andersonville-第130章
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the Opera House densely。
The enthusiasm he aroused was simply indescribable； men shouted； and the
tears ran down their faces。 He was recalled time and again； each time
with an increase in the furore。 The audience would have staid there all
night to listen to him sing that one song。 Poor fellow； he only went
home to die。 An attack of pneumonia carried him off within a fortnight
after we separated at Annapolis。
The Glee Club had several songs which they rendered in regular negro
minstrel style； and in a way that was irresistibly ludicrous。 One of
their favorites was 〃Billy Patterson。〃 All standing up in a ring； the
tenors would lead off：
〃I saw an old man go riding by；〃
and the baritones； flinging themselves around with the looseness of
Christy's Minstrels； in a 〃 break down；〃 would reply：
Don't tell me！ Don't tell me！〃
Then the tenors would resume：
〃Says I； Ole man； your horse'll die。'
Then the baritones； with an air of exaggerated interest；
〃A…ha…a…a； Billy Patterson！〃
Tenors：
〃For。 It he dies； I'll tan his skin；
An' if he lives I'll ride him agin；〃
All…together； with a furious 〃break down〃 at the close：
〃Then I'll lay five dollars down；
And count them one by one；
Then I'll lay five dollars down；
If anybody will show me the man
That struck Billy Patterson。〃
And so on。 It used to upset my gravity entirely to see a crowd of grave
and dignified Captains； Majors and Colonels going through this
nonsensical drollery with all the abandon of professional burnt…cork
artists。
As we were nearing the entrance to Chesapeake Bay we passed a great
monitor； who was exercising her crew at the guns。 She fired directly
across our course； the huge four hundred pound balls shipping along the
water； about a mile ahead of us； as we boys used to make the flat stones
skip in the play of 〃Ducks and Drakes。〃 One or two of the shots came so。
close that I feared she might be mistaking us for a Rebel ship intent on
some raid up the Bay； and I looked up anxiously to see that the flag
should float out so conspicuously that she could not help seeing it。
The next day our vessel ran alongside of the dock at the Naval Academy at
Annapolis； that institution now being used as a hospital for paroled
prisoners。 The musicians of the Post band came down with stretchers to
carry the sick to the Hospital； while those of us who were able to walk
were ordered to fall in and march up。 The distance was but a few hundred
yards。 On reaching the building we marched up on a little balcony； and
as we did so each one of us was seized by a hospital attendant； who； with
the quick dexterity attained by long practice； snatched every one of our
filthy； lousy rags off in the twinkling of an eye； and flung them over
the railing to the ground； where a man loaded them into a wagon with a
pitchfork。
With them went our faithful little black can； our hoop…iron spoon； and
our chessboard and men。
Thus entirely denuded； each boy was given a shove which sent him into a
little room； where a barber pressed him down upon a stool； and almost
before he understood what was being done； had his hair and beard cut off
as close as shears would do it。 Another tap on the back sent the shorn
lamb into a room furnished with great tubs of water and with about six
inches of soap suds on the zinc…covered floor。
In another minute two men with sponges had removed every trace of prison
grime from his body； and passed him on to two more men； who wiped him
dry； and moved him on to where a man handed him a new shirt； a pair of
drawers； pair of socks； pair of pantaloons； pair of slippers； and a
hospital gown； and motioned him to go on into the large room； and array
himself in his new garments。 Like everything else about the Hospital
this performance was reduced to a perfect system。 Not a word was spoken
by anybody； not a moment's time lost； and it seemed to me that it was not
ten minutes after I marched up on the balcony； covered with dirt； rags；
vermin； and a matted shock of hair； until I marched out of the room；
clean and well clothed。 Now I began to feel as if I was really a man
again。
The next thing done was to register our names； rank； regiment； when and
where captured； when and where released。 After this we were shown to our
rooms。 And such rooms as they were。 All the old maids in the country
could not have improved their spick…span neatness。 The floors were as
white as pine plank could be scoured； the sheets and bedding as clean as
cotton and linen and woolen could be washed。 Nothing in any home in the
land was any more daintily； wholesomely； unqualifiedly clean than were
these little chambers； each containing two beds； one for each man
assigned to their occupancy。
Andrews doubted if we could stand all this radical change in our habits。
He feared that it was rushing things too fast。 We might have had our
hair cut one week； and taken a bath all over a week later； and so
progress down to sleeping between white sheets in the course of six
months； but to do it all in one day seemed like tempting fate。
Every turn showed us some new feature of the marvelous order of this
wonderful institution。 Shortly after we were sent to our rooms；
a Surgeon entered with a Clerk。 After answering the usual questions as
to name； rank； company and regiment； the Surgeon examined our tongues；
eyes； limbs and general appearance； and communicated his conclusions to
the Clerk； who filled out a blank card。 This card was stuck into a
little tin holder at the head of my bed。 Andrews's card was the same；
except the name。 The Surgeon was followed by a Sergeant； who was Chief
of the Dining…Room； and the Clerk； who made a minute of the diet ordered
for us； and moved off。 Andrews and I immediately became very solicitous
to know what species of diet No。 1 was。 After the seasickness left us
our appetites became as ravenous as a buzz…saw； and unless Diet No。 1 was
more than No。 1 in name； it would not fill the bill。 We had not long to
remain in suspense； for soon another non…commissioned officer passed
through at the head of a train of attendants； bearing trays。 Consulting
the list in his hand； he said to one of his followers； 〃 Two No。 1's；〃
and that satellite set down two large plates； upon each of which were a
cup of coffee； a shred of meat； two boiled eggs and a couple of rolls。
〃Well；〃 said Andrews； as the procession moved away； 〃I want to know where
this thing's going to stop。 I am trying hard to get used to wearing a
shirt without any lice in it； and to sitting down on a chair； and to
sleeping in a clean bed； but when it comes to having my meals sent to my
room； I'm afraid I'll degenerate into a pampered child of luxury。 They
are really piling it on too strong。 Let us see； Mc。； how long's it been
since we were sitting on the sand there in Florence； boiling our pint of
meal in that old can？〃
〃It seems many years； Lale；〃 I said； 〃but for heaven's sake let us try to
forget it as soon as possible。 We will always remember too much of it。〃
And we did try hard to make the miserable recollections fade out of our
minds。 When we were stripped on the balcony we threw away every visible
token that could remind us of the hateful experience we had passed
through。 We did not retain a scrap of paper or a relic to recall the
unhappy past。 We loathed everything connected with it。
The days that followed were very happy ones。 The Paymaster came around
and paid us each two months' pay and twenty…five cents a day 〃ration
money〃 for every day we had been in prison。 This gave Andrews and I
about one hundred and sixty…five dollars apiecean abundance of spending
money。 Uncle Sam was very kind and considerate to his soldier nephews；
and the Hospital authorities neglected nothing that would add to our
comfort。 The superbly…kept grounds of the Naval Academy were renewing
the freshness of their loveliness under the tender wooing of the
advancing Spring； and every step one sauntered through them was a new
delight。 A magnificent band gave us sweet music
