andersonville-第28章

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Andersonville　from　dysenteric　diseases　alone。

The　loathsome　maggot　flies　swarmed　about　the　bakery；　and　dropped　into　the
trough　where　the　dough　was　being　mixed；　so　that　it　was　rare　to　get　a
ration　of　bread　not　contaminated　with　a　few　of　them。

It　was　not　long　until　the　bakery　became　inadequate　to　supply　bread　for
all　the　prisoners。　　Then　great　iron　kettles　were　set；　and　mush　was　issued
to　a　number　of　detachments；　instead　of　bread。　　There　was　not　so　much
cleanliness　and　care　in　preparing　this　as　a　farmer　shows　in　cooking　food
for　stock。　　A　deep　wagon…bed　would　be　shoveled　full　of　the　smoking　paste；
which　was　then　hailed　inside　and　issued　out　to　the　detachments；　the
latter　receiving　it　on　blankets；　pieces　of　shelter　tents；　or；　lacking
even　these；　upon　the　bare　sand。

As　still　more　prisoners　came　in；　neither　bread　nor　mush　could　be
furnished　them；　and　a　part　of　the　detachments　received　their　rations　in
meal。　　Earnest　solicitation　at　length　resulted　in　having　occasional
scanty　issues　of　wood　to　cook　this　with。　　My　detachment　was　allowed　to
choose　which　it　would　takebread；　mush　or　meal。　　It　took　the　latter。

Cooking　the　meal　was　the　topic　of　daily　interest。　　There　were　three　ways
of　doing　it：　Bread；　mush　and　〃dumplings。〃　　In　the　latter　the　meal　was
dampened　until　it　would　hold　together；　and　was　rolled　into　little　balls；
the　size　of　marbles；　which　were　then　boiled。　　The　bread　was　the　most
satisfactory　and　nourishing；　the　mush　the　bulkiestit　made　a　bigger
show；　but　did　not　stay　with　one　so　long。　　The　dumplings　held　an
intermediate　positionthe　water　in　which　they　were　boiled　becoming　a
sort　of　a　broth　that　helped　to　stay　the　stomach。　　We　received　no　salt；
as　a　rule。　　No　one　knows　the　intense　longing　for　this；　when　one　goes
without　it　for　a　while。　　When；　after　a　privation　of　weeks　we　would　get　a
teaspoonful　of　salt　apiece；　it　seemed　as　if　every　muscle　in　our　bodies
was　invigorated。　　We　traded　buttons　to　the　guards　for　red　peppers；　and
made　our　mush；　or　bread；　or　dumplings；　hot　with　the　fiery…pods；　in　hopes
that　this　would　make　up　for　the　lack　of　salt；　but　it　was　a　failure。
One　pinch　of　salt　was　worth　all　the　pepper　pods　in　the　Southern
Confederacy。　　My　little　squadnow　diminished　by　death　from　five　to
threecooked　our　rations　together　to　economize　wood　and　waste　of　meal；
and　quarreled　among；　ourselves　daily　as　to　whether　the　joint　stock　should
be　converted　into　bread；　mush　or　dumplings。　　The　decision　depended　upon
the　state　of　the　stomach。　　If　very　hungry；　we　made　mush；　if　less
famished；　dumplings；　if　disposed　to　weigh　matters；　bread。

This　may　seem　a　trifling　matter；　but　it　was　far　from　it。　　We　all　remember
the　man　who　was　very　fond　of　white　beans；　but　after　having　fifty　or　sixty
meals　of　them　in　succession；　began　to　find　a　suspicion　of　monotony　in　the
provender。　　We　had　now　six　months　of　unvarying　diet　of　corn　meal　and
water；　and　even　so　slight　a　change　as　a　variation　in　the　way　of　combining
the　two　was　an　agreeable　novelty。

At　the　end　of　June　there　were　twenty…six　thousand　three　hundred　and
sixty…seven　prisoners　in　the　Stockade；　and　one　thousand　two　hundredjust
forty　per　dayhad　died　during　the　month。




CHAPTER　XXXI

DYING　BY　INCHESSEITZ；　THE　SLOW；　AND　HIS　DEATHSTIGGALL　AND　EMERSON
RAVAGES　ON　THE　SCURVY。

May　and　June　made　sad　havoc　in　the　already　thin　ranks　of　our　battalion。
Nearly　a　score　died　in　my　companyLand　the　other　companies　suffered
proportionately。　　Among　the　first　to　die　of　my　company　comrades；　was　a
genial　little　Corporal；　〃Billy〃　Phillipswho　was　a　favorite　with　us　all。
Everything　was　done　for　him　that　kindness　could　suggest；　but　it　was　of
little　avail。　　Then　〃Bruno〃　Weeksa　young　boy；　the　son　of　a　preacher；
who　had　run　away　from　his　home　in　Fulton　County；　Ohio；　to　join　us；
succumbed　to　hardship　and　privation。

