Actingonthisplainhint,wewalkedaroundthehouseandwentup—town。
　　Theguardsimplyconstruedhisordersinaliberalspirit。Hereasonedthattheyhardlyappliedtous,sincewewereevidentlyabletotakecareofourselves。
　　Laterwehadanotherillustrationofthisdoglikefidelityofthecoloredsentinel。Anumberofuswerequarteredinalargeandemptywarehouse。Onthesamefloor,andclosetous,wereacoupleofveryfinehorsesbelongingtosomeofficer。Wehadnotbeeninthewarehouseverylonguntilweconcludedthatthestrawwithwhichthehorseswerebeddedwouldbebetterusedinmakingcouchesforourselves,andthissuggestionwasinstantlyactedupon,andsothoroughlythattherewasnotastrawleftbetweentheanimalsandthebareboards。Presentlytheownerofthehorsescamein,andhewasgreatlyincensedatwhathadbeendone。Herelievedhismindofafewsulphurousoaths,andgoingout,camebacksoonwithamanwithmorestraw,andacoloredsoldierwhomhestationedbythehorses,saying:
　　"Now,lookhere。Youmusn'tletanybodytakeanythingswayfromthesestalls;d'youunderstandme？——notathing。"
　　Hethenwentout。AndrewsandIhadjustfinishedcookingdinner,andweresittingdowntoeatit。Wishingtolendourfrying—pantoanothermess,Ilookedaroundforsomethingtolayourmeatupon。NearthehorsesIsawabookcover,whichwouldanswerthepurposeadmirably。
　　Springingup,Iskippedacrosstowhereitwas,snatcheditup,andranbacktomyplace。AsIreacheditayellfromtheboysmademelookaround。Thedarkywascomingatme"fulltilt,"withhisgunata"chargebayonets。"AsIturnedhesaid:
　　"Putdatrightbackdah！"
　　Isaid:
　　"Why,thisdon'tamounttoanything,thisisonlyanoldbookcover。
　　Ithasn'tanythingintheworldtodowiththehorses。
　　Heonlyreplied:
　　"Putdatrightbackdah！"
　　Itriedanotherappeal:
　　"Now,youwoolly—headedsonofthunder,haven'tyougotsenseenoughtoknowthattheofficerwhopostedyoudidn'tmeansuchathingasthis！
　　Heonlymeantthatweshouldnotbeallowedtotakeanyofthehorses'
　　beddingorequipments;don'tyousee？"
　　ImightaswellhavereasonedwithacigarstoreIndian。Hesethisteeth,hiseyesshowedadangerousamountofwhite,andforeshorteninghismusketforalunge,hehissedoutagain"Putdatrightbackdah,I
　　tellyou！"
　　Ilookedatthebayonet;itwasverylong,verybright,andverysharp。
　　Itgleamedcoldandchillylike,asifithadnotrunthroughamanforalongtime,andyearnedforanotheropportunity。Nothingbutthewhitesofthedarky'seyescouldnowbeseen。Ididnotwanttoperishthereinthefreshbloomofmyyouthandloveliness;itseemedtomeasifitwasmydutytoreservemyselfforfieldsoffutureusefulness,soIwalkedbackandlaidthebookcoverpreciselyonthespotwhenceIhadobtainedit,whilethethousandboysinthehousesetupayellofsarcasticlaughter。
　　WestaidinWilmingtonafewdays,daysofalmostpurelyanimalenjoyment——thejoyofhavingjustasmuchtoeataswecouldpossiblyswallow,andnoonetomolestormakeusafraidinanyway。Howwedideatandfillup。Thewrinklesinourskinsmoothedoutunderthestretching,andwebegantofeelasifwewerereturningtoouroldplumpness,thoughsofartheplumpnesswaswhollyabdominal。
　　Onemorningweweretoldthatthetransportswouldbegingoingbackwithusthatafternoon,thefirstthatlefttakingthesick。AndrewsandI,truetoouroldprisonpractices,resolvedtobeamongthoseonthefirstboat。Weslippedthroughtheguardsandgoinguptown,wentstraighttoMajorGeneralSchofield'sheadquartersandsolicitedapasstogoonthefirstboat——thesteamer"Thorn。"GeneralSchofieldtreatedusverykindly;butdeclinedtoletanybodybutthehelplesslysickgoonthe"Thorn。"Defeatedherewewentdowntowherethevesselwaslyingatthedock,andtriedtosmuggleourselvesaboard,buttheguardwastoostrongandtoovigilant,andweweredrivenaway。Goingalongthedock,angryanddiscouragedbyourfailure,wesawaSurgeon,atalittledistance,whowasexaminingandsendingthesickwhocouldwalkaboardanothervessel——the"GeneralLyon。"Wetookourcue,andalittleshammingsecuredfromhimticketswhichpermittedustotakeourpassageinher。
