第19章
Therewaslittlechanceforanyonetoaccumulatefleshontherationswewerereceiving。IsayitinallsobernessthatIdonotbelievethatahealthyhencouldhavegrownfatuponthem。Iamsurethatanygood—
sized"shanghai"eatsmoreeverydaythanthemeagerhalfloafthatwehadtomaintainlifeupon。Scantyasthiswas,andhungryasallwere,verymanycouldnoteatit。Theirstomachsrevoltedagainstthetrash;
itbecamesonauseoustothemthattheycouldnotforceitdown,evenwhenfamishing,andtheydiedofstarvationwiththechunksoftheso—
calledbreadundertheirhead。Ifoundmyselfrapidlyapproachingthiscondition。Ihadbeenblessedwithagooddigestionandatalentforsleepingunderthemostdiscouragingcircumstances。These,Ihavenodoubt,wereofthegreatestassistancetomeinmystruggleforexistence。Butnowtherationsbecamefearfullyobnoxioustome,anditwasonlywiththegreatesteffort——pullingthebreadintolittlepiecesandswallowingeach,oftheseasonewouldapill——thatIsucceededinworryingthestuffdown。Ihadnotasyetfallenawayverymuch,butasIhadnever,up,tothattime,weighedsomuchasonehundredandtwenty—
fivepounds,therewasnogreatamountofadiposetolose。Itwasevidentthatunlesssomechangeoccurredmytimewasnearathand。
Therewasnotonlyhungerformorefood,butlongingwithanintensitybeyondexpressionforalterationofsomekindintherations。
Thechangelessmonotonyofthemiserablesaltlessbread,orworsemush,fordays,weeksandmonths,becameunbearable。Ifthosewretchedmuleteamshadonlyonceamonthhauledinsomethingdifferent——iftheyhadcomeinloadedwithsweetpotatos,greencornorwheatflour,therewouldbethousandsofmenstilllivingwhonowslumberbeneaththosemelancholypines。Itwouldhavegivensomethingtolookforwardto,andrememberwhenpast。Buttoknoweachdaythatthegateswouldopentoadmitthesamedistastefulapologiesforfoodtookawaytheappetiteandraisedone"sgorge,evenwhilefamishingforsomethingtoeat。
Wecouldforawhileforgetthestench,thelice,theheat,themaggots,thedeadanddyingaroundus,theinsultingmalignanceofourjailors;
butitwas,veryhardworktobanishthoughtsandlongingsforfoodfromourminds。Hundredsbecameactuallyinsanefrombroodingoverit。Crazymencouldbefoundinallpartsofthecamp。Numbersofthemwanderedaroundentirelynaked。Theirbabblingsandmaunderingsaboutsomethingtoeatwerepainfultohear。IhavebeforementionedthecaseofthePlymouthPilgrimnearme,whoseinsanitytooktheformofimaginingthathewassittingatthetablewithhisfamily,andwhowouldgothroughtheshowofhelpingthemtoimaginaryviandsanddelicacies。Thecravingsforgreenfoodofthoseafflictedwiththescurvywere,agonizing。Largenumbersofwatermelonswerebroughttotheprison,andsoldtothosewhohadthemoneytopayforthematfromonetofivedollars,greenbacks,apiece。Aboywhohadmeanstobuyapieceofthesewouldbefollowedaboutwhileeatingitbyacrowdofperhapstwenty—fiveorthirtylivid—
gummedscorbutics,eachimploringhimfortherindwhenhewasthroughwithit。
Wethoughtoffoodallday,andwerevisitedwithtorturingdreamsofitatnight。Oneofthepleasantrecollectionsofmypre—militarylifewasabanquetatthe"Planter"sHouse,"St。Louis,atwhichIwasaboyishguest。Itwas,doubtless,anordinaryaffair,asbanquetsgo,buttomethen,withallthekeenappreciationofyouthandfirstexperience,itwasafeastworthyofLucullus。Butnowthisdelightfulreminiscencebecameatorment。HundredsoftimesIdreamedIwasagainatthe"Planter"s。"Isawthewidecorridors,withtheirmosaicpavement;
