HillfirstcameintoprominenceasthevictorinthemoststubbornlycontestedfightintheprisonhistoryofBelleIsle。WhenthesquadoftheOneHundredthOhio——capturedatLimestoneStation,EastTennessee,inSeptember,1863——arrivedonBelleIsle,acertainJackOliver,oftheNineteenthIndiana,wastheundisputedfisticmonarchoftheIsland。
　　Hedidnotbearhisblushinghonorsmodestly;fewofarightarmthatindefinitelocalityknownas"themiddleofnextweek,"issomethingthatthepossessorcanaslittleresistshowingascanagirlherfirstsolitairering。Toknowthatonecancertainlystrikeadisagreeablefellowoutoftimeisprettysuretobreedadesiretodothatthingwheneveroccasionserves。JackOliverwasonewhodidnotlethisbicepsrustininaction,butthrashedeverybodyontheIslandwhomhethoughtneededit,andhisideasastothosewhoshouldbeincludedinthisclasswideneddaily,untilitbegantoappearthathewouldsoonfeelithisdutytoletnounwhippedmanescape,butpoundeverybodyontheIsland。
　　OnedayhisevilgeniusledhimtoabusearatherelderlymanbelongingtoHill'smess。Ashefiredoffhistiradeofcontumely,Hillsaidwithmorethanhisusual"soft"rusticity:
　　"Mister——I——don't——think——it——just——right——for——a——young——man——to——call——an——old——one——such——badnames。"
　　JackOliverturnedonhimsavagely。
　　"Well！maybeyouwanttotakeitup？"
　　ThegrinonHill'sfacelookedstillmoreverdant,asheansweredwithgentledeliberation:
　　"Well——mister——I——don't——go——around——a——hunting——things——but——I——
　　ginerally——take——care——of——all——that's——sent——me！"
　　Jackfoamed,buthisfiercestblustercouldnotdrivethatinfantilesmilefromHill'sface,norprovokeachangeinthecalmslownessofhisspeech。
　　Itwasevidentthatnothingwoulddobutabattle—royal,andJackhadsenseenoughtoseethattheimperturbablerusticwaslikelytogivehimajobofsomedifficulty。Hewentoffandcamebackwithhisclan,whileHill'scomradesoftheOneHundredthgatheredaroundtoinsurehimfairplay。Jackpulledoffhiscoatandvest,rolleduphissleeves,andmadeotherelaboratepreparationsfortheaffray。Hill,withoutremovingagarment,said,ashesurveyedhimwithamockingsmile:
　　"Mister——you——seem——to——be——one——of——them——partick—e—ler——fellers。"
　　Jackroaredout,"By———,I'llmakeyoupartickelerbeforeIgetthroughwithyou。Now,howshallwesettlethis？Regularstand—up—andknock—down,orroughandtumble？"
　　IfanythingHill'sfacewasmorevacantlyserene,andhistonesblanderthanever,asheanswered:
　　"Strike——any——gait——that——suits——you,——Mister;——Iguess——I——will——be——
　　able——to——keep——up——with——you。"
　　Theyclosed。Hillfeintedwithhisleft,andasJackuncoveredtoguard,hecaughthimfairlyonthelowerleftribs,byablowfromhismightyrightfist,thatsounded——asoneoftheby—standersexpressedit——"likestrikingahollowlogwithamaul。"
　　ThecolorinJack'sfacepaled。Hedidnotseemtounderstandhowhehadlaidhimselfopentosuchapass,andmadethesamemistake,receivingagainasoundingblowintheshortribs。Thistaughthimnothing,either,foragainheopenedhisguardinresponsetoafeint,andagaincaughtablowonhislucklessleft,ribs,thatdrovethebloodfromhisfaceandthebreathfromhisbody。Hereeledbackamonghissupportersforaninstanttobreathe。Recoveringhiswind,bedashedatHillfeintedstronglywithhisright,butdeliveredaterriblekickagainstthelowerpartofthelatter'sabdomen。Bothclosedandfoughtsavagelyathalf—arm'slengthforaninstant;duringwhichHillstruckJacksofairlyinthemouthastobreakoutthreefrontteeth,whichthelatterswallowed。Thentheyclenchedandstruggledtothroweachother。Hill'ssuperiorstrengthandskillcrushedhisopponenttotheground,andhefelluponhim。Astheygrappledthere,oneofJack'sfollowerssoughttoaidhisleaderbycatchingHillbythehair,intendingtokickhimintheface。InaninstanthewasknockeddownbyastalwartmemberoftheOneHundredth,andthenliterallyliftedoutoftheringbykicks。
