ThemostimportantofthesewasaflamingproclamationbyGovernorJoeBrown,settingforththatGeneralShermanwasnowtraversingtheState,committingallsortsofdepredations;thathehadpreparedthewayforhisowndestruction,andtheGovernorcalleduponallgoodcitizenstoriseenmasse,andassistincrushingtheaudaciousinvader。Bridgesmustbeburnedbeforeandbehindhim,roadsobstructed,andeveryinchofsoilresolutelydisputed。
Weenjoyedthis。ItshowedthattheRebelswereterriblyalarmed,andwebegantofeelsomeofthatconfidencethat\"Shermanwillcomeoutallright,\"whichsomarvelouslyanimatedallunderhiscommand。
CHAPTERLXVII。
OFFTOCHARLESTON——PASSINGTHROUGHTHERICESWAMPS——TWOEXTREMESOF
SOCIETY——ENTRYINTOCHARLESTON——LEISURELYWARFARE——SHELLINGTHECITYAT
REGULARINTERVALS——WECAMPINAMASSOFRUINS——DEPARTUREFORFLORENCE。
ThetrainstartedinafewminutesafterthecloseoftheconversationwiththeoldGeorgian,andwesooncametoandcrossedtheSavannahRiverintoSouthCarolina。Theriverwaswideandapparentlydeep;thetidewassettingbackinaswift,muddycurrent;thecrazyoldbridgecreakedandshook,andthegrindingaxlesshriekedinthedryjournals,aswepulledacross。Itlookedverymuchattimesasifweweretoallcrashdownintotheturbidflood——andwedidnotcareverymuchifwedid,ifwewerenotgoingtobeexchanged。
TheroadlaythroughthetideswampregionofSouthCarolina,apeculiarandinterestingcountry。Thoughswampsandfensstretchedinalldirectionsasfarastheeyecouldreach,thelandscapewasmoregratefultotheeyethanthefamine—stricken,pine—barrensofGeorgia,whichhadbecomewearisometothesight。Thesoilwhereitappeared,wasrich,vegetationwasluxuriant;greatclumpsoflaurelshowedglossyrichnessinthegreennessofitsverdure,thatremindedusofthefreshcolorofthevegetationofourNorthernhomes,sodifferentfromtheparchedandimpoverishedlookofGeorgianfoliage。Immenseflocksofwildfowlflutteredaroundus;theGeorgianwoodswerealmostdestituteoflivingcreatures;theevergreenlive—oak,withitsqueerfestoonsofSpanishmoss,andtheuglyanduselesspalmettosgavenoveltyandinteresttotheview。
ThericeswampsthroughwhichwewerepassingweretheprincelypossessionsofthefewnabobswhobeforethewarstoodattheheadofSouthCarolinaaristocracy——theywereSouthCarolina,infact,asabsolutelyasLouisXIV。wasFrance。Intheirhands——butafewscoreinnumber——wasconcentratedaboutalltherewasofSouthCarolinaeducation,wealth,culture,andbreeding。TheyrepresentedapinchbeckimitationofthatregimeinFrancewhichwashappilysweptoutofexistencebytheRevolution,andthedestructionofwhichmorethancompensatedforeverydropofbloodshedinthoseterribledays。Liketheprovincial\'grandesseigneurs\'ofLouisXVI\'sreign,theyweregay,dissipatedandturbulent;
\"accomplished\"inthesuperficialacquirementsthatmadethe\"gentleman\"
onehundredyearsago,butaregrotesquelyoutofplaceinthissensible,solidage,whichdemandsthatamanshallbeofuse,andnotmerelyforshow。Theyranhorsesandfoughtcocks,dawdledthroughsocietywhenyoung,andintriguedinpoliticstherestoftheirlives,withfrequentspice—workofduels。Esteemingpersonalcourageasasupremehumanvirtue,andneverwearyingofpratingtheirdevotiontothehigheststandardofintrepidity,theyneverproducedaGeneralwhowasevenmediocre;nordidanyoneeverhearofaSouthCarolinaregimentgainingdistinction。Regardingpoliticsandtheartofgovernmentas,equallywitharms,theirnaturalvocations,theyhavenevergiventheNationastatesman,andtheirgreatestpoliticiansachievedeminencebyadvocatingideaswhichonlyattractedattentionbytheirbalefulness。
