Ithadnoparticulartaste,andprobablylittlenutriment,stillitwasfreshandgreen,andwestrainedourweakmusclesandenfeebledsinewsateveryopportunity,endeavoringtopullupa"greenfan。"
　　Atoneplacewherewestoppedtherewasamakeshiftofagarden,oneofthosesorry"truckpatches,"whichdopoordutyaboutSoutherncabinsforthekitchengardensoftheNorthern,farmers,andproduceafewcoarsecowpeas,ascantylotofcollards（acoarsekindofcabbage,withastalkaboutayardlong）andsomeonionstovarytheusualside—meatandcornpone,dietoftheGeorgia"cracker。"Scanningthepatch'sruinsofvinearidstalk,Andrewsespiedahandfulofonions,whichhad;remainedungathered。TheytemptedhimastheappledidEve。Withoutstoppingtocommunicatehisintentiontome,hesprangfromthecar,snatchedtheonionsfromtheirbed,pulledup,halfadozencollardstalksandwasonhiswaybackbeforetheguardcouldmakeuphismindtofireuponhim。
　　Theswiftnessofhismotionssavedhislife,forhadhebeenmoredeliberatetheguardwouldhaveconcludedhewastryingto,escape,andshothimdown。Asitwashewasreturningbackbeforetheguardcouldgethisgunup。Theonionshehad,securedweretousmoredeliciousthanwineuponthelees。Theyseemedtofindtheirwayintoeveryfiberofourbodies,andinvigorateeveryorgan。Thecollardstalkshehadsnatchedup,intheexpectationoffindinginthemsomethingresemblingthenutritious"heart"thatwerememberedaschildren,seekingand,findinginthestalksofcabbage。Butweweredisappointed。ThestalkswereasdryandrottenasthebonesofSouthern,society。Evenhungercouldfindnomeatinthem。
　　AftersomedaysofthisleisurelyjourneyingtowardtheSouth,wehaltedpermanentlyabouteighty—sixmilesfromSavannah。Therewasnoreasonwhyweshouldstoptheremorethananyplaceelsewherewehadbeenorwerelikelytogo。ItseemedasiftheRebelshadsimplytiredofhaulingus,anddumpedus,off。Wehadanotherlotofdead,accumulatedsinceweleftSavannah,andthescenesatthatplacewererepeated。
　　Thetrainreturnedforanotherloadofprisoners。
　　CHAPTERLXV。
　　BLACKSHEARANDPIERCECOUNTRY——WETAKEUPNEWQUARTERS,BUTARECALLED
　　OUTFOREXCHANGE——EXCITEMENTOVERSIGNINGTHEPAROLE——AHAPPYJOURNEYTO
　　SAVANNAH——GRIEVOUSDISAPPOINTMENT
　　WewereinformedthattheplacewewereatwasBlackshear,andthatitwastheCourtHouse,i。e。,theCountyseatofPierceCounty。WheretheykepttheCourtHouse,orCountyseat,isbeyondconjecturetome,sinceI
　　couldnotseeahalfdozenhousesinthewholeclearing,andnotoneofthemwasarespectabledwelling,takingevensolowastandardforrespectabledwellingsasthataffordedbythemajorityofGeorgiahouses。
　　PierceCounty,asIhavesincelearnedbythecensusreport,isoneofthepoorestCountiesofapoorsectionofaverypoorState。
　　Apopulationoflessthantwothousandisthinlyscatteredoveritsfivehundredsquaremilesofterritory,andgainameagersubsistencebyaweaksimulationofcultivatingpatchesofitssandydunesandplainsin"nubbin"cornanddropsicalsweetpotatos。Afew"razor—back"hogs——
　　aspeciessogauntandthinthatIheardamanoncedeclarethathehadstoppedalotbelongingtoaneighborfromcrawlingthroughthecracksofatightboardfencebysimplytyingaknotintheirtails——roamthewoods,andsupplyallthemeatused。
　　Andrewsusedtoinsistthatsomeofthehogswhichwesawweresothinthattheconnectionbetweentheirforeandhindquarterswasonlyasinglethicknessofskin,withhaironbothsides——butthenAndrewssometimesseemedtometohaveatendencytoexaggerate。
　　Theswinecertainlydidhaveproportionsthatstronglyresembledthoseoftheanimalswhichchildrencutoutofcardboard。Theywerelikethegeometricaldefinitionofasuperfice——alllengthandbreadth,andnothickness。Ahamfromthemwouldlooklikeapalm—leaffan。