　　Jackwassoonsobadlybeatenastobeunabletocry"enough！"Oneofhisfriendsdidthatserviceforhim,thefightceased,andthenceforthMr。Oliverresignedhispugilisticcrown,andretiredtotheshadesofprivatelife。Hediedofscurvyanddiarrhea,somemonthsafterward,inAndersonville。
　　ThealmosthourlyscenesofviolenceandcrimethatmarkedthedaysandnightsbeforetheRegulatorsbeganoperationswerenowsucceededbythegreatestorder。TheprisonwasfreerfromcrimethanthebestgovernedCity。Therewerefrequentsquabblesandfights,ofcourse,andmanypettylarcenies。Rationsofbreadandofwood,articlesofclothing,andthewretchedlittlecansandhalfcanteensthatformedourcookingutensils,werestillstolen,butallthesewereinasneak—thiefway。
　　Therewasanentireabsenceoftheaudaciousopen—dayrobberyandmurder——the"raiding"ofthepreviousfewweeks。ThesummarypunishmentinflictedonthecondemnedwassufficienttocowevenboldermenthantheRaiders,andtheywerefrightenedintoatleastquiescence。
　　SergeantHill'sadministrationwasvigorous,andsecuredthebestresults。Hebecameajudgeofallinfractionsofmoralsandlaw,andsatatthedoorofhistenttodispensejusticetoallcomers,liketheCadiofaMahometanVillage。HisjudicialmethodsandpunishmentsalsoremindedonestronglyoftheprimitivejudicatureofOrientallands。
　　Thewrongedonecamebeforehimandtoldhistale:hehadhisblouse,orhisquartcup,orhisshoes,orhiswatch,orhismoneystolenduringthenight。Thesuspectedonewasalsosummoned,confrontedwithhisaccuser,andsharplyinterrogated。Hillwouldrevolvethestoriesinhismind,decidetheinnocenceorguiltoftheaccused,andifhethoughttheaccusationsustained,ordertheculprittopunishment。HedidnotimitatehisMussulmanprototypestotheextentofbowstringingordecapitatingthecondemned,nordidhecutanythief'shandsoff,noryetnailhisearstoadoorpost,butheintroducedamodificationofthebastinadothatmadethosewhowerepunishedbyitevenwishtheyweredead。TheinstrumentusedwaswhatiscalledintheSoutha"shake"——
　　asplitshingle,ayardormorelong,andwithoneendwhittleddowntoformahandle。Theculpritwasmadetobenddownuntilhecouldcatcharoundhisankleswithhishands。Thepartofthebodythusbroughtintomostprominencewasdenudedofclothingand"spanked"fromonetotwentytimes,asHillordered,bythe"shake"insamestrongandwillinghand。
　　Itwasveryamusing——tothebystanders。The"spankee"neverseemedtoenterveryheartilyintothemirthoftheoccasion。Asarulehesleptonhisfaceforaweekorsoafter,andtookhismealsstanding。
　　Thefearofthespanking,andHill'sskillindetectingtheguiltyones,hadaverysalutaryeffectuponthesmallercriminals。
　　TheRaiderswhohadbeenputintoironswereveryrestiveundertheinfliction,andbeggedHilldailytoreleasethem。Theyprofessedthegreatestpenitence,andpromisedthemostexemplarybehaviorforthefuture。Hillrefusedtoreleasethem,declaringthattheyshouldweartheironsuntildelivereduptoourGovernment。
　　OneoftheRaiders——namedHeffron——had,shortlyafterhisarrest,turnedState'sevidence,andgiventestimonythatassistedmateriallyintheconvictionofhiscompanions。Onemorning,aweekorsoafterthehanging,hisbodywasfoundlyingamongtheotherdeadattheSouthGate。
　　Theimpressionmadebythefingersofthehandthathadstrangledhim,werestillplainlyvisibleaboutthethroat。Therewasnodoubtastowhyhehadbeenkilled,orthattheRaiderswerehismurderers,buttheactualperpetratorswereneverdiscovered。
