andersonville-第102章
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the poorest Counties of a poor section of a very poor State。
A population of less than two thousand is thinly scattered over its five
hundred square miles of territory； and gain a meager subsistence by a
weak simulation of cultivating patches of its sandy dunes and plains in
〃nubbin〃 corn and dropsical sweet potatos。 A few 〃razor…back〃 hogs
a species so gaunt and thin that I heard a man once declare that he had
stopped a lot belonging to a neighbor from crawling through the cracks of
a tight board fence by simply tying a knot in their tailsroam the
woods； and supply all the meat used。
Andrews used to insist that some of the hogs which we saw were so thin
that the connection between their fore and hindquarters was only a single
thickness of skin； with hair on both sidesbut then Andrews sometimes
seemed to me to have a tendency to exaggerate。
The swine certainly did have proportions that strongly resembled those of
the animals which children cut out of cardboard。 They were like the
geometrical definition of a superficeall length and breadth； and no
thickness。 A ham from them would look like a palm…leaf fan。
I never ceased to marvel at the delicate adjustment of the development of
animal life to the soil in these lean sections of Georgia。 The poor land
would not maintain anything but lank； lazy men； with few wants； and none
but lank； lazy men； with few wants； sought a maintenance from it。 I may
have tangled up cause and effect； in this proposition； but if so； the
reader can disentangle them at his leisure。
I was not astonished to learn that it took five hundred square miles of
Pierce County land to maintain two thousand 〃crackers；〃 even as poorly as
they lived。 I should want fully that much of it to support one fair…
sized Northern family as it should be。
After leaving the cars we were marched off into the pine woods； by the
side of a considerable stream； and told that this was to be our camp。
A heavy guard was placed around us； and a number of pieces of artillery
mounted where they would command the camp。
We started in to make ourselves comfortable； as at Millen； by building
shanties。 The prisoners we left behind followed us； and we soon had our
old crowd of five or six thousand； who had been our companions at
Savannah and Millers； again with us。 The place looked very favorable for
escape。 We knew we were still near the sea coastreally not more than
forty miles awayand we felt that if we could once get there we should
be safe。 Andrews and I meditated plans of escape； and toiled away at our
cabin。
About a week after our arrival we were startled by an order for the one
thousand of us who had first arrived to get ready to move out。 In a few
minutes we were taken outside the guard line； massed close together； and
informed in a few words by a Rebel officer that we were about to be taken
back to Savannah for exchange。
The announcement took away our breath。 For an instant the rush of
emotion made us speechless； and when utterance returned； the first use we
made of it was to join in one simultaneous outburst of acclamation。
Those inside the guard line； understanding what our cheer meant； answered
us with a loud shout of congratulationthe first real； genuine； hearty
cheering that had been done since receiving the announcement of the
exchange at Andersonville； three months before。
As soon as the excitement had subsided somewhat； the Rebel proceeded to
explain that we would all be required to sign a parole。 This set us to
thinking。 After our scornful rejection of the proposition to enlist in
the Rebel army； the Rebels had felt around among us considerably as to
how we were disposed toward taking what was called the 〃Non…Combatant's
Oath；〃 that is； the swearing not to take up arms against the Southern
Confederacy again during the war。 To the most of us this seemed only a
little less dishonorable than joining the Rebel army。 We held that our
oaths to our own Government placed us at its disposal until it chose to
discharge us； and we could not make any engagements with its enemies that
might come in contravention of that duty。 In short； it looked very much
like desertion； and this we did not feel at liberty to consider。
There were still many among us； who； feeling certain that they could not
survive imprisonment much longer； were disposed to look favorably upon
the Non…Combatant's Oath； thinking that the circumstances of the case
would justify their apparent dereliction from duty。 Whether it would or
not I must leave to more skilled casuists than myself to decide。 It was
a matter I believed every man must settle with his own conscience。 The
opinion that I then held and expressed was； that if a boy； felt that he
was hopelessly sick； and that he could not live if he remained in prison；
he was justified in taking the Oath。 In the absence of our own Surgeons
he would have to decide for himself whether be was sick enough to be
warranted in resorting to this means of saving his life。 If he was in as
good health as the majority of us were； with a reasonable prospect of
surviving some weeks longer； there was no excuse for taking the Oath；
for in that few weeks we might be exchanged； be recaptured； or make our
escape。 I think this was the general opinion of the prisoners。
While the Rebel was talking about our signing the parole； there flashed
upon all of us at the same moment； a suspicion that this was a trap to
delude us into signing the Non…Combatant's Oath。 Instantly there went up
a general shout：
〃Read the parole to us。〃
The Rebel was handed a blank parole by a companion； and he read over the
printed condition at the top； which was that those signing agreed not to
bear arms against the Confederates in the field； or in garrison； not to
man any works； assist in any expedition； do any sort of guard duty； serve
in any military constabulary； or perform any kind of military service
until properly exchanged。
For a minute this was satisfactory； then their ingrained distrust of any
thing a Rebel said or did returned； and they shouted：
〃No； no； let some of us read it； let Ilinoy' read it〃
The Rebel looked around in a puzzled manner。
〃Who the hl is 'Illinoy！' Where is he？〃 said he。
I saluted and said：
〃That's a nickname they give me。〃
〃Very well；〃 said he； 〃get up on this stump and read this parole to these
d…d fools that won't believe me。〃
I mounted the stump； took the blank from his hand and read it over
slowly； giving as much emphasis as possible to the all…important clause
at the end〃until properly exchanged。〃 I then said：
〃Boys； this seems all right to me；〃 and they answered； with almost one
voice：
Yes； that's all right。 We'll sign that。〃
I was never so proud of the American soldier…boy as at that moment。 They
all felt that signing that paper was to give them freedom and life。 They
knew too well from sad experience what the alternative was。 Many felt
that unless released another week would see them in their graves。 All
knew that every day's stay in Rebel hands greatly lessened their chances
of life。 Yet in all that thousand there was not one voice in favor of
yielding a tittle of honor to save life。 They would secure their freedom
honorably； or die faithfully。 Remember that this was a miscellaneous
crowd of boys； gathered from all sections of the country； and from many
of whom no exalted conceptions of duty and honor were expected。 I wish
some one would point out to me； on the brightest pages of knightly
record； some deed of fealty and truth that equals the simple fidelity of
these unknown heros。 I do not think that one of them felt that he was
doing anything especially meritorious。 He only obeyed the natural
promptings of his loyal heart。
The business of signing the paroles was then begun in earnest。 We were
separated into squads according to the first letters of our names； all
those whose name began with A being placed in one squad； those beginning
with B； in another； and so on。 Blank paroles for each letter were spread
out on boxes and planks at different places； and the signing went on
under the superintendence of a Rebel Sergeant and one of the pr