　　IneverceasedtomarvelatthedelicateadjustmentofthedevelopmentofanimallifetothesoilintheseleansectionsofGeorgia。Thepoorlandwouldnotmaintainanythingbutlank,lazymen,withfewwants,andnonebutlank,lazymen,withfewwants,soughtamaintenancefromit。Imayhavetangledupcauseandeffect,inthisproposition,butifso,thereadercandisentanglethemathisleisure。
　　IwasnotastonishedtolearnthatittookfivehundredsquaremilesofPierceCountylandtomaintaintwothousand"crackers,"evenaspoorlyastheylived。Ishouldwantfullythatmuchofittosupportonefair—
　　sizedNorthernfamilyasitshouldbe。
　　Afterleavingthecarsweweremarchedoffintothepinewoods,bythesideofaconsiderablestream,andtoldthatthiswastobeourcamp。
　　Aheavyguardwasplacedaroundus,andanumberofpiecesofartillerymountedwheretheywouldcommandthecamp。
　　Westartedintomakeourselvescomfortable,asatMillen,bybuildingshanties。Theprisonersweleftbehindfollowedus,andwesoonhadouroldcrowdoffiveorsixthousand,whohadbeenourcompanionsatSavannahandMillers,againwithus。Theplacelookedveryfavorableforescape。Weknewwewerestillneartheseacoast——reallynotmorethanfortymilesaway——andwefeltthatifwecouldoncegetthereweshouldbesafe。AndrewsandImeditatedplansofescape,andtoiledawayatourcabin。
　　Aboutaweekafterourarrivalwewerestartledbyanorderfortheonethousandofuswhohadfirstarrivedtogetreadytomoveout。Inafewminutesweweretakenoutsidetheguardline,massedclosetogether,andinformedinafewwordsbyaRebelofficerthatwewereabouttobetakenbacktoSavannahforexchange。
　　Theannouncementtookawayourbreath。Foraninstanttherushofemotionmadeusspeechless,andwhenutterancereturned,thefirstusewemadeofitwastojoininonesimultaneousoutburstofacclamation。
　　Thoseinsidetheguardline,understandingwhatourcheermeant,answereduswithaloudshoutofcongratulation——thefirstreal,genuine,heartycheeringthathadbeendonesincereceivingtheannouncementoftheexchangeatAndersonville,threemonthsbefore。
　　Assoonastheexcitementhadsubsidedsomewhat,theRebelproceededtoexplainthatwewouldallberequiredtosignaparole。Thissetustothinking。AfterourscornfulrejectionofthepropositiontoenlistintheRebelarmy,theRebelshadfeltaroundamongusconsiderablyastohowweweredisposedtowardtakingwhatwascalledthe"Non—Combatant'sOath;"thatis,theswearingnottotakeuparmsagainsttheSouthernConfederacyagainduringthewar。TothemostofusthisseemedonlyalittlelessdishonorablethanjoiningtheRebelarmy。WeheldthatouroathstoourownGovernmentplacedusatitsdisposaluntilitchosetodischargeus,andwecouldnotmakeanyengagementswithitsenemiesthatmightcomeincontraventionofthatduty。Inshort,itlookedverymuchlikedesertion,andthiswedidnotfeelatlibertytoconsider。
　　Therewerestillmanyamongus,who,feelingcertainthattheycouldnotsurviveimprisonmentmuchlonger,weredisposedtolookfavorablyupontheNon—Combatant'sOath,thinkingthatthecircumstancesofthecasewouldjustifytheirapparentderelictionfromduty。WhetheritwouldornotImustleavetomoreskilledcasuiststhanmyselftodecide。ItwasamatterIbelievedeverymanmustsettlewithhisownconscience。TheopinionthatIthenheldandexpressedwas,thatifaboy,feltthathewashopelesslysick,andthathecouldnotliveifheremainedinprison,hewasjustifiedintakingtheOath。IntheabsenceofourownSurgeonshewouldhavetodecideforhimselfwhetherbewassickenoughtobewarrantedinresortingtothismeansofsavinghislife。Ifhewasinasgoodhealthasthemajorityofuswere,withareasonableprospectofsurvivingsomeweekslonger,therewasnoexcusefortakingtheOath,forinthatfewweekswemightbeexchanged,berecaptured,ormakeourescape。Ithinkthiswasthegeneralopinionoftheprisoners。
