Hehituponanexcellentone。GoingtotheengineerofafreighttrainmakingreadytostartbacktoMacon,hetoldhimthathisfatherwasworkingintheConfederatemachineshopsatGriswoldville,nearMacon;
thathehimselfwasalsooneofthemachinistsemployedthere,anddesiredtogothitherbutlackedthenecessarymeanstopayhispassage。
Iftheengineerwouldlethimrideupontheenginehewoulddoworkenoughtopaythefare。Franktoldthestoryingeniously,theengineerandfiremenwerewonover,andgavetheirconsent。
NomorezealousassistanteverclimbeduponatenderthanFrankprovedtobe。Heloadedwoodwithanervousindustry,thatstoodhiminplaceofgreatstrength。Hekeptthetenderinperfectorder,andanticipated,asfaraspossible,everywantoftheengineerandhisassistant。Theyweredelightedwithhim,andtreatedhimwiththegreatestkindness,dividingtheirfoodwithhim,andinsistingthatheshouldsharetheirbedwhenthey\"laidby\"forthenight。Frankwouldhavegladlydeclinedthislatterkindnesswiththanks,ashewasconsciousthatthequantityof\"graybacks\"hisclothingcontaineddidnotmakehimaverydesirablesleepingcompanionforanyone,buthisfriendsweresopressingthathewascompelledtoaccede。
Hisgreatesttroublewasafearofrecognitionbysomeoneoftheprisonersthatwerecontinuallypassingbythetrainload,ontheirwayfromAndersonvilletootherprisons。HewasoneofthebestknownoftheprisonersinAndersonville;bright,active,alwayscheerful,andforeverinmotionduringwakinghours,——everyoneinthePrisonspeedilybecamefamiliarwithhim,andalladdressedhimas\"SergeantFrankie。\"Ifanyoneonthepassingtrainshadcaughtaglimpseofhim,thatglimpsewouldhavebeenfollowedalmostinevitablywithashoutof:
\"Hello,SergeantFrankie！Whatareyoudoingthere？\"
Thenthewholegamewouldhavebeenup。Frankescapedthisbypersistentwatchfulness,andbybusyinghimselfontheoppositesideoftheengine,withhisbackturnedtotheothertrains。
AtlastwhennearingGriswoldville,Frank,pointingtoalargewhitehouseatsomedistanceacrossthefields,said:
\"Now,rightoverthereiswheremyunclelives,andIbelieveI\'lljustrunoverandseehim,andthenwalkintoGriswoldville。\"
Hethankedhisfriendsferventlyfortheirkindness,promisedtocallandseethemfrequently,badethemgoodby,andjumpedoffthetrain。
Hewalkedtowardsthewhitehouseaslongashethoughthecouldbeseen,andthenenteredalargecornfieldandconcealedhimselfinathicketinthecenterofituntildark,whenhemadehiswaytotheneighboringwoods,andbeganjourneyingnorthwardasfastashislegscouldcarryhim。Whenmorningbrokehehadmadegoodprogress,butwasterriblytired。Itwasnotprudenttotravelbydaylight,sohegatheredhimselfsomeearsofcornandsomeberries,ofwhichhemadehisbreakfast,andfindingasuitablethickethecrawledintoit,fellasleep,anddidnotwakeupuntillateintheafternoon。
Afteranothermealofrawcornandberriesheresumedhisjourney,andthatnightmadestillbetterprogress。
Herepeatedthisforseveraldaysandnights——lyinginthewoodsinthedaytime,travelingbynightthroughwoods,fields,andby—pathsavoidingallthefords,bridgesandmainroads,andlivingonwhathecouldgleanfromthefields,thathemightnottakeevensomuchriskaswasinvolvedingoingtothenegrocabinsforfood。
Buttherearealwaysflawsineveryman\'sarmorofcaution——eveninsoperfectaoneasFrank\'s。Hiscompletesuccesssofarhadthenaturaleffectofinducingagrowingcarelessness,whichwroughthisruin。
Oneeveninghestartedoffbriskly,afterarefreshingrestandsleep。
HeknewthathemustbeverynearSherman\'slines,andhopecheeredhimupwiththebeliefthathisfreedomwouldsoonbewon。
