Hehituponanexcellentone。GoingtotheengineerofafreighttrainmakingreadytostartbacktoMacon,hetoldhimthathisfatherwasworkingintheConfederatemachineshopsatGriswoldville,nearMacon;
　　thathehimselfwasalsooneofthemachinistsemployedthere,anddesiredtogothitherbutlackedthenecessarymeanstopayhispassage。
　　Iftheengineerwouldlethimrideupontheenginehewoulddoworkenoughtopaythefare。Franktoldthestoryingeniously,theengineerandfiremenwerewonover,andgavetheirconsent。
　　NomorezealousassistanteverclimbeduponatenderthanFrankprovedtobe。Heloadedwoodwithanervousindustry,thatstoodhiminplaceofgreatstrength。Hekeptthetenderinperfectorder,andanticipated,asfaraspossible,everywantoftheengineerandhisassistant。Theyweredelightedwithhim,andtreatedhimwiththegreatestkindness,dividingtheirfoodwithhim,andinsistingthatheshouldsharetheirbedwhenthey"laidby"forthenight。Frankwouldhavegladlydeclinedthislatterkindnesswiththanks,ashewasconsciousthatthequantityof"graybacks"hisclothingcontaineddidnotmakehimaverydesirablesleepingcompanionforanyone,buthisfriendsweresopressingthathewascompelledtoaccede。
　　Hisgreatesttroublewasafearofrecognitionbysomeoneoftheprisonersthatwerecontinuallypassingbythetrainload,ontheirwayfromAndersonvilletootherprisons。HewasoneofthebestknownoftheprisonersinAndersonville;bright,active,alwayscheerful,andforeverinmotionduringwakinghours,——everyoneinthePrisonspeedilybecamefamiliarwithhim,andalladdressedhimas"SergeantFrankie。"Ifanyoneonthepassingtrainshadcaughtaglimpseofhim,thatglimpsewouldhavebeenfollowedalmostinevitablywithashoutof:
　　"Hello,SergeantFrankie！Whatareyoudoingthere？"
　　Thenthewholegamewouldhavebeenup。Frankescapedthisbypersistentwatchfulness,andbybusyinghimselfontheoppositesideoftheengine,withhisbackturnedtotheothertrains。
　　AtlastwhennearingGriswoldville,Frank,pointingtoalargewhitehouseatsomedistanceacrossthefields,said:
　　"Now,rightoverthereiswheremyunclelives,andIbelieveI'lljustrunoverandseehim,andthenwalkintoGriswoldville。"
　　Hethankedhisfriendsferventlyfortheirkindness,promisedtocallandseethemfrequently,badethemgoodby,andjumpedoffthetrain。
　　Hewalkedtowardsthewhitehouseaslongashethoughthecouldbeseen,andthenenteredalargecornfieldandconcealedhimselfinathicketinthecenterofituntildark,whenhemadehiswaytotheneighboringwoods,andbeganjourneyingnorthwardasfastashislegscouldcarryhim。Whenmorningbrokehehadmadegoodprogress,butwasterriblytired。Itwasnotprudenttotravelbydaylight,sohegatheredhimselfsomeearsofcornandsomeberries,ofwhichhemadehisbreakfast,andfindingasuitablethickethecrawledintoit,fellasleep,anddidnotwakeupuntillateintheafternoon。
　　Afteranothermealofrawcornandberriesheresumedhisjourney,andthatnightmadestillbetterprogress。
　　Herepeatedthisforseveraldaysandnights——lyinginthewoodsinthedaytime,travelingbynightthroughwoods,fields,andby—pathsavoidingallthefords,bridgesandmainroads,andlivingonwhathecouldgleanfromthefields,thathemightnottakeevensomuchriskaswasinvolvedingoingtothenegrocabinsforfood。
