ThemostimportantofthesewasaflamingproclamationbyGovernorJoeBrown,settingforththatGeneralShermanwasnowtraversingtheState,committingallsortsofdepredations;thathehadpreparedthewayforhisowndestruction,andtheGovernorcalleduponallgoodcitizenstoriseenmasse,andassistincrushingtheaudaciousinvader。Bridgesmustbeburnedbeforeandbehindhim,roadsobstructed,andeveryinchofsoilresolutelydisputed。
　　Weenjoyedthis。ItshowedthattheRebelswereterriblyalarmed,andwebegantofeelsomeofthatconfidencethat"Shermanwillcomeoutallright,"whichsomarvelouslyanimatedallunderhiscommand。
　　CHAPTERLXVII。
　　OFFTOCHARLESTON——PASSINGTHROUGHTHERICESWAMPS——TWOEXTREMESOF
　　SOCIETY——ENTRYINTOCHARLESTON——LEISURELYWARFARE——SHELLINGTHECITYAT
　　REGULARINTERVALS——WECAMPINAMASSOFRUINS——DEPARTUREFORFLORENCE。
　　ThetrainstartedinafewminutesafterthecloseoftheconversationwiththeoldGeorgian,andwesooncametoandcrossedtheSavannahRiverintoSouthCarolina。Theriverwaswideandapparentlydeep;thetidewassettingbackinaswift,muddycurrent;thecrazyoldbridgecreakedandshook,andthegrindingaxlesshriekedinthedryjournals,aswepulledacross。Itlookedverymuchattimesasifweweretoallcrashdownintotheturbidflood——andwedidnotcareverymuchifwedid,ifwewerenotgoingtobeexchanged。
　　TheroadlaythroughthetideswampregionofSouthCarolina,apeculiarandinterestingcountry。Thoughswampsandfensstretchedinalldirectionsasfarastheeyecouldreach,thelandscapewasmoregratefultotheeyethanthefamine—stricken,pine—barrensofGeorgia,whichhadbecomewearisometothesight。Thesoilwhereitappeared,wasrich,vegetationwasluxuriant;greatclumpsoflaurelshowedglossyrichnessinthegreennessofitsverdure,thatremindedusofthefreshcolorofthevegetationofourNorthernhomes,sodifferentfromtheparchedandimpoverishedlookofGeorgianfoliage。Immenseflocksofwildfowlflutteredaroundus;theGeorgianwoodswerealmostdestituteoflivingcreatures;theevergreenlive—oak,withitsqueerfestoonsofSpanishmoss,andtheuglyanduselesspalmettosgavenoveltyandinteresttotheview。
　　ThericeswampsthroughwhichwewerepassingweretheprincelypossessionsofthefewnabobswhobeforethewarstoodattheheadofSouthCarolinaaristocracy——theywereSouthCarolina,infact,asabsolutelyasLouisXIV。wasFrance。Intheirhands——butafewscoreinnumber——wasconcentratedaboutalltherewasofSouthCarolinaeducation,wealth,culture,andbreeding。TheyrepresentedapinchbeckimitationofthatregimeinFrancewhichwashappilysweptoutofexistencebytheRevolution,andthedestructionofwhichmorethancompensatedforeverydropofbloodshedinthoseterribledays。Liketheprovincial'grandesseigneurs'ofLouisXVI'sreign,theyweregay,dissipatedandturbulent;
　　"accomplished"inthesuperficialacquirementsthatmadethe"gentleman"
　　onehundredyearsago,butaregrotesquelyoutofplaceinthissensible,solidage,whichdemandsthatamanshallbeofuse,andnotmerelyforshow。Theyranhorsesandfoughtcocks,dawdledthroughsocietywhenyoung,andintriguedinpoliticstherestoftheirlives,withfrequentspice—workofduels。Esteemingpersonalcourageasasupremehumanvirtue,andneverwearyingofpratingtheirdevotiontothehigheststandardofintrepidity,theyneverproducedaGeneralwhowasevenmediocre;nordidanyoneeverhearofaSouthCarolinaregimentgainingdistinction。Regardingpoliticsandtheartofgovernmentas,equallywitharms,theirnaturalvocations,theyhavenevergiventheNationastatesman,andtheirgreatestpoliticiansachievedeminencebyadvocatingideaswhichonlyattractedattentionbytheirbalefulness。
