andersonville-第39章
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disposition to oblige equal to the severest test。 He did not lack a
grain of his full share of the calm； steadfast courage of his race； and
would stay where he was put； though Erebus yawned and bade him fly。
He was very useful； despite his unfitness for many of the duties of a
cavalryman。 He was a good guard； and always ready to take charge of
prisoners； or be sentry around wagons or a forage pile…duties that most
of the boys cordially hated。
But he came into the last trouble at Andersonville。 He stood up pretty
well under the hardships of Belle Isle； but lost his cheerfulnesshis
unrepining calmnessafter a few weeks in the Stockade。 One day we
remembered that none of us had seen him for several days； and we started
in search of him。 We found him in a distant part of the camp； lying near
the Dead Line。 His long fair hair was matted together； his blue eyes had
the flush of fever。 Every part of his clothing was gray with the lice
that were hastening his death with their torments。 He uttered the first
complaint I ever heard him make； as I came up to him：
〃My Gott； M ； dis is worse dun a dog's det！〃
In a few days we gave him all the funeral in our power； tied his big toes
together； folded his hands across his breast； pinned to his shirt a slip
of paper； upon which was written：
VICTOR E。 SEITZ；
Co。 L； Sixteenth Illinois Cavalry。
And laid his body at the South Gate； beside some scores of others that
were awaiting the arrival of the six…mule wagon that hauled them to the
Potter's Field； which was to be their last resting…place。
John Emerson and John Stiggall； of my company； were two Norwegian boys；
and fine specimens of their raceintelligent； faithful； and always ready
for duty。 They had an affection for each other that reminded one of the
stories told of the sworn attachment and the unfailing devotion that were
common between two Gothic warrior youths。 Coming into Andersonville some
little time after the rest of us； they found all the desirable ground
taken up； and they established their quarters at the base of the hill；
near the Swamp。 There they dug a little hole to lie in； and put in a
layer of pine leaves。 Between them they had an overcoat and a blanket。
At night they lay upon the coat and covered themselves with the blanket。
By day the blanket served as a tent。 The hardships and annoyances that
we endured made everybody else cross and irritable。 At times it seemed
impossible to say or listen to pleasant words； and nobody was ever
allowed to go any length of time spoiling for a fight。 He could usually
be accommodated upon the spot to any extent he desired； by simply making
his wishes known。 Even the best of chums would have sharp quarrels and
brisk fights； and this disposition increased as disease made greater
inroads upon them。 I saw in one instance two brothers…both of whom died
the next day of scurvyand who were so helpless as to be unable to rise；
pull themselves up on their knees by clenching the poles of their tents
in order to strike each other with clubs； and they kept striking until
the bystanders interfered and took their weapons away from them。
But Stiggall and Emerson never quarreled with each other。 Their
tenderness and affection were remarkable to witness。 They began to go
the way that so many were going； diarrhea and scurvy set in； they wasted
away till their muscles and tissues almost disappeared； leaving the skin
lying fiat upon the bones； but their principal solicitude was for each
other； and each seemed actually jealous of any person else doing anything
for the other。 I met Emerson one day； with one leg drawn clear out of
shape； and rendered almost useless by the scurvy。 He was very weak； but
was hobbling down towards the Creek with a bucket made from a boot leg。
I said：
〃Johnny； just give me your bucket。 I'll fill it for you； and bring it up
to your tent。〃
〃No； much obliged； M 〃 he wheezed out； 〃my pardner wants a cool
drink； and I guess I'd better get it for him。〃
Stiggall died in June。 He was one of the first victims of scurvy； which；
in the succeeding few weeks； carried off so many。 All of us who had read
sea…stories had read much of this disease and its horrors； but we had
little conception of the dreadful reality。 It usually manifested itself
first in the mouth。 The breath became unbearably fetid； the gums swelled
until they protruded； livid and disgusting； beyond the lips。 The teeth
became so loose that they frequently fell out； and the sufferer would
pick them up and set them back in their sockets。 In attempting to bite
the hard corn bread furnished by the bakery the teeth often stuck fast
and were pulled out。 The gums had a fashion of breaking away； in large
chunks； which would be swallowed or spit out。 All the time one was
eating his mouth would be filled with blood； fragments of gums and
loosened teeth。
Frightful； malignant ulcers appeared in other parts of the body； the
ever…present maggot flies laid eggs in these； and soon worms swarmed
therein。 The sufferer looked and felt as if； though he yet lived and
moved； his body was anticipating the rotting it would undergo a little
later in the grave。
The last change was ushered in by the lower parts of the legs swelling。
When this appeared； we considered the man doomed。 We all had scurvy；
more or less； but as long as it kept out of our legs we were hopeful。
First； the ankle joints swelled； then the foot became useless。 The
swelling increased until the knees became stiff； and the skin from these
down was distended until it looked pale； colorless and transparent as a
tightly blown bladder。 The leg was so much larger at the bottom than at
the thigh； that the sufferers used to make grim jokes about being modeled
like a churn； 〃with the biggest end down。〃 The man then became utterly
helpless and usually died in a short time。
The official report puts down the number of deaths from scurvy at three
thousand five hundred and seventy…four； but Dr。 Jones； the Rebel surgeon；
reported to the Rebel Government his belief that nine…tenths of the great
mortality of the prison was due； either directly or indirectly； to this
cause。
The only effort made by the Rebel doctors to check its ravages was
occasionally to give a handful of sumach berries to some particularly bad
case。
When Stiggall died we thought Emerson would certainly follow him in a day
or two； but； to our surprise； he lingered along until August before
dying。
CHAPTER XXXII
〃OLE BOO；〃 AND 〃OLE SOL； THE HAYMAKER〃A FETID； BURNING DESERTNOISOME
WATER； AND THE EFFECTS OF DRINKING ITSTEALING SOFT SOAP。
The gradually lengthening Summer days were insufferably long and
wearisome。 Each was hotter； longer and more tedious than its
predecessors。 In my company was a none…too…bright fellow； named Dawson。
During the chilly rains or the nipping； winds of our first days in
prison； Dawson would； as he rose in； the morning； survey the forbidding
skies with lack…luster eyes and remark； oracularly：
〃Well； Ole Boo gits us agin； to…day。〃
He was so unvarying in this salutation to the morn that his designation
of disagreeable weather as 〃Ole Boo〃 became generally adopted by us。
When the hot weather came on； Dawson's remark； upon rising and seeing
excellent prospects for a scorcher； changed to： 〃Well； Ole Sol； the
Haymaker； is going to git in his work on us agin to…day。〃
As long as he lived and was able to talk； this was Dawson's invariable
observation at the break of day。
He was quite right。 The Ole Haymaker would do some famous work before he
descended in the West； sending his level rays through the wide
interstices between the somber pines。
By nine o'clock in the morning his beams would begin to fairly singe
everything in the crowded pen。 The hot sand would glow as one sees it in
the center of the unshaded highway some scorching noon in August。 The
high walls of the prison prevented the circulation inside of any breeze
that might be in motion； while the foul stench rising from the putrid
Swamp and the rotting ground seemed to reach the skies。
One can readily comprehend the horrors of death on the burni
