Actingonthisplainhint,wewalkedaroundthehouseandwentup—town。
Theguardsimplyconstruedhisordersinaliberalspirit。Hereasonedthattheyhardlyappliedtous,sincewewereevidentlyabletotakecareofourselves。
Laterwehadanotherillustrationofthisdoglikefidelityofthecoloredsentinel。Anumberofuswerequarteredinalargeandemptywarehouse。Onthesamefloor,andclosetous,wereacoupleofveryfinehorsesbelongingtosomeofficer。Wehadnotbeeninthewarehouseverylonguntilweconcludedthatthestrawwithwhichthehorseswerebeddedwouldbebetterusedinmakingcouchesforourselves,andthissuggestionwasinstantlyactedupon,andsothoroughlythattherewasnotastrawleftbetweentheanimalsandthebareboards。Presentlytheownerofthehorsescamein,andhewasgreatlyincensedatwhathadbeendone。Herelievedhismindofafewsulphurousoaths,andgoingout,camebacksoonwithamanwithmorestraw,andacoloredsoldierwhomhestationedbythehorses,saying:
\"Now,lookhere。Youmusn\'tletanybodytakeanythingswayfromthesestalls;d\'youunderstandme？——notathing。\"
Hethenwentout。AndrewsandIhadjustfinishedcookingdinner,andweresittingdowntoeatit。Wishingtolendourfrying—pantoanothermess,Ilookedaroundforsomethingtolayourmeatupon。NearthehorsesIsawabookcover,whichwouldanswerthepurposeadmirably。
Springingup,Iskippedacrosstowhereitwas,snatcheditup,andranbacktomyplace。AsIreacheditayellfromtheboysmademelookaround。Thedarkywascomingatme\"fulltilt,\"withhisgunata\"chargebayonets。\"AsIturnedhesaid:
\"Putdatrightbackdah！\"
Isaid:
\"Why,thisdon\'tamounttoanything,thisisonlyanoldbookcover。
Ithasn\'tanythingintheworldtodowiththehorses。
Heonlyreplied:
\"Putdatrightbackdah！\"
Itriedanotherappeal:
\"Now,youwoolly—headedsonofthunder,haven\'tyougotsenseenoughtoknowthattheofficerwhopostedyoudidn\'tmeansuchathingasthis！
Heonlymeantthatweshouldnotbeallowedtotakeanyofthehorses\'
beddingorequipments;don\'tyousee？\"
ImightaswellhavereasonedwithacigarstoreIndian。Hesethisteeth,hiseyesshowedadangerousamountofwhite,andforeshorteninghismusketforalunge,hehissedoutagain\"Putdatrightbackdah,I
tellyou！\"
Ilookedatthebayonet;itwasverylong,verybright,andverysharp。
Itgleamedcoldandchillylike,asifithadnotrunthroughamanforalongtime,andyearnedforanotheropportunity。Nothingbutthewhitesofthedarky\'seyescouldnowbeseen。Ididnotwanttoperishthereinthefreshbloomofmyyouthandloveliness;itseemedtomeasifitwasmydutytoreservemyselfforfieldsoffutureusefulness,soIwalkedbackandlaidthebookcoverpreciselyonthespotwhenceIhadobtainedit,whilethethousandboysinthehousesetupayellofsarcasticlaughter。
WestaidinWilmingtonafewdays,daysofalmostpurelyanimalenjoyment——thejoyofhavingjustasmuchtoeataswecouldpossiblyswallow,andnoonetomolestormakeusafraidinanyway。Howwedideatandfillup。Thewrinklesinourskinsmoothedoutunderthestretching,andwebegantofeelasifwewerereturningtoouroldplumpness,thoughsofartheplumpnesswaswhollyabdominal。
Onemorningweweretoldthatthetransportswouldbegingoingbackwithusthatafternoon,thefirstthatlefttakingthesick。AndrewsandI,truetoouroldprisonpractices,resolvedtobeamongthoseonthefirstboat。Weslippedthroughtheguardsandgoinguptown,wentstraighttoMajorGeneralSchofield\'sheadquartersandsolicitedapasstogoonthefirstboat——thesteamer\"Thorn。\"GeneralSchofieldtreatedusverykindly;butdeclinedtoletanybodybutthehelplesslysickgoonthe\"Thorn。\"Defeatedherewewentdowntowherethevesselwaslyingatthedock,andtriedtosmuggleourselvesaboard,buttheguardwastoostrongandtoovigilant,andweweredrivenaway。Goingalongthedock,angryanddiscouragedbyourfailure,wesawaSurgeon,atalittledistance,whowasexaminingandsendingthesickwhocouldwalkaboardanothervessel——the\"GeneralLyon。\"Wetookourcue,andalittleshammingsecuredfromhimticketswhichpermittedustotakeourpassageinher。
