Notawordwassaid。
Theshallowerenthusiasmthatexpressesitselfinoathsandshoutshadgivenwaytothedeep,voicelessrageofmeninadeathgrapple。TheRebellinewasarollingtorrentofflame,theirbulletsshriekedangrilyastheyflewpast,theystruckthesnowinfrontofus,andthrewitscoldflakesinfacesthatwerewhitewiththefiresofconsuminghate;
theyburiedthemselveswithadullthudinthequiveringbodiesoftheenragedcombatants。
Minutespassed;theyseemedhours。
Wouldthevillains,scoundrels,hell—hounds,sonsofvipersnevergo？
AtlengthafewRebelssprangupandtriedtofly。Theywereshotdowninstantly。
Thenthewholelineroseandran！
Thereliefwassogreatthatwejumpedtoourfeetandcheeredwildly,forgettinginourexcitementtomakeuseofourvictorybyshootingdownourflyingenemies。
Norwasanelementoffunlacking。ASecondLieutenantwasorderedtotakeapartyofskirmisherstothetopofahillandengagethoseoftheRebelsstationedonanotherhill—topacrossaravine。HehadbutlatelyjoinedusfromtheRegularArmy,wherehewasaDrillSergeant。
Naturally,hewasverymethodicalinhisway,andscornedtodootherwiseunderfirethanhewouldupontheparadeground。Hemovedhislittlecommandtothehill—top,incloseorder,andfacedthemtothefront。
TheJohnniesreceivedthemwithayellandavolley,whereattheboyswincedalittle,muchtotheLieutenant\'sdisgust,whosworeatthem;
thenhadthemcountoffwithgreatdeliberation,anddeployedthemascoollyasifthemwasnot,anenemywithinahundredmiles。Afterthelinedeployed,he\"dressed\"it,commanded\"Front！\"and\"Begin,firing！\"
hisattentionwascalledanotherwayforaninstant,andwhenhelookedbackagain,therewasnotamanofhisnicelyformedskirmishlinevisible。Thelogsandstoneshadevidentlybeenputtherefortheuseofskirmishers,theboysthought,andinaninstanttheyavailedthemselvesoftheirshelter。
NeverwasthereanangriermanthanthatSecondLieutenant;hebrandishedhissaberandswore;heseemedtofeelthatallhissoldierlyreputationwasgone,buttheboysstucktotheirshelterforallthat,informinghimthatwhentheRebelswouldstandoutintheopenfieldandtaketheirfire,theywoulddlikewise。
Despiteallourefforts,theRebellinecrawledupcloseranclosertous;weweredrivenbackfromknolltoknoll,andfromonefenceafteranother。Wehadmaintainedtheunequalstruggleforeighthours;overone—fourthofournumberwerestretcheduponthesnow,killedorbadlywounded。Ourcartridgeswerenearlyallgone;thecannonhadfireditslastshotlongago,andhavingablankcartridgeleft,hadshottherammeratagatheringpartyoftheenemy。
JustastheWintersunwasgoingdownuponadayofgloomthebuglecalledusalluponthehillside。ThentheRebelssawforthefirsttimehowfewtherewere,andbegananalmostsimultaneouschargeallalongtheline。TheMajorraisedpieceofasheltertentuponapole。Thelinehalted。Anofficerrodeoutfromit,followedbytwoprivates。
ApproachingtheMajor,hesaid,\"Whoisincommandthisforce？\"
TheMajorreplied:\"Iam。\"
\"Then,Sir,Idemandyoursword。\"
\"Whatisyourrank,Sir！\"
\"IamAdjutantoftheSixty—fourthVirginia。\"
Thepunctillioussouloftheold\"Regular\"——forsuchtheMajorwasswelledupinstantly,andheanswered:
\"By———,sir,Iwillneversurrendertomyinferiorinrank！\"
TheAdjutantreinedhishorseback。HistwofollowersleveledtheirpiecesattheMajorandwaitedorderstofire。Theywerecoveredbyadozencarbinesinthehandsofourmen。TheAdjutantorderedhismento\"recoverarms,\"androdeawaywiththem。HepresentlyreturnedwithaColonel,andtohimtheMajorhandedhissaber。
Asthemenrealizedwhatwasbeingdone,thefirstthoughtofmanyofthemwastosnatchoutthecylinder\'softheirrevolvers,andtheslidesoftheircarbines,andthrowthemaway,soastomakethearmsuseless。