Ienteredthegranddining—room,keepingtimidlynearthefriendtowhosekindnessIowedthiswonderfulfavor;Isawagainthemirror—linedwalls,theevergreendeckedceilings,thefestoonsandmottos,thetablesgleamingwithcutglassandsilver,thebuffetswithwinesandfruits,thebrigadeofsleek,black,white—apronedwaiters,headedbyonewhohadpresenceenoughforamajorGeneral。AgainIreveledinallthedaintiesanddishesonthebill—of—fare;callingforeverythingthatIdaredto,justtoseewhateachwaslike,andtobeabletosayafterwardsthatI
hadpartakenofit;allthesebewilderingdelightsofthefirstrealizationofwhataboyhasreadandwonderedmuchover,andlongedfor,woulddancetheirroutandreelthroughmysomnolentbrain。ThenI
wouldawaketofindmyselfahalf—naked,half—starved,vermin—eatenwretch,crouchinginaholeintheground,waitingformykeeperstoflingmeachunkofcornbread。
Naturallytheboys——andespeciallythecountryboysandnewprisoners——
talkedmuchofvictuals——whattheyhadhad,andwhattheywouldhaveagain,whentheygotout。Takethisasasampleoftheconversationwhichmightbeheardinanygroupofboys,sittingtogetheronthesand,killinliceandtalkingofexchange:
Tom——"Well,Bill,whenwegetbacktoGod"scountry,youandJimandJohnmustallcometomyhouseandtakedinnerwithme。Iwanttogiveyouasquaremeal。Iwanttoshowyoujustwhatgoodlivin"is。Youknowmymotherisjustthebestcookinallthatsection。Whenshelaysherselfouttogetupamealalltheotherwomenintheneighborhoodjuststandbackandadmire"
Bill——"O,that"sallright;butI"llbetshecan"tholdacandletomymother,whenitcomestogoodcooking。"
Jim——"No,nortomine。"
John——（withpatronizingcontempt。）"O,shucks！Noneofyoufellerswereeveratourhouse,evenwhenwehadoneofourcommonweekdaydinners。"
Tom——（unheedfulofthecounterclaims。）Ihevteenstudyin"upthedinnerI"dlike,andthebill—of—fareI"dsetoutforyoufellerswhenyoucomeovertoseeme。First,ofcourse,we"lllaythefoundationlikewithanice,juicyloinroast,andsomemashedpotatos。
Bill——（interrupting。）"Now,doyoulikemashedpotatoswithbeef？Thewaymaymotherdoesistoparethepotatos,andlaytheminthepanalongwiththebeef。Then,youknow,theycomeoutjustasniceandcrisp,andbrown,;theyhavesoakedupallthebeefgravy,andtheycrinklebetweenyourteeth——"
Jim——"Now,Itellyou,mashedNeshannockswithbutteron"emisplentygoodenoughforme。"
John——"Ifyou"detsomeofthenewkindofpeachblowsthatweraisedintheoldpasturelottheyearbeforeIenlisted,you"dneversayanotherwordaboutyourNeshannocks。"
Tom——（takingbreathandstartinginfresh。）"Thenwe"llhevsomefriedSpringchickens,ofourdominickbreed。Themdominicksofourshavethenicest,tenderestmeat,better"nquail,adarnedsight,andthewaymymothercanfrySpringchickens————"
Bill——（asidetoJim。）"Everydurnedwomaninthecountrythinksshecan"sprychingfrickens;"butmymother———"
John——"Youfellersallknowthatthere"snobodyknowshalfasmuchaboutchickendoin"sasthese"tinerantMethodis"preachers。Theygive"emchickenwherevertheygo,andfolksdosaythatoutinthenewsettlementstheycan"tgetnopreachin",nogospel,nornothin",untilthechickensbecomesoplentythatapreacherisreasonablysureofhavin"oneforhisdinnerwhereverhemaygo。Now,there"soldPeterCartwright,whohastraveledoverIllinoyandIndiannysincetheYearOne,andpreachedmoregoodsermonsthananyothermanwhoeversetonsaddle—bags,andhasetmorechickensthantherearebirdsinabigpigeonroost。Well,hetookdinneratourhousewhenhecameuptodedicatethebig,whitechurchatSimpkin"sCorners,andwhenhepasseduphisplatethethirdtimeformorechicken,hesez,sezhe:——I"veetatagreatmanyhundredtablesinthefiftyyearsIhavelaboredinthevineyardoftheRedeemer,butImustsay,Mrs。Kiggins,thatyourwayoffryingchickensisaleetlethenicestthatIeverknew。Ionlywishthatthesistersgenerallywouldgetyourreseet。"Yes,that"swhathesaid,——"aleetlethenicest。""