　　WhiletheRebelwastalkingaboutoursigningtheparole,thereflasheduponallofusatthesamemoment,asuspicionthatthiswasatraptodeludeusintosigningtheNon—Combatant'sOath。Instantlytherewentupageneralshout:
　　"Readtheparoletous。"
　　TheRebelwashandedablankparolebyacompanion,andhereadovertheprintedconditionatthetop,whichwasthatthosesigningagreednottobeararmsagainsttheConfederatesinthefield,oringarrison,nottomananyworks,assistinanyexpedition,doanysortofguardduty,serveinanymilitaryconstabulary,orperformanykindofmilitaryserviceuntilproperlyexchanged。
　　Foraminutethiswassatisfactory;thentheiringraineddistrustofanythingaRebelsaidordidreturned,andtheyshouted:
　　"No,no;letsomeofusreadit;letIlinoy'readit——"
　　TheRebellookedaroundinapuzzledmanner。
　　"Whotheh——lis'Illinoy！'Whereishe？"saidhe。
　　Isalutedandsaid:
　　"That'sanicknametheygiveme。"
　　"Verywell,"saidhe,"getuponthisstumpandreadthisparoletothesed———dfoolsthatwon'tbelieveme。"
　　Imountedthestump,tooktheblankfromhishandandreaditoverslowly,givingasmuchemphasisaspossibletotheall—importantclauseattheend——"untilproperlyexchanged。"Ithensaid:
　　"Boys,thisseemsallrighttome,"andtheyanswered,withalmostonevoice:
　　Yes,that'sallright。We'llsignthat。"
　　IwasneversoproudoftheAmericansoldier—boyasatthatmoment。Theyallfeltthatsigningthatpaperwastogivethemfreedomandlife。Theyknewtoowellfromsadexperiencewhatthealternativewas。Manyfeltthatunlessreleasedanotherweekwouldseethemintheirgraves。Allknewthateveryday'sstayinRebelhandsgreatlylessenedtheirchancesoflife。Yetinallthatthousandtherewasnotonevoiceinfavorofyieldingatittleofhonortosavelife。Theywouldsecuretheirfreedomhonorably,ordiefaithfully。Rememberthatthiswasamiscellaneouscrowdofboys,gatheredfromallsectionsofthecountry,andfrommanyofwhomnoexaltedconceptionsofdutyandhonorwereexpected。Iwishsomeonewouldpointouttome,onthebrightestpagesofknightlyrecord,somedeedoffealtyandtruththatequalsthesimplefidelityoftheseunknownheros。Idonotthinkthatoneofthemfeltthathewasdoinganythingespeciallymeritorious。Heonlyobeyedthenaturalpromptingsofhisloyalheart。
　　Thebusinessofsigningtheparoleswasthenbeguninearnest。Wewereseparatedintosquadsaccordingtothefirstlettersofournames,allthosewhosenamebeganwithAbeingplacedinonesquad,thosebeginningwithB,inanother,andsoon。Blankparolesforeachletterwerespreadoutonboxesandplanksatdifferentplaces,andthesigningwentonunderthesuperintendenceofaRebelSergeantandoneoftheprisoners。
　　ThesquadofM'sselectedmetosuperintendthesigningforus,andI
　　stoodbytodirecttheboys,andsignfortheveryfewwhocouldnotwrite。Afterthiswasdonewefellintoranksagain,calledtherollofthesigners,andcarefullycomparedthenumberofmenwiththenumberofsignaturessothatnobodyshouldpassunparoled。Theoathwasthenadministeredtous,andtwoday'srationsofcornmealandfreshbeefwereissued。
　　Thisformalityremovedthelastlingeringdoubtthatwehadoftheexchangebeingareality,andwegavewaytothehappiestemotions。
　　Wecheeredourselveshoarse,andthefellowsstillinsidefollowedourexample,astheyexpectedthattheywouldshareourgoodfortuneinadayortwo。
　　Ournextperformancewastosettowork,cookourtwodays'rationsatonceandeatthem。Thiswasnotverydifficult,asthewholesupplyfortwodayswouldhardlymakeonesquaremeal。Thatdone,manyoftheboyswenttotheguardlineandthrewtheirblankets,clothing,cookingutensils,etc。,totheircomradeswhowerestillinside。Noonethoughttheywouldhaveanyfurtheruseforsuchthings。
