第10章
Thegreatesttroublewastocarrythetunnelforwardinastraightline。
Asnearlyeverybodydugmostofthetimewiththerighthand,therewasanalmostirresistibletendencytomakethecourseveertotheleft。ThefirsttunnelIwasconnectedwithwasaludicrousillustrationofthis。
Abouttwentyofushaddevotedournightsforoveraweektotheprolongationofaburrow。WehadnotyetreachedtheStockade,whichastonishedus,asmeasurementwithastringshowedthatwehadgonenearlytwicethedistancenecessaryforthepurpose。Thethingwasinexplicable,andweceasedoperationstoconsiderthematter。Thenextdayamanwalkingbyatentsomelittledistancefromtheoneinwhichtheholebegan,wasbadlystartledbythegroundgivingwayunderhisfeet,andhissinkingnearlytohiswaistinahole。Itwasverysingular,butafterwonderingoverthematterforsomehours,therecameaglimmerofsuspicionthatitmightbe,insomeway,connectedwiththemissingendofourtunnel。Oneofusstartedthroughonanexploringexpedition,andconfirmedthesuspicionsbycomingoutwherethemanhadbrokenthrough。Ourtunnelwasshapedlikeahorseshoe,andthebeginningandendwerenotfifteenfeetapart。Afterthatwepractiseddiggingwithourlefthand,andmadecertaincompensationsforthetendencytothesinisterside。
Anothertroubleconnectedwithtunnelingwasthenumberoftraitorsandspiesamongus。Thereweremany——principallyamongtheN"Yaarkercrowdwhowerealwayszealoustobetrayatunnel,inordertocurryfavorwiththeRebelofficers。Then,again,theRebelshadnumbersoftheirownmeninthepenatnight,asspies。Itwashardlyevennecessarytodresstheseinouruniform,becauseagreatmanyofourownmencameintotheprisoninRebelclothes,havingbeencompelledtotradegarmentswiththeircaptors。
OnedayinMay,quiteanexcitementwasraisedbythedetectionofoneofthese"tunneltraitors"insuchawayasleftnodoubtofhisguilt。
Atfirsteverybodyvasinfavorofkillinghim,andtheyactuallystartedtobeathimtodeath。Thiswasarrestedbyapropositionto"haveCaptainJacktattoohim,"andthesuggestionwasimmediatelyactedupon。
"CaptainJack"wasasailorwhohadbeenwithusinthePembertonbuildingatRichmond。Hewasaveryskilfultattooartist,but,Iamsure,couldmaketheprocessnastierthananyotherthatIeversawattemptit。Hechewedtobaccoenormously。Afterprickingawayforafewminutesatthedesignonthearmorsomeportionofthebody,hewoulddelugeitwithafloodoftobaccospit,which,heclaimed,actedasakindofmordant。Pipingthisoffwithafilthyrag,hewouldstudytheeffectforaninstant,andthengoaheadwithanotherseriesofprickingsandtobaccojuicedrenchings。
Thetunnel—traitorwastakentoCaptainJack。Thatworthydecidedtobrandhimwithagreat"T,"thetopparttoextendacrosshisforeheadandthestemtorundownhisnose。CaptainJackgothistattooingkitready,andthefellowwasthrownuponthegroundandheldthere。TheCaptaintookhisheadbetweenhislegs,andbeganoperations。Afteraninstant"sworkwiththeneedles,heopenedhismouth,andfilledthewretch"sfaceandeyesfullofthedisgustingsaliva。Thecrowdroundaboutyelledwithdelightatthisnewprocess。Foranhour,thatwasdoubtlessaneternitytotherascalundergoingbranding,CaptainJackcontinuedhisalternatepickingsanddrenchings。Attheendofthattimethetraitor"sfacewasdisfiguredwithahideousmarkthathewouldbeartohisgrave。Welearnedafterwardsthathewasnotoneofourmen,butaRebelspy。Thisaddedmuchtooursatisfactionwiththemannerofhistreatment。Hedisappearedshortlyaftertheoperationwasfinished,being,Isuppose,takenoutside。IhardlythinkCaptainJackwouldbepleasedtomeethimagain。
