第6章
nothing。"
Therewasneveranyriskinapproachinganyguardwithapropositionofthiskind。Ineverheardofonerefusingtotradeforgreenbacks,andifthemenonguardcouldnotberestrainedbythesestringentlaws,whathopecouldtherebeofrestraininganybodyelse？
OnedaywewerefavoredwithavisitfromtheredoubtableGeneralJohnH。
Morgan,nexttoJ。E。B。StuartthegreatestofRebelcavalryleaders。
HehadlatelyescapedfromtheOhioPenitentiary。HewasinvitedtoRichmondtobemadeaMajorGeneral,andwasgivenagrandovationbythecitizensandcivicGovernment。HecameintoourbuildingtovisitanumberoftheFirstKentuckyCavalry（loyal）——capturedatNewPhiladelphia,EastTennessee——whomhewasanxioustohaveexchangedformenofhisownregiment——theFirstKentuckyCavalry（Rebel）——whowerecapturedatthesametimehewas。Ihappenedtogetveryclosetohimwhilehewasstandingtheretalkingtohisoldacquaintances,andImadeamentalphotographofhim,whichstillretainsallitsoriginaldistinctness。Hewasatall,heavyman,withafull,coarse,andsomewhatdullface,andlazy,sluggishgrayeyes。Hislongblackhairwascarefullyoiled,andturnedunderattheends,aswasthecustomwiththeruralbeauxsomeyearsago。Hisfacewascleanshaved,exceptalarge,sandygoatee。Heworeahighsilkhat,ablackbroadclothcoat,Kentuckyjeanspantaloons,neatlyfittingboots,andnovest。Therewasnothingremotelysuggestiveofunusualabilityorforceofcharacter,andIthoughtasIstudiedhimthatthestingofGeorgeD。Prentice"sbonmotabouthimwasinitsacridtruth。SaidMr。Prentice:
"Whydon"tsomebodyputapistoltoBasilDuke"shead,andblowJohnMorgan"sbrainsout！"[BasilDukewasJohnMorgan"srighthandman。]
CHAPTERXII。
REMARKSASTONOMENCLATURE——VACC1NATIONANDITSEFFECTS——"N"YAARKER"S,"——
THEIRCHARACTERISTICSANDTHEIRMETHODSOFOPERATING。
Beforegoinganyfurtherinthisnarrativeitmaybewelltostatethatthenomenclatureemployedisnotusedinanyodiousordisparagingsense。
Itissimplytheadoptionoftheusualtermsemployedbythesoldiersofbothsidesinspeakingtoorofeachother。Wehabituallyspokeofthemandtothem,as"Rebels,"and"Johnnies;"theyofandtous,as"Yanks,"
and"Yankees。"Tohavesaid"Confederates,""Southerners,"
"Secessionists,"or"Federalists,""Unionists,""Northerners"or"Nationalists,"wouldhaveseemeduselesseuphemism。Theplainertermssuitedbetter,anditwasadaywhenthingsweremoreimportantthannames。
ForsomeinscrutablereasontheRebelsdecidedtovaccinateusall。
Whytheydidthishasbeenoneoftheunsolvedproblemsofmylife。
ItistruethattherewassmallpoxintheCity,andamongtheprisonersatDanville;butthatanyconsiderationforoursafetyshouldhaveledthemtoordergeneralinoculationisnotamongthereasonableinferences。
But,bethatasitmay,vaccinationwasordered,andperformed。BygreatgoodluckIwasabsentfromthebuildingwiththesquaddrawingrations,whenourroomwasinoculated,soIescapedwhatwasaninflictiontoall,andfataltomany。Thedirestconsequencesfollowedtheoperation。
Foululcersappearedonvariouspartsofthebodiesofthevaccinated。
Inmanyinstancesthearmsliterallyrottedoff;anddeathfollowedfromacorruptionoftheblood。Frequentlythefaces,andotherpartsofthosewhorecovered,weredisfiguredbytheghastlycicatricesofhealedulcers。Aspecialfriendofmine,SergeantFrankBeverstock——thenamemberoftheThirdVirginiaCavalry,（loyal）,andafterthewarabankerinBowlingGreen,O。,——boreuponhistempletohisdyingday,（whichoccurredayearago）,afearfulscar,wherethefleshhadsloughedofffromtheeffectsofthevirusthathadtaintedhisblood。