　　"To—morrow,atthistime,thankHeaven,"saidaboynearme,ashetossedhisblanketandovercoatbacktosomeoneinside,"we'llbeinGod'scountry,andthenIwouldn'ttouchthemd———dlousyoldragswithaten—
　　footpole。"
　　OneoftheboysintheMsquadwasaMaineinfantryman,whohadbeenwithmeinthePembertonbuilding,inRichmond,andhadfashionedhimselfalittlesquarepanoutofatinplateofatobaccopress,suchasIhavedescribedinanearlierchapter。Hehadcarrieditwithhimeversince,anditwashissolevesselforallpurposes——forcooking,carryingwater,drawingrations,etc。Hehadcherisheditasifitwereafarmoragoodsituation。Butnow,asheturnedawayfromsigninghisnametotheparole,helookedathisfaithfulservantforaminuteinundisguisedcontempt;ontheeveofrestorationtohappier,betterthings,itwasareminderofallthepetty,ingloriouscontemptibletrialsandsorrowshehadendured;heactuallyloatheditforitsremembrances,andflingingituponthegroundhecrusheditoutofallshapeandusefulnesswithhisfeet,tramplinguponitashewouldeverythingconnectedwithhisprisonlife。MonthsafterwardIhadtolendthismanmylittlecantocookhisrationsin。
　　AndrewsandIflungthebrightnewtinpanswehadstolenatMilleninsidetheline,tobescrambledfor。Itwashardtotellwhowerethemostsurprisedattheirappearance——theRebelsorourownboys——forfewhadanyideathatthereweresuchthingsinthewholeConfederacy,andcertainlynonelookedfortheminthepossessionoftwosuchpoverty—
　　strickenspecimensaswewere。Wethoughtitbesttoretainpossessionofourlittlecan,spoon,chess—board,blanket,andovercoat。
　　Aswemarcheddownandboardedthetrain,theRebelsconfirmedtheirpreviousactionbytakingalltheguardsfromaroundus。Onlysomeeightortenweresenttothetrain,andthesequarteredthemselvesinthecaboose,andpaidusnofurtherattention。
　　Thetrainrolledawayamidcheeringbyourselvesandthoseweleftbehind。Onethousandhappierboysthanweneverstartedonajourney。
　　Weweregoinghome。Thatwasenoughtowreathetheskieswithglory,andfilltheworldwithsweetnessandlight。Thewintrysunhadsomethingofgenialityandwarmth,thelandscapelostsomeofitsrepulsiveness,thedrearypalmettoshadlessofthathideousnesswhichmadeusregardthemasveryfittingemblemsoftreason。Weevenbegantofeelalittlegood—
　　humoredcontemptforourhatefullittleBratsofguards,andtoreflecthowmuchviciouseducationandsurroundingsweretobeheldresponsiblefortheirmisdeeds。
　　WelaughedandsangaswerolledalongtowardSavannah——goingbackmuchfasterthanthecame。Were—toldoldstories,andrepeatedoldjokes,thathadbecomewearisomemonthsandmonthsago,butwerenowfreshenedupandgiventheiroldenpithbythejoyousnessoftheoccasion。Werevivedandtalkedoveroldschemesgottenupintheearlierdaysofprisonlife,ofwhat"wewoulddowhenwegotout,"butalmostforgottensince,inthegeneraluncertaintyofevergettingout。Weexchangedaddresses,andpromisedfaithfullytowritetoeachotherandtellhowwefoundeverythingathome。
　　Sotheafternoonandnightpassed。Weweretooexcitedtosleep,andpassedthehourswatchingthescenery,recallingtheobjectswehadpassedonthewaytoBlackshear,andguessinghownearweweretoSavannah。
　　Thoughwewererunningalongwithinfifteenortwentymilesofthecoast,withallourguardsasleepinthecaboose,noonethoughtofescape。
　　Wecouldstepoffthecarsandwalkovertotheseashoreaseasilyasamanstepsoutofhisdoorandwalkstoaneighboringtown,butwhyshouldwe？WerewenotgoingdirectlytoourvesselsintheharborofSavannah,andwasitnotbettertodothis,thantotakethechancesofescaping,andencounterthedifficultiesofreachingourblockaders！Wethoughtso,andwestaidonthecars。
