Ithadnoparticulartaste,andprobablylittlenutriment,stillitwasfreshandgreen,andwestrainedourweakmusclesandenfeebledsinewsateveryopportunity,endeavoringtopullupa\"greenfan。\"
Atoneplacewherewestoppedtherewasamakeshiftofagarden,oneofthosesorry\"truckpatches,\"whichdopoordutyaboutSoutherncabinsforthekitchengardensoftheNorthern,farmers,andproduceafewcoarsecowpeas,ascantylotofcollards（acoarsekindofcabbage,withastalkaboutayardlong）andsomeonionstovarytheusualside—meatandcornpone,dietoftheGeorgia\"cracker。\"Scanningthepatch\'sruinsofvinearidstalk,Andrewsespiedahandfulofonions,whichhad;remainedungathered。TheytemptedhimastheappledidEve。Withoutstoppingtocommunicatehisintentiontome,hesprangfromthecar,snatchedtheonionsfromtheirbed,pulledup,halfadozencollardstalksandwasonhiswaybackbeforetheguardcouldmakeuphismindtofireuponhim。
Theswiftnessofhismotionssavedhislife,forhadhebeenmoredeliberatetheguardwouldhaveconcludedhewastryingto,escape,andshothimdown。Asitwashewasreturningbackbeforetheguardcouldgethisgunup。Theonionshehad,securedweretousmoredeliciousthanwineuponthelees。Theyseemedtofindtheirwayintoeveryfiberofourbodies,andinvigorateeveryorgan。Thecollardstalkshehadsnatchedup,intheexpectationoffindinginthemsomethingresemblingthenutritious\"heart\"thatwerememberedaschildren,seekingand,findinginthestalksofcabbage。Butweweredisappointed。ThestalkswereasdryandrottenasthebonesofSouthern,society。Evenhungercouldfindnomeatinthem。
AftersomedaysofthisleisurelyjourneyingtowardtheSouth,wehaltedpermanentlyabouteighty—sixmilesfromSavannah。Therewasnoreasonwhyweshouldstoptheremorethananyplaceelsewherewehadbeenorwerelikelytogo。ItseemedasiftheRebelshadsimplytiredofhaulingus,anddumpedus,off。Wehadanotherlotofdead,accumulatedsinceweleftSavannah,andthescenesatthatplacewererepeated。
Thetrainreturnedforanotherloadofprisoners。
CHAPTERLXV。
BLACKSHEARANDPIERCECOUNTRY——WETAKEUPNEWQUARTERS,BUTARECALLED
OUTFOREXCHANGE——EXCITEMENTOVERSIGNINGTHEPAROLE——AHAPPYJOURNEYTO
SAVANNAH——GRIEVOUSDISAPPOINTMENT
WewereinformedthattheplacewewereatwasBlackshear,andthatitwastheCourtHouse,i。e。,theCountyseatofPierceCounty。WheretheykepttheCourtHouse,orCountyseat,isbeyondconjecturetome,sinceI
couldnotseeahalfdozenhousesinthewholeclearing,andnotoneofthemwasarespectabledwelling,takingevensolowastandardforrespectabledwellingsasthataffordedbythemajorityofGeorgiahouses。
PierceCounty,asIhavesincelearnedbythecensusreport,isoneofthepoorestCountiesofapoorsectionofaverypoorState。
Apopulationoflessthantwothousandisthinlyscatteredoveritsfivehundredsquaremilesofterritory,andgainameagersubsistencebyaweaksimulationofcultivatingpatchesofitssandydunesandplainsin\"nubbin\"cornanddropsicalsweetpotatos。Afew\"razor—back\"hogs——
aspeciessogauntandthinthatIheardamanoncedeclarethathehadstoppedalotbelongingtoaneighborfromcrawlingthroughthecracksofatightboardfencebysimplytyingaknotintheirtails——roamthewoods,andsupplyallthemeatused。
Andrewsusedtoinsistthatsomeofthehogswhichwesawweresothinthattheconnectionbetweentheirforeandhindquarterswasonlyasinglethicknessofskin,withhaironbothsides——butthenAndrewssometimesseemedtometohaveatendencytoexaggerate。
Theswinecertainlydidhaveproportionsthatstronglyresembledthoseoftheanimalswhichchildrencutoutofcardboard。Theywerelikethegeometricaldefinitionofasuperfice——alllengthandbreadth,andnothickness。Ahamfromthemwouldlooklikeapalm—leaffan。