CHAPTERXXVII。
THEHOUNDS,ANDTHEDIFFICULTIESTHEYPUTINTHEWAYOFESCAPE——
THEWHOLESOUTHPATROLLEDBYTHEM。
Thosewhosucceeded,onewayoranother,inpassingtheStockadelimits,foundstillmoredifficultieslyingbetweenthemandfreedomthanwoulddiscourageordinarilyresolutemen。Thefirstwastogetawayfromtheimmediatevicinityoftheprison。AllaroundwereRebelpatrols,picketsandguards,watchingeveryavenueofegress。Severalpacksofhoundsformedefficientcoadjutorsofthese,andweremoredreadedbypossible"escapes,"thananyothermeansatthecommandofourjailors。Guardsandpatrolscouldbeevaded,orcircumvented,butthehoundscouldnot。
Nearlyeverymanbroughtbackfromafutileattemptatescapetoldthesamestory:hehadbeenabletoescapethehumanRebels,butnottheircaninecolleagues。Threeofourdetachment——membersoftheTwentiethIndiana——hadanexperienceofthiskindthatwillservetoillustratehundredsofothers。Theyhadbeentakenoutsidetodosomeworkuponthecook—housethatwasbeingbuilt。Aguardwassentwiththethreealittledistanceintothewoodstogetapieceoftimber。Theboyssauntered,alongcarelesslywiththeguard,andmanagedtogetprettynearhim。Assoonastheywerefairlyoutofsightoftherest,thestrongestofthem——TomWilliams——snatchedtheRebel"sgunawayfromhim,andtheothertwospringinguponhimasswiftaswildcats,throttledhim,sothathecouldnotgivethealarm。Stillkeepingahandonhisthroat,theyledhimoffsomedistance,andtiedhimtoasaplingwithstringsmadebytearinguponeoftheirblouses。Hewasalsosecurelygagged,andtheboys,biddinghimahasty,butnotspeciallytender,farewell,struckout,astheyfondlyhoped,forfreedom。Itwasnotlonguntiltheyweremissed,andthepartiessentinsearchfoundandreleasedtheguard,whogavealltheinformationhepossessedastowhathadbecomeofhischarges。Allthepacksofhounds,thesquadsofcavalry,andthefootpatrolsweresentouttoscourtheadjacentcountry。
TheYankeeskeptintheswampsandcreeks,andnotraceofthemwasfoundthatafternoonorevening。Bythistimetheyweretenorfifteenmilesaway,andthoughtthattheycouldsafelyleavethecreeksforbetterwalkingonthesolidground。Theyhadgonebutafewmiles,whenthepackofhoundsCaptainWirzwaswithtooktheirtrail,andcameaftertheminfullcry。Theboystriedtoran,but,exhaustedastheywere,theycouldmakenoheadway。Twoofthemweresooncaught,butTomWilliams,whowassodesperatethathepreferreddeathtorecapture,jumpedintoamill—pondnearby。Whenhecameup,itwasinalotofsawlogsanddriftwoodthathidhimfrombeingseenfromtheshore。
Thedogsstoppedattheshore,andbayedafterthedisappearingprey。
TheRebelswiththem,whohadseenTomspringin,cameupandmadeaprettythoroughsearchforhim。Astheydidnotthinktoprobearoundthedriftwoodthiswasunsuccessful,andtheycametotheconclusionthatTomhadbeendrowned。Wirzmarchedtheothertwobackand,forawonder,didnotpunishthem,probablybecausehewassorejoicedathissuccessincapturingthem。Hewasbeamingwithdelightwhenhereturnedthemtooursquad,andsaid,withachuckle:
"Brisoners,IpringyoupacktwoofdemtamYankeeswatgotawayyesterday,untIrundeoderraskalintoamill—pontandtrowntethim。"