　　Acold,grayWintermorningwasjustbreakingaswereachedSavannah。
　　OurtrainrandownintheCity,andthenwhistledsharplyandranbackamileorso;itrepeatedthismaneuvertwoorthreetimes,theevidentdesignbeingtokeepusonthecarsuntilthepeoplewerereadytoreceiveus。Finallyourengineranwithallthespeedshewascapableof,andasthetraindashedintothestreetwefoundourselvesbetweentwoheavylinesofguardswithbayonetsfixed。
　　Thewholesickeningrealitywasmadeapparentbyoneglanceattheguardline。Ourparolewasamockery,itsonlyobjectbeingtogetustoSavannahaseasilyaspossible,andtopreventbenefitfromourrecapturetoanyofSherman'sRaiders,whomightmakeadashfortherailroadwhilewewereintransit。Therehadbeennointentionofexchangingus。TherewasnoexchangegoingonatSavannah。
　　Afterall,IdonotthinkwefeltthedisappointmentaskeenlyasthefirsttimewewerebroughttoSavannah。Imprisonmenthadstupefiedus;
　　weweredullerandmorehopeless。
　　Ordereddownoutofthecars,wewereformedinlineinthestreet。
　　SaidaRebelofficer:
　　"Now,anyofyoufellahsthatahtoosicktogotoChahlston,stepfohwahdonepace。"
　　Welookedateachotheraninstant,andthenthewholelinesteppedforward。WeallfelttoosicktogotoCharleston,ortodoanythingelseintheworld。
　　CHAPTERLXVI。
　　SPECIMENCONVERSATIONWITHANAVERAGENATIVEGEORGIAN——WELEARNTHAT
　　SHERMANISHEADINGFORSAVANNAH——THERESERVESGETALITTLESETTLINGDOWN。
　　AsthetrainleftthenorthernsuburbsofSavannahwecameuponasceneofbusyactivity,stronglycontrastingwiththesomnolentlethargythatseemedtobethenormalconditionoftheCityanditsinhabitants。Longlinesofearthworkswerebeingconstructed,gangsofnegroswerefellingtrees,buildingfortsandbatteries,makingabatis,andtoilingwithnumbersofhugegunswhichwerebeingmovedoutandplacedinposition。
　　Aswehadhadnonewprisonersnoranypapersforsomeweeks——thepapersbeingdoubtlessdesignedlykeptawayfromus——wewereatalosstoknowwhatthismeant。Wecouldnotunderstandthiserectionoffortificationsonthatside,because,knowingaswedidhowwelltheflanksoftheCitywereprotectedbytheSavannahandOgeecheRivers,wecouldnotseehowaforcefromthecoast——whencewesupposedanattackmustcome,couldhopetoreachtheCity'srear,especiallyaswehadjustcomeupontherightflankoftheCity,andsawnosignofourfolksinthatdirection。
　　Ourtrainstoppedforafewminutesattheedgeofthislineofworks,andanoldcitizenwhohadbeensurveyingthescenewithsenileinterest,totteredovertoourcartotakealookatus。HewasatypeoftheoldmanoftheSouthofthescantymiddleclass,thesmallfarmer。Longwhitehairandbeard,spectacleswithgreatround,staringglasses,abroad—brimmedhatofante—Revolutionarypattern,clothesthathadapparentlydescendedtohimfromsomeancestorwhohadcomeoverwithOglethorpe,andatwo—handedstaffwithaheadofbuckhorn,uponwhichheleanedasoldpeasantsdoinplays,formedsuchanimageasrecalledtomethepictureoftheoldmanintheillustrationsin"TheDairyman'sDaughter。"Hewasasgarrulousasamagpie,andasopinionatedasaSouthernwhitealwaysis。Haltinginfrontofourcar,hesteadiedhimselfbyplantinghisstaff,claspingitwithbothleanandskinnyhands,andleaningforwarduponit,hisjawsthenaddressedthemselvestomotionthus:
　　"Boys,whomoutthesebethatyegot？
　　"OneoftheGuards:——"O,theseissomeYanksthatwe'vebinhivin'downatCampSumter。"
　　"Yes？"（withanupwardinflectionofthevoice,followedbyaclosescrutinyofusthroughthegoggle—eyedglasses,）"Wall,they'reapowerfulornarylookin'lot,I'lldeclah。"
　　Itwillbeseenthattheold,gentleman'sperceptivepowersweremuchmorehighlydevelopedthanhispoliteness。