Tom——"An"then,we"llhevbiscuitsan"butter。I"lljustbetfivehundreddollarstoacent,andgivebackthecentifIwin,thatwehavethebestbutteratourhousethatthereisinCentralIllinoy。Youcan"tneverhevgoodbutteronlessyouhaveaspringhouse;there"snouseoftalkin"——allthepatentchurnsthatlazymeneverinvented——allthefancymilkpansan"coolers,can"tmakeupforaspringhouse。Locationsforaspringhousearescarcerthanhen"steethinIllinoy,butwehevone,andthereain"tabetteroneinOrangeCounty,NewYork。Thenyou"llseedomeofthebiscuitsmymothermakes。"
Bill——"Well,now,mymother"sabossbiscuit—maker,too。"
Jim——"Youkinjustgamblethatmineis。"
John——"O,that"sthewayyoufellersoughttothinkan"talk,butmymother————"
Tom——（cominginagainwithfreshvigor）"They"rejestaslightan"fluffyasadandelionpuff,andtheymeltinyourmonthlikearipeBartlettpear。Youjustpull"emopen——[NowyouknowthatIthinkthere"snothin"
thatshowsaperson"sraisin"sowellastoseehimeatbiscuitsan"
butter。Ifhe"sbeenraisedmostlyoncornbread,an"commondoins,"
an"don"tknowmuchaboutgoodthingstoeat,he"llmostlikelycuthisbiscuitopenwithacaseknife,an"makeitfallasflatasoneo"
yesterday"spancakes。Butifheisusedtobiscuits,hashad"emoftenathishouse,he"ll——justpull"emopen,slowan"easylike,thenhe"lllayalittlesliceofbutterinside,anddropafewdropsofclearhoneyonthis,an"stickthetwohalvesback,togetheragain,an——"
"Oh,forGodAlmighty"ssake,stoptalkingthatinfernalnonsense,"roaroutahalfdozenofthesurroundingcrowd,whosemouthshavebeenwateringoverthisunctuousrecitalofthegoodthingsofthetable。
"Youblamedfools,doyouwanttodriveyourselvesandeverybodyelsecrazywithsuchstuffasthat。Dryupandtrytothinkofsomethingelse。"
CHAPTERXLVI。
SURLYBRITON——THESTOLIDCOURAGETHATMAKESTHEENGLISHFLAGABANNEROF
TRIUMPH——OURCOMPANYBUGLER,HISCHARACTERISTICSANDHISDEATH——URGENT
DEMANDFORMECHANICS——NONEWANTTOGO——TREATMENTOFAREBELSHOEMAKER——
ENLARGEMENTOFTHESTOCKADE——ITISBROKENBYASTORM——
THEWONDERFULSPRING。
EarlyinAugust,F。Marriott,ourCompanyBugler,died。PrevioustocomingtoAmericahehadbeenformanyyearsanEnglishsoldier,andI
acceptedhimasatypeofthatstolid,doggedlybraveclass,whichformsthebulkoftheEnglisharmies,andhasforcenturiescarriedtheBritishflagwithdauntlesscourageintoeverylandunderthesun。Rough,surlyandunsocial,hedidhisdutywiththeunemotionalsteadinessofamachine。Heknewnothingbuttoobeyorders,andobeyedthemunderallcircumstancespromptly,butwithstonyimpassiveness。Withthecommandtomoveforwardintoaction,hemovedforwardwithoutaword,andwithfaceasblankasasideofsoleleather。Hewentasfarasordered,haltedattheword,andretiredatcommandasphlegmaticallyasheadvanced。Ifhecaredastrawwhetherheadvancedorretreated,ifitmatteredtotheextentofapinchofsaltwhetherwewhippedtheRebelsortheydefeatedus,hekeptthatfeelingsodeeplyhiddenintherecessesofhissturdybosomthatnooneeversuspectedit。Intheexcitementofactiontherestoftheboysshouted,andswore,andexpressedtheirtensefeelingsinvariousways,butMarriottmightaswellhavebeenagravenimage,foralltheexpressionthathesufferedtoescape。Doubtless,iftheCaptainhadorderedhimtoshootoneofthecompanythroughtheheart,hewouldhaveexecutedthecommandaccordingtothemanualofarms,broughthiscarbinetoa"recover,"andatthewordmarchedbacktohisquarterswithoutaninquiryastothecauseoftheproceedings。Hemadenofriends,andthoughhissurlinessrepelledus,hemadefewenemies。Indeed,hewasratherafavorite,sincehewasagenuinecharacter;hisgruffnesshadnotaintofselfishgreedinit;
