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。