretwofunnytabs,aboutthesizeofsmallpin—
cushions。Theyarefastenedbytheedge,andstickoutstraightbehind。
Theiruseistosupporttheheavybeltintherear,asthebuttonsdoinfront。WhenthebeltisoffitwouldpuzzletheSevenWiseMentoguesswhattheyarefor。Theunsophisticatedyoungladies,withthatswiftintuitionwhichisoneoflovelywoman"ssalientmentaltraits,immediatelyjumpedattheconclusionthattheprojectionscoveredsomepeculiarconformationoftheYankeeanatomy——someincipient,dromedary—
likehumps,orperchancethehornsofwhichtheyhadheardsomuch。
Thisanatomicalphenomenawasdiscussedintentlyforafewminutes,duringwhichIheardoneofthegirlsinquirewhether"itwouldhurthimtocut"emoff？"andanotherhazardedtheopinionthat"itwouldprobablybleedhimtodeath。"
Thenanewideaseizedthem,andtheysaidtotheSergeant"Makehimsing！Makehimsing！"
ThiswastoomuchfortheSergeant,whohadbeenintenselyamusedatthegirls"wonderment。Heturnedtome,veryredintheface,with:
"Sergeant:thegirlswanttohearyousing。"
IrepliedthatIcouldnotsinganote。Saidhe:
"Oh,comenow。Iknowbetterthanthat;IneverseedorheerdofaYankeethatcouldn"tsing。"
IneverthelessassuredhimthattherereallyweresomeYankeesthatdidnothaveanymusicalaccomplishments,andthatIwasoneofthatunfortunatenumber。Iaskedhimtogettheladiestosingforme,andtothistheyaccededquitereadily。Onegirl,withafairsoprano,whoseemedtobetheleaderofthecrowd,sang"TheHomespunDress,"asongverypopularintheSouth,andhavingthesametuneasthe"BonnieBlueFlag。"Itbegan,IenvynottheNortherngirlTheirsilksandjewelsfine,andproceededtocomparethehomespunhabilimentsoftheSouthernwomentothefineryandfripperyoftheladiesontheothersideofMasonandDixon"slineinamannerverydisadvantageoustothelatter。
Therestofthegirlsmadeafineexhibitionofthelung—poweracquiredinclimbingtheirprecipitousmountains,whentheycameinonthechorusHurra！Hurra！forsouthernrightsHurra！
Hurraforthehomespundress,TheSouthernladieswear。
Thisendedtheentertainment。
OnourjourneytoBristolwemetmanyRebelsoldiers,ofallranks,andasmallnumberofcitizens。Astheconscriptionhadthenbeenenforcedprettysharplyforoverayeartheonlyable—bodiedmenseenincivillifewerethosewhohadsometradewhichexemptedthemfrombeingforcedintoactiveservice。Itgreatlyastonishedusatfirsttofindthatnearlyallthemechanicswereincludedamongtheexempts,orcouldbeiftheychose;butaverylittlereflectionshowedusthewisdomofsuchapolicy。TheSouthisasnearlyapurelyagriculturalcountryasisRussiaorSouthAmerica。Thepeoplehave,littleinclinationorcapacityforanythingelsethanpastoralpursuits。Consequentlymechanicsareveryscarce,andmanufactoriesmuchscarcer。ThelimitedquantityofproductsofmechanicalskillneededbythepeoplewasmostlyimportedfromtheNorthorEurope。Boththesesourcesofsupplywerecutoffbythewar,andthecountrywasthrownuponitsownslendermanufacturingresources。Toforceitsmechanicsintothearmywouldthereforebesuicidal。TheArmywouldgainafewthousandmen,butitsoperationswouldbeembarrassed,ifnotstoppedaltogether,byawantofsupplies。ThisconditionofaffairsremindedoneofthesingularpaucityofmechanicalskillamongtheBedouinsofthedesert,whichrendersthelifeofablacksmithsacred。Nomatterhowbitterthefeudbetweentribes,noonewillkilltheother"sworkersofiron,andinstancesaretoldofwarriorssavingtheirlivesatcriticalperiodsbyfallingontheirkneesandmakingwiththeirgarmentsanimitationoftheactionofasmith"sbellows。
Allwhomwemetwereeagertodiscusswithusthecauses,phasesandprogressofthewar,andwheneveropportunityofferedorcouldbemade,thoseofuswhowereinclinedtotalkwerespeedilyinvolvedinanargumentwithcrowdsofsoldiersandcitizens。But,owingtothepolemicpovertyofouropponents,theargumentwasmoreinnamethaninfact。
Likeallpeopleofslenderoruntrainedintellectualpowerstheylaboredunderthehallucinationthatassertingwasreasoning,andtheemphaticreiterationofbaldstatements,logic。Thenarrowroundwhichallfromhighesttolowest——traveledwassometimescomical,andsometimesirritating,accordingtoone"smood！Thedisputeinvariablybeganbytheirasking:
