第18章
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  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。

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