　　Buttherearealwaysflawsineveryman'sarmorofcaution——eveninsoperfectaoneasFrank's。Hiscompletesuccesssofarhadthenaturaleffectofinducingagrowingcarelessness,whichwroughthisruin。
　　Oneeveninghestartedoffbriskly,afterarefreshingrestandsleep。
　　HeknewthathemustbeverynearSherman'slines,andhopecheeredhimupwiththebeliefthathisfreedomwouldsoonbewon。
　　Descendingfromthehill,inwhosedensebrushwoodhehadmadehisbedallday,heenteredalargefieldfullofstandingcorn,andmadehiswaybetweentherowsuntilhereached,ontheotherside,thefencethatseparateditfromthemainroad,acrosswhichwasanothercorn—field,thatFrankintendedentering。
　　Butheneglectedhisusualprecautionsonapproachingaroad,andinsteadofcomingupcautiouslyandcarefullyreconnoiteringinalldirectionsbeforeheleftcover,hesprangboldlyoverthefenceandstrodeoutfortheotherside。Ashereachedthemiddleoftheroad,hisearswereassailedwiththesharpclickofamusketbeingcocked,andtheharshcommand:
　　"Halt！halt,dah,Isay！"
　　Turningwithastarttohislefthesawnottenfeetfromhim,amountedpatrol,thesoundofwhoseapproachhadbeenmaskedbythedeepdustoftheroad,intowhichhishorse'shoofssanknoiselessly。
　　Frank,ofcourse,yieldedwithoutaword,andwhensenttotheofficerincommandhetoldtheoldstoryabouthisbeinganemployeeoftheGriswoldvilleshops,offonaleaveofabsencetomakeavisittosickrelatives。But,unfortunately,hiscaptorsbelongedtothatsectionthemselves,andspeedilycaughthiminamazeofcross—questioningfromwhichhecouldnotextricatehimself。ItalsobecameapparentfromhislanguagethathewasaYankee,anditwasnotfarfromthistotheconclusionthathewasaspy——aconclusiontowhichtheproximityofSherman'slines,thenlessthantwentymilesdistant—greatlyassisted。
　　BythenextmorningthisbeliefhadbecomesofirmlyfixedinthemindsoftheRebelsthatFranksawahalterdanglingalarminglynear,andheconcludedthewisestplanwastoconfesswhohereallywas。
　　Itwasnotthesmallestofhisgriefstorealizebyhowslightachancehehadfailed。Hadhelookeddowntheroadbeforeheclimbedthefence,orhadhebeentenminutesearlierorlater,thepatrolwouldnothavebeenthere,hecouldhavegainedthenextfieldunperceived,andtwomorenightsofsuccessfulprogresswouldhavetakenhimintoSherman'slinesatSandMountain。Thepatrolwhichcaughthimwasonthelook—outfordesertersandshirkingconscripts,whohadbecomeunusuallynumeroussincethefallofAtlanta。
　　HewassentbacktousatSavannah。AshecameintotheprisongateLieutenantDaviswasstandingnear。HelookedsternlyatFrankandhisRebelgarments,andmuttering,"ByGod,I'llstopthis！"caughtthecoatbythetails,toreittothecollar,andtookitandhishatawayfromFrank。
　　Therewasastrangesequeltothisepisode。Afewweeksafterwardaspecialexchangefortenthousandwasmade,andFranksucceededinbeingincludedinthis。HewasgiventheusualfurloughfromtheparoledcampatAnnapolis,andwenttohishomeinalittletownnearMansfield,O。
　　Onedaywhileonthecarsgoing——IthinktoNewark,O。,hesawLieutenantDavisonthetrain,incitizens'clothes。HehadbeensentbytheRebelGovernmenttoCanadawithdispatchesrelatingtosomeoftheraidsthenharassingourNorthernborders。Daviswasthelastmanintheworldtosuccessfullydisguisehimself。Hehadalarge,coarsemouth,thatmadehimrememberedbyallwhohadeverseenhim。Frankrecognizedhiminstantlyandsaid:
　　"YouareLieutenantDavis？"
　　Davisreplied:
　　"Youaretotallymistaken,sah,Iam—————"
　　Frankinsistedthathewasright。Davisfumedandblustered,butthoughFrankwassmall,hewasasgameasabantamrooster,andhegaveDavistounderstandthattherehadbeenavastchangeintheirrelativepositions;
　　thattheone,whilestillthesameinsolentswaggerer,hadnotregimentsofinfantryorbatteriesofartillerytoemphasizehisinsolence,andtheotherwasnolongerembarrassedinthediscussionbytheimmenseoddsinfavorofhisjailoropponent。
　　AfterastormysceneFrankcalledintheassistanceofsomeothersoldiersinthecar,arrestedDavis,andtookhimtoCampChase——nearColumbus,O。,——wherehewasfullyidentifiedbyanumberofparoledprisoners。Hewassearched,anddocumentsshowingthenatureofhismissionbeyondadoubt,werefounduponhisperson。
　　Acourtmartialwasimmediatelyconvenedforhistrial。
　　Thisfoundhimguilty,andsentencedhimtobehangedasaspy。
　　AttheconclusionofthetrialFranksteppeduptotheprisonerandsaid:
　　"Mr。Davis,Ibelievewe'reevenonthatcoat,now。"
　　DaviswassenttoJohnson'sIslandforexecution,butinfluenceswereimmediatelysetatworktosecureExecutiveclemency。WhattheywereIknownot,butIaminformedbytheRev。RobertMcCune,whowasthenChaplainoftheOneHundredandTwenty—EighthOhioInfantryandthePostofJohnson'sIslandandwhowasthespiritualadviserappointedtoprepareDavisforexecution,thatthesentencewashardlypronouncedbeforeDaviswasvisitedbyanemissary,whotoldhimtodismisshisfears,thatheshouldnotsufferthepunishment。
　　ItislikelythatleadingBaltimoreUnionistswereenlistedinhisbehalfthroughfamilyconnections,andastheBorderStateUnionistswerethenpotentatWashington,theyreadilysecuredacommutationofhissentencetoimprisonmentduringthewar。
　　Itseemsthatthejusticeofthisworldisveryunevenlydispensedwhensomuchsolicitudeisshownforthelifeofsuchaman,andnoneatallforthemuchbettermenwhomheassistedtodestroy。
　　Theofficialnoticeofthecommutationofthesentencewasnotpublisheduntilthedaysetfortheexecution,butthecertainknowledgethatitwouldbeforthcomingenabledDavistodisplayagreatdealofbravadoonapproachingwhatwassupposedtobehisend。Asthereadercanreadilyimagine,fromwhatIhaveheretoforesaidofhim,Daviswasthemantoimprovetotheutmosteveryopportunitytostruthislittlehour,andhediditinthisinstance。Heposed,attitudinizedandvapored,sothatthecampandthecountrywerefilledwithstoriesofthewonderfulcoolnesswithwhichhecontemplatedhisapproachingfate。
　　Amongotherthingshesaidtohisguard,ashewashedhimselfelaboratelythenightbeforethedayannouncedfortheexecution:
　　"Well,youcanbesureofonething;to—morrownighttherewillcertainlybeonecleancorpseonthisIsland。"
　　Unfortunatelyforhisbraggadocio,heletitleakoutinsomewaythathehadbeenwellawareallthetimethathewouldnotbeexecuted。
　　HewastakentoFortDelawareforconfinement,anddiedtheresometimeafter。
　　FrankBeverstockwentbacktohisregiment,andservedwithituntilthecloseofthewar。Hethenreturnedhome,and,afterawhilebecameabankeratBowlingGreen,O。Hewasafinebusinessmanandbecameveryprosperous。Butthoughnaturallyhealthyandvigorous,hissystemcarriedinittheseedsofdeath,sowntherebythehardshipsofcaptivity。HehadbeenoneofthevictimsoftheRebels'vaccination;
