第18章
10th。Finally,thisgiganticmassofhumanmiserycallsloudlyforrelief,notonlyforthesakeofsufferinghumanity,butalsoonaccountofourownbravesoldiersnowcaptivesinthehandsoftheFederalGovernment。StrictjusticetothegallantmenoftheConfederateArmies,whohavebeenorwhomaybe,sounfortunateastobecompelledtosurrenderinbattle,demandsthattheConfederateGovernmentshouldadoptthatcoursewhichwillbestsecuretheirhealthandcomfortincaptivity;
oratleastleavetheirenemieswithoutashadowofanexcuseforanyviolationoftherulesofcivilizedwarfareinthetreatmentofprisoners。
[EndoftheWitness"sTestimony。]
Thevariation——frommonthtomonth——oftheproportionofdeathstothewholenumberlivingissingularandinteresting。ItsupportsthetheoryIhaveadvancedabove,asthefollowingfacts,takenfromtheofficialreport,willshow:
InApriloneineverysixteendied。
InMayoneineverytwenty—sixdied。
InJuneoneineverytwenty—twodied。
InJulyoneineveryeighteendied。
InAugustoneineveryelevendied。
InSeptemberoneineverythreedied。
InOctoberoneineverytwodied。
InNovemberoneineverythreedied。
DoesthereaderfullyunderstandthatinSeptemberone—thirdofthoseinthependied,thatinOctoberone—halfoftheremainderperished,andinNovemberone—thirdofthosewhostillsurvived,died？Lethimpauseforamomentandreadthisovercarefullyagain;becauseitsstartlingmagnitudewillhardlydawnuponhimatfirstreading。Itistruethatthefearfullydisproportionatemortalityofthosemonthswaslargelyduetothefactthatitwasmostlythesickthatremainedbehind,buteventhisdiminishesbutlittlethefrightfulnessoftheshowing。Didanyoneeverhearofanepidemicsofatalthatone—thirdofthoseattackedbyitinonemonthdied;one—halfoftheremnantthenextmonth,andone—thirdofthefeebleremainderthenextmonth？Ifhedid,hisreadinghasbeenmuchmoreextensivethanmine。
Thegreatestnumberofdeathsinonedayisreportedtohaveoccurredonthe23dofAugust,whenonehundredandtwenty—sevendied,oronemaneveryelevenminutes。
ThegreatestnumberofprisonersintheStockadeisstatedtohavebeenAugust8,whentherewerethirty—threethousandonehundredandfourteen。
Ihavealwaysimaginedboththesestatementstobeshortofthetruth,becausemyremembranceisthatonedayinAugustIcountedovertwohundreddeadlyinginarow。Asforthegreatestnumberofprisoners,Irememberquitedistinctlystandingbytherationwagonduringthewholetimeofthedeliveryofrations,toseehowmanyprisonerstherereallywereinside。ThatdaytheOneHundredandThirty—ThirdDetachmentwascalled,anditsSergeantcameupanddrewrationsforafulldetachment。
Alltheotherdetachmentswerehabituallykeptfullbyreplacingthosewhodiedwithnewcomers。Aseachdetachmentconsistedoftwohundredandseventymen,onehundredandthirty—threedetachmentswouldmakethirty—fivethousandninehundredandten,exclusiveofthoseinthehospital,andthosedetailedoutsideascooks,clerks,hospitalattendantsandvariousotheremployments——sayfromonetotwothousandmore。
CHAPTERXLIII。
DIFFICULTYOFEXERCISING——EMBARRASSMENTSOFAMORNINGWALK——THERIALTO
OFTHEPRISON——CURSINGTHESOUTHERNCONFEDERACY——THESTORYOFTHEBATTLE
OFSPOTTSYLVANIACOURTHOUSE。
Certainly,innoothergreatcommunity,thateverexisteduponthefaceoftheglobewastheresolittledailyebbandflowasinthis。DullasanordinaryTownorCitymaybe;howevermonotonous,eventless,evenstupidthelivesofitscitizens,thereisyet,nevertheless,afloweverydayofitslife—blood——itspopulationtowardsitsheart,andanebbofthesame,everyeveningtowardsitsextremities。Theserecurringtidesmingleallclassestogetherandpromotethegeneralhealthfulness,astheconstantmotionhitherandyonoftheocean"swaterspurifyandsweetenthem。
