Thegreatesttroublewastocarrythetunnelforwardinastraightline。
　　Asnearlyeverybodydugmostofthetimewiththerighthand,therewasanalmostirresistibletendencytomakethecourseveertotheleft。ThefirsttunnelIwasconnectedwithwasaludicrousillustrationofthis。
　　Abouttwentyofushaddevotedournightsforoveraweektotheprolongationofaburrow。WehadnotyetreachedtheStockade,whichastonishedus,asmeasurementwithastringshowedthatwehadgonenearlytwicethedistancenecessaryforthepurpose。Thethingwasinexplicable,andweceasedoperationstoconsiderthematter。Thenextdayamanwalkingbyatentsomelittledistancefromtheoneinwhichtheholebegan,wasbadlystartledbythegroundgivingwayunderhisfeet,andhissinkingnearlytohiswaistinahole。Itwasverysingular,butafterwonderingoverthematterforsomehours,therecameaglimmerofsuspicionthatitmightbe,insomeway,connectedwiththemissingendofourtunnel。Oneofusstartedthroughonanexploringexpedition,andconfirmedthesuspicionsbycomingoutwherethemanhadbrokenthrough。Ourtunnelwasshapedlikeahorseshoe,andthebeginningandendwerenotfifteenfeetapart。Afterthatwepractiseddiggingwithourlefthand,andmadecertaincompensationsforthetendencytothesinisterside。
　　Anothertroubleconnectedwithtunnelingwasthenumberoftraitorsandspiesamongus。Thereweremany——principallyamongtheN'Yaarkercrowdwhowerealwayszealoustobetrayatunnel,inordertocurryfavorwiththeRebelofficers。Then,again,theRebelshadnumbersoftheirownmeninthepenatnight,asspies。Itwashardlyevennecessarytodresstheseinouruniform,becauseagreatmanyofourownmencameintotheprisoninRebelclothes,havingbeencompelledtotradegarmentswiththeircaptors。
　　OnedayinMay,quiteanexcitementwasraisedbythedetectionofoneofthese"tunneltraitors"insuchawayasleftnodoubtofhisguilt。
　　Atfirsteverybodyvasinfavorofkillinghim,andtheyactuallystartedtobeathimtodeath。Thiswasarrestedbyapropositionto"haveCaptainJacktattoohim,"andthesuggestionwasimmediatelyactedupon。
　　"CaptainJack"wasasailorwhohadbeenwithusinthePembertonbuildingatRichmond。Hewasaveryskilfultattooartist,but,Iamsure,couldmaketheprocessnastierthananyotherthatIeversawattemptit。Hechewedtobaccoenormously。Afterprickingawayforafewminutesatthedesignonthearmorsomeportionofthebody,hewoulddelugeitwithafloodoftobaccospit,which,heclaimed,actedasakindofmordant。Pipingthisoffwithafilthyrag,hewouldstudytheeffectforaninstant,andthengoaheadwithanotherseriesofprickingsandtobaccojuicedrenchings。
　　Thetunnel—traitorwastakentoCaptainJack。Thatworthydecidedtobrandhimwithagreat"T,"thetopparttoextendacrosshisforeheadandthestemtorundownhisnose。CaptainJackgothistattooingkitready,andthefellowwasthrownuponthegroundandheldthere。TheCaptaintookhisheadbetweenhislegs,andbeganoperations。Afteraninstant'sworkwiththeneedles,heopenedhismouth,andfilledthewretch'sfaceandeyesfullofthedisgustingsaliva。Thecrowdroundaboutyelledwithdelightatthisnewprocess。Foranhour,thatwasdoubtlessaneternitytotherascalundergoingbranding,CaptainJackcontinuedhisalternatepickingsanddrenchings。Attheendofthattimethetraitor'sfacewasdisfiguredwithahideousmarkthathewouldbeartohisgrave。Welearnedafterwardsthathewasnotoneofourmen,butaRebelspy。Thisaddedmuchtooursatisfactionwiththemannerofhistreatment。Hedisappearedshortlyaftertheoperationwasfinished,being,Isuppose,takenoutside。IhardlythinkCaptainJackwouldbepleasedtomeethimagain。
