andersonville-第88节
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yesterday； sir？〃
〃I never heard anyone call my name。〃 Where were you？〃
〃I ran away down into the swamp。〃
〃Were you re…captured and brought back？〃
〃No； sir； I came back of my own accord。〃
〃What do you mean by this evasion？〃
〃I am not trying to evade； sir； or I might not have been here now。 The
truth is； Captain； I have been in many prisons since my capture； and have
been treated very badly in all of them； until I came here。〃
〃I then explained to him freely my escape from Andersonville； and my
subsequent re…capture； how it was that I had played 〃old soldier〃 etc。
〃Now；〃 said I； 〃Captain； as long as I am a prisoner of war； I wish to
stay with you； or under your command。 This is my reason for running away
yesterday； when I felt confident that if I did not do so I would be
returned under Wirz's command； and； if I had been so returned； I would
have killed myself rather than submit to the untold tortures which he
would have put me to； for having the audacity to attempt an escape from
him。〃
The Captain's attention was here called to some other matters in hand；
and I was sent back into the Stockade with a command very pleasantly
given； that I should stay there until ordered out； which I very
gratefully promised to do； and did。 This was the last chance I ever had
to talk to Captain Hurtrell； to my great sorrow； for I had really formed
a liking for the man； notwithstanding the fact that he was a Rebel； and a
commander of prisoners。
The next day we all had to leave Macon。 Whether we were able or not； the
order was imperative。 Great was my joy when I learned that we were on
the way to Savannah and not to Andersonville。 We traveled over the same
road； so well described in one of your articles on Andersonville； and
arrived in Savannah sometime in the afternoon of the 21st day of
November； 1864。 Our squad was placed in some barracks and confined there
until the next day。 I was sick at the time； so sick in fact； that I
could hardly hold my head up。 Soon after； we were taken to the Florida
depot； as they told us； to be shipped to some prison in those dismal
swamps。 I came near fainting when this was told to us； for I was
confident that I could not survive another siege of prison life； if it
was anything to compare to…what I had already suffered。 When we arrived
at the depot； it was raining。 The officer in charge of us wanted to know
what train to put us on； for there were two； if not three； trains waiting
orders to start。 He was told to march us on to a certain flat car； near
by； but before giving the order he demanded a receipt for us； which the
train officer refused。 We were accordingly taken back to our quarters；
which proved to be a most fortunate circumstance。
On the 23d day of November； to our great relief； we were called upon to
sign a parole preparatory to being sent down the river on the flat…boat
to our exchange ships； then lying in the harbor。 When I say we； I mean
those of us that had recently come from Macon； and a few others； who had
also been fortunate in reaching Savannah in small squads。 The other poor
fellows； who had already been loaded on the trains； were taken away to
Florida； and many of them never lived to return。 On the 24th those of us
who had been paroled were taken on board our ships； and were once more
safely housed under that great； glorious and beautiful Star Spangled
Banner。 Long may she wave。
CHAPTER LXIII。
DREARY WEATHERTHE COLD RAINS DISTRESS ALL AND KILL HUNDREDSEXCHANGE
OF TEN THOUSAND SICKCAPTAIN BOWES TURNS A PRETTY； BUT NOT VERY HONEST；
PENNY。
As November wore away long…continued； chill； searching rains desolated
our days and nights。 。 The great； cold drops pelted down slowly；
dismally； and incessantly。 Each seemed to beat through our emaciated
frames against the very marrow of our bones； and to be battering its way
remorselessly into the citadel of life； like the cruel drops that fell
from the basin of the inquisitors upon the firmly…fastened head of their
victim； until his reason fled； and the death…agony cramped his heart to
stillness。
The lagging； leaden hours were inexpressibly dreary。 Compared with many
others； we were quite comfortable； as our hut protected us from the
actual beating of the rain upon our bodies； but we were much more
miserable than under the sweltering heat of Andersonville； as we lay
almost naked upon our bed of pine leaves； shivering in the raw； rasping
air； and looked out over acres of wretches lying dumbly on the sodden
sand； receiving the benumbing drench of the sullen skies without a groan