ThelackofthesehelpedvastlytomakethelivingmassinsidetheStockadeahumanDeadSea——orratheraDyingSea——aputrefying,stinkinglake,resolvingitselfintophosphorescentcorruption,likethoserottingsouthernseas,whoseseethingfilthburnsinhideousreds,andghastlygreensandyellows。
Beinglittlecallformotionofanykind,andnoroomtoexercisewhateverwishtheremightbeinthatdirection,verymanysuccumbedunresistinglytotheapathywhichwassostronglyfavoredbydespondencyandtheweaknessinducedbycontinualhunger,andlyingsupinelyonthehotsand,dayinanddayout,speedilybroughtthemselvesintosuchaconditionasinvitedtheattacksofdisease。
Itrequiredbothdeterminationandefforttotakealittlewalkingexercise。ThegroundwassodenselycrowdedwithholesandotherdevicesforshelterthatittookoneatleasttenminutestopickhiswaythroughthenarrowandtortuouslabyrinthwhichservedaspathsforcommunicationbetweendifferentpartsoftheCamp。Stillfurther,therewasnothingtoseeanywhereortoformsufficientinducementforanyonetomakesolaboriousajourney。Onesimplyencounteredateverynewstepthesameunwelcomesightsthathehadjustleft;therewasamonotonyinthemiseryasineverythingelse,andconsequentlythetemptationtositorliestillinone"sownquartersbecameverygreat。
IusedtomakeitapointtogotosomeoftheremoterpartsoftheStockadeonceeveryday,simplyforexercise。Onecangainsomeideaofthecrowd,andthedifficultyofmakingone"swaythroughit,whenIsaythatnopointintheprisoncouldbemorethanfifteenhundredfeetfromwhereIstaid,and,hadthewaybeenclear,Icouldhavewalkedthitherandbackinatmostahalfanhour,yetitusuallytookmefromtwotothreehourstomakeoneofthesejourneys。
Thisdailytrip,afewvisitstotheCreektowashallover,afewgamesofchess,attendanceuponrollcall,drawingrations,cookingandeatingthesame,"lousing"myfragmentsofclothes,anddoingsomelittledutiesformysickandhelplesscomrades,constitutedthedailyroutineformyself,asformostoftheactiveyouthsintheprison。
TheCreekwasthegreatmeetingpointforallinsidetheStockade。
Allabletowalkwerecertaintobethereatleastonceduringtheday,andwemadeitarendezvous,aplacetoexchangegossip,discussthelatestnews,canvasstheprospectsofexchange,and,mostofall,tocursetheRebels。IndeednoconversationeverprogressedveryfarwithoutbothspeakerandlistenertakingfrequentreststosaybitterthingsastotheRebelsgenerally,andWirz,WinderandDavisinparticular。
Aconversationbetweentwoboys——strangerstoeachotherwhocametotheCreektowashthemselvesortheirclothes,orforsomeotherpurpose,wouldprogressthus:
FirstBoy——"IbelongtotheSecondCorps,——Hancock"s,[theArmyofthePotomacboysalwaysmentionedwhatCorpstheybelongedto,wheretheWesternboysstatedtheirRegiment。]TheygotmeatSpottsylvania,whentheywerebuttingtheirheadsagainstourbreast—works,tryingtogetevenwithusforgobblingupJohnsoninthemorning,"——Hestopssuddenlyandchangestonetosay:"IhopetoGod,thatwhenourfolksgetRichmond,theywillputoldBenButlerincommandofit,withorderstolimb,skinandjayhawkitworsethanhedidNewOrleans。"
SecondBoy,（fervently:）"IwishtoGodhewould,andthathe"dcatcholdJeff。,andthatgrayheadeddevil,Winder,andtheoldDutchCaptain,strip"emjustaswewere,put"eminthispen,withjusttherationstheyaregivin"us,andsetaguardofplantationniggersover"em,withorderstoblowtheirwholeinfernalheadsoff,iftheydaredsomuchastolookatthedeadline。"