StillfurtherresemblingtheFrench\'grandesseigneurs\'oftheeighteenthcentury,theyrolledinwealthwrungfromthelaborerbyreducingtherewardsofhistoiltothelastfractionthatwouldsupporthislifeandstrength。Thericeculturewasimmenselyprofitable,becausetheyhadfoundthesecretforraisingitmorecheaplythaneventhepauperlaboreroftheofworldcould。Theirlandshadcostthemnothingoriginally,theimprovementsofdikesandditcheswerecomparatively,inexpensive,thetaxeswerenominal,andtheirslaveswerenotsoexpensivetokeepasgoodhorsesintheNorth。
ThousandsoftheacresalongtheroadbelongedtotheRhetts,thousandstotheHeywards,thousandstotheManigaulttheLowndes,theMiddletons,theHugers,theBarnwells,andtheElliots——allnamestoowellknowninthehistoryofourcountry\'ssorrows。Occasionallyoneoftheirstatelymansionscouldbeseenonsomedistantelevation,surroundedbynobleoldtrees,andsuperbgrounds。Heretheylivedduringthehealthypartoftheyear,butfledthencetosummerresortinthehighlandsasthemiasmaticseasonapproached。
Thepeoplewesawatthestationsalongourrouteweremelancholyillustrationsoftheevilsoftheruleofsuchanoligarchy。Therewasnomiddleclassvisibleanywhere——nothingbutthetwoextremes。Amanwaseithera\"gentleman,\"andworewhiteshirtandcity—madeclothes,orhewasaloutishhind,cladinmereapologiesforgarments。WethoughtwehadfoundintheGeorgia\"cracker\"thelowestsubstratumofhumansociety,buthewasbrightintelligencecomparedtotheSouthCarolina\"clay—eater\"and\"sand—hiller。\"The\"cracker\"alwaysgavehopestoonethatifhehadtheadvantageofcommonschools,andcouldbemadetounderstandthatlazinesswasdishonorable,hemightdevelopintosomething。TherewaslittlefoundationforsuchhopeintheaveragelowSouthCarolinian。Hismindwasashakingquagmire,whichdidnotadmitoftheerectionofanysuperstructureofeducationuponit。TheSouthCarolinaguardsaboutusdidnotknowthenameofthenexttown,thoughtheyhadbeenraisedinthatsection。Theydidnotknowhowfaritwasthere,ortoanyplaceelse,andtheydidnotcaretolearn。Theyhadnoconceptionofwhatthewarwasbeingwagedfor,anddidnotwanttofindout;theydidnotknowwheretheirregimentwasgoing,anddidnotrememberwhereithadbeen;theycouldnottellhowlongtheyhadbeeninservice,northetimetheyhadenlistedfor。Theyonlyrememberedthatsometimestheyhadhad\"sortergoodtimes,\"andsometimes\"theyhadbeenpowerfulbad,\"andtheyhopedtherewouldbeplentytoeatwherevertheywent,andnottoomuchhardmarching。Thentheywondered\"wharafeller\'dbelikelytomakearaiseofacanteenofgoodwhisky？\"
Badasthewhiteswere,thericeplantationnegroswereevenworse,ifthatwerepossible。Broughttothecountrycenturiesago,asbrutalsavagesfromAfrica,theyhadlearnednothingofChristiancivilization,exceptthatitmeantendlesstoil,inmalariousswamps,underthelashofthetaskmaster。Theywore,possibly,alittlemoreclothingthantheirSenegambianancestorsdid;theyatecornmeal,yamsandrice,insteadofbananas,yamsandrice,astheirforefathersdid,andtheyhadlearnedabastard,almostunintelligible,English。ThesewerethesoleblessingsacquiredbyatransferfromalifeoffreedominthejunglesoftheGoldCoast,tooneofslaveryintheswampsoftheCombahee。
