第9章
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。