Thelargerportionofthoseonboardwereinthehold,andafewwereondeck。AndrewsandIfoundasnugplaceundertheforecastle,bytheanchorchains。
Bothvesselsspeedilyreceivedtheircomplement,andleavingtheirdocks,starteddowntheriver。The\"Thorn\"steamedaheadofus,anddisappeared。Shortlyafterwegotunderway,theColonelwhowasputincommandoftheboat——himselfareleasedprisoner——camearoundonatourofinspection。Hefoundaboutonethousandofusaboard,andsinglingmeoutmademethenon—commissionedofficerincommand。Iwasputincharge,ofissuingtherationsandofabarrelofmilkpunchwhichtheSanitaryCommissionhadsentdowntobedealtoutonthevoyagetosuchasneededit。IwenttoworkandarrangedtheboysinthebestwayI
could,andreturnedtothedecktoviewthescenery。
Wilmingtonisthirty—fourmilesfromthesea,andtheriverforthatdistanceisacalm,broadestuary。AtthistimetheresourcesofRebelengineeringwereexhaustedindefenseagainstitspassagebyahostilefleet,andundoubtedlythebestworkofthekindintheSouthernConfederacywasdoneuponit。AtitsmouthwereFortsFisherandCaswell,thestrongestseacoastfortsintheConfederacy。FortCaswellwasanoldUnitedStatesfort,muchenlargedandstrengthened。FortFisherwasanewwork,begunimmediatelyafterthebeginningofthewar,andlaboredatincessantlyuntilcaptured。Behindtheseeveryoneofthethirty—fourmilestoWilmingtonwascoveredwiththefireofthebestgunstheEnglisharsenalscouldproduce,mountedonfortsbuiltateveryadvantageousspot。Linesofpilesrunningoutintothewater,forcedincomingvesselstowindbackandforthacrossthestreamunderthepoint—blankrangeofmassiveArmstrongrifles。Asifthiswerenotsufficient,thechannelwasthicklystuddedwithtorpedoesthatwouldexplodeatthetouchofthekeelofapassingvessel。Theseabundantprecautions,andthetelegramfromGeneralLee,foundinFortFisher,statingthatunlessthatstrongholdandFortCaswellwereheldhecouldnotholdRichmond,givesomeideaoftheimportanceoftheplacetotheRebels。
Wepassedgroupsofhundredsofsailorsfishingfortorpedos,andsawmanyofthesedangerousmonsters,whichtheyhadhauledupoutofthewater。Wecaughtupwiththe\"Thorn,\"whenabouthalfwaytothesea,passedher,toourgreatdelight,andsoonleftagapbetweenusofnearlyhalf—a—mile。Weranthroughanopeninginthepiling,holdingupclosetotheleftside,andsheapparentlyfollowedourcourseexactly。
Suddenlytherewasadullroar;acolumnofwater,bearingwithitfragmentsoftimbers,plankingandhumanbodies,roseupthroughonesideofthevessel,and,asitfell,shelurchedforwardandsank。Shehadstruckatorpedo。Ineverlearnedthenumberlost,butitmusthavebeenverygreat。
SomelittletimeafterthishappenedweapproachedFortAnderson,themostpowerfuloftheworksbetweenWilmingtonandthefortsatthemouthofthesea。ItwasbuiltontheruinsofthelittleTownofBrunswick,destroyedbyCornwallisduringtheRevolutionaryWar。Wesawamonitorlyingnearit,andsoughtgoodpositionstoviewthisspecimenoftheredoubtableironcladsofwhichwehadheardandreadsomuch。Itlookedpreciselyasitdidinpictures,asblack,asgrim,andasuncompromisingastheimpregnablefloatingfortresswhichhadbroughtthe\"Merrimac\"toterms。