ThisIdonotpretendtoaccountfor。WethoughtatthetimethattheRebelshaddeliberatelypoisonedthevaccinematterwithsyphiliticvirus,anditwassochargeduponthem。Idonotnowbelievethatthiswasso;Icanhardlythinkthatmembersofthehumaneprofessionofmedicinewouldbeguiltyofsuchsubtlediabolism——worseeventhanpoisoningthewellsfromwhichanenemymustdrink。TheexplanationwithwhichIhavesatisfiedmyselfisthatsomecarelessorstupidpractitionertookthevaccinatinglymphfromdiseasedhumanbodies,andthusinfectedallwiththebloodvenom,withoutanyconceptionofwhathewasdoing。ThelowstandardofmedicaleducationintheSouthmakesthistheoryquiteplausible。
WenowformedtheacquaintanceofaspeciesofhumanverminthatunitedwiththeRebels,cold,hunger,liceandtheoppressionofdistraint,toleavenothingundonethatcouldaddtothemiseriesofourprisonlife。
ThesewerethefledglingsoftheslumsanddivesofNewYork——graduatesofthatmetropolitansinkofiniquitywheretheroguesandcriminalsofthewholeworldmeetformutualinstructioninvice。
Theyweremenwho,asarule,hadneverknown,adayofhonestyandcleanlinessintheirmisspentlives;whosefathers,brothersandconstantcompanionswereroughs,malefactorsand,felons;whosemothers,wivesandsisterswereprostitutes,procuressesandthieves;menwhohadfrominfancylivedinanatmosphereofsin,untilitsaturatedeveryfiberoftheirbeingasadwellerinajungleimbibesmalariabyeveryoneofhis,millionsofpores,untilhisverymarrowissurchargedwithit。
Theyincludedrepresentativesfromallnationalities,andtheirdescendants,buttheEnglishandIrishelementspredominated。Theyhadanargotpeculiartothemselves。Itwaspartlymadeupofthe"flash"
languageoftheLondonthieves,amplifiedandenrichedbythecantvocabularyandthejargonofcrimeofeveryEuropeantongue。TheyspokeitwithapeculiaraccentandintonationthatmadetheminstantlyrecognizablefromtheroughsofallotherCities。Theycalledthemselves"N"Yaarkers;"wecametoknowthemas"Raiders。"
Ifeverythingintheanimalworldhasitscounterpartamongmen,thenthesewerethewolves,jackalsandhyenasoftheraceatoncecowardlyandfierce——audaciouslyboldwhenthepowerofnumberswasontheirside,andcowardlywhenconfrontedwithresolutionbyanythinglikeanequalityofstrength。
Likeallotherroughsandrascalsofwhateverdegree,theywereutterlyworthlessassoldiers。TheremayhavebeenintheArmysomehabitualcornerloafer,somefisticchampionofthebar—roomandbrothel,someTerrorofPlugUglyville,whowasworththesaltinthehardtackheconsumed,butiftherewere,Ididnotformhisacquaintance,andIneverheardofanyoneelsewhodid。Itwastherulethatthemanwhowasthereadiestintheuseoffistandslungshotathomehadthegreatestdiffidenceaboutformingacloseacquaintancewithcoldleadintheneighborhoodofthefront。Thousandsoftheso—called"dangerousclasses"wererecruited,fromwhomtheGovernmentdidnotreceivesomuchserviceaswouldpayforthebuttonsontheiruniforms。PeopleexpectedthattheywouldmakethemselvesastroublesometotheRebelsastheyweretogoodcitizensandthePolice,buttheywereonlypugnacioustotheprovostguard,andterribletothepeopleintherearoftheArmywhohadanythingthatcouldbestolen。
Thehighesttypeofsoldierwhichtheworldhasyetproducedistheintelligent,self—respectingAmericanboy,withhome,andfatherandmotherandfriendsbehindhim,anddutyinfrontbeckoninghimon。
Inthesixtycenturiesthatwarhasbeenaprofessionnomanhasentereditsrankssocalmlyresoluteinconfrontingdanger,soshrewdandenergeticinhisaggressiveness,sotenaciousofthedefenseandtheassault,socertaintoriseswiftlytothelevelofeveryemergency,astheboywho,inthegoodoldphrase,hadbeen"well—raised"inaGodfearinghome,andwenttothefieldinobediencetoaconvictionofduty。Hisunfailingcourageandgoodsensewonfightsthattheincompetencyorcankeringjealousyofcommandershadlost。Highofficerswereoccasionallydisloyal,orwillingtosacrificetheircountrytopersonalpique;stillmorefrequentlytheywereignorantandinefficient;