　　Thelargerportionofthoseonboardwereinthehold,andafewwereondeck。AndrewsandIfoundasnugplaceundertheforecastle,bytheanchorchains。
　　Bothvesselsspeedilyreceivedtheircomplement,andleavingtheirdocks,starteddowntheriver。The"Thorn"steamedaheadofus,anddisappeared。Shortlyafterwegotunderway,theColonelwhowasputincommandoftheboat——himselfareleasedprisoner——camearoundonatourofinspection。Hefoundaboutonethousandofusaboard,andsinglingmeoutmademethenon—commissionedofficerincommand。Iwasputincharge,ofissuingtherationsandofabarrelofmilkpunchwhichtheSanitaryCommissionhadsentdowntobedealtoutonthevoyagetosuchasneededit。IwenttoworkandarrangedtheboysinthebestwayI
　　could,andreturnedtothedecktoviewthescenery。
　　Wilmingtonisthirty—fourmilesfromthesea,andtheriverforthatdistanceisacalm,broadestuary。AtthistimetheresourcesofRebelengineeringwereexhaustedindefenseagainstitspassagebyahostilefleet,andundoubtedlythebestworkofthekindintheSouthernConfederacywasdoneuponit。AtitsmouthwereFortsFisherandCaswell,thestrongestseacoastfortsintheConfederacy。FortCaswellwasanoldUnitedStatesfort,muchenlargedandstrengthened。FortFisherwasanewwork,begunimmediatelyafterthebeginningofthewar,andlaboredatincessantlyuntilcaptured。Behindtheseeveryoneofthethirty—fourmilestoWilmingtonwascoveredwiththefireofthebestgunstheEnglisharsenalscouldproduce,mountedonfortsbuiltateveryadvantageousspot。Linesofpilesrunningoutintothewater,forcedincomingvesselstowindbackandforthacrossthestreamunderthepoint—blankrangeofmassiveArmstrongrifles。Asifthiswerenotsufficient,thechannelwasthicklystuddedwithtorpedoesthatwouldexplodeatthetouchofthekeelofapassingvessel。Theseabundantprecautions,andthetelegramfromGeneralLee,foundinFortFisher,statingthatunlessthatstrongholdandFortCaswellwereheldhecouldnotholdRichmond,givesomeideaoftheimportanceoftheplacetotheRebels。
　　Wepassedgroupsofhundredsofsailorsfishingfortorpedos,andsawmanyofthesedangerousmonsters,whichtheyhadhauledupoutofthewater。Wecaughtupwiththe"Thorn,"whenabouthalfwaytothesea,passedher,toourgreatdelight,andsoonleftagapbetweenusofnearlyhalf—a—mile。Weranthroughanopeninginthepiling,holdingupclosetotheleftside,andsheapparentlyfollowedourcourseexactly。
　　Suddenlytherewasadullroar;acolumnofwater,bearingwithitfragmentsoftimbers,plankingandhumanbodies,roseupthroughonesideofthevessel,and,asitfell,shelurchedforwardandsank。Shehadstruckatorpedo。Ineverlearnedthenumberlost,butitmusthavebeenverygreat。
　　SomelittletimeafterthishappenedweapproachedFortAnderson,themostpowerfuloftheworksbetweenWilmingtonandthefortsatthemouthofthesea。ItwasbuiltontheruinsofthelittleTownofBrunswick,destroyedbyCornwallisduringtheRevolutionaryWar。Wesawamonitorlyingnearit,andsoughtgoodpositionstoviewthisspecimenoftheredoubtableironcladsofwhichwehadheardandreadsomuch。Itlookedpreciselyasitdidinpictures,asblack,asgrim,andasuncompromisingastheimpregnablefloatingfortresswhichhadbroughtthe"Merrimac"toterms。