Whatwasourastonishment,aboutthreeweekslater,toseeTom,fatandhealthy,anddressedinafullsuitofbutternut,comestalkingintothepen。Hehadnearlyreachedthemountains,whenapackofhounds,patrollingfordesertersornegros,tookhistrail,wherehehadcrossedtheroadfromonefieldtoanother,andspeedilyranhimdown。Hehadbeenputinalittlecountryjail,andwellfedtillanopportunityoccurredtosendhimback。Thispatrollingfornegrosanddeserterswasanotherofthegreatobstaclestoasuccessfulpassagethroughthecountry。Therebelshadput,everyable—bodiedwhitemanintheranks,andwerebendingeveryenergytokeephimthere。ThewholecountrywascarefullypolicedbyProvostMarshalstobringoutthosewhowereshirkingmilitaryduty,orhaddesertedtheircolors,andtocheckanymovementbythenegros。Onecouldnotgoanywherewithoutapass,aseveryroadwascontinuallywatchedbymenandhounds。Itwasthepolicyofourmen,whenescaping,toavoidroadsasmuchaspossiblebytravelingthroughthewoodsandfields。
FromwhatIsawofthehounds,andwhatIcouldlearnfromothers,Ibelievethateachpackwasmadeupoftwobloodhoundsandfromtwenty—
fivetofiftyotherdogs,ThebloodhoundsweredebaseddescendantsofthestrongandfiercehoundsimportedfromCuba——manyofthembytheUnitedStatesGovernment——forhuntingIndians,duringtheSeminolewar。TheotherdogswerethemongrelsthatarefoundinsuchplentifulnessabouteverySouthernhouse——increasing,asarule,innumbersastheinhabitantofthehouseislowerdownandpoorer。Theyarelikewolves,sneakingandcowardlywhenalone,fierceandboldwheninpacks。Eachpackwasmanagedbyawell—armedman,whorodeamule;andcarried,slungoverhisshouldersbyacord,acowhorn,scrapedverythin,withwhichhecontrolledthebandbysignals。
WhatalwayspuzzledmemuchwaswhythehoundstookonlyYankeetrails,inthevicinityoftheprison。TherewasabouttheStockadefromsixthousandtotenthousandRebelsandnegros,includingguards,officers,servants,workmen,etc。Thesewere,ofcourse,continuallyinmotionandmusthavedailymadetrailsleadingineverydirection。ItwasthecustomoftheRebelstosendapackofhoundsaroundtheprisoneverymorning,toexamineifanyYankeeshadescapedduringthenight。Itwasbelievedthattheyrarelyfailedtofindaprisoner"stracks,andstillmorerarelyranoffuponaRebel"s。IfthoseoutsidetheStockadehadbeenconfinedtocertainpathandroadswecouldhaveunderstoodthis,but,asIunderstand,theywerenot。Itwaspartoftheinterestoftheday,forus,towatchthepacksgoyelpingaroundthepensearchingfortracks。Wegotinformationinthiswaywhetheranytunnelhadbeensuccessfullyopenedduringthenight。
TheuseofhoundsfurnishedusacrushingreplytotheeverrecurringRebelquestion:
"Whyareyou—unsputtin"niggersinthefieldtofightwe—unsfor？"
Thequestionerwasalwayssilencedbythereturninterrogatory:
"Isthatasbadasrunningwhitemendownwithbloodhounds？"
CHAPTERXXVIII
MAY——INFLUXOFNEWPRISONERS——DISPARITYINNUMBERSBETWEENTHEEASTERN
ANDWESTERNARMIES——TERRIBLECROWDING——SLAUGHTEROFMENATTHECREEK。
InMaythelonggatheringstormofwarburstwithangryviolenceallalongthelineheldbythecontendingarmies。ThecampaignbeganwhichwastoterminateelevenmonthslaterintheobliterationoftheSouthernConfederacy。May1,SigelmoveduptheShenandoahValleywiththirtythousandmen;May3,ButlerbeganhisblunderingmovementagainstPetersburg;May3,theArmyofthePotomacleftCulpeper,andonthe5thbeganitsdeadlygrapplewithLee,intheWilderness;May6,ShermanmovedfromChattanooga,andengagedJoeJohnstonatRockyFaceRidgeandTunnelHill。