Butasweapproachedcloselywenoticedalimpnessaboutthesmokestackthatseemedveryinconsistentwiththecustomaryrigidityofcylindricaliron。Thentheescapepipeseemedscarcelyabletomaintainitselfupright。AfewminuteslaterwediscoveredthatourterribleCyclopsoftheseawasaflimsyhumbug,atheatricalimitation,madebystretchingblackenedcanvasoverawoodenframe。
Oneoftheofficersonboardtoldusitsstory。AfterthefallofFortFishertheRebelsretiredtoFortAnderson,andofferedadesperateresistancetoourarmyandfleet。Owingtotheshallownessofthewaterthelattercouldnotcomeintocloseenoughrangetodoeffectivework。
Thenthehappyideaofthisshammonitorsuggesteditselftosomeone。
Itwasprepared,andonemorningbeforedaybreakitwassentfloatinginonthetide。Theothermonitorsopenedupaheavyfirefromtheirposition。TheRebelsmannedtheirgunsandrepliedvigorously,byconcentratingaterriblecannonadeontheshammonitor,whichsailedgrandlyon,undisturbedbytheheavyrifledboltstearingthroughhercanvasturret。Almostfranticwithapprehensionoftheresultifshecouldnotbechecked,everygunthatwouldbearwasturneduponher,andtorpedoswereexplodedinherpathwaybyelectricity。Alltheseshetreatedwiththesilentcontempttheymeritedfromsoinvulnerableamonster。Atlength,asshereachedagoodeasyrangeofthefort,herbowstrucksomething,andsheswungaroundasiftoopenfire。ThatwasenoughfortheRebels。WithSchofield\'sarmyreachingouttocutofftheirretreat,andthisdreadfulthingabouttoteartheinsidesoutoftheirfortwithfour—hundred—poundshotatquarter—milerange,therewasnothingforthemtodobutconsulttheirownsafety,whichtheydidwithsuchhastethattheydidnotspikeagun,ordestroyapoundofstores。
CHAPTERLXXX
VISITTOFORTFISHER,ANDINSPECTIONOFTHATSTRONGHOLD——THEWAYITWAS
CAPTURED——OUTONTHEOCEANSAILING——TERRIBLYSEASICK——RAPIDRECOVERY——
ARRIVALATANNAPOLIS——WASHED,CLOTHEDANDFED——UNBOUNDEDLUXURY,ANDDAYS
OFUNADULTERATEDHAPPINESS。
WhenwereachedthemouthofCapeFearRiverthewindwasblowingsohardthatourCaptaindidnotthinkitbesttoventureout,sohecastanchor。
Thecabinofthevesselwasfilledwithofficerswhohadbeenreleasedfromprisonaboutthesametimewewere。Iwasalsogivenaberthinthecabin,inconsiderationofmybeingthenon—commissionedofficerinchargeofthemen,andIfoundtheassociationsquitepleasant。Apartywasmadeup,whichincludedme,tovisitFortFisher,andwespentthelargerpartofadayveryagreeablyinwanderingoverthatgreatstronghold。Wefounditwonderfulinitsstrength,andwerepreparedtoacceptthestatementofthosewhohadseenforeigndefensiveworks,thatitwasmuchmorepowerfulthanthefamousMalakoff,whichsolongdefiedthebesiegersofSebastopol。
ThesituationofthefortwasonanarrowandlowspitofgroundbetweenCapeFearRiverandtheocean。OnthistheRebelshaderected,withprodigiouslabor,anembankmentoveramileinlength,twenty—fivefeetthickandtwentyfeethigh。Abouttwo—thirdsofthisbankfacedthesea;
theotherthirdranacrossthespitoflandtoprotectthefortagainstanattackfromthelandside。Stillstrongerthanthebankformingthefrontofthefortwerethetraverses,whichpreventedanenfiladingfireThesewereregularhills,twenty—fivetofortyfeethigh,andbroadandlonginproportion。Therewerefifteenortwentyofthemalongthefaceofthefort。Insideofthemwerecapaciousbombproofs,sufficientlylargetoshelterthewholegarrison。ItseemedasifawholeTownshiphadbeendugup,carteddownthereandsetonedge。Infrontoftheworkswasastrongpalisade。Betweeneachpairoftraverseswereoneortwoenormousguns,nonelessthanone—hundred—and—fiftypounders。AmongthesewesawagreatArmstronggun,whichhadbeenpresentedtotheSouthernConfederacybyitsmanufacturer,SirWilliamArmstrong,who,likethemajorityoftheEnglishnobility,wasawarmadmireroftheJeff。Daviscrowd。Itwasthefinestpieceofordnanceeverseeninthiscountry。Thecarriagewasrosewood,andthemountingsgiltbrass。Thebreechofthegunhadfivereinforcements。
