andersonville-第92章

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constantly　swept　the　horizon。　　Numberless　small　boats；　each　rowed　by
neatly…uniformed　men；　and　carrying　a　flag　in　the　stern；　darted　hither　and
thither；　carrying　officers　on　errands　of　duty　or　pleasure。　　It　was　such　a
scene　as　enabled　me　to　realize　in　a　measure；　the　descriptions　I　had　read
of　the　pomp　and　circumstance　of　naval　warfare。

While　we　were　standing；　contemplating　all　the　interesting　sights　within
view；　a　small　steamer；　about　the　size　of　a　canal…boat；　and　carrying
several　bright　brass　guns；　ran　swiftly　and　noiselessly　up　to　the　dock
near　by；　and　a　young；　pale…faced　officer；　slender　in　build　and　nervous　in
manner；　stepped　ashore。　　Some　of　the　blue　jackets　who　were　talking　to　us
looked　at　him　and　the　vessel　with　the　greatest　expression　of　interest；
and　said：

〃Hello！　there's　the　'Monticello'　and　Lieutenant　Cushing。〃

This；　then；　was　the　naval　boy　hero；　with　whose　exploits　the　whole　country
was　ringing。　　Our　sailor　friends　proceeded　to　tell　us　of　his
achievements；　of　which　they　were　justly　proud。　　They　told　us　of　his
perilous　scouts　and　his　hairbreadth　escapes；　of　his　wonderful　audacity
and　still　more　wonderful　successof　his　capture　of　Towns　with　a　handful
of　sailors；　and　the　destruction　of　valuable　stores；　etc。　　I　felt　very
sorry　that　the　man　was　not　a　cavalry　commander。　　There　he　would　have　had
full　scope　for　his　peculiar　genius。　　He　had　come　prominently　into　notice
in　the　preceding　Autumn；　when　he　had；　by　one　of　the　most　daring
performances　narrated　in　naval　history；　destroyed　the　formidable　ram
〃Albermarle。〃　　This　vessel　had　been　constructed　by　the　Rebels　on　the
Roanoke　River；　and　had　done　them　very　good　service；　first　by　assisting　to
reduce　the　forts　and　capture　the　garrison　at　Plymouth；　N。　C。；　and
afterward　in　some　minor　engagements。　　In　October；　1864；　she　was　lying　at
Plymouth。　　Around　her　was　a　boom　of　logs　to　prevent　sudden　approaches　of
boats　or　vessels　from　our　fleet。　　Cushing；　who　was　then　barely　twenty…
one；　resolved　to　attempt　her　destruction。　　He　fitted　up　a　steam　launch
with　a　long　spar　to　which　he　attached　a　torpedo。　　On　the　night　of　October
27th；　with　thirteen　companions；　he　ran　quietly　up　the　Sound　and　was　not
discovered　until　his　boat　struck　the　boom；　when　a　terrific　fire　was
opened　upon　him。　　Backing　a　short　distance；　he　ran　at　the　boom　with　such
velocity　that　his　boat　leaped　across　it　into　the　water　beyond。　　In　an
instant　more　his　torpedo　struck　the　side　of　the　〃Albemarle〃　and　exploded；
tearing　a　great　hole　in　her　hull；　which　sank　her　in　a　few　minutes。　　At
the　moment　the　torpedo　went　off　the　〃Albermarle〃　fired　one　of　her　great
guns　directly　into　the　launch；　tearing　it　completely　to　pieces。
Lieutenant　Cushing　and　one　comrade　rose　to　the　surface　of　the　seething
water　and；　swimming　ashore；　escaped。　　What　became　of　the　rest　is　not
known；　but　their　fate　can　hardly　be　a　matter　of　doubt。

We　were　ferried　across　the　river　into　Wilmington；　and　marched　up　the
streets　to　some　vacant　ground　near　the　railroad　depot；　where　we　found
most　of　our　old　Florence　comrades　already　assembled。　　When　they　left　us
in　the　middle　of　February　they　were　taken　to　Wilmington；　and　thence　to
Goldsboro；　N。　C。；　where　they　were　kept　until　the　rapid　closing　in　of　our
Armies　made　it　impracticable　to　hold　them　any　longer；　when　they　were　sent
back　to　Wilmington　and　given　up　to　our　forces　as　we　had　been。