　　Butasweapproachedcloselywenoticedalimpnessaboutthesmokestackthatseemedveryinconsistentwiththecustomaryrigidityofcylindricaliron。Thentheescapepipeseemedscarcelyabletomaintainitselfupright。AfewminuteslaterwediscoveredthatourterribleCyclopsoftheseawasaflimsyhumbug,atheatricalimitation,madebystretchingblackenedcanvasoverawoodenframe。
　　Oneoftheofficersonboardtoldusitsstory。AfterthefallofFortFishertheRebelsretiredtoFortAnderson,andofferedadesperateresistancetoourarmyandfleet。Owingtotheshallownessofthewaterthelattercouldnotcomeintocloseenoughrangetodoeffectivework。
　　Thenthehappyideaofthisshammonitorsuggesteditselftosomeone。
　　Itwasprepared,andonemorningbeforedaybreakitwassentfloatinginonthetide。Theothermonitorsopenedupaheavyfirefromtheirposition。TheRebelsmannedtheirgunsandrepliedvigorously,byconcentratingaterriblecannonadeontheshammonitor,whichsailedgrandlyon,undisturbedbytheheavyrifledboltstearingthroughhercanvasturret。Almostfranticwithapprehensionoftheresultifshecouldnotbechecked,everygunthatwouldbearwasturneduponher,andtorpedoswereexplodedinherpathwaybyelectricity。Alltheseshetreatedwiththesilentcontempttheymeritedfromsoinvulnerableamonster。Atlength,asshereachedagoodeasyrangeofthefort,herbowstrucksomething,andsheswungaroundasiftoopenfire。ThatwasenoughfortheRebels。WithSchofield'sarmyreachingouttocutofftheirretreat,andthisdreadfulthingabouttoteartheinsidesoutoftheirfortwithfour—hundred—poundshotatquarter—milerange,therewasnothingforthemtodobutconsulttheirownsafety,whichtheydidwithsuchhastethattheydidnotspikeagun,ordestroyapoundofstores。
　　CHAPTERLXXX
　　VISITTOFORTFISHER,ANDINSPECTIONOFTHATSTRONGHOLD——THEWAYITWAS
　　CAPTURED——OUTONTHEOCEANSAILING——TERRIBLYSEASICK——RAPIDRECOVERY——
　　ARRIVALATANNAPOLIS——WASHED,CLOTHEDANDFED——UNBOUNDEDLUXURY,ANDDAYS
　　OFUNADULTERATEDHAPPINESS。
　　WhenwereachedthemouthofCapeFearRiverthewindwasblowingsohardthatourCaptaindidnotthinkitbesttoventureout,sohecastanchor。
　　Thecabinofthevesselwasfilledwithofficerswhohadbeenreleasedfromprisonaboutthesametimewewere。Iwasalsogivenaberthinthecabin,inconsiderationofmybeingthenon—commissionedofficerinchargeofthemen,andIfoundtheassociationsquitepleasant。Apartywasmadeup,whichincludedme,tovisitFortFisher,andwespentthelargerpartofadayveryagreeablyinwanderingoverthatgreatstronghold。Wefounditwonderfulinitsstrength,andwerepreparedtoacceptthestatementofthosewhohadseenforeigndefensiveworks,thatitwasmuchmorepowerfulthanthefamousMalakoff,whichsolongdefiedthebesiegersofSebastopol。
　　ThesituationofthefortwasonanarrowandlowspitofgroundbetweenCapeFearRiverandtheocean。OnthistheRebelshaderected,withprodigiouslabor,anembankmentoveramileinlength,twenty—fivefeetthickandtwentyfeethigh。Abouttwo—thirdsofthisbankfacedthesea;