　　CHAPTERXXXIX。
　　JULY——THEPRISONBECOMESMORECROWDED,THEWEATHERHOTTER,NATIONS
　　POORER,ANDMORTALITYGREATER——SOMEOFTHEPHENOMENAOFSUFFERINGAND
　　DEATH。
　　AllduringJulytheprisonerscamestreaminginbyhundredsandthousandsfromeveryportionofthelonglineofbattle,stretchingfromtheEasternbankoftheMississippitotheshoresoftheAtlantic。OveronethousandsquanderedbySturgisatGuntowncamein;twothousandofthosecapturedinthedesperateblowdealtbyHoodagainsttheArmyoftheTennesseeonthe22dofthemonthbeforeAtlanta;hundredsfromHunter'slucklesscolumnintheShenandoahValley,thousandsfromGrant'slinesinfrontofPetersburg。Inall,seventhousandonehundredandtwenty—eightwere,duringthemonth,turnedintothatseethingmassofcorruptinghumanitytobepollutedandtaintedbyit,andtoassistinturntomakeitfouleranddeadlier。Overseventyhecatombsofchosenvictims——
　　offairyouthsinthefirstflushofhopefulmanhood,atthethresholdofalifeofhonortothemselvesandofusefulnesstothecommunity;
　　beardlessboys,richinthepricelessaffectionsofhomes,fathers,mothers,sistersandsweethearts,withmindsthrillingwithhighaspirationsforthebrightfuture,weresentinasthemonthlysacrificetothisMinotauroftheRebellion,who,couchedinhisfoullair,slewthem,notwiththemercifuldeliveryofspeedydeath,ashisCretanprototypedidtheannualtributeofAthenianyouthsandmaidens,but,gloatingoverhisprey,doomedthemtolingeringdestruction。Herottedtheirfleshwiththescurvy,rackedtheirmindswithintolerablesuspense,burnedtheirbodieswiththeslowfireoffamine,anddelightedineachseparatepang,untiltheysankbeneaththefearfulaccumulation。
　　Theseus[Sherman。D。W。]——thedeliverer——wascoming。HisterribleswordcouldbeseengleamingasitroseandfellonthebanksoftheJames,andinthemountainsbeyondAtlanta,wherehewashewinghiswaytowardsthemandtheheartoftheSouthernConfederacy。Buthecametoolatetosavethem。Strikeasswiftlyandasheavilyashewould,hecouldnotstrikesohardnorsosureathisfoeswithsaberblowandmusketshot,astheycouldatthehaplessyouthswiththedreadfularmamentofstarvationanddisease。
　　ThoughthedeathswereonethousandeighthundredandseventeenmorethanwerekilledatthebattleofShiloh——thisleftthenumberintheprisonattheendofthemonththirty—onethousandsixhundredandseventy—
　　eight。Letmeassistthereader'scomprehensionofthemagnitudeofthisnumberbygivingthepopulationofafewimportantCities,accordingtothecensusof1870:
　　Cambridge,Mass89,639
　　Charleston,S。C。48,958
　　Columbus,O。31,274
　　Dayton,O。30,473
　　FallRiver,Mass26,766
　　KansasCity,Mo32,260
　　Thenumberofprisonersexceededthewholenumberofmenbetweentheagesofeighteenandforty—fiveinseveraloftheStatesandTerritoriesintheUnion。Here,forinstance,arethereturnsfor1870,ofmenofmilitaryageinsomeportionsofthecountry:
　　Arizona5,157
　　Colorado15,166
　　Dakota5,301
　　Idaho9,431
　　Montana12,418
　　Nebraska35,677
　　Nevada24,762
　　NewHampshire60,684
　　Oregon23,959
　　RhodeIsland44,377
　　Vermont62,450
　　WestVirginia6,832
　　Itwasmoresoldiersthancouldberaisedto—day,understrongpressure,ineitherAlabama,Arizona,Arkansas,California,Colorado,Connecticut,Dakota,Delaware,DistrictofColumbia,Florida,Idaho,Louisiana,Maine,Minnesota,Montana,Nebraska,Nevada,NewHampshire,NewMedico,Oregon,RhodeIsland,SouthCarolina,Utah,VermontorWestVirginia。
　　Thesethirty—onethousandsixhundredandseventy—eightactiveyoungmen,whowerelikelytofindtheconfinesofaStatetoonarrowforthem,werecoopeduponthirteenacresofground——lessthanafarmergivesforplay—