Icouldnotthen,norcanInow,regretthedownfallofasystemofsocietywhichboresuchfruits。
Towardsnightadistressinglycoldbreeze,ladenwithapenetratingmist,setinfromthesea,andputanendtofutureobservationsbymakingustoouncomfortabletocareforsceneryorsocialconditions。Wewantedmosttodeviseawaytokeepwarm。AndrewsandIpulledourovercoatandblanketcloselyaboutus,snuggledtogethersoastomakeeachone\'smeagerbodyaffordtheotherasmuchheataspossible——andendured。
Webecamefearfullyhungry。Itwillberecollectedthatweatethewholeofthetwodays\'rationsissuedtousatBlackshearatonce,andwehadreceivednothingsince。Wereachedthesullen,faintingstageofgreathunger,andforhoursnothingwassaidbyanyone,exceptanoccasionalbitterexecrationonRebelsandRebelpractices。
ItwaslateatnightwhenwereachedCharleston。ThelightsoftheCity,andtheapparentwarmthandcomforttherecheeredusupsomewhatwiththehopesthatwemighthavesomeshareinthem。Leavingthetrain,weweremarchedsomedistancethroughwell—lightedstreets,inwhichwereplentyofpeoplewalkingtoandfro。Thereweremanystores,apparentlystockedwithgoods,andthecitizensseemedtobegoingabouttheirbusinessverymuchaswasthecustomupNorth。
Atlengthourheadofcolumnmadea\"rightturn,\"andwemarchedawayfromthelightedportionoftheCity,toapartwhichIcouldseethroughtheshadowswasfilledwithruins。Analmostinsupportableodorofgas,escapingIsupposefromtherupturedpipes,mingledwiththecold,raspingairfromthesea,tomakeeverybreathintenselydisagreeable。
AsIsawtheruins,itflasheduponmethatthiswastheburntdistrictofthecity,andtheywereputtingusunderthefireofourownguns。
AtfirstIfeltmuchalarmed。LittlerelishasIhadongeneralprinciples,forbeingshotIhadmuchlessforbeingkilledbyourownmen。ThenIreflectedthatiftheyputmethere——andkeptme——aguardwouldhavetobeplacedaroundus,whowouldnecessarilybeinasmuchclangeraswewere,andIknewIcouldstandanyfirethataRebelcould。
Wewerehaltedinavacantlot,andsatdown,onlytojumpupthenextinstant,assomeoneshouted:
\"Therecomesoneof\'em！\"
ItwasagreatshellfromtheSwampAngelBattery。Startingfromapointmilesaway,where,seemingly,theskycamedowntothesea,wasa,narrowribbonoffire,whichslowlyunrolleditselfagainstthestar—litvaultoverourheads。On,onitcame,andwasapparentlyfollowingtheskydowntothehorizonbehindus。Asitreachedthezenith,therecametoourearsaprolonged,butnotsharp,\"Whish——ish—ish—ish—ish！\"
Wewatcheditbreathlessly,anditseemedtobelongminutesinrunningitscourse;thenathumpupontheground,andavibration,toldthatithadstruck。Foramomenttherewasadeadsilence。Thencamealoudroar,andthecrashofbreakingtimberandcrushingwalls。Theshellhadbursted。
Tenminuteslateranothershellfollowed,withlikeresults。Forawhileweforgotallabouthungerintheexcitementofwatchingthemessengersfrom\"God\'scountry。\"Whathappinesstobewherethoseshellscamefrom。
SoonaRebelbatteryofheavygunssomewherenearandinfrontofus,wakedup,andbeganansweringwithdull,slowthumpsthatmadethegroundshudder。Thiscontinuedaboutanhour,whenitquieteddownagain,butourshellskeptcomingoveratregularintervalswiththesameslowdeliberation,thesameprolongedwarning,andthesamedreadfulcrashwhentheystruck。Theyhadalreadygoneonthiswayforoverayear,andweretokeepitupmonthslongeruntiltheCitywascaptured。
