首页 >出版文学> Andersonville>第18章

第18章

  10th。Finally,thisgiganticmassofhumanmiserycallsloudlyforrelief,notonlyforthesakeofsufferinghumanity,butalsoonaccountofourownbravesoldiersnowcaptivesinthehandsoftheFederalGovernment。StrictjusticetothegallantmenoftheConfederateArmies,whohavebeenorwhomaybe,sounfortunateastobecompelledtosurrenderinbattle,demandsthattheConfederateGovernmentshouldadoptthatcoursewhichwillbestsecuretheirhealthandcomfortincaptivity;
  oratleastleavetheirenemieswithoutashadowofanexcuseforanyviolationoftherulesofcivilizedwarfareinthetreatmentofprisoners。
  [EndoftheWitness'sTestimony。]
  Thevariation——frommonthtomonth——oftheproportionofdeathstothewholenumberlivingissingularandinteresting。ItsupportsthetheoryIhaveadvancedabove,asthefollowingfacts,takenfromtheofficialreport,willshow:
  InApriloneineverysixteendied。
  InMayoneineverytwenty—sixdied。
  InJuneoneineverytwenty—twodied。
  InJulyoneineveryeighteendied。
  InAugustoneineveryelevendied。
  InSeptemberoneineverythreedied。
  InOctoberoneineverytwodied。
  InNovemberoneineverythreedied。
  DoesthereaderfullyunderstandthatinSeptemberone—thirdofthoseinthependied,thatinOctoberone—halfoftheremainderperished,andinNovemberone—thirdofthosewhostillsurvived,died?Lethimpauseforamomentandreadthisovercarefullyagain;becauseitsstartlingmagnitudewillhardlydawnuponhimatfirstreading。Itistruethatthefearfullydisproportionatemortalityofthosemonthswaslargelyduetothefactthatitwasmostlythesickthatremainedbehind,buteventhisdiminishesbutlittlethefrightfulnessoftheshowing。Didanyoneeverhearofanepidemicsofatalthatone—thirdofthoseattackedbyitinonemonthdied;one—halfoftheremnantthenextmonth,andone—thirdofthefeebleremainderthenextmonth?Ifhedid,hisreadinghasbeenmuchmoreextensivethanmine。
  Thegreatestnumberofdeathsinonedayisreportedtohaveoccurredonthe23dofAugust,whenonehundredandtwenty—sevendied,oronemaneveryelevenminutes。
  ThegreatestnumberofprisonersintheStockadeisstatedtohavebeenAugust8,whentherewerethirty—threethousandonehundredandfourteen。
  Ihavealwaysimaginedboththesestatementstobeshortofthetruth,becausemyremembranceisthatonedayinAugustIcountedovertwohundreddeadlyinginarow。Asforthegreatestnumberofprisoners,Irememberquitedistinctlystandingbytherationwagonduringthewholetimeofthedeliveryofrations,toseehowmanyprisonerstherereallywereinside。ThatdaytheOneHundredandThirty—ThirdDetachmentwascalled,anditsSergeantcameupanddrewrationsforafulldetachment。
  Alltheotherdetachmentswerehabituallykeptfullbyreplacingthosewhodiedwithnewcomers。Aseachdetachmentconsistedoftwohundredandseventymen,onehundredandthirty—threedetachmentswouldmakethirty—fivethousandninehundredandten,exclusiveofthoseinthehospital,andthosedetailedoutsideascooks,clerks,hospitalattendantsandvariousotheremployments——sayfromonetotwothousandmore。
  CHAPTERXLIII。
  DIFFICULTYOFEXERCISING——EMBARRASSMENTSOFAMORNINGWALK——THERIALTO
  OFTHEPRISON——CURSINGTHESOUTHERNCONFEDERACY——THESTORYOFTHEBATTLE
  OFSPOTTSYLVANIACOURTHOUSE。
  Certainly,innoothergreatcommunity,thateverexisteduponthefaceoftheglobewastheresolittledailyebbandflowasinthis。DullasanordinaryTownorCitymaybe;howevermonotonous,eventless,evenstupidthelivesofitscitizens,thereisyet,nevertheless,afloweverydayofitslife—blood——itspopulationtowardsitsheart,andanebbofthesame,everyeveningtowardsitsextremities。Theserecurringtidesmingleallclassestogetherandpromotethegeneralhealthfulness,astheconstantmotionhitherandyonoftheocean'swaterspurifyandsweetenthem。