　　theotherthirdranacrossthespitoflandtoprotectthefortagainstanattackfromthelandside。Stillstrongerthanthebankformingthefrontofthefortwerethetraverses,whichpreventedanenfiladingfireThesewereregularhills,twenty—fivetofortyfeethigh,andbroadandlonginproportion。Therewerefifteenortwentyofthemalongthefaceofthefort。Insideofthemwerecapaciousbombproofs,sufficientlylargetoshelterthewholegarrison。ItseemedasifawholeTownshiphadbeendugup,carteddownthereandsetonedge。Infrontoftheworkswasastrongpalisade。Betweeneachpairoftraverseswereoneortwoenormousguns,nonelessthanone—hundred—and—fiftypounders。AmongthesewesawagreatArmstronggun,whichhadbeenpresentedtotheSouthernConfederacybyitsmanufacturer,SirWilliamArmstrong,who,likethemajorityoftheEnglishnobility,wasawarmadmireroftheJeff。Daviscrowd。Itwasthefinestpieceofordnanceeverseeninthiscountry。Thecarriagewasrosewood,andthemountingsgiltbrass。Thebreechofthegunhadfivereinforcements。
　　ToattackthisplaceourGovernmentassembledthemostpowerfulfleeteversentonsuchanexpedition。Overseventy—fivemen—of—war,includingsixmonitors,andcarryingsixhundredguns,assaileditwithastormofshotandshellthataveragedfourprojectilespersecondforseveralhours;theparapetwasbattered,andthelargegunscrushedasonesmashesabottlewithastone。Thegarrisonfledintothebomb—proofsforprotection。Thetroops,whohadlandedabovethefort,moveduptoassailthelandface,whileabrigadeofsailorsandmarinesattackedtheseaface。
　　Asthefleethadtoceasefiringtoallowthecharge,theRebelsranoutoftheircasematesand,manningtheparapet,openedsuchafireofmusketrythatthebrigadefromthefleetwasdrivenback,butthesoldiersmadealodgmentonthelandface。ThenbegansomebeautifulcooperativetacticsbetweentheArmyandNavy,communicationbeingkeptupwithsignalflags。OurmenwereononesideoftheparapetsandtheRebelsontheother,withthefightingalmosthand—to—hand。ThevesselsrangedouttowheretheirgunswouldraketheRebelline,andastheirshottoredownitslength,theRebelsgaveway,andfallingbacktothenexttraverse,renewedtheconflictthere。Guidedbythesignalsourvesselschangedtheirpositions,soastorakethislinealso,andsothefightwentonuntiltwelvetraverseshadbeencarried,oneaftertheother,whentherebelssurrendered。
　　ThenextdaytheRebelsabandonedFortCaswellandotherfortificationsintheimmediateneighborhood,surrenderedtwogunboats,andfellbacktothelinesatFortAnderson。AfterFortFisherfell,severalblockade—
　　runnerswereluredinsideandcaptured。
　　Neverbeforehadtherebeensuchademonstrationofthepowerofheavyartillery。Hugecannonwerepoundedintofragments,hillsofsandrippedopen,deepcrevassesblowninthegroundbyexplodingshells,woodenbuildingsreducedtokindling—wood,etc。Thegroundwasliterallypavedwithfragmentsofshotandshell,which,nowredwithrustfromthecorrodingsaltair,madetheinteriorofthefortresemblewhatoneofourpartylikeneditto"anoldbrickyard。"
　　Whicheverwaywelookedalongtheshoreswesawabundantevidenceofthegreatnessofthebusinesswhichgavetheplaceitsimportance。Inalldirections,asfarastheeyecouldreach,thebeachwasdottedwiththebleachingskeletonsofblockade—runners——somerunashorebytheirmistakingthechannel,morebeachedtoescapethehotpursuitofourblockaders。
　　Directlyinfrontoftheseafaceofthefort,andnotfourhundredyardsfromthesavagemouthsofthehugeguns,theblackenedtimbersofaburnedblockade—runnershowedabovethewateratlowtide。CominginfromNassauwithacargoofpricelessvaluetothegaspingConfederacy,shewasobservedandchasedbyoneofourvessels,aswiftersailer,even,thanherself。Thewarshipclosedrapidlyuponher。ShesoughttheprotectionofthegunsofFortFisher,whichopenedvenomouslyonthechaser。Theydidnotstopher,thoughtheywerelessthanhalfamileaway。InanotherminuteshewouldhavesenttheRebelvesseltothebottomofthesea,byabroadsidefromherheavyguns,buttheCaptainofthelatterturnedhersuddenly,andranherhighuponthebeach,wreckinghisvessel,butsavingthemuchmorevaluablecargo。