Eachofthesecolumnslostheavilyinprisoners。Itcouldnotbeotherwise;itwasaconsequenceoftheaggressivemovements。Anarmyactingoffensivelyusuallysuffersmorefromcapturethanoneonthedefensive。Ourarmieswerepenetratingtheenemy"scountryincloseproximitytoadeterminedandvigilantfoe。Everyscout,everyskirmishline,everypicket,everyforagingpartyrantheriskoffallingintoaRebeltrap。Thiswasinadditiontotheriskofcaptureinaction。
ThebulkoftheprisonersweretakenfromtheArmyofthePotomac。Forthisthereweretworeasons:First,thatthereweremanymoremeninthatArmythaninanyother;andsecond,thattheentanglementinthedensethicketsandshrubberyoftheWildernessenabledbothsidestocapturegreatnumbersoftheother"smen。GrantlostinprisonersfromMay5toMay31,seventhousandfourhundredandfifty;heprobablycapturedtwo—
thirdsofthatnumberfromtheJohnnies。
Wirz"sheadquarterswereestablishedinalargeloghousewhichhadbeenbuiltinthefortalittledistantfromthesoutheastcorneroftheprison。Everyday——andsometimestwiceorthriceaday——wewouldseegreatsquadsofprisonersmarcheduptotheseheadquarters,wheretheywouldbesearched,theirnamesenteredupontheprisonrecords,byclerks（detailedprisoners;fewRebelshadtherequisiteclericalskill）andthenbemarchedintotheprison。Astheyentered,theRebelguardswouldstandtoarms。Theinfantrywouldbeinlineofbattle,thecavalrymounted,andtheartillerymenstandingbytheirguns,readytoopenattheinstantwithgrapeandcanister。
ThedisparitybetweenthenumbercominginfromtheArmyofthePotomacandWesternarmieswassogreat,thatweWesternersbegantotakesomeadvantageofit。Ifwesawasquadofonehundredandfiftyorthereaboutsattheheadquarters,wefeltprettycertaintheywerefromSherman,andgatheredtomeetthem,andlearnthenewsfromourfriends。
IftherewerefromfivehundredtotwothousandweknewtheywerefromtheArmyofthePotomac,andtherewerenoneofourcomradesamongthem。
TherewerethreeexceptionstothisrulewhilewewereinAndersonville。
ThefirstwasinJune,whenthedrunkenandincompetentSturgis（nowColoneloftheSeventhUnitedStatesCavalry）shamefullysacrificedasuperbdivisionatGuntown,Miss。ThenextwasafterHoodmadehisdesperateattackonSherman,onthe22dofJuly,andthethirdwaswhenStonemanwascapturedatMacon。Ateachofthesetimesabouttwothousandprisonerswerebroughtin。
BytheendofMaytherewereeighteenthousandfourhundredandfifty—
fourprisonersintheStockade。Beforethereaderdismissesthisstatementfromhismindlethimreflecthowgreatanumberthisis。
Itismoreactive,able—bodiedyoungmenthanthereareinanyofourleadingCities,saveNewYorkandPhiladelphia。ItismorethantheaveragepopulationofanOhioCounty。ItisfourtimesasmanytroopsasTaylorwonthevictoryofBuenaVistawith,andabouttwiceasmanyasScottwentintobattlewithatanytimeinhismarchtotheCityofMexico。
Theseeighteenthousandfourhundredandfifty—fourmenwerecoopeduponlessthanthirteenacresofground,makingaboutfifteenhundredtotheacre。Noroomcouldbegivenupforstreets,orfortheusualarrangementsofacamp,andmostkindsofexercisewerewhollyprecluded。
Themencrowdedtogetherlikepigsnestinginthewoodsoncoldnights。
Theground,despiteallourefforts,becameindescribablyfilthy,andthisconditiongrewrapidlyworseastheseasonadvancedandthesun"sraysgainedfervency。Asitisimpossibletodescribethisadequately,Imustagainaskthereadertoassistwithafewcomparisons。Hehasanideaofhowmuchfilthisproduced,onanordinaryCitylot,inaweek,byitsoccupationbyafamilysayofsixpersons。Nowlethimimaginewhatwouldbetheresultifthatlot,insteadofhavinguponitsixpersons,witheveryapplianceforkeepingthemselvesclean,andforremovingandconcealingfilth,wasthehomeofonehundredandeightmen,withnoneoftheseappliances。