buttheenlistedmanhadmorethanenoughinnatesoldiershiptomakeamendsforthesedeficiencies,andhissuperbconductoftenbroughthonorsandpromotionstothoseonlywhodeservedshameanddisaster。
Our"N"Yaarkers,"swifttoseeanyopportunityfordishonestgain,hadtakentobounty—jumping,or,astheytermedit,"leppin"thebounty,"
foralivelihood。Thosewhowerethrustinuponushadfollowedthisuntilithadbecomedangerous,andthendesertedtotheRebels。ThelatterkeptthematCastleLightningforawhile,andthen,rightlyestimatingtheircharacter,andconsideringthatitwasbesttotradethemoffforagenuineRebelsoldier,senttheminamongus,tobeexchangedregularlywithus。Therewasnotsomuchgoodfaithasgoodpolicyshownbythis。ItwasamatterofindifferencetotheRebelshowsoonourGovernmentshotthesedesertersaftergettingtheminitshandsagain。Theywereonlyanxioustousethemtogettheirownmenback。
Themomenttheycameintocontactwithusourtroublesbegan。Theystolewheneveropportunitiesoffered,andtheywereindefatigableinmakingtheseoffer;theyrobbedbyactualforce,wheneverforcewouldavail;
andmoreobsequiouslick—spittlestopowerneverexisted——theywereperpetuallyonthelook—outforachancetocurryfavorbybetrayingsomeplanorschemetothosewhoguardedus。
Isawonedayaqueerillustrationoftheaudacioussideofthesefellows"characters,anditshowsatthesametimehowbrazeneffronterywillsometimesgetthebetterofcourage。Inaroominanadjacentbuildingwereanumberofthesefellows,andastillgreaternumberofEastTennesseeans。Theselatterweresimple,ignorantfolks,butreasonablycourageous。Aboutfiftyofthemweresittinginagroupinonecorneroftheroom,andnearthemacoupleorthree"N"Yaarkers。"
Suddenlyoneofthelattersaidwithanoath:
"Iwasrobbedlastnight;Ilosttwosilverwatches,acoupleofrings,andaboutfiftydollarsingreenbacks。Ibelievesomeofyoufellerswentthroughme。"
Thiswasallpureinvention;henomorehadthethingsmentionedthan。
hehadpurityofheartandaChristianspirit,buttheunsophisticatedTennesseeansdidnotdreamofdisputinghisstatement,andansweredinchorus:
"Oh,no,mister;wedidn"ttakeyourthings;weain"tthatkind。"
Thiswaslikethereplyofthelambtothewolf,inthefable,andtheN"Yaarkerretortedwithasimulatedstormofpassion,andatorrentofoaths:
"————————Iknowyedid;Iknowsomeuvyezhasgotthem;standupaginthewalltheretillIsearchyez！"
Andthatwholefiftymen,anyoneofwhomwasphysicallyequaltotheN"Yaarker,andhissuperiorinpointofrealcourage,actuallystoodagainstthewall,andsubmittedtobeingsearchedandhavingtakenfromthemthefewConfederatebillstheyhad,andsuchtrinketsasthesearchertookafancyto。
Iwasthoroughlydisgusted。
CHAPTERXIII。
BELLEISLE——TERRIBLESUFFERINGFROMCOLDANDHUNGER——FATEOFLIEUTENANT
BOISSEUX"SDOG——OURCOMPANYMYSTERY——TERMINATIONOFALLHOPESOFITS
SOLUTION。
InFebruarymychum——B。B。Andrews,nowaphysicianinAstoria,Illinois——wasbroughtintoourbuilding,greatlytomydelightandastonishment,andfromhimIobtainedthemuchdesirednewsastothefateofmycomrades。HetoldmetheyhadbeensenttoBelleIsle,whitherhehadgone,butsuccumbingtotherigorsofthatdreadfulplace,hehadbeentakentothehospital,and,uponhisconvalesence,placedinourprison。
Ourmenweresufferingterriblyontheisland。Itwaslow,damp,andsweptbythebleak,piercingwindsthathowledupanddownthesurfaceoftheJames。Thefirstprisonersplacedontheislandhadbeengivententsthataffordedthemsomeshelter,butthesewerealloccupiedwhenourbattalioncamein,sothattheywerecompelledtolieonthesnowandfrozenground,withoutshelter,coveringofanykind,orfire。DuringthistimethecoldhadbeensointensethattheJameshadfrozenoverthreetimes。