　　"Well,theyain'twhatyemoutcallpurty,that'safack,"saidtheguard。
　　"SoyerYanks,airye？"saidthevenerableGoober—Grabber,（thenick—nameintheSouthforGeorgians）,directinghisconversationtome。"Wall,I'mpowerfulgladtoseeye,an''speciallywharyecan'tdonoharm;
　　I'vewantedtoseesomeYankeeseversencethebeginnin'ofthewah,buthevneverhadnochance。Whahdidyecumfrom？"
　　Iseemedcalledupontoanswer,andsaid:"IcamefromIllinois;mostoftheboysinthiscararefromIllinois,Ohio,Indiana,MichiganandIowa。"
　　"'Deed！AllWesterners,airye？Wall,doyeknowIalluzlikedtheWesternersaheapsightbetterthanthemblue—belliedNewEnglandYankees。"
　　NodiscussionwithaRebeleverproceededveryfarwithouthismakinganassertionlikethis。Itwasafavoritedeclarationoftheirs,butitsabsurditywascomical,whenonerememberedthatthemajorityofthemcouldnotfortheirlivestellthenamesoftheNewEnglandStates,andcouldnomoredistinguishaDowneasterfromanIllinoisanthantheycouldtellaSaxonfromaBavarian。Oneday,whileIwasholdingaconversationsimilartotheabovewithanoldmanonguard,anotherguard,whohadbeenstationednearasquadmadeupofGermans,thattalkedaltogetherinthelanguageoftheFatherland,brokeinwith:
　　"Outtherebypostnumbahfoahteen,whereIwuzyesterday,there'salotofYankswhojestjabberedawayallthehulltime,andIhopeImayneverseethebackofmyneckefIcouldunderstandarywordtheysaid,Arethemtheregularblue—bellykind？"
　　TheoldgentlemanentereduponthenextstageoftheinvariableroutineofdiscussionwithaRebel:
　　"Wall,whatairyou'unsdownheah,a—fightin'we'unsfoh？"
　　AsIhadansweredthisquestionseveralhundredtimes,Ihadfoundthemostextinguishingreplytobetoaskinreturn:
　　"Whatareyou'unscomingupintoourcountrytofightwe'unsfor？"
　　Disdainingtonoticethisreturninkind,theoldmanpassedontothenextstage:
　　"Whatareyou'unstakin'ouahniggahsawayfromusfoh？"
　　Now,ifnegroshadbeenascheapasoreoidewatches,itisdoubtfulwhetherthespeakerhadeverhadmoneyenoughinhispossessionatonetimetobuyone,andyethetalkedoftakingaway"ouahniggahs,"asiftheywereasplentyabouthisplaceashillsofcorn。Asarule,themoreabjectlypooraSouthernerwas,themorereadilyheworkedhimselfintoarageovertheideaof"takin'awayouahniggahs。"
　　Irepliedinburlesqueofhisassumptionofownership:
　　"WhatareyoucomingupNorthtoburnmyrollingmillsandrobmycomradehere'sbank,andplundermybrother'sstore,andburndownmyuncle'sfactories？"
　　Noreply,tothiscounterthrust。Theoldmanpassedtothethirdinevitableproposition:
　　"Whatairyou'unsputtin'ouahniggahsinthefieldtofightwe'unsfoh？"
　　Thenthewholecar—loadshoutedbackathimatonce:
　　"Whatareyou'unsputtingblood—houndsonourtrailstohuntusdown,for？"
　　OldMan——（savagely）,"Waal,yedon'tthinkyekineverlickus;leastwayssichfellersasyeair？"
　　Myself——"Well,wewarmedittoyouprettylivelyuntilyoucaughtus。
　　Therewerenoneofusbutwhatweredoingaboutasgoodworkasanystockyoufellowscouldturnout。NoRebelsinourneighborhoodhadmuchtobragon。Wearenotadropinthebucket,either。There'smillionsmorebettermenthanwearewherewecamefrom,andtheyarealldeterminedtostampoutyourmiserableConfederacy。You'vegottocometoit,soonerorlater;youmustknockunder,sureaswhiteblossomsmakelittleapples。You'dbettermakeupyourmindtoit。"
　　OldMan——"No,sah,nevah。Yenevahkinconquerus！We'rethebravestpeopleandthebestfightersonairth。Yenevahkinwhipanypeoplethat'safightin'furtheirlibertyan'theirright;an'yenevahcanwhiptheSouth,sah,anyway。We'llfightyeuntilallthemenairkilled,andthenthewimmen'llfightye,sah。"