　　CHAPTERXXVII。
　　THEHOUNDS,ANDTHEDIFFICULTIESTHEYPUTINTHEWAYOFESCAPE——
　　THEWHOLESOUTHPATROLLEDBYTHEM。
　　Thosewhosucceeded,onewayoranother,inpassingtheStockadelimits,foundstillmoredifficultieslyingbetweenthemandfreedomthanwoulddiscourageordinarilyresolutemen。Thefirstwastogetawayfromtheimmediatevicinityoftheprison。AllaroundwereRebelpatrols,picketsandguards,watchingeveryavenueofegress。Severalpacksofhoundsformedefficientcoadjutorsofthese,andweremoredreadedbypossible"escapes,"thananyothermeansatthecommandofourjailors。Guardsandpatrolscouldbeevaded,orcircumvented,butthehoundscouldnot。
　　Nearlyeverymanbroughtbackfromafutileattemptatescapetoldthesamestory:hehadbeenabletoescapethehumanRebels,butnottheircaninecolleagues。Threeofourdetachment——membersoftheTwentiethIndiana——hadanexperienceofthiskindthatwillservetoillustratehundredsofothers。Theyhadbeentakenoutsidetodosomeworkuponthecook—housethatwasbeingbuilt。Aguardwassentwiththethreealittledistanceintothewoodstogetapieceoftimber。Theboyssauntered,alongcarelesslywiththeguard,andmanagedtogetprettynearhim。Assoonastheywerefairlyoutofsightoftherest,thestrongestofthem——TomWilliams——snatchedtheRebel'sgunawayfromhim,andtheothertwospringinguponhimasswiftaswildcats,throttledhim,sothathecouldnotgivethealarm。Stillkeepingahandonhisthroat,theyledhimoffsomedistance,andtiedhimtoasaplingwithstringsmadebytearinguponeoftheirblouses。Hewasalsosecurelygagged,andtheboys,biddinghimahasty,butnotspeciallytender,farewell,struckout,astheyfondlyhoped,forfreedom。Itwasnotlonguntiltheyweremissed,andthepartiessentinsearchfoundandreleasedtheguard,whogavealltheinformationhepossessedastowhathadbecomeofhischarges。Allthepacksofhounds,thesquadsofcavalry,andthefootpatrolsweresentouttoscourtheadjacentcountry。
　　TheYankeeskeptintheswampsandcreeks,andnotraceofthemwasfoundthatafternoonorevening。Bythistimetheyweretenorfifteenmilesaway,andthoughtthattheycouldsafelyleavethecreeksforbetterwalkingonthesolidground。Theyhadgonebutafewmiles,whenthepackofhoundsCaptainWirzwaswithtooktheirtrail,andcameaftertheminfullcry。Theboystriedtoran,but,exhaustedastheywere,theycouldmakenoheadway。Twoofthemweresooncaught,butTomWilliams,whowassodesperatethathepreferreddeathtorecapture,jumpedintoamill—pondnearby。Whenhecameup,itwasinalotofsawlogsanddriftwoodthathidhimfrombeingseenfromtheshore。
　　Thedogsstoppedattheshore,andbayedafterthedisappearingprey。
　　TheRebelswiththem,whohadseenTomspringin,cameupandmadeaprettythoroughsearchforhim。Astheydidnotthinktoprobearoundthedriftwoodthiswasunsuccessful,andtheycametotheconclusionthatTomhadbeendrowned。Wirzmarchedtheothertwobackand,forawonder,didnotpunishthem,probablybecausehewassorejoicedathissuccessincapturingthem。Hewasbeamingwithdelightwhenhereturnedthemtooursquad,andsaid,withachuckle:
　　"Brisoners,IpringyoupacktwoofdemtamYankeeswatgotawayyesterday,untIrundeoderraskalintoamill—pontandtrowntethim。"