　　StillfurtherresemblingtheFrench'grandesseigneurs'oftheeighteenthcentury,theyrolledinwealthwrungfromthelaborerbyreducingtherewardsofhistoiltothelastfractionthatwouldsupporthislifeandstrength。Thericeculturewasimmenselyprofitable,becausetheyhadfoundthesecretforraisingitmorecheaplythaneventhepauperlaboreroftheofworldcould。Theirlandshadcostthemnothingoriginally,theimprovementsofdikesandditcheswerecomparatively,inexpensive,thetaxeswerenominal,andtheirslaveswerenotsoexpensivetokeepasgoodhorsesintheNorth。
　　ThousandsoftheacresalongtheroadbelongedtotheRhetts,thousandstotheHeywards,thousandstotheManigaulttheLowndes,theMiddletons,theHugers,theBarnwells,andtheElliots——allnamestoowellknowninthehistoryofourcountry'ssorrows。Occasionallyoneoftheirstatelymansionscouldbeseenonsomedistantelevation,surroundedbynobleoldtrees,andsuperbgrounds。Heretheylivedduringthehealthypartoftheyear,butfledthencetosummerresortinthehighlandsasthemiasmaticseasonapproached。
　　Thepeoplewesawatthestationsalongourrouteweremelancholyillustrationsoftheevilsoftheruleofsuchanoligarchy。Therewasnomiddleclassvisibleanywhere——nothingbutthetwoextremes。Amanwaseithera"gentleman,"andworewhiteshirtandcity—madeclothes,orhewasaloutishhind,cladinmereapologiesforgarments。WethoughtwehadfoundintheGeorgia"cracker"thelowestsubstratumofhumansociety,buthewasbrightintelligencecomparedtotheSouthCarolina"clay—eater"and"sand—hiller。"The"cracker"alwaysgavehopestoonethatifhehadtheadvantageofcommonschools,andcouldbemadetounderstandthatlazinesswasdishonorable,hemightdevelopintosomething。TherewaslittlefoundationforsuchhopeintheaveragelowSouthCarolinian。Hismindwasashakingquagmire,whichdidnotadmitoftheerectionofanysuperstructureofeducationuponit。TheSouthCarolinaguardsaboutusdidnotknowthenameofthenexttown,thoughtheyhadbeenraisedinthatsection。Theydidnotknowhowfaritwasthere,ortoanyplaceelse,andtheydidnotcaretolearn。Theyhadnoconceptionofwhatthewarwasbeingwagedfor,anddidnotwanttofindout;theydidnotknowwheretheirregimentwasgoing,anddidnotrememberwhereithadbeen;theycouldnottellhowlongtheyhadbeeninservice,northetimetheyhadenlistedfor。Theyonlyrememberedthatsometimestheyhadhad"sortergoodtimes,"andsometimes"theyhadbeenpowerfulbad,"andtheyhopedtherewouldbeplentytoeatwherevertheywent,andnottoomuchhardmarching。Thentheywondered"wharafeller'dbelikelytomakearaiseofacanteenofgoodwhisky？"
　　Badasthewhiteswere,thericeplantationnegroswereevenworse,ifthatwerepossible。Broughttothecountrycenturiesago,asbrutalsavagesfromAfrica,theyhadlearnednothingofChristiancivilization,exceptthatitmeantendlesstoil,inmalariousswamps,underthelashofthetaskmaster。Theywore,possibly,alittlemoreclothingthantheirSenegambianancestorsdid;theyatecornmeal,yamsandrice,insteadofbananas,yamsandrice,astheirforefathersdid,andtheyhadlearnedabastard,almostunintelligible,English。ThesewerethesoleblessingsacquiredbyatransferfromalifeoffreedominthejunglesoftheGoldCoast,tooneofslaveryintheswampsoftheCombahee。