Thathemayfigureouttheseproportionsforhimself,Iwillrepeatsomeoftheelementsoftheproblem:WewillsaythatanaverageCitylotisthirtyfeetfrontbyonehundreddeep。Thisismorefrontthanmostofthemhave,butwewillbeliberal。Thisgivesusasurfaceofthreethousandsquarefeet。Anacrecontainsforty—threethousandfivehundredandsixtysquarefeet。Uponthirteenoftheseacres,wehadeighteenthousandfourhundredandfifty—fourmen。Afterhehasfoundthenumberofsquarefeetthateachmanhadforsleepingapartment,diningroom,kitchen,exercisegroundsandouthouses,anddecidedthatnobodycouldliveforanylengthoftimeinsuchcontractedspace,Iwilltellhimthatafewweekslaterdoublethatmanymenwerecrowdeduponthatspacethatoverthirty—fivethousandwerepackeduponthosetwelveanda—halforthirteenacres。
ButIwillnotanticipate。Withthewarmweathertheconditionoftheswampinthecenteroftheprisonbecamesimplyhorrible。Wehearsomuchnow—a—daysofbloodpoisoningfromtheeffluviaofsinksandsewers,thatreadingit,IwonderhowamaninsidetheStockade,andintowhosenostrilscameabreathofthatnoisomeness,escapedbeingcarriedoffbyamalignanttyphus。Intheslimyoozewerebillionsofwhitemaggots。
Theywouldcrawloutbythousandsonthewarmsand,and,lyingthereafewminutes,sproutawingorapairofthem。Withthesetheywouldessayaclumsyflight,endingbydroppingdownuponsomeexposedportionofaman"sbody,andstinginghimlikeagad—fly。Stillworse,theywoulddropintowhathewascooking,andtheutmostcarecouldnotpreventamessoffoodfrombeingcontaminatedwiththem。
Allthewaterthatwehadtousewasthatinthecreekwhichflowedthroughthisseethingmassofcorruption,andreceiveditssewerage。
HowpurethewaterwaswhenitcameintotheStockadewasaquestion。
Wealwaysbelievedthatitreceivedthedrainagefromthecampsoftheguards,ahalf—a—mileaway。
Aroadwasmadeacrosstheswamp,alongtheDeadLineatthewestside,wherethecreekenteredthepen。Thosegettingwaterwouldgotothisspot,andreachasfarupthestreamaspossible,togetthewaterthatwasleastfilthy。AstheycouldreachnearlytotheDeadLinethisfurnishedanexcusetosuchoftheguardsasweremurderouslyinclinedtofireuponthem。IthinkIhazardnothinginsayingthatforweeksatleastonemanadaywaskilledatthisplace。Themurdersbecamemonotonous;therewasadreadfulsamenesstothem。Agunwouldcrack;
lookingupwewouldsee,stillsmoking,themuzzleofthemusketofoneoftheguardsoneithersideofthecreek。Atthesameinstantwouldriseapiercingshriekfromthemanstruck,nowflounderinginthecreekinhisdeathagony。Thenthousandsofthroatswouldyelloutcursesanddenunciations,and——
"O,givetheRebel————————————————afurlough！"
ItwasourbeliefthateveryguardwhokilledaYankeewasrewardedwithathirty—dayfurlough。Mr。FrederickHolliger,nowofToledo,formerlyamemberoftheSeventy—SecondOhio,andcapturedatGuntown,tellsme,ashisintroductiontoAndersonvillelife,thatafewhoursafterhisentryhewenttothebrooktogetadrink,reachedouttoofar,andwasfireduponbytheguard,whomissedhim,butkilledanothermanandwoundedasecond。Theotherprisonersstandingnearthenattackedhim,andbeathimnearlytodeath,forhavingdrawnthefireoftheguard。