　　Whatwasourastonishment,aboutthreeweekslater,toseeTom,fatandhealthy,anddressedinafullsuitofbutternut,comestalkingintothepen。Hehadnearlyreachedthemountains,whenapackofhounds,patrollingfordesertersornegros,tookhistrail,wherehehadcrossedtheroadfromonefieldtoanother,andspeedilyranhimdown。Hehadbeenputinalittlecountryjail,andwellfedtillanopportunityoccurredtosendhimback。Thispatrollingfornegrosanddeserterswasanotherofthegreatobstaclestoasuccessfulpassagethroughthecountry。Therebelshadput,everyable—bodiedwhitemanintheranks,andwerebendingeveryenergytokeephimthere。ThewholecountrywascarefullypolicedbyProvostMarshalstobringoutthosewhowereshirkingmilitaryduty,orhaddesertedtheircolors,andtocheckanymovementbythenegros。Onecouldnotgoanywherewithoutapass,aseveryroadwascontinuallywatchedbymenandhounds。Itwasthepolicyofourmen,whenescaping,toavoidroadsasmuchaspossiblebytravelingthroughthewoodsandfields。
　　FromwhatIsawofthehounds,andwhatIcouldlearnfromothers,Ibelievethateachpackwasmadeupoftwobloodhoundsandfromtwenty—
　　fivetofiftyotherdogs,ThebloodhoundsweredebaseddescendantsofthestrongandfiercehoundsimportedfromCuba——manyofthembytheUnitedStatesGovernment——forhuntingIndians,duringtheSeminolewar。TheotherdogswerethemongrelsthatarefoundinsuchplentifulnessabouteverySouthernhouse——increasing,asarule,innumbersastheinhabitantofthehouseislowerdownandpoorer。Theyarelikewolves,sneakingandcowardlywhenalone,fierceandboldwheninpacks。Eachpackwasmanagedbyawell—armedman,whorodeamule;andcarried,slungoverhisshouldersbyacord,acowhorn,scrapedverythin,withwhichhecontrolledthebandbysignals。
　　WhatalwayspuzzledmemuchwaswhythehoundstookonlyYankeetrails,inthevicinityoftheprison。TherewasabouttheStockadefromsixthousandtotenthousandRebelsandnegros,includingguards,officers,servants,workmen,etc。Thesewere,ofcourse,continuallyinmotionandmusthavedailymadetrailsleadingineverydirection。ItwasthecustomoftheRebelstosendapackofhoundsaroundtheprisoneverymorning,toexamineifanyYankeeshadescapedduringthenight。Itwasbelievedthattheyrarelyfailedtofindaprisoner'stracks,andstillmorerarelyranoffuponaRebel's。IfthoseoutsidetheStockadehadbeenconfinedtocertainpathandroadswecouldhaveunderstoodthis,but,asIunderstand,theywerenot。Itwaspartoftheinterestoftheday,forus,towatchthepacksgoyelpingaroundthepensearchingfortracks。Wegotinformationinthiswaywhetheranytunnelhadbeensuccessfullyopenedduringthenight。
　　TheuseofhoundsfurnishedusacrushingreplytotheeverrecurringRebelquestion:
　　"Whyareyou—unsputtin'niggersinthefieldtofightwe—unsfor？"
　　Thequestionerwasalwayssilencedbythereturninterrogatory:
　　"Isthatasbadasrunningwhitemendownwithbloodhounds？"
　　CHAPTERXXVIII
　　MAY——INFLUXOFNEWPRISONERS——DISPARITYINNUMBERSBETWEENTHEEASTERN
　　ANDWESTERNARMIES——TERRIBLECROWDING——SLAUGHTEROFMENATTHECREEK。
　　InMaythelonggatheringstormofwarburstwithangryviolenceallalongthelineheldbythecontendingarmies。ThecampaignbeganwhichwastoterminateelevenmonthslaterintheobliterationoftheSouthernConfederacy。May1,SigelmoveduptheShenandoahValleywiththirtythousandmen;May3,ButlerbeganhisblunderingmovementagainstPetersburg;May3,theArmyofthePotomacleftCulpeper,andonthe5thbeganitsdeadlygrapplewithLee,intheWilderness;May6,ShermanmovedfromChattanooga,andengagedJoeJohnstonatRockyFaceRidgeandTunnelHill。