  ThelackofthesehelpedvastlytomakethelivingmassinsidetheStockadeahumanDeadSea——orratheraDyingSea——aputrefying,stinkinglake,resolvingitselfintophosphorescentcorruption,likethoserottingsouthernseas,whoseseethingfilthburnsinhideousreds,andghastlygreensandyellows。
  Beinglittlecallformotionofanykind,andnoroomtoexercisewhateverwishtheremightbeinthatdirection,verymanysuccumbedunresistinglytotheapathywhichwassostronglyfavoredbydespondencyandtheweaknessinducedbycontinualhunger,andlyingsupinelyonthehotsand,dayinanddayout,speedilybroughtthemselvesintosuchaconditionasinvitedtheattacksofdisease。
  Itrequiredbothdeterminationandefforttotakealittlewalkingexercise。ThegroundwassodenselycrowdedwithholesandotherdevicesforshelterthatittookoneatleasttenminutestopickhiswaythroughthenarrowandtortuouslabyrinthwhichservedaspathsforcommunicationbetweendifferentpartsoftheCamp。Stillfurther,therewasnothingtoseeanywhereortoformsufficientinducementforanyonetomakesolaboriousajourney。Onesimplyencounteredateverynewstepthesameunwelcomesightsthathehadjustleft;therewasamonotonyinthemiseryasineverythingelse,andconsequentlythetemptationtositorliestillinone'sownquartersbecameverygreat。
  IusedtomakeitapointtogotosomeoftheremoterpartsoftheStockadeonceeveryday,simplyforexercise。Onecangainsomeideaofthecrowd,andthedifficultyofmakingone'swaythroughit,whenIsaythatnopointintheprisoncouldbemorethanfifteenhundredfeetfromwhereIstaid,and,hadthewaybeenclear,Icouldhavewalkedthitherandbackinatmostahalfanhour,yetitusuallytookmefromtwotothreehourstomakeoneofthesejourneys。
  Thisdailytrip,afewvisitstotheCreektowashallover,afewgamesofchess,attendanceuponrollcall,drawingrations,cookingandeatingthesame,"lousing"myfragmentsofclothes,anddoingsomelittledutiesformysickandhelplesscomrades,constitutedthedailyroutineformyself,asformostoftheactiveyouthsintheprison。
  TheCreekwasthegreatmeetingpointforallinsidetheStockade。
  Allabletowalkwerecertaintobethereatleastonceduringtheday,andwemadeitarendezvous,aplacetoexchangegossip,discussthelatestnews,canvasstheprospectsofexchange,and,mostofall,tocursetheRebels。IndeednoconversationeverprogressedveryfarwithoutbothspeakerandlistenertakingfrequentreststosaybitterthingsastotheRebelsgenerally,andWirz,WinderandDavisinparticular。
  Aconversationbetweentwoboys——strangerstoeachotherwhocametotheCreektowashthemselvesortheirclothes,orforsomeotherpurpose,wouldprogressthus:
  FirstBoy——"IbelongtotheSecondCorps,——Hancock's,[theArmyofthePotomacboysalwaysmentionedwhatCorpstheybelongedto,wheretheWesternboysstatedtheirRegiment。]TheygotmeatSpottsylvania,whentheywerebuttingtheirheadsagainstourbreast—works,tryingtogetevenwithusforgobblingupJohnsoninthemorning,"——Hestopssuddenlyandchangestonetosay:"IhopetoGod,thatwhenourfolksgetRichmond,theywillputoldBenButlerincommandofit,withorderstolimb,skinandjayhawkitworsethanhedidNewOrleans。"
  SecondBoy,(fervently:)"IwishtoGodhewould,andthathe'dcatcholdJeff。,andthatgrayheadeddevil,Winder,andtheoldDutchCaptain,strip'emjustaswewere,put'eminthispen,withjusttherationstheyaregivin'us,andsetaguardofplantationniggersover'em,withorderstoblowtheirwholeinfernalheadsoff,iftheydaredsomuchastolookatthedeadline。"
  FirstBoy——(returningtothestoryofhiscapture。)"OldHancockcaughttheJohnniesthatmorningtheneatestyoueversawanythinginyourlife。
