AfterhegotthroughhewentbacktoGrower,examinedhiswound,andtoldhimthathecouldonlyliveafewhours。Growerreceivedthenewstranquilly,hadtheDoctorwritealettertohiswife,andgavehimhisthingstosendher,andthengraspingtheDoctor\'shand,hesaid:
\"Doctor,I\'vejustonemorefavortoask;willyougrantit？\'
\"TheDoctorsaid,\'Certainly;whatisit？\'
\"YousayIcan\'tlivebutafewhours？\'
\"Yes;thatistrue。\'
\"AndthatIwilllikelybeingreatpain！\'
\"Iamsorrytosayso。\'
\"Well,then,dogivememorphiaenoughtoputmetosleep,sothatIwillwakeuponlyinanotherworld。\'
\"TheDoctordidso;ColonelGrowerthankedhim;wrunghishand,badehimgood—by,andwenttosleeptowakenomore。\"
\"Doyoubelieveinpresentimentsandsuperstitions？\"saidanotheroftheFourteenth。TherewasFisherPray,OrderlySergeantofCompanyI。HecamefromWaterville,O。,wherehisfolksarenowliving。Thedaybeforewestartedouthehadapresentimentthatweweregoingintoafight,andthathewouldbekilled。Hecouldn\'tshakeitoff。HetoldtheLieutenant,andsomeoftheboysaboutit,andtheytriedtoridiculehimoutofit,butitwasnogood。Whenthesharpfiringbrokeoutinfrontsomeoftheboyssaid,\'Fisher,Idobelieveyouareright,\'andhenoddedhisheadmournfully。Whenwewerepilingknapsacksforthecharge,theLieutenant,whowasagreatfriendofFisher\'s,said:
\"Fisher,youstayhereandguardtheknapsacks。\'
\"Fisher\'sfaceblazedinaninstant。
\"No,sir,\'saidhe;Inevershirkedafightyet,andIwon\'tbeginnow。\'
\"Sohewentintothefight,andwaskilled,asheknewhewouldbe。Now,that\'swhatIcallnerve。\"
\"ThesamethingwastrueofSergeantArthurTarbox,ofCompanyA,\"saidthenarrator;\"hehadapresentiment,too;heknewhewasgoingtobekilled,ifhewentin,andhewasofferedanhonorablechancetostayout,buthewouldnottakeit,andwentinandwaskilled。\"
\"Well,westaidtherethenextday,buriedourdead,tookcareofourwounded,andgathereduptheplunderwehadtakenfromtheJohnnies。
Therestofthearmywentoff,\'hotblocks,\'afterHardeeandtherestofHood\'sarmy,whichitwashopedwouldbecaughtoutsideofentrenchments。
ButHoodhadtoomuchthestart,andgotintotheworksatLovejoy,aheadofourfellows。Thenightbeforeweheardseveralveryloudexplosionsuptothenorth。Weguessedwhatthatmeant,andsodidtheTwentiethCorps,whowerelyingbackattheChattahoochee,andthenextmorningtheGeneralcommanding——Slocum——sentoutareconnaissance。ItwasmetbytheMayorofAtlanta,whosaidthattheRebelshadblownuptheirstoresandretreated。TheTwentiethCorpsthencameinandtook\'possessionoftheCity,andthenextday——the3d——Shermancamein,andissuedanorderdeclaringthecampaignatanend,andthatwewouldrestawhileandrefit。
\"WelaidaroundAtlantaagoodwhile,andthingsquieteddownsothatitseemedalmostlikepeace,afterthefourmonthsofcontinualfightingwehadgonethrough。Wehadbeenunderastrainsolongthatnowweboyswentintheotherdirection,andbecametoocareless,andthat\'showwegotpickedup。Wewentoutaboutfivemilesonenightafteralotofnicesmokedhamsthataniggertolduswerestoredinanoldcottonpress,andwhichweknewwouldbeenoughsightbettereatingforCompanyC,thanthecommissaryporkwehadlivedonsolong。Wefoundthecottonpress,andthehams,justastheniggertoldus,andwehitchedupateamtotakethemintocamp。Aswehadn\'tseenanyJohnnysignsanywhere,wesetourgunsdowntohelploadthemeat,andjustasweallcamestringingouttothewagonwithasmuchmeataswecouldcarry,acompanyofFerguson\'sCavalrypoppedoutofthewoodsaboutonehundredyardsinfrontofusandwereontopofusbeforewecouldsayIscat。Youseethey\'dheardofthemeat,too。\"
CHAPTERLVII。
AFAIRSACRIFICE——THESTORYOFONEBOYWHOWILLINGLYGAVEHISYOUNGLIFE