　　Icouldnotthen,norcanInow,regretthedownfallofasystemofsocietywhichboresuchfruits。
　　Towardsnightadistressinglycoldbreeze,ladenwithapenetratingmist,setinfromthesea,andputanendtofutureobservationsbymakingustoouncomfortabletocareforsceneryorsocialconditions。Wewantedmosttodeviseawaytokeepwarm。AndrewsandIpulledourovercoatandblanketcloselyaboutus,snuggledtogethersoastomakeeachone'smeagerbodyaffordtheotherasmuchheataspossible——andendured。
　　Webecamefearfullyhungry。Itwillberecollectedthatweatethewholeofthetwodays'rationsissuedtousatBlackshearatonce,andwehadreceivednothingsince。Wereachedthesullen,faintingstageofgreathunger,andforhoursnothingwassaidbyanyone,exceptanoccasionalbitterexecrationonRebelsandRebelpractices。
　　ItwaslateatnightwhenwereachedCharleston。ThelightsoftheCity,andtheapparentwarmthandcomforttherecheeredusupsomewhatwiththehopesthatwemighthavesomeshareinthem。Leavingthetrain,weweremarchedsomedistancethroughwell—lightedstreets,inwhichwereplentyofpeoplewalkingtoandfro。Thereweremanystores,apparentlystockedwithgoods,andthecitizensseemedtobegoingabouttheirbusinessverymuchaswasthecustomupNorth。
　　Atlengthourheadofcolumnmadea"rightturn,"andwemarchedawayfromthelightedportionoftheCity,toapartwhichIcouldseethroughtheshadowswasfilledwithruins。Analmostinsupportableodorofgas,escapingIsupposefromtherupturedpipes,mingledwiththecold,raspingairfromthesea,tomakeeverybreathintenselydisagreeable。
　　AsIsawtheruins,itflasheduponmethatthiswastheburntdistrictofthecity,andtheywereputtingusunderthefireofourownguns。
　　AtfirstIfeltmuchalarmed。LittlerelishasIhadongeneralprinciples,forbeingshotIhadmuchlessforbeingkilledbyourownmen。ThenIreflectedthatiftheyputmethere——andkeptme——aguardwouldhavetobeplacedaroundus,whowouldnecessarilybeinasmuchclangeraswewere,andIknewIcouldstandanyfirethataRebelcould。
　　Wewerehaltedinavacantlot,andsatdown,onlytojumpupthenextinstant,assomeoneshouted:
　　"Therecomesoneof'em！"
　　ItwasagreatshellfromtheSwampAngelBattery。Startingfromapointmilesaway,where,seemingly,theskycamedowntothesea,wasa,narrowribbonoffire,whichslowlyunrolleditselfagainstthestar—litvaultoverourheads。On,onitcame,andwasapparentlyfollowingtheskydowntothehorizonbehindus。Asitreachedthezenith,therecametoourearsaprolonged,butnotsharp,"Whish——ish—ish—ish—ish！"
　　Wewatcheditbreathlessly,anditseemedtobelongminutesinrunningitscourse;thenathumpupontheground,andavibration,toldthatithadstruck。Foramomenttherewasadeadsilence。Thencamealoudroar,andthecrashofbreakingtimberandcrushingwalls。Theshellhadbursted。
　　Tenminuteslateranothershellfollowed,withlikeresults。Forawhileweforgotallabouthungerintheexcitementofwatchingthemessengersfrom"God'scountry。"Whathappinesstobewherethoseshellscamefrom。
　　SoonaRebelbatteryofheavygunssomewherenearandinfrontofus,wakedup,andbeganansweringwithdull,slowthumpsthatmadethegroundshudder。Thiscontinuedaboutanhour,whenitquieteddownagain,butourshellskeptcomingoveratregularintervalswiththesameslowdeliberation,thesameprolongedwarning,andthesamedreadfulcrashwhentheystruck。Theyhadalreadygoneonthiswayforoverayear,andweretokeepitupmonthslongeruntiltheCitywascaptured。