　　thevirusinjectedintohisbloodhadcausedalargepartofhisrighttempletosloughoff,andwhenithealeditleftaghastlycicatrix。
　　Twoyearsagohewastakensuddenlyill,anddiedbeforehisfriendshadanyideathathisconditionwasserious。
　　CHAPTERLIV。
　　SAVANNAHPROVESTOBEACHANGEFORTHEBETTER——ESCAPEFROMTHEBRATSOF
　　GUARDS——COMPARISONBETWEENWIRZANDDAVIS——ABRIEFINTERVALOFGOOD
　　RATIONS——WINDER,THEMANWITHTHEEVILEYE——
　　THEDISLOYALWORKOFASHYSTER。
　　AfterallSavannahwasawonderfulimprovementonAndersonville。
　　WegotawayfromthepestilentialSwampandthatpoisonousground。
　　Everymouthfulofairwasnotladenwithdiseasegerms,noreverycupofwaterpollutedwiththeseedsofdeath。Theearthdidnotbreedgangrene,northeatmospherepromotefever。Asonlythemorevigoroushadcomeaway,wewerefreedfromthedepressingspectacleofeverythirdmandying。Thekeendisappointmentprostratedverymanywhohadbeenofaveragehealth,andIimagine,severalhundreddied,buttherewerehospitalarrangementsofsomekind,andthesickweretakenawayfromamongus。Thoseofuswhotunneledouthadanopportunityofstretchingourlegs,whichwehadnothadformonthsintheovercrowdedStockadewehadleft。Theattemptstoescapedidallengagedinthemgood,eventhoughtheyfailed,sincetheyarousednewideasandhopes,setthebloodintomorerapidcirculation,andtonedupthemindandsystemboth。
　　IhadcomeawayfromAndersonvillewithconsiderablescurvymanifestingitselfinmygumsandfeet。Soonthesesignsalmostwhollydisappeared。
　　WealsogotawayfromthosemurderouslittlebratsofReserves,whoguardedusatAndersonville,andshotmendownastheywouldstoneapplesoutofatree。Ourguardsnowweremostly,sailors,fromtheRebelfleetintheharbor——Irishmen,EnglishmenandScandinavians,asfreeheartedandkindlyassailorsalwaysare。Idonotthinktheyeverfiredashotatoneofus。Theonlytroublewehadwaswiththatportionoftheguarddrawnfromtheinfantryofthegarrison。TheyhadthesamerattlesnakevenomoftheHomeGuardcrowdwhereverwemetit,andshotusdownattheleastprovocation。Fortunatelytheyonlyformedasmallpartofthesentinels。
　　Bestofall,weescapedforawhilefromtheupas—likeshadowofWinderandWirz,inwhosepresencestrongmensickenedanddied,aswhennearsomemaligngeniiofanEasternstory。ThepeasantryofItalybelievedfirmlyintheevileye。DidtheyeverknowanysuchmenasWinderandhissatellite,Icouldcomprehendhowmuchfoundationtheycouldhaveforsuchabelief。
　　LieutenantDavishadmanyfaults,buttherewasnocomparisonbetweenhimandtheAndersonvillecommandant。HewasatypicalyoungSouthernman;
　　ignorantandbumptiousastothemostcommonmattersofschool—boyknowledge,inordinatelyvainofhimselfandhisfamily,coarseintastesandthoughts,violentinhisprejudices,butafterallwithsomestreaksofhonorandgenerositythatmadethewidestpossibledifferencebetweenhimandWirz,whoneverhadany。Asoneofmychumssaidtome:
　　"Wirzisthemosteven—temperedmanIeverknew;he'salwaysfoamingmad。"
　　Thiswasnearlythetruth。IneversawWirzwhenhewasnotangry;