hemindedhisownbusinessstrictly,andwantedotherstodothesame。
Whenhefirstcameintothecompany,itistrue,hegainedtheenmityofnearlyeverybodyinit,butanincidentoccurredwhichturnedthetideinhisfavor。Someannoyinglittledepredationshadbeenpracticedontheboys,anditneededbutawordofsuspiciontoinflamealltheirmindsagainstthesurlyEnglishmanastheunknownperpetrator。Thefeelingintensified,untilabouthalfofthecompanywereinamoodtokilltheBugleroutright。Aswewerereturningfromstabledutyoneevening,somelittleoccurrencefannedthesmolderingangerintoafierceblaze;
acoupleofthesmallerboysbegananattackuponhim;othershastenedtotheirassistance,andsoonhalfthecompanywereengagedintheassault。
Hesucceededindisengaginghimselffromhisassailants,and,squaringhimselfoff,said,defiantly:
"Domyercowardlyheyes;jestcomehatmeonehatatime,handhI"llwollopthe"oleganguvye"s。"
OneofourSergeantsstyledhimselfproudly"aChicagorough,"andwasasvainofhispugilisticabilitiesasasmallboyisofafatherwhoplaysintheband。Weallhatedhimcordially——evenmorethanwedidMarriott。
Hethoughtthiswasagoodtimetoshowoff,andforcinghiswaythroughthecrowd,hesaid,vauntingly:
"Justfallbackandformaring,boys,andseemepolishoffthe———fool。"
Theringwasformed,withtheBuglerandtheSergeantinthecenter。
ThoughthelatterwastheyoungerandstrongerthefirstroundshowedhimthatitwouldhaveprofitedhimmuchmoretohaveletMarriott"schallengepassunheeded。Asarule,itisaswelltoignoreallinvitationsofthiskindfromEnglishmen,andespeciallyfromthosewho,likeMarriott,haveservedaterminthearmy,fortheyarelikelytobesohandywiththeirfistsastomaketheconsequencesofanacceptancemorelivelythandesirable。
SotheSergeantfound。"Marriott,"asoneofthespectatorsexpressedit,"wentaroundhimlikeacooperaroundabarrel。"Heplantedhisblowsjustwherehewished,totheintensedelightoftheboys,whoyelledenthusiasticallywheneverhegotin"ahotone,"andtheirdelightatseeingtheSergeantdrubbedsothoroughlyandartistically,workedanentirerevolutioninhisfavor。
Thenceforwardweviewedhiseccentricitieswithlenienteyes,andbecameratherproudofhisbull—dogstolidityandsurliness。Thewholebattalionsooncametosharethisfeeling,andeverybodyenjoyedhearinghisdeep—tonedgrowl,whichmischievousboyswouldincitebysomepettyannoyancesdeliberatelydesignedforthatpurpose。Iwillmentionincidentally,thatafterhisencounterwiththeSergeantnooneeveragainvolunteeredto"polish"himoff。
Andersonvilledidnotimproveeitherhistemperorhiscommunicativeness。
Heseemedtowanttogetasfarawayfromtherestofusaspossible,andtookuphisquartersinaremotecorneroftheStockade,amongutterstrangers。Thoseofuswhowanderedupinhisneighborhoodoccasionally,toseehowhewasgettingalong,werereceivedwithsuchscantcourtesy,thatwedidnothastentorepeatthevisit。Atlength,afternoneofushadseenhimforweeks,wethoughtthatcomradeshipdemandedanothervisit。Wefoundhiminthelaststagesofscurvyanddiarrhea。Chunksofuneatencornbreadlaybyhishead。Theywereatleastaweekold。
Therationssincethenhadevidentlybeenstolenfromthehelplessmanbythosearoundhim。Theplacewherehelaywasindescribablyfilthy,andhisbodywasswarmingwithvermin。SomegoodSamaritanhadfilledhislittleblackoystercanwithwater,andplaceditwithinhisreach。
Foraweek,atleast,hehadnotbeenabletorisefromtheground;