　　Theroutinewasthesamefromdaytoday,monthin,andmonthout,fromearlyinAugust,1863,tothemiddleofApril,1865。EveryfewminutesduringthedayourfolkswouldhurlagreatshellintothebeleagueredCity,andtwiceaday,forperhapsanhoureachtime,theRebelbatterieswouldtalkback。ItmusthavebeenalessontotheCharlestoniansofthepersistent,methodicalspiritoftheNorth。Theypridedthemselvesonthelengthofthetimetheywereholdingoutagainsttheenemy,andthepaperseachdayhadacolumnheaded:
　　"390thDAYOFTHESIEGE,"
　　or391st,393d,etc。,asthenumbermightbesinceourpeopleopenedfireupontheCity。Thepartwherewelaywasamassofruins。Manylargebuildingshadbeenknockeddown;verymanymorewereriddledwithshotholesandtotteringtotheirfall。Onenightashellpassedthroughalargebuildingaboutaquarterofamilefromus。Ithadalreadybeenstruckseveraltimes,andwasshaky。Theshellwentthroughwithadeafeningcrash。Allwasstillforaninstant;thenitexplodedwithadullroar,followedbymorecrashingoftimberandwalls。Thesounddiedawayandwassucceededbyamomentofsilence。Finallythegreatbuildingfell,ashapelessheapofruins,withanoiselikethatofadozenfieldpieces。Wewantedtocheerbutrestrainedourselves。Thiswasthenearesttousthatanyshellcame。
　　TherewasonlyonesectionoftheCityinreachofourgunsandthiswasnearlydestroyed。Fireshadcometocompletetheworkbegunbytheshells。Outsideoftheboundariesofthisregion,thepeoplefeltthemselvesassafeasinoneofournorthernCitiesto—day。Theyhadanabidingfaiththattheywereclearoutofreachofanyartillerythatwecouldmount。Ilearnedafterwardsfromsomeoftheprisoners,whowentintoCharlestonaheadofus,andwerecampedontheracecourseoutsideoftheCity,thatonedayourfellowsthrewashellclearovertheCitytothisracecourse。Therewasanimmediateandterriblepanicamongthecitizens。Theythoughtwehadmountedsomenewgunsofincreasedrange,andnowthewholecitymustgo。Butthenextshellfellinsidetheestablishedlimits,andthosefollowingwereequallywellbehaved,sothatthepanicabated。Ihaveneverheardanyexplanationofthematter。
　　Itmayhavebeensomefreakofthegun—squad,tryingtheeffectofanextrachargeofpowder。Hadourpeopleknownofitssignaleffect,theycouldhavedepopulatedtheplaceinafewhours。
　　Thewholematterimpressedmequeerly。TheonlyartilleryIhadeverseeninactionwerefieldpieces。Theymadeanearsplittingcrashwhentheyweredischarged,andtherewaslikelytobeoceansoftroubleforeverybodyinthatneighborhoodaboutthattime。Ireasonedfromthisthatbiggergunsmadeaproportionallygreateramountofnoise,andbredaninfinitelylargerquantityoftrouble。NowIwashearingthegiantsoftheworld'sordnance,andtheywerenotsoimpressiveasalivelybatteryofthree—inchrifles。Theirreportsdidnotthreatentoshattereverything,buthadadullresonance,somethinglikethatproducedbystrikinganemptybarrelwithawoodenmaul。Theirshellsdidnotcomeatoneinthatwildly,ferociousway,withwhichamissilefromasix—
　　pounderconvinceseveryfellowinalonglineofbattlethatheistheidenticaloneitismeantfor,buttheymeanderedoverinalazy,leisurelymanner,asiftimewasnoobjectandnopersonwouldfeelputoutathavingtowaitforthem。Then,theideaoffiringeveryquarterofanhourforayear——fixingupajobforalifetime,asAndrewsexpressedit,——andofbeingfiredbackatforanhourat9o'clockeverymorningandevening;offiftythousandpeoplegoingonbuyingandselling,eating,drinkingandsleeping,havingdances,drivesandballs,marryingandgivinginmarriage,allwithinafewhundredyardsofwheretheshellswerefalling—struckmeasamostsingularmethodofconductingwarfare。