Therationshadbeenmuchworsethanours。Theso—calledsouphadbeendilutedtoaridiculousthinness,andmeathadwhollydisappeared。
Sointensebecamethecravingforanimalfood,thatonedaywhenLieutenantBoisseux——theCommandant——strolledintothecampwithhisbelovedwhitebull—terrier,whichwasasfatasaCheshirepig,thelatterwasdecoyedintoatent,ablanketthrownoverhim,histhroatcutwithinarodofwherehismasterwasstanding,andhewasthenskinned,cutup,cooked,andfurnishedasavorymealtomanyhungrymen。
WhenBoisseuxlearnedofthefateofhisfour—footedfriendhewas,ofcourse,intenselyenraged,butthatwasallthegooditdidhim。
Theonlyrevengepossiblewastosentencemoreprisonerstoridethecruelwoodenhorsewhichheusedasameansofpunishment。
Fourofourcompanywerealreadydead。JacobLowryandJohnBeachwerestandingnearthegateonedaywhensomeonesnatchedtheguard"sblanketfromthepostwherehehadhungit,andran。Theenragedsentryleveledhisgunandfiredintothecrowd。TheballspassedthroughLowry"sandBeach"sbreasts。ThenCharleyOsgood,sonofourLieutenant,aquiet,fair—haired,pleasant—spokenboy,butasbraveandearnestashisgallantfather,sankunderthecombinationofhungerandcold。Onestingingmorninghewasfoundstiffandstark,onthehardground,hisbright,frankblueeyesglazedoverindeath。
Oneofthemysteriesofourcompanywasatall,slender,elderlyScotchman,whoappearedontherollsasWilliamBradford。Whathispastlifehadbeen,wherehehadlived,whathisprofession,whethermarriedorsingle,nooneeverknew。HecametouswhileinCampofInstructionnearSpringfield,Illinois,andseemedtohaveleftallhispastbehindhimashecrossedthelineofsentriesaroundthecamp。Heneverreceivedanyletters,andneverwroteany;neveraskedforafurloughorpass,andneverexpressedawishtobeelsewherethanincamp。Hewascourteousandpleasant,butveryreserved。Heinterferedwithnoone,obeyedorderspromptlyandwithoutremark,andwasalwayspresentforduty。Scrupulouslyneatindress,alwaysasclean—shavedasanold—
fashionedgentlemanoftheworld,withmannersandconversationthatshowedhimtohavebelongedtoarefinedandpolishedcircle,hewasevidentlyoutofplaceasaprivatesoldierinacompanyofrecklessandnone—too—refinedyoungIllinoistroopers,butheneveravailedhimselfofanyofthenumerousopportunitiesofferedtochangehisassociations。
Hiselegantpenmanshipwouldhavesecuredhimaneasyberthandbettersocietyatheadquarters,buthedeclinedtoacceptadetail。Hebecameanexcitingmysterytoaknotofusimaginativeyoungcubs,whosortedupoutofthereminiscentialrag—bagofhighcolorsandstrongcontrastswithwhichthesensationalliteraturethatwemostaffectedhadplentifullystoredourminds,ahalf—dozenintenselyemotionalcareersforhim。Wespentmuchtimeinmentallytryingtheseon,anddiscussingwhichfittedhimbest。Wewerealwaysexpectingadenouementthatwouldcomelikealightningflashandrevealhiswholemysteriouspast,showinghimtohavebeenthedisinheritedscionofsomenoblehouse,amanofhighstation,whowasexpiatingsomefearfulcrime;anaccomplishedvillaineludinghispursuers——inshort,aSomebodywhowouldbeafittingheroforMissBraddon"sorWilkieCollins"sliterarypurposes。Wenevergotbuttwocluesofhispast,andtheywerefaintones。Oneday,heleftlyingnearmeasmallcopyof"ParadiseLost,"thathealwayscarriedwithhim。TurningoveritsleavesIfoundallofMilton"sbitterinvectivesagainstwomenheavilyunderscored。Anothertime,whileonguardwithhim,hespentmuchofhistimeinwritingsomeLatinversesinveryelegantchirographyuponthewhitepaintedboardsofafencealongwhichhisbeatran。WepressedinalltheavailableknowledgeofLatinaboutcamp,andfoundthatthetenoroftheverseswasveryuncomplimentarytothatcharmingsexwhichdoesusthehonorofbeingourmothersandsweethearts。Theseevidencesweacceptedassufficientdemonstrationthattherewasawomanatthebottomofthemystery,andmadeusmoreimpatientforfurtherdevelopments。Thesewerenevertocome。BradfordpinedawayanBelleIsle,andgrewweaker,butnolessreserved,eachday。Atlength,onebittercoldnightendeditall。
