andersonville-第75章

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thing　a　Rebel　said　or　did　returned；　and　they　shouted：

〃No；　no；　let　some　of　us　read　it；　let　Ilinoy'　read　it〃

The　Rebel　looked　around　in　a　puzzled　manner。

〃Who　the　hl　is　'Illinoy！'　　Where　is　he？〃　said　he。

I　saluted　and　said：

〃That's　a　nickname　they　give　me。〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　he；　〃get　up　on　this　stump　and　read　this　parole　to　these
d…d　fools　that　won't　believe　me。〃

I　mounted　the　stump；　took　the　blank　from　his　hand　and　read　it　over
slowly；　giving　as　much　emphasis　as　possible　to　the　all…important　clause
at　the　end〃until　properly　exchanged。〃　　I　then　said：

〃Boys；　this　seems　all　right　to　me；〃　and　they　answered；　with　almost　one
voice：

Yes；　that's　all　right。　　We'll　sign　that。〃

I　was　never　so　proud　of　the　American　soldier…boy　as　at　that　moment。　　They
all　felt　that　signing　that　paper　was　to　give　them　freedom　and　life。　　They
knew　too　well　from　sad　experience　what　the　alternative　was。　　Many　felt
that　unless　released　another　week　would　see　them　in　their　graves。　　All
knew　that　every　day's　stay　in　Rebel　hands　greatly　lessened　their　chances
of　life。　　Yet　in　all　that　thousand　there　was　not　one　voice　in　favor　of
yielding　a　tittle　of　honor　to　save　life。　　They　would　secure　their　freedom
honorably；　or　die　faithfully。　　Remember　that　this　was　a　miscellaneous
crowd　of　boys；　gathered　from　all　sections　of　the　country；　and　from　many
of　whom　no　exalted　conceptions　of　duty　and　honor　were　expected。　　I　wish
some　one　would　point　out　to　me；　on　the　brightest　pages　of　knightly
record；　some　deed　of　fealty　and　truth　that　equals　the　simple　fidelity　of
these　unknown　heros。　　I　do　not　think　that　one　of　them　felt　that　he　was
doing　anything　especially　meritorious。　　He　only　obeyed　the　natural
promptings　of　his　loyal　heart。

The　business　of　signing　the　paroles　was　then　begun　in　earnest。　　We　were
separated　into　squads　according　to　the　first　letters　of　our　names；　all
those　whose　name　began　with　A　being　placed　in　one　squad；　those　beginning
with　B；　in　another；　and　so　on。　　Blank　paroles　for　each　letter　were　spread
out　on　boxes　and　planks　at　different　places；　and　the　signing　went　on
under　the　superintendence　of　a　Rebel　Sergeant　and　one　of　the　prisoners。
The　squad　of　M's　selected　me　to　superintend　the　signing　for　us；　and　I
stood　by　to　direct　the　boys；　and　sign　for　the　very　few　who　could　not
write。　　After　this　was　done　we　fell　into　ranks　again；　called　the　roll　of
the　signers；　and　carefully　compared　the　number　of　men　with　the　number　of
signatures　so　that　nobody　should　pass　unparoled。　　The　oath　was　then
administered　to　us；　and　two　day's　rations　of　corn　meal　and　fresh　beef
were　issued。

This　formality　removed　the　last　lingering　doubt　that　we　had　of　the
exchange　being　a　reality；　and　we　gave　way　to　the　happiest　emotions。
We　cheered　ourselves　hoarse；　and　the　fellows　still　inside　followed　our
example；　as　they　expected　that　they　would　share　our　good　fortune　in　a　day
or　two。

Our　next　performance　was　to　set　to　work；　cook　our　two　days'　rations　at
once　and　eat　them。　　This　was　not　very　difficult；　as　the　whole　supply　for
two　days　would　hardly　make　one　square　meal。　　That　done；　many　of　the　boys
went　to　the　guard　line　and　threw　their　blankets；　clothing；　cooking
utensils；　etc。；　to　their　comrades　who　were　still　inside。　　No　one　thought
they　would　have　any　further　use　for　such　things。

〃To…morrow；　at　this　time；　thank　Heaven；〃　said　a　boy　near　me；　as　he　tossed
his　blanket　and　overcoat　back　to　some　one　inside；　〃we'll　be　in　God's
country；　and　then　I　wouldn't　touch　them　d…d　lousy　old　rags　with　a　ten…
foot　pole。〃

One　of　the　boys　in　the　M　squad　was　a　Maine　infantryman；　who　had　been　with
me　in　the　Pemberton　building；　in　Richmond；　and　had　fashioned　himself　a
little　square　pan　out　of　a　tin　plate　of　a　tobacco　press；　such　as　I　have
described　in　an　earlier　chapter。　　He　had　carried　it　with　him　ever　since；
and　it　was　his　sole　vessel　for　all　purposesfor　cooking；　carrying　water；
drawing　rations；　etc。　　He　had　cherished　it　as　if　it　were　a　farm　or　a　good
situation。　　But　now；　as　he　turned　away　from　signing　his　name　to　the
parole；　he　looked　at　his　faithful　servant　for　a　minute　in　undisguised
contempt；　on　the　eve　of　restoration　to　happier；　better　things；　it　was　a
reminder　of　all　the　petty；　inglorious　contemptible　trials　and　sorrows　he
had　endured；　he　actually　loathed　it　for　its　remembrances；　and　flinging　it
upon　the　ground　he　crushed　it　out　of　all　shape　and　usefulness　with　his
feet；　trampling　upon　it　as　he　would　everything　connected　with　his　prison
life。　　Months　afterward　I　had　to　lend　this　man　my　little　can　to　cook　his
rations　in。

Andrews　and　I　flung　the　bright　new　tin　pans　we　had　stolen　at　Millen
inside　the　line；　to　be　scrambled　for。　　It　was　hard　to　tell　who　were　the
most　surprised　at　their　appearancethe　Rebels　or　our　own　boysfor　few
had　any　idea　that　there　were　such　things　in　the　whole　Confederacy；　and
certainly　none　looked　for　them　in　the　possession　of　two　such　poverty…
stricken　specimens　as　we　were。　　We　thought　it　best　to　retain　possession
of　our　little　can；　spoon；　chess…board；　blanket；　and　overcoat。

As　we　marched　down　and　boarded　the　train；　the　Rebels　confirmed　their
previous　action　by　taking　all　the　guards　from　around　us。　　Only　some　eight
or　ten　were　sent　to　the　train；　and　these　quartered　themselves　in　the
caboose；　and　paid　us　no　further　attention。

The　train　rolled　away　amid　cheering　by　ourselves　and　those　we　left
behind。　　One　thousand　happier　boys　than　we　never　started　on　a　journey。
We　were　going　home。　　That　was　enough　to　wreathe　the　skies　with　glory；　and
fill　the　world　with　sweetness　and　light。　　The　wintry　sun　had　something　of
geniality　and　warmth；　the　landscape　lost　some　of　its　repulsiveness；　the
dreary　palmettos　had　less　of　that　hideousness　which　made　us　regard　them
as　very　fitting　emblems　of　treason。　　We　even　began　to　feel　a　little　good…
humored　contempt　for　our　hateful　little　Brats　of　guards；　and　to　reflect
how　much　vicious　education　and　surroundings　were　to　be　held　responsible
for　their　misdeeds。

We　laughed　and　sang　as　we　rolled　along　toward　Savannahgoing　back　much
faster　than　the　came。　　We　re…told　old　stories；　and　repeated　old　jokes；
that　had　become　wearisome　months　and　months　ago；　but　were　now　freshened
up　and　given　their　olden　pith　by　the　joyousness　of　the　occasion。　　We
revived　and　talked　over　old　schemes　gotten　up　in　the　earlier　days　of
prison　life；　of　what　〃we　would　do　when　we　got　out；〃　but　almost　forgotten
since；　in　the　general　uncertainty　of　ever　getting　out。　　We　exchanged
addresses；　and　promised　faithfully　to　write　to　each　other　and　tell　how　we
found　everything　at　home。

So　the　afternoon　and　night　passed。　　We　were　too　excited　to　sleep；　and
passed　the　hours　watching　the　scenery；　recalling　the　objects　we　had
passed　on　the　way　to　Blackshear；　and　guessing　how　near　we　were　to
Savannah。

Though　we　were　running　along　within　fifteen　or　twenty　miles　of　the　coast；
with　all　our　guards　asleep　in　the　caboose；　no　one　thought　of　escape。
We　could　step　off　the　cars　and　walk　over　to　the　seashore　as　easily　as　a
man　steps　out　of　his　door　and　walks　to　a　neighboring　town；　but　why　should
we？　　Were　we　not　going　directly　to　our　vessels　in　the　harbor　of　Savannah；
and　was　it　not　better　to　do　this；　than　to　take　the　chances　of　escaping；
and　encounter　the　difficulties　of　reaching　our　blockaders！　　We　thought
so；　and　we　staid　on　the　cars。

A　cold；　gray　Winter　morning　was　just　breaking　as　we　reached　Savannah。
Our　train　ran　down　in　the　City；　and　then　whistled　sharply　and　ran　back　a
mile　or　so；　it　repeated　this　maneuver　two　or　three　times；　the　evident
design　being　to　keep　us　on　the　cars　until　the　people　were　ready　to
receive　us。　　Finally　our　engine　ran　with　all　the　speed　she　was　capable
of；　and　as　the　train　dashed　into　the　street　we　found　ourselves　between
two　heavy　lines　of　guards　with　bayonets　fixed。

The　whole　sickening　reality　was　made　apparent　by　one　glance　at　the　guard
line。　　Our　parole　was　a　mockery；　its　only　object　being　to　get　us　to
Savannah　as　easily　as　possible；　and　to　prevent　benefit　from　our　recapture
to　any　of　Sherman's　Raiders；　who　might　make　a　dash　for　the　railroad　while
we　were　in　transit。　　There　had　been　no　intention　of　exchanging　us。　　There
was　no　exchange　going　on　at　Savannah。

After　all；　I　do　not　think　we　felt　the　disappointment　as　keenly　as　the
first　time　we　were　brought　to　Savannah。　　Imprisonment　had　stupefied　us；
we　were　duller　and　more　hopeless。

Ordered　down　out　of　the　cars；　we　were　formed　in　line　in　the　street。

Said　a　Rebel　officer：

〃Now；　any　of　you　fellahs　that　ah　too　sick　to　go　to　Chahlston；　step
fohwahd　one　pace。〃

We　looked　at　each　other　an　instant；　and　then　the　whole　line　stepped
forward。　　We　all　felt　too　sick　to　go　to　Charleston；　or　to　do　anything
else　in　the　world。




CHAPTER　LXVI。

SPECIMEN　CONVERSATION　WITH　AN　AVERAGE　NATIVE　GEORGIANWE　LEARN　THAT
SHERMAN　IS　HEADING　FOR　SAVANNAHTHE　RESERVES　GET　A　LITTLE　SETTLING　DOWN。

As　the　train　left　the　northern　suburbs　of　Savannah　we　came　upon　a　scene
of　busy　activity；　strongly　contrasting　with　the　somnolent　lethargy　that
seemed　to　be　the　normal　condition　of　the　City　and　its　inhabitants。　　Long
lines　of　earthworks　were　being　constructed；　gangs　of　negros　were　felling
trees；　building　forts　and　batteries；　making　abatis；　and　toiling　with
numbers　of　huge　guns　which　were　being　moved　out　and　placed　in　position。

As　we　had　had　no　new　prisoners　nor　any　papers　for　some　weeksthe　papers
being　doubtless　designedly　kept　away　from　uswe　were　at　a　loss　to　know
what　this　meant。　　We　could　not　understand　this　erection　of　fortifications
on　that　side；　because；　knowing　as　we　did　how　well　the　flanks　of　the　City
were　protected　by　the　Savannah　and　Ogeeche　Rivers；　we　could　not　see　how　a
force　from　the　coastwhence　we　supposed　an　attack　must　come；　could　hope
to　reach　the　City's　rear；　especially　as　we　had　just　come　up　on　the　right
flank　of　the　City；　and　saw　no　sign　of　our　folks　in　that　direction。

Our　train　stopped　for　a　few　minutes　at　the　edge　of　this　line　of　works；
and　an　old　citizen　who　had　been　surveying　the　scene　with　senile　interest；
tottered　over　to　our　car　to　take　a　look　at　us。　　He　was　a　type　of　the　old
man　of　the　South　of　the　scanty　middle　class；　the　small　farmer。　　Long
white　hair　and　beard；　spectacles　with　great　round；　staring　glasses；
a　broad…brimmed　hat　of　ante…Revolutionary　pattern；　clothes　that　had
apparently　descended　to　him　from　some　ancestor　who　had　come　over　with
Oglethorpe；　and　a　two…handed　staff　with　a　head　of　buckhorn；　upon　which　he
leaned　as　old　peasants　do　in　plays；　formed　such　an　image　as　recalled　to
me　the　picture　of　the　old　man　in　the　illustrations　in　〃The　Dairyman's
Daughter。〃　　He　was　as　garrulous　as　a　magpie；　and　as　opinionated　as　a
Southern　white　always　is。　　Halting　in　front　of　our　car；　he　steadied
himself　by　planting　his　staff；　clasping　it　with　both　lean　and　skinny
hands；　and　leaning　forward　upon　it；　his　jaws　then　addressed　themselves　to
motion　thus：

〃Boys；　who　mout　these　be　that　ye　got？
〃One　of　the　Guards：〃O；　these　is　some　Yanks　that　we've　bin　hivin'　down
at　Camp　Sumter。〃

〃Yes？〃　（with　an　upward　inflection　of　the　voice；　followed　by　a　close
scrutiny　of　us　through　the　goggle…eyed　glasses；）　〃Wall；　they're　a
powerful　ornary　lookin'　lot；　I'll　declah。〃

It　wil