Wewereovercomewithrageandhumiliationatbeingcompelledtoyieldtoanenemywhomwehadhatedsobitterly。Aswestoodthereonthebleakmountain—side,thebitingwindsoughingthroughtheleaflessbranches,theshadowsofagloomywinternightclosingaroundus,thegroansandshrieksofourwoundedminglingwiththetriumphantyellsoftheRebelsplunderingourtents,itseemedasifFatecouldpresstoman\'slipsnocupwithbittererdregsinitthanthis。
CHAPTERV。
THEREACTION——DEPRESSION——BITTINGCOLD——SHARPHUNGERANDSADREFLEXION。
\"OfbeingtakenbytheInsolentfoe。\"——Othello。
Thenightthatfollowedwasinexpressiblydreary:Thehigh—wroughtnervoustension,whichhadbeenprotractedthroughthelonghoursthatthefightlasted,wassucceededbyaproportionatementaldepression,suchasnaturallyfollowsanystrainuponthemind。Thiswasintensifiedinourcasesbythesharpstingofdefeat,thehumiliationofhavingtoyieldourselves,ourhorsesandourarmsintothepossessionoftheenemy,theuncertaintyastothefuture,andthesorrowwefeltatthelossofsomanyofourcomrades。
CompanyLhadsufferedveryseverely,butourchiefregretwasforthegallantOsgood,ourSecondLieutenant。He,aboveallothers,wasourtrustedleader。TheCaptainandFirstLieutenantwerebravemen,andgoodenoughsoldiers,butOsgoodwastheone\"whoseadoptiontried,wegrappledtooursoulswithhooksofsteel。\"Therewasneveranydifficultyingettingallthevolunteershewantedforascoutingparty。
Aquiet,pleasantspokengentleman,pastmiddleage,helookedmuchbetterfittedfortheofficeofJusticeofthePeace,towhichhisfellow—citizensofUrbana,Illinois,hadelectedandreelectedhim,thantocommandatroopofroughridersinagreatcivilwar。Butnonemoregallantthanheevervaultedintosaddletodobattlefortheright。
HewentintotheArmysolelyasamatterofprinciple,anddidhisdutywiththeunflaggingzealofanoldenPuritanfightingforlibertyandhissoul\'ssalvation。Hewasasuperbhorseman——asalltheolderIllinoisansareand,forallhistwo—scoreyearsandten,herecognizedfewsuperiorsforstrengthandactivityintheBattalion。Aradical,uncompromisingAbolitionist,hehadfrequentlyassertedthathewouldratherdiethanyieldtoaRebel,andhekepthiswordinthisasineverythingelse。
Asforhim,itwasprobablythewayhedesiredtodie。NoonebelievedmoreardentlythanhethatWhetheronthescaffoldhigh,Orinthebattle\'svan;
Thefittestplaceformantodie,Iswherehediesforman。
AmongthemanywhohadlostchumsandfriendswasNedJohnson,ofCompanyK。NedwasayoungEnglishman,withmuchofthesuggestivenessofthebull—dogcommontothelowerclassofthatnation。Hisfistwasreadierthanhistongue。Hischum,WalterSavagewasofthesamesurlytype。
ThetwohadcomefromEnglandtwelveyearsbefore,andhadbeentogethereversince。Savagewaskilledinthestruggleforthefencedescribedintheprecedingchapter。Nedcouldnotrealizeforawhilethathisfriendwasdead。Itwasonlywhenthebodyrapidlystiffenedonitsicybed,andtheeyeswhichhadbeengleamingdeadlyhatewhenhewasstrickendownwereglazedoverwiththedullfilmofdeath,thathebelievedhewasgonefromhimforever。Thenhisragewasterrible。Fortherestofthedayhewasattheheadofeveryassaultupontheenemy。Hisvoicecouldeverbeheardabovethefiring,cursingtheRebelsbitterly,andurgingtheboysto\"Standupto\'em！Standrightupto\'em！Don\'tgiveainch！Letthemhavethebestyougotintheshop！Shootlow,anddon\'twasteacartridge！\"
Whenwesurrendered,Nedseemedtoyieldsullenlytotheinevitable。
Hethrewhisbeltandapparentlyhisrevolverwithituponthesnow。