FORHISCOUNTRY。
CharleyBarbourwasoneofthetruest—heartedandbest—likedofmyschool—boychumsandfriends。Forseveraltermswesattogetheronthesameuncompromisinglyuncomfortablebench,worriedoverthesameboy—
maddeningproblemsin\"Ray\'sArithmetic—PartIII。,\"learnedthesamejargonofmeaninglessrulesfrom\"Greene\'sGrammar,\"ponderedover\"Mitchell\'sGeographyandAtlas,\"andtriedinvaintounderstandwhyProvidencemadethesurfaceofoneStateobtrusivelypinkandanotherultramarineblue;trodslowlyandpainfullyovertheruggedroad\"Bullion\"pointsoutforbeginnersinLatin,andbegantobelieveweshouldhateourselvesandeverybodyelse,ifweweregottenupafterthemannershownby\"Cutter\'sPhysiology。\"Wewerecaughttogetherinthesamelongseriesofschool—boyscrapes——andwereusuallyferruledtogetherbythesamestrong—armedteacher。Wesharednearlyeverything——ourfunandwork;enjoymentandannoyance——allweregenerallymetedouttoustogether。Wereadfromthesamebooksthestoryofthewonderfulworldweweregoingtoseeinthatbrightfuture\"whenweweremen;\"wespentourSaturdaysandvacationsintheminiatureexplorationsoftherockyhillsandcaves,anddarkcedarwoodsaroundourhomes,togatherocularhelpstoabettercomprehensionofthatmagicallandwhichwewereconvincedbeganjustbeyondourhorizon,andhadinit,visibletotheeyeofhimwhotraveledthroughitsenchantedbreadth,allthat\"Gulliver\'sFables,\"the\"ArabianNights,\"andahundredbooksoftravelandadventuretoldof。
Weimaginedthattheonlydullandcommonplacespotonearthwasthatwherewelived。Everywhereelselifewasagrandspectaculardrama,fullofthrillingeffects。
Braveandhandsomeyoungmenwererescuingdistresseddamsels,beautifulastheywerewealthy;bloodypiratesandswarthymurdererswerebeingfoiledbyquaintspokenbackwoodsmen,whocarriedunerringrifles;
gallantbutblunderingIrishmen,speakingthemostdelightfulbrogue,andmakingthefunniestmistakes,weredailythwartingcoolanddeterminedvillains;boldtarswereencounteringfearfulseaperils;
lionheartedadventurerswerecowingandquellingwholetribesofbarbarians;magicianswerecastingspells,misershoardinggold,scientistsmakingastonishingdiscoveries,poorandunknownboysachievingwealthandfameatasinglebound,hiddenmysteriescomingtolight,andsotheworldwasgoingon,makingreamsofhistorywitheachdiurnalrevolution,andfurnishingboundlessmaterialforthemostdelightfulbooks。
AttheageofthirteenaperusalofthelivesofBenjaminFranklinandHoraceGreeleyprecipitatedmydeterminationtonolongerhesitateinlaunchingmysmallbarkuponthegreatocean。Iranawayfromhomeinatrulyromanticway,andplacedmyfootonwhatIexpectedtobethefirstroundoftheladderoffame,bybecoming\"devilboy\"inaprintingofficeinadistantlargeCity。Charley\'sattachmenttohismotherandhishomewastoostrongtopermithimtotakethisstep,andwepartedinsorrow,mitigatedonmysidebyroseatedreamsofthefuture。
Sixyearspassed。OnehotAugustmorningImetanoldacquaintanceattheCreek,inAndersonville。Hetoldmetocometherethenextmorning,afterroll—call,andhewouldtakemetoseesomepersonwhowasveryanxioustomeetme。Iwaspromptattherendezvous,andwassoonjoinedbytheotherparty。Hethreadedhiswayslowlyforoverhalfanhourthroughtheclosely—jumbledmassoftentsandburrows,andatlengthstoppedinfrontofablanket—tentinthenorthwesterncorner。Theoccupantroseandtookmyhand。ForaninstantIwaspuzzled;thentheclear,blueeyes,andwell—rememberedsmilerecalledtomemyold—timecomrade,CharleyBarbour。Hisstorywassoontold。HewasaSergeantinaWesternVirginiacavalryregiment——theFourth,Ithink。