Descendingfromthehill,inwhosedensebrushwoodhehadmadehisbedallday,heenteredalargefieldfullofstandingcorn,andmadehiswaybetweentherowsuntilhereached,ontheotherside,thefencethatseparateditfromthemainroad,acrosswhichwasanothercorn—field,thatFrankintendedentering。
Butheneglectedhisusualprecautionsonapproachingaroad,andinsteadofcomingupcautiouslyandcarefullyreconnoiteringinalldirectionsbeforeheleftcover,hesprangboldlyoverthefenceandstrodeoutfortheotherside。Ashereachedthemiddleoftheroad,hisearswereassailedwiththesharpclickofamusketbeingcocked,andtheharshcommand:
\"Halt！halt,dah,Isay！\"
Turningwithastarttohislefthesawnottenfeetfromhim,amountedpatrol,thesoundofwhoseapproachhadbeenmaskedbythedeepdustoftheroad,intowhichhishorse\'shoofssanknoiselessly。
Frank,ofcourse,yieldedwithoutaword,andwhensenttotheofficerincommandhetoldtheoldstoryabouthisbeinganemployeeoftheGriswoldvilleshops,offonaleaveofabsencetomakeavisittosickrelatives。But,unfortunately,hiscaptorsbelongedtothatsectionthemselves,andspeedilycaughthiminamazeofcross—questioningfromwhichhecouldnotextricatehimself。ItalsobecameapparentfromhislanguagethathewasaYankee,anditwasnotfarfromthistotheconclusionthathewasaspy——aconclusiontowhichtheproximityofSherman\'slines,thenlessthantwentymilesdistant—greatlyassisted。
BythenextmorningthisbeliefhadbecomesofirmlyfixedinthemindsoftheRebelsthatFranksawahalterdanglingalarminglynear,andheconcludedthewisestplanwastoconfesswhohereallywas。
Itwasnotthesmallestofhisgriefstorealizebyhowslightachancehehadfailed。Hadhelookeddowntheroadbeforeheclimbedthefence,orhadhebeentenminutesearlierorlater,thepatrolwouldnothavebeenthere,hecouldhavegainedthenextfieldunperceived,andtwomorenightsofsuccessfulprogresswouldhavetakenhimintoSherman\'slinesatSandMountain。Thepatrolwhichcaughthimwasonthelook—outfordesertersandshirkingconscripts,whohadbecomeunusuallynumeroussincethefallofAtlanta。
HewassentbacktousatSavannah。AshecameintotheprisongateLieutenantDaviswasstandingnear。HelookedsternlyatFrankandhisRebelgarments,andmuttering,\"ByGod,I\'llstopthis！\"caughtthecoatbythetails,toreittothecollar,andtookitandhishatawayfromFrank。
Therewasastrangesequeltothisepisode。Afewweeksafterwardaspecialexchangefortenthousandwasmade,andFranksucceededinbeingincludedinthis。HewasgiventheusualfurloughfromtheparoledcampatAnnapolis,andwenttohishomeinalittletownnearMansfield,O。
Onedaywhileonthecarsgoing——IthinktoNewark,O。,hesawLieutenantDavisonthetrain,incitizens\'clothes。HehadbeensentbytheRebelGovernmenttoCanadawithdispatchesrelatingtosomeoftheraidsthenharassingourNorthernborders。Daviswasthelastmanintheworldtosuccessfullydisguisehimself。Hehadalarge,coarsemouth,thatmadehimrememberedbyallwhohadeverseenhim。Frankrecognizedhiminstantlyandsaid:
\"YouareLieutenantDavis？\"
Davisreplied:
\"Youaretotallymistaken,sah,Iam—————\"
Frankinsistedthathewasright。Davisfumedandblustered,butthoughFrankwassmall,hewasasgameasabantamrooster,andhegaveDavistounderstandthattherehadbeenavastchangeintheirrelativepositions;
thattheone,whilestillthesameinsolentswaggerer,hadnotregimentsofinfantryorbatteriesofartillerytoemphasizehisinsolence,andtheotherwasnolongerembarrassedinthediscussionbytheimmenseoddsinfavorofhisjailoropponent。
AfterastormysceneFrankcalledintheassistanceofsomeothersoldiersinthecar,arrestedDavis,andtookhimtoCampChase——nearColumbus,O。,——wherehewasfullyidentifiedbyanumberofparoledprisoners。Hewassearched,anddocumentsshowingthenatureofhismissionbeyondadoubt,werefounduponhisperson。
Acourtmartialwasimmediatelyconvenedforhistrial。