It　was　now　nearly　noon；　and　we　were　ordered　to　fall　in　and　draw　rations；
a　bewildering　order　to　us；　who　had　been　so　long　in　the　habit　of　drawing
food　but　once　a　day。　　We　fell　in　in　single　rank；　and　marched　up；　one　at　a
time；　past　where　a　group　of　employees　of　the　Commissary　Department　dealt
out　the　food。　　One　handed　each　prisoner　as　he　passed　　a　large　slice　of
meat；　another　gave　him　a　handful　of　ground　coffee；　a　third　a　handful　of
sugar；　a　fourth　gave　him　a　pickle；　while　a　fifth　and　sixth　handed　him　an
onion　and　a　loaf　of　fresh　bread。　　This　filled　the　horn　of　our　plenty
full。　　To　have　all　these　in　one　daymeat；　coffee；　sugar；　onions　and　soft
breadwas　simply　to　riot　in　undreamed…of　luxury。　　Many　of　the　boyspoor
fellowscould　not　yet　realize　that　there　was　enough　for　all；　or　they
could　not　give　up　their　old　〃flanking〃　tricks；　and　they　stole　around；
and　falling　into　the　rear；　came　up　again　for'　another　share。　　We　laughed
at　them；　as　did　the　Commissary　men；　who；　nevertheless；　duplicated　the
rations　already　received；；　and　sent　them　away　happy　and　content。

What　a　glorious　dinner　Andrews　and　I　had；　with　our　half　gallon　of　strong
coffee；　our　soft　bread；　and　a　pan　full　of　fried　pork　and　onions！　　Such　an
enjoyable　feast　will　never　be；　eaten　again　by　us。

Here　we　saw　negro　troops　under　arms　for　the　first　timethe　most　of　the
organization　of　colored　soldiers　having　been；　done　since　our　capture。
It　was　startling　at　first　to　see　a　stalwart；　coal…black　negro　stalking
along　with　a　Sergeant's　chevrons　on　his　arm；　or　to　gaze　on　a　regimental
line　of　dusky　faces　on　dress　parade；　but　we　soon　got　used　to　it。　　The
first　strong　peculiarity　of　the　negro　soldier　that　impressed　itself；　upon
us　was　his　literal　obedience　of　orders。　　A　white　soldier　usually　allows
himself　considerable　discretion　in　obeying　ordershe　aims　more　at　the
spirit；　while　the　negro　adheres　to　the　strict　letter　of　the　command。

For　instance；　the　second　day　after　our　arrival　a　line　of　guards　were
placed　around　us；　with　orders　not　to　allow　any　of　us　to　go　up　town
without　a　pass。　　The　reason　of　this　was　that　many　weakeven　dying…men
would　persist　in　wandering　about；　and　would　be　found　exhausted；
frequently　dead；　in　various　parts　of　the　City。　　Andrews　and　I　concluded
to　go　up　town。　　Approaching　a　negro　sentinel　he　warned　us　back　with；

〃Stand　back；　dah；　don't　come　any　furder；　it's　agin　de　awdahs；　you　can't
pass。〃

He　would　not　allow　us　to　argue　the　case；　but　brought　his　gun　to　such　a
threatening　position　that　we　fell　back。　　Going　down　the　line　a　little
farther；　we　came　to　a　white　sentinel；　to　whom　I　said：

〃Comrade；　what　are　your　orders：

He　replied：

〃My　orders　are　not　to　let　any　of　you　fellows　pass；　but　my　beat　only
extends　to　that　out…house　there。〃

Acting　on　this　plain　hint；　we　walked　around　the　house　and　went　up…town。
The　guard　simply　construed　his　orders　in　a　liberal　spirit。　　He　reasoned
that　they　hardly　applied　to　us；　since　we　were　evidently　able　to　take　care
of　ourselves。

Later　we　had　another　illustration　of　this　dog　like　fidelity　of　the
colored　sentinel。　　A　number　of　us　were　quartered　in　a　large　and　empty
warehouse。　　On　the　same　floor；　and　close　to　us；　were　a　couple　of　very
fine　horses　belonging　to　some　officer。　　We　had　not　been　in　the　warehouse
very　long　until　we　concluded　that　the　straw　with　which　the　horses　were
bedded　would　be　better　used　in　making　couches　for　ourselves；　and　this
suggestion　was　instantly　acted　upon；　and　so　thoroughly　that　there　was　not
a　straw　left　between　the　animals　and　the　bare　boards。　　Presently　the
owner　of　the　horses　came　in；　and　he　was　greatly　incensed　at　what　had　been
done。　　He　relieved　his　mind　of　a　few　sulphurous　oaths；　and　going　out；
came　back　soon　with　a　man　with　more　straw；　and　a　colored　soldier　whom　he
stationed　by　the　horses；　saying：

〃Now；　look　here。　　You　musn't　let　anybody　take　anything　sway　from　these
stalls；　d'you　understand　me？　not　a　thing。〃