Theroutinewasthesamefromdaytoday,monthin,andmonthout,fromearlyinAugust,1863,tothemiddleofApril,1865。EveryfewminutesduringthedayourfolkswouldhurlagreatshellintothebeleagueredCity,andtwiceaday,forperhapsanhoureachtime,theRebelbatterieswouldtalkback。ItmusthavebeenalessontotheCharlestoniansofthepersistent,methodicalspiritoftheNorth。Theypridedthemselvesonthelengthofthetimetheywereholdingoutagainsttheenemy,andthepaperseachdayhadacolumnheaded:
\"390thDAYOFTHESIEGE,\"
or391st,393d,etc。,asthenumbermightbesinceourpeopleopenedfireupontheCity。Thepartwherewelaywasamassofruins。Manylargebuildingshadbeenknockeddown;verymanymorewereriddledwithshotholesandtotteringtotheirfall。Onenightashellpassedthroughalargebuildingaboutaquarterofamilefromus。Ithadalreadybeenstruckseveraltimes,andwasshaky。Theshellwentthroughwithadeafeningcrash。Allwasstillforaninstant;thenitexplodedwithadullroar,followedbymorecrashingoftimberandwalls。Thesounddiedawayandwassucceededbyamomentofsilence。Finallythegreatbuildingfell,ashapelessheapofruins,withanoiselikethatofadozenfieldpieces。Wewantedtocheerbutrestrainedourselves。Thiswasthenearesttousthatanyshellcame。
TherewasonlyonesectionoftheCityinreachofourgunsandthiswasnearlydestroyed。Fireshadcometocompletetheworkbegunbytheshells。Outsideoftheboundariesofthisregion,thepeoplefeltthemselvesassafeasinoneofournorthernCitiesto—day。Theyhadanabidingfaiththattheywereclearoutofreachofanyartillerythatwecouldmount。Ilearnedafterwardsfromsomeoftheprisoners,whowentintoCharlestonaheadofus,andwerecampedontheracecourseoutsideoftheCity,thatonedayourfellowsthrewashellclearovertheCitytothisracecourse。Therewasanimmediateandterriblepanicamongthecitizens。Theythoughtwehadmountedsomenewgunsofincreasedrange,andnowthewholecitymustgo。Butthenextshellfellinsidetheestablishedlimits,andthosefollowingwereequallywellbehaved,sothatthepanicabated。Ihaveneverheardanyexplanationofthematter。
Itmayhavebeensomefreakofthegun—squad,tryingtheeffectofanextrachargeofpowder。Hadourpeopleknownofitssignaleffect,theycouldhavedepopulatedtheplaceinafewhours。
Thewholematterimpressedmequeerly。TheonlyartilleryIhadeverseeninactionwerefieldpieces。Theymadeanearsplittingcrashwhentheyweredischarged,andtherewaslikelytobeoceansoftroubleforeverybodyinthatneighborhoodaboutthattime。Ireasonedfromthisthatbiggergunsmadeaproportionallygreateramountofnoise,andbredaninfinitelylargerquantityoftrouble。NowIwashearingthegiantsoftheworld\'sordnance,andtheywerenotsoimpressiveasalivelybatteryofthree—inchrifles。Theirreportsdidnotthreatentoshattereverything,buthadadullresonance,somethinglikethatproducedbystrikinganemptybarrelwithawoodenmaul。Theirshellsdidnotcomeatoneinthatwildly,ferociousway,withwhichamissilefromasix—
pounderconvinceseveryfellowinalonglineofbattlethatheistheidenticaloneitismeantfor,buttheymeanderedoverinalazy,leisurelymanner,asiftimewasnoobjectandnopersonwouldfeelputoutathavingtowaitforthem。Then,theideaoffiringeveryquarterofanhourforayear——fixingupajobforalifetime,asAndrewsexpressedit,——andofbeingfiredbackatforanhourat9o\'clockeverymorningandevening;offiftythousandpeoplegoingonbuyingandselling,eating,drinkingandsleeping,havingdances,drivesandballs,marryingandgivinginmarriage,allwithinafewhundredyardsofwheretheshellswerefalling—struckmeasamostsingularmethodofconductingwarfare。