hecouldbarelyreachforthewaternearhim。HegaveussuchaglareofrecognitionasIrememberedtohaveseenlightupthefast—darkeningeyesofasavageoldmastiff,thatIandmyboyishcompanionsoncefounddyinginthewoodsofdiseaseandhurts。Hadhebeenablehewouldhavedrivenusaway,oratleastassaileduswithbitingEnglishepithets。Thushehaddoubtlessdrivenawayallthosewhohadattemptedtohelphim。
Wedidwhatlittlewecould,andstaidwithhimuntilthenextafternoon,whenhedied。Wepreparedhisbody,inthecustomaryway:foldedthehandsacrosshisbreast,tiedthetoestogether,andcarrieditoutside,notforgettingeachofus,tobringbackaloadofwood。
ThescarcityofmechanicsofallkindsintheConfederacy,andtheurgentneedsofthepeopleformanythingswhichthewarandtheblockadepreventedtheirobtaining,ledtocontinualinducementsbeingofferedtotheartizansamongustogooutsideandworkattheirtrade。Shoemakersseemedmostindemand;nexttotheseblacksmiths,machinists,moldersandmetalworkersgenerally。NotaweekpassedduringmyimprisonmentthatI
didnotseeaRebelemissaryofsomekindabouttheprisonseekingtoengageskilledworkmenforsomepurposeoranother。WhileinRichmondthemanagersoftheTredegarIronWorkswerebrazenandpersistentintheireffortstoseducewhataretermed"malleableironworkers,"toentertheiremploy。Aboywhowasmasterofanyoneofthecommonertradeshadbuttomakehiswishesknown,andhewouldbeallowedtogooutonparoletowork。Iwasaprinter,andIthinkthatatleastadozentimesIwasapproachedbyRebelpublisherswithoffersofaparole,andworkatgoodprices。OnefromColumbia,S。C。,offeredmetwodollarsandahalfa"thousand"forcomposition。AsthehighestpriceforsuchworkthatIhadreceivedbeforeenlistingwasthirtycentsathousand,thisseemedachancetoaccumulateu4toldwealth。Sinceamanworkingindaytimecansetfromthirty—fivetofifty"thousand"aweek,thiswouldmakeweeklywagesrunfromeighty—sevendollarsandfiftycentstoonehundredandtwenty—fivedollars——butitwasinConfederatemoney,thenworthfromtentotwentycentsonthedollar。
Stillbetteroffersweremadetoironworkersofallkinds,toshoemakers,tanners,weavers,tailors,hatters,engineers,machinists,millers,railroadmen,andsimilartradesmen。Anyofthesecouldhavemadeahandsomethingbyacceptingtheoffersmadethemalmostweekly。
Asnearlyallintheprisonhadusefultrades,itwouldhavebeenofimmensebenefittotheConfederacyiftheycouldhavebeeninducedtoworkatthem。ThereisnomeasuringthebenefititwouldhavebeentotheSoutherncauseifallthehundredsoftannersandshoemakersintheStockadecouldhave,beenpersuadedtogooutsideandlaborinprovidingleatherandshoesforthealmostshoelesspeopleandsoldiery。ThemachinistsalonecouldhavedonemoregoodtotheSouthernConfederacythanoneofourbrigadeswasdoingharm,byconsentingtogototherailroadshopsatGriswoldvilleandplytheirhandicraft。ThelackofmaterialresourcesintheSouthwasoneofthestrongestalliesourarmshad。Thislackofresourceswasprimarilycausedbyalackofskilledlabortodevelopthoseresources,andnowherecouldtherebefoundafinercollectionofskilledlaborersthaninthethirty—threethousandprisonersincarceratedinAndersonville。
Allsolicitationstoacceptaparoleandgooutsidetoworkatone"stradeweretreatedwiththescorntheydeserved。Ifanymechanicyieldedtothem,thefactdidnotcomeundermynotice。Theusualreplytoinvitationsofthiskindwas:
"No,Sir！ByGod,I"llstayinheretillIrot,andthemaggotscarrymeoutthroughthecracksintheStockade,beforeI"llsomuchasraisemylittlefingertohelptheinfernalConfederacy,orRebels,inanyshapeorform。"