　　Eachofthesecolumnslostheavilyinprisoners。Itcouldnotbeotherwise;itwasaconsequenceoftheaggressivemovements。Anarmyactingoffensivelyusuallysuffersmorefromcapturethanoneonthedefensive。Ourarmieswerepenetratingtheenemy'scountryincloseproximitytoadeterminedandvigilantfoe。Everyscout,everyskirmishline,everypicket,everyforagingpartyrantheriskoffallingintoaRebeltrap。Thiswasinadditiontotheriskofcaptureinaction。
　　ThebulkoftheprisonersweretakenfromtheArmyofthePotomac。Forthisthereweretworeasons:First,thatthereweremanymoremeninthatArmythaninanyother;andsecond,thattheentanglementinthedensethicketsandshrubberyoftheWildernessenabledbothsidestocapturegreatnumbersoftheother'smen。GrantlostinprisonersfromMay5toMay31,seventhousandfourhundredandfifty;heprobablycapturedtwo—
　　thirdsofthatnumberfromtheJohnnies。
　　Wirz'sheadquarterswereestablishedinalargeloghousewhichhadbeenbuiltinthefortalittledistantfromthesoutheastcorneroftheprison。Everyday——andsometimestwiceorthriceaday——wewouldseegreatsquadsofprisonersmarcheduptotheseheadquarters,wheretheywouldbesearched,theirnamesenteredupontheprisonrecords,byclerks（detailedprisoners;fewRebelshadtherequisiteclericalskill）andthenbemarchedintotheprison。Astheyentered,theRebelguardswouldstandtoarms。Theinfantrywouldbeinlineofbattle,thecavalrymounted,andtheartillerymenstandingbytheirguns,readytoopenattheinstantwithgrapeandcanister。
　　ThedisparitybetweenthenumbercominginfromtheArmyofthePotomacandWesternarmieswassogreat,thatweWesternersbegantotakesomeadvantageofit。Ifwesawasquadofonehundredandfiftyorthereaboutsattheheadquarters,wefeltprettycertaintheywerefromSherman,andgatheredtomeetthem,andlearnthenewsfromourfriends。
　　IftherewerefromfivehundredtotwothousandweknewtheywerefromtheArmyofthePotomac,andtherewerenoneofourcomradesamongthem。
　　TherewerethreeexceptionstothisrulewhilewewereinAndersonville。
　　ThefirstwasinJune,whenthedrunkenandincompetentSturgis（nowColoneloftheSeventhUnitedStatesCavalry）shamefullysacrificedasuperbdivisionatGuntown,Miss。ThenextwasafterHoodmadehisdesperateattackonSherman,onthe22dofJuly,andthethirdwaswhenStonemanwascapturedatMacon。Ateachofthesetimesabouttwothousandprisonerswerebroughtin。
　　BytheendofMaytherewereeighteenthousandfourhundredandfifty—
　　fourprisonersintheStockade。Beforethereaderdismissesthisstatementfromhismindlethimreflecthowgreatanumberthisis。
　　Itismoreactive,able—bodiedyoungmenthanthereareinanyofourleadingCities,saveNewYorkandPhiladelphia。ItismorethantheaveragepopulationofanOhioCounty。ItisfourtimesasmanytroopsasTaylorwonthevictoryofBuenaVistawith,andabouttwiceasmanyasScottwentintobattlewithatanytimeinhismarchtotheCityofMexico。
　　Theseeighteenthousandfourhundredandfifty—fourmenwerecoopeduponlessthanthirteenacresofground,makingaboutfifteenhundredtotheacre。Noroomcouldbegivenupforstreets,orfortheusualarrangementsofacamp,andmostkindsofexercisewerewhollyprecluded。
　　Themencrowdedtogetherlikepigsnestinginthewoodsoncoldnights。
　　Theground,despiteallourefforts,becameindescribablyfilthy,andthisconditiongrewrapidlyworseastheseasonadvancedandthesun'sraysgainedfervency。Asitisimpossibletodescribethisadequately,Imustagainaskthereadertoassistwithafewcomparisons。Hehasanideaofhowmuchfilthisproduced,onanordinaryCitylot,inaweek,byitsoccupationbyafamilysayofsixpersons。Nowlethimimaginewhatwouldbetheresultifthatlot,insteadofhavinguponitsixpersons,witheveryapplianceforkeepingthemselvesclean,andforremovingandconcealingfilth,wasthehomeofonehundredandeightmen,withnoneoftheseappliances。