　　Wereceivednorationsuntilthedayafterourarrival,andthentheywerescanty,thoughfairinquality。Wewerebythistimesohungryandfaintthatwecouldhardlymove。Wedidnothingforhoursbutliearoundonthegroundandtrytoforgethowfamishedwewere。Attheannouncementofrations,manyactedasifcrazy,anditwasallthattheSergeantscoulddotorestraintheimpatientmobfromtearingthefoodawayanddevouringit,whentheyweretryingtodivideitout。Verymany——perhapsthirty——diedduringthenightandmorning。NoblameforthisisattachedtotheCharlestonians。TheydistinguishedthemselvesfromthecitizensofeveryotherplaceintheSouthernConfederacywherewehadbeen,bymakingeffortstorelieveourcondition。Theysentquiteaquantityoffoodtous,andtheSistersofCharitycameamongus,seekingandministeringtothesick。Ibelieveourexperiencewastheusualone。TheprisonerswhopassedthroughCharlestonbeforeusallspokeveryhighlyofthekindnessshownthembythecitizensthere。
　　WeremainedinCharlestonbutafewdays。Onenightweweremarcheddowntoaricketydepot,andputaboardastillmorericketytrain。WhenmorningcamewefoundourselvesrunningnorthwardthroughapinebarrencountrythatresembledsomewhatthatinGeorgia,exceptthatthepinewasshort—leaved,therewasmoreoakandotherhardwoods,andthevegetationgenerallyassumedamoreNorthernlook。Wehadbeenputintocloseboxcars,withguardsatthedoorsandontop。Duringthenightquiteanumberoftheboys,whohadfabricatedlittlesawsoutofcaseknivesandfragmentsofhoopiron,cutholesthroughthebottomsofthecars,throughwhichtheydroppedtothegroundandescaped,butweremostlyrecapturedafterseveraldays。Therewasnoholecutinourcar,andsoAndrewsandIstaidin。
　　JustatduskwecametotheinsignificantvillageofFlorence,thejunctionoftheroadleadingfromCharlestontoCherawwiththatrunningfromWilmingtontoKingsville。ItwasaboutonehundredandtwentymilesfromCharleston,andthesamedistancefromWilmington。Asourtrainranthroughacutnearthejunctionadarkystoodbythetrackgazingatuscuriously。Whenthetrainhadnearlypassedhimhestartedtorunupthebank。Intheimperfectlighttheguardsmistookhimforoneofuswhohadjumpedfromthetrain。Theyallfired,andtheunluckynegrofell,piercedbyascoreofbullets。
　　Thatnightwecampedintheopenfield。Whenmorningcamewesaw,afewhundredyardsfromus,aStockadeofroughlogs,withguardsstationedaroundit。Itwasanotherprisonpen。Theywerejustbringingthedeadout,andtwomenweretossingthebodiesupintothefour—horsewagonwhichhauledthemawayforburial。Themenweregoingabouttheirbusinessascoollyasifloadingslaughteredhogs。'Oneofthemwouldcatchthebodybythefeet,andtheotherbythearms。Theywouldgiveitaswing——"One,two,three,"andupitwouldgointothewagon。Thisfilledheapingfullwithcorpses,anegromountedthewheelhorse,graspedthelines,andshoutedtohisanimals:
　　"Now,walkoffonyourtails,boys。"
　　Thehorsesstrained,thewagonmoved,anditsloadofwhatwereoncegallant,devotedsoldiers,wascartedofftonamelessgraves。Thiswasapartofthedailymorningroutine。
　　Aswestoodlookingatthesickeninglyfamiliararchitectureoftheprisonpen,aSeventhIndianiannearmesaid,intonesofwearisomedisgust:
　　Well,thisSouthernConfederacyisthed———destcountrytostandlogsonendonGodAlmighty'sfootstool。"
　　CHAPTERLXVIII。