Aguardwasformedaroundus,andwegatheredaboutthefiresthatwerestarted。Nedsatapart,hisarmsfolded,hisheaduponhisbreast,broodingbitterlyuponWalter\'sdeath。Ahorseman,evidentlyaColonelorGeneral,clattereduptogivesomedirectionsconcerningus。AtthesoundofhisvoiceNedraisedhisheadandgavehimaswiftglance;thegoldstarsupontheRebel\'scollarledhimtobelievethathewasthecommanderoftheenemy。Nedsprangtohisfeet,madealongstrideforward,snatchedfromthebreastofhisovercoattherevolverhehadbeenhidingthere,cockeditandleveleditattheRebel\'sbreast。
BeforehecouldpullthetriggerOrderlySergeantCharlesBentley,ofhisCompany,whowaswatchinghim,leapedforward,caughthiswristandthrewtherevolverup。Othersjoinedin,tooktheweaponaway,andhandeditovertotheofficer,whothenorderedusalltobesearchedforarms,androdeaway。
Allourdejectioncouldnotmakeusforgetthatwewereintenselyhungry。
Wehadeatennothingallday。Thefightbeganbeforewehadtimetogetanybreakfast,andofcoursetherewasnointervalforrefreshmentsduringtheengagement。TheRebelswerenobetteroffthanwe,havingbeenmarchedrapidlyallnightinordertocomeuponusbydaylight。
Lateintheeveningafewsacksofmealweregivenus,andwetookthefirstlessoninanartthatlongandpainfulpracticeafterwardwastomakeveryfamiliartous。Wehadnothingtomixthemealin,anditlookedasifwewouldhavetoeatitdry,untilahappythoughtstrucksomeonethatourcapswoulddoforkneadingtroughs。Atonceeverycapwasdevotedtothis。Gettingwaterfromanadjacentspring,eachmanmadealittlewadofdough——unsalted——andspreadingituponaflatstoneorachip,setitupinfrontofthefiretobake。Assoonasitwasbrownedononeside,itwaspulledoffthestone,andtheothersideturnedtothefire。ItwasaveryprimitivewayofcookingandIbecamethoroughlydisgustedwithit。ItwasfortunateformethatIlittledreamedthatthiswasthewayIshouldhavetogetmymealsforthenextfifteenmonths。
Aftersomewhatoftheedgehadbeentakenoffourhungerbythisfood,wecrouchedaroundthefires,talkedovertheeventsoftheday,speculatedastowhatwastobedonewithus,andsnatchedsuchsleepasthebitingcoldwouldpermit。
CHAPTER
\"ONTORICHMOND！\"——MARCHINGONFOOTOVERTHEMOUNTAINS——MYHORSEHASA
NEWRIDER——UNSOPHISTICATEDMOUNTAINGIRLS——DISCUSSINGTHEISSUESOFTHE
WAR——PARTINGWITH\"HIATOGA。\"
Atdawnweweregatheredtogether,moremealissuedtous,whichwecookedinthesameway,andthenwerestartedunderheavyguardtomarchonfootoverthemountainstoBristol,astationatthepointwheretheVirginiaandTennesseeRailroadcrossesthelinebetweenVirginiaandTennessee。
AswewerepreparingtosetoutaSergeantoftheFirstVirginiacavalrycamegallopinguptousonmyhorse！Thesightofmyfaithful\"Hiatoga\"
bestridbyaRebel,wrungmyheart。DuringtheactionIhadforgottenhim,butwhenitceasedIbegantoworryabouthisfate。AsheandhisridercamenearIcalledouttohim;hestoppedandgaveawhinnyofrecognition,whichseemedalsoaplaintiveappealforanexplanationofthechangedconditionofaffairs。
TheSergeantwasapleasant,gentlemanlyboyofaboutmyownage。
Herodeuptomeandinquiredifitwasmyhorse,towhichIrepliedintheaffirmative,andaskedpermissiontotakefromthesaddlepocketssomeletters,picturesandothertrinkets。Hegrantedthis,andwebecamefriendsfromthenceonuntilweseparated。Herodebymysideasweploddedoverthesteep,slipperyhills,andwebeguiledthewaybychattingofthethousandthingsthatsoldiersfindtotalkabout,andexchangedreminiscencesoftheserviceonbothsides。ButthesubjecthewasfondestofwasthatwhichIrelishedleast:my——nowhis——horse。Intotheopenulcerofmyhearthepouredtheacidofallmannerofquestionsconcerningmyloststeed\'squalitiesandcapabilities:wouldheswim？