ToattackthisplaceourGovernmentassembledthemostpowerfulfleeteversentonsuchanexpedition。Overseventy—fivemen—of—war,includingsixmonitors,andcarryingsixhundredguns,assaileditwithastormofshotandshellthataveragedfourprojectilespersecondforseveralhours;theparapetwasbattered,andthelargegunscrushedasonesmashesabottlewithastone。Thegarrisonfledintothebomb—proofsforprotection。Thetroops,whohadlandedabovethefort,moveduptoassailthelandface,whileabrigadeofsailorsandmarinesattackedtheseaface。
Asthefleethadtoceasefiringtoallowthecharge,theRebelsranoutoftheircasematesand,manningtheparapet,openedsuchafireofmusketrythatthebrigadefromthefleetwasdrivenback,butthesoldiersmadealodgmentonthelandface。ThenbegansomebeautifulcooperativetacticsbetweentheArmyandNavy,communicationbeingkeptupwithsignalflags。OurmenwereononesideoftheparapetsandtheRebelsontheother,withthefightingalmosthand—to—hand。ThevesselsrangedouttowheretheirgunswouldraketheRebelline,andastheirshottoredownitslength,theRebelsgaveway,andfallingbacktothenexttraverse,renewedtheconflictthere。Guidedbythesignalsourvesselschangedtheirpositions,soastorakethislinealso,andsothefightwentonuntiltwelvetraverseshadbeencarried,oneaftertheother,whentherebelssurrendered。
ThenextdaytheRebelsabandonedFortCaswellandotherfortificationsintheimmediateneighborhood,surrenderedtwogunboats,andfellbacktothelinesatFortAnderson。AfterFortFisherfell,severalblockade—
runnerswereluredinsideandcaptured。
Neverbeforehadtherebeensuchademonstrationofthepowerofheavyartillery。Hugecannonwerepoundedintofragments,hillsofsandrippedopen,deepcrevassesblowninthegroundbyexplodingshells,woodenbuildingsreducedtokindling—wood,etc。Thegroundwasliterallypavedwithfragmentsofshotandshell,which,nowredwithrustfromthecorrodingsaltair,madetheinteriorofthefortresemblewhatoneofourpartylikeneditto\"anoldbrickyard。\"
Whicheverwaywelookedalongtheshoreswesawabundantevidenceofthegreatnessofthebusinesswhichgavetheplaceitsimportance。Inalldirections,asfarastheeyecouldreach,thebeachwasdottedwiththebleachingskeletonsofblockade—runners——somerunashorebytheirmistakingthechannel,morebeachedtoescapethehotpursuitofourblockaders。
Directlyinfrontoftheseafaceofthefort,andnotfourhundredyardsfromthesavagemouthsofthehugeguns,theblackenedtimbersofaburnedblockade—runnershowedabovethewateratlowtide。CominginfromNassauwithacargoofpricelessvaluetothegaspingConfederacy,shewasobservedandchasedbyoneofourvessels,aswiftersailer,even,thanherself。Thewarshipclosedrapidlyuponher。ShesoughttheprotectionofthegunsofFortFisher,whichopenedvenomouslyonthechaser。Theydidnotstopher,thoughtheywerelessthanhalfamileaway。InanotherminuteshewouldhavesenttheRebelvesseltothebottomofthesea,byabroadsidefromherheavyguns,buttheCaptainofthelatterturnedhersuddenly,andranherhighuponthebeach,wreckinghisvessel,butsavingthemuchmorevaluablecargo。