Wereceivednorationsuntilthedayafterourarrival,andthentheywerescanty,thoughfairinquality。Wewerebythistimesohungryandfaintthatwecouldhardlymove。Wedidnothingforhoursbutliearoundonthegroundandtrytoforgethowfamishedwewere。Attheannouncementofrations,manyactedasifcrazy,anditwasallthattheSergeantscoulddotorestraintheimpatientmobfromtearingthefoodawayanddevouringit,whentheyweretryingtodivideitout。Verymany——perhapsthirty——diedduringthenightandmorning。NoblameforthisisattachedtotheCharlestonians。TheydistinguishedthemselvesfromthecitizensofeveryotherplaceintheSouthernConfederacywherewehadbeen,bymakingeffortstorelieveourcondition。Theysentquiteaquantityoffoodtous,andtheSistersofCharitycameamongus,seekingandministeringtothesick。Ibelieveourexperiencewastheusualone。TheprisonerswhopassedthroughCharlestonbeforeusallspokeveryhighlyofthekindnessshownthembythecitizensthere。
WeremainedinCharlestonbutafewdays。Onenightweweremarcheddowntoaricketydepot,andputaboardastillmorericketytrain。WhenmorningcamewefoundourselvesrunningnorthwardthroughapinebarrencountrythatresembledsomewhatthatinGeorgia,exceptthatthepinewasshort—leaved,therewasmoreoakandotherhardwoods,andthevegetationgenerallyassumedamoreNorthernlook。Wehadbeenputintocloseboxcars,withguardsatthedoorsandontop。Duringthenightquiteanumberoftheboys,whohadfabricatedlittlesawsoutofcaseknivesandfragmentsofhoopiron,cutholesthroughthebottomsofthecars,throughwhichtheydroppedtothegroundandescaped,butweremostlyrecapturedafterseveraldays。Therewasnoholecutinourcar,andsoAndrewsandIstaidin。
JustatduskwecametotheinsignificantvillageofFlorence,thejunctionoftheroadleadingfromCharlestontoCherawwiththatrunningfromWilmingtontoKingsville。ItwasaboutonehundredandtwentymilesfromCharleston,andthesamedistancefromWilmington。Asourtrainranthroughacutnearthejunctionadarkystoodbythetrackgazingatuscuriously。Whenthetrainhadnearlypassedhimhestartedtorunupthebank。Intheimperfectlighttheguardsmistookhimforoneofuswhohadjumpedfromthetrain。Theyallfired,andtheunluckynegrofell,piercedbyascoreofbullets。
Thatnightwecampedintheopenfield。Whenmorningcamewesaw,afewhundredyardsfromus,aStockadeofroughlogs,withguardsstationedaroundit。Itwasanotherprisonpen。Theywerejustbringingthedeadout,andtwomenweretossingthebodiesupintothefour—horsewagonwhichhauledthemawayforburial。Themenweregoingabouttheirbusinessascoollyasifloadingslaughteredhogs。\'Oneofthemwouldcatchthebodybythefeet,andtheotherbythearms。Theywouldgiveitaswing——\"One,two,three,\"andupitwouldgointothewagon。Thisfilledheapingfullwithcorpses,anegromountedthewheelhorse,graspedthelines,andshoutedtohisanimals:
\"Now,walkoffonyourtails,boys。\"
Thehorsesstrained,thewagonmoved,anditsloadofwhatwereoncegallant,devotedsoldiers,wascartedofftonamelessgraves。Thiswasapartofthedailymorningroutine。
Aswestoodlookingatthesickeninglyfamiliararchitectureoftheprisonpen,aSeventhIndianiannearmesaid,intonesofwearisomedisgust:
Well,thisSouthernConfederacyisthed———destcountrytostandlogsonendonGodAlmighty\'sfootstool。\"