Thisfoundhimguilty,andsentencedhimtobehangedasaspy。
AttheconclusionofthetrialFranksteppeduptotheprisonerandsaid:
\"Mr。Davis,Ibelievewe\'reevenonthatcoat,now。\"
DaviswassenttoJohnson\'sIslandforexecution,butinfluenceswereimmediatelysetatworktosecureExecutiveclemency。WhattheywereIknownot,butIaminformedbytheRev。RobertMcCune,whowasthenChaplainoftheOneHundredandTwenty—EighthOhioInfantryandthePostofJohnson\'sIslandandwhowasthespiritualadviserappointedtoprepareDavisforexecution,thatthesentencewashardlypronouncedbeforeDaviswasvisitedbyanemissary,whotoldhimtodismisshisfears,thatheshouldnotsufferthepunishment。
ItislikelythatleadingBaltimoreUnionistswereenlistedinhisbehalfthroughfamilyconnections,andastheBorderStateUnionistswerethenpotentatWashington,theyreadilysecuredacommutationofhissentencetoimprisonmentduringthewar。
Itseemsthatthejusticeofthisworldisveryunevenlydispensedwhensomuchsolicitudeisshownforthelifeofsuchaman,andnoneatallforthemuchbettermenwhomheassistedtodestroy。
Theofficialnoticeofthecommutationofthesentencewasnotpublisheduntilthedaysetfortheexecution,butthecertainknowledgethatitwouldbeforthcomingenabledDavistodisplayagreatdealofbravadoonapproachingwhatwassupposedtobehisend。Asthereadercanreadilyimagine,fromwhatIhaveheretoforesaidofhim,Daviswasthemantoimprovetotheutmosteveryopportunitytostruthislittlehour,andhediditinthisinstance。Heposed,attitudinizedandvapored,sothatthecampandthecountrywerefilledwithstoriesofthewonderfulcoolnesswithwhichhecontemplatedhisapproachingfate。
Amongotherthingshesaidtohisguard,ashewashedhimselfelaboratelythenightbeforethedayannouncedfortheexecution:
\"Well,youcanbesureofonething;to—morrownighttherewillcertainlybeonecleancorpseonthisIsland。\"
Unfortunatelyforhisbraggadocio,heletitleakoutinsomewaythathehadbeenwellawareallthetimethathewouldnotbeexecuted。
HewastakentoFortDelawareforconfinement,anddiedtheresometimeafter。
FrankBeverstockwentbacktohisregiment,andservedwithituntilthecloseofthewar。Hethenreturnedhome,and,afterawhilebecameabankeratBowlingGreen,O。Hewasafinebusinessmanandbecameveryprosperous。Butthoughnaturallyhealthyandvigorous,hissystemcarriedinittheseedsofdeath,sowntherebythehardshipsofcaptivity。HehadbeenoneofthevictimsoftheRebels\'vaccination;
thevirusinjectedintohisbloodhadcausedalargepartofhisrighttempletosloughoff,andwhenithealeditleftaghastlycicatrix。
Twoyearsagohewastakensuddenlyill,anddiedbeforehisfriendshadanyideathathisconditionwasserious。
CHAPTERLIV。
SAVANNAHPROVESTOBEACHANGEFORTHEBETTER——ESCAPEFROMTHEBRATSOF
GUARDS——COMPARISONBETWEENWIRZANDDAVIS——ABRIEFINTERVALOFGOOD
RATIONS——WINDER,THEMANWITHTHEEVILEYE——
THEDISLOYALWORKOFASHYSTER。
AfterallSavannahwasawonderfulimprovementonAndersonville。
WegotawayfromthepestilentialSwampandthatpoisonousground。
Everymouthfulofairwasnotladenwithdiseasegerms,noreverycupofwaterpollutedwiththeseedsofdeath。Theearthdidnotbreedgangrene,northeatmospherepromotefever。Asonlythemorevigoroushadcomeaway,wewerefreedfromthedepressingspectacleofeverythirdmandying。Thekeendisappointmentprostratedverymanywhohadbeenofaveragehealth,andIimagine,severalhundreddied,buttherewerehospitalarrangementsofsomekind,andthesickweretakenawayfromamongus。Thoseofuswhotunneledouthadanopportunityofstretchingourlegs,whichwehadnothadformonthsintheovercrowdedStockadewehadleft。Theattemptstoescapedidallengagedinthemgood,eventhoughtheyfailed,sincetheyarousednewideasandhopes,setthebloodintomorerapidcirculation,andtonedupthemindandsystemboth。