AtthetimeHunterwasmakinghisretreatfromtheValleyofVirginia,itwasdecidedtomisleadtheenemybysendingoutacourierwithfalsedispatchestobecaptured。Therewasacallforavolunteerforthisservice。Charleywasthefirsttooffer,withthatspiritofgenerousself—sacrificethatwasoneofhispleasantesttraitswhenaboy。Heknewwhathehadtoexpect。CapturemeantimprisonmentatAndersonville;ourmenhadnowaprettyclearunderstandingofwhatthiswas。Charleytookthedispatchesandrodeintotheenemy\'slines。Hewastaken,andthefalseinformationproducedthedesiredeffect。OnhiswaytoAndersonvillehewasstrippedofallhisclothingbuthisshirtandpantaloons,andturnedintotheStockadeinthiscondition。WhenIsawhimhehadbeeninaweekormore。Hetoldhisstoryquietly——almostdiffidently——notseemingawarethathehaddonemorethanhissimpleduty。Ilefthimwiththepromiseandexpectationofreturningthenextday,butwhenIattemptedtofindhimagain,Iwaslostinthemazeoftentsandburrows。Ihadforgottentoaskthenumberofhisdetachment,andafterspendingseveraldaysinhuntingforhim,Iwasforcedtogivethesearchup。Heknewaslittleofmywhereabouts,andthoughwewereallthetimewithinseventeenhundredfeetofeachother,neitherwenorourcommonacquaintancecouldevermanagetomeetagain。ThiswillgivethereaderanideaofthethrongcompressedwithinthenarrowlimitsoftheStockade。AfterleavingAndersonville,however,Imetthismanoncemore,andlearnedfromhimthatCharleyhadsickenedanddiedwithinamonthafterhisentrancetoprison。
Soendedhisday—dreamofacareerinthebusyworld。
CHAPTERLVIII。
WELEAVESAVANNAH——MOREHOPESOFEXCHANGE——SCENESATDEPARTURE——
\"FLANKERS\"——ONTHEBACKTRACKTOWARDANDERSONVILLE——ALARMTHEREAT——
ATTHEPARTINGOFTWOWAYS——WEFINALLYBRINGUPATCAMPLAWTON。
Ontheeveningofthe11thofOctobertherecameanorderforonethousandprisonerstofallinandmarchout,fortransfertosomeotherpoint。
Ofcourse,AndrewsandI\"flanked\"intothiscrowd。Thatwasourusualwayofdoing。Holdingthatthechanceswerestronglyinfavorofeverymovementofprisonersbeingtoourlines,weneverfailedtobenumberedinthefirstsquadofprisonersthatweresentout。Theseductivemirageof\"exchange\"wasalwaysluringuson。Itmustcomesometime,certainly,anditwouldbemostlikelytocometothosewhoweremostearnestlysearchingforit。Atallevents,weshouldleavenomeansuntriedtoavailourselvesofwhateverseemingchancestheremightbe。
Therecouldbenoothermotiveforthismove,weargued,thanexchange。
TheConfederacywasnotlikelytobeatthetroubleandexpenseofhaulingusaboutthecountrywithoutsomegoodreason——somethingbetterthanawishtomakeusacquaintedwithSouthernsceneryandtopography。
ItwouldhardlytakeusawayfromSavannahsosoonafterbringingusthereforanyotherpurposethandeliverytoourpeople。
TheRebelsencouragedthisbeliefwithdirectassertionsofitstruth。
TheyframedaplausiblelieabouttherehavingarisensomedifficultyconcerningtheadmissionofourvesselspasttheharbordefensesofSavannah,whichmadeitnecessarytotakeuselsewhere——probablytoCharleston——fordeliverytoourmen。
Wishesarealwaysthemostpowerfulalliesofbelief。Thereislittledifficultyinconvincingamanofthatofwhichhewantstobeconvinced。
WeforgotthelietolduswhenweweretakenfromAndersonville,andbelievedtheonewhichwastoldusnow。
AndrewsandIhastilysnatchedourworldlypossessions——ourovercoat,blanket,can,spoon,chessboardandmen,yelledtosomeofourneighborsthattheycouldhaveourhithertomuch—treasuredhouse,andrunningdowntothegate,forcedourselveswelluptothefrontofthecrowdthatwasbeingassembledtogoout。