CHAPTERLXVIII。
FIRSTDAYSATFLORENCE——INTRODUCTIONTOLIEUTENANTBARRETT,THERED—
HEADEDKEEPER——ABRIEFDESCRIPTIONOFOURNEWQUARTERS——WINDERSMALIGN
INFLUENCEMANIFEST。
ItdidnotrequireaveryacutecomprehensiontounderstandthattheStockadeatwhichweweregazingwaslikelytobeourabidingplaceforsomeindefiniteperiodinthefuture。
Asusual,thisdiscoverywasthedeath—warrantofmanywhoseliveshadonlybeenprolongedbythehopingagainsthopethatthemovementwouldterminateinsideourlines。Whentheportentouspalisadesshowedtoafatalcertaintythatthewordofpromisehadbeenbrokentotheirhearts,theygaveupthestrugglewearily,laybackonthefrozenground,anddied。
AndrewsandIwerenotinthehumorfordyingjustthen。Thelongimprisonment,theprivationsofhunger,thescourgingbytheelements,thedeathoffouroutofeveryfiveofournumberhadindeeddulledandstupefiedus——bredanindifferencetoourownsufferingandaseemingcallositytothatofothers,buttherestillburnedinourhearts,andintheheartsofeveryoneaboutus,adull,sullen,smolderingfireofhateanddefiancetowardeverythingRebel,andalustforrevengeuponthosewhohadshoweredwoesuponourheads。Therewaslittlefearofdeath;
eventheKingofTerrorslosesmostofhisawfulcharacterupontolerablycloseacquaintance,andwehadbeenonveryintimatetermswithhimforayearnow。Hewasaconstantvisitor,whodroppedinuponusatallhoursofthedayandnight,andwouldnotbedeniedtoanyone。
Sincemyentryintoprisonfullyfifteenthousandboyshaddiedaroundme,andinnooneofthemhadIseentheleast,dreadorreluctancetogo。Ibelievethisisgenerallytrueofdeathbydisease,everywhere。
Oureverkindlymother,Nature,onlymakesusdreaddeathwhenshedesiresustopreservelife。Whenshesummonsushenceshetenderlyprovidesthatweshallwillinglyobeythecall。
Morethanforanythingelse,wewantedtolivenowtotriumphovertheRebels。Tosimplydiewouldbeoflittleimportance,buttodieunrevengedwouldbefearful。Ifwe,thedespised,thecontemned,theinsulted,thestarvedandmaltreated;couldlivetocomebacktoouroppressorsasthearmedministersofretribution,terribleintheremembranceofthewrongsofourselvesandcomrade\'s,irresistibleastheagentsofheavenlyjustice,andmeteouttothemthatBiblicalreturnofseven—foldofwhattheyhadmeasuredouttous,thenwewouldbecontenttogotodeathafterwards。Hadthethrice—accursedConfederacyandourmalignantgaolersmillionsoflives,ourgreatrevengewouldhavestomachforthemall。
TheDecembermorningwasgrayandleaden;dull,somber,snow—ladencloudssweptacrosstheskybeforethesoughingwind。
Theground,frozenhardandstiff,cutandhurtourbarefeetateverystep;anicybreezedroveinthroughtheholesinourrags,andsmoteourbodieslikeblowsfromsticks。ThetreesandshrubberyaroundwereasnakedandforlornasintheNorthinthedaysofearlyWinterbeforethesnowcomes。
OverandaroundushunglikeacoldmiasmathesickeningodorpeculiartoSouthernforestsinWintertime。
Outofthenaked,repelling,unlovelyearthrosetheStockade,inhideousugliness。Atthegatethetwomencontinuedattheirmonotonouslaboroftossingthedeadofthepreviousdayintothewagon—heavingintothatrudehearsetheinanimateremainsthathadoncetemptedgallant,manlyhearts,glowingwithpatriotismanddevotiontocountry——pilinguplistlesslyandwearily,inamassofnameless,emaciatedcorpses,flutteringwithrags,andswarmingwithvermin,thepride,thejoyofahundredfairNorthernhomes,whoselighthadnowgoneoutforever。