　　groundforahalfdozencoltsorasmallflockofsheep。Therewashardlyroomforalltoliedownatnight,andtowalkafewhundredfeetinanydirectionwouldrequireanhour'spatientthreadingofthemassofmenandtents。
　　Theweatherbecamehotterandhotter;atmiddaythesandwouldburnthehand。Thethinskinsoffairandauburn—hairedmenblisteredunderthesun'srays,andswelledupingreatwaterypuffs,whichsoonbecamethebreedinggroundsofthehideousmaggots,orthestillmoredeadlygangrene。Theloathsomeswampgrewinrankoffensivenesswitheveryburninghour。Thepestilenceliterallystalkedatnoon—day,andstruckhisvictimsdownoneveryhand。OnecouldnotlookarodinanydirectionwithoutseeingatleastadozenmeninthelastfrightfulstagesofrottingDeath。
　　LetmedescribethesceneimmediatelyaroundmyowntentduringthelasttwoweeksofJuly,asasampleoftheconditionofthewholeprison:
　　Iwilltakeaspacenotlargerthanagoodsizedparlororsittingroom。
　　Onthiswereatleastfiftyofus。Directlyinfrontofmelaytwobrothers——namedSherwood——belongingtoCompanyI,ofmybattalion,whocameoriginallyfromMissouri。Theywerenowinthelaststagesofscurvyanddiarrhea。Everyparticleofmuscleandfatabouttheirlimbsandbodieshadapparentlywastedaway,leavingtheskinclingingclosetotheboneoftheface,arms,hands,ribsandthighs——everywhereexceptthefeetandlegs,whereitwasswollentenseandtransparent,distendedwithgallonsofpurulentmatter。Theirlividgums,fromwhichmostoftheirteethhadalreadyfallen,protrudedfarbeyondtheirlips。TotheirleftlayaSergeantandtwoothersoftheircompany,allthreeslowlydyingfromdiarrhea,andbeyondwasafair—hairedGerman,youngandintelligentlooking,whoselifewasebbingtediouslyaway。TomyrightwasahandsomeyoungSergeantofanIllinoisInfantryRegiment,capturedatKenesaw。Hisleftarmhadbeenamputatedbetweentheshoulderandelbow,andhewasturnedintotheStockadewiththestumpallundressed,savetheligatingofthearteries。Ofcourse,hehadnotbeeninsideanhouruntilthemaggotflieshadlaideggsintheopenwound,andbeforethedaywasgonethewormswerehatchedout,andriotingamidtheinflamedandsuper—sensitivenerves,wheretheireverymotionwasagony。
　　Accustomedasweweretomisery,wefoundastilllowerdepthinhismisfortune,andIwouldbehappiercouldIforgethispale,drawnface,ashewandereduncomplaininglytoandfro,holdinghismaimedlimbwithhisrighthand,occasionallystoppingtosqueezeit,asonedoesaboil,andpressfromitastreamofmaggotsandpus。Idonotthinkheateorsleptforaweekbeforehedied。NexttohimstaidanIrishSergeantofaNewYorkRegiment,afinesoldierlyman,who,withpardonablepride,wore,conspicuouslyonhisleftbreast,amedalgainedbygallantrywhileaBritishsoldierintheCrimea。Hewaswastingawaywithdiarrhea,anddiedbeforethemonthwasout。
　　Thiswaswhatonecouldseeoneverysquarerodoftheprison。WhereI
　　waswasnotonlynoworsethantherestoftheprison,butwasprobablymuchbetterandhealthier,asitwasthehighestgroundinside,farthestfromtheSwamp,andhavingthedeadlineontwosides,hadaventilationthatthosenearerthecentercouldnotpossiblyhave。Yet,withalltheseconditionsinourfavor,themortalitywasasIhavedescribed。
　　Nearusanexasperatingidiot,whoplayedtheflute,hadestablishedhimself。Likeallpoorplayers,heaffectedthelow,mournfulnotes,asplaintiveasthedistantcooingofthedoveinlowering,weather。
　　Heplayedorrathertootedawayinhis"blues"inducingstrainhourafterhour,despiteourenergeticprotests,andoccasionallyflingingaclubathim。Therewasnomorestoptohimthantoamanwithahand—organ,andtothisdaythelow,sadnotesofaflutearetheswiftestremindertomeofthosesorrowful,death—ladendays。