howwasheinfording？didhejumpwell！howdidhestandfire？
Ismotheredmyirritation,andansweredaspleasantlyasIcould。
Intheafternoonofthethirddayafterthecapture,wecameuptowhereapartyofrusticbelleswerecollectedat\"quilting。\"The\"Yankees\"
wereinstantlyobjectsofgreaterinterestthantheparadeofamenageriewouldhavebeen。TheSergeanttoldthegirlsweweregoingtocampforthenightamileorsoahead,andiftheywouldbeatacertainhouse,hewouldhaveaYankeeforthemforcloseinspection。Afterhalting,theSergeantobtainedleavetotakemeoutwithaguard,andIwaspresentlyusheredintoaroominwhichthedamselsweremassedinforce,——acarnation—checked,staring,open—mouthed,linsey—cladcrowd,asignorantofcorsetsandglovesasofHebrew,andwithapropensitytogigglethatwaschronicandirrepressible。Whenweenteredtheroomtherewasageneralgiggle,andthenashowerofcommentsuponmyappearance,——eachsentencepunctuatedwiththechorusoffemininecachination。Aremarkwasmadeaboutmyhairandeyes,andtheirrisiblesgaveway;judgmentwaspassedonmynose,andthencamearippleoflaughter。Igotveryredintheface,anduncomfortablegenerally。
Attentionwascalledtothesizeofmyfeetandhands,andtheusualchorusfollowed。Thoseusefulmembersofmybodyseemedtoswellupastheydotoayoungmanathisfirstparty。
ThenIsawthatinthemindsofthesebucolicmaidensIwasscarcely,ifatall,human;theydidnotunderstandthatIbelongedtotherace;
Iwasa\"Yankee\"——asomethingofthenon—humanclass,asthegorillaorthechimpanzee。Theyfeltasfreetodiscussmypointsbeforemyfaceastheywouldtotalkofahorseorawildanimalinashow。Myequanimitywaspartiallyrestoredbythisreflection,butIwasstilltooyoungtoescapeembarrassmentandirritationatbeingthusdissectedandgiggledatbyapartyofgirls,eveniftheywereignorantVirginiamountaineers。
IturnedaroundtospeaktotheSergeant,andinsodoingshowedmybacktotheladies。Thehumofcommentdeepenedintosurprise,thathalfstoppedandthenintensifiedthegiggle。
Iwaspuzzledforaminute,andthenthedirectionoftheirglances,andtheirremarksexplaineditall。Attherearofthelowerpartofthecavalryjacket,aboutwheretheupperornamentalbuttonsareonthetailofafrockcoat,aretwofunnytabs,aboutthesizeofsmallpin—
cushions。Theyarefastenedbytheedge,andstickoutstraightbehind。
Theiruseistosupporttheheavybeltintherear,asthebuttonsdoinfront。WhenthebeltisoffitwouldpuzzletheSevenWiseMentoguesswhattheyarefor。Theunsophisticatedyoungladies,withthatswiftintuitionwhichisoneoflovelywoman\'ssalientmentaltraits,immediatelyjumpedattheconclusionthattheprojectionscoveredsomepeculiarconformationoftheYankeeanatomy——someincipient,dromedary—
likehumps,orperchancethehornsofwhichtheyhadheardsomuch。
Thisanatomicalphenomenawasdiscussedintentlyforafewminutes,duringwhichIheardoneofthegirlsinquirewhether\"itwouldhurthimtocut\'emoff？\"andanotherhazardedtheopinionthat\"itwouldprobablybleedhimtodeath。\"
Thenanewideaseizedthem,andtheysaidtotheSergeant\"Makehimsing！Makehimsing！\"
ThiswastoomuchfortheSergeant,whohadbeenintenselyamusedatthegirls\'wonderment。Heturnedtome,veryredintheface,with:
\"Sergeant:thegirlswanttohearyousing。\"
IrepliedthatIcouldnotsinganote。Saidhe:
\"Oh,comenow。Iknowbetterthanthat;IneverseedorheerdofaYankeethatcouldn\'tsing。\"