　　ifnotviolentlyabusive,hewascynicalandsardonic。Never,inmylittleexperiencewithhimdidIdetectaglintofkindly,generoushumanity;ifheeverwasmovedbyanysightofsufferingitsexhibitioninhisfaceescapedmyeye。Ifheeverhadevenawishtomitigatethepainorhardshipofanymantheexpressionofsuchwishneverfellonmyear。Howamancouldmovedailythroughsuchmiseryasheencountered,andneverbemovedbyitexcepttoscornandmockingisbeyondmylimitedunderstanding。
　　Davisvaporedagreatdeal,swearingbigroundoathsinthebroadestofSouthernpatois;hewasperpetuallythreateningto:
　　"Openonyewiddeahtillery,"buttheonlydeaththatIknewhimtodirectlycauseorsanctionwasthatIhavedescribedinthepreviouschapter。Hewouldnotputhimselfoutofthewaytoannoyandoppressprisoners,asWirzwould,butfrequentlyshowedevenadispositiontohumortheminsomelittlething,whenitcouldbedonewithoutdangerortroubletohimself。
　　By—and—by,however,hegotanideathattherewassomemoneytobemadeoutoftheprisoners,andhesethiswitstoworkinthisdirection。
　　Oneday,standingatthegate,hegaveoneofhispeculiaryellsthatheusedtoattracttheattentionofthecampwith:
　　"Wh—ah—ye！！"
　　Weallcameto"attention,"andheannounced:
　　"Yesterday,whileIwuzinthecamps（aRebelalwayssayscamps,）someofyouprisonerspickedmypocketsofseventy—fivedollarsingreenbacks。
　　Now,IgiveyounoticethatI'llnotsendinanymoahrationstillthemoney'sreturnedtome。"
　　Thiswasaverystupidmethodofextortion,sincenoonebelievedthathehadlostthemoney,andatalleventshehadnobusinesstohavethegreenbacks,astheRebellawsimposedseverepenaltiesuponanycitizen,andstillmoreuponanysoldierdealingwith,orhavinginhispossessionanyof"themoneyoftheenemy。"Wedidwithoutrationsuntilnight,whentheyweresentin。Therewasastorythatsomeoftheboysintheprisonhadcontributedtomakeuppartofthesum,andDavistookitandwassatisfied。Idonotknowhowtruethestorywas。Atanothertimesomeoftheboysstolethebridleandhalteroffanoldhorsethatwasdriveninwithacart。Thethingswereworth,ataliberalestimate,onedollar。Daviscutofftherationsofthewholesixthousandofusforonedayforthis。Wealwaysimaginedthattheproceedswentintohispocket。
　　AspecialexchangewasarrangedbetweenourNavyDepartmentandthatoftheRebels,bywhichallseamenandmarinesamonguswereexchanged。
　　Listsoftheseweresenttothedifferentprisonsandthemencalledfor。
　　Aboutthree—fourthsofthemweredead,butmanysoldiersdivining,thesituationofaffairs,answeredtothedeadmen'snames,wentawaywiththesquadandwereexchanged。MuchofthiswasthroughtheconnivanceoftheRebelofficers,whofavoredthosewhohadingratiatedthemselveswiththem。Inmanyinstancesmoneywaspaidtosecurethisprivilege,andI
　　havebeeninformedongoodauthoritythatJackHuckleby,oftheEighthTennessee,andIraBeverly,oftheOneHundredthOhio,whokeptthebigsutlershopontheNorthSideatAndersonville,paidDavisfivehundreddollarseachtobeallowedtogowiththesailors。AsforAndrewsandme,wehadnofriendsamongtheRebels,normoneytobribewith,sowestoodnoshow。
　　TherationsissuedtousforsometimeafterourarrivalseemedriotousluxurytowhatwehadbeengettingatAndersonville。Eachofusreceiveddailyahalf—dozenrudeandcoarseimitationsofourfondly—rememberedhardtack,andwiththeseasmallpieceofmeatorafewspoonfulsofmolasses,andaquartorsoofvinegar,andseveralplugsoftobaccoforeachhundred。"Howexquisitewasthetasteofthecrackersandmolasses！