Ourvesselthenhauledoff,andasnightfell,quietwasrestored。Atmidnighttwoboat—loadsofdeterminedmen,rowingwithmuffledoarsmovedsilentlyoutfromtheblockadertowardsthebeachedvessel。Intheirboatstheyhadsomecansofturpentine,andseverallargeshells。Whentheyreachedtheblockade—runnertheyfoundallhercrewgoneashore,saveonewatchman,whomtheyoverpoweredbeforehecouldgivethealarm。Theycautiouslyfelttheirwayaround,withtheaidofadarklantern,securedtheship'schronometer,herpapersandsomeotherdesiredobjects。Theythensaturatedwiththeturpentinepilesofcombustiblematerial,placedaboutthevesseltothebestadvantage,andfinishedbydepositingtheshellswheretheirexplosionwouldruinthemachinery。Allthiswasdonesoneartothefortthatthesentinelsontheparapetscouldbeheardwiththegreatestdistinctnessastheyrepeatedtheirhalf—hourlycryof"All'swell。"Theirpreparationscompleted,thedaringfellowstouchedmatchestothedoomedvesselinadozenplacesatonce,andsprangintotheirboats。Theflamesinstantlyenvelopedtheship,andshowedthegunnerstheincendiariesrowingrapidlyaway。Ahailofshotbeatthewaterintoafoamaroundtheboats,buttheirgoodfortunestillattendedthem,andtheygotbackwithoutlosingaman。
　　ThewindatlengthcalmedsufficientlytoencourageourCaptaintoventureout,andweweresoonbattlingwiththerollingwaves,faroutofsightofland。Forawhilethenoveltyofthescenefascinatedme。Iwasatlastontheocean,ofwhichIhadheard,readandimaginedsomuch。
　　Thecreakingcordage,thestrainingengine,theplungingship,thewildwasteoftumblingbillows,everyoneapparentlyracingtowhereourtossingbarkwasstrugglingtomaintainherself,allhadanentrancinginterestforme,andItriedtorecallByron'ssublimeapostrophetotheocean:
　　Thougloriousmirror,wheretheAlmighty'sformClassesitselfintempest:inalltime,Calmorconvulsed—inbreeze,orgale,orstorm,Icingthepole,orinthetorridclimeDark—heaving——boundless,endless,andsublime——
　　Theimageofeternity——thethroneOftheinvisible;evenfromoutthyslimeThemonstersofthedeeparemade;eachzoneObeythee:thougoestforth,dread,fathomless,alone,Justthen,myreveriewasbrokenbythestronghandofthegruffCaptainof,thevesseldescendinguponmyshoulder,andhesaid:
　　"See,here,youngster！Ain'tyouthefellowthatwasputincommandofthesemen？"
　　Iacknowledgedsuchtobethecase。
　　"Well,"saidtheCaptain;"Iwantyouto'tendtoyourbusinessandstraightenthemaround,sothatwecancleanoffthedecks。"
　　IturnedfromthebulwarkoverwhichIhadbeencontemplatingthevastydeep,andsawthesorriest,mostwoe—begonelotthattheimaginationcanconceive。Everymother'ssonwaswretchedlysea—sick。TheywerepayingthepenaltyoftheiroverfeedinginWilmington;andeveryfacelookedasifitsownerwasdiscoveringforthefirsttimewhatthereallowerdepthsofhumanmiserywas。Theyallseemedafraidtheywouldnotdie;
　　asiftheywereprayingfordeath,butfeelingcertainthathewasgoingbackontheminamostshamefulway。
　　Westraightenedthemaroundalittle,washedthemandthedecksoffwithahose,andthenIstarteddownintheholdtoseehowmatterswerewiththesixhundreddownthere。Theboysthereweremuchsickerthanthoseondeck。AsIliftedthehatchthereroseanodorwhichappearedstrongenoughtoraisetheplankitself。EveryonionthathadbeenissuedtousinWilmingtonseemedtoliedownthereinthelaststagesofdecomposition。AlloftheseventydistinctsmellswhichColeridgecountedatColognemighthavebeencountedinanygivencubicfootofatmosphere,whilethenextfootwouldhaveanentirelydifferentandequallydemonstrative"bouquet。"