IneverthelessassuredhimthattherereallyweresomeYankeesthatdidnothaveanymusicalaccomplishments,andthatIwasoneofthatunfortunatenumber。Iaskedhimtogettheladiestosingforme,andtothistheyaccededquitereadily。Onegirl,withafairsoprano,whoseemedtobetheleaderofthecrowd,sang\"TheHomespunDress,\"asongverypopularintheSouth,andhavingthesametuneasthe\"BonnieBlueFlag。\"Itbegan,IenvynottheNortherngirlTheirsilksandjewelsfine,andproceededtocomparethehomespunhabilimentsoftheSouthernwomentothefineryandfripperyoftheladiesontheothersideofMasonandDixon\'slineinamannerverydisadvantageoustothelatter。
Therestofthegirlsmadeafineexhibitionofthelung—poweracquiredinclimbingtheirprecipitousmountains,whentheycameinonthechorusHurra！Hurra！forsouthernrightsHurra！
Hurraforthehomespundress,TheSouthernladieswear。
Thisendedtheentertainment。
OnourjourneytoBristolwemetmanyRebelsoldiers,ofallranks,andasmallnumberofcitizens。Astheconscriptionhadthenbeenenforcedprettysharplyforoverayeartheonlyable—bodiedmenseenincivillifewerethosewhohadsometradewhichexemptedthemfrombeingforcedintoactiveservice。Itgreatlyastonishedusatfirsttofindthatnearlyallthemechanicswereincludedamongtheexempts,orcouldbeiftheychose;butaverylittlereflectionshowedusthewisdomofsuchapolicy。TheSouthisasnearlyapurelyagriculturalcountryasisRussiaorSouthAmerica。Thepeoplehave,littleinclinationorcapacityforanythingelsethanpastoralpursuits。Consequentlymechanicsareveryscarce,andmanufactoriesmuchscarcer。ThelimitedquantityofproductsofmechanicalskillneededbythepeoplewasmostlyimportedfromtheNorthorEurope。Boththesesourcesofsupplywerecutoffbythewar,andthecountrywasthrownuponitsownslendermanufacturingresources。Toforceitsmechanicsintothearmywouldthereforebesuicidal。TheArmywouldgainafewthousandmen,butitsoperationswouldbeembarrassed,ifnotstoppedaltogether,byawantofsupplies。ThisconditionofaffairsremindedoneofthesingularpaucityofmechanicalskillamongtheBedouinsofthedesert,whichrendersthelifeofablacksmithsacred。Nomatterhowbitterthefeudbetweentribes,noonewillkilltheother\'sworkersofiron,andinstancesaretoldofwarriorssavingtheirlivesatcriticalperiodsbyfallingontheirkneesandmakingwiththeirgarmentsanimitationoftheactionofasmith\'sbellows。
Allwhomwemetwereeagertodiscusswithusthecauses,phasesandprogressofthewar,andwheneveropportunityofferedorcouldbemade,thoseofuswhowereinclinedtotalkwerespeedilyinvolvedinanargumentwithcrowdsofsoldiersandcitizens。But,owingtothepolemicpovertyofouropponents,theargumentwasmoreinnamethaninfact。
Likeallpeopleofslenderoruntrainedintellectualpowerstheylaboredunderthehallucinationthatassertingwasreasoning,andtheemphaticreiterationofbaldstatements,logic。Thenarrowroundwhichallfromhighesttolowest——traveledwassometimescomical,andsometimesirritating,accordingtoone\'smood！Thedisputeinvariablybeganbytheirasking:
\"Well,whatareyou\'unsdownherea—fightin\'we\'unsfor？
Asthiswasrepliedtothenewtonefollowed:
\"Whyareyou\'unstakin\'ourniggersawayfromwe\'unsfor？\"
Thencame:
\"Whatdoyou\'unsputourniggerstofightin\'we\'unsfor？\"Thewindupalwayswas:\"Well,letmetellyou,sir,youcanneverwhippeoplethatarefightingforliberty,sir。\"
EvenGeneralGiltner,whohadachievedconsiderablemilitaryreputationascommanderofadivisionofKentuckycavalry,seemedtobeasslenderlyfurnishedwithlogicalammunitionasthebalance,forashehaltedbyusheopenedtheconversationwiththewell—wornformula:
\"Well:whatareyou\'unsdownherea—fightingwe\'unsfor？\"
Thequestionhadbecomeraspinglymonotonoustome,whomheaddressed,andIrepliedwithmarkedacerbity:
\"BecausewearetheNorthernmudsillswhomyouaffecttodespise,andwecamedownheretolickyouintorespectingus。\"
