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play。 This made us think that probably our forces had come out from
Fernandina； and taken the place。 I proposed to Hommat that we go forward
and reconnoiter。 He refused； and leaving him alone； I started forward。
I had gone but a short distance when a soldier came out from the camp
with a bucket。 He began singing； and the song he sang convinced me that
he was a Rebel。 Rejoining Hommat； we held a consultation and decided to
stay where we were until it became darker； before trying to get out。
It was the night of the 22d of December； and very cold for that country。
The camp guard had small fires built； which we could see quite plainly。
After starting we saw that the pickets also had fires； and that we were
between the two lines。 This discovery saved us from capture； and keeping
about an equal distance between the two； we undertook to work our way
out。
We first crossed a line of breastworks； then in succession the Fernandina
Railroad； the Jacksonville Railroad； and pike； moving all the time nearly
parallel with the picket line。 Here we had to halt。 Hommat was
suffering greatly with his feet。 The shoes that had been given him by
the widow lady were worn out； and his feet were much torn and cut by the
terribly rough road we had traveled through swamps； etc。 We sat down on
a log； and I； pulling off the remains of my army shirt； tore it into
pieces； and Hommat wrapped his feet up in them。 A part I reserved and
tore into strips； to tie up the rents in our pantaloons。 Going through
the swamps and briers had torn them into tatters； from waistband to hem；
leaving our skins bare to be served in the same way。
We started again； moving slowly and bearing towards the picket fires；
which we could see for a distance on our left。 After traveling some
little time the lights on our left ended； which puzzled us for a while；
until we came to a fearful big swamp； that explained it all； as this；
considered impassable； protected the right of the camp。 We had an awful
time in getting through。 In many places we had to lie down and crawl
long distances through the paths made in the brakes by hogs and other
animals。 As we at length came out； Hommat turned to me and whispered
that in the morning we would have some Lincoln coffee。 He seemed to
think this must certainly end our troubles。
We were now between the Jacksonville Railroad and the St。 John's River。
We kept about four miles from the railroad； for fear of running into the
Rebel outposts。 We had traveled but a few miles when Hommat said he
could go no farther； as his feet and legs were so swelled and numb that
he could not tell when he set them upon the ground。 I had some matches
that a negro had given me； and gathering together a few pine knots we
made a firethe first that we had lighted on the tripand laid down
with it between us。 We had slept but a few minutes when I awoke and
found Hommat's clothes on fire。 Rousing him we put out the flames before
he was badly burned； but the thing had excited him so as to give him new
life； and be proposed to start on again。
By sunrise we were within eight miles of our lines； and concluding that
it would be safe to travel in the daytime； we went ahead； walking along
the railroad。 The excitement being over； Hommat began to move very
slowly again。 His feet and legs were so swollen that he could scarcely
walk； and it took us a long while to pass over those eight miles。
At last we came in sight of our pickets。 They were negros。 They halted
us； and Hommat went forward to speak to them。 They called for the
Officer of the Guard； who came； passed us inside； and shook hands
cordially with us。 His first inquiry was if we knew Charley Marseilles；
whom you remember ran that little bakery at Andersonville。
We were treated very kindly at Jacksonville。 General Scammon was in
command of the post； and had only been released but a short time from
prison； so he knew how it was himself。 I never expect to enjoy as happy
a moment on earth as I did when I again got under the protection of the
old flag。 Hommat went to the hospital a few days； and was then sent
around to New York by sea。
Oh； it was a fearful trip through those Florida swamps。 We would very
often have to try a swamp in three or four different places before we
could get through。 Some nights we could not travel on account of its
being cloudy and raining。 There is not money enough in the United States
to induce me to undertake the trip again under the same circumstances。
Our friend Clipson； that made his escape when we did； got very nearly
through to our lines； but was taken sick； and had to give himself up。
He was taken back to Andersonville and kept until the next Spring； when
he came through all right。 There were sixty…one of Company K captured at
Jonesville； and I think there was only seventeen lived through those
horrible prisons。
You have given the best description of prison life that I have ever seen
written。 The only trouble is that it cannot be portrayed so that persons
can realize the suffering and abuse that our soldiers endured in those
prison hells。 Your statements are all correct in regard to the treatment
that we received； and all those scenes you have depicted are as vivid in
my mind today as if they had only occurred yesterday。 Please let me hear
from you again。 Wishing you success in all your undertakings； I remain
your friend；
WALTER； HARTSOUGH；
Late of K Company； Sixteenth Illinois Volunteer of Infantry。
CHAPTER LXXVI
THE PECULIAR TYPE OF INSANITY PREVALENT AT FLORENCEBARRETT'S WANTONNESS
OF CRUELTYWE LEARN OF SHERMAN'S ADVANCE INTO SOUTH CAROLINATHE REBELS
BEGIN MOVING THE PRISONERS AWAYANDREWS AND I CHANGE OUR TACTICS； AND
STAY BEHINDARRIVAL OF FIVE PRISONERS FROM SHERMAN'S COMMANDTHEIR
UNBOUNDED CONFIDENCE IN SHERMAN'S SUCCESS； AND ITS BENEFICIAL EFFECT UPON
US。
One terrible phase of existence at Florence was the vast increase of
insanity。 We had many insane men at Andersonville； but the type of the
derangement was different； partaking more of what the doctors term
melancholia。 Prisoners coming in from the front were struck aghast by
the horrors they saw everywhere。 Men dying of painful and repulsive
diseases lined every step of whatever path they trod； the rations given
them were repugnant to taste and stomach； shelter from the fiery sun
there was none； and scarcely room enough for them to lie down upon。
Under these discouraging circumstances； home…loving； kindly…hearted men；
especially those who had passed out of the first flush of youth； and had
left wife and children behind when they entered the service； were
speedily