"Well,whatareyou"unsdownherea—fightin"we"unsfor？
Asthiswasrepliedtothenewtonefollowed:
"Whyareyou"unstakin"ourniggersawayfromwe"unsfor？"
Thencame:
"Whatdoyou"unsputourniggerstofightin"we"unsfor？"Thewindupalwayswas:"Well,letmetellyou,sir,youcanneverwhippeoplethatarefightingforliberty,sir。"
EvenGeneralGiltner,whohadachievedconsiderablemilitaryreputationascommanderofadivisionofKentuckycavalry,seemedtobeasslenderlyfurnishedwithlogicalammunitionasthebalance,forashehaltedbyusheopenedtheconversationwiththewell—wornformula:
"Well:whatareyou"unsdownherea—fightingwe"unsfor？"
Thequestionhadbecomeraspinglymonotonoustome,whomheaddressed,andIrepliedwithmarkedacerbity:
"BecausewearetheNorthernmudsillswhomyouaffecttodespise,andwecamedownheretolickyouintorespectingus。"
Theanswerseemedtoticklehim,apleasanterlightcameintohissinistergrayeyes,helaughedlightly,andbadeusakindlygoodday。
FourdaysafterourcapturewearrivedinBristol。Theguardswhohadbroughtusoverthemountainswererelievedbyothers,theSergeantbademegoodby,struckhisspursinto"Hiatoga"s"sides,andheandmyfaithfulhorseweresoonlosttoviewinthedarkness。
Anewandkeenersenseofdesolationcameovermeatthefinalseparationfrommytriedandtruefour—footedfriend,whohadbeenmyconstantcompanionthroughsomanyperilsandhardships。WehadenduredtogethertheWinter"scold,thedispiritingdrenchoftherain,thefatigueofthelongmarch,thediscomfortsofthemuddycamp,thegripingsofhunger,thewearinessofthedrillandreview,theperilsofthevidettepost,thecourierservice,thescoutandthefight。WehadsharedincommonThewhipsandscornsoftime,Theoppressor"swrong,theproudman"scontumely,Theinsolenceofoffice,andthespurnswhichapatientprivateandhishorseoftheunworthytake;wehadhadourfrequentlyrecurringrowswithotherfellowsandtheirhorses,overquestionsofprecedenceatwateringplaces,andgrass—plots,hadhadlivelytiltswithguardsofforagepilesinsurreptitiousattemptstogetadditionalrations,sometimescomingoffvictoriousandsometimesbeingdrivenoffingloriously。Ihadoftengonehungrythathemighthavetheonlyearofcornobtainable。Iamnotskilledenoughinhorseloretospeakofhispointsorpedigree。Ionlyknowthathisstronglimbsneverfailedme,andthathewasalwaysreadyfordutyandeverwilling。
Nowatlastourpathsdiverged。Iwasretiredfromactualservicetoaprison,andheborehisnewmasterofftobattleagainsthisoldfriends。
Packedcloselyinold,dilapidatedstockandboxcars,asifcattleinshipmenttomarket,wepoundedalongslowly,andapparentlyinterminably,towardtheRebelcapital。
TherailroadsoftheSouthwerealreadyinverybadcondition。Theywerenevermorethanpassablygood,evenintheirbestestate,butnow,withalargepartoftheskilledmenengageduponthemescapedbacktotheNorth,withallrenewal,improvement,oranybutthemostnecessaryrepairsstoppedforthreeyears,andwithamarkedabsenceofevenordinaryskillandcareintheirmanagement,theywereasnearlyruinedastheycouldwellbeandstillrun。
Oneofthesevereembarrassmentsunderwhichtheroadslaboredwasalackofoil。ThereisverylittlefattymatterofanykindintheSouth。
Theclimateandthefoodplantsdonotfavortheaccumulationofadiposetissuebyanimals,andthereisnoothersourceofsupply。Lardoilandtallowwereveryscarceandheldatexorbitantprices。
Attemptsweremadetoobtainlubricantsfromthepeanutandthecottonseed。Thefirstyieldedafineblandoil,resemblingtheordinarygradeofoliveoil,butitwasentirelytooexpensiveforuseinthearts。
Thecottonseedoilcouldbeproducedmuchcheaper,butithadinitsuchaquantityofgummymatterastorenderitworsethanuselessforemploymentonmachinery。
Thisscarcityofoleaginousmatterproducedacorrespondingscarcityofsoapandsimilardetergents,butthiswasadeprivationwhichcausedtheRebels,asawhole,aslittleinconvenienceasanythattheysufferedfrom。Ihaveseenmanythousandsofthemwhowereobviouslygreatlyinneedofsoap,butiftheywererentwithanysufferingonthataccounttheyconcealeditwithmarvelousself—control。