  AfterthetwoarmieshadmurderedeachotherforfourorfivedaysintheWilderness,byfightingsoclosetogetherthatmuchofthetimeyoucouldalmostshakehandswiththeGraybacks,bothhauledoffalittle,andlayandgloweredateachother。Eachsidehadlostabouttwentythousandmeninlearningthatifitattackedtheotheritwouldgetmashedfine。
  Soeachbuiltalineofworksandlaybehindthem,andtriedtonagtheotherintocomingoutandattacking。AtSpottsylvaniaourlinesandthoseoftheJohnniesweren'ttwelvehundredyardsapart。Thegroundwasclearandcleanbetweenthem,andanyforcethatattemptedtocrossittoattackwouldbecuttopieces,assureasanything。Welaidtherethreeorfourdayswatchingeachother——justlikeboysatschool,whoshakefistsanddareeachother。AtoneplacetheRebellineranouttowardsuslikethetopofagreatletter'A。'Thenightofthe11thofMayitrainedveryhard,andthencameafogsothickthatyoucouldn'tseethelengthofacompany。Hancockthoughthe'dtakeadvantageofthis。
  Wewereallturnedoutveryquietlyaboutfouro'clockinthemorning。
  Notabitofnoisewasallowed。Weevenhadtotakeoffourcanteensandtincups,thattheymightnotrattleagainstourbayonets。Thegroundwassowetthatourfootstepscouldn'tbeheard。Itwasoneofthosedeathly,stillmovements,whenyouthinkyourheartismakingasmuchnoiseasabassdrum。
  "TheJohnniesdidn'tseemtohavethefaintestsuspicionofwhatwascoming,thoughtheyought,becausewewouldhaveexpectedsuchanattackfromthemifwehadn'tmadeitourselves。Theirpicketswereoutjustalittlewaysfromtheirworks,andwewerealmostontothembeforetheydiscoveredus。Theyfiredandranback。Atthisweraisedayellanddashedforwardatacharge。Aswepouredovertheworks,theRebelscamedouble—quickinguptodefendthem。WeflankedJohnson'sDivisionquicker'nyoucouldsay'JackRobinson,'andhadfourthousandof'eminourgripjustasniceasyouplease。Wesentthemtotherearunderguard,andstartedforthenextlineofRebelworksaboutahalfamileaway。ButwehadnowwakedupthewholeofLee'sarmy,andtheyallcamestraightforus,likepacksofmadwolves。Ewellstruckusinthecenter;Longstreetletdriveatourleftflank,andHilltackledourright。Wefellbacktotheworkswehadtaken,WarrenandWrightcameuptohelpus,andwehadithotandheavyfortherestofthedayandpartofthenight。TheJohnniesseemedsomadoverwhatwe'ddonethattheywerehalfcrazy。Theychargedusfivetimes,comingupeverytimejustasiftheyweregoingtoliftusrightoutoftheworkswiththebayonet。
  Aboutmidnight,afterthey'dlostovertenthousandmen,theyseemedtounderstandthatwehadpre—emptedthatpieceofrealestate,anddidn'tproposetoallowanybodytojumpourclaim,sotheyfellbacksullenliketotheirmainworks。Whentheycameonthelastcharge,ourBrigadierwalkedbehindeachofourregimentsandsaid:
  "Boys,we'llsend'embackthistimeforkeeps。Giveitto'embytheacre,andwhentheybegintowaver,we'llalljumpovertheworksandgoforthemwiththebayonet。'
  "Wediditjustthatway。WepouredsuchafireonthemthatthebulletsknockedupthegroundinfrontjustlikeyouhaveseenthedeepdustinaroadinthemiddleofSummerflyupwhenthefirstgreatbigdropsofarainstormstrikeit。Buttheycameon,yellingandswearing,officersinfrontwavingswords,andshouting——allthatbusiness,youknow。Whentheygottoaboutonehundredyardsfromus,theydidnotseemtobecomingsofast,andtherewasagooddealofconfusionamongthem。Thebrigadebuglesounded"Stopfiring。"
  "Weallceasedinstantly。Therebelslookedupinastonishment。OurGeneralsangout:
  "Fixbayonets!'butweknewwhatwascoming,andwerealreadyexecutingtheorder。Youcanimaginethecrashthatrandowntheline,aseveryfellowsnatchedhisbayonetoutandslappeditonthemuzzleofhisgun。
  ThentheGeneral'svoicerangoutlikeabugle:
  "Ready!——FORWARD!CHARGE!'
