north america-2-第29章
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nist soldiers who had been taken in the State of Missouri。 〃Why are they not exchanged？〃 I asked。 〃Because they are not exactly soldiers；〃 I was informed。 〃The secessionists do not acknowledge them。〃 〃Then would it not be cheaper to let them go？〃 〃No；〃 said my informant； 〃because in that case we would have to catch them again。〃 And so the 1200 remain in their wretched prison thinned from week to week and from day to day by prison disease and prison death。 I went out twice to Benton Barracks； as the camp of wooden huts was called； which General Fremont had erected near the fair…ground of the city。 This fair…ground； I was told； had been a pleasant place。 It had been constructed for the recreation of the city； and for the purpose of periodical agricultural exhibitions。 There is still in it a pretty ornamented cottage； and in the little garden a solitary Cupid stood； dismayed by the dirt and ruin around him。 In the fair… green are the round buildings intended for show cattle and agricultural implements； but now given up to cavalry horses and Parrott guns。 But Benton Barracks are outside the fair…green。 Here on an open space； some half mile in length； two long rows of wooden sheds have been built； opposite to each other； and behind them are other sheds used for stabling and cooking places。 Those in front are divided； not into separate huts； but into chambers capable of containing nearly two hundred men each。 They were surrounded on the inside by great wooden trays； in three tiersand on each tray four men were supposed to sleep。 I went into one or two while the crowd of soldiers was in them； but found it inexpedient to stay there long。 The stench of those places was foul beyond description。 Never in my life before had I been in a place so horrid to the eyes and nose as Benton Barracks。 The path along the front outside was deep in mud。 The whole space between the two rows of sheds was one field of mud； so slippery that the foot could not stand。 Inside and outside every spot was deep in mud。 The soldiers were mud…stained from foot to sole。 These volunteer soldiers are in their nature dirty； as must be all men brought together in numerous bodies without special appliances for cleanliness； or control and discipline as to their personal habits。 But the dirt of the men in the Benton Barracks surpassed any dirt that I had hitherto seen。 Nor could it have been otherwise with them。 They were surrounded by a sea of mud； and the foul hovels in which they were made to sleep and live were fetid with stench and reeking with filth。 I had at this time been joined by another Englishman； and we went through this place together。 When we inquired as to the health of the men； we heard the saddest talesof three hundred men gone out of one regiment； of whole companies that had perished； of hospitals crowded with fevered patients。 Measles had been the great scourge of the soldiers hereas it had also been in the army of the Potomac。 I shall not soon forget my visits to Benton Barracks。 It may be that our own soldiers were as badly treated in the Crimea； or that French soldiers were treated worse in their march into Russia。 It may be that dirt and wretchedness； disease and listless idleness； a descent from manhood to habits lower than those of the beasts； are necessary in warfare。 I have sometimes thought that it is so； but I am no military critic； and will not say。 This I saythat the degradation of men to the state in which I saw the American soldiers in Benton Barracks is disgraceful to humanity。 General Halleck was at this time commanding in Missouri； and was himself stationed at St。 Louis； but his active measures against the rebels were going on to the right and to the left。 On the left shore of the Mississippi； at Cairo； in Illinois； a fleet of gun… boats was being prepared to go down the river； and on the right an army was advancing against Springfield； in the southwestern district of Missouri； with the object of dislodging Price； the rebel guerrilla leader there； and； if possible； of catching him。 Price had been the opponent of poor General Lyons； who was killed at Wilson's Creek； near Springfield； and of General Fremont； who during his hundred days had failed to drive him out of the State。 This duty had now been intrusted to General Curtis； who had for some time been holding his headquarters at Rolla； half way between St。 Louis and Springfield。 Fremont had built a fort at Rolla； and it had become a military station。 Over 10；000 men had been there at one time； and now General Curtis was to advance from Rolla against Price with something above that number of men。 Many of them； however； had already gone on； and others were daily being sent up from St。 Louis。 Under these circumstances my friend and I； fortified with a letter of introduction to General Curtis； resolved to go and see the army at Rolla。 On our way down by the railway we encountered a young German officer； an aide…de…camp of the Federals； and under his auspices we saw Rolla to advantage。 Our companions in the railway were chiefly soldiers and teamsters。 The car was crowded； and filled with tobacco smoke； apple peel； and foul air。 In these cars during the winter there is always a large lighted stove； a stove that might cook all the dinners for a French hotel； and no window is ever opened。 Among our fellow…travelers there was here and there a west… country Missouri farmer going down； under the protection of the advancing army； to look after the remains of his chattelswild； dark； uncouth； savage…looking men。 One such hero I specially remember； as to whom the only natural remark would be that one would not like to meet him alone on a dark night。 He was burly and big； unwashed and rough； with a black beard； shorn some two months since。 He had sharp； angry eyes； and sat silent； picking his teeth with a bowie knife。 I met him afterward at the Rolla Hotel； and found that he was a gentleman of property near Springfield。 He was mild and meek as a sucking dove； asked my advice as to the state of his affairs； and merely guessed that things had been pretty rough with him。 Things had been pretty rough with him。 The rebels had come upon his land。 House； fences； stock； and crop were all gone。 His homestead had been made a ruin； and his farm had been turned into a wilderness。 Everything was gone。 He had carried his wife and children off to Illinois； and had now returned； hoping that he might get on in the wake of the army till he could see the debris of his property。 But even he did not seem disturbed。 He did not bemoan himself or curse his fate。 〃Things were pretty rough；〃 he said； and that was all that he did say。 It was dark when we got into Rolla。 Everything had been covered with snow； and everywhere the snow was frozen。 We had heard that there was a hotel； and that possibly we might get a bed…room there。 We were first taken to a wooden building； which we were told was the headquarters of the army； and in one room we found a colonel with a lot of soldiers loafing about； and in another a provost martial attended by a newspaper correspondent。 We were received with open arms； and a suggestion was at once made that we were no doubt picking up news for European newspapers。 〃Air you a son of the Mrs。 Trollope？〃 said the correspondent。 〃Then； sir； you are an accession to Rolla。〃 Upon which I was made to sit down； and invited to 〃loaf about〃 at the headquarters as long as I might remain at Rolla。 Shortly； however； there came on a violent discussion about wagons。 A general had come in and wanted all the colonel's wagons； but the colonel swore that he had none； declared how bitterly he was impeded with sick men； and became indignant and reproachful。 It was Brutus and Cassius again； and as we felt ourselves in the way； and anxious moreover to ascertain what might be the nature of the Rolla hotel； we took up our heavy portmanteausfor they were heavyand with a guide to show us the way； started off through the dark and over the hill up to our inn。 I shall never forget that walk。 It was up hill and down hill； with an occasional half…frozen stream across it。 My friend was impeded with an enormous cloak lined with fur； which in itself was a burden for a coalheaver。 Ou