Theusualscenesaccompanyingthedepartureoffirstsquadswerebeingactedtumultuously。Everyoneinthecampwantedtobeoneofthesupposed—to—be—favoredfew,andifnotselectedatfirst,triedto\"flankin\"——thatis,slipintotheplaceofsomeoneelsewhohadhadbetterluck。Thisonenaturallyresisteddisplacement,\'vietarmis,\'andthefightswouldbecomesogeneralastocausearesemblancetothefamedFairofDonnybrook。Thecrywouldgoup:
\"Lookoutforflankers！\"
Thelinesoftheselectedwoulddressupcompactly,andoutsiderstryingtoforcethemselvesinwouldgetmercilesslypounded。
Wefinallygotoutofthepen,andintothecars,whichsoonrolledawaytothewestward。Wewerepackedintoodenselytobeabletoliedown。
Wecouldhardlysitdown。AndrewsandItookupourpositioninonecorner,piledourlittletreasuresunderus,andtryingtoleanagainsteachotherinsuchawayastoaffordmutualsupportandrest,dozedfitfullythroughalong,wearynight。
Whenmorningcamewefoundourselvesrunningnorthwestthroughapoor,pine—barrencountrythatstronglyresembledthatwehadtraversedincomingtoSavannah。Themorewelookedatitthemorefamiliaritbecame,andsoontherewasnodoubtweweregoingbacktoAndersonville。
BynoonwehadreachedMillen——eightymilesfromSavannah,andfifty—
threefromAugusta。ItwasthejunctionoftheroadleadingtoMaconandthatrunningtoAugusta。Wehaltedalittlewhileatthe\"Y,\"andtoustheminuteswerefullofanxiety。IfweturnedofftotheleftweweregoingbacktoAndersonville。IfwetooktherighthandroadwewereonthewaytoCharlestonorRichmond,withthechancesinfavorofexchange。
Atlengthwestarted,and,toourjoy,ourenginetooktherighthandtrack。Westoppedagain,afterarunoffivemiles,inthemidstofoneoftheopen,scatteringforestsoflongleavedpinethatIhavebeforedescribed。Wewereorderedoutofthecars,andmarchingafewrods,cameinsightofanotherofthosehatefulStockades,whichseemedtobeasnaturalproductsoftheSterilesandofthatdrearylandasitsdesolatewoodsanditsbreedofboymurderersandgray—headedassassins。
Againourheartssank,anddeathseemedmorewelcomethanincarcerationinthosegloomywoodenwalls。WemarcheddespondentlyuptothegatesofthePrison,andhaltedwhileapartyofRebelclerksmadealistofournames,rank,companies,andregiments。AstheywereRebelsitwasslowwork。Readingandwritingnevercamebynature,asDogberrywouldsay,toanymanfightingforSecession。Asarule,hetooktothemasreluctantlyasif,hethoughtthemcunninginventionsoftheNorthernAbolitionisttoperplexanddemoralizehim。Whatahalf—dozenboystakenoutofourownrankswouldhavedonewitheaseinanhourorso,theseRebelsworriedoveralloftheafternoon,andthentheirregisterofuswassoimperfect,badlywrittenandmisspelled,thattheYankeeclerksafterwardsdetailedforthepurpose,nevercouldsucceedinreducingittointelligibility。
WelearnedthattheplaceatwhichwehadarrivedwasCampLawton,butwealmostalwaysspokeofitas\"Millen,\"thesameasCampSumterisuniversallyknownasAndersonville。
ShortlyafterdarkwewereturnedinsidetheStockade。Beingthefirstthathadentered,therewasquiteaquantityofwood——theoffalfromthetimberusedinconstructingtheStockade——lyingontheground。Thenightwaschillyonewesoonhadanumberoffiresblazing。Greenpitchpine,whenburned,givesoffapeculiar,pungentodor,whichisneverforgottenbyonewhohasoncesmelledit。IfirstbecameacquaintedwithitonenteringAndersonville,andtothisdayitisthemostpowerfulremembranceIcanhaveoftheopeningofthatdreadfulIliadofwoes。
OnmyjourneytoWashingtonoflateyearsthelocomotivesareinvariablyfedwithpitchpineasweneartheCapital,andasthewell—rememberedsmellreachesme,Igrowsickatheartwiththefloodofsaddeningrecollectionsindissolublyassociatedwithit。