FirstBoy——（returningtothestoryofhiscapture。）"OldHancockcaughttheJohnniesthatmorningtheneatestyoueversawanythinginyourlife。
AfterthetwoarmieshadmurderedeachotherforfourorfivedaysintheWilderness,byfightingsoclosetogetherthatmuchofthetimeyoucouldalmostshakehandswiththeGraybacks,bothhauledoffalittle,andlayandgloweredateachother。Eachsidehadlostabouttwentythousandmeninlearningthatifitattackedtheotheritwouldgetmashedfine。
Soeachbuiltalineofworksandlaybehindthem,andtriedtonagtheotherintocomingoutandattacking。AtSpottsylvaniaourlinesandthoseoftheJohnniesweren"ttwelvehundredyardsapart。Thegroundwasclearandcleanbetweenthem,andanyforcethatattemptedtocrossittoattackwouldbecuttopieces,assureasanything。Welaidtherethreeorfourdayswatchingeachother——justlikeboysatschool,whoshakefistsanddareeachother。AtoneplacetheRebellineranouttowardsuslikethetopofagreatletter"A。"Thenightofthe11thofMayitrainedveryhard,andthencameafogsothickthatyoucouldn"tseethelengthofacompany。Hancockthoughthe"dtakeadvantageofthis。
Wewereallturnedoutveryquietlyaboutfouro"clockinthemorning。
Notabitofnoisewasallowed。Weevenhadtotakeoffourcanteensandtincups,thattheymightnotrattleagainstourbayonets。Thegroundwassowetthatourfootstepscouldn"tbeheard。Itwasoneofthosedeathly,stillmovements,whenyouthinkyourheartismakingasmuchnoiseasabassdrum。
"TheJohnniesdidn"tseemtohavethefaintestsuspicionofwhatwascoming,thoughtheyought,becausewewouldhaveexpectedsuchanattackfromthemifwehadn"tmadeitourselves。Theirpicketswereoutjustalittlewaysfromtheirworks,andwewerealmostontothembeforetheydiscoveredus。Theyfiredandranback。Atthisweraisedayellanddashedforwardatacharge。Aswepouredovertheworks,theRebelscamedouble—quickinguptodefendthem。WeflankedJohnson"sDivisionquicker"nyoucouldsay"JackRobinson,"andhadfourthousandof"eminourgripjustasniceasyouplease。Wesentthemtotherearunderguard,andstartedforthenextlineofRebelworksaboutahalfamileaway。ButwehadnowwakedupthewholeofLee"sarmy,andtheyallcamestraightforus,likepacksofmadwolves。Ewellstruckusinthecenter;Longstreetletdriveatourleftflank,andHilltackledourright。Wefellbacktotheworkswehadtaken,WarrenandWrightcameuptohelpus,andwehadithotandheavyfortherestofthedayandpartofthenight。TheJohnniesseemedsomadoverwhatwe"ddonethattheywerehalfcrazy。Theychargedusfivetimes,comingupeverytimejustasiftheyweregoingtoliftusrightoutoftheworkswiththebayonet。
Aboutmidnight,afterthey"dlostovertenthousandmen,theyseemedtounderstandthatwehadpre—emptedthatpieceofrealestate,anddidn"tproposetoallowanybodytojumpourclaim,sotheyfellbacksullenliketotheirmainworks。Whentheycameonthelastcharge,ourBrigadierwalkedbehindeachofourregimentsandsaid:
"Boys,we"llsend"embackthistimeforkeeps。Giveitto"embytheacre,andwhentheybegintowaver,we"llalljumpovertheworksandgoforthemwiththebayonet。"
"Wediditjustthatway。WepouredsuchafireonthemthatthebulletsknockedupthegroundinfrontjustlikeyouhaveseenthedeepdustinaroadinthemiddleofSummerflyupwhenthefirstgreatbigdropsofarainstormstrikeit。Buttheycameon,yellingandswearing,officersinfrontwavingswords,andshouting——allthatbusiness,youknow。Whentheygottoaboutonehundredyardsfromus,theydidnotseemtobecomingsofast,andtherewasagooddealofconfusionamongthem。Thebrigadebuglesounded"Stopfiring。"