Hewasfoundinthemorningstonedead,withhisiron—grayhairfrozenfasttotheground,uponwhichhelay。Ourmysteryhadtoremainunsolved。Therewasnothingabouthispersontogiveanyhintastohispast。
CHAPTERXIV。
HOPINGFOREXCHANGE——ANEXPOSITIONOFTHEDOCTRINEOFCHANCES——
OFFFORANDERSONVILLE——UNCERTAINTYASTOOURDESTINATION——ARRIVALAT
ANDERSONVILLE。
Aseachlaggingdayclosed,weconfidentlyexpectedthatthenextwouldbringsomenewsoftheeagerly—desiredexchange。Wehopefullyassuredeachotherthatthethingcouldnotbedelayedmuchlonger;thattheSpringwasnear,thecampaignwouldsoonopen,andeachgovernmentwouldmakeanefforttogetallitsmenintothefield,andthiswouldbringaboutatransferofprisoners。ASergeantoftheSeventhIndianaInfantrystatedhistheorytomethisway:
"YouknowI"mjustoldlightnin"onchuck—a—luck。NowthewayIbetisthis:Ilaydown,sayontheace,an"itdon"tcomeup;Ijustdoublemybetontheace,an"keepondoublin"everytimeitloses,untilatlastitcomesupan"thenIwinabushelo"money,andmebbebustthebank。
Youseethething"sgottocomeupsometime;an"everytimeitdon"tcomeupmakesitmorelikelytocomeupthenexttime。It"sjustthesamewaywiththis"ereexchange。Thething"sgottohappensomeday,an"everydaythatitdon"thappenincreasesthechancesthatitwillhappenthenextday。"
SomemonthslaterIfoldedthesanguineSergeant"sstiffeninghandstogetheracrosshisfleshlessribs,andhelpedcarryhisbodyouttothedead—houseatAndersonville,inordertogetapieceofwoodtocookmyrationofmealwith。
Ontheeveningofthe17thofFebruary,1864,wewereorderedtogetreadytomoveatdaybreakthenextmorning。Wewerecertainthiscouldmeannothingelsethanexchange,andourexaltationwassuchthatwedidlittlesleepingthatnight。Themorningwasverycold,butwesangandjokedaswemarchedoverthecreakingbridge,onourwaytothecars。
Wewerepackedsotightlyinthesethatitwasimpossibletoevensitdown,andwerolledslowlyawayafterawheezingenginetoPetersburg,whenceweexpectedtomarchtotheexchangepost。WereachedPetersburgbeforenoon,andthecarshaltedtherealongtime,wemomentarilyexpectinganordertogetout。ThenthetrainstartedupandmovedoutoftheCitytowardthesoutheast。Thiswasinexplicable,butafterwehadproceededthiswayforseveralhourssomeoneconceivedtheideathattheRebels,toavoidtreatingwithButler,weretakingusintotheDepartmentofsomeothercommandertoexchangeus。Thisexplanationsatisfiedus,andourspiritsroseagain。
NightfoundusatGaston,N。C。,wherewereceivedafewcrackersforrations,andchangedcars。Itwasdark,andweresortedtoalittlestrategytosecuremoreroom。Aboutthirtyofusgotintoatightboxcar,andimmediatelyannouncedthatitwastoofulltoadmitanymore。
Whenanofficercamealongwithanothersquadtostowaway,wewouldyellouttohimtotakesomeofthemenout,aswewerecrowdedunbearably。
Inthemeantimeeverybodyinthecarwouldpackcloselyaroundthedoor,soastogivetheimpressionthatthecarwasdenselycrowded。TheRebelwouldlookconvinced,anddemand:
"Why,howmanymenhaveyougotindecah？"
Thenoneofuswouldordertheimaginaryhostintheinvisiblerecessesto——
"Standstillthere,andbecounted,"whilehewouldgravelycountuptoonehundredoronehundredandtwenty,whichwastheutmostlimitofthecar,andtheRebelwouldhurryofftoputhisprisonerssomewhereelse。