　　FIRSTDAYSATFLORENCE——INTRODUCTIONTOLIEUTENANTBARRETT,THERED—
　　HEADEDKEEPER——ABRIEFDESCRIPTIONOFOURNEWQUARTERS——WINDERSMALIGN
　　INFLUENCEMANIFEST。
　　ItdidnotrequireaveryacutecomprehensiontounderstandthattheStockadeatwhichweweregazingwaslikelytobeourabidingplaceforsomeindefiniteperiodinthefuture。
　　Asusual,thisdiscoverywasthedeath—warrantofmanywhoseliveshadonlybeenprolongedbythehopingagainsthopethatthemovementwouldterminateinsideourlines。Whentheportentouspalisadesshowedtoafatalcertaintythatthewordofpromisehadbeenbrokentotheirhearts,theygaveupthestrugglewearily,laybackonthefrozenground,anddied。
　　AndrewsandIwerenotinthehumorfordyingjustthen。Thelongimprisonment,theprivationsofhunger,thescourgingbytheelements,thedeathoffouroutofeveryfiveofournumberhadindeeddulledandstupefiedus——bredanindifferencetoourownsufferingandaseemingcallositytothatofothers,buttherestillburnedinourhearts,andintheheartsofeveryoneaboutus,adull,sullen,smolderingfireofhateanddefiancetowardeverythingRebel,andalustforrevengeuponthosewhohadshoweredwoesuponourheads。Therewaslittlefearofdeath;
　　eventheKingofTerrorslosesmostofhisawfulcharacterupontolerablycloseacquaintance,andwehadbeenonveryintimatetermswithhimforayearnow。Hewasaconstantvisitor,whodroppedinuponusatallhoursofthedayandnight,andwouldnotbedeniedtoanyone。
　　Sincemyentryintoprisonfullyfifteenthousandboyshaddiedaroundme,andinnooneofthemhadIseentheleast,dreadorreluctancetogo。Ibelievethisisgenerallytrueofdeathbydisease,everywhere。
　　Oureverkindlymother,Nature,onlymakesusdreaddeathwhenshedesiresustopreservelife。Whenshesummonsushenceshetenderlyprovidesthatweshallwillinglyobeythecall。
　　Morethanforanythingelse,wewantedtolivenowtotriumphovertheRebels。Tosimplydiewouldbeoflittleimportance,buttodieunrevengedwouldbefearful。Ifwe,thedespised,thecontemned,theinsulted,thestarvedandmaltreated;couldlivetocomebacktoouroppressorsasthearmedministersofretribution,terribleintheremembranceofthewrongsofourselvesandcomrade's,irresistibleastheagentsofheavenlyjustice,andmeteouttothemthatBiblicalreturnofseven—foldofwhattheyhadmeasuredouttous,thenwewouldbecontenttogotodeathafterwards。Hadthethrice—accursedConfederacyandourmalignantgaolersmillionsoflives,ourgreatrevengewouldhavestomachforthemall。
　　TheDecembermorningwasgrayandleaden;dull,somber,snow—ladencloudssweptacrosstheskybeforethesoughingwind。
　　Theground,frozenhardandstiff,cutandhurtourbarefeetateverystep;anicybreezedroveinthroughtheholesinourrags,andsmoteourbodieslikeblowsfromsticks。ThetreesandshrubberyaroundwereasnakedandforlornasintheNorthinthedaysofearlyWinterbeforethesnowcomes。
　　OverandaroundushunglikeacoldmiasmathesickeningodorpeculiartoSouthernforestsinWintertime。
　　Outofthenaked,repelling,unlovelyearthrosetheStockade,inhideousugliness。Atthegatethetwomencontinuedattheirmonotonouslaboroftossingthedeadofthepreviousdayintothewagon—heavingintothatrudehearsetheinanimateremainsthathadoncetemptedgallant,manlyhearts,glowingwithpatriotismanddevotiontocountry——pilinguplistlesslyandwearily,inamassofnameless,emaciatedcorpses,flutteringwithrags,andswarmingwithvermin,thepride,thejoyofahundredfairNorthernhomes,whoselighthadnowgoneoutforever。