or a motion。
It was enough to kill healthy； vigorous men； active and resolute； with
bodies well…nourished and well clothed； and with minds vivacious and
hopeful； to stand these day…and…night…long solid drenchings。 No one can
imagine how fatal it was to boys whose vitality was sapped by long months
in Andersonville； by coarse； meager； changeless food； by groveling on the
bare earth； and by hopelessness as to any improvement of condition。
Fever； rheumatism； throat and lung diseases and despair now came to
complete the work begun by scurvy； dysentery and gangrene； in
Andersonville。
Hundreds； weary of the long struggle； and of hoping against hope； laid
themselves down and yielded to their fate。 In the six weeks that we were
at Millen； one man in every ten died。 The ghostly pines there sigh over
the unnoted graves of seven hundred boys； for whom life's morning closed
in the gloomiest shadows。 As many as would form a splendid regimentas
many as constitute the first born of a populous Citymore than three
times as many as were slain outright on our side in the bloody battle of
Franklin； succumbed to this new hardship。 The country for which they
died does not even have a record of their names。 They were simply
blotted out of existence； they became as though they had never been。
About the middle of the month the Rebels yielded to the importunities of
our Government so far as to agree to exchange ten thousand sick。 The
Rebel Surgeons took praiseworthy care that our Government should profit
as little as possible by this； by sending every hopeless case； every man
whose lease of life was not likely to extend much beyond his reaching the
parole boat。 If he once reached our receiving officers it was all that
was necessary； he counted to them as much as if he had been a Goliath。
A very large portion of those sent through died on the way to our lines；
or within a few hours after their transports at being once more under the
old Stars and Stripes had moderated。
The sending of the sick through gave our commandantCaptain Bowesa
fine opportunity to fill his pockets； by conniving at the passage of well
men。 There was still considerable money in the hands of a few prisoners。
All this； and more； too； were they willing to give for their lives。
In the first batch that went away were two of the leading sutlers at
Andersonville； who had accumulated perhaps one thousand dollars each by
their shrewd and successful bartering。 It was generally believed that
they gave every cent to Bowes for the privilege of leaving。 I know
nothing of the truth of this； but I am reasonably certain that they paid
him very handsomely。
Soon we heard that one hundred and fifty dollars each had been sufficient
to buy some men out； then one hundred； seventy…five； fifty； thirty；
twenty； ten； and at last five dollars。 Whether the upright Bowes drew
the line at the latter figure； and refused to sell his honor for less
than the ruling rates of a street…walker's virtue； I know not。 It was
the lowest quotation that came to my knowledge； but he may have gone
cheaper。 I have always observed that when men or women begin to traffic
in themselves； their price falls as rapidly as that of a piece of tainted
meat in hot weather。 If one could buy them at the rate they wind up
with； and sell them at their first price； there would be room for an
enormous profit。
The cheapest I ever knew a Rebel officer to be bought was some weeks
after this at Florence。 The sick exchange was still going on。 I have
before spoken of the Rebel passion for bright gilt buttons。 It used to
be a proverbial comment upon the small treasons that were of daily
occurrence on both sides； that you could buy the soul of a mean man in
our crowd for a pint of corn meal； and the soul of a Rebel guard for a
half dozen brass buttons。 A boy of the Fifth…fourth Ohio； whose home was
at or near Lima； O。； wore a blue vest； with the gilt； bright…trimmed
buttons of a staff officer。 The Rebel Surgeon who was examining the sick
for exchange saw the buttons and admired them very much。 The boy stepped
back； borrowed a knife from a comrade； cut the buttons off； and handed
them to the Doctor。
〃All right； sir；〃 said he as his itching palm closed over the coveted
ornaments； 〃you can pass；〃 and pass he did to home and friends。
Captain Bowes's merchandizing in the matter of exchange was as open as
the issuing of rations。 His agent in conducting the bargaining was a
Raidera New York gambler and stool…pigeonwhom we called 〃Mattie。〃
He dealt quite fairly； for several times when the exchange was
i