Aroundtheprisonwallsshambledtheguards,blanketedlikeIndians,andwithfacesandheartsofwolves。OtherRebels——alsocladindingybutternut——slouchedaroundlazily,crouchedoverdiminutivefires,andtalkedidlegossipinthebroadestof\"nigger\"dialect。Officersswelledandstruttedhitherandthither,andnegroservantsloiteredaround,strivingtospreadtheleastamountofworkoverthegreatestamountoftime。
WhileIstoodgazingingloomysilenceatthedepressingsurroundingsAndrews,lessspeculativeandmorepractical,sawagood—sizedpinestumpnearby,whichhadsomuchoftheearthwashedawayfromitthatitlookedasifitcouldbereadilypulledup。Wehadhadbitterexperienceinotherprisonsastothevalueofwood,andAndrewsreasonedthataswewouldbelikelytohavearepetitionofthisintheStockadewewereabouttoenter,weshouldmakeanefforttosecurethestump。Webothattackedit,andafteragreatdealofhardwork,succeededinuprootingit。Itwasveryluckythatwedid,sinceitwasthegreatesthelpinpreservingourlivesthroughthethreelongmonthsthatweremainedatFlorence。
Whilewewerearrangingourstumpsoastocarryittothebestadvantage,avulgar—facedman,withfieryredhair,andwearingonhiscollartheyellowbarsofaLieutenant,approached。ThiswasLieutenantBarrett,commandantoftheinterioroftheprison,andamoreinhumanwretcheventhanCaptainWirz,becausehehadalittlemorebrainsthanthecommandantatAndersonville,andthisextraintellectwaswhollydevotedtocruelty。Ashecamenearhecommanded,inloud,brutaltones:
\"Attention,Prisoners！\"
Weallstoodupandfellinintworanks。Saidhe:
\"Bycompanies,rightwheel,march！\"
Thiswassimplypreposterous。Aseverysoldierknows,wheelingbycompaniesisoneofthemostdifficultofmanuvers,andrequiressomepreparationofabattalionbeforeattemptingtoexecuteit。Ourthousandwasmadeupofinfantry,cavalryandartillery,representing,perhaps,onehundreddifferentregiments。Wehadnotbeendividedoffintocompanies,andwereencumberedwithblankets,tents,cookingutensils,wood,etc。,whichpreventedourmovingwithsuchfreedomastomakeacompanywheel,evenhadwebeendividedupintocompaniesanddrilledforthemaneuver。Theattempttoobeythecommandwas,ofcourse,aludicrousfailure。TheRebelofficersstandingnearBarrettlaughedopenlyathisstupidityingivingsuchanorder,buthewasfurious。Hehurledatusatorrentofthevilestabusethecorruptimaginationofmancanconceive,andsworeuntilhewasfairlyblackintheface。Hefiredhisrevolveroffoverourheads,andshriekedandshouteduntilhehadtostopfromsheerexhaustion。Anotherofficertookcommandthen,andmarchedusintoprison。
WefoundthisasmallcopyofAndersonville。Therewasastreamrunningnorthandsouth,oneithersideofwhichwasaswamp。AStockadeofroughlogs,withthebarkstillon,inclosedseveralacres。ThefrontoftheprisonwastowardtheWest。Apieceofartillerystoodbeforethegate,andaplatformateachcornerboreagun,elevatedhighenoughtorakethewholeinsideoftheprison。Amanstoodbehindeachofthesegunscontinually,soastoopenwiththematanymoment。Theearthwasthrownupagainsttheoutsideofthepalisadesinahighembankment,alongthetopofwhichtheguardsondutywalked,itbeinghighenoughtoelevatetheirhead,shouldersandbreastsabovethetopsofthelogs。
Insidetheinevitabledead—linewastracedbyrunningafurrowaroundtheprison—twentyfeetfromtheStockade——withaplow。InonerespectitwasanimprovementonAndersonville:regularstreetswerelaidoff,sothatmotionaboutthecampwaspossible,andcleanlinesswaspromoted。Also,thecrowdinsidewasnotsodenseasatCampSumter。