  "Wecheeredtilleverythingseemedtosplit,andjumpedovertheworks,almosteverymanatthesameminute。TheJohnniesseemedtohavebeenpuzzledatthestoppageofourfire。Whenweallcamesailingovertheworks,withgunsbroughtright,downwheretheymeantbusiness,theyweresoastonishedforaminutethattheystoodstockstill,notknowingwhethertocomeforus,orrun。Wedidnotallowthemlongtodebate,butwentrighttowardsthemonthedoublequick,withthebayonetslookingawfulsavageandhungry。ItwastoomuchforMr。JohnnyReb'snerves。Theyallseemedtoaboutface'atonce,andtheylitoutofthereasiftheyhadbeensentforinahurry。Wechasedafter'emasfastaswecould,andpickedupjustlotsof'em。Finallyitbegantoberealfunny。AJohnny'swindwouldbegintogiveouthe'dfallbehindhiscomrades;he'dhearusyellandthinkthatwewererightbehindhim,readytosinkabayonetthroughhim';he'dturnaround,throwuphishands,andsingout:
  "Isurrender,mister!Isurrender!'andfindthatwewereahundredfeetoff,andwouldhavetohaveabayonetaslongasoneofMcClellan'sgeneralorderstotouchhim。
  "Well,mycompanywastheleftofourregiment,andourregimentwastheleftofthebrigade,andweswungoutaheadofalltherestoftheboys。
  InourexcitementofchasingtheJohnnies,wedidn'tseethatwehadpassedanangleoftheirworks。Aboutthirtyofushadbecomeseparatedfromthecompanyandwerechasingasquadofaboutseventy—fiveoronehundred。Wehadgotupsoclosetothemthatwehollered:
  "Haltthere,now,orwe'llblowyourheadsoff。"
  "TheyturnedroundwithIhaltyourselves;you————Yankee————————
  "Welookedaroundatthis,andsawthatwewerenotonehundredfeetawayfromtheangleoftheworks,whichwerefilledwithRebelswaitingforourfellowstogettowheretheycouldhaveagoodflankfireuponthem。
  Therewasnothingtodobuttothrowdownourgunsandsurrender,andwehadhardlygoneinsideoftheworks,untiltheJohnniesopenedonourbrigadeanddroveitback。ThisendedthebattleatSpottsylvaniaCourtHouse。"
  SecondBoy(irrelevantly。)"SomedaytheunderpinningwillflyoutfromundertheSouth,andletitsinkrightintothemiddlekittleo'hell。"
  FirstBoy(savagely。)"IonlywishthewholeSouthernConfederacywashangingoverhellbyasinglestring,andIhadaknife。"
  CHAPTERXLIV。
  REBELMUSIC——SINGULARLACKOFTHECREATIVEPOWERAMONGTHESOUTHERNERS——
  CONTRASTWITHSIMILARPEOPLEELSEWHERE——THEIRFAVORITEMUSIC,ANDWHERE
  ITWASBORROWEDFROM——AFIFERWITHONETUNE。
  IhavebeforementionedasamongthethingsthatgrewupononewithincreasingacquaintancewiththeRebelsontheirnativeheath,wasastonishmentattheirlackofmechanicalski1landattheirinabilitytograpplewithnumbersandthesimplerprocessesofarithmetic。Anothercharacteristicofthesamenaturewastheirwonderfullackofmusicalability,orofanykindoftunefulcreativeness。
  Elsewhere,allovertheworld,peoplelivingundersimilarconditionstotheSouthernersareexceedinglymusical,andweowethegreatmajorityofthesweetestcompositionswhichdelighttheearandsubduethesensestounletteredsong—makersoftheSwissmountains,theTyrolesevalleys,theBavarianHighlands,andtheminstrelsofScotland,IrelandandWales。
  ThemusicofEnglish—speakingpeopleisverylargelymadeupofthesecontributionsfromthefolk—songsofdwellersinthewilderandmoremountainouspartsoftheBritishIsles。Onerarelygoesfaroutofthewayinattributingtothissourceanyairthathemayhearthatcaptivateshimwithitsseductiveopulenceofharmony。Exquisitemelodies,limpidandunstrainedasthecarolofabirdinSpring—time,andasplaintiveasthecooingofaturtle—doveseemsasnaturalproductsoftheScottishHighlandsasthegorsewhichblazonsontheirhillsidesinAugust。Debarredfromexpressingtheiraspirationsaspeopleofbroaderculturedo——inpainting,insculpture,inpoetryandprose,thesemountaineersmakesongtheflexibleandreadyinstrumentforthecommunicationofeveryemotionthatsweepsacrosstheirsouls。