Nothingcouldbemoreinexcusablethanthesemurders。WhateverdefensetheremightbeforfiringonmenwhotouchedtheDeadLineinotherpartsoftheprison,therecouldbenonehere。Themenhadnointentionofescaping;theyhadnodesignsupontheStockade;theywerenotleadinganypartytoassailit。Theywereineveryinstancekilledintheactofreachingoutwiththeircupstodipupalittlewater。
CHAPTERXXIX
SOMEDISTINCTIONBETWEENSOLDIERLYDUTYANDMURDER——APLOTTOESCAPE——
ITISREVEALEDANDFRUSTRATED。
LetthereaderunderstandthatinanystricturesImakeIdonotcomplainofthenecessaryhardshipsofwar。Iunderstoodfullyandacceptedtheconditionsofasoldier"scareer。Mygoingintothefielduniformedandarmedimpliedanintention,atleast,ofkilling,wounding,orcapturing,someoftheenemy。TherewasconsequentlynogroundofcomplaintifI
was,myselfkilled,wounded,orcaptured。IfIdidnotwanttotakethesechancesIoughttostayathome。Inthesameway,Irecognizedtherightofourcaptorsorguardstotakeproperprecautionstopreventourescape。Ineverquestionedforaninstanttherightofaguardtofireuponthoseattemptingtoescape,andtokillthem。HadIbeenpostedoverprisonersIshouldhavehadnocompunctionaboutshootingatthosetryingtogetaway,andconsequentlyIcouldnotblametheRebelsfordoingthesamething。Itwasamatterofsoldierlyduty。
ButnotoneofthemenassassinatedbytheguardsatAndersonvilleweretryingtoescape,norcouldtheyhavegotawayifnotarrestedbyabullet。Inamajorityofinstancestherewasnotevenatransgressionofaprisonrule,andwhentherewassuchatransgressionitwasamereharmlessinadvertence。Theslayingofeverymantherewasafoulcrime。
Themostofthiswasdonebyveryyoungboys;someofitbyoldmen。
TheTwenty—SixthAlabamaandFifty—FifthGeorgia,hadguardedussincetheopeningoftheprison,butnowtheywereorderedtothefield,andtheirplacesfilledbytheGeorgia"Reserves,"anorganizationofboysunder,andmenoverthemilitaryage。AsGeneralGrantaptly—phrasedit,"Theyhadrobbedthecradleandthegrave,"informingtheseregiments。
Theboys,whohadgrownupfromchildrensincethewarbegan,couldnotcomprehendthataYankeewasahumanbeing,orthatitwasanymorewrongfultoshootonethantokillamaddog。TheiryoungimaginationshadbeeninflamedwithstoriesofthetotaldepravityoftheUnionistsuntiltheybelieveditwasameritoriousthingtoseizeeveryopportunitytoexterminatethem。
EarlyonemorningIoverheardaconversationbetweentwooftheseyouthfulguards:
"Say,Bill,IheerdthatyoushotaYanklastnight？"
"Now,youjustbetIdid。God！youjestoughtto"veheerdhimholler。"
Evidentlythejuvenilemurdererhadnomoreconceptionthathehadcommittedcrimethanifhehadkilledarattlesnake。
AmongthosewhocameinaboutthelastofthemonthweretwothousandmenfromButler"scommand,lostinthedisastrousactionofMay15,bywhichButlerwas"bottledup"atBermudaHundreds。AtthattimetheRebelhatredforButlervergedoninsanity,andtheyventedthisuponthesemenwhoweresoluckless——ineverysense——astobeinhiscommand。Everypainswastakentomistreatthem。Strippedofeveryarticleofclothing,equipment,andcookingutensils——everything,exceptashirtandapairofpantaloons,theywereturnedbareheadedandbarefootedintotheprison,andtheworstpossibleplaceinthepenhuntedouttolocatethemupon。
Thiswasunderthebank,attheedgeoftheSwampandattheeasternsideoftheprison,wherethesinkswere,andallfilthfromtheupperpartofthecampfloweddowntothem。Thesanduponwhichtheylaywasdryandburningasthatofatropicaldesert;theywerewithouttheslightestshelterofanykind,themaggotfliesswarmedoverthem,andthestenchwasfrightful。Ifoneofthemsurvivedthegermtheoryofdiseaseisahallucination。