Wemanagedtoplaythissuccessfullyduringthewholejourney,andnotonlyobtainedroomtoliedowninthecar,butalsodrewthreeorfourtimesasmanyrationsaswereintendedforus,sothatwhileweatnotimehadenough,wewerefartherfromstarvationthanourlessstrategiccompanions。
ThesecondafternoonwearrivedatRaleigh,thecapitolofNorthCarolina,andwerecampedinapieceoftimber,andshortlyafterdarkorderswereissuedtousalltolieflatonthegroundandnotriseuptilldaylight。AboutthemiddleofthenightamanbelongingtoaNewJerseyregiment,whohadapparentlyforgottentheorder,stoodup,andwasimmediatelyshotdeadbytheguard。
Forfourorfivedaysmorethedecrepitlittlelocomotivestrainedalong,draggingafterittherattling"oldcars。Thescenerywasintenselymonotonous。Itwasaflat,almostunending,stretchofpinebarrensandthelandsopoorthatadisgustedIllinoisan,usedtothefertilityofthegreatAmericanBottom,saidratherstrongly,that,"ByGeorge,they"dhavetomanurethisgroundbeforetheycouldevenmakebrickoutofit。"
ItwasasurprisetoallofuswhohadheardsomuchofthewealthofVirginia,NorthCarolina,SouthCarolinaandGeorgia,tofindthesoilasterilesandbank,interspersedwithswamps。
Wehadstillnoideaofwhereweweregoing。Weonlyknewthatourgeneralcoursewassouthward,andthatwehadpassedthroughtheCarolinas,andwereinGeorgia。WefurbishedupourschoolknowledgeofgeographyandendeavoredtorecallsomethingofthelocationofRaleigh,Charlotte,ColumbiaandAugusta,throughwhichwepassed,buttheattemptwasnotasuccess。
Lateontheafternoonofthe25thofFebruarytheSeventhIndianaSergeantapproachedmewiththeinquiry:
"DoyouknowwhereMaconis？"
Theplacehadnotthenbecomeaswellknownasitwasafterward。
ItseemedtomethatIhadreadsomethingofMaconinRevolutionaryhistory,andthatitwasafortontheseacoast。Hesaidthattheguardhadtoldhimthatweweretobetakentoapointnearthatplace,andweagreedthatitwasprobablyanewplaceofexchange。AlittlelaterwepassedthroughthetownofMacon,Ga,andturneduponaroadthatledalmostduesouth。
Aboutmidnightthetrainstopped,andwewereorderedoff。Wewereinthemidstofaforestoftalltreesthatloadedtheairwiththeheavybalsamicodorpeculiartopinetrees。Afewsmallrudehouseswerescatteredaroundnear。
Stretchingoutintothedarknesswasadoublerowofgreatheapsofburningpitchpine,thatsmokedandflamedfiercely,andlitupalittlespacearoundinthesomberforestwitharuddyglare。Betweenthesetworowslayaroad,whichwewereorderedtotake。
Thescenewasweirdanduncanny。Ihadrecentlyreadthe"Iliad,"andthelonglinesofhugefiresremindedmeofthatsceneinthefirstbook,wheretheGreeksburnontheseashorethebodiesofthosesmittenbyApollo"spestilential—arrowsForninelongnights,throughalltheduskyair,Thepyres,thickflamingshotadismalglare。
Fivehundredwearymenmovedalongslowlythroughdoublelinesofguards。
Fivehundredmenmarchedsilentlytowardsthegatesthatweretoshutoutlifeandhopefrommostofthemforever。Aquarterofamilefromtherailroadwecametoamassivepalisadeofgreatsquaredlogsstandinguprightintheground。Thefiresblazedupandshowedusasectionofthese,andtwomassivewoodengates,withheavyironhingesandbolts。
Theyswungopenaswestoodthereandwepassedthroughintothespacebeyond。
WewereinAndersonville。
CHAPTERXV。
GEORGIA——ALEANANDHUNGRYLAND——DIFFERENCEBETWEENUPPERANDLOWER
GEORGIA——THEPILLAGEOFANDERSONVILLE。
AsthenextninemonthsoftheexistenceofthoseofuswhosurvivedwerespentinintimateconnectionwiththesoilofGeorgia,and,asitexercisedapotentialinfluenceuponourcomfortandwell—being,orratherlackofthese——amentionofsomeofitspeculiarcharacteristicsmayhelpthereadertoafullercomprehensionoftheconditionssurroundingus——ourenvironment,asDarwinwouldsay。
