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toward the Rebel capital。
The railroads of the South were already in very bad condition。 They were
never more than passably good； even in their best estate； but now；
with a large part of the skilled men engaged upon them escaped back to
the North； with all renewal； improvement； or any but the most necessary
repairs stopped for three years； and with a marked absence of even
ordinary skill and care in their management； they were as nearly ruined
as they could well be and still run。
One of the severe embarrassments under which the roads labored was a lack
of oil。 There is very little fatty matter of any kind in the South。
The climate and the food plants do not favor the accumulation of adipose
tissue by animals； and there is no other source of supply。 Lard oil and
tallow were very scarce and held at exorbitant prices。
Attempts were made to obtain lubricants from the peanut and the cotton
seed。 The first yielded a fine bland oil； resembling the ordinary grade
of olive oil； but it was entirely too expensive for use in the arts。
The cotton seed oil could be produced much cheaper； but it had in it such
a quantity of gummy matter as to render it worse than useless for
employment on machinery。
This scarcity of oleaginous matter produced a corresponding scarcity of
soap and similar detergents； but this was a deprivation which caused the
Rebels； as a whole； as little inconvenience as any that they suffered
from。 I have seen many thousands of them who were obviously greatly in
need of soap； but if they were rent with any suffering on that account
they concealed it with marvelous self…control。
There seemed to be a scanty supply of oil provided for the locomotives；
but the cars had to run with unlubricated axles； and the screaking and
groaning of the grinding journals in the dry boxes was sometimes almost
deafening； especially when we were going around a curve。
Our engine went off the wretched track several times； but as she was not
running much faster than a man could walk； the worst consequence to us
was a severe jolting。 She was small； and was easily pried back upon the
track； and sent again upon her wheezy； straining way。
The depression which had weighed us down for a night and a day after our
capture had now been succeeded by a more cheerful feeling。 We began to
look upon our condition as the fortune of war。 We were proud of our
resistance to overwhelming numbers。 We knew we had sold ourselves at a
price which； if the Rebels had it to do over again； they would not pay
for us。 We believed that we had killed and seriously wounded as many of
them as they had killed； wounded and captured of us。 We had nothing to
blame ourselves for。 Moreover； we began to be buoyed up with the
expectation that we would be exchanged immediately upon our arrival at
Richmond； and the Rebel officers confidently assured us that this would
be so。 There was then a temporary hitch in the exchange； but it would
all be straightened out in a few days； and it might not be a month until
we were again marching out of Cumberland Gap； on an avenging foray
against some of the force which had assisted in our capture。
Fortunately for this delusive hopefulness there was no weird and boding
Cassandra to pierce the veil of the future for us； and reveal the length
and the ghastly horror of the Valley of the Shadow of Death； through
which we must pass for hundreds of sad days； stretching out into long
months of suffering and death。 Happily there was no one to tell us that
of every five in that party four would never stand under the Stars and
Stripes again； but succumbing to chronic starvation； long…continued
exposure； the bullet of the brutal guard； the loathsome scurvy； the
hideous gangrene； and the heartsickness of hope deferred； would find
respite from pain low in the barren sands of that hungry Southern soil。
Were every doom foretokened by appropriate omens； the ravens along our
route would have croaked themselves hoarse。
But； far from being oppressed by any presentiment of coming evil； we
began to appreciate and enjoy the picturesque grandeur of the scenery
through which we were moving。 The rugged sternness of the Appalachian
mountain range； in whose rock…ribbed heart we had fought our losing
fight； was now softening into less strong； but more graceful outlines as
we approached the pine…clad； sandy plains of the seaboard； upon which
Richmond is built。 We were skirting along the eastern base of the great
Blue Ridge； about whose distant and lofty summits hung a perpetual veil
of deep； dark； but translucent blue； which refracted the slanting rays of
the morning and evening sun into masses of color more gorgeous than a
dreamer's vision of an enchanted land。 At Lynchburg we saw the famed
Peaks of Ottertwenty miles awaylifting their proud heads far into the
clouds； like giant watch…towers sentineling the gateway that the mighty
waters of the James had forced through the barriers of solid adamant
lying across their path to the far…off sea。 What we had seen many miles
back start from the mountain sides as slender rivulets； brawling over the
worn boulders； were now great； rushing； full…tide streams； enough of them
in any fifty miles of our journey to furnish water power for all the
factories of New England。 Their amazing opulence of mechanical energy
has lain unutilized； almost unnoticed； in the two and one…half centuries
that the white man has dwelt near them； while in Massachusetts and her
near neighbors every rill that can turn a wheel has been put into harness
and forced to do its share of labor for the benefit of the men who have
made themselves its masters。
Here is one of the differences between the two sections： In the North man
was set free； and the elements made to do his work。 In the South man was
the degraded slave； and the elements wantoned on in undisturbed freedom。
As we went on； the Valleys of the James and the Appomattox； down which
our way lay； broadened into an expanse of arable acres； and the faces of
those streams were frequently flecked by gem…like little islands。
CHAPTER VII。
ENTERING RICHMONDDISAPPOINTMENT AT ITS APPEARANCEEVERYBODY IN
UNIFORMCURLED DARLINGS OF THE CAPITALTHE REBEL FLAGLIBBY PRISON
DICK TURNERSEARCHING THE NEW COMERS。
Early on the tenth morning after our capture we were told that we were
about to enter Richmond。 Instantly all were keenly observant of every
detail in the surroundings of a City that was then the object of the
hopes and fears of thirty…five millions of peoplea City assailing which
seventy…five thousand brave men had already laid down their lives；
defending which an equal number had died； and which； before it fell； was
to cost the life blood of another one hundred and fifty thousand valiant
assailants and defenders。
So much had been said and written about Richmond that our boyish minds
had wrought up the most extravagant expectations of it and its defenses。
We anticipated seeing a City differing widely from anything ever seen
before； some anomaly of nature displayed in its site； itself guarded by
imposing and impregnable fortifications； with powerful forts and heavy
guns； perhaps even walls； castles； postern gates； moats and ditches；
and all the other panoply of defensive warfare； with which romantic
history had made us familiar。
We were disappointedbadly disappointedin seeing nothing of this as we
slowly rolled along。 The spires and the tall chimneys of the factories
rose in the distance very much as they had in other Cities we had
visited。 We passed a single line of breastworks of bare yellow sand；
but the scrubby pines in front were not cut away； and there were no signs
that there had ever been any immediate expectation of use for the works。
A redoubt or twowithout gunscould be made out； and this was all。
Grim…visaged war had few wrinkles on his front in that neighborhood。
They were then seaming his brow on the Rappahannock； seventy miles away；
where the Army of Northern Virginia and the Army of the Potomac lay
confronting each other。
At one of the stopping places I had been separated from my companions by
entering a car in which were a number of East Tennesseeans； captured in
the operations around Knoxville； and whom the Rebels； in accordance with
their usual custom； were treating with studied contumely。 I had always
had a very warm side for these simple rustics of the mountains and
valleys。 I knew much of their unwavering fidelity to the Union； of the
firm steadfastness with which they endured persecution for their
country's sake； and made sacrifices even unto death； and； as in those
days I estimated all men simply by their devotion to the great cause of
National integrity； （a habit that still clings to me） I rated these men
very highly。 I had gone into their car to do my little to encourage
them； and when I attempted to return to my own I was prevented by the
guard。
Crossing the long bridge； our train came to a halt on the other side of
the river with the usual clamor of bell and whistle； the usual seemingly
purposeless and vacillating； almost dizzying； running backward and
forward on a network of sidetracks and switches； that seemed un