  Love,hatred,grief,revenge,anger,andespeciallywarseemstotunetheirmindstoharmony,andawakethevoiceofsonginthemhearts。ThebattleswhichtheScotchandIrishfoughttoreplacethelucklessStuartsupontheBritishthrone——thebloodyrebellionsof1715and1745,leftarichlegacyofsweetsong,theoutpouringofloving,passionateloyaltytoawretchedcause;songswhicharetodayesteemedandsungwherevertheEnglishlanguageisspoken,bypeoplewhohavelongsinceforgottenwhatburningfeelingsgavebirthtotheirfavoritemelodies。
  ForacenturythebonesofboththePretendershavemolderedinaliensoil;thenamesofJamesEdward,andCharlesEdward,whichwereoncetrumpetblaststorousearmedmen,meanaslittletothemultitudeoftodayasthoseoftheSaxonEthelbert,andDanishHardicanute,yettheworldgoesonsinging——andwillprobablyaslongastheEnglishlanguageisspoken——"Wha'llbeKingbutCharlie?""WhenJamieComeHame,""OvertheWatertoCharlie,""CharlieismyDarling,""TheBonnyBlueBonnetsareOvertheBorder,""SaddleYourSteedsandAwa,"andamyriadotherswhoseinfinitetendernessandmelodynomoderncomposercanequal。
  YetthesesameScotchandIrish,thesameJacobiteEnglish,transplantedonaccountoftheirchronicrebelliousnesstothemountainsofVirginia,theCarolinas,andGeorgia,seemtohavelosttheirtunefulness,assomefinesingingbirdsdowhencarriedfromtheirnativeshores。
  ThedescendantsofthosewhodrewswordsforJamesandCharlesatPrestonPansandCullodendwellto—dayinthedalesandvalleysoftheAlleganies,astheirfathersdidinthedalesandvalleysoftheGrampians,buttheirvoicesaremute。
  AsaruletheSouthernersarefondofmusic。Theyarefondofsingingandlisteningtoold—fashionedballads,mostofwhichhaveneverbeenprinted,buthandeddownfromonegenerationtotheother,likethe'Volklieder'ofGermany。Theysingthesewiththewild,fervidimpressivenesscharacteristicoftheballadsingingofunletteredpeople。
  Verymanyplaytolerablyontheviolinandbanjo,andoccasionallyoneisfoundwhoseinstrumentationmaybecalledgood。Butabovethishighttheyneversoar。TheonlymusicianproducedbytheSouthofwhomtherestofthecountryhaseverheard,isBlindTom,thenegroidiot。Nocomposer,nosongwriterofanykindhasappearedwithinthebordersofDixie。
  Itwasadisappointmenttomethateventhestressofthewar,thepassionandfiercenesswithwhichtheRebelsfeltandfought,couldnotstimulateanyadherentoftheStarsandBarsintotheproductionofasinglelyricworthyintheremotestdegreeofthemagnitudeofthestruggle,andthedepthofthepopularfeeling。WheretwomillionScotch,fightingtorestorethefallenfortunesoftheworsethanworthlessStuarts,filledtheworldwithimmortalmusic,elevenmillionofSoutherners,fightingforwhattheyclaimedtobeindividualfreedomandnationallife,didnotproduceanyoriginalverse,orabarofmusicthattheworldcouldrecognizeassuch。Thisisthefact;andanundeniableone。ItsexplanationImustleavetoableranalyststhanIam。
  SearchingforpeculiarcauseswefindbuttwothatmaketheSouthdifferfromtheancestralhomeofthesepeople。ThesetwowereClimateandSlavery。Climaticeffectswillnotaccountforthephenomenon,becauseweseethatthepeasantryofthemountainsofSpainandtheSouthofFranceasignorantasthesepeople,anddwellersinastillmoreenervatingatmosphere—areveryfertileinmusicalcomposition,andtheirsongsaretotheRomaniclanguageswhattheScotchandIrishballadsaretotheEnglish。
