andersonville-第102节
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believed himself made of finer clay than most mortals； he was not a bad
fellow at all。 He thought South Carolina aristocracy the finest gentry；
and the South Carolina Military Institute the greatest institution of
learning 1n the world； but that is common with all South Carolinians。
One day he came in so full of some matter of rare importance that we
became somewhat excited as to its nature。 Dismissing our hundred after
roll…call； he unburdened his mind：
〃Now you fellers are all so d…d peart on mathematics； and such things；
that you want to snap me up on every opportunity； but I guess I've got
something this time that'll settle you。 Its something that a fellow gave
out yesterday； and Colonel Iverson； and all the officers out there have
been figuring on it ever since； and none have got the right answer； and
I'm powerful sure that none of you； smart as you think you are； can do
it。〃
〃Heavens； and earth； let's hear this wonderful problem；〃 said we all。
〃Well；〃 said he； 〃what is the length of a pole standing in a river； one…
fifth of which is in the mud； two…thirds in the water； and one…eighth
above the water； while one foot and three inches of the top is broken
off？〃
In a minute a dozen answered； 〃One hundred and fifty feet。〃
The cadet could only look his amazement at the possession of such an
amount of learning by a crowd of mudsills； and one of our fellows said
contemptuously：
〃Why； if you South Carolina Institute fellows couldn't answer such
questions as that they wouldn't allow you in the infant class up North。〃
Lieutenant Barrett； our red…headed tormentor； could not； for the life of
him； count those inside in hundreds and thousands in such a manner as to
be reasonably certain of correctness。 As it would have cankered his soul
to feel that he was being beaten out of a half…dozen rations by the
superior cunning of the Yankees； he adopted a plan which he must have
learned at some period of his life when he was a hog or sheep drover。
Every Sunday morning all in the camp were driven across the Creek to the
East Side； and then made to file slowly backone at a timebetween two
guards stationed on the little bridge that spanned the Creek。 By this
means； if he was able to count up to one hundred； he could get our number
correctly。
The first time this was done after our arrival he gave us a display of
his wanton malevolence。 We were nearly all assembled on the East Side；
and were standing in ranks； at the edge of the swamp； facing the west。
Barrett was walking along the opposite edge of the swamp； and； coming to
a little gully jumped； it。 He was very awkward； and came near falling
into the mud。 We all yelled derisively。 He turned toward us in a fury；
shook his fist； and shouted curses and imprecations。 We yelled still
louder。 He snatched out his revolver； and began firing at our line。 The
distance was considerablesay four or five hundred feetand the bullets
struck in the mud in advance of the line。 We still yelled。 Then he
jerked a gun from a guard and fired； but his aim was still bad； and the
bullet sang over our heads； striking in the bank above us。 He posted of
to get another gun； but his fit subsided before he obtained it。
CHAPTER LXXIII。
CHRISTMASAND THE WAY THE WAS PASSEDTHE DAILY ROUTINE OF RATION
DRAWINGSOME PECULIARITIES OF LIVING AND DYING。
Christmas； with its swelling flood of happy memories；memories now
bitter because they marked the high tide whence our fortunes had receded
to this despicable statecame； but brought no change to mark its coming。
It is true that we had expected no change； we had not looked forward to
the day； and hardly knew when it arrived； so indifferent were we to the
lapse of time。
When reminded that the day was one that in all Christendom was sacred to
good cheer and joyful meetings； that wherever the upraised cross
proclaimed followers of Him who preached 〃Peace on Earth and good will to
men；〃 parents and children； brothers and sisters； long…time friends； and
all congenial spirits were gathering around hospitable boards to delight
in each other's society； and strengthen the bonds of unity between them；
we listened as to a tale told of some foreign land from which we had
parted forever more。
It seemed years since we had known anything of the kind。 The experience
we had had of it belonged to the dim and irrevocable past。 It could not
come to us again； nor we go to it。 Squalor； hunger； cold and wasting
disease had become the ordinary conditions of existence； from which there
was little hope that we would ever be exempt。