IneverceasedtomarvelatthedelicateadjustmentofthedevelopmentofanimallifetothesoilintheseleansectionsofGeorgia。Thepoorlandwouldnotmaintainanythingbutlank,lazymen,withfewwants,andnonebutlank,lazymen,withfewwants,soughtamaintenancefromit。Imayhavetangledupcauseandeffect,inthisproposition,butifso,thereadercandisentanglethemathisleisure。
IwasnotastonishedtolearnthatittookfivehundredsquaremilesofPierceCountylandtomaintaintwothousand\"crackers,\"evenaspoorlyastheylived。Ishouldwantfullythatmuchofittosupportonefair—
sizedNorthernfamilyasitshouldbe。
Afterleavingthecarsweweremarchedoffintothepinewoods,bythesideofaconsiderablestream,andtoldthatthiswastobeourcamp。
Aheavyguardwasplacedaroundus,andanumberofpiecesofartillerymountedwheretheywouldcommandthecamp。
Westartedintomakeourselvescomfortable,asatMillen,bybuildingshanties。Theprisonersweleftbehindfollowedus,andwesoonhadouroldcrowdoffiveorsixthousand,whohadbeenourcompanionsatSavannahandMillers,againwithus。Theplacelookedveryfavorableforescape。Weknewwewerestillneartheseacoast——reallynotmorethanfortymilesaway——andwefeltthatifwecouldoncegetthereweshouldbesafe。AndrewsandImeditatedplansofescape,andtoiledawayatourcabin。
Aboutaweekafterourarrivalwewerestartledbyanorderfortheonethousandofuswhohadfirstarrivedtogetreadytomoveout。Inafewminutesweweretakenoutsidetheguardline,massedclosetogether,andinformedinafewwordsbyaRebelofficerthatwewereabouttobetakenbacktoSavannahforexchange。
Theannouncementtookawayourbreath。Foraninstanttherushofemotionmadeusspeechless,andwhenutterancereturned,thefirstusewemadeofitwastojoininonesimultaneousoutburstofacclamation。
Thoseinsidetheguardline,understandingwhatourcheermeant,answereduswithaloudshoutofcongratulation——thefirstreal,genuine,heartycheeringthathadbeendonesincereceivingtheannouncementoftheexchangeatAndersonville,threemonthsbefore。
Assoonastheexcitementhadsubsidedsomewhat,theRebelproceededtoexplainthatwewouldallberequiredtosignaparole。Thissetustothinking。AfterourscornfulrejectionofthepropositiontoenlistintheRebelarmy,theRebelshadfeltaroundamongusconsiderablyastohowweweredisposedtowardtakingwhatwascalledthe\"Non—Combatant\'sOath;\"thatis,theswearingnottotakeuparmsagainsttheSouthernConfederacyagainduringthewar。TothemostofusthisseemedonlyalittlelessdishonorablethanjoiningtheRebelarmy。WeheldthatouroathstoourownGovernmentplacedusatitsdisposaluntilitchosetodischargeus,andwecouldnotmakeanyengagementswithitsenemiesthatmightcomeincontraventionofthatduty。Inshort,itlookedverymuchlikedesertion,andthiswedidnotfeelatlibertytoconsider。
Therewerestillmanyamongus,who,feelingcertainthattheycouldnotsurviveimprisonmentmuchlonger,weredisposedtolookfavorablyupontheNon—Combatant\'sOath,thinkingthatthecircumstancesofthecasewouldjustifytheirapparentderelictionfromduty。WhetheritwouldornotImustleavetomoreskilledcasuiststhanmyselftodecide。ItwasamatterIbelievedeverymanmustsettlewithhisownconscience。TheopinionthatIthenheldandexpressedwas,thatifaboy,feltthathewashopelesslysick,andthathecouldnotliveifheremainedinprison,hewasjustifiedintakingtheOath。IntheabsenceofourownSurgeonshewouldhavetodecideforhimselfwhetherbewassickenoughtobewarrantedinresortingtothismeansofsavinghislife。Ifhewasinasgoodhealthasthemajorityofuswere,withareasonableprospectofsurvivingsomeweekslonger,therewasnoexcusefortakingtheOath,forinthatfewweekswemightbeexchanged,berecaptured,ormakeourescape。Ithinkthiswasthegeneralopinionoftheprisoners。