　　Thathemayfigureouttheseproportionsforhimself,Iwillrepeatsomeoftheelementsoftheproblem:WewillsaythatanaverageCitylotisthirtyfeetfrontbyonehundreddeep。Thisismorefrontthanmostofthemhave,butwewillbeliberal。Thisgivesusasurfaceofthreethousandsquarefeet。Anacrecontainsforty—threethousandfivehundredandsixtysquarefeet。Uponthirteenoftheseacres,wehadeighteenthousandfourhundredandfifty—fourmen。Afterhehasfoundthenumberofsquarefeetthateachmanhadforsleepingapartment,diningroom,kitchen,exercisegroundsandouthouses,anddecidedthatnobodycouldliveforanylengthoftimeinsuchcontractedspace,Iwilltellhimthatafewweekslaterdoublethatmanymenwerecrowdeduponthatspacethatoverthirty—fivethousandwerepackeduponthosetwelveanda—halforthirteenacres。
　　ButIwillnotanticipate。Withthewarmweathertheconditionoftheswampinthecenteroftheprisonbecamesimplyhorrible。Wehearsomuchnow—a—daysofbloodpoisoningfromtheeffluviaofsinksandsewers,thatreadingit,IwonderhowamaninsidetheStockade,andintowhosenostrilscameabreathofthatnoisomeness,escapedbeingcarriedoffbyamalignanttyphus。Intheslimyoozewerebillionsofwhitemaggots。
　　Theywouldcrawloutbythousandsonthewarmsand,and,lyingthereafewminutes,sproutawingorapairofthem。Withthesetheywouldessayaclumsyflight,endingbydroppingdownuponsomeexposedportionofaman'sbody,andstinginghimlikeagad—fly。Stillworse,theywoulddropintowhathewascooking,andtheutmostcarecouldnotpreventamessoffoodfrombeingcontaminatedwiththem。
　　Allthewaterthatwehadtousewasthatinthecreekwhichflowedthroughthisseethingmassofcorruption,andreceiveditssewerage。
　　HowpurethewaterwaswhenitcameintotheStockadewasaquestion。
　　Wealwaysbelievedthatitreceivedthedrainagefromthecampsoftheguards,ahalf—a—mileaway。
　　Aroadwasmadeacrosstheswamp,alongtheDeadLineatthewestside,wherethecreekenteredthepen。Thosegettingwaterwouldgotothisspot,andreachasfarupthestreamaspossible,togetthewaterthatwasleastfilthy。AstheycouldreachnearlytotheDeadLinethisfurnishedanexcusetosuchoftheguardsasweremurderouslyinclinedtofireuponthem。IthinkIhazardnothinginsayingthatforweeksatleastonemanadaywaskilledatthisplace。Themurdersbecamemonotonous;therewasadreadfulsamenesstothem。Agunwouldcrack;
　　lookingupwewouldsee,stillsmoking,themuzzleofthemusketofoneoftheguardsoneithersideofthecreek。Atthesameinstantwouldriseapiercingshriekfromthemanstruck,nowflounderinginthecreekinhisdeathagony。Thenthousandsofthroatswouldyelloutcursesanddenunciations,and——
　　"O,givetheRebel————————————————afurlough！"
　　ItwasourbeliefthateveryguardwhokilledaYankeewasrewardedwithathirty—dayfurlough。Mr。FrederickHolliger,nowofToledo,formerlyamemberoftheSeventy—SecondOhio,andcapturedatGuntown,tellsme,ashisintroductiontoAndersonvillelife,thatafewhoursafterhisentryhewenttothebrooktogetadrink,reachedouttoofar,andwasfireduponbytheguard,whomissedhim,butkilledanothermanandwoundedasecond。Theotherprisonersstandingnearthenattackedhim,andbeathimnearlytodeath,forhavingdrawnthefireoftheguard。