　　ItwasthefirstwheatbreadIhadeatensincemyentryintoRichmond——
　　ninemonthsbefore——andmolasseshadbeenastrangertomeforyears。
　　Afterthecornbreadwehadsolonglivedupon,thiswasmanna。ItseemsthattheCommissaryatSavannahlaboredunderthedelusionthathemustissuetousthesamerationsaswereservedouttotheRebelsoldiersandsailors。ItwassomelittletimebeforethefearfulmistakecametotheknowledgeofWinder。Ifancythatthenewsalmostthrewhimintoanapoplecticfit。Nothing,savehisbeingorderedtothefront,couldhavecausedhimsuchpoignantsorrowastheinformationthatsomuchgoodfoodhadbeenworsethanwastedinundoinghisworkbybuildingupthebodiesofhishatedenemies。
　　Withoutbeingtold,weknewthathehadbeenheardfromwhenthetobacco,vinegarandmolassesfailedtocomein,andthecrackersgavewaytocornmeal。StillthiswasavastimprovementonAndersonville,asthemealwasfineandsweet,andweeachhadaspoonfulofsaltissuedtousregularly。
　　IamquitesurethatIcannotmakethereaderwhohasnothadanexperiencesimilartoourscomprehendthewonderfulimportancetousofthatspoonfulofsalt。Whetherornottheappetiteforsaltbe,assomescientistsclaim,apurelyartificialwant,onethingiscertain,andthatis,thateitherthehabitofcountlessgenerationsorsomeothercause,hassodeeplyingraineditintoourcommonnature,thatithascometobenearlyasessentialasfooditself,andnoamountofdeprivationcanaccustomustoitsabsence。Rather,itseemedthatthelongerwedidwithoutitthemoreoverpoweringbecameourcraving。
　　Icouldgetalongto—dayandto—morrow,perhapsthewholeweek,withoutsaltinmyfood,sincethelackwouldbesuppliedfromtheexcessIhadalreadyswallowed,butattheendofthattimeNaturewouldbegintodemandthatIrenewthesupplyofsalineconstituentofmytissues,andshewouldbecomemoreclamorouswitheverydaythatIneglectedherbidding,andfinallysummonNauseatoaidLonging。
　　ThelightartilleryofthegarrisonofSavannah——fourbatteries,twenty—
　　fourpieces——wasstationedaroundthreesidesoftheprison,thegunsunlimbered,plantedatconvenientdistance,andtraineduponus,readyforinstantuse。Wecouldseeallthegrinningmouthsthroughthecracksinthefence。TherewereenoughofthemtosendusashighasthetraditionalkiteflownbyGilderoy。ThehavingathisbeckthisarrayoffrowningmetallentLieutenantDavissuchanimportanceinhisowneyesthathisdemeanorswelledtothegrandiose。Itbecameveryamusingtoseehimpuffupandvauntoverit,ashedidoneverypossibleoccasion。
　　Forinstance,findingacrowdofseveralhundredloungingaroundthegate,hewouldthrowopenthewicket,stalkinwiththeairofaJovethreateningarebelliousworldwiththedreadthundersofheaven,andshout:
　　"W—h—a—ay—e—e！Prisoners,Igiveyoujisttwominutestocleahawayfromthisgate,awI'llopenonyewiddeahtillery！"