Asourfiresblazeduptheclinging,penetratingfumesdiffusedthemselveseverywhere。ThenightwasascoolastheonewhenwearrivedatAndersonville,theearth,meagerlysoddedwithsparse,hard,wirygrass,wasthesame;thesamepineybreezesblewinfromthesurroundingtrees,thesamedismalowlshootedatus;thesamemournfulwhip—poor—
willlamented,Godknowswhat,inthegatheringtwilight。WhatwebothfeltinthegloomyrecessesofdowncastheartsAndrewsexpressedasheturnedtomewith:
\"MyGod,Mc,thislookslikeAndersonvillealloveragain。\"
Acupfulofcornmealwasissuedtoeachofus。Ihuntedupsomewater。
Andrewsmadeastiffdough,andspreaditabouthalfaninchthickonthebackofourchessboard。Heproppedthisupbeforethefire,andwhenthesurfacewasneatlybrownedover,slippeditofftheboardandturneditovertobrowntheothersidesimilarly。Thisdone,wedivideditcarefullybetweenus,swalloweditinsilence,spreadouroldovercoatontheground,tuckedchess—board,can,andspoonunderfarenoughtobeoutofthereachofthieves,adjustedthethinblanketsoastogetthemostpossiblewarmthoutofit,crawledinclosetogether,andwenttosleep。
This,thankHeaven,wecoulddo;wecouldstillsleep,andNaturehadsomeopportunitytorepairthewasteoftheday。Weslept,andforgotwherewewere。
CHAPTERLIX。
OURNEWQUARTERSATCAMPLAWTON——BUILDINGAHUT——ANEXCEPTIONAL
COMMANDANT——HEISaGOODMAN,BUTWILLTAKEBRIBES——RATIONS。
Inthemorningwetookasurveyofournewquarters,andfoundthatwewereinaStockaderesemblingverymuchinconstructionanddimensionsthatatAndersonville。Theprincipaldifferencewasthattheuprightlogswereintheirroughstate,whereastheywerehewedatAndersonville,andthebrookrunningthroughthecampwasnotborderedbyaswamp,buthadclean,firmbanks。
Ournextmovewastomakethebestofthesituation。Weweredividedintohundreds,eachcommandedbyaSergeant。Tenhundredsconstitutedadivision,theheadofwhichwasalsoaSergeant。IwaselectedbymycomradestotheSergeantcyoftheSecondHundredoftheFirstDivision。
Assoonaswewereassignedtoourground,webeganconstructingshelter。
Forthefirstandonlytimeinmyprisonexperience,wefoundafullsupplyofmaterialforthispurpose,andtheusewemadeofitshowedhowinfinitelybetterwewouldhavefaredifineachprisontheRebelshaddoneevensoslightathingastobringinafewlogsfromthesurroundingwoodsanddistributethemtous。AhundredorsoofthesewouldprobablyhavesavedthousandsoflivesatAndersonvilleandFlorence。
Alargetreelayonthegroundassignedtoourhundred。AndrewsandI
tookpossessionofonesideofthetenfeetnearestthebutt。Otherboysoccupiedtherestinasimilarmanner。Oneofourboyshadsucceededinsmugglinganaxinwithhim,andwekeptitinconstantusedayandnight,eachgroupborrowingitforanhourorsoatatime。Itwasasdullasahoe,andwewereveryweak,sothatitwasslowwork\"niggeringoff\"——（astheboystermedit）acutofthelog。Itseemedasifbeaverscouldhavegnaweditoffeasierandmorequickly。Weonlycutaninchorsoatatime,andthenpassedtheaxtothenextusers。Makinglittlewedgeswithadullknife,wedrovethemintothelogwithclubs,andsplitofflong,thinstrips,liketheweatherboardsofahouse,andbythetimewehadsplitoffourshareoftheloginthisslowandlaboriousway,wehadafinelotofthesestrips。Wewereluckyenoughtofindfourforkedsticks,ofwhichwemadethecornersofourdwelling,androofeditcarefullywithourstrips,heldinplacebysodstornupfromtheedgeofthecreekbank。Thesidesandendswereenclosed;wegatheredenoughpinetopstocoverthegroundtoadepthofseveralinches;webankeduptheoutside,andditchedaroundit,andthenhadthemostcomfortableabodewehadduringourprisoncareer。Itwastrulyahousebuildedwithourownhands,forwehadnotoolswhateversavetheoccasionaluseoftheaforementioneddullaxeandequallydullknife。