  ThenitmustbeascribedtotheincubusofSlaveryupontheintellect,whichhasrepressedthisasithasallotherhealthygrowthsintheSouth。Slaveryseemstobenumballthefacultiesexceptthepassions。
  Thefactthatthemountaineershadbutfewornoslaves,doesnotseemtobeofimportanceinthecase。Theylivedunderthedeadlyshadowoftheupastree,andsufferedtheconsequencesofitsstuntingtheirdevelopmentinalldirections,astheague—smitteninhabitantoftheRomanCampanafindseverysenseandeverymusclecloggedbythefilteringinoftheinsidiousmiasma。Theydidnotcomposesongsandmusic,becausetheydidnothavetheintellectualenergyforthatwork。
  Thenegrosdisplayedallthemusicalcreativenessofthatsection。
  Theirwonderfulprolificnessinwild,rudesongs,withstrangelymelodiousairsthatburnedthemselvesintothememory,wasoneofthesalientcharacteristicsofthatdown—troddenrace。LiketheRussianserfs,andthebondmenofallagesandlands,thesongstheymadeandsangallhadanundertoneoftouchingplaintiveness,bornofagesofdumbsuffering。Thethemeswereexceedinglysimple,andtherangeofsubjectslimited。Thejoys,andsorrows,hopesanddespairsoflove'sgratificationordisappointment,ofstrugglesforfreedom,contestswithmalignpersonsandinfluences,ofrage,hatred,jealousy,revenge,suchasformthemotifsforthemajorityofthepoetryoffreeandstrongraces,werewhollyabsentfromtheirlyrics。Religion,hungerandtoilweretheirmaininspiration。Theysangofthepleasuresofidlinginthegenialsunshine;thedelightsofabundanceoffood;theeternalhappinessthatawaitedthemintheheavenlyfuture,wheretheslave—driverceasedfromtroublingandthewearywereatrest;whereTimerolledaroundinendlesscyclesofdaysspentinbasking,harpinhand,andsilkenclad,ingoldenstreets,underthesofteffulgenceofcloudlessskies,glowingwithwarmthandkindnessemanatingfromtheCreatorhimself。Hadtheirmasterscondescendedtoborrowthemusicoftheslaves,theywouldhavefoundnonewhosesentimentsweresuitablefortheodeofapeopleundergoingthepangsofwhatwashopedtobethebirthofanewnation。
  ThethreesongsmostpopularattheSouth,andgenerallyregardedasdistinctivelySouthern,were"TheBonnieBlueFlag,""Maryland,MyMaryland,"and"StonewallJacksonCrossingintoMaryland。"Thefirstofthesewasthegreatestfavoritebylongodds。Womensang,menwhistled,andtheso—calledmusiciansplayeditwhereverwewent。Whileinthefieldbeforecapture,itwasthecommonestofexperiencestohaveRebelwomensingitatustauntinglyfromthehousethatwepassedornearwhichwestopped。IfevernearenoughaRebelcamp,weweresuretohearitswailingcrescendorisingupontheairfromthelipsorinstrumentsofsomeonemorequarteredthere。AtRichmonditranguponusconstantlyfromsomesourceoranother,andthesamewastruewhereverelsewewentintheso—calledConfederacy。
  AllfamiliarwithScotchsongswillreadilyrecognizethenameandairasanoldfriend,andoneofthefierceJacobitemelodiesthatforalongtimedisturbedthetranquilityoftheBrunswickfamilyontheEnglishthrone。ThenewwordssuppliedbytheRebelsarethemerestdoggerel,andfitthemusicaspoorlyastheunchangednameofthesongfittedtoitsnewuse。TheflagoftheRebellionwasnotabonnieblueone;buthadquiteasmuchredandwhiteasazure。Itdidnothaveasinglestar,butthirteen。
  Nearinpopularitywas"Maryland,MyMaryland。"TheversificationofthiswasofamuchhigherOrder,beingfairlyrespectable。Theairisold,andafamiliaronetoallcollegestudents,andbelongstooneofthemostcommonofGermanhouseholdsongs:
  O,Tannenbaum!O,Tannenbaum,wietrusinddeineBlatter!