　　Aroundtheprisonwallsshambledtheguards,blanketedlikeIndians,andwithfacesandheartsofwolves。OtherRebels——alsocladindingybutternut——slouchedaroundlazily,crouchedoverdiminutivefires,andtalkedidlegossipinthebroadestof"nigger"dialect。Officersswelledandstruttedhitherandthither,andnegroservantsloiteredaround,strivingtospreadtheleastamountofworkoverthegreatestamountoftime。
　　WhileIstoodgazingingloomysilenceatthedepressingsurroundingsAndrews,lessspeculativeandmorepractical,sawagood—sizedpinestumpnearby,whichhadsomuchoftheearthwashedawayfromitthatitlookedasifitcouldbereadilypulledup。Wehadhadbitterexperienceinotherprisonsastothevalueofwood,andAndrewsreasonedthataswewouldbelikelytohavearepetitionofthisintheStockadewewereabouttoenter,weshouldmakeanefforttosecurethestump。Webothattackedit,andafteragreatdealofhardwork,succeededinuprootingit。Itwasveryluckythatwedid,sinceitwasthegreatesthelpinpreservingourlivesthroughthethreelongmonthsthatweremainedatFlorence。
　　Whilewewerearrangingourstumpsoastocarryittothebestadvantage,avulgar—facedman,withfieryredhair,andwearingonhiscollartheyellowbarsofaLieutenant,approached。ThiswasLieutenantBarrett,commandantoftheinterioroftheprison,andamoreinhumanwretcheventhanCaptainWirz,becausehehadalittlemorebrainsthanthecommandantatAndersonville,andthisextraintellectwaswhollydevotedtocruelty。Ashecamenearhecommanded,inloud,brutaltones:
　　"Attention,Prisoners！"
　　Weallstoodupandfellinintworanks。Saidhe:
　　"Bycompanies,rightwheel,march！"
　　Thiswassimplypreposterous。Aseverysoldierknows,wheelingbycompaniesisoneofthemostdifficultofmanuvers,andrequiressomepreparationofabattalionbeforeattemptingtoexecuteit。Ourthousandwasmadeupofinfantry,cavalryandartillery,representing,perhaps,onehundreddifferentregiments。Wehadnotbeendividedoffintocompanies,andwereencumberedwithblankets,tents,cookingutensils,wood,etc。,whichpreventedourmovingwithsuchfreedomastomakeacompanywheel,evenhadwebeendividedupintocompaniesanddrilledforthemaneuver。Theattempttoobeythecommandwas,ofcourse,aludicrousfailure。TheRebelofficersstandingnearBarrettlaughedopenlyathisstupidityingivingsuchanorder,buthewasfurious。Hehurledatusatorrentofthevilestabusethecorruptimaginationofmancanconceive,andsworeuntilhewasfairlyblackintheface。Hefiredhisrevolveroffoverourheads,andshriekedandshouteduntilhehadtostopfromsheerexhaustion。Anotherofficertookcommandthen,andmarchedusintoprison。
　　WefoundthisasmallcopyofAndersonville。Therewasastreamrunningnorthandsouth,oneithersideofwhichwasaswamp。AStockadeofroughlogs,withthebarkstillon,inclosedseveralacres。ThefrontoftheprisonwastowardtheWest。Apieceofartillerystoodbeforethegate,andaplatformateachcornerboreagun,elevatedhighenoughtorakethewholeinsideoftheprison。Amanstoodbehindeachofthesegunscontinually,soastoopenwiththematanymoment。Theearthwasthrownupagainsttheoutsideofthepalisadesinahighembankment,alongthetopofwhichtheguardsondutywalked,itbeinghighenoughtoelevatetheirhead,shouldersandbreastsabovethetopsofthelogs。
　　Insidetheinevitabledead—linewastracedbyrunningafurrowaroundtheprison—twentyfeetfromtheStockade——withaplow。InonerespectitwasanimprovementonAndersonville:regularstreetswerelaidoff,sothatmotionaboutthecampwaspossible,andcleanlinesswaspromoted。Also,thecrowdinsidewasnotsodenseasatCampSumter。