"Weallceasedinstantly。Therebelslookedupinastonishment。OurGeneralsangout:
"Fixbayonets！"butweknewwhatwascoming,andwerealreadyexecutingtheorder。Youcanimaginethecrashthatrandowntheline,aseveryfellowsnatchedhisbayonetoutandslappeditonthemuzzleofhisgun。
ThentheGeneral"svoicerangoutlikeabugle:
"Ready！——FORWARD！CHARGE！"
"Wecheeredtilleverythingseemedtosplit,andjumpedovertheworks,almosteverymanatthesameminute。TheJohnniesseemedtohavebeenpuzzledatthestoppageofourfire。Whenweallcamesailingovertheworks,withgunsbroughtright,downwheretheymeantbusiness,theyweresoastonishedforaminutethattheystoodstockstill,notknowingwhethertocomeforus,orrun。Wedidnotallowthemlongtodebate,butwentrighttowardsthemonthedoublequick,withthebayonetslookingawfulsavageandhungry。ItwastoomuchforMr。JohnnyReb"snerves。Theyallseemedtoaboutface"atonce,andtheylitoutofthereasiftheyhadbeensentforinahurry。Wechasedafter"emasfastaswecould,andpickedupjustlotsof"em。Finallyitbegantoberealfunny。AJohnny"swindwouldbegintogiveouthe"dfallbehindhiscomrades;he"dhearusyellandthinkthatwewererightbehindhim,readytosinkabayonetthroughhim";he"dturnaround,throwuphishands,andsingout:
"Isurrender,mister！Isurrender！"andfindthatwewereahundredfeetoff,andwouldhavetohaveabayonetaslongasoneofMcClellan"sgeneralorderstotouchhim。
"Well,mycompanywastheleftofourregiment,andourregimentwastheleftofthebrigade,andweswungoutaheadofalltherestoftheboys。
InourexcitementofchasingtheJohnnies,wedidn"tseethatwehadpassedanangleoftheirworks。Aboutthirtyofushadbecomeseparatedfromthecompanyandwerechasingasquadofaboutseventy—fiveoronehundred。Wehadgotupsoclosetothemthatwehollered:
"Haltthere,now,orwe"llblowyourheadsoff。"
"TheyturnedroundwithIhaltyourselves;you————Yankee————————
"Welookedaroundatthis,andsawthatwewerenotonehundredfeetawayfromtheangleoftheworks,whichwerefilledwithRebelswaitingforourfellowstogettowheretheycouldhaveagoodflankfireuponthem。
Therewasnothingtodobuttothrowdownourgunsandsurrender,andwehadhardlygoneinsideoftheworks,untiltheJohnniesopenedonourbrigadeanddroveitback。ThisendedthebattleatSpottsylvaniaCourtHouse。"
SecondBoy（irrelevantly。）"SomedaytheunderpinningwillflyoutfromundertheSouth,andletitsinkrightintothemiddlekittleo"hell。"
FirstBoy（savagely。）"IonlywishthewholeSouthernConfederacywashangingoverhellbyasinglestring,andIhadaknife。"
CHAPTERXLIV。
REBELMUSIC——SINGULARLACKOFTHECREATIVEPOWERAMONGTHESOUTHERNERS——
CONTRASTWITHSIMILARPEOPLEELSEWHERE——THEIRFAVORITEMUSIC,ANDWHERE
ITWASBORROWEDFROM——AFIFERWITHONETUNE。
IhavebeforementionedasamongthethingsthatgrewupononewithincreasingacquaintancewiththeRebelsontheirnativeheath,wasastonishmentattheirlackofmechanicalski1landattheirinabilitytograpplewithnumbersandthesimplerprocessesofarithmetic。Anothercharacteristicofthesamenaturewastheirwonderfullackofmusicalability,orofanykindoftunefulcreativeness。
Elsewhere,allovertheworld,peoplelivingundersimilarconditionstotheSouthernersareexceedinglymusical,andweowethegreatmajorityofthesweetestcompositionswhichdelighttheearandsubduethesensestounletteredsong—makersoftheSwissmountains,theTyrolesevalleys,theBavarianHighlands,andtheminstrelsofScotland,IrelandandWales。