IhadcomeawayfromAndersonvillewithconsiderablescurvymanifestingitselfinmygumsandfeet。Soonthesesignsalmostwhollydisappeared。
WealsogotawayfromthosemurderouslittlebratsofReserves,whoguardedusatAndersonville,andshotmendownastheywouldstoneapplesoutofatree。Ourguardsnowweremostly,sailors,fromtheRebelfleetintheharbor——Irishmen,EnglishmenandScandinavians,asfreeheartedandkindlyassailorsalwaysare。Idonotthinktheyeverfiredashotatoneofus。Theonlytroublewehadwaswiththatportionoftheguarddrawnfromtheinfantryofthegarrison。TheyhadthesamerattlesnakevenomoftheHomeGuardcrowdwhereverwemetit,andshotusdownattheleastprovocation。Fortunatelytheyonlyformedasmallpartofthesentinels。
Bestofall,weescapedforawhilefromtheupas—likeshadowofWinderandWirz,inwhosepresencestrongmensickenedanddied,aswhennearsomemaligngeniiofanEasternstory。ThepeasantryofItalybelievedfirmlyintheevileye。DidtheyeverknowanysuchmenasWinderandhissatellite,Icouldcomprehendhowmuchfoundationtheycouldhaveforsuchabelief。
LieutenantDavishadmanyfaults,buttherewasnocomparisonbetweenhimandtheAndersonvillecommandant。HewasatypicalyoungSouthernman;
ignorantandbumptiousastothemostcommonmattersofschool—boyknowledge,inordinatelyvainofhimselfandhisfamily,coarseintastesandthoughts,violentinhisprejudices,butafterallwithsomestreaksofhonorandgenerositythatmadethewidestpossibledifferencebetweenhimandWirz,whoneverhadany。Asoneofmychumssaidtome:
\"Wirzisthemosteven—temperedmanIeverknew;he\'salwaysfoamingmad。\"
Thiswasnearlythetruth。IneversawWirzwhenhewasnotangry;
ifnotviolentlyabusive,hewascynicalandsardonic。Never,inmylittleexperiencewithhimdidIdetectaglintofkindly,generoushumanity;ifheeverwasmovedbyanysightofsufferingitsexhibitioninhisfaceescapedmyeye。Ifheeverhadevenawishtomitigatethepainorhardshipofanymantheexpressionofsuchwishneverfellonmyear。Howamancouldmovedailythroughsuchmiseryasheencountered,andneverbemovedbyitexcepttoscornandmockingisbeyondmylimitedunderstanding。
Davisvaporedagreatdeal,swearingbigroundoathsinthebroadestofSouthernpatois;hewasperpetuallythreateningto:
\"Openonyewiddeahtillery,\"buttheonlydeaththatIknewhimtodirectlycauseorsanctionwasthatIhavedescribedinthepreviouschapter。Hewouldnotputhimselfoutofthewaytoannoyandoppressprisoners,asWirzwould,butfrequentlyshowedevenadispositiontohumortheminsomelittlething,whenitcouldbedonewithoutdangerortroubletohimself。
By—and—by,however,hegotanideathattherewassomemoneytobemadeoutoftheprisoners,andhesethiswitstoworkinthisdirection。
Oneday,standingatthegate,hegaveoneofhispeculiaryellsthatheusedtoattracttheattentionofthecampwith:
\"Wh—ah—ye！！\"
Weallcameto\"attention,\"andheannounced:
\"Yesterday,whileIwuzinthecamps（aRebelalwayssayscamps,）someofyouprisonerspickedmypocketsofseventy—fivedollarsingreenbacks。
Now,IgiveyounoticethatI\'llnotsendinanymoahrationstillthemoney\'sreturnedtome。\"
Thiswasaverystupidmethodofextortion,sincenoonebelievedthathehadlostthemoney,andatalleventshehadnobusinesstohavethegreenbacks,astheRebellawsimposedseverepenaltiesuponanycitizen,andstillmoreuponanysoldierdealingwith,orhavinginhispossessionanyof\"themoneyoftheenemy。\"Wedidwithoutrationsuntilnight,whentheyweresentin。Therewasastorythatsomeoftheboysintheprisonhadcontributedtomakeuppartofthesum,andDavistookitandwassatisfied。Idonotknowhowtruethestorywas。Atanothertimesomeoftheboysstolethebridleandhalteroffanoldhorsethatwasdriveninwithacart。Thethingswereworth,ataliberalestimate,onedollar。Daviscutofftherationsofthewholesixthousandofusforonedayforthis。Wealwaysimaginedthattheproceedswentintohispocket。