　　Theprisonersweredividedintohundredsandthousands,withSergeantsattheheadsofthedivisions。Averygoodpoliceforce—organizedandofficeredbytheprisoners——maintainedorderandpreventedcrime。Theftsandotheroffenseswerepunished,asatAndersonville,bytheChiefofPolicesentencingtheoffenderstobespankedortiedup。
　　WefoundverymanyofourAndersonvilleacquaintancesinside,andforseveraldayscomparisonsofexperiencewereinorder。TheyhadleftAndersonvilleafewdaysafterus,butweretakentoCharlestoninsteadofSavannah。ThesamestoryofexchangewasdinnedintotheirearsuntiltheyarrivedatCharleston,whenthetruthwastoldthem,thatnoexchangewascontemplated,andthattheyhadbeendeceivedforthepurposeofgettingthemsafelyoutofreachofSherman。
　　StilltheyweretreatedwellinCharleston——betterthantheybadbeenanywhereelse。Intelligentphysicianshadvisitedthesick,prescribedforthem,furnishedthemwithpropermedicines,andadmittedtheworstcasestothehospital,wheretheyweregivensomethingofthecarethatonewouldexpectinsuchaninstitution。Wheatbread,molassesandricewereissuedtothem,andalsoafewspoonfulsofvinegar,daily,whichwereverygratefultothemintheirscorbuticcondition。Thecitizenssentinclothing,foodandvegetables。TheSistersofCharitywereindefatigableinministeringtothesickanddying。Altogether,theirrecollectionsoftheplacewerequitepleasant。
　　DespitethedisagreeableprominencewhichtheCityhadintheSecessionmovement,therewasaverystrongUnionelementthere,andmanymenfoundopportunitytodofavorstotheprisonersandrevealtothemhowmuchtheyabhorredSecession。
　　AftertheyhadbeeninCharlestonafortnightormore,theyellowfeverbrokeoutintheCity,andsoonextendeditsravagestotheprisoners,quiteanumberdyingfromit。
　　EarlyinOctobertheyhadbeensentawayfromtheCitytotheirpresentlocation,whichwasthenapieceofforestland。Therewasnostockadeorotherenclosureaboutthem,andonenighttheyforcedtheguard—line,aboutfifteenhundredescaping,underaprettysharpfirefromtheguards。Aftergettingouttheyscattered,eachgrouptakingadifferentroute,someseekingBeaufort,andotherplacesalongtheseaboard,andtheresttryingtogainthemountains。ThewholeStatewasthrownintothegreatestperturbationbytheoccurrence。Thepapersmagnifiedtheproportionoftheoutbreak,andlaudedfulsomelythegallantryoftheguardsinendeavoringtowithstandthedesperateassaultsofthefrenziedYankees。Thepeoplewerewroughtupintothehighestalarmastooutragesandexcessesthattheseflyingdesperadosmightbeexpectedtocommit。OnewouldthinkthatanotherGrecianhorse,introducedintotheheartoftheConfederateTroy,hadletoutitsfatalbandofarmedmen。
　　Allgoodcitizenswereenjoinedtoturnoutandassistinarrestingtherunaways。Thevigilanceofallpatrollingwasredoubled,andsuchwastheeffectivenessofthemeasurestakenthatbeforeamonthnearlyeveryoneofthefugitiveshadbeenretakenandsentbacktoFlorence。Fewofthesecomplainedofanyspecialill—treatmentbytheircaptors,whilemanyreportedfrequentactsofkindness,especiallywhentheircaptorsbelongedtothemiddleandupperclasses。Thelow—downclass——theclay—
　　eaters——ontheotherhand,almostalwaysabusedtheirprisoners,andsometimes,itisprettycertain,murderedthemincoldblood。