ThemusicofEnglish—speakingpeopleisverylargelymadeupofthesecontributionsfromthefolk—songsofdwellersinthewilderandmoremountainouspartsoftheBritishIsles。Onerarelygoesfaroutofthewayinattributingtothissourceanyairthathemayhearthatcaptivateshimwithitsseductiveopulenceofharmony。Exquisitemelodies,limpidandunstrainedasthecarolofabirdinSpring—time,andasplaintiveasthecooingofaturtle—doveseemsasnaturalproductsoftheScottishHighlandsasthegorsewhichblazonsontheirhillsidesinAugust。Debarredfromexpressingtheiraspirationsaspeopleofbroaderculturedo——inpainting,insculpture,inpoetryandprose,thesemountaineersmakesongtheflexibleandreadyinstrumentforthecommunicationofeveryemotionthatsweepsacrosstheirsouls。
Love,hatred,grief,revenge,anger,andespeciallywarseemstotunetheirmindstoharmony,andawakethevoiceofsonginthemhearts。ThebattleswhichtheScotchandIrishfoughttoreplacethelucklessStuartsupontheBritishthrone——thebloodyrebellionsof1715and1745,leftarichlegacyofsweetsong,theoutpouringofloving,passionateloyaltytoawretchedcause;songswhicharetodayesteemedandsungwherevertheEnglishlanguageisspoken,bypeoplewhohavelongsinceforgottenwhatburningfeelingsgavebirthtotheirfavoritemelodies。
ForacenturythebonesofboththePretendershavemolderedinaliensoil;thenamesofJamesEdward,andCharlesEdward,whichwereoncetrumpetblaststorousearmedmen,meanaslittletothemultitudeoftodayasthoseoftheSaxonEthelbert,andDanishHardicanute,yettheworldgoesonsinging——andwillprobablyaslongastheEnglishlanguageisspoken——"Wha"llbeKingbutCharlie？""WhenJamieComeHame,""OvertheWatertoCharlie,""CharlieismyDarling,""TheBonnyBlueBonnetsareOvertheBorder,""SaddleYourSteedsandAwa,"andamyriadotherswhoseinfinitetendernessandmelodynomoderncomposercanequal。
YetthesesameScotchandIrish,thesameJacobiteEnglish,transplantedonaccountoftheirchronicrebelliousnesstothemountainsofVirginia,theCarolinas,andGeorgia,seemtohavelosttheirtunefulness,assomefinesingingbirdsdowhencarriedfromtheirnativeshores。
ThedescendantsofthosewhodrewswordsforJamesandCharlesatPrestonPansandCullodendwellto—dayinthedalesandvalleysoftheAlleganies,astheirfathersdidinthedalesandvalleysoftheGrampians,buttheirvoicesaremute。
AsaruletheSouthernersarefondofmusic。Theyarefondofsingingandlisteningtoold—fashionedballads,mostofwhichhaveneverbeenprinted,buthandeddownfromonegenerationtotheother,likethe"Volklieder"ofGermany。Theysingthesewiththewild,fervidimpressivenesscharacteristicoftheballadsingingofunletteredpeople。
Verymanyplaytolerablyontheviolinandbanjo,andoccasionallyoneisfoundwhoseinstrumentationmaybecalledgood。Butabovethishighttheyneversoar。TheonlymusicianproducedbytheSouthofwhomtherestofthecountryhaseverheard,isBlindTom,thenegroidiot。Nocomposer,nosongwriterofanykindhasappearedwithinthebordersofDixie。
Itwasadisappointmenttomethateventhestressofthewar,thepassionandfiercenesswithwhichtheRebelsfeltandfought,couldnotstimulateanyadherentoftheStarsandBarsintotheproductionofasinglelyricworthyintheremotestdegreeofthemagnitudeofthestruggle,andthedepthofthepopularfeeling。WheretwomillionScotch,fightingtorestorethefallenfortunesoftheworsethanworthlessStuarts,filledtheworldwithimmortalmusic,elevenmillionofSoutherners,fightingforwhattheyclaimedtobeindividualfreedomandnationallife,didnotproduceanyoriginalverse,orabarofmusicthattheworldcouldrecognizeassuch。Thisisthefact;andanundeniableone。ItsexplanationImustleavetoableranalyststhanIam。