　　Oneofthebuglersoftheartillerywasasuperbmusician——evidentlysomeold"regular"whomtheConfederacyhadseducedintoitsservice,andhisinstrumentwassosweettonedthatweimaginedthatitwasmadeofsilver。Thecallsheplayedwerenearlythesameasweusedinthecavalry,andforthefirstfewdayswebecamebitterlyhomesickeverytimehesentringingouttheoldfamiliarsignals,thattousweresocloselyassociatedwithwhatnowseemedthebrightandhappydayswhenwewereinthefieldwithourbattalion。IfwewereonlybackinthevalleysofTennesseewithwhatalacritywewouldrespondtothat"assembly;"noOrderly'spatiencewouldbewornoutingettinglaggardsandlazyonesto"fallinforroll—call;"howeagerlywewouldattendto"stableduty;"howgladlymountourfaithfulhorsesandrideawayto"water,"andwhatbarebackracesride,goingandcoming。Wewouldbeevengladtohear"guard"and"drill"sounded;andtherewouldbemusicinthedisconsolate"surgeon'scall:"
　　"Come—get—your—q—n—i—n—i—n—e;come,getyourquinine;It'llmakeyousad:It'llmakeyousick。Come,come。"
　　O,ifwewereonlyback,whatadmirablesoldierswewouldbe！
　　Onemorning,aboutthreeorfouro'clock,wewereawakenedbythegroundshakingandaseriesofheavy,dullthumpssoundingoftseaward。
　　Oursilver—voicedbuglerseemedtobeawakened,too。Hesettheechoesringingwithavigorouslyplayed"reveille;"aminutelatercameanequallyearnest"assembly,"andwhen"bootsandsaddles"followed,weknewthatallwasnotwellinDenmark;thethumpingandshakingnowhadasignificance。ItmeantheavyYankeegunssomewherenear。Weheardthegunnershitchingup;thebuglesignal"forward,"thewheelsrolloff,andforahalfhourafterwardswecaughttherecedingsoundofthebuglecommanding"rightturn,""leftturn,"etc。,asthebatteriesmarchedaway。Ofcourse,webecameconsiderablywroughtupoverthematter,aswefanciedthat,knowingwewereinSavannah,ourvesselsweretryingtopassuptotheCityandtakeit。Thethumpingandshakingcontinueduntillateintheafternoon。
　　Wesubsequentlylearnedthatsomeofourblockaders,findingtimebangingheavyupontheirhands,hadessayedalittlediversionbyknockingFortsJacksonandBledsoe——twosmallfortsdefendingthepassageoftheSavannah——abouttheirdefenders'ears。Aftercapturingthefortsourfolksdesistedandcamenofarther。
　　QuiteanumberoftheoldRaidercrowdhadcomewithusfromAndersonville。Amongthesewastheshyster,PeterBradley。Theykeptuptheiroldtacticsofhangingaroundthegates,andcurryingfavorwiththeRebelsineverypossibleway,inhopestogetparolesoutsideorotherfavors。ThegreatmassoftheprisonersweresobitteragainsttheRebelsastofeelthattheywouldratherdiethanaskoracceptafavorfromtheirhands,andtheyhadlittleelsethancontemptforthesetrucklers。Theraidercrowd'sfavoritethemeofconversationwiththeRebelswasthestrongdiscontentoftheboyswiththemanneroftheirtreatmentbyourGovernment。Theassertionthattherewasanysuchwidespreadfeelingwasutterlyfalse。Weallhadconfidence——aswecontinuetohavetothisday——thatourGovernmentwoulddoeverythingforuspossible,consistentwithitshonor,andthesuccessofmilitaryoperations,andoutsideofthelittlesquadofwhichIspeak,notanadmissioncouldbeextractedfromanybodythatblamecouldbeattachedtoanyone,excepttheRebels。Itwasregardedasunmanlyandunsoldier—
　　liketothelastdegree,aswellassenseless,torevileourGovernmentforthecrimescommittedbyitsfoes。
　　ButtheRebelswereledtobelievethatwewereripeforrevoltagainstourflag,andtosidewiththem。Imagine,ifpossible,thestupiditythatwouldmistakeourbitterhatredofthosewhowereourdeadlyenemies,foranyfeelingthatwouldleadustojoinhandswiththoseenemies。Onedayweweresurprisedtoseethecarpenterserectarudestandinthecenterofthecamp。Whenitwasfinished,Bradleyappeareduponit,incompanywithsomeRebelofficersandguards。Wegatheredaroundincuriosity,andBradleybeganmakingaspeech。