The　next　to　go　was　good…natured；　harmless　Victor　Seitz；　a　Detroit　cigar
maker；　a　German；　and　one　of　the　slowest　of　created　mortals。　　How　he　ever
came　to　go　into　the　cavalry　was　beyond　the　wildest　surmises　of　his
comrades。　　Why　his　supernatural　slowness　and　clumsiness　did　not　result　in
his　being　killed　at　least　once　a　day；　while　in　the　service；　was　even
still　farther　beyond　the　power　of　conjecture。　　No　accident　ever　happened
in　the　company　that　Seitz　did　not　have　some　share　in。　　Did　a　horse　fall
on　a　slippery　road；　it　was　almost　sure　to　be　Seitz's；　and　that　imported
son　of　the　Fatherland　was　equally　sure　to　be　caught　under　him。　　Did
somebody　tumble　over　a　bank　of　a　dark　night；　it　was　Seitz　that　we　soon
heard　making　his　way　back；　swearing　in　deep　German　gutterals；　with
frequent　allusion　to　'tausend　teuflin。'　　Did　a　shanty　blow　down；　we　ran
over　and　pulled　Seitz　out　of　the　debris；　when　he　would　exclaim：

〃Zo！　　dot　vos　pretty　vunny　now；　ain't　it？〃

And　as　he　surveyed　the　scene　of　his　trouble　with　true　German　phlegm；　he
would　fish　a　brier…wood　pipe　from　the　recesses　of　his　pockets；　fill　it
with　tobacco；　and　go　plodding　off　in　a　cloud　of　smoke　in　search　of　some
fresh　way　to　narrowly　escape　destruction。　　He　did　not　know　enough　about
horses　to　put　a　snaffle…bit　in　one's　mouth；　and　yet　he　would　draw　the
friskiest；　most　mettlesome　animal　in　the　corral；　upon　whose　back　he　was
scarcely　more　at　home　than　he　would　be　upon　a　slack　rope。　　It　was　no
uncommon　thing　to　see　a　horse　break　out　of　ranks；　and　go　past　the
battalion　like　the　wind；　with　poor　Seitz　clinging　to　his　mane　like　the
traditional　grim　Death　to　a　deceased　African。　　We　then　knew　that　Seitz
had　thoughtlessly　sunk　the　keen　spurs　he　would　persist　in　wearing；　deep
into　the　flanks　of　his　high…mettled　animal。

These　accidents　became　so　much　a　matter…of…course　that　when　anything
unusual　occurred　in　the　company　our　first　impulse　was　to　go　and　help
Seitz　out。

When　the　bugle　sounded　〃boots　and　saddles；〃　the　rest　of　us　would　pack　up；
mount；　〃count　off　by　fours　from　the　right；〃　and　be　ready　to　move　out
before　the　last　notes　of　the　call　had　fairly　died　away。　　Just　then　we
would　notice　an　unsaddled　horse　still　tied　to　the　hitching　place。　　It　was
Seitz's；　and　that　worthy　would　be　seen　approaching；　pipe　in　mouth；　and
bridle　in　hand；　with　calm；　equable　steps；　as　if　any　time　before　the
expiration　of　his　enlistment　would　be　soon　enough　to　accomplish　the
saddling　of　his　steed。　　A　chorus　of　impatient　and　derisive　remarks　would
go　up　from　his　impatient　comrades：

〃For　heaven's　sake；　Seitz；　hurry　up！〃

〃Seitz！　　you　are　like　a　cow's　tailalways　behind！〃

〃Seitz；　you　are　slower　than　the　second　coming　of　the　Savior！〃

〃Christmas　is　a　railroad　train　alongside　of　you；　Seitz！〃

〃If　you　ain't　on　that　horse　in　half　a　second；　Seitz；　we'll　go　off　and
leave　you；　and　the　Johnnies　will　skin　you　alive！〃　etc。；　etc。

Not　a　ripple　of　emotion　would　roll　over　Seitz's　placid　features　under　the
sharpest　of　these　objurgations。　　At　last；　losing　all　patience；　two　or
three　boys　would　dismount；　run　to　Seitz's　horse；　pack；　saddle　and　bridle
him；　as　if　he　were　struck　with　a　whirlwind。　　Then　Seitz　would　mount；　and
we　would　move　'off。

For　all　this；　we　liked　him。　　His　good　nature　was　boundless；　and　his
disposition　to　oblige　equal　to　the　severest　test。　　He　did　not　lack　a
grain　of　his　full　share　of　the　calm；　steadfast　courage　of　his　race；　and
would　stay　where　he　was　put；　though　Erebus　yawned　and　bade　him　fly。
He　was　very　useful；　despite　his　unfitness　for　many　of　the　duties　of　a
cavalryman。　　He　was　a　good　guard；　and　always　ready　to　take　charge　of
prisoners；　or　be　sentry　around　wagons　or　a　forage　pile…duties　that　most
of　the　boys　cordially　hated。