AspecialexchangewasarrangedbetweenourNavyDepartmentandthatoftheRebels,bywhichallseamenandmarinesamonguswereexchanged。
Listsoftheseweresenttothedifferentprisonsandthemencalledfor。
Aboutthree—fourthsofthemweredead,butmanysoldiersdivining,thesituationofaffairs,answeredtothedeadmen\'snames,wentawaywiththesquadandwereexchanged。MuchofthiswasthroughtheconnivanceoftheRebelofficers,whofavoredthosewhohadingratiatedthemselveswiththem。Inmanyinstancesmoneywaspaidtosecurethisprivilege,andI
havebeeninformedongoodauthoritythatJackHuckleby,oftheEighthTennessee,andIraBeverly,oftheOneHundredthOhio,whokeptthebigsutlershopontheNorthSideatAndersonville,paidDavisfivehundreddollarseachtobeallowedtogowiththesailors。AsforAndrewsandme,wehadnofriendsamongtheRebels,normoneytobribewith,sowestoodnoshow。
TherationsissuedtousforsometimeafterourarrivalseemedriotousluxurytowhatwehadbeengettingatAndersonville。Eachofusreceiveddailyahalf—dozenrudeandcoarseimitationsofourfondly—rememberedhardtack,andwiththeseasmallpieceofmeatorafewspoonfulsofmolasses,andaquartorsoofvinegar,andseveralplugsoftobaccoforeachhundred。\"Howexquisitewasthetasteofthecrackersandmolasses！
ItwasthefirstwheatbreadIhadeatensincemyentryintoRichmond——
ninemonthsbefore——andmolasseshadbeenastrangertomeforyears。
Afterthecornbreadwehadsolonglivedupon,thiswasmanna。ItseemsthattheCommissaryatSavannahlaboredunderthedelusionthathemustissuetousthesamerationsaswereservedouttotheRebelsoldiersandsailors。ItwassomelittletimebeforethefearfulmistakecametotheknowledgeofWinder。Ifancythatthenewsalmostthrewhimintoanapoplecticfit。Nothing,savehisbeingorderedtothefront,couldhavecausedhimsuchpoignantsorrowastheinformationthatsomuchgoodfoodhadbeenworsethanwastedinundoinghisworkbybuildingupthebodiesofhishatedenemies。
Withoutbeingtold,weknewthathehadbeenheardfromwhenthetobacco,vinegarandmolassesfailedtocomein,andthecrackersgavewaytocornmeal。StillthiswasavastimprovementonAndersonville,asthemealwasfineandsweet,andweeachhadaspoonfulofsaltissuedtousregularly。
IamquitesurethatIcannotmakethereaderwhohasnothadanexperiencesimilartoourscomprehendthewonderfulimportancetousofthatspoonfulofsalt。Whetherornottheappetiteforsaltbe,assomescientistsclaim,apurelyartificialwant,onethingiscertain,andthatis,thateitherthehabitofcountlessgenerationsorsomeothercause,hassodeeplyingraineditintoourcommonnature,thatithascometobenearlyasessentialasfooditself,andnoamountofdeprivationcanaccustomustoitsabsence。Rather,itseemedthatthelongerwedidwithoutitthemoreoverpoweringbecameourcraving。
Icouldgetalongto—dayandto—morrow,perhapsthewholeweek,withoutsaltinmyfood,sincethelackwouldbesuppliedfromtheexcessIhadalreadyswallowed,butattheendofthattimeNaturewouldbegintodemandthatIrenewthesupplyofsalineconstituentofmytissues,andshewouldbecomemoreclamorouswitheverydaythatIneglectedherbidding,andfinallysummonNauseatoaidLonging。
ThelightartilleryofthegarrisonofSavannah——fourbatteries,twenty—
fourpieces——wasstationedaroundthreesidesoftheprison,thegunsunlimbered,plantedatconvenientdistance,andtraineduponus,readyforinstantuse。Wecouldseeallthegrinningmouthsthroughthecracksinthefence。TherewereenoughofthemtosendusashighasthetraditionalkiteflownbyGilderoy。ThehavingathisbeckthisarrayoffrowningmetallentLieutenantDavissuchanimportanceinhisowneyesthathisdemeanorswelledtothegrandiose。Itbecameveryamusingtoseehimpuffupandvauntoverit,ashedidoneverypossibleoccasion。