　　HesaidthatithadnowbecomeapparenttoallofusthatourGovernmenthadabandonedus;thatitcaredlittleornothingforus,sinceitcouldhireasmanymorequitereadily,byofferingabountyequaltothepaywhichwouldbedueusnow;thatitcostonlyafewhundreddollarstobringoverashiploadofIrish,"Dutch,"andFrench,whowereonlytoogladtoagreetofightordoanythingelsetogettothiscountry。[ThepeculiarimpudenceofthisconsistedinBradleyhimselfbeingaforeigner,andonewhohadonlycomeoutunderoneofthelatercalls,andtheinfluenceofabigbounty。]
　　Continuinginthisstrainherepeatedanddweltupontheoldlie,alwaysinthemouthsofhiscrowd,thatSecretaryStantonandGeneralHalleckhadpositivelyrefusedtoenteruponnegotiationsforexchange,becausethoseinprisonwere"onlyamiserablelotof'coffee—boilers'and'blackberrypickers,'whomtheArmywasbetteroffwithout。"
　　Theterms"coffee—boiler,"and"blackberry—pickers"wereconsideredtheworsttermsofopprobriumwehadinprison。Theywereappliedtothatclassofstragglersandskulkers,whowereonlytooreadytogivethemselvesuptotheenemy,andwho,oncomingin,toldsomegauzystoryabout"justhavingstoppedtoboilacupofcoffee,"ortodosomethingelsewhichtheyshouldnothavedone,whentheyweregobbledup。ItisnotriskingmuchtoaffirmtheprobabilityofBradleyandmostofhiscrowdhavingbelongedtothisdishonorableclass。
　　TheassertionthateitherthegreatChief—of—StafforthestillgreaterWar—Secretarywereevencapableofapplyingsuchepithetstothemassofprisonersistoopreposteroustoneedrefutation,orevendenial。
　　Nopersonoutsidetheraidercrowdevergavethesillylieamoment'stoleration。
　　Bradleyconcludedhisspeechinsomesuchlanguageasthis:
　　"Andnow,fellowprisoners,Iproposetoyouthis:thatweuniteininformingourGovernmentthatunlessweareexchangedinthirtydays,wewillbeforcedbyself—preservationtojointheConfederatearmy。"
　　Foraninstanthishearersseemedstunnedatthefellow'saudacity,andthentherewentupsucharoarofdenunciationandexecrationthattheairtrembled。TheRebelsthoughtthatthewholecampwasgoingtorushonBradleyandtearhimtopieces,andtheydrewrevolversandleveledmusketstodefendhim。TheuproaronlyceasedwhenBradleywashurriedoutoftheprisonsbutforhourseverybodywassavageandsullen,andfullofthreateningsagainsthim,whenopportunityserved。Weneversawhimafterward。
　　AngryasIwas,Icouldnothelpbeingamusedatthetempestuousrageofatall,fine—lookingandwelleducatedIrishSergeantofanIllinoisregiment。HepouredforthdenunciationsofthetraitorandtheRebels,withthevividfluencyofhisHiberniannature,vowedhe'd"giveayearofmelife,beJ———s,tohavethehandlingofthedirtyspalpeenfortenminutes;beG—d,"andfinallyinhisrage,toreoffhisownshirtandthrewitonthegroundandtrampledonit。
　　Imaginemyastonishment,sometimeaftergettingoutofprison,tofindtheSouthernpaperspublishingasadefenseagainstthechargesinregardtoAndersonville,thefollowingdocument,whichtheyclaimedtohavebeenadoptedby"amassmeetingoftheprisoners:"