  DagruenstnichtnurzurSommerseit,Nein,auchinWinter,whenesSchneit,etc。
  whichLongfellowhasfinelytranslated,O,hemlocktree!O,hemlocktree!howfaithfularethybranches!
  GreennotaloneinSummertime,ButintheWinter'sfloatandrime。
  O,hemlocktreeO,hemlocktree!howfaithfularethybranches。etc。
  TheRebelversionran:
  MARYLAND。
  Thedespot'sheelisonthyshore,Maryland!
  Histouchisatthytempledoor,Maryland!
  AvengethepatrioticgoreThatfleckedthestreetsofBaltimore,Andbethebattlequeenofyore,Maryland!MyMaryland!
  Harktothewand'ringson'sappeal,Maryland!
  MymotherState,totheeIkneel,Maryland!
  Forlifeanddeath,forwoeandweal,Thypeerlesschivalryreveal,Andgirdthybeauteouslimbswithsteel,Maryland!MyMaryland!
  Thouwiltnotcowerintheduet,Maryland!
  ThybeamingswordshallneverrustMaryland!
  RememberCarroll'ssacredtrust,RememberHoward'swarlikethrust——
  Andallthyslumbererswiththejust,Maryland!MyMaryland!
  Come!'tisthereddawnoftheday,Maryland!
  Come!withthypanopliedarray,Maryland!
  WithRinggold'sspiritforthefray,WithWatson'sbloodatMonterey,WithfearlessLoweanddashingMay,Maryland!MyMaryland!
  Cometforthyshieldisbrightandstrong,Maryland!
  Come!forthydalliancedoestheewrong,Maryland!
  Come!tothinsownheroicthrong,ThatstalkswithLibertyalong,AndgiveanewKeytothysong,Maryland!MyMaryland!
  DearMother!burstthetyrant'schain,Maryland!
  Virginiashouldnotcallinvain,Maryland!
  Shemeetshersistersontheplain——
  'Sicsemper"'tistheproudrefrain,Thatbafflesmillionsbackamain,Maryland!
  Arise,inmajestyagain,Maryland!MyMaryland!
  Iseetheblushuponthycheek,Maryland!
  Butthouwasteverbravelymeek,Maryland!
  Butlo!theresurgesforthashriekFromhilltohill,fromcreektocreek——
  PotomaccallstoChesapeake,Maryland!MyMaryland!
  Thouwiltnotyieldthevandaltoll。
  Maryland!
  Thouwiltnotcrooktohiscontrol,Maryland!
  Betterthefireupontheeroll,Bettertheblade,theshot,thebowl,Thancrucifixionofthesoul,Maryland!MyMaryland!
  IhearthedistantThunderhem,Maryland!
  TheOldLine'sbugle,fife,anddrum。
  Maryland!
  Sheisnotdead,nordeaf,nordumb——
  Hnzza!shespurnstheNorthernscum!
  Shebreathes——sheburns!she'llcome!she'llcome!
  Maryland!MyMaryland!