Forinstance,findingacrowdofseveralhundredloungingaroundthegate,hewouldthrowopenthewicket,stalkinwiththeairofaJovethreateningarebelliousworldwiththedreadthundersofheaven,andshout:
\"W—h—a—ay—e—e！Prisoners,Igiveyoujisttwominutestocleahawayfromthisgate,awI\'llopenonyewiddeahtillery！\"
Oneofthebuglersoftheartillerywasasuperbmusician——evidentlysomeold\"regular\"whomtheConfederacyhadseducedintoitsservice,andhisinstrumentwassosweettonedthatweimaginedthatitwasmadeofsilver。Thecallsheplayedwerenearlythesameasweusedinthecavalry,andforthefirstfewdayswebecamebitterlyhomesickeverytimehesentringingouttheoldfamiliarsignals,thattousweresocloselyassociatedwithwhatnowseemedthebrightandhappydayswhenwewereinthefieldwithourbattalion。IfwewereonlybackinthevalleysofTennesseewithwhatalacritywewouldrespondtothat\"assembly;\"noOrderly\'spatiencewouldbewornoutingettinglaggardsandlazyonesto\"fallinforroll—call;\"howeagerlywewouldattendto\"stableduty;\"howgladlymountourfaithfulhorsesandrideawayto\"water,\"andwhatbarebackracesride,goingandcoming。Wewouldbeevengladtohear\"guard\"and\"drill\"sounded;andtherewouldbemusicinthedisconsolate\"surgeon\'scall:\"
\"Come—get—your—q—n—i—n—i—n—e;come,getyourquinine;It\'llmakeyousad:It\'llmakeyousick。Come,come。\"
O,ifwewereonlyback,whatadmirablesoldierswewouldbe！
Onemorning,aboutthreeorfouro\'clock,wewereawakenedbythegroundshakingandaseriesofheavy,dullthumpssoundingoftseaward。
Oursilver—voicedbuglerseemedtobeawakened,too。Hesettheechoesringingwithavigorouslyplayed\"reveille;\"aminutelatercameanequallyearnest\"assembly,\"andwhen\"bootsandsaddles\"followed,weknewthatallwasnotwellinDenmark;thethumpingandshakingnowhadasignificance。ItmeantheavyYankeegunssomewherenear。Weheardthegunnershitchingup;thebuglesignal\"forward,\"thewheelsrolloff,andforahalfhourafterwardswecaughttherecedingsoundofthebuglecommanding\"rightturn,\"\"leftturn,\"etc。,asthebatteriesmarchedaway。Ofcourse,webecameconsiderablywroughtupoverthematter,aswefanciedthat,knowingwewereinSavannah,ourvesselsweretryingtopassuptotheCityandtakeit。Thethumpingandshakingcontinueduntillateintheafternoon。
Wesubsequentlylearnedthatsomeofourblockaders,findingtimebangingheavyupontheirhands,hadessayedalittlediversionbyknockingFortsJacksonandBledsoe——twosmallfortsdefendingthepassageoftheSavannah——abouttheirdefenders\'ears。Aftercapturingthefortsourfolksdesistedandcamenofarther。
QuiteanumberoftheoldRaidercrowdhadcomewithusfromAndersonville。Amongthesewastheshyster,PeterBradley。Theykeptuptheiroldtacticsofhangingaroundthegates,andcurryingfavorwiththeRebelsineverypossibleway,inhopestogetparolesoutsideorotherfavors。ThegreatmassoftheprisonersweresobitteragainsttheRebelsastofeelthattheywouldratherdiethanaskoracceptafavorfromtheirhands,andtheyhadlittleelsethancontemptforthesetrucklers。Theraidercrowd\'sfavoritethemeofconversationwiththeRebelswasthestrongdiscontentoftheboyswiththemanneroftheirtreatmentbyourGovernment。Theassertionthattherewasanysuchwidespreadfeelingwasutterlyfalse。Weallhadconfidence——aswecontinuetohavetothisday——thatourGovernmentwoulddoeverythingforuspossible,consistentwithitshonor,andthesuccessofmilitaryoperations,andoutsideofthelittlesquadofwhichIspeak,notanadmissioncouldbeextractedfromanybodythatblamecouldbeattachedtoanyone,excepttheRebels。Itwasregardedasunmanlyandunsoldier—