WhiletheRebelwastalkingaboutoursigningtheparole,thereflasheduponallofusatthesamemoment,asuspicionthatthiswasatraptodeludeusintosigningtheNon—Combatant\'sOath。Instantlytherewentupageneralshout:
\"Readtheparoletous。\"
TheRebelwashandedablankparolebyacompanion,andhereadovertheprintedconditionatthetop,whichwasthatthosesigningagreednottobeararmsagainsttheConfederatesinthefield,oringarrison,nottomananyworks,assistinanyexpedition,doanysortofguardduty,serveinanymilitaryconstabulary,orperformanykindofmilitaryserviceuntilproperlyexchanged。
Foraminutethiswassatisfactory;thentheiringraineddistrustofanythingaRebelsaidordidreturned,andtheyshouted:
\"No,no;letsomeofusreadit;letIlinoy\'readit——\"
TheRebellookedaroundinapuzzledmanner。
\"Whotheh——lis\'Illinoy！\'Whereishe？\"saidhe。
Isalutedandsaid:
\"That\'sanicknametheygiveme。\"
\"Verywell,\"saidhe,\"getuponthisstumpandreadthisparoletothesed———dfoolsthatwon\'tbelieveme。\"
Imountedthestump,tooktheblankfromhishandandreaditoverslowly,givingasmuchemphasisaspossibletotheall—importantclauseattheend——\"untilproperlyexchanged。\"Ithensaid:
\"Boys,thisseemsallrighttome,\"andtheyanswered,withalmostonevoice:
Yes,that\'sallright。We\'llsignthat。\"
IwasneversoproudoftheAmericansoldier—boyasatthatmoment。Theyallfeltthatsigningthatpaperwastogivethemfreedomandlife。Theyknewtoowellfromsadexperiencewhatthealternativewas。Manyfeltthatunlessreleasedanotherweekwouldseethemintheirgraves。Allknewthateveryday\'sstayinRebelhandsgreatlylessenedtheirchancesoflife。Yetinallthatthousandtherewasnotonevoiceinfavorofyieldingatittleofhonortosavelife。Theywouldsecuretheirfreedomhonorably,ordiefaithfully。Rememberthatthiswasamiscellaneouscrowdofboys,gatheredfromallsectionsofthecountry,andfrommanyofwhomnoexaltedconceptionsofdutyandhonorwereexpected。Iwishsomeonewouldpointouttome,onthebrightestpagesofknightlyrecord,somedeedoffealtyandtruththatequalsthesimplefidelityoftheseunknownheros。Idonotthinkthatoneofthemfeltthathewasdoinganythingespeciallymeritorious。Heonlyobeyedthenaturalpromptingsofhisloyalheart。
Thebusinessofsigningtheparoleswasthenbeguninearnest。Wewereseparatedintosquadsaccordingtothefirstlettersofournames,allthosewhosenamebeganwithAbeingplacedinonesquad,thosebeginningwithB,inanother,andsoon。Blankparolesforeachletterwerespreadoutonboxesandplanksatdifferentplaces,andthesigningwentonunderthesuperintendenceofaRebelSergeantandoneoftheprisoners。
ThesquadofM\'sselectedmetosuperintendthesigningforus,andI
stoodbytodirecttheboys,andsignfortheveryfewwhocouldnotwrite。Afterthiswasdonewefellintoranksagain,calledtherollofthesigners,andcarefullycomparedthenumberofmenwiththenumberofsignaturessothatnobodyshouldpassunparoled。Theoathwasthenadministeredtous,andtwoday\'srationsofcornmealandfreshbeefwereissued。
Thisformalityremovedthelastlingeringdoubtthatwehadoftheexchangebeingareality,andwegavewaytothehappiestemotions。
Wecheeredourselveshoarse,andthefellowsstillinsidefollowedourexample,astheyexpectedthattheywouldshareourgoodfortuneinadayortwo。
Ournextperformancewastosettowork,cookourtwodays\'rationsatonceandeatthem。Thiswasnotverydifficult,asthewholesupplyfortwodayswouldhardlymakeonesquaremeal。Thatdone,manyoftheboyswenttotheguardlineandthrewtheirblankets,clothing,cookingutensils,etc。,totheircomradeswhowerestillinside。Noonethoughttheywouldhaveanyfurtheruseforsuchthings。