Ourvesselthenhauledoff,andasnightfell,quietwasrestored。Atmidnighttwoboat—loadsofdeterminedmen,rowingwithmuffledoarsmovedsilentlyoutfromtheblockadertowardsthebeachedvessel。Intheirboatstheyhadsomecansofturpentine,andseverallargeshells。Whentheyreachedtheblockade—runnertheyfoundallhercrewgoneashore,saveonewatchman,whomtheyoverpoweredbeforehecouldgivethealarm。Theycautiouslyfelttheirwayaround,withtheaidofadarklantern,securedtheship\'schronometer,herpapersandsomeotherdesiredobjects。Theythensaturatedwiththeturpentinepilesofcombustiblematerial,placedaboutthevesseltothebestadvantage,andfinishedbydepositingtheshellswheretheirexplosionwouldruinthemachinery。Allthiswasdonesoneartothefortthatthesentinelsontheparapetscouldbeheardwiththegreatestdistinctnessastheyrepeatedtheirhalf—hourlycryof\"All\'swell。\"Theirpreparationscompleted,thedaringfellowstouchedmatchestothedoomedvesselinadozenplacesatonce,andsprangintotheirboats。Theflamesinstantlyenvelopedtheship,andshowedthegunnerstheincendiariesrowingrapidlyaway。Ahailofshotbeatthewaterintoafoamaroundtheboats,buttheirgoodfortunestillattendedthem,andtheygotbackwithoutlosingaman。
ThewindatlengthcalmedsufficientlytoencourageourCaptaintoventureout,andweweresoonbattlingwiththerollingwaves,faroutofsightofland。Forawhilethenoveltyofthescenefascinatedme。Iwasatlastontheocean,ofwhichIhadheard,readandimaginedsomuch。
Thecreakingcordage,thestrainingengine,theplungingship,thewildwasteoftumblingbillows,everyoneapparentlyracingtowhereourtossingbarkwasstrugglingtomaintainherself,allhadanentrancinginterestforme,andItriedtorecallByron\'ssublimeapostrophetotheocean:
Thougloriousmirror,wheretheAlmighty\'sformClassesitselfintempest:inalltime,Calmorconvulsed—inbreeze,orgale,orstorm,Icingthepole,orinthetorridclimeDark—heaving——boundless,endless,andsublime——
Theimageofeternity——thethroneOftheinvisible;evenfromoutthyslimeThemonstersofthedeeparemade;eachzoneObeythee:thougoestforth,dread,fathomless,alone,Justthen,myreveriewasbrokenbythestronghandofthegruffCaptainof,thevesseldescendinguponmyshoulder,andhesaid:
\"See,here,youngster！Ain\'tyouthefellowthatwasputincommandofthesemen？\"
Iacknowledgedsuchtobethecase。
\"Well,\"saidtheCaptain;\"Iwantyouto\'tendtoyourbusinessandstraightenthemaround,sothatwecancleanoffthedecks。\"
IturnedfromthebulwarkoverwhichIhadbeencontemplatingthevastydeep,andsawthesorriest,mostwoe—begonelotthattheimaginationcanconceive。Everymother\'ssonwaswretchedlysea—sick。TheywerepayingthepenaltyoftheiroverfeedinginWilmington;andeveryfacelookedasifitsownerwasdiscoveringforthefirsttimewhatthereallowerdepthsofhumanmiserywas。Theyallseemedafraidtheywouldnotdie;
asiftheywereprayingfordeath,butfeelingcertainthathewasgoingbackontheminamostshamefulway。
Westraightenedthemaroundalittle,washedthemandthedecksoffwithahose,andthenIstarteddownintheholdtoseehowmatterswerewiththesixhundreddownthere。Theboysthereweremuchsickerthanthoseondeck。AsIliftedthehatchthereroseanodorwhichappearedstrongenoughtoraisetheplankitself。EveryonionthathadbeenissuedtousinWilmingtonseemedtoliedownthereinthelaststagesofdecomposition。AlloftheseventydistinctsmellswhichColeridgecountedatColognemighthavebeencountedinanygivencubicfootofatmosphere,whilethenextfootwouldhaveanentirelydifferentandequallydemonstrative\"bouquet。\"