Georgia,which,nexttoTexas,isthelargestStateintheSouth,andhasnearlytwenty—fivepercent。moreareathanthegreatStateofNewYork,isdividedintotwodistinctandwidelydifferingsections,byageologicallineextendingdirectlyacrosstheStatefromAugusta,ontheSavannahRiver,throughMacon,ontheOcmulgee,toColumbus,ontheChattahoochie。Thatpartlyingtothenorthandwestofthislineisusuallyspokenofas"UpperGeorgia;"whilethatlyingtothesouthandeast,extendingtotheAtlanticOceanandtheFloridaline,iscalled"LowerGeorgia。"InthispartoftheState——thoughfarremovedfromeachother——weretheprisonsofAndersonville,Savannah,MillenandBlackshear,inwhichwewereincarceratedoneaftertheother。
UpperGeorgia——thecapitalofwhichisAtlanta——isafruitful,productive,metalliferousregion,thatwillintimebecomequitewealthy。
LowerGeorgia,whichhasanextentaboutequaltothatofIndiana,isnotonlypoorernowthanaworn—outprovinceofAsiaMinor,butinallprobabilitywilleverremainso。
Itisastarved,sterileland,impressingoneasadesertinthefirststagesofreclamationintoproductivesoil,oraproductivesoilinthelaststepsofdeteriorationintoadesert。Itisavastexpanseofarid,yellowsand,brokenatintervalsbyfoulswamps,withajungle—lifegrowthofunwholesomevegetation,andteemingWithvenomoussnakes,andallmannerofhideouscrawlingthing。
Theoriginalforeststillstandsalmostunbrokenonthiswidestretchofthirtythousandsquaremiles,butitdoesnotcoveritaswesayofforestsinmorefavoredlands。Thetall,solemnpines,uprightandsymmetricalashugemasts,andwhollydestituteoflimbs,exceptthelittle,umbrella—likecrestattheverytop,standfarapartfromeachotherinanunfriendlyisolation。Thereisnofraternalinterlacingofbranchestoformakindly,umbrageousshadow。Betweenthemisnogenialundergrowthofvines,shrubs,anddemi—trees,generousinfruits,berriesandnuts,suchasmakeoneofthecharmsofNorthernforests。Onthegroundisnorich,springingsodofemeraldgreen,fragrantwiththeelusivesweetnessofwhiteclover,anddaintyflowers,butasparse,wiry,famishedgrass,scatteredthinlyoverthesurfaceintuftsandpatches,likethehaironamangycur。
Thegiantpinesseemtohavesuckedupintotheirimmensebolesallthenutrimentintheearth,andstarvedouteveryminorgrowth。Sowideandcleanisthespacebetweenthem,thatonecanlookthroughtheforestinanydirectionformiles,withalmostaslittleinterferencewiththeviewasonaprairie。Intheswampierpartsthetreesarelower,andtheirlimbsarehungwithheavyfestoonsofthegloomySpanishmoss,or"deathmoss,"asitismorefrequentlycalled,becausewhereitgrowsrankestthemalariaisthedeadliest。EverywhereNatureseemssad,subduedandsomber。
Ihavelongentertainedapeculiartheorytoaccountforthedecadenceandruinofcountries。Myreadingoftheworld"shistoryseemstoteachmethatwhenastrongpeopletakepossessionofafertileland,theyreduceittocultivation,thriveuponitsbountifulness,multiplyintomillionsthemouthstobefedfromit,taxittothelastlimitofproductionofthenecessitiesoflife,takefromitcontinually,andgivenothingback,starveandoverworkitascruel,graspingmendoaservantorabeast,andwhenatlastitbreaksdownunderthestrain,itrevengesitselfbystarvingmanyofthemwithgreatfamines,whiletheothersgooffinsearchofnewcountriestoputthroughthesameprocessofexhaustion。Wehaveseenonecountryafteranotherundergothisprocessastheseatofempiretookitswestwardway,fromthecradleoftheraceonthebanksoftheOxustothefertileplainsintheValleyoftheEuphrates。Impoverishingthese,mennextsoughttheValleyoftheNile,thentheGrecianPeninsula;nextSyracuseandtheItalianPeninsula,thentheIberianPeninsula,andtheAfricanshoresoftheMediterranean。