　　Nothingcouldbemoreinexcusablethanthesemurders。WhateverdefensetheremightbeforfiringonmenwhotouchedtheDeadLineinotherpartsoftheprison,therecouldbenonehere。Themenhadnointentionofescaping;theyhadnodesignsupontheStockade;theywerenotleadinganypartytoassailit。Theywereineveryinstancekilledintheactofreachingoutwiththeircupstodipupalittlewater。
　　CHAPTERXXIX
　　SOMEDISTINCTIONBETWEENSOLDIERLYDUTYANDMURDER——APLOTTOESCAPE——
　　ITISREVEALEDANDFRUSTRATED。
　　LetthereaderunderstandthatinanystricturesImakeIdonotcomplainofthenecessaryhardshipsofwar。Iunderstoodfullyandacceptedtheconditionsofasoldier'scareer。Mygoingintothefielduniformedandarmedimpliedanintention,atleast,ofkilling,wounding,orcapturing,someoftheenemy。TherewasconsequentlynogroundofcomplaintifI
　　was,myselfkilled,wounded,orcaptured。IfIdidnotwanttotakethesechancesIoughttostayathome。Inthesameway,Irecognizedtherightofourcaptorsorguardstotakeproperprecautionstopreventourescape。Ineverquestionedforaninstanttherightofaguardtofireuponthoseattemptingtoescape,andtokillthem。HadIbeenpostedoverprisonersIshouldhavehadnocompunctionaboutshootingatthosetryingtogetaway,andconsequentlyIcouldnotblametheRebelsfordoingthesamething。Itwasamatterofsoldierlyduty。
　　ButnotoneofthemenassassinatedbytheguardsatAndersonvilleweretryingtoescape,norcouldtheyhavegotawayifnotarrestedbyabullet。Inamajorityofinstancestherewasnotevenatransgressionofaprisonrule,andwhentherewassuchatransgressionitwasamereharmlessinadvertence。Theslayingofeverymantherewasafoulcrime。
　　Themostofthiswasdonebyveryyoungboys;someofitbyoldmen。
　　TheTwenty—SixthAlabamaandFifty—FifthGeorgia,hadguardedussincetheopeningoftheprison,butnowtheywereorderedtothefield,andtheirplacesfilledbytheGeorgia"Reserves,"anorganizationofboysunder,andmenoverthemilitaryage。AsGeneralGrantaptly—phrasedit,"Theyhadrobbedthecradleandthegrave,"informingtheseregiments。
　　Theboys,whohadgrownupfromchildrensincethewarbegan,couldnotcomprehendthataYankeewasahumanbeing,orthatitwasanymorewrongfultoshootonethantokillamaddog。TheiryoungimaginationshadbeeninflamedwithstoriesofthetotaldepravityoftheUnionistsuntiltheybelieveditwasameritoriousthingtoseizeeveryopportunitytoexterminatethem。
　　EarlyonemorningIoverheardaconversationbetweentwooftheseyouthfulguards:
　　"Say,Bill,IheerdthatyoushotaYanklastnight？"
　　"Now,youjustbetIdid。God！youjestoughtto'veheerdhimholler。"
　　Evidentlythejuvenilemurdererhadnomoreconceptionthathehadcommittedcrimethanifhehadkilledarattlesnake。
　　AmongthosewhocameinaboutthelastofthemonthweretwothousandmenfromButler'scommand,lostinthedisastrousactionofMay15,bywhichButlerwas"bottledup"atBermudaHundreds。AtthattimetheRebelhatredforButlervergedoninsanity,andtheyventedthisuponthesemenwhoweresoluckless——ineverysense——astobeinhiscommand。Everypainswastakentomistreatthem。Strippedofeveryarticleofclothing,equipment,andcookingutensils——everything,exceptashirtandapairofpantaloons,theywereturnedbareheadedandbarefootedintotheprison,andtheworstpossibleplaceinthepenhuntedouttolocatethemupon。
　　Thiswasunderthebank,attheedgeoftheSwampandattheeasternsideoftheprison,wherethesinkswere,andallfilthfromtheupperpartofthecampfloweddowntothem。Thesanduponwhichtheylaywasdryandburningasthatofatropicaldesert;theywerewithouttheslightestshelterofanykind,themaggotfliesswarmedoverthem,andthestenchwasfrightful。Ifoneofthemsurvivedthegermtheoryofdiseaseisahallucination。