TheincreasingnumberofprisonersmadeitnecessaryfortheRebelstoimprovetheirmeansofguardingandholdingusincheck。TheythrewupalineofriflepitsaroundtheStockadefortheinfantryguards。
Atintervalsalongthiswerepilesofhandgrenades,whichcouldbeusedwithfearfuleffectincaseofanoutbreak。Astrongstarfortwasthrownupatalittledistancefromthesouthwestcorner。ElevenfieldpiecesweremountedinthisinsuchawayastoraketheStockadediagonally。Asmallerfort,mountingfiveguns,wasbuiltatthenorthwestcorner,andatthenortheastandsoutheastcornersweresmalllunettes,withacoupleofhowitzerseach。Packedaswewerewehadreasontodreadasingleroundfromanyoftheseworks,whichcouldnotfailtoproducefearfulhavoc。
Stillaplotwasconcoctedforabreak,anditseemedtothesanguineportionsofusthatitmustprovesuccessful。Firstasecretsocietywasorganized,boundbythemoststringentoathsthatcouldbedevised。
Themembersofthisweredividedintocompaniesoffiftymeneach;underofficersregularlyelected。ThesecrecywasassumedinordertoshutoutRebelspiesandthetraitorsfromaknowledgeofthecontemplatedoutbreak。AmannamedBaker——belonging,Ithink,tosomeNewYorkregiment——wasthegrandorganizerofthescheme。Wewerecarefulineachofourcompaniestoadmitnonetomembershipexceptsuchaslongacquaintancegaveusentireconfidencein。
TheplanwastodiglargetunnelstotheStockadeatvariousplaces,andthenhollowoutthegroundatthefootofthetimbers,sothatahalfdozenorsocouldbepushedoverwithalittleeffort,andmakeagaptenortwelvefeetwide。Alltheseweretobethrowndownatapreconcertedsignal,thecompaniesweretorushoutandseizetheelevengunsoftheheadquartersfort。ThePlymouthBrigadewasthentomantheseandturnthemonthecampoftheReserveswho,itwasimagined,woulddroptheirarmsandtaketotheirheelsafterreceivingaroundorsoofshell。
Wewouldgatherwhatarmswecould,andplacetheminthehandsofthemostactiveanddetermined。Thiswouldgiveusfrowneighttotenthousandfairlyarmed,resolutemen,withwhichwethoughtwecouldmarchtoAppalachicolaBay,ortoSherman。
Weworkedenergeticallyatourtunnels,whichsoonbegantoassumesuchshapeastogiveassurancethattheywouldanswerourexpectationsinopeningtheprisonwalls。
Thencametheusualblighttoallsuchenterprises:aspyoratraitorrevealedeverythingtoWirz。Onedayaguardcamein,seizedBakerandtookhimout。WhatwasdonewithhimIknownot;weneverheardofhimafterhepassedtheinnergate。
ImmediatelyafterwardalltheSergeantsofdetachmentsweresummonedoutside。TheretheymetWirz,whomadeaspeechinformingthemthatheknewallthedetailsoftheplot,andhadmadesufficientpreparationstodefeatit。Theguardhadbeenstronglyreinforced,anddisposedinsuchamannerastoprotectthegunsfromcapture。TheStockadehadbeensecuredtopreventitsfalling,evenifundermined。Hesaid,inaddition,thatShermanhadbeenbadlydefeatedbyJohnston,anddrivenbackacrosstheriver,sothatanyhopesofco—operationbyhimwouldbeill—founded。
WhentheSergeantsreturned,hecausedthefollowingnoticetobepostedonthegatesNOTICE。