Thereseemedtobeascantysupplyofoilprovidedforthelocomotives,butthecarshadtorunwithunlubricatedaxles,andthescreakingandgroaningofthegrindingjournalsinthedryboxeswassometimesalmostdeafening,especiallywhenweweregoingaroundacurve。
Ourenginewentoffthewretchedtrackseveraltimes,butasshewasnotrunningmuchfasterthanamancouldwalk,theworstconsequencetouswasaseverejolting。Shewassmall,andwaseasilypriedbackuponthetrack,andsentagainuponherwheezy,strainingway。
Thedepressionwhichhadweighedusdownforanightandadayafterourcapturehadnowbeensucceededbyamorecheerfulfeeling。Webegantolookuponourconditionasthefortuneofwar。Wewereproudofourresistancetooverwhelmingnumbers。Weknewwehadsoldourselvesatapricewhich,iftheRebelshadittodooveragain,theywouldnotpayforus。Webelievedthatwehadkilledandseriouslywoundedasmanyofthemastheyhadkilled,woundedandcapturedofus。Wehadnothingtoblameourselvesfor。Moreover,webegantobebuoyedupwiththeexpectationthatwewouldbeexchangedimmediatelyuponourarrivalatRichmond,andtheRebelofficersconfidentlyassuredusthatthiswouldbeso。Therewasthenatemporaryhitchintheexchange,butitwouldallbestraightenedoutinafewdays,anditmightnotbeamonthuntilwewereagainmarchingoutofCumberlandGap,onanavengingforayagainstsomeoftheforcewhichhadassistedinourcapture。
FortunatelyforthisdelusivehopefulnesstherewasnoweirdandbodingCassandratopiercetheveilofthefutureforus,andrevealthelengthandtheghastlyhorroroftheValleyoftheShadowofDeath,throughwhichwemustpassforhundredsofsaddays,stretchingoutintolongmonthsofsufferinganddeath。HappilytherewasnoonetotellusthatofeveryfiveinthatpartyfourwouldneverstandundertheStarsandStripesagain,butsuccumbingtochronicstarvation,long—continuedexposure,thebulletofthebrutalguard,theloathsomescurvy,thehideousgangrene,andtheheartsicknessofhopedeferred,wouldfindrespitefrompainlowinthebarrensandsofthathungrySouthernsoil。
Wereeverydoomforetokenedbyappropriateomens,theravensalongourroutewouldhavecroakedthemselveshoarse。
But,farfrombeingoppressedbyanypresentimentofcomingevil,webegantoappreciateandenjoythepicturesquegrandeurofthescenerythroughwhichweweremoving。TheruggedsternnessoftheAppalachianmountainrange,inwhoserock—ribbedheartwehadfoughtourlosingfight,wasnowsofteningintolessstrong,butmoregracefuloutlinesasweapproachedthepine—clad,sandyplainsoftheseaboard,uponwhichRichmondisbuilt。WewereskirtingalongtheeasternbaseofthegreatBlueRidge,aboutwhosedistantandloftysummitshungaperpetualveilofdeep,dark,buttranslucentblue,whichrefractedtheslantingraysofthemorningandeveningsunintomassesofcolormoregorgeousthanadreamer"svisionofanenchantedland。AtLynchburgwesawthefamedPeaksofOtter——twentymilesaway——liftingtheirproudheadsfarintotheclouds,likegiantwatch—towerssentinelingthegatewaythatthemightywatersoftheJameshadforcedthroughthebarriersofsolidadamantlyingacrosstheirpathtothefar—offsea。Whatwehadseenmanymilesbackstartfromthemountainsidesasslenderrivulets,brawlingoverthewornboulders,werenowgreat,rushing,full—tidestreams,enoughoftheminanyfiftymilesofourjourneytofurnishwaterpowerforallthefactoriesofNewEngland。Theiramazingopulenceofmechanicalenergyhaslainunutilized,almostunnoticed;inthetwoandone—halfcenturiesthatthewhitemanhasdweltnearthem,whileinMassachusettsandhernearneighborseveryrillthatcanturnawheelhasbeenputintoharnessandforcedtodoitsshareoflaborforthebenefitofthemenwhohavemadethemselvesitsmasters。
Hereisoneofthedifferencesbetweenthetwosections:IntheNorthmanwassetfree,andtheelementsmadetodohiswork。IntheSouthmanwasthedegradedslave,andtheelementswantonedoninundisturbedfreedom。
Aswewenton,theValleysoftheJamesandtheAppomattox,downwhichourwaylay,broadenedintoanexpanseofarableacres,andthefacesofthosestreamswerefrequentlyfleckedbygem—likelittleislands。