liketothelastdegree,aswellassenseless,torevileourGovernmentforthecrimescommittedbyitsfoes。
ButtheRebelswereledtobelievethatwewereripeforrevoltagainstourflag,andtosidewiththem。Imagine,ifpossible,thestupiditythatwouldmistakeourbitterhatredofthosewhowereourdeadlyenemies,foranyfeelingthatwouldleadustojoinhandswiththoseenemies。Onedayweweresurprisedtoseethecarpenterserectarudestandinthecenterofthecamp。Whenitwasfinished,Bradleyappeareduponit,incompanywithsomeRebelofficersandguards。Wegatheredaroundincuriosity,andBradleybeganmakingaspeech。
HesaidthatithadnowbecomeapparenttoallofusthatourGovernmenthadabandonedus;thatitcaredlittleornothingforus,sinceitcouldhireasmanymorequitereadily,byofferingabountyequaltothepaywhichwouldbedueusnow;thatitcostonlyafewhundreddollarstobringoverashiploadofIrish,\"Dutch,\"andFrench,whowereonlytoogladtoagreetofightordoanythingelsetogettothiscountry。[ThepeculiarimpudenceofthisconsistedinBradleyhimselfbeingaforeigner,andonewhohadonlycomeoutunderoneofthelatercalls,andtheinfluenceofabigbounty。]
Continuinginthisstrainherepeatedanddweltupontheoldlie,alwaysinthemouthsofhiscrowd,thatSecretaryStantonandGeneralHalleckhadpositivelyrefusedtoenteruponnegotiationsforexchange,becausethoseinprisonwere\"onlyamiserablelotof\'coffee—boilers\'and\'blackberrypickers,\'whomtheArmywasbetteroffwithout。\"
Theterms\"coffee—boiler,\"and\"blackberry—pickers\"wereconsideredtheworsttermsofopprobriumwehadinprison。Theywereappliedtothatclassofstragglersandskulkers,whowereonlytooreadytogivethemselvesuptotheenemy,andwho,oncomingin,toldsomegauzystoryabout\"justhavingstoppedtoboilacupofcoffee,\"ortodosomethingelsewhichtheyshouldnothavedone,whentheyweregobbledup。ItisnotriskingmuchtoaffirmtheprobabilityofBradleyandmostofhiscrowdhavingbelongedtothisdishonorableclass。
TheassertionthateitherthegreatChief—of—StafforthestillgreaterWar—Secretarywereevencapableofapplyingsuchepithetstothemassofprisonersistoopreposteroustoneedrefutation,orevendenial。
Nopersonoutsidetheraidercrowdevergavethesillylieamoment\'stoleration。
Bradleyconcludedhisspeechinsomesuchlanguageasthis:
\"Andnow,fellowprisoners,Iproposetoyouthis:thatweuniteininformingourGovernmentthatunlessweareexchangedinthirtydays,wewillbeforcedbyself—preservationtojointheConfederatearmy。\"
Foraninstanthishearersseemedstunnedatthefellow\'saudacity,andthentherewentupsucharoarofdenunciationandexecrationthattheairtrembled。TheRebelsthoughtthatthewholecampwasgoingtorushonBradleyandtearhimtopieces,andtheydrewrevolversandleveledmusketstodefendhim。TheuproaronlyceasedwhenBradleywashurriedoutoftheprisonsbutforhourseverybodywassavageandsullen,andfullofthreateningsagainsthim,whenopportunityserved。Weneversawhimafterward。
AngryasIwas,Icouldnothelpbeingamusedatthetempestuousrageofatall,fine—lookingandwelleducatedIrishSergeantofanIllinoisregiment。HepouredforthdenunciationsofthetraitorandtheRebels,withthevividfluencyofhisHiberniannature,vowedhe\'d\"giveayearofmelife,beJ———s,tohavethehandlingofthedirtyspalpeenfortenminutes;beG—d,\"andfinallyinhisrage,toreoffhisownshirtandthrewitonthegroundandtrampledonit。
Imaginemyastonishment,sometimeaftergettingoutofprison,tofindtheSouthernpaperspublishingasadefenseagainstthechargesinregardtoAndersonville,thefollowingdocument,whichtheyclaimedtohavebeenadoptedby\"amassmeetingoftheprisoners:\"