SearchingforpeculiarcauseswefindbuttwothatmaketheSouthdifferfromtheancestralhomeofthesepeople。ThesetwowereClimateandSlavery。Climaticeffectswillnotaccountforthephenomenon,becauseweseethatthepeasantryofthemountainsofSpainandtheSouthofFranceasignorantasthesepeople,anddwellersinastillmoreenervatingatmosphere—areveryfertileinmusicalcomposition,andtheirsongsaretotheRomaniclanguageswhattheScotchandIrishballadsaretotheEnglish。
ThenitmustbeascribedtotheincubusofSlaveryupontheintellect,whichhasrepressedthisasithasallotherhealthygrowthsintheSouth。Slaveryseemstobenumballthefacultiesexceptthepassions。
Thefactthatthemountaineershadbutfewornoslaves,doesnotseemtobeofimportanceinthecase。Theylivedunderthedeadlyshadowoftheupastree,andsufferedtheconsequencesofitsstuntingtheirdevelopmentinalldirections,astheague—smitteninhabitantoftheRomanCampanafindseverysenseandeverymusclecloggedbythefilteringinoftheinsidiousmiasma。Theydidnotcomposesongsandmusic,becausetheydidnothavetheintellectualenergyforthatwork。
Thenegrosdisplayedallthemusicalcreativenessofthatsection。
Theirwonderfulprolificnessinwild,rudesongs,withstrangelymelodiousairsthatburnedthemselvesintothememory,wasoneofthesalientcharacteristicsofthatdown—troddenrace。LiketheRussianserfs,andthebondmenofallagesandlands,thesongstheymadeandsangallhadanundertoneoftouchingplaintiveness,bornofagesofdumbsuffering。Thethemeswereexceedinglysimple,andtherangeofsubjectslimited。Thejoys,andsorrows,hopesanddespairsoflove"sgratificationordisappointment,ofstrugglesforfreedom,contestswithmalignpersonsandinfluences,ofrage,hatred,jealousy,revenge,suchasformthemotifsforthemajorityofthepoetryoffreeandstrongraces,werewhollyabsentfromtheirlyrics。Religion,hungerandtoilweretheirmaininspiration。Theysangofthepleasuresofidlinginthegenialsunshine;thedelightsofabundanceoffood;theeternalhappinessthatawaitedthemintheheavenlyfuture,wheretheslave—driverceasedfromtroublingandthewearywereatrest;whereTimerolledaroundinendlesscyclesofdaysspentinbasking,harpinhand,andsilkenclad,ingoldenstreets,underthesofteffulgenceofcloudlessskies,glowingwithwarmthandkindnessemanatingfromtheCreatorhimself。Hadtheirmasterscondescendedtoborrowthemusicoftheslaves,theywouldhavefoundnonewhosesentimentsweresuitablefortheodeofapeopleundergoingthepangsofwhatwashopedtobethebirthofanewnation。
ThethreesongsmostpopularattheSouth,andgenerallyregardedasdistinctivelySouthern,were"TheBonnieBlueFlag,""Maryland,MyMaryland,"and"StonewallJacksonCrossingintoMaryland。"Thefirstofthesewasthegreatestfavoritebylongodds。Womensang,menwhistled,andtheso—calledmusiciansplayeditwhereverwewent。Whileinthefieldbeforecapture,itwasthecommonestofexperiencestohaveRebelwomensingitatustauntinglyfromthehousethatwepassedornearwhichwestopped。IfevernearenoughaRebelcamp,weweresuretohearitswailingcrescendorisingupontheairfromthelipsorinstrumentsofsomeonemorequarteredthere。AtRichmonditranguponusconstantlyfromsomesourceoranother,andthesamewastruewhereverelsewewentintheso—calledConfederacy。