Notwishingtoshedthebloodofhundreds,notconnectedwiththosewhoconcoctedamadplantoforcetheStockade,andmakeinthiswaytheirescape,Iherebywarntheleadersandthosewhoformedthemselvesintoabandtocarryoutthis,thatIaminpossessionofallthefacts,andhavemademydispositionsaccordingly,soastofrustrateit。NochoicewouldbeleftmebuttoopenwithgrapeandcanisterontheStockade,andwhateffectthiswouldhave,inthisdenselycrowdedplace,neednotbetold。
May25,1864。
H。Wirz。
Thenextdayalineoftallpoles,bearingwhiteflags,wereputupatsomelittledistancefromtheDeadLine,andanoticewasreadtousatrollcallthatif,exceptatrollcall,anygatheringexceedingonehundredwasobserved,closertheStockadethanthesepoles,thegunswouldopenwithgrapeandcanisterwithoutwarning。
ThenumberofdeathsintheStockadeinMaywassevenhundredandeight,aboutasmanyashadbeenkilledinSherman"sarmyduringthesametime。
CHAPTERXXX。
JUNE——POSSIBILITIESOFAMURDEROUSCANNONADE——WHATWASPROPOSEDTOBE
DONEINTHATEVENT——AFALSEALARM——DETERIORATIONOFTHERATIONS——
FEARFULINCREASEOFMORTALITY。
AfterWirz"sthreatofgrapeandcanisterupontheslightestprovocation,welivedindailyapprehensionofsomepretextbeingfoundforopeningthegunsuponusforageneralmassacre。BitterexperiencehadlongsincetaughtusthattheRebelsrarelythreatenedinvain。Wirz,especially,wasmuchmorelikelytokillwithoutwarning,thantowarnwithoutkilling。Thiswasbecauseoftheessentialweaknessofhisnature。Heknewnoartofgovernment,nomethodofdisciplinesave"killthem！"Hispettylittlemind"sscopereachednofurther。Hecouldconceiveofnootherwayofmanagingmenthanthepunishmentofeveryoffense,orseemingoffense,withdeath。Menwhohaveanytalentforgoverningfindlittleoccasionforthedeathpenalty。Thestrongertheyareinthemselves——themorefittedforcontrollingothers——thelesstheirneedofenforcingtheirauthoritybyharshmeasures。
TherewasageneralexpressionofdeterminationamongtheprisonerstoansweranycannonadewithadesperateattempttoforcetheStockade。
Itwasagreedthatanythingwasbetterthandyinglikeratsinapitorwildanimalsinabattue。Itwasbelievedthatifanythingwouldoccurwhichwouldrousehalfthoseinthepentomakeaheadlongeffortinconcert,thepalisadecouldbescaled,andthegatescarried,and,thoughitwouldbeatafearfullossoflife,themajorityofthosemakingtheattemptwouldgetout。IftheRebelswoulddischargegrapeandcanister,orthrowashellintotheprison,itwouldlasheverybodytosuchapitchthattheywouldseethatthesoleforlornhopeofsafetylayinwrestingthearmsawayfromourtormentors。Thegreatelementinourfavorwastheshortnessofthedistancebetweenusandthecannon。
Wecouldhopetotraversethisbeforethegunscouldbereloadedmorethanonce。
WhetheritwouldhavebeenpossibletosucceedIamunabletosay。
Itwouldhavedependedwhollyuponthespiritandunanimitywithwhichtheeffortwasmade。Hadtenthousandrushedforwardatonce,eachwithadeterminationtodoordie,Ithinkitwouldhavebeensuccessfulwithoutalossofatenthofthenumber。Buttheinsuperabletrouble——inourdisorganizedstate——waswantofconcertofaction。Iamquitesure,however,thattheattemptwouldhavebeenmadehadthegunsopened。
Oneday,whiletheagitationofthismatterwasfeverish,Iwascookingmydinner——thatis,boilingmypitifullittlerationofunsaltedmeal,inmyfruitcan,withtheaidofahandfulofsplintersthatIhadbeenabletopickupbyahalfday"sdiligentsearch。Suddenlythelongrifleintheheadquartersfortrangoutangrily。Afuseshellshriekedacrosstheprison——closetothetopsofthelogs,andburstinthewoodsbeyond。
Itwasansweredwithayellofdefiancefromtenthousandthroats。