InAugustaMaconshoemakercameintogetsomeofhistradetogobackwithhimtoworkintheConfederateshoefactory。HeprosecutedhissearchfortheseuntilhereachedthecenterofthecampontheNorthSide,whensomeoftheshoemakerswhohadgatheredaroundhim,apparentlyconsideringhispropositions,seizedhimandthrewhimintoawell。
Hewaskeptthereawholeday,andonlyreleasedwhenWirzcutofftherationsoftheprisonforthatday,andannouncedthatnomorewouldbeissueduntilthemanwasreturnedsafeandsoundtothegate。
TheterriblecrowdingwassomewhatamelioratedbytheopeninginJulyofanaddition——sixhundredfeetlong——totheNorthSideoftheStockade。
Thisincreasedtheroominsidetotwentyacres,givingaboutanacretoeveryonethousandsevenhundredmen,——apreposterouslycontractedareastill。Thenewgroundwasnotahotbedofvirulentpoisonliketheoldshowever,andthosewhomovedontoithadthatmuchintheirfavor。
Thepalisadesbetweenthenewandtheoldportionsofthepenwereleftstandingwhenthenewportionwasopened。Wewerestillsufferingagreatdealofinconveniencefromlackofwood。Thatnightthestandingtimberswereattackedbythousandsofprisonersarmedwitheveryspeciesofatooltocutwood,fromacase—knifetoanax。Theyworkedthelive—
longnightwithsuchenergythatbymorningnotonlyeveryinchofthelogsabovegroundhaddisappeared,butthatbelowhadbeendugup,andtherewasnotenoughleftoftheeighthundredfootwalloftwenty—five—
footlogstomakeaboxofmatches。
Oneafternoon——earlyinAugust——oneoftheviolentrainstormscommontothatsectionsprungup,andinalittlewhilethewaterwasfallingintorrents。Thelittlecreekrunningthroughthecampswelledupimmensely,andsweptoutlargegapsintheStockade,bothinthewestandeastsides。TheRebelsnoticedthebreachesassoonastheprisoners。
TwogunswerefiredfromtheStarTort,andalltheguardsrushedout,andformedsoastopreventanyegress,ifonewasattempted。Takenbysurprise,wewerenotinaconditiontoprofitbytheopportunityuntilitwastoolate。
Thestormdidonegoodthing:itsweptawayagreatdealoffilth,andleftthecampmuchmorewholesome。Thefoulstenchrisingfromthecampmadeanexcellentelectricalconductor,andthelightningstruckseveraltimeswithinonehundredfeetoftheprison。
TowardtheendofAugusttherehappenedwhatthereligouslyinclinedtermedaProvidentialDispensation。ThewaterintheCreekwasindescribablybad。Noamountoffamiliaritywithit,noincreaseofintimacywithouroffensivesurroundings,couldlessenthedisgustatthepollutedwater。AsIhavesaidpreviously,beforethestreamenteredtheStockade,itwasrenderedtoofilthyforanyusebythecontaminationsfromthecampsoftheguards,situatedaboutahalf—mileabove。
ImmediatelyonenteringtheStockadethecontaminationbecameterrible。
Theoozyseepatthebottomofthehillsidesdraineddirectlyintoitallthemassoffilthfromapopulationofthirty—threethousand。Imaginetheconditionofanopensewer,passingthroughtheheartofacityofthatmanypeople,andreceivingalltheoffensiveproductofsodenseagatheringintoashallow,sluggishstream,ayardwideandfiveinchesdeep,andheatedbytheburningraysofthesuninthethirty—seconddegreeoflatitude。Imagine,ifonecan,withoutbecomingsickatthestomach,allofthesepeoplehavingtowashinanddrinkofthisfoulflow。
Thereisnotascintillaofexaggerationinthisstatement。Thatitiswithintheexacttruthisdemonstrablebythetestimonyofanyman——RebelorUnion——whoeversawtheinsideoftheStockadeatAndersonville。Iamquitecontenttohaveitstruth——aswellasthatofanyotherstatementmadeinthisbook——bedeterminedbytheevidenceofanyone,nomatterhowbitterhishatredoftheUnion,whohadanypersonalknowledgeoftheconditionofaffairsatAndersonville。Noonecansuccessfullydenythattherewereatleastthirty—threethousandprisonersintheStockade,andthattheoneshallow,narrowcreek,whichpassedthroughtheprison,wasatoncetheirmainsewerandtheirsourceofsupplyofwaterforbathing,drinkingandwashing。Withthesemainfactsadmitted,thereader"scommonsenseofnaturalconsequenceswillfurnishtherestofthedetails。