　　Irecoiled,andleanedagainstthebulwark,butsoonsummonedupcourageenoughtogohalf—waydowntheladder,andshoutoutinassternatoneasIcouldcommand:
　　"here,now！Iwantyoufellowstostraightenaroundthere,rightoff,andhelpcleanup！"
　　Theywereasangryandcrossastheyweresick。TheywantednothingintheworldsomuchastheopportunityIhadgiventhemtoswearatandabusesomebody。Everyoneofthemraisedonhiselbow,andshakinghisfistatmeyelledout:
　　"O,yougoto————,you————————————。Justcomedownanotherstep,andI'llknockthewholeheadoff'enyou。"
　　Ididnotgodownanyfarther。
　　Comingbackonthedeckmystomachbegantofeelqualmish。Somewretchedidiot,whosegrandfather'sgraveIhopethejackasseshavedefiled,astheTurkswouldsay,toldmethatthebestpreventiveofsea—sicknesswastodrinkasmuchofthemilkpunchasIcouldswallow。
　　Likeanotheridiot,Ididso。
　　Iwentagaintothesideofthevessel,butnowthefascinationofthescenehadallfadedout。Therestlessbillowsweredreary,savage,hungryanddizzying;theyseemedtoclawat,andtear,andwrenchthestrugglingshipasagroupofhugelionswouldteaseandworryacaptivedog。Theydistressedherandallonboardbydealingablowwhichwouldsendherreelinginonedirection,butbeforeshehadswungthefulllengththatimpulsewouldhavesenther,catchingherontheoppositesidewithastunningshockthatsentheranotherway,onlytomeetanotherrudebuffetfromstillanotherside。
　　Ithoughtwecouldallhavestooditifthemotionhadbeenlikethatofaswing—backwardandforward——orevenifthetoandfromotionhadbeencomplicatedwithaside—wiseswing,buttobeputthrougheverypossiblebewilderingmotioninthebriefestspaceoftimewasmorethanheadsofironandstomachsofbrasscouldstand。
　　Minewerenotmadeofsuchperdurablestuff。
　　Theycommencedmutinousdemonstrationsinregardtothemilkpunch。
　　Ibeganwonderingwhetherthemilkwasnotthehorriblebeerswill,stump—tailkindofwhichIhadheardsomuch。
　　Andthewhiskyinit;touseavigorousWesternism,descriptiveofmeanwhisky,itseemedtomethatIcouldsmelltheboy'sfeetwhoplowedthecornfromwhichitwasdistilled。
　　ThentheonionsIhadeateninWilmingtonbegantorebel,andincitethebread,meatandcoffeetogastricinsurrection,andIbecamesoutterlywretchedthatlifehadnofartherattractions。
　　WhileIwasleaningoverthebulwark,musingonthecompletehollownessofallearthlythings,theCaptainofthevesselcaughtholdofmeroughly,andsaid:
　　"Lookhere,you'rejustplayin'theverydevila—commandin'theseheremen。Whyin————don'tyoustiffenup,andhumpyourselfaround,andmakethesemenmind,orelsebeltthemovertheheadwithacapstanbar！
　　NowIwantyouto'tendtoyourbusiness。D'youunderstandme？"
　　Iturnedapairofwearyandhopelesseyesuponhim,andstartedtosaythatamanwhowouldtalktooneinmyforlornconditionof"stiffeningup,"and"beltingotherfellowsovertheheadwithacapstanbar,"wouldinsultawomandyingwithconsumption,butIsuddenlybecametoofullforutterance。
　　Themilkpunch,theonions,thebread,andmeatandcoffeetiredoffightingitoutinthenarrowquarterswhereIhadstowedthem,hadstartedupwardstumultuously。
　　Iturnedmyheadagaintothesea,andlookingdownintoitssmaragdinedepths,letgoofthevictualisticstorewhichIhadbeenindustriouslyaccumulatingeversinceIhadcomethroughthelines。
　　IvomiteduntilIfeltasemptyandhollowasastovepipe。Therewasavacuumthatextendedcleartomytoe—nails。Ifearedthateveryretchingstrugglewoulddentmein,allover,asoneseestinpreservingcanscrushedinbyoutsidepressure,andIapprehendedthatifIkeptonmuchlongermyshoe—soleswouldcomeupaftertherest。