Therudelittlehutrepresentedasmuchactualhard,manuallaboraswouldberequiredtobuildacomfortablelittlecottageintheNorth,butwegladlyperformedit,aswewouldhavedoneanyotherworktobetterourcondition。
Forawhilewoodwasquiteplentiful,andwehadtheluxurydailyofwarmfires,whichtheincreasingcoolnessoftheweathermadeimportantaccessoriestoourcomfort。
Otherprisonerskeptcomingin。ThoseweleftbehindatSavannahfollowedus,andtheprisontherewasbrokenup。Quiteanumberalsocameinfrom——Andersonville,sothatinalittlewhilewehadbetweensixandseventhousandintheStockade。Thelastcomersfoundallthematerialfortentsandallthefuelusedup,andconsequentlydidnotfaresowellastheearlierarrivals。
Thecommandantoftheprison——oneCaptainBowes——wasthebestofhisclassitwasmyfortunetomeet。ComparedwiththesenselessbrutalityofWirz,therecklessdeviltryofDavis,orthestupidmalignanceofBarrett,atFlorence,hisadministrationwasmildnessandwisdomitself。
Heenforceddisciplinebetterthananyofthosenamed,buthaswhattheyalllacked——executiveability——andhesecuredresultsthattheycouldnotpossiblyattain,andwithoutanything,likethefrictionthatattendedtheirefforts。Idonotrememberthatanyonewasshotduringoursixweeks\'stayatMillen——acircumstancesimplyremarkable,sinceIdonotrecallasingleweekpassedanywhereelsewithoutatleastonemurderbytheguards。
Oneinstancewillillustratethedifferenceofhisadministrationfromthatofotherprisoncommandants。Hecameuponthegroundsofourdivisiononemorning,accompaniedbyapleasant—faced,intelligent—
appearingladofaboutfifteenorsixteen。Hesaidtous:
\"Gentlemen:（Theonlyinstanceduringourimprisonmentwhenwereceivedsopoliteadesignation。）Thisismyson,whowillhereaftercallyourroll。Hewilltreatyouasgentlemen,andIknowyouwilldothesametohim。\"
Thisunderstandingwasobservedtotheletteronbothsides。YoungBowesinvariablyspokecivillytous,andweobeyedhisorderswithapromptcheerfulnessthatlefthimnothingtocomplainof。
TheonlychargeIhavetomakeagainstBowesismademoreindetailinanotherchapter,andthatis,thathetookmoneyfromwellprisonersforgivingthemthefirstchancetogothroughontheSickExchange。
HowculpablethiswasImustleaveeachreadertodecideforhimself。
Ithoughtitverywrongatthetime,butpossiblymyviewsmighthavebeencoloredhighlybymynothavinganymoneywherewithtoprocuremyowninclusioninthehappylotoftheexchanged。
OfonethingIamcertain:thathisacceptanceofmoneytobiashisofficialactionwasnotsingularonhispart。Iamconvincedthateverycommandantwehadoverus——exceptWirz——washabituallyinthereceiptofbribesfromprisoners。IneverheardthatanyonesucceededinbribingWirz,andthisisthesolegoodthingIcansayofthatfellow。Againstthisitmaybesaid,however,thatheplunderedtheboyssoeffectuallyonenteringtheprisonastoleavethemlittleofthewherewithaltobribeanybody。
Daviswasprobablythemostunscrupulousbribe—takerofthelot。
Heactuallyreceivedmoneyforpermittingprisonerstoescapetoourlines,andgotdowntoaslowafigureasonehundreddollarsforthissortofservice。Ineverheardthatanyoftheothercommandantswentthisfar。