Itistruethatsomeofthemorefortunateofushadwells;thankstoourownenergyinovercomingextraordinaryobstacles;nothankstoourgaolersformakingtheslightestefforttoprovidethesenecessitiesoflife。Wedugthewellswithcaseandpocketknives,andhalfcanteenstoadepthoffromtwentytothirtyfeet,pullingupthedirtinpantaloonslegs,andrunningcontinualriskofbeingsmotheredtodeathbythecavinginoftheunwalledsides。NotonlydidtheRebelsrefusetogiveusboardswithwhichtowallthewells,andbucketsfordrawingthewater,buttheydidallintheirpowertopreventusfromdiggingthewells,andmadecontinualforaystocapturethediggingtools,becausethewellswerefrequentlyusedasthestartingplacesfortunnels。
ProfessorJoneslaysspecialstressonthistunnelfeatureinhistestimony,whichIhaveintroducedinapreviouschapter。
ThegreatmajorityoftheprisonerswhowenttotheCreekforwater,wentasnearaspossibletotheDeadLineontheWestSide,wheretheCreekenteredtheStockade,thattheymightgetwaterwithaslittlefilthinitaspossible。Inthecrowdsstrugglingtherefortheirturntotakeadip,someonenearlyeverydaygotsoclosetotheDeadLineastoarouseasuspicionintheguard"smindthathewastouchingit。Thesuspicionwastheunfortunateone"sdeathwarrant,andalsoitsexecution。Asthesluggishbrainoftheguardconceiveditheleveledhisgun;thedistancetohisvictimwasnotoveronehundredfeet;heneverfailedhisaim;thefirstwarningthewretchedprisonergotthathewassuspectedoftransgressingaprison—rulewasthechargeof"ball—and—buck"thattorethroughhisbody。Itwasluckyifhewas,theonlyoneofthegroupkilled。MorewickedandunjustifiablemurdersneverwerecommittedthanthesealmostdailyassassinationsattheCreek。
Onemorningthecampwasastonishedbeyondmeasuretodiscoverthatduringthenightalarge,boldspringhadburstoutontheNorthSide,aboutmidwaybetweentheSwampandthesummitofthehill。Itpouredoutitsgratefulfloodofpure,sweetwaterinanapparentlyexhaustlessquantity。Tothemanywholookedinwonderuponit,itseemedastrulyaheaven—wroughtmiracleaswhenMoses"senchantedrodsmotetheparchedrockinSinai"sdesertwaste,andthelivingwatersgushedforth。
Thepolicetookchargeofthespring,andeveryonewascompelledtotakehisregularturninfillinghisvessel。ThiswaskeptupduringourwholestayinAndersonville,andeverymorning,shortlyafterdaybreak,athousandmencouldbeseenstandinginline,waitingtheirturnstofilltheircansandcupswiththepreciousliquid。
IamtoldbycomradeswhohaverevisitedtheStockadeofrecentyears,thatthespringisyetrunningaswhenweleft,andisheldinmostpiousvenerationbythenegrosofthatvicinity,whostillpreservethetraditionofitsmiraculousorigin,andascribetoitswaterwonderfulgracegivingandhealingproperties,similartothosewhichpiousCatholicsbelieveexistintheholywaterofthefountainatLourdes。
ImustconfessthatIdonotthinktheyaresoveryfarfromright。
IfIcouldbelievethatanywaterwassacredandthaumaturgic,itwouldbeofthatfountainwhichappearedsoopportunelyforthebenefitoftheperishingthousandsofAndersonville。AndwhenIhearofpeoplebringingwaterforbaptismalpurposesfromtheJordan,Isayinmyheart,"HowmuchmorewouldIvalueformyselfandfriendstheadministrationofthechrismalsacramentwiththedivinerflowfromthatlowsand—hillinWesternGeorgia。
CHAPTERXLVII。