　　Iwillmention,parenthetically,that,tothisdayIabhormilkpunch,andalsoonions。
　　UnutterablymiserableasIwasIcouldnotrefrainfromaghostofasmile,whenapoorcountryboynearmesangoutinanintervalbetweenvomitingspells:
　　"O,Captain,forGod'ssake,stoptheboatandlem'megoashore,andI
　　swearI'llwalkeverystepofthewayhome。"
　　HewaslikeoldGonzalointhe'Tempest:'
　　NowworldIgiveathousandfurlongsofseaforanacreofbarrenground;longheath;brownfurze;anything。Thewillsabovebedone！
　　butIwouldfaindieadrydeath。
　　AfterthismiseryhadlastedabouttwodayswegotpastCapeHatteras,andoutofreachofitsmaligninfluence,andrecoveredasrapidlyaswehadbeenprostrated。
　　Weregainedspiritsandappetiteswithamazingswiftness;thesuncameoutwarmandcheerful,wecleanedupourquartersandourselvesasbestwecould,andduringtheremainderofthevoyagewereasblitheandcheerfulassomanycrickets。
　　Thefuninthecabinwasrollicking。Theofficershadbeenassickasthemen,butwerewonderfullyvivaciouswhenthe'maldumer'passedoff。
　　Inthepartywasafinegleeclub,whichhadbeenorganizedat"CampSorgum,"theofficers'prisonatColumbia。ItsleaderwasaMajoroftheFifthIowaCavalry,whopossessedamarvelouslysweettenorvoice,andwelldevelopedmusicalpowers。WhilewewereatWilmingtonhesang"WhenShermanMarchedDowntotheSea,"toanaudienceofsoldiersthatpackedtheOperaHousedensely。
　　Theenthusiasmhearousedwassimplyindescribable;menshouted,andthetearsrandowntheirfaces。Hewasrecalledtimeandagain,eachtimewithanincreaseinthefurore。Theaudiencewouldhavestaidthereallnighttolistentohimsingthatonesong。Poorfellow,heonlywenthometodie。AnattackofpneumoniacarriedhimoffwithinafortnightafterweseparatedatAnnapolis。
　　TheGleeClubhadseveralsongswhichtheyrenderedinregularnegrominstrelstyle,andinawaythatwasirresistiblyludicrous。Oneoftheirfavoriteswas"BillyPatterson。"Allstandingupinaring,thetenorswouldleadoff:
　　"Isawanoldmangoridingby,"
　　andthebaritones,flingingthemselvesaroundwiththeloosenessofChristy'sMinstrels,ina"breakdown,"wouldreply:
　　Don'ttellme！Don'ttellme！"
　　Thenthetenorswouldresume:
　　"SaysI,Oleman,yourhorse'lldie。'
　　Thenthebaritones,withanairofexaggeratedinterest;
　　"A—ha—a—a,BillyPatterson！"
　　Tenors:
　　"For。Ithedies,I'lltanhisskin;
　　An'ifhelivesI'llridehimagin,"
　　All—together,withafurious"breakdown"attheclose:
　　"ThenI'lllayfivedollarsdown,Andcountthemonebyone;
　　ThenI'lllayfivedollarsdown,IfanybodywillshowmethemanThatstruckBillyPatterson。"
　　Andsoon。ItusedtoupsetmygravityentirelytoseeacrowdofgraveanddignifiedCaptains,MajorsandColonelsgoingthroughthisnonsensicaldrollerywithalltheabandonofprofessionalburnt—corkartists。
　　AswewerenearingtheentrancetoChesapeakeBaywepassedagreatmonitor,whowasexercisinghercrewattheguns。Shefireddirectlyacrossourcourse,thehugefourhundredpoundballsshippingalongthewater,aboutamileaheadofus,asweboysusedtomaketheflatstonesskipintheplayof"DucksandDrakes。"Oneortwooftheshotscameso。
　　closethatIfearedshemightbemistakingusforaRebelshipintentonsomeraiduptheBay,andIlookedupanxiouslytoseethattheflagshouldfloatoutsoconspicuouslythatshecouldnothelpseeingit。