\"To—morrow,atthistime,thankHeaven,\"saidaboynearme,ashetossedhisblanketandovercoatbacktosomeoneinside,\"we\'llbeinGod\'scountry,andthenIwouldn\'ttouchthemd———dlousyoldragswithaten—
footpole。\"
OneoftheboysintheMsquadwasaMaineinfantryman,whohadbeenwithmeinthePembertonbuilding,inRichmond,andhadfashionedhimselfalittlesquarepanoutofatinplateofatobaccopress,suchasIhavedescribedinanearlierchapter。Hehadcarrieditwithhimeversince,anditwashissolevesselforallpurposes——forcooking,carryingwater,drawingrations,etc。Hehadcherisheditasifitwereafarmoragoodsituation。Butnow,asheturnedawayfromsigninghisnametotheparole,helookedathisfaithfulservantforaminuteinundisguisedcontempt;ontheeveofrestorationtohappier,betterthings,itwasareminderofallthepetty,ingloriouscontemptibletrialsandsorrowshehadendured;heactuallyloatheditforitsremembrances,andflingingituponthegroundhecrusheditoutofallshapeandusefulnesswithhisfeet,tramplinguponitashewouldeverythingconnectedwithhisprisonlife。MonthsafterwardIhadtolendthismanmylittlecantocookhisrationsin。
AndrewsandIflungthebrightnewtinpanswehadstolenatMilleninsidetheline,tobescrambledfor。Itwashardtotellwhowerethemostsurprisedattheirappearance——theRebelsorourownboys——forfewhadanyideathatthereweresuchthingsinthewholeConfederacy,andcertainlynonelookedfortheminthepossessionoftwosuchpoverty—
strickenspecimensaswewere。Wethoughtitbesttoretainpossessionofourlittlecan,spoon,chess—board,blanket,andovercoat。
Aswemarcheddownandboardedthetrain,theRebelsconfirmedtheirpreviousactionbytakingalltheguardsfromaroundus。Onlysomeeightortenweresenttothetrain,andthesequarteredthemselvesinthecaboose,andpaidusnofurtherattention。
Thetrainrolledawayamidcheeringbyourselvesandthoseweleftbehind。Onethousandhappierboysthanweneverstartedonajourney。
Weweregoinghome。Thatwasenoughtowreathetheskieswithglory,andfilltheworldwithsweetnessandlight。Thewintrysunhadsomethingofgenialityandwarmth,thelandscapelostsomeofitsrepulsiveness,thedrearypalmettoshadlessofthathideousnesswhichmadeusregardthemasveryfittingemblemsoftreason。Weevenbegantofeelalittlegood—
humoredcontemptforourhatefullittleBratsofguards,andtoreflecthowmuchviciouseducationandsurroundingsweretobeheldresponsiblefortheirmisdeeds。
WelaughedandsangaswerolledalongtowardSavannah——goingbackmuchfasterthanthecame。Were—toldoldstories,andrepeatedoldjokes,thathadbecomewearisomemonthsandmonthsago,butwerenowfreshenedupandgiventheiroldenpithbythejoyousnessoftheoccasion。Werevivedandtalkedoveroldschemesgottenupintheearlierdaysofprisonlife,ofwhat\"wewoulddowhenwegotout,\"butalmostforgottensince,inthegeneraluncertaintyofevergettingout。Weexchangedaddresses,andpromisedfaithfullytowritetoeachotherandtellhowwefoundeverythingathome。
Sotheafternoonandnightpassed。Weweretooexcitedtosleep,andpassedthehourswatchingthescenery,recallingtheobjectswehadpassedonthewaytoBlackshear,andguessinghownearweweretoSavannah。
Thoughwewererunningalongwithinfifteenortwentymilesofthecoast,withallourguardsasleepinthecaboose,noonethoughtofescape。
Wecouldstepoffthecarsandwalkovertotheseashoreaseasilyasamanstepsoutofhisdoorandwalkstoaneighboringtown,butwhyshouldwe？WerewenotgoingdirectlytoourvesselsintheharborofSavannah,andwasitnotbettertodothis,thantotakethechancesofescaping,andencounterthedifficultiesofreachingourblockaders！Wethoughtso,andwestaidonthecars。