　　TheincreasingnumberofprisonersmadeitnecessaryfortheRebelstoimprovetheirmeansofguardingandholdingusincheck。TheythrewupalineofriflepitsaroundtheStockadefortheinfantryguards。
　　Atintervalsalongthiswerepilesofhandgrenades,whichcouldbeusedwithfearfuleffectincaseofanoutbreak。Astrongstarfortwasthrownupatalittledistancefromthesouthwestcorner。ElevenfieldpiecesweremountedinthisinsuchawayastoraketheStockadediagonally。Asmallerfort,mountingfiveguns,wasbuiltatthenorthwestcorner,andatthenortheastandsoutheastcornersweresmalllunettes,withacoupleofhowitzerseach。Packedaswewerewehadreasontodreadasingleroundfromanyoftheseworks,whichcouldnotfailtoproducefearfulhavoc。
　　Stillaplotwasconcoctedforabreak,anditseemedtothesanguineportionsofusthatitmustprovesuccessful。Firstasecretsocietywasorganized,boundbythemoststringentoathsthatcouldbedevised。
　　Themembersofthisweredividedintocompaniesoffiftymeneach;underofficersregularlyelected。ThesecrecywasassumedinordertoshutoutRebelspiesandthetraitorsfromaknowledgeofthecontemplatedoutbreak。AmannamedBaker——belonging,Ithink,tosomeNewYorkregiment——wasthegrandorganizerofthescheme。Wewerecarefulineachofourcompaniestoadmitnonetomembershipexceptsuchaslongacquaintancegaveusentireconfidencein。
　　TheplanwastodiglargetunnelstotheStockadeatvariousplaces,andthenhollowoutthegroundatthefootofthetimbers,sothatahalfdozenorsocouldbepushedoverwithalittleeffort,andmakeagaptenortwelvefeetwide。Alltheseweretobethrowndownatapreconcertedsignal,thecompaniesweretorushoutandseizetheelevengunsoftheheadquartersfort。ThePlymouthBrigadewasthentomantheseandturnthemonthecampoftheReserveswho,itwasimagined,woulddroptheirarmsandtaketotheirheelsafterreceivingaroundorsoofshell。
　　Wewouldgatherwhatarmswecould,andplacetheminthehandsofthemostactiveanddetermined。Thiswouldgiveusfrowneighttotenthousandfairlyarmed,resolutemen,withwhichwethoughtwecouldmarchtoAppalachicolaBay,ortoSherman。
　　Weworkedenergeticallyatourtunnels,whichsoonbegantoassumesuchshapeastogiveassurancethattheywouldanswerourexpectationsinopeningtheprisonwalls。
　　Thencametheusualblighttoallsuchenterprises:aspyoratraitorrevealedeverythingtoWirz。Onedayaguardcamein,seizedBakerandtookhimout。WhatwasdonewithhimIknownot;weneverheardofhimafterhepassedtheinnergate。
　　ImmediatelyafterwardalltheSergeantsofdetachmentsweresummonedoutside。TheretheymetWirz,whomadeaspeechinformingthemthatheknewallthedetailsoftheplot,andhadmadesufficientpreparationstodefeatit。Theguardhadbeenstronglyreinforced,anddisposedinsuchamannerastoprotectthegunsfromcapture。TheStockadehadbeensecuredtopreventitsfalling,evenifundermined。Hesaid,inaddition,thatShermanhadbeenbadlydefeatedbyJohnston,anddrivenbackacrosstheriver,sothatanyhopesofco—operationbyhimwouldbeill—founded。
　　WhentheSergeantsreturned,hecausedthefollowingnoticetobepostedonthegatesNOTICE。