　　Myself——"Well,youmaythinkso,oryoumaynot。FromthewayourboysaresnatchingtheConfederacy'srealestateaway,itbeginstolookasifyou'dnothaveenoughtofightanybodyonprettysoon。What'sthemeaningofallthisfortifying？"
　　OldMan——"Why,don'tyouknow？Ourfolksarefixin'upaplacefohBillShermantobutthisbrainsoutgain'。"
　　"BillSherman！"weallshoutedinsurprise:"Whyheain'twithintwohundredmilesofthisplace,ishe？'
　　OldMan——"Yes,butheis,tho。'Hethinkshe'splayedasharpYankeetrickonHood。Hefoundouthecouldn'tlickhiminasquar'fight,nohow;he'dtriedthatontoooften;sohejustsneaked'roundbehindhim,andmadeabreakforthecenteroftheState,wherehethoughttherewaslotsofgoodstealin'tobedone。Butwe'llshowhim。We'llsoonhevhimjustwharwewanthim,an'we'lllearnhimhowtogotraipesin'
　　'roundthecountry,stealin'nigahs,burnin'cotton,an'runnin'offfolkses'beefcritters。Heseesnowthescrapehe'sgotinto,an'he'stryin'togettothecoast,wharthegun—boats'llhelp'imout。Buthe'llnevahgitthar,sah;nosah,nevah。He'smoutynightheendofhisrope,sah,andwe'llpurty'soonhevhimjistwharyoufellowsair,sah。"
　　Myself——"Well,ifyoufellowsintendedstoppinghim,whydidn'tyoudoitupaboutAtlanta？WhatdidyoulethimcomeclearthroughtheState,burningandstealing,asyousay？Itwasmoneyinyourpocketstoheadhimoffassoonaspossible。"
　　OldMan——"Oh,wedidn'tsetnothingaforehimuptharexceptJoeBrown'sPets,thesesorrylittleReserves;they'repowerfullittleaccount;nostand—upto'ematall;they'dbreaktheirnecksrunnin'awayefyesomuchasbustacapnearto'em。"
　　Ourguards,whobelongedtotheseReserves,instantlyfeltthattheconversationhadprogressedfartherthanwasprofitableandoneofthemspokeuproughly:
　　"Seeheah,oldman,youmustgooff;Ican'thevyetalkin'totheseprisoners;hitsa,ginmyawdahs。Go'waynow！"
　　Theoldfellowmovedoff,butashedidheflungthisParthianarrow:
　　"WhenShermangitsdowndeep,he'llfindsomethin'differentfromthe——
　　littlesnotsofReservesheranoverupaboutMilledgeville;he'llfindhe'sgottofightrealsoldiers。"
　　Wecouldnothelpenjoyingtherageoftheguards,overthelowestimateplaceduponthefightingabilityofthemselvesandcomrades,andastheyraved,aroundaboutwhattheywoulddoiftheywereonlygivenanopportunitytogointoalineofbattleagainstSherman,weaddedfueltotheflamesoftheirangerbyconfidingtoeachotherthatwealways"knewthatlittleBratswhosehighestambitionwastomurderadefenselessprisoner,couldbenothingelsethancowardsendskulkersinthefield。"
　　"Yaas——sonnies,"saidCharlieBurroughs,oftheThirdMichigan,inthatnasalYankeedrawl,thathealwaysassumed,whenhewantedtosayanythingverycutting;"you——trundle——bed——soldiers——who'venever——seen——
　　a——real——wild——Yankee——don't——know——how——different——they——are——from——thekind——that——are——starved——down—totameness。They're——jest——as——
　　different——as—a——lionin——a——menagerie——is——from——his——brother——in——thewoods——who——has——a——nigger——everyday——for—dinner。You——fellows——will——
　　go——into——a——circus——tent——and——throw——tobacco——quidsin——the——face——of——
　　the——lion——in——the——cage——when——you——haven't——spunkenough——to——look——awoodchuck——in——the——eye——if——you——met——him——alone。It's——lots——o'——fun——toyou——to——shoot——down——a——sick——and——starving—man——in——the——Stockade,but——when——you——see——a——Yankwith——a——gun——in——his——hand——your——liversget——so——white——that——chalk——would——make——a——black——mark——on——'em。"
　　Alittlelater,apaper,whichsomeonehadgottenholdof,insomemysteriousmanner,wassecretlypassedtome。IreaditasIcouldfindopportunity,andcommunicateditscontentstotherestoftheboys。