　　Ihadanillustrationonemorningofhowfardecompositionwouldprogressinaman'sbodybeforehedied。MychumandIfoundatreasure—troveinthestreets,intheshapeofthebodyofamanwhodiedduringthenight。
　　Thevalueofthis"find"wasthatifwetookittothegate,wewouldbeallowedtocarryitoutsidetothedeadhouse,andonourwaybackhaveanopportunitytopickupachunkofwood,touseincooking。Whilediscussingourgoodluckanotherpartycameupandclaimedthebody。
　　Averbaldisputeledtooneofblows,inwhichwecameoffvictorious,andIhastilycaughtholdofthearmneartheelbowtohelpbearthebodyaway。Theskingavewayundermyhand,andslippedwithitdowntothewrist,likeatornsleeve。Itwassickening,butIclungtomyprize,andsecuredaverygoodchunkofwoodwhileoutsidewithit。Thewoodwasverymuchneededbymymess,asoursquadhadthenhadnoneformorethanaweek。
　　CHAPTERXL。
　　THEBATTLEOFTHE22DOFJULY——THEARMSOFTHETENNESSEEASSAULTEDFRONT
　　ANDREAR——DEATHOFGENERALMCPHERSON——ASSUMPTIONOFCOMMANDBYGENERAL
　　LOGAN——RESULTOFTHEBATTLE。
　　Naturally,wehadaconsuminghungerfornewsofwhatwasbeingaccomplishedbyourarmiestowardcrushingtheRebellion。Now,morethanever,hadwereasontoardentlywishforthedestructionoftheRebelpower。Beforecapturewehadloveofcountryandanaturaldesireforthetriumphofherflagtoanimateus。NowwehadahatredoftheRebelsthatpassedexpression,andafiercelongingtoseethosewhodailytorturedandinsultedustrampleddowninthedustofhumiliation。
　　Thedailyarrivalofprisonerskeptustolerablywellinformedastothegeneralprogressofthecampaign,andweaddedtotheinformationthusobtainedbygetting——almostdaily——insomemanneroranother——acopyofaRebelpaper。MostfrequentlythesewereAtlantapapers,oranissueofthe"Memphis—Corinth—Jackson—Grenada—Chattanooga—Resacca—Marietta—AtlantaAppeal,"astheyusedtofacetiouslytermaMemphispaperthatleftthatCitywhenitwastakenin1862,andfortwoyearsfellbackfromplacetoplace,asSherman'sArmyadvanced,untilatlastitgaveupthestruggleinSeptember,1864,inalittleTownsouthofAtlanta,afterabouttwothousandmilesofwearyretreatfromanindefatigablepursuer。Thepaperswerebroughtinby"freshfish,"purchasedfromtheguardsatfromfiftycentstoonedollarapiece,oroccasionallythrownintouswhentheyhadsomespeciallydisagreeableintelligence,likethedefeatofBanks,orSturgis,orBunter,toexultover。Iwasparticularlyfortunateingettingholdofthese。Becominginstalledasgeneralreaderforaneighborhoodofseveralthousandmen,everythingofthiskindwasimmediatelybroughttome,tobereadaloudforthebenefitofeverybody。
　　Alltheolderprisonersknewmebythenick—nameof"Illinoy"——
　　adesignationarisingfrommywearingonmycap,whenIenteredprison,aneatlittlewhitemetalbadgeof"ILLS。"Whenanyreadingmatterwasbroughtintoourneighborhood,therewouldbeageneralcryof:
　　"Takeitupto'Illinoy,'"andthenhundredswouldmassaroundmyquarterstobearthenewsread。
　　TheRebelpapersusuallyhadverymeagerreportsoftheoperationsofthearmies,andtheseweregreatlydistorted,buttheywerestillveryinteresting,andaswealwaysstartedintoreadwiththeexpectationthatthewholestatementwasamassofperversionsandlies,wheretruthwasaninfrequentaccident,wewerenotlikelytobemuchimpressedwithit。
　　Therewasamarleddifferenceinthetoneofthereportsbroughtinfromthedifferentarmies。Sherman'smenwerealwayssanguine。Theyhadnodoubtthattheywerepushingtheenemystraighttothewall,andthateverydaybroughttheSouthernConfederacymuchneareritsdownfall。