Acold,grayWintermorningwasjustbreakingaswereachedSavannah。
OurtrainrandownintheCity,andthenwhistledsharplyandranbackamileorso;itrepeatedthismaneuvertwoorthreetimes,theevidentdesignbeingtokeepusonthecarsuntilthepeoplewerereadytoreceiveus。Finallyourengineranwithallthespeedshewascapableof,andasthetraindashedintothestreetwefoundourselvesbetweentwoheavylinesofguardswithbayonetsfixed。
Thewholesickeningrealitywasmadeapparentbyoneglanceattheguardline。Ourparolewasamockery,itsonlyobjectbeingtogetustoSavannahaseasilyaspossible,andtopreventbenefitfromourrecapturetoanyofSherman\'sRaiders,whomightmakeadashfortherailroadwhilewewereintransit。Therehadbeennointentionofexchangingus。TherewasnoexchangegoingonatSavannah。
Afterall,IdonotthinkwefeltthedisappointmentaskeenlyasthefirsttimewewerebroughttoSavannah。Imprisonmenthadstupefiedus;
weweredullerandmorehopeless。
Ordereddownoutofthecars,wewereformedinlineinthestreet。
SaidaRebelofficer:
\"Now,anyofyoufellahsthatahtoosicktogotoChahlston,stepfohwahdonepace。\"
Welookedateachotheraninstant,andthenthewholelinesteppedforward。WeallfelttoosicktogotoCharleston,ortodoanythingelseintheworld。
CHAPTERLXVI。
SPECIMENCONVERSATIONWITHANAVERAGENATIVEGEORGIAN——WELEARNTHAT
SHERMANISHEADINGFORSAVANNAH——THERESERVESGETALITTLESETTLINGDOWN。
AsthetrainleftthenorthernsuburbsofSavannahwecameuponasceneofbusyactivity,stronglycontrastingwiththesomnolentlethargythatseemedtobethenormalconditionoftheCityanditsinhabitants。Longlinesofearthworkswerebeingconstructed,gangsofnegroswerefellingtrees,buildingfortsandbatteries,makingabatis,andtoilingwithnumbersofhugegunswhichwerebeingmovedoutandplacedinposition。
Aswehadhadnonewprisonersnoranypapersforsomeweeks——thepapersbeingdoubtlessdesignedlykeptawayfromus——wewereatalosstoknowwhatthismeant。Wecouldnotunderstandthiserectionoffortificationsonthatside,because,knowingaswedidhowwelltheflanksoftheCitywereprotectedbytheSavannahandOgeecheRivers,wecouldnotseehowaforcefromthecoast——whencewesupposedanattackmustcome,couldhopetoreachtheCity\'srear,especiallyaswehadjustcomeupontherightflankoftheCity,andsawnosignofourfolksinthatdirection。
Ourtrainstoppedforafewminutesattheedgeofthislineofworks,andanoldcitizenwhohadbeensurveyingthescenewithsenileinterest,totteredovertoourcartotakealookatus。HewasatypeoftheoldmanoftheSouthofthescantymiddleclass,thesmallfarmer。Longwhitehairandbeard,spectacleswithgreatround,staringglasses,abroad—brimmedhatofante—Revolutionarypattern,clothesthathadapparentlydescendedtohimfromsomeancestorwhohadcomeoverwithOglethorpe,andatwo—handedstaffwithaheadofbuckhorn,uponwhichheleanedasoldpeasantsdoinplays,formedsuchanimageasrecalledtomethepictureoftheoldmanintheillustrationsin\"TheDairyman\'sDaughter。\"Hewasasgarrulousasamagpie,andasopinionatedasaSouthernwhitealwaysis。Haltinginfrontofourcar,hesteadiedhimselfbyplantinghisstaff,claspingitwithbothleanandskinnyhands,andleaningforwarduponit,hisjawsthenaddressedthemselvestomotionthus:
\"Boys,whomoutthesebethatyegot？
\"OneoftheGuards:——\"O,theseissomeYanksthatwe\'vebinhivin\'downatCampSumter。\"
\"Yes？\"（withanupwardinflectionofthevoice,followedbyaclosescrutinyofusthroughthegoggle—eyedglasses,）\"Wall,they\'reapowerfulornarylookin\'lot,I\'lldeclah。\"
Itwillbeseenthattheold,gentleman\'sperceptivepowersweremuchmorehighlydevelopedthanhispoliteness。
\"Well,theyain\'twhatyemoutcallpurty,that\'safack,\"saidtheguard。