Irecoiled,andleanedagainstthebulwark,butsoonsummonedupcourageenoughtogohalf—waydowntheladder,andshoutoutinassternatoneasIcouldcommand:
\"here,now！Iwantyoufellowstostraightenaroundthere,rightoff,andhelpcleanup！\"
Theywereasangryandcrossastheyweresick。TheywantednothingintheworldsomuchastheopportunityIhadgiventhemtoswearatandabusesomebody。Everyoneofthemraisedonhiselbow,andshakinghisfistatmeyelledout:
\"O,yougoto————,you————————————。Justcomedownanotherstep,andI\'llknockthewholeheadoff\'enyou。\"
Ididnotgodownanyfarther。
Comingbackonthedeckmystomachbegantofeelqualmish。Somewretchedidiot,whosegrandfather\'sgraveIhopethejackasseshavedefiled,astheTurkswouldsay,toldmethatthebestpreventiveofsea—sicknesswastodrinkasmuchofthemilkpunchasIcouldswallow。
Likeanotheridiot,Ididso。
Iwentagaintothesideofthevessel,butnowthefascinationofthescenehadallfadedout。Therestlessbillowsweredreary,savage,hungryanddizzying;theyseemedtoclawat,andtear,andwrenchthestrugglingshipasagroupofhugelionswouldteaseandworryacaptivedog。Theydistressedherandallonboardbydealingablowwhichwouldsendherreelinginonedirection,butbeforeshehadswungthefulllengththatimpulsewouldhavesenther,catchingherontheoppositesidewithastunningshockthatsentheranotherway,onlytomeetanotherrudebuffetfromstillanotherside。
Ithoughtwecouldallhavestooditifthemotionhadbeenlikethatofaswing—backwardandforward——orevenifthetoandfromotionhadbeencomplicatedwithaside—wiseswing,buttobeputthrougheverypossiblebewilderingmotioninthebriefestspaceoftimewasmorethanheadsofironandstomachsofbrasscouldstand。
Minewerenotmadeofsuchperdurablestuff。
Theycommencedmutinousdemonstrationsinregardtothemilkpunch。
Ibeganwonderingwhetherthemilkwasnotthehorriblebeerswill,stump—tailkindofwhichIhadheardsomuch。
Andthewhiskyinit;touseavigorousWesternism,descriptiveofmeanwhisky,itseemedtomethatIcouldsmelltheboy\'sfeetwhoplowedthecornfromwhichitwasdistilled。
ThentheonionsIhadeateninWilmingtonbegantorebel,andincitethebread,meatandcoffeetogastricinsurrection,andIbecamesoutterlywretchedthatlifehadnofartherattractions。
WhileIwasleaningoverthebulwark,musingonthecompletehollownessofallearthlythings,theCaptainofthevesselcaughtholdofmeroughly,andsaid:
\"Lookhere,you\'rejustplayin\'theverydevila—commandin\'theseheremen。Whyin————don\'tyoustiffenup,andhumpyourselfaround,andmakethesemenmind,orelsebeltthemovertheheadwithacapstanbar！
NowIwantyouto\'tendtoyourbusiness。D\'youunderstandme？\"
Iturnedapairofwearyandhopelesseyesuponhim,andstartedtosaythatamanwhowouldtalktooneinmyforlornconditionof\"stiffeningup,\"and\"beltingotherfellowsovertheheadwithacapstanbar,\"wouldinsultawomandyingwithconsumption,butIsuddenlybecametoofullforutterance。
Themilkpunch,theonions,thebread,andmeatandcoffeetiredoffightingitoutinthenarrowquarterswhereIhadstowedthem,hadstartedupwardstumultuously。
Iturnedmyheadagaintothesea,andlookingdownintoitssmaragdinedepths,letgoofthevictualisticstorewhichIhadbeenindustriouslyaccumulatingeversinceIhadcomethroughthelines。
IvomiteduntilIfeltasemptyandhollowasastovepipe。Therewasavacuumthatextendedcleartomytoe—nails。Ifearedthateveryretchingstrugglewoulddentmein,allover,asoneseestinpreservingcanscrushedinbyoutsidepressure,andIapprehendedthatifIkeptonmuchlongermyshoe—soleswouldcomeupaftertherest。