Perhaps it was well； to a certain degree； that we felt so。 It softened
the poignancy of our reflections over the difference in the condition of
ourselves and our happier comrades who were elsewhere。
The weather was in harmony with our feelings。 The dull； gray； leaden sky
was as sharp a contrast with the crisp； bracing sharpness of a Northern
Christmas morning； as our beggarly little ration of saltless corn meal
was to the sumptuous cheer that loaded the dinner…tables of our Northern
homes。
We turned out languidly in the morning to roll…call； endured silently the
raving abuse of the cowardly brute Barrett； hung stupidly over the
flickering little fires； until the gates opened to admit the rations。
For an hour there was bustle and animation。 All stood around and counted
each sack of meal； to get an idea of the rations we were likely to
receive。
This was a daily custom。 The number intended for the day's issue were
all brought in and piled up in the street。 Then there was a division of
the sacks to the thousands； the Sergeant of each being called up in turn；
and allowed to pick out and carry away one； until all were taken。 When
we entered the prison each thousand received； on an average； ten or
eleven sacks a day。 Every week saw a reduction in the number； until by
midwinter the daily issue to a thousand averaged four sacks。 Let us say
that one of these sacks held two bushels； or the four； eight bushels。
As there are thirty…two quarts in a bushel； one thousand men received two
hundred and fifty…six quarts； or less than a half pint each。
We thought we had sounded the depths of misery at Andersonville； but
Florence showed us a much lower depth。 Bad as was parching under the
burning sun whose fiery rays bred miasma and putrefaction； it was still
not so bad as having one's life chilled out by exposure in nakedness upon
the frozen ground to biting winds and freezing sleet。 Wretched as the
rusty bacon and coarse； maggot…filled bread of Andersonville was； it
would still go much farther towards supporting life than the handful of
saltless meal at Florence。
While I believe it possible for any young man； with the forces of life
strong within him； and healthy in every way； to survive； by taking due
precautions； such treatment as we received in Andersonville； I cannot
understand how anybody could live through a month of Florence。 That many
did live is only an astonishing illustration of the tenacity of life in
some individuals。
Let the reader imagineanywhere he likesa fifteen…acre field； with a
stream running through the center。 Let him imagine this inclosed by a
Stockade eighteen feet high； made by standing logs on end。 Let him
conceive of ten thousand feeble men； debilitated by months of
imprisonment； turned inside this inclosure； without a yard of covering
given them； and told to make their homes there。 One quarter of themtwo
thousand five hundredpick up brush； pieces of rail； splits from logs；
etc。； sufficient to make huts that will turn the rain tolerably。 The
huts are in no case as good shelter as an ordinarily careful farmer
provides for his swine。 Half of the prisonersfive thousandwho cannot
do so well； work the mud up into rude bricks； with which they build
shelters that wash down at every hard rain。 The remaining two thousand
five hundred do not do even this； but lie around on the ground； on old
blankets and overcoats； and in day…time prop these up on sticks； as
shelter from the rain and wind。 Let them be given not to exceed a pint
of corn meal a day； and a piece of wood about the size of an ordinary
stick for a cooking stove to cook it with。 Then let such weather prevail
as we ordinarily have in the North in Novemberfreezing cold rains； with
frequent days and nights when the ice forms as thick as a pane of glass。
How long does he think men could live through that？ He will probably say
that a week； or at most a fortnight； would see the last and strongest of
these ten thousand lying dead in the frozen mire where he wallowed。 He
will be astonished to learn that probably not more than four or five
thousand of those who underwent this in Florence died there。 How many
died after releasein Washington； on the vessels coming to Annapolis； in
hospital and camp at Annapolis； or after they reached home； none but the
Recording Angel can tell。 All that I know is we left a trail of dead
behind us； wherever we moved； so long as I was with the doleful caravan。
Looking back； after these lapse of years； the most salient characteristic
seems to be the ease with which men died。 There； was little of th