　　ThosefromtheArmyofthePotomacwereneversohopeful。TheywouldadmitthatGrantwaspoundingLeeterribly,buttheshadowofthefrequentdefeatsoftheArmyofthePotomacseemedtohangdepressinglyoverthem。
　　Therecameaday,however,whenoursanguinehopesastoShermanwerecheckedbyapossibilitythathehadfailed;thathislongcampaigntowardsAtlantahadculminatedinsuchareverseundertheverywallsoftheCityaswouldcompelanabandonmentoftheenterprise,andpossiblyahumiliatingretreat。WeknewthatJeff。DavisandhisGovernmentwerestronglydissatisfiedwiththeFabianpolicyofJoeJohnston。ThepapershadtoldusoftheRebelPresident'svisittoAtlanta,ofhisbittercommentsonJohnston'stactics;ofhisgoingsofarastosneeraboutthenecessityofprovidingpontoonsatKeyWest,sothatJohnstonmightcontinuehisretreateventoCuba。ThencamethenewsofJohnston'sSupersessionbyHood,andthepaperswerefulloftheexultingpredictionsofwhatwouldnowbeaccomplished"whenthatgallantyoungsoldierisoncefairlyinthesaddle。"
　　AllthismeantonesupremeefforttoarresttheonwardcourseofSherman。
　　ItindicatedaresolvetostakethefateofAtlanta,andthefortunesoftheConfederacyintheWest,uponthehazardofonedesperatefight。
　　WewatchedthesummoningupofeveryRebelenergyfortheblowwithapprehension。WedreadedanotherChickamauga。
　　Theblowfellonthe22dofJuly。Itwaswellplanned。TheArmyoftheTennessee,theleftofSherman'sforces,wasthepartstruck。Onthenightofthe21stHoodmarchedaheavyforcearounditsleftflankandgaineditsrear。Onthe22dthisforcefellontherearwiththeimpetuousviolenceofacyclone,whiletheRebelsintheworksimmediatelyaroundAtlantaattackedfuriouslyinfront。
　　Itwasanordealthatnootherarmyeverpassedthroughsuccessfully。
　　ThesteadiesttroopsinEuropewouldthinkitfoolhardinesstoattempttowithstandanassaultinforceinfrontandrearatthesametime。
　　Thefinestlegionsthatfollowanyflagto—daymustalmostinevitablysuccumbtosuchamodeofattack。ButtheseasonedveteransoftheArmyoftheTennesseeencounteredtheshockwithanobstinacywhichshowedthatthefinestmaterialforsoldierythisplanetholdswasthatinwhichundauntedheartsbeatbeneathblueblouses。Springingoverthefrontoftheirbreastworks,theydrovebackwithawitheringfiretheforceassailingthemintherear。Thisbeatenoff,theyjumpedbacktotheirproperplaces,andrepulsedtheassaultinfront。Thiswasthewaythebattlewaswageduntilnightcompelledacessationofoperations。OurboyswerealternatelybehindthebreastworksfiringatRebelsadvancinguponthefront,andinfrontoftheworksfiringuponthosecomingupintherear。Sometimespartofourlinewouldbeononesideoftheworks,andpartontheother。
　　Intheprisonweweregreatlyexcitedovertheresultoftheengagement,ofwhichwewereuncertainformanydays。Ahostofnewprisonersperhapstwothousand——wasbroughtinfromthere,butastheywerecapturedduringtheprogressofthefight,theycouldnotspeakdefinitelyastoitsissue。TheRebelpapersexultedwithoutstintoverwhattheytermed"agloriousvictory。"TheywereparticularlyjubilantoverthedeathofMcPherson,who,theyclaimed,wasthebrainandguidinghandofSherman'sarmy。Onepaperlikenedhimtothepilot—fish,whichguidesthesharktohisprey。Nowthathewasgone,saidthepaper,Sherman'sarmybecomesagreatlumberinghulk,withnooneinitcapableofdirectingit,anditmustsoonfalltoutterruinundertheskilfullydeliveredstrokesofthegallantHood。
　　Wealsoknewthatgreatnumbersofwoundedhadbeenbroughttotheprisonhospital,andthisseemedtoconfirmtheRebelclaimofavictory,asitshowedtheyretainedpossessionofthebattlefield。