Theprisonersweredividedintohundredsandthousands,withSergeantsattheheadsofthedivisions。Averygoodpoliceforce—organizedandofficeredbytheprisoners——maintainedorderandpreventedcrime。Theftsandotheroffenseswerepunished,asatAndersonville,bytheChiefofPolicesentencingtheoffenderstobespankedortiedup。
WefoundverymanyofourAndersonvilleacquaintancesinside,andforseveraldayscomparisonsofexperiencewereinorder。TheyhadleftAndersonvilleafewdaysafterus,butweretakentoCharlestoninsteadofSavannah。ThesamestoryofexchangewasdinnedintotheirearsuntiltheyarrivedatCharleston,whenthetruthwastoldthem,thatnoexchangewascontemplated,andthattheyhadbeendeceivedforthepurposeofgettingthemsafelyoutofreachofSherman。
StilltheyweretreatedwellinCharleston——betterthantheybadbeenanywhereelse。Intelligentphysicianshadvisitedthesick,prescribedforthem,furnishedthemwithpropermedicines,andadmittedtheworstcasestothehospital,wheretheyweregivensomethingofthecarethatonewouldexpectinsuchaninstitution。Wheatbread,molassesandricewereissuedtothem,andalsoafewspoonfulsofvinegar,daily,whichwereverygratefultothemintheirscorbuticcondition。Thecitizenssentinclothing,foodandvegetables。TheSistersofCharitywereindefatigableinministeringtothesickanddying。Altogether,theirrecollectionsoftheplacewerequitepleasant。
DespitethedisagreeableprominencewhichtheCityhadintheSecessionmovement,therewasaverystrongUnionelementthere,andmanymenfoundopportunitytodofavorstotheprisonersandrevealtothemhowmuchtheyabhorredSecession。
AftertheyhadbeeninCharlestonafortnightormore,theyellowfeverbrokeoutintheCity,andsoonextendeditsravagestotheprisoners,quiteanumberdyingfromit。
EarlyinOctobertheyhadbeensentawayfromtheCitytotheirpresentlocation,whichwasthenapieceofforestland。Therewasnostockadeorotherenclosureaboutthem,andonenighttheyforcedtheguard—line,aboutfifteenhundredescaping,underaprettysharpfirefromtheguards。Aftergettingouttheyscattered,eachgrouptakingadifferentroute,someseekingBeaufort,andotherplacesalongtheseaboard,andtheresttryingtogainthemountains。ThewholeStatewasthrownintothegreatestperturbationbytheoccurrence。Thepapersmagnifiedtheproportionoftheoutbreak,andlaudedfulsomelythegallantryoftheguardsinendeavoringtowithstandthedesperateassaultsofthefrenziedYankees。Thepeoplewerewroughtupintothehighestalarmastooutragesandexcessesthattheseflyingdesperadosmightbeexpectedtocommit。OnewouldthinkthatanotherGrecianhorse,introducedintotheheartoftheConfederateTroy,hadletoutitsfatalbandofarmedmen。
Allgoodcitizenswereenjoinedtoturnoutandassistinarrestingtherunaways。Thevigilanceofallpatrollingwasredoubled,andsuchwastheeffectivenessofthemeasurestakenthatbeforeamonthnearlyeveryoneofthefugitiveshadbeenretakenandsentbacktoFlorence。Fewofthesecomplainedofanyspecialill—treatmentbytheircaptors,whilemanyreportedfrequentactsofkindness,especiallywhentheircaptorsbelongedtothemiddleandupperclasses。Thelow—downclass——theclay—
eaters——ontheotherhand,almostalwaysabusedtheirprisoners,andsometimes,itisprettycertain,murderedthemincoldblood。