Theanswerseemedtoticklehim,apleasanterlightcameintohissinistergrayeyes,helaughedlightly,andbadeusakindlygoodday。
FourdaysafterourcapturewearrivedinBristol。Theguardswhohadbroughtusoverthemountainswererelievedbyothers,theSergeantbademegoodby,struckhisspursinto\"Hiatoga\'s\"sides,andheandmyfaithfulhorseweresoonlosttoviewinthedarkness。
Anewandkeenersenseofdesolationcameovermeatthefinalseparationfrommytriedandtruefour—footedfriend,whohadbeenmyconstantcompanionthroughsomanyperilsandhardships。WehadenduredtogethertheWinter\'scold,thedispiritingdrenchoftherain,thefatigueofthelongmarch,thediscomfortsofthemuddycamp,thegripingsofhunger,thewearinessofthedrillandreview,theperilsofthevidettepost,thecourierservice,thescoutandthefight。WehadsharedincommonThewhipsandscornsoftime,Theoppressor\'swrong,theproudman\'scontumely,Theinsolenceofoffice,andthespurnswhichapatientprivateandhishorseoftheunworthytake;wehadhadourfrequentlyrecurringrowswithotherfellowsandtheirhorses,overquestionsofprecedenceatwateringplaces,andgrass—plots,hadhadlivelytiltswithguardsofforagepilesinsurreptitiousattemptstogetadditionalrations,sometimescomingoffvictoriousandsometimesbeingdrivenoffingloriously。Ihadoftengonehungrythathemighthavetheonlyearofcornobtainable。Iamnotskilledenoughinhorseloretospeakofhispointsorpedigree。Ionlyknowthathisstronglimbsneverfailedme,andthathewasalwaysreadyfordutyandeverwilling。
Nowatlastourpathsdiverged。Iwasretiredfromactualservicetoaprison,andheborehisnewmasterofftobattleagainsthisoldfriends。
Packedcloselyinold,dilapidatedstockandboxcars,asifcattleinshipmenttomarket,wepoundedalongslowly,andapparentlyinterminably,towardtheRebelcapital。
TherailroadsoftheSouthwerealreadyinverybadcondition。Theywerenevermorethanpassablygood,evenintheirbestestate,butnow,withalargepartoftheskilledmenengageduponthemescapedbacktotheNorth,withallrenewal,improvement,oranybutthemostnecessaryrepairsstoppedforthreeyears,andwithamarkedabsenceofevenordinaryskillandcareintheirmanagement,theywereasnearlyruinedastheycouldwellbeandstillrun。
Oneofthesevereembarrassmentsunderwhichtheroadslaboredwasalackofoil。ThereisverylittlefattymatterofanykindintheSouth。
Theclimateandthefoodplantsdonotfavortheaccumulationofadiposetissuebyanimals,andthereisnoothersourceofsupply。Lardoilandtallowwereveryscarceandheldatexorbitantprices。
Attemptsweremadetoobtainlubricantsfromthepeanutandthecottonseed。Thefirstyieldedafineblandoil,resemblingtheordinarygradeofoliveoil,butitwasentirelytooexpensiveforuseinthearts。
Thecottonseedoilcouldbeproducedmuchcheaper,butithadinitsuchaquantityofgummymatterastorenderitworsethanuselessforemploymentonmachinery。
Thisscarcityofoleaginousmatterproducedacorrespondingscarcityofsoapandsimilardetergents,butthiswasadeprivationwhichcausedtheRebels,asawhole,aslittleinconvenienceasanythattheysufferedfrom。Ihaveseenmanythousandsofthemwhowereobviouslygreatlyinneedofsoap,butiftheywererentwithanysufferingonthataccounttheyconcealeditwithmarvelousself—control。
Thereseemedtobeascantysupplyofoilprovidedforthelocomotives,butthecarshadtorunwithunlubricatedaxles,andthescreakingandgroaningofthegrindingjournalsinthedryboxeswassometimesalmostdeafening,especiallywhenweweregoingaroundacurve。
Ourenginewentoffthewretchedtrackseveraltimes,butasshewasnotrunningmuchfasterthanamancouldwalk,theworstconsequencetouswasaseverejolting。Shewassmall,andwaseasilypriedbackuponthetrack,andsentagainuponherwheezy,strainingway。