　　Aboutthe1stofAugustalargesquadofSherman'smen,capturedinoneoftheengagementssubsequenttothe22d,camein。Wegatheredaroundthemeagerly。AmongthemInoticedabright,curly—haired,blue—eyedinfantryman——orboy,rather,ashewasyetbeardless。Hiscapwasmarked"68thO。Y。Y。L,"hissleevesweregarnishedwithre—enlistmentstripes,andonthebreastofhisblousewasasilverarrow。TotheeyeofthesoldierthissaidthathewasaveteranmemberoftheSixty—EighthRegimentofOhioInfantry（thatis,havingalreadyservedthreeyears,hehadre—enlistedforthewar）,andthathebelongedtotheThirdDivisionoftheSeventeenthArmyCorps。Hewassoyoungandfreshlookingthatonecouldhardlybelievehimtobeaveteran,butifhisstripeshadnotsaidthis,thesoldierlyarrangementofclothingandaccouterments,andthegraceful,self—possessedposeoflimbsandbodywouldhavetoldtheobserverthathewasoneofthose"OldReliables"withwhomShermanandGranthadalreadysubduedathirdoftheConfederacy。Hisblanket,which,forawonder,theRebelshadneglectedtotakefromhim,wastightlyrolled,itsendstiedtogether,andthrownoverhisshoulderscarf—fashion。Hispantaloonsweretuckedinsidehisstockingtops,thatwerepulledupasfaraspossible,andtiedtightlyaroundhisanklewithastring。Anone—too—cleanhaversack,containingtheinevitablesootyquartcup,andevenblackerhalf—canteen,waftslungeasilyfromtheshoulderoppositetothatonwhichtheblanketrested。HandhimhisfaithfulSpringfieldrifle,putthreedays'rationsinhishaversack,andfortyroundsinhiscartridgebog,andhewouldbeready,withoutaninstant'sdemurorquestion,tomarchtotheendsoftheearth,andfightanythingthatcrossedhispath。Hewasatypeofthehonest,honorable,selfrespectingAmericanboy,who,asasoldier,theworldhasnotequaledinthesixtycenturiesthatwarhasbeenaprofession。
　　Isuggestedtohimthathewasratherayoungstertobewearingveteranchevrons。"Yes,"saidhe,"Iamnotsooldassomeoftherestoftheboys,butIhaveseenaboutasmuchserviceandbeeninthebusinessaboutaslongasanyofthem。Theycallme'OldDad,'IsupposebecauseIwastheyoungestboyintheRegiment,whenwefirstenteredtheservice,thoughourwholeCompany,officersandall,wereonlyalotofboys,andtheRegimenttoday,what'sleftof'em,areaboutasyoungalotofofficersandmenasthereareintheservice。Why,ouroldColonelain'tonlytwenty—fouryearsoldnow,andhehasbeenincommandeversincewewentintoVicksburg。IhavehearditsaidbyourboysthatsinceweveteranizedthewholeRegiment,officers,andmen,averagelessthantwenty—fouryearsold。Buttheyaregray—houndstomarchandstayersinafight,youbet。Why,therestofthetroopsoverinWestTennesseeusedtocallourBrigade'Leggett'sCavalry,'fortheyalwayshaduschasingOldForrest,andwekepthimskedaddling,too,prettylively。ButItellyouwedidgetintoaredhotscrimmageonthe22d。
　　ItjustlaidoverChampionHills,oranyofthebigfightsaroundVicksburg,andtheywerelivelyenoughtoamuseanyone。"
　　"Soyouwereintheaffaironthe22d,wereyou！Weareawfulanxioustohearallaboutit。Comeoverheretomyquartersandtellusallyouknow。Allweknowisthattherehasbeenabigfight,withMcPhersonkilled,andaheavylossoflifebesides,andtheRebelsclaimagreatvictory。"
　　"O,theybe—————。Itwasthesickestvictorytheyevergot。AboutonemorevictoryofthatkindwouldmaketheirinfernaloldConfederacyreadyforacoroner'sinquest。Well,Icantellyouprettymuchallaboutthatfight,forIreckonifthetruthwasknown,ourregimentfiredaboutthefirstandlastshotthatopenedandclosedthefightingonthatday。
　　Well,youseethewholeArmygotacrosstheriver,andwereclosinginaroundtheCityofAtlanta。OurCorps,theSeventeenth,wastheextremeleftofthearmy,andweremovinguptowardtheCityfromtheEast。