AllfamiliarwithScotchsongswillreadilyrecognizethenameandairasanoldfriend,andoneofthefierceJacobitemelodiesthatforalongtimedisturbedthetranquilityoftheBrunswickfamilyontheEnglishthrone。ThenewwordssuppliedbytheRebelsarethemerestdoggerel,andfitthemusicaspoorlyastheunchangednameofthesongfittedtoitsnewuse。TheflagoftheRebellionwasnotabonnieblueone;buthadquiteasmuchredandwhiteasazure。Itdidnothaveasinglestar,butthirteen。
Nearinpopularitywas"Maryland,MyMaryland。"TheversificationofthiswasofamuchhigherOrder,beingfairlyrespectable。Theairisold,andafamiliaronetoallcollegestudents,andbelongstooneofthemostcommonofGermanhouseholdsongs:
O,Tannenbaum！O,Tannenbaum,wietrusinddeineBlatter！
DagruenstnichtnurzurSommerseit,Nein,auchinWinter,whenesSchneit,etc。
whichLongfellowhasfinelytranslated,O,hemlocktree！O,hemlocktree！howfaithfularethybranches！
GreennotaloneinSummertime,ButintheWinter"sfloatandrime。
O,hemlocktreeO,hemlocktree！howfaithfularethybranches。etc。
TheRebelversionran:
MARYLAND。
Thedespot"sheelisonthyshore,Maryland！
Histouchisatthytempledoor,Maryland！
AvengethepatrioticgoreThatfleckedthestreetsofBaltimore,Andbethebattlequeenofyore,Maryland！MyMaryland！
Harktothewand"ringson"sappeal,Maryland！
MymotherState,totheeIkneel,Maryland！
Forlifeanddeath,forwoeandweal,Thypeerlesschivalryreveal,Andgirdthybeauteouslimbswithsteel,Maryland！MyMaryland！
Thouwiltnotcowerintheduet,Maryland！
ThybeamingswordshallneverrustMaryland！
RememberCarroll"ssacredtrust,RememberHoward"swarlikethrust——
Andallthyslumbererswiththejust,Maryland！MyMaryland！
Come！"tisthereddawnoftheday,Maryland！
Come！withthypanopliedarray,Maryland！
WithRinggold"sspiritforthefray,WithWatson"sbloodatMonterey,WithfearlessLoweanddashingMay,Maryland！MyMaryland！
Cometforthyshieldisbrightandstrong,Maryland！
Come！forthydalliancedoestheewrong,Maryland！
Come！tothinsownheroicthrong,ThatstalkswithLibertyalong,AndgiveanewKeytothysong,Maryland！MyMaryland！
DearMother！burstthetyrant"schain,Maryland！
Virginiashouldnotcallinvain,Maryland！
Shemeetshersistersontheplain——
"Sicsemper""tistheproudrefrain,Thatbafflesmillionsbackamain,Maryland！
Arise,inmajestyagain,Maryland！MyMaryland！
Iseetheblushuponthycheek,Maryland！
Butthouwasteverbravelymeek,Maryland！
Butlo！theresurgesforthashriekFromhilltohill,fromcreektocreek——
PotomaccallstoChesapeake,Maryland！MyMaryland！
Thouwiltnotyieldthevandaltoll。
Maryland！
Thouwiltnotcrooktohiscontrol,Maryland！
Betterthefireupontheeroll,Bettertheblade,theshot,thebowl,Thancrucifixionofthesoul,Maryland！MyMaryland！
IhearthedistantThunderhem,Maryland！
TheOldLine"sbugle,fife,anddrum。
Maryland！
Sheisnotdead,nordeaf,nordumb——
Hnzza！shespurnstheNorthernscum！
Shebreathes——sheburns！she"llcome！she"llcome！
Maryland！MyMaryland！
"StonewallJacksonCrossingintoMaryland,"wasanothertravesty,ofaboutthesameliterarymerit,orratherdemerit,as"TheBonnieBlueFlag。"Itsairwasthatofthewell—knownandpopularnegrominstrelsong,"BillyPatterson。"Forallthat,itsoundedverymartialandstirringwhenplayedbyabrassband。
Weheardthesesongswithtiresomeiteration,dailyandnightly,duringourstayintheSouthernConfederacy。Someoneoftheguardsseemedtobeperpetuallybeguilingthewearinessofhiswatchbysinginginallkeys,ineverysortofavoice,andwiththewildestlatitudeastoairandtime。Theybecamesoterriblyirritatingtous,thattothisdaytheremembranceofthosesoul—laceratinglyricsabideswithmeasoneofthechiefoftheminortormentsofoursituation。Theywere,infact,nearlyasbadasthelice。