Iwillmention,parenthetically,that,tothisdayIabhormilkpunch,andalsoonions。
UnutterablymiserableasIwasIcouldnotrefrainfromaghostofasmile,whenapoorcountryboynearmesangoutinanintervalbetweenvomitingspells:
\"O,Captain,forGod\'ssake,stoptheboatandlem\'megoashore,andI
swearI\'llwalkeverystepofthewayhome。\"
HewaslikeoldGonzalointhe\'Tempest:\'
NowworldIgiveathousandfurlongsofseaforanacreofbarrenground;longheath;brownfurze;anything。Thewillsabovebedone！
butIwouldfaindieadrydeath。
AfterthismiseryhadlastedabouttwodayswegotpastCapeHatteras,andoutofreachofitsmaligninfluence,andrecoveredasrapidlyaswehadbeenprostrated。
Weregainedspiritsandappetiteswithamazingswiftness;thesuncameoutwarmandcheerful,wecleanedupourquartersandourselvesasbestwecould,andduringtheremainderofthevoyagewereasblitheandcheerfulassomanycrickets。
Thefuninthecabinwasrollicking。Theofficershadbeenassickasthemen,butwerewonderfullyvivaciouswhenthe\'maldumer\'passedoff。
Inthepartywasafinegleeclub,whichhadbeenorganizedat\"CampSorgum,\"theofficers\'prisonatColumbia。ItsleaderwasaMajoroftheFifthIowaCavalry,whopossessedamarvelouslysweettenorvoice,andwelldevelopedmusicalpowers。WhilewewereatWilmingtonhesang\"WhenShermanMarchedDowntotheSea,\"toanaudienceofsoldiersthatpackedtheOperaHousedensely。
Theenthusiasmhearousedwassimplyindescribable;menshouted,andthetearsrandowntheirfaces。Hewasrecalledtimeandagain,eachtimewithanincreaseinthefurore。Theaudiencewouldhavestaidthereallnighttolistentohimsingthatonesong。Poorfellow,heonlywenthometodie。AnattackofpneumoniacarriedhimoffwithinafortnightafterweseparatedatAnnapolis。
TheGleeClubhadseveralsongswhichtheyrenderedinregularnegrominstrelstyle,andinawaythatwasirresistiblyludicrous。Oneoftheirfavoriteswas\"BillyPatterson。\"Allstandingupinaring,thetenorswouldleadoff:
\"Isawanoldmangoridingby,\"
andthebaritones,flingingthemselvesaroundwiththeloosenessofChristy\'sMinstrels,ina\"breakdown,\"wouldreply:
Don\'ttellme！Don\'ttellme！\"
Thenthetenorswouldresume:
\"SaysI,Oleman,yourhorse\'lldie。\'
Thenthebaritones,withanairofexaggeratedinterest;
\"A—ha—a—a,BillyPatterson！\"
Tenors:
\"For。Ithedies,I\'lltanhisskin;
An\'ifhelivesI\'llridehimagin,\"
All—together,withafurious\"breakdown\"attheclose:
\"ThenI\'lllayfivedollarsdown,Andcountthemonebyone;
ThenI\'lllayfivedollarsdown,IfanybodywillshowmethemanThatstruckBillyPatterson。\"
Andsoon。ItusedtoupsetmygravityentirelytoseeacrowdofgraveanddignifiedCaptains,MajorsandColonelsgoingthroughthisnonsensicaldrollerywithalltheabandonofprofessionalburnt—corkartists。
AswewerenearingtheentrancetoChesapeakeBaywepassedagreatmonitor,whowasexercisinghercrewattheguns。Shefireddirectlyacrossourcourse,thehugefourhundredpoundballsshippingalongthewater,aboutamileaheadofus,asweboysusedtomaketheflatstonesskipintheplayof\"DucksandDrakes。\"Oneortwooftheshotscameso。
closethatIfearedshemightbemistakingusforaRebelshipintentonsomeraiduptheBay,andIlookedupanxiouslytoseethattheflagshouldfloatoutsoconspicuouslythatshecouldnothelpseeingit。