  "StonewallJacksonCrossingintoMaryland,"wasanothertravesty,ofaboutthesameliterarymerit,orratherdemerit,as"TheBonnieBlueFlag。"Itsairwasthatofthewell—knownandpopularnegrominstrelsong,"BillyPatterson。"Forallthat,itsoundedverymartialandstirringwhenplayedbyabrassband。
  Weheardthesesongswithtiresomeiteration,dailyandnightly,duringourstayintheSouthernConfederacy。Someoneoftheguardsseemedtobeperpetuallybeguilingthewearinessofhiswatchbysinginginallkeys,ineverysortofavoice,andwiththewildestlatitudeastoairandtime。Theybecamesoterriblyirritatingtous,thattothisdaytheremembranceofthosesoul—laceratinglyricsabideswithmeasoneofthechiefoftheminortormentsofoursituation。Theywere,infact,nearlyasbadasthelice。
  Werevengedourselvesasbestwecouldbyconstructingfearfullywicked,obsceneandinsultingparodiesonthese,andbysingingthemwithirritatingeffusivenessinthehearingoftheguardswhowereinflictingthesenuisancesuponus。
  Ofthesamenaturewasthegarrisonmusic。Onefife,playedbyanasthmaticoldfellowwhosebreathingswerenearlyasaudibleashisnotes,andonerheumaticdrummer,constitutedtheentirebandforthepost。Thefiferactuallyknewbutonetune"TheBonnieBlueFlag"——
  anddidnotknowthatwell。Butitwasallthathehad,andheplayeditwithwearisomemonotonyforeverycampcall——fiveorsixtimesaday,andsevendaysintheweek。Hecalledusupinthemorningwithitforareveille;hesoundedthe"rollcall"and"drillcall,"breakfast,dinnerandsupperwithit,andfinallysentustobed,withthesamedrearywailthathadrunginourearsallday。IneverhatedanypieceofmusicasI
  cametohatethatthrenodyoftreason。Itwouldhavebeensuchareliefifthe,oldasthmaticwhoplayeditcouldhavebeeninducedtolearnanothertunetoplayonSundays,andgiveusonedayofrest。Hedidnot,butdesecratedtheLord'sDaybyplayingasvilelyasontherestoftheweek。TheRebelswerefullyconsciousoftheirmusicaldeficiencies,andmaderepeatedbutunsuccessfulattemptstoinducethemusiciansamongtheprisonerstocomeoutsideandformaband。
  CHAPTERXLV
  AUGUST——NEEDLESSTUCKINPUMPKINSEEDS——SOMEPHENOMENAOFSTARVATION——
  RIOTINGINREMEMBEREDLUXURIES。
  "Illinoy,"saidtall,gauntJackNorth,oftheOneHundredandFourteenthIllinois,tome,oneday,aswesatcontemplatingournaked,andsadlyattenuatedunderpinning;"whatdoourlegsandfeetmostlookmostlike?"
  "Giveitup,Jack,"saidI。
  "Why——darningneedlesstuckinpumpkinseeds,ofcourse。"Ineverheardabettercomparisonforourwastedlimbs。
  Theeffectsofthegreatbodilyemaciationweresometimesverystartling。
  Boysofafleshyhabitwouldchangesoinafewweeksastoloseallresemblancetotheirformerselves,andcomradeswhocameintoprisonlaterwouldutterlyfailtorecognizethem。Mostfatmen,asmostlargemen,diedinalittlewhileafterentering,thoughtherewereexceptions。
  Oneofthesewasaboyofmyowncompany,namedGeorgeHillicks。Georgehadshotupwithinafewyearstooversixfeetinhight,andthen,assuchboysoccasionallydo,had,afterenlistingwithus,takenonsuchadevelopmentoffleshthatwenicknamedhimthe"Giant,"andhebecameaprettygoodloadforeventhestrongesthorse。GeorgeheldhisfleshthroughBelleIsle,andtheearlierweeksinAndersonville,butJune,July,andAugust"fetchedhim,"astheboyssaid。HeseemedtomeltawaylikeanicicleonaSpringday,andhegrewsothinthathishightseemedpreternatural。Wecalledhim"Flagstaff,"andcrackedallsortsofjokesaboutputtinganinsulatoronhishead,andsettinghimupforatelegraphpole,braidinghislegsandusinghimforawhiplash,lettinghishairgrowalittlelonger,andtradinghimofftotheRebelsforaspongeandstafffortheartillery,etc。Weallexpectedhimtodie,andlookedcontinuallyforthedevelopmentofthefatalscurvysymptoms,whichweretosealhisdoom。Butheworriedthrough,andcameoutatlastingoodshape,ahappyresultdueasmuchastoanythingelsetohishavinginChesterHayward,ofPrairieCity,Ill。,——oneofthemostdevotedchumsIeverknew。ChesternursedandlookedoutforGeorgewithwife—likefidelity,andhadhisrewardinbringinghimsafethroughourlines。TherewerethousandsofinstancesofthisgenerousdevotiontoeachotherbychumsinAndersonville,andIknowofnothingthatreflectsanymorecredituponourboysoldiers。