　　Notwishingtoshedthebloodofhundreds,notconnectedwiththosewhoconcoctedamadplantoforcetheStockade,andmakeinthiswaytheirescape,Iherebywarntheleadersandthosewhoformedthemselvesintoabandtocarryoutthis,thatIaminpossessionofallthefacts,andhavemademydispositionsaccordingly,soastofrustrateit。NochoicewouldbeleftmebuttoopenwithgrapeandcanisterontheStockade,andwhateffectthiswouldhave,inthisdenselycrowdedplace,neednotbetold。
　　May25,1864。
　　H。Wirz。
　　Thenextdayalineoftallpoles,bearingwhiteflags,wereputupatsomelittledistancefromtheDeadLine,andanoticewasreadtousatrollcallthatif,exceptatrollcall,anygatheringexceedingonehundredwasobserved,closertheStockadethanthesepoles,thegunswouldopenwithgrapeandcanisterwithoutwarning。
　　ThenumberofdeathsintheStockadeinMaywassevenhundredandeight,aboutasmanyashadbeenkilledinSherman'sarmyduringthesametime。
　　CHAPTERXXX。
　　JUNE——POSSIBILITIESOFAMURDEROUSCANNONADE——WHATWASPROPOSEDTOBE
　　DONEINTHATEVENT——AFALSEALARM——DETERIORATIONOFTHERATIONS——
　　FEARFULINCREASEOFMORTALITY。
　　AfterWirz'sthreatofgrapeandcanisterupontheslightestprovocation,welivedindailyapprehensionofsomepretextbeingfoundforopeningthegunsuponusforageneralmassacre。BitterexperiencehadlongsincetaughtusthattheRebelsrarelythreatenedinvain。Wirz,especially,wasmuchmorelikelytokillwithoutwarning,thantowarnwithoutkilling。Thiswasbecauseoftheessentialweaknessofhisnature。Heknewnoartofgovernment,nomethodofdisciplinesave"killthem！"Hispettylittlemind'sscopereachednofurther。Hecouldconceiveofnootherwayofmanagingmenthanthepunishmentofeveryoffense,orseemingoffense,withdeath。Menwhohaveanytalentforgoverningfindlittleoccasionforthedeathpenalty。Thestrongertheyareinthemselves——themorefittedforcontrollingothers——thelesstheirneedofenforcingtheirauthoritybyharshmeasures。
　　TherewasageneralexpressionofdeterminationamongtheprisonerstoansweranycannonadewithadesperateattempttoforcetheStockade。
　　Itwasagreedthatanythingwasbetterthandyinglikeratsinapitorwildanimalsinabattue。Itwasbelievedthatifanythingwouldoccurwhichwouldrousehalfthoseinthepentomakeaheadlongeffortinconcert,thepalisadecouldbescaled,andthegatescarried,and,thoughitwouldbeatafearfullossoflife,themajorityofthosemakingtheattemptwouldgetout。IftheRebelswoulddischargegrapeandcanister,orthrowashellintotheprison,itwouldlasheverybodytosuchapitchthattheywouldseethatthesoleforlornhopeofsafetylayinwrestingthearmsawayfromourtormentors。Thegreatelementinourfavorwastheshortnessofthedistancebetweenusandthecannon。
　　Wecouldhopetotraversethisbeforethegunscouldbereloadedmorethanonce。
　　WhetheritwouldhavebeenpossibletosucceedIamunabletosay。
　　Itwouldhavedependedwhollyuponthespiritandunanimitywithwhichtheeffortwasmade。Hadtenthousandrushedforwardatonce,eachwithadeterminationtodoordie,Ithinkitwouldhavebeensuccessfulwithoutalossofatenthofthenumber。Buttheinsuperabletrouble——inourdisorganizedstate——waswantofconcertofaction。Iamquitesure,however,thattheattemptwouldhavebeenmadehadthegunsopened。
　　Oneday,whiletheagitationofthismatterwasfeverish,Iwascookingmydinner——thatis,boilingmypitifullittlerationofunsaltedmeal,inmyfruitcan,withtheaidofahandfulofsplintersthatIhadbeenabletopickupbyahalfday'sdiligentsearch。Suddenlythelongrifleintheheadquartersfortrangoutangrily。Afuseshellshriekedacrosstheprison——closetothetopsofthelogs,andburstinthewoodsbeyond。
　　Itwasansweredwithayellofdefiancefromtenthousandthroats。