　　ThenextdayourvesselranalongsideofthedockattheNavalAcademyatAnnapolis,thatinstitutionnowbeingusedasahospitalforparoledprisoners。ThemusiciansofthePostbandcamedownwithstretcherstocarrythesicktotheHospital,whilethoseofuswhowereabletowalkwereorderedtofallinandmarchup。Thedistancewasbutafewhundredyards。Onreachingthebuildingwemarcheduponalittlebalcony,andaswedidsoeachoneofuswasseizedbyahospitalattendant,who,withthequickdexterityattainedbylongpractice,snatchedeveryoneofourfilthy,lousyragsoffinthetwinklingofaneye,andflungthemovertherailingtotheground,whereamanloadedthemintoawagonwithapitchfork。
　　Withthemwentourfaithfullittleblackcan,ourhoop—ironspoon,andourchessboardandmen。
　　Thusentirelydenuded,eachboywasgivenashovewhichsenthimintoalittleroom,whereabarberpressedhimdownuponastool,andalmostbeforeheunderstoodwhatwasbeingdone,hadhishairandbeardcutoffascloseasshearswoulddoit。Anothertaponthebacksenttheshornlambintoaroomfurnishedwithgreattubsofwaterandwithaboutsixinchesofsoapsudsonthezinc—coveredfloor。
　　Inanotherminutetwomenwithspongeshadremovedeverytraceofprisongrimefromhisbody,andpassedhimontotwomoremen,whowipedhimdry,andmovedhimontowhereamanhandedhimanewshirt,apairofdrawers,pairofsocks,pairofpantaloons,pairofslippers,andahospitalgown,andmotionedhimtogoonintothelargeroom,andarrayhimselfinhisnewgarments。LikeeverythingelseabouttheHospitalthisperformancewasreducedtoaperfectsystem。Notawordwasspokenbyanybody,notamoment'stimelost,anditseemedtomethatitwasnottenminutesafterImarcheduponthebalcony,coveredwithdirt,rags,vermin,andamattedshockofhair,untilImarchedoutoftheroom,cleanandwellclothed。NowIbegantofeelasifIwasreallyamanagain。
　　Thenextthingdonewastoregisterournames,rank,regiment,whenandwherecaptured,whenandwherereleased。Afterthiswewereshowntoourrooms。Andsuchroomsastheywere。Alltheoldmaidsinthecountrycouldnothaveimprovedtheirspick—spanneatness。Thefloorswereaswhiteaspineplankcouldbescoured;thesheetsandbeddingascleanascottonandlinenandwoolencouldbewashed。Nothinginanyhomeinthelandwasanymoredaintily,wholesomely,unqualifiedlycleanthanweretheselittlechambers,eachcontainingtwobeds,oneforeachmanassignedtotheiroccupancy。
　　Andrewsdoubtedifwecouldstandallthisradicalchangeinourhabits。
　　Hefearedthatitwasrushingthingstoofast。Wemighthavehadourhaircutoneweek,andtakenabathalloveraweeklater,andsoprogressdowntosleepingbetweenwhitesheetsinthecourseofsixmonths,buttodoitallinonedayseemedliketemptingfate。
　　Everyturnshowedussomenewfeatureofthemarvelousorderofthiswonderfulinstitution。Shortlyafterweweresenttoourrooms,aSurgeonenteredwithaClerk。Afteransweringtheusualquestionsastoname,rank,companyandregiment,theSurgeonexaminedourtongues,eyes,limbsandgeneralappearance,andcommunicatedhisconclusionstotheClerk,whofilledoutablankcard。Thiscardwasstuckintoalittletinholderattheheadofmybed。Andrews'scardwasthesame,exceptthename。TheSurgeonwasfollowedbyaSergeant,whowasChiefoftheDining—Room,andtheClerk,whomadeaminuteofthedietorderedforus,andmovedoff。AndrewsandIimmediatelybecameverysolicitoustoknowwhatspeciesofdietNo。1was。Aftertheseasicknessleftusourappetitesbecameasravenousasabuzz—saw,andunlessDietNo。1wasmorethanNo。1inname,itwouldnotfillthebill。Wehadnotlongtoremaininsuspense,forsoonanothernon—commissionedofficerpassedthroughattheheadofatrainofattendants,bearingtrays。Consultingthelistinhishand,hesaidtooneofhisfollowers,"TwoNo。1's,"