ThenextdayourvesselranalongsideofthedockattheNavalAcademyatAnnapolis,thatinstitutionnowbeingusedasahospitalforparoledprisoners。ThemusiciansofthePostbandcamedownwithstretcherstocarrythesicktotheHospital,whilethoseofuswhowereabletowalkwereorderedtofallinandmarchup。Thedistancewasbutafewhundredyards。Onreachingthebuildingwemarcheduponalittlebalcony,andaswedidsoeachoneofuswasseizedbyahospitalattendant,who,withthequickdexterityattainedbylongpractice,snatchedeveryoneofourfilthy,lousyragsoffinthetwinklingofaneye,andflungthemovertherailingtotheground,whereamanloadedthemintoawagonwithapitchfork。
Withthemwentourfaithfullittleblackcan,ourhoop—ironspoon,andourchessboardandmen。
Thusentirelydenuded,eachboywasgivenashovewhichsenthimintoalittleroom,whereabarberpressedhimdownuponastool,andalmostbeforeheunderstoodwhatwasbeingdone,hadhishairandbeardcutoffascloseasshearswoulddoit。Anothertaponthebacksenttheshornlambintoaroomfurnishedwithgreattubsofwaterandwithaboutsixinchesofsoapsudsonthezinc—coveredfloor。
Inanotherminutetwomenwithspongeshadremovedeverytraceofprisongrimefromhisbody,andpassedhimontotwomoremen,whowipedhimdry,andmovedhimontowhereamanhandedhimanewshirt,apairofdrawers,pairofsocks,pairofpantaloons,pairofslippers,andahospitalgown,andmotionedhimtogoonintothelargeroom,andarrayhimselfinhisnewgarments。LikeeverythingelseabouttheHospitalthisperformancewasreducedtoaperfectsystem。Notawordwasspokenbyanybody,notamoment\'stimelost,anditseemedtomethatitwasnottenminutesafterImarcheduponthebalcony,coveredwithdirt,rags,vermin,andamattedshockofhair,untilImarchedoutoftheroom,cleanandwellclothed。NowIbegantofeelasifIwasreallyamanagain。
Thenextthingdonewastoregisterournames,rank,regiment,whenandwherecaptured,whenandwherereleased。Afterthiswewereshowntoourrooms。Andsuchroomsastheywere。Alltheoldmaidsinthecountrycouldnothaveimprovedtheirspick—spanneatness。Thefloorswereaswhiteaspineplankcouldbescoured;thesheetsandbeddingascleanascottonandlinenandwoolencouldbewashed。Nothinginanyhomeinthelandwasanymoredaintily,wholesomely,unqualifiedlycleanthanweretheselittlechambers,eachcontainingtwobeds,oneforeachmanassignedtotheiroccupancy。
Andrewsdoubtedifwecouldstandallthisradicalchangeinourhabits。
Hefearedthatitwasrushingthingstoofast。Wemighthavehadourhaircutoneweek,andtakenabathalloveraweeklater,andsoprogressdowntosleepingbetweenwhitesheetsinthecourseofsixmonths,buttodoitallinonedayseemedliketemptingfate。
Everyturnshowedussomenewfeatureofthemarvelousorderofthiswonderfulinstitution。Shortlyafterweweresenttoourrooms,aSurgeonenteredwithaClerk。Afteransweringtheusualquestionsastoname,rank,companyandregiment,theSurgeonexaminedourtongues,eyes,limbsandgeneralappearance,andcommunicatedhisconclusionstotheClerk,whofilledoutablankcard。Thiscardwasstuckintoalittletinholderattheheadofmybed。Andrews\'scardwasthesame,exceptthename。TheSurgeonwasfollowedbyaSergeant,whowasChiefoftheDining—Room,andtheClerk,whomadeaminuteofthedietorderedforus,andmovedoff。AndrewsandIimmediatelybecameverysolicitoustoknowwhatspeciesofdietNo。1was。Aftertheseasicknessleftusourappetitesbecameasravenousasabuzz—saw,andunlessDietNo。1wasmorethanNo。1inname,itwouldnotfillthebill。Wehadnotlongtoremaininsuspense,forsoonanothernon—commissionedofficerpassedthroughattheheadofatrainofattendants,bearingtrays。Consultingthelistinhishand,hesaidtooneofhisfollowers,\"TwoNo。1\'s,\"