Thedepressionwhichhadweighedusdownforanightandadayafterourcapturehadnowbeensucceededbyamorecheerfulfeeling。Webegantolookuponourconditionasthefortuneofwar。Wewereproudofourresistancetooverwhelmingnumbers。Weknewwehadsoldourselvesatapricewhich,iftheRebelshadittodooveragain,theywouldnotpayforus。Webelievedthatwehadkilledandseriouslywoundedasmanyofthemastheyhadkilled,woundedandcapturedofus。Wehadnothingtoblameourselvesfor。Moreover,webegantobebuoyedupwiththeexpectationthatwewouldbeexchangedimmediatelyuponourarrivalatRichmond,andtheRebelofficersconfidentlyassuredusthatthiswouldbeso。Therewasthenatemporaryhitchintheexchange,butitwouldallbestraightenedoutinafewdays,anditmightnotbeamonthuntilwewereagainmarchingoutofCumberlandGap,onanavengingforayagainstsomeoftheforcewhichhadassistedinourcapture。
FortunatelyforthisdelusivehopefulnesstherewasnoweirdandbodingCassandratopiercetheveilofthefutureforus,andrevealthelengthandtheghastlyhorroroftheValleyoftheShadowofDeath,throughwhichwemustpassforhundredsofsaddays,stretchingoutintolongmonthsofsufferinganddeath。HappilytherewasnoonetotellusthatofeveryfiveinthatpartyfourwouldneverstandundertheStarsandStripesagain,butsuccumbingtochronicstarvation,long—continuedexposure,thebulletofthebrutalguard,theloathsomescurvy,thehideousgangrene,andtheheartsicknessofhopedeferred,wouldfindrespitefrompainlowinthebarrensandsofthathungrySouthernsoil。
Wereeverydoomforetokenedbyappropriateomens,theravensalongourroutewouldhavecroakedthemselveshoarse。
But,farfrombeingoppressedbyanypresentimentofcomingevil,webegantoappreciateandenjoythepicturesquegrandeurofthescenerythroughwhichweweremoving。TheruggedsternnessoftheAppalachianmountainrange,inwhoserock—ribbedheartwehadfoughtourlosingfight,wasnowsofteningintolessstrong,butmoregracefuloutlinesasweapproachedthepine—clad,sandyplainsoftheseaboard,uponwhichRichmondisbuilt。WewereskirtingalongtheeasternbaseofthegreatBlueRidge,aboutwhosedistantandloftysummitshungaperpetualveilofdeep,dark,buttranslucentblue,whichrefractedtheslantingraysofthemorningandeveningsunintomassesofcolormoregorgeousthanadreamer\'svisionofanenchantedland。AtLynchburgwesawthefamedPeaksofOtter——twentymilesaway——liftingtheirproudheadsfarintotheclouds,likegiantwatch—towerssentinelingthegatewaythatthemightywatersoftheJameshadforcedthroughthebarriersofsolidadamantlyingacrosstheirpathtothefar—offsea。Whatwehadseenmanymilesbackstartfromthemountainsidesasslenderrivulets,brawlingoverthewornboulders,werenowgreat,rushing,full—tidestreams,enoughoftheminanyfiftymilesofourjourneytofurnishwaterpowerforallthefactoriesofNewEngland。Theiramazingopulenceofmechanicalenergyhaslainunutilized,almostunnoticed;inthetwoandone—halfcenturiesthatthewhitemanhasdweltnearthem,whileinMassachusettsandhernearneighborseveryrillthatcanturnawheelhasbeenputintoharnessandforcedtodoitsshareoflaborforthebenefitofthemenwhohavemadethemselvesitsmasters。
Hereisoneofthedifferencesbetweenthetwosections:IntheNorthmanwassetfree,andtheelementsmadetodohiswork。IntheSouthmanwasthedegradedslave,andtheelementswantonedoninundisturbedfreedom。
Aswewenton,theValleysoftheJamesandtheAppomattox,downwhichourwaylay,broadenedintoanexpanseofarableacres,andthefacesofthosestreamswerefrequentlyfleckedbygem—likelittleislands。