"SICKCALL,"ANDTHESCENESTHATACCOMPANIEDIT——MUSTERINGTHELAME,HALT
ANDDISEASEDATTHESOUTHGATE——ANUNUSUALLYBADCASE——GOINGOUTTOTHE
HOSPITAL——ACCOMMODATIONANDTREATMENTOFTHEPATIENTSTHERE——THEHORRIBLE
SUFFERINGINTHEGANGRENEWARD——BUNGLINGAMPUTATIONSBYBLUNDERING
PRACTITIONERS——AFFECTIONBETWEENASAILORANDHISWARD——
DEATHOFMYCOMRADE。
Everymorningafterroll—call,thousandsofsickgatheredattheSouthGate,wherethedoctorsmadesomepretenseofaffordingmedicalrelief。
ThescenethereremindedmeoftheillustrationsinmySunday—Schoollessonsofthattimewhen"greatmultitudescameuntoHim,"bytheshoresoftheSeaofGalilee,"havingwiththemthosethatwerelame,blind,dumb,maimed,andmanyothers。"HadthecrowdswornthefloutingrobesoftheEast,thepicturewouldhavelackednothingbutthepresenceoftheSonofMantomakeitcomplete。Hereweretheburningsandsandparchingsun;hithercamescoresofgroupsofthreeorfourcomrades,laboriouslystaggeringundertheweightofablanketinwhichtheyhadcarriedadisabledanddyingfriendfromsomedistantpartoftheStockade。Besidethemhobbledthescorbuticswithswollenanddistortedlimbs,eachmoreloathsomeandnearerdeaththantheleperswhomChrist"sdivinetouchmadewhole。Dozens,unabletowalk,andhavingnocomradestocarrythem,crawledpainfullyalong,withfrequentstops,ontheirhandsandknees。Every,formofintensephysicalsufferingthatitispossiblefordiseasetoinduceinthehumanframewasvisibleatthesedailyparadesofthesickoftheprison。Asoverthreethousand（threethousandandseventy—six）diedinAugust,therewereprobablytwelvethousanddangerouslysickatanygiventimedaringthemonth;andalargepartofthesecollectedattheSouthGateeverymorning。
Measurably—callousedaswehadbecomebythedailysightsofhorroraroundus,weencounteredspectaclesinthesegatheringswhichnoamountofvisiblemiserycouldaccustomusto。Irememberoneespeciallythatburneditselfdeeplyintomymemory。Itwasofayoungmannotovertwenty—five,whoafewweeksago——hisclotheslookedcomparativelynew——
hadevidentlybeenthepictureofmanlybeautyandyouthfulvigor。
Hehadhadawell—knit,litheform;darkcurlinghairfelloveraforeheadwhichhadoncebeenfair,andhiseyesstillshowedthattheyhadgleamedwithabold,adventurousspirit。TheredcloverleafonhiscapshowedthathebelongedtotheFirstDivisionoftheSecondCorps,thethreechevronsonhisarmthathewasaSergeant,andthestripeathiscuffthathewasaveteran。Somekind—heartedboyshadfoundhiminamiserableconditionontheNorthSide,andcarriedhimoverinablankettowherethedoctorscouldseehim。Hehadbutlittleclothingon,savehisblouseandcap。Ulcersofsomekindhadformedinhisabdomen,andthesewerenowmassesofsquirmingworms。Itwassomuchworsethantheusualformsofsuffering,thatquitealittlecrowdofcompassionatespectatorsgatheredaroundandexpressedtheirpity。
Thesuffererturnedtoonewholaybesidehimwith:
"Comrade:IfwewereonlyundertheoldStarsandStripes,wewouldn"tcareaG—dd——nforafewworms,wouldwe？"
Thiswasnotprofane。Itwasanutterancefromthedepthsofabraveman"sheart,couchedinthestrongestlanguageathiscommand。Itseemedterriblethatsogallantasoulshoulddepartfromearthinthismiserablefashion。Someofus,muchmovedbythesight,wenttothedoctorsandputthecaseasstronglyaspossible,beggingthemtodosomethingtoalleviatehissuffering。Theydeclinedtoseethecase,butgotridofusbygivingusabottleofturpentine,withdirectionstopouritupontheulcerstokillthemaggots。Wedidso。Itmusthavebeencrueltorture,andasabsurdremediallyascruel,butourherosethisteethandendured,withoutagroan。Hewasthencarriedouttothehospitaltodie。