\"SoyerYanks,airye？\"saidthevenerableGoober—Grabber,（thenick—nameintheSouthforGeorgians）,directinghisconversationtome。\"Wall,I\'mpowerfulgladtoseeye,an\'\'speciallywharyecan\'tdonoharm;
I\'vewantedtoseesomeYankeeseversencethebeginnin\'ofthewah,buthevneverhadnochance。Whahdidyecumfrom？\"
Iseemedcalledupontoanswer,andsaid:\"IcamefromIllinois;mostoftheboysinthiscararefromIllinois,Ohio,Indiana,MichiganandIowa。\"
\"\'Deed！AllWesterners,airye？Wall,doyeknowIalluzlikedtheWesternersaheapsightbetterthanthemblue—belliedNewEnglandYankees。\"
NodiscussionwithaRebeleverproceededveryfarwithouthismakinganassertionlikethis。Itwasafavoritedeclarationoftheirs,butitsabsurditywascomical,whenonerememberedthatthemajorityofthemcouldnotfortheirlivestellthenamesoftheNewEnglandStates,andcouldnomoredistinguishaDowneasterfromanIllinoisanthantheycouldtellaSaxonfromaBavarian。Oneday,whileIwasholdingaconversationsimilartotheabovewithanoldmanonguard,anotherguard,whohadbeenstationednearasquadmadeupofGermans,thattalkedaltogetherinthelanguageoftheFatherland,brokeinwith:
\"Outtherebypostnumbahfoahteen,whereIwuzyesterday,there\'salotofYankswhojestjabberedawayallthehulltime,andIhopeImayneverseethebackofmyneckefIcouldunderstandarywordtheysaid,Arethemtheregularblue—bellykind？\"
TheoldgentlemanentereduponthenextstageoftheinvariableroutineofdiscussionwithaRebel:
\"Wall,whatairyou\'unsdownheah,a—fightin\'we\'unsfoh？\"
AsIhadansweredthisquestionseveralhundredtimes,Ihadfoundthemostextinguishingreplytobetoaskinreturn:
\"Whatareyou\'unscomingupintoourcountrytofightwe\'unsfor？\"
Disdainingtonoticethisreturninkind,theoldmanpassedontothenextstage:
\"Whatareyou\'unstakin\'ouahniggahsawayfromusfoh？\"
Now,ifnegroshadbeenascheapasoreoidewatches,itisdoubtfulwhetherthespeakerhadeverhadmoneyenoughinhispossessionatonetimetobuyone,andyethetalkedoftakingaway\"ouahniggahs,\"asiftheywereasplentyabouthisplaceashillsofcorn。Asarule,themoreabjectlypooraSouthernerwas,themorereadilyheworkedhimselfintoarageovertheideaof\"takin\'awayouahniggahs。\"
Irepliedinburlesqueofhisassumptionofownership:
\"WhatareyoucomingupNorthtoburnmyrollingmillsandrobmycomradehere\'sbank,andplundermybrother\'sstore,andburndownmyuncle\'sfactories？\"
Noreply,tothiscounterthrust。Theoldmanpassedtothethirdinevitableproposition:
\"Whatairyou\'unsputtin\'ouahniggahsinthefieldtofightwe\'unsfoh？\"
Thenthewholecar—loadshoutedbackathimatonce:
\"Whatareyou\'unsputtingblood—houndsonourtrailstohuntusdown,for？\"
OldMan——（savagely）,\"Waal,yedon\'tthinkyekineverlickus;leastwayssichfellersasyeair？\"
Myself——\"Well,wewarmedittoyouprettylivelyuntilyoucaughtus。
Therewerenoneofusbutwhatweredoingaboutasgoodworkasanystockyoufellowscouldturnout。NoRebelsinourneighborhoodhadmuchtobragon。Wearenotadropinthebucket,either。There\'smillionsmorebettermenthanwearewherewecamefrom,andtheyarealldeterminedtostampoutyourmiserableConfederacy。You\'vegottocometoit,soonerorlater;youmustknockunder,sureaswhiteblossomsmakelittleapples。You\'dbettermakeupyourmindtoit。\"
OldMan——\"No,sah,nevah。Yenevahkinconquerus！We\'rethebravestpeopleandthebestfightersonairth。Yenevahkinwhipanypeoplethat\'safightin\'furtheirlibertyan\'theirright;an\'yenevahcanwhiptheSouth,sah,anyway。We\'llfightyeuntilallthemenairkilled,andthenthewimmen\'llfightye,sah。\"