Werevengedourselvesasbestwecouldbyconstructingfearfullywicked,obsceneandinsultingparodiesonthese,andbysingingthemwithirritatingeffusivenessinthehearingoftheguardswhowereinflictingthesenuisancesuponus。
Ofthesamenaturewasthegarrisonmusic。Onefife,playedbyanasthmaticoldfellowwhosebreathingswerenearlyasaudibleashisnotes,andonerheumaticdrummer,constitutedtheentirebandforthepost。Thefiferactuallyknewbutonetune"TheBonnieBlueFlag"——
anddidnotknowthatwell。Butitwasallthathehad,andheplayeditwithwearisomemonotonyforeverycampcall——fiveorsixtimesaday,andsevendaysintheweek。Hecalledusupinthemorningwithitforareveille;hesoundedthe"rollcall"and"drillcall,"breakfast,dinnerandsupperwithit,andfinallysentustobed,withthesamedrearywailthathadrunginourearsallday。IneverhatedanypieceofmusicasI
cametohatethatthrenodyoftreason。Itwouldhavebeensuchareliefifthe,oldasthmaticwhoplayeditcouldhavebeeninducedtolearnanothertunetoplayonSundays,andgiveusonedayofrest。Hedidnot,butdesecratedtheLord"sDaybyplayingasvilelyasontherestoftheweek。TheRebelswerefullyconsciousoftheirmusicaldeficiencies,andmaderepeatedbutunsuccessfulattemptstoinducethemusiciansamongtheprisonerstocomeoutsideandformaband。
CHAPTERXLV
AUGUST——NEEDLESSTUCKINPUMPKINSEEDS——SOMEPHENOMENAOFSTARVATION——
RIOTINGINREMEMBEREDLUXURIES。
"Illinoy,"saidtall,gauntJackNorth,oftheOneHundredandFourteenthIllinois,tome,oneday,aswesatcontemplatingournaked,andsadlyattenuatedunderpinning;"whatdoourlegsandfeetmostlookmostlike？"
"Giveitup,Jack,"saidI。
"Why——darningneedlesstuckinpumpkinseeds,ofcourse。"Ineverheardabettercomparisonforourwastedlimbs。
Theeffectsofthegreatbodilyemaciationweresometimesverystartling。
Boysofafleshyhabitwouldchangesoinafewweeksastoloseallresemblancetotheirformerselves,andcomradeswhocameintoprisonlaterwouldutterlyfailtorecognizethem。Mostfatmen,asmostlargemen,diedinalittlewhileafterentering,thoughtherewereexceptions。
Oneofthesewasaboyofmyowncompany,namedGeorgeHillicks。Georgehadshotupwithinafewyearstooversixfeetinhight,andthen,assuchboysoccasionallydo,had,afterenlistingwithus,takenonsuchadevelopmentoffleshthatwenicknamedhimthe"Giant,"andhebecameaprettygoodloadforeventhestrongesthorse。GeorgeheldhisfleshthroughBelleIsle,andtheearlierweeksinAndersonville,butJune,July,andAugust"fetchedhim,"astheboyssaid。HeseemedtomeltawaylikeanicicleonaSpringday,andhegrewsothinthathishightseemedpreternatural。Wecalledhim"Flagstaff,"andcrackedallsortsofjokesaboutputtinganinsulatoronhishead,andsettinghimupforatelegraphpole,braidinghislegsandusinghimforawhiplash,lettinghishairgrowalittlelonger,andtradinghimofftotheRebelsforaspongeandstafffortheartillery,etc。Weallexpectedhimtodie,andlookedcontinuallyforthedevelopmentofthefatalscurvysymptoms,whichweretosealhisdoom。Butheworriedthrough,andcameoutatlastingoodshape,ahappyresultdueasmuchastoanythingelsetohishavinginChesterHayward,ofPrairieCity,Ill。,——oneofthemostdevotedchumsIeverknew。ChesternursedandlookedoutforGeorgewithwife—likefidelity,andhadhisrewardinbringinghimsafethroughourlines。TherewerethousandsofinstancesofthisgenerousdevotiontoeachotherbychumsinAndersonville,andIknowofnothingthatreflectsanymorecredituponourboysoldiers。