TherationsissuedtousweresomewhatbetterthanthoseofAndersonville,asthemealwasfinerandbetter,thoughitwasabsurdedlyinsufficientinquantity,andwereceivednosalt。Onseveraloccasionsfreshbeefwasdealtouttous,andeachtimetheexcitementcreatedamongthosewhohadnottastedfreshmeatforweeksandmonthswaswonderful。Onthefirstoccasionthemeatwassimplytheheadsofthecattlekilledfortheuseoftheguards。Severalwagonloadsofthesewerebroughtinanddistributed。Webrokethemupsothateverymangotapieceofthebone,whichwasboiledandreboiled,aslongasasinglebubbleofgreasewouldrisetothesurfaceofthewater;everyvestigeofmeatwasgnawedandscrapedfromthesurfaceandthenthebonewascharreduntilitcrumbled,whenitwaseaten。Noonewhohasnotexperienceditcanimaginetheinordinatehungerforanimalfoodofthosewhohadeatenlittleelsethancornbreadforsolong。Ourexhaustedbodieswereperishingforlackofpropersustenance。Natureindicatedfreshbeefasthebestmediumtorepairthegreatdamagealreadydone,andourlongingforitbecamebeyonddescription。
CHAPTERLX
THERAIDERSREAPPEARONTHESCENE——THEATTEMPTTOASSASSINATETHOSEWHO
WERECONCERNEDINTHEEXECUTION——ACOUPLEOFLIVELYFIGHTS,INWHICHTHE
RAIDERSAREDEFEATED——HOLDINGANELECTION。
Ouroldantagonists——theRaiders——werepresentinstrongforceinMillen。
Likeourselves,theyhadimaginedthedeparturefromAndersonvillewasforexchange,andtheirrelationstotheRebelsweresuchthattheywereallgivenachancetogowiththefirstsquads。AnumberhadbeenallowedtogowiththesailorsontheSpecialNavalExchangefromSavannah,intheplaceofsailorsandmarineswhohaddied。OnthewaytoCharlestonafighthadtakenplacebetweenthemandtherealsailors,duringwhichoneoftheirnumber——acurly—headedIrishmannamedDailey,whowasinsuchhighfavorwiththeRebelsthathewasgiventheplaceofdrivingtherationwagonthatcameintheNorthSideatAndersonville——
waskilled,andthrownunderthewheelsofthemovingtrain,whichpassedoverhim。
AfterthingsbegantosettleintoshapeatMillen,theyseemedtobelievethattheywereinsuchascendancyastonumbersandorganizationthattheycouldputintoexecutiontheirschemesofvengeanceagainstthoseofuswhohadbeenactiveparticipantsintheexecutionoftheirconfederatesatAndersonville。
AftersomelittlepreliminariestheysettleduponCorporal\"Wat\"Payne,ofmycompany,astheirfirstvictim。ThereaderwillrememberPayneasoneofthetwoCorporalswhopulledthetriggertothescaffoldatthetimeoftheexecution。
Paynewasaverygoodmanphysically,andwasyetinfaircondition。
TheRaiderscameuponedaywiththeirbestman——PeteDonnelly——andprovokedafight,intending,inthecourseofit,tokillPayne。We,whoknewPayee,feltreasonablyconfidentofhisabilitytohandleevensoredoubtableapugilistasDonnelly,andwegatheredtogetheralittlesquadofourfriendstoseefairplay。
Thefightbeganaftertheusualamountofbadtalkonbothsides,andwewerepleasedtoseeourmanslowlygetthebetteroftheNewYorkplug—
ugly。Afterseveralsharproundstheyclosed,andstillPaynewasahead,butinanevilmomenthespiedapineknotathisfeet,whichhethoughthecouldreach,andendthefightbycrackingDonnelly\'sheadwithit。
Donnellytookinstantadvantageofthemovementtogetit,threwPayneheavily,andfelluponhim。Hiscrowdrushedintofinishourmanbyclubbinghimoverthehead。Wesailedintopreventthis,andafterarattlingexchangeofblowsallaround,succeededingettingPayneaway。
Theissueofthefightseemedratheragainstus,however,andtheRaidersweremuchemboldened。Paynekeptclosetohiscrowdafterthat,andaswehadshownsuchanentirewillingnesstostandbyhim,theRaiders——
withtheiraccustomedprudencewhenrealfightingwasinvolved——didnotattempttomolesthimfarther,thoughtheytalkedverysavagely。
AfewdaysafterthisSergeantGoodyandCorporalNedCarrigan,bothofourbattalion,camein。ImustaskthereadertoagainrecallthefactthatSergeantGoodywasoneofthesixhangmenwhoputthemeal—sacksovertheheads,andtheropesaroundthenecksofthecondemned。