Myself——\"Well,youmaythinkso,oryoumaynot。FromthewayourboysaresnatchingtheConfederacy\'srealestateaway,itbeginstolookasifyou\'dnothaveenoughtofightanybodyonprettysoon。What\'sthemeaningofallthisfortifying？\"
OldMan——\"Why,don\'tyouknow？Ourfolksarefixin\'upaplacefohBillShermantobutthisbrainsoutgain\'。\"
\"BillSherman！\"weallshoutedinsurprise:\"Whyheain\'twithintwohundredmilesofthisplace,ishe？\'
OldMan——\"Yes,butheis,tho。\'Hethinkshe\'splayedasharpYankeetrickonHood。Hefoundouthecouldn\'tlickhiminasquar\'fight,nohow;he\'dtriedthatontoooften;sohejustsneaked\'roundbehindhim,andmadeabreakforthecenteroftheState,wherehethoughttherewaslotsofgoodstealin\'tobedone。Butwe\'llshowhim。We\'llsoonhevhimjustwharwewanthim,an\'we\'lllearnhimhowtogotraipesin\'
\'roundthecountry,stealin\'nigahs,burnin\'cotton,an\'runnin\'offfolkses\'beefcritters。Heseesnowthescrapehe\'sgotinto,an\'he\'stryin\'togettothecoast,wharthegun—boats\'llhelp\'imout。Buthe\'llnevahgitthar,sah;nosah,nevah。He\'smoutynightheendofhisrope,sah,andwe\'llpurty\'soonhevhimjistwharyoufellowsair,sah。\"
Myself——\"Well,ifyoufellowsintendedstoppinghim,whydidn\'tyoudoitupaboutAtlanta？WhatdidyoulethimcomeclearthroughtheState,burningandstealing,asyousay？Itwasmoneyinyourpocketstoheadhimoffassoonaspossible。\"
OldMan——\"Oh,wedidn\'tsetnothingaforehimuptharexceptJoeBrown\'sPets,thesesorrylittleReserves;they\'repowerfullittleaccount;nostand—upto\'ematall;they\'dbreaktheirnecksrunnin\'awayefyesomuchasbustacapnearto\'em。\"
Ourguards,whobelongedtotheseReserves,instantlyfeltthattheconversationhadprogressedfartherthanwasprofitableandoneofthemspokeuproughly:
\"Seeheah,oldman,youmustgooff;Ican\'thevyetalkin\'totheseprisoners;hitsa,ginmyawdahs。Go\'waynow！\"
Theoldfellowmovedoff,butashedidheflungthisParthianarrow:
\"WhenShermangitsdowndeep,he\'llfindsomethin\'differentfromthe——
littlesnotsofReservesheranoverupaboutMilledgeville;he\'llfindhe\'sgottofightrealsoldiers。\"
Wecouldnothelpenjoyingtherageoftheguards,overthelowestimateplaceduponthefightingabilityofthemselvesandcomrades,andastheyraved,aroundaboutwhattheywoulddoiftheywereonlygivenanopportunitytogointoalineofbattleagainstSherman,weaddedfueltotheflamesoftheirangerbyconfidingtoeachotherthatwealways\"knewthatlittleBratswhosehighestambitionwastomurderadefenselessprisoner,couldbenothingelsethancowardsendskulkersinthefield。\"
\"Yaas——sonnies,\"saidCharlieBurroughs,oftheThirdMichigan,inthatnasalYankeedrawl,thathealwaysassumed,whenhewantedtosayanythingverycutting;\"you——trundle——bed——soldiers——who\'venever——seen——
a——real——wild——Yankee——don\'t——know——how——different——they——are——from——thekind——that——are——starved——down—totameness。They\'re——jest——as——
different——as—a——lionin——a——menagerie——is——from——his——brother——in——thewoods——who——has——a——nigger——everyday——for—dinner。You——fellows——will——
go——into——a——circus——tent——and——throw——tobacco——quidsin——the——face——of——
the——lion——in——the——cage——when——you——haven\'t——spunkenough——to——look——awoodchuck——in——the——eye——if——you——met——him——alone。It\'s——lots——o\'——fun——toyou——to——shoot——down——a——sick——and——starving—man——in——the——Stockade,but——when——you——see——a——Yankwith——a——gun——in——his——hand——your——liversget——so——white——that——chalk——would——make——a——black——mark——on——\'em。\"
Alittlelater,apaper,whichsomeonehadgottenholdof,insomemysteriousmanner,wassecretlypassedtome。IreaditasIcouldfindopportunity,andcommunicateditscontentstotherestoftheboys。