But　he　came　into　the　last　trouble　at　Andersonville。　　He　stood　up　pretty
well　under　the　hardships　of　Belle　Isle；　but　lost　his　cheerfulnesshis
unrepining　calmnessafter　a　few　weeks　in　the　Stockade。　　One　day　we
remembered　that　none　of　us　had　seen　him　for　several　days；　and　we　started
in　search　of　him。　　We　found　him　in　a　distant　part　of　the　camp；　lying　near
the　Dead　Line。　　His　long　fair　hair　was　matted　together；　his　blue　eyes　had
the　flush　of　fever。　　Every　part　of　his　clothing　was　gray　with　the　lice
that　were　hastening　his　death　with　their　torments。　　He　uttered　the　first
complaint　I　ever　heard　him　make；　as　I　came　up　to　him：

〃My　Gott；　M　；　dis　is　worse　dun　a　dog's　det！〃

In　a　few　days　we　gave　him　all　the　funeral　in　our　power；　tied　his　big　toes
together；　folded　his　hands　across　his　breast；　pinned　to　his　shirt　a　slip
of　paper；　upon　which　was　written：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　VICTOR　E。　SEITZ；
　　　　　　　　　　Co。　L；　Sixteenth　Illinois　Cavalry。

And　laid　his　body　at　the　South　Gate；　beside　some　scores　of　others　that
were　awaiting　the　arrival　of　the　six…mule　wagon　that　hauled　them　to　the
Potter's　Field；　which　was　to　be　their　last　resting…place。

John　Emerson　and　John　Stiggall；　of　my　company；　were　two　Norwegian　boys；
and　fine　specimens　of　their　raceintelligent；　faithful；　and　always　ready
for　duty。　　They　had　an　affection　for　each　other　that　reminded　one　of　the
stories　told　of　the　sworn　attachment　and　the　unfailing　devotion　that　were
common　between　two　Gothic　warrior　youths。　　Coming　into　Andersonville　some
little　time　after　the　rest　of　us；　they　found　all　the　desirable　ground
taken　up；　and　they　established　their　quarters　at　the　base　of　the　hill；
near　the　Swamp。　　There　they　dug　a　little　hole　to　lie　in；　and　put　in　a
layer　of　pine　leaves。　　Between　them　they　had　an　overcoat　and　a　blanket。
At　night　they　lay　upon　the　coat　and　covered　themselves　with　the　blanket。
By　day　the　blanket　served　as　a　tent。　　The　hardships　and　annoyances　that
we　endured　made　everybody　else　cross　and　irritable。　　At　times　it　seemed
impossible　to　say　or　listen　to　pleasant　words；　and　nobody　was　ever
allowed　to　go　any　length　of　time　spoiling　for　a　fight。　　He　could　usually
be　accommodated　upon　the　spot　to　any　extent　he　desired；　by　simply　making
his　wishes　known。　　Even　the　best　of　chums　would　have　sharp　quarrels　and
brisk　fights；　and　this　disposition　increased　as　disease　made　greater
inroads　upon　them。　　I　saw　in　one　instance　two　brothers…both　of　whom　died
the　next　day　of　scurvyand　who　were　so　helpless　as　to　be　unable　to　rise；
pull　themselves　up　on　their　knees　by　clenching　the　poles　of　their　tents
in　order　to　strike　each　other　with　clubs；　and　they　kept　striking　until
the　bystanders　interfered　and　took　their　weapons　away　from　them。

But　Stiggall　and　Emerson　never　quarreled　with　each　other。　　Their
tenderness　and　affection　were　remarkable　to　witness。　　They　began　to　go
the　way　that　so　many　were　going；　diarrhea　and　scurvy　set　in；　they　wasted
away　till　their　muscles　and　tissues　almost　disappeared；　leaving　the　skin
lying　fiat　upon　the　bones；　but　their　principal　solicitude　was　for　each
other；　and　each　seemed　actually　jealous　of　any　person　else　doing　anything
for　the　other。　　I　met　Emerson　one　day；　with　one　leg　drawn　clear　out　of
shape；　and　rendered　almost　useless　by　the　scurvy。　　He　was　very　weak；　but
was　hobbling　down　towards　the　Creek　with　a　bucket　made　from　a　boot　leg。
I　said：

〃Johnny；　just　give　me　your　bucket。　　I'll　fill　it　for　you；　and　bring　it　up
to　your　tent。〃

〃No；　much　obliged；　M　〃　he　wheezed　out；　〃my　pardner　wants　a　cool
drink；　and　I　guess　I'd　better　get　it　for　him。〃

Stiggall　died　in　June。　　He　was　one　of　the　first　victims　of　scurvy；　which；
in　the　succeeding　few　weeks；　ca