He　then　went　out。　　Andrews　and　I　had　just　finished　cooking　dinner；　and
were　sitting　down　to　eat　it。　　Wishing　to　lend　our　frying…pan　to　another
mess；　I　looked　around　for　something　to　lay　our　meat　upon。　　Near　the
horses　I　saw　a　book　cover；　which　would　answer　the　purpose　admirably。
Springing　up；　I　skipped　across　to　where　it　was；　snatched　it　up；　and　ran
back　to　my　place。　　As　I　reached　it　a　yell　from　the　boys　made　me　look
around。　　The　darky　was　coming　at　me　〃full　tilt；〃　with　his　gun　at　a
〃charge　bayonets。〃　　As　I　turned　he　said：

〃Put　dat　right　back　dah！〃

I　said：

〃Why；　this　don't　amount　to　anything；　this　is　only　an　old　book　cover。
It　hasn't　anything　in　the　world　to　do　with　the　horses。

He　only　replied：

〃Put　dat　right　back　dah！〃

I　tried　another　appeal：

〃Now；　you　woolly…headed　son　of　thunder；　haven't　you　got　sense　enough　to
know　that　the　officer　who　posted　you　didn't　mean　such　a　thing　as　this！
He　only　meant　that　we　should　not　be　allowed　to　take　any　of　the　horses'
bedding　or　equipments；　don't　you　see？〃

I　might　as　well　have　reasoned　with　a　cigar　store　Indian。　　He　set　his
teeth；　his　eyes　showed　a　dangerous　amount　of　white；　and　foreshortening
his　musket　for　a　lunge；　he　hissed　out　again　〃Put　dat　right　back　dah；　I
tell　you！〃

I　looked　at　the　bayonet；　it　was　very　long；　very　bright；　and　very　sharp。
It　gleamed　cold　and　chilly　like；　as　if　it　had　not　run　through　a　man　for　a
long　time；　and　yearned　for　another　opportunity。　　Nothing　but　the　whites
of　the　darky's　eyes　could　now　be　seen。　　I　did　not　want　to　perish　there　in
the　fresh　bloom　of　my　youth　and　loveliness；　it　seemed　to　me　as　if　it　was
my　duty　to　reserve　myself　for　fields　of　future　usefulness；　so　I　walked
back　and　laid　the　book　cover　precisely　on　the　spot　whence　I　had　obtained
it；　while　the　thousand　boys　in　the　house　set　up　a　yell　of　sarcastic
laughter。

We　staid　in　Wilmington　a　few　days；　days　of　almost　purely　animal
enjoymentthe　joy　of　having　just　as　much　to　eat　as　we　could　possibly
swallow；　and　no　one　to　molest　or　make　us　afraid　in　any　way。　　How　we　did
eat　and　fill　up。　　The　wrinkles　in　our　skin　smoothed　out　under　the
stretching；　and　we　began　to　feel　as　if　we　were　returning　to　our　old
plumpness；　though　so　far　the　plumpness　was　wholly　abdominal。

One　morning　we　were　told　that　the　transports　would　begin　going　back　with
us　that　afternoon；　the　first　that　left　taking　the　sick。　　Andrews　and　I；
true　to　our　old　prison　practices；　resolved　to　be　among　those　on　the　first
boat。　　We　slipped　through　the　guards　and　going　up　town；　went　straight　to
Major　General　Schofield's　headquarters　and　solicited　a　pass　to　go　on　the
first　boatthe　steamer　〃Thorn。〃　　General　Schofield　treated　us　very
kindly；　but　declined　to　let　anybody　but　the　helplessly　sick　go　on　the
〃Thorn。〃　　Defeated　here　we　went　down　to　where　the　vessel　was　lying　at　the
dock；　and　tried　to　smuggle　ourselves　aboard；　but　the　guard　was　too　strong
and　too　vigilant；　and　we　were　driven　away。　　Going　along　the　dock；　angry
and　discouraged　by　our　failure；　we　saw　a　Surgeon；　at　a　little　distance；
who　was　examining　and　sending　the　sick　who　could　walk　aboard　another
vesselthe　〃General　Lyon。〃　　We　took　our　cue；　and　a　little　shamming
secured　from　him　tickets　which　permitted　us　to　take　our　passage　in　her。
The　larger　portion　of　those　on　board　were　in　the　hold；　and　a　few　were　on
deck。　　Andrews　and　I　found　a　snug　place　under　the　forecastle；　by　the
anchor　chains。

Both　vessels　speedily　received　their　complement；　and　leaving　their　docks；
started　down　the　river。　　The　〃Thorn〃　steamed　ahead　of　us；　and
disappeared。　　Shortly　after　we　got　under　way；　the　Colonel　who　was　put　in
command　of　the　boathimself　a　released　prisonercame　around　on　a　tour
of　inspection。　　He　found　about　one　thousand　of　us　aboard；　and　singling　me
out　made　me　the　non…commissioned　officer　in　command。　　I　was　put　in
charge；　of　issuing　the　rations　and　of　a　barrel　of　milk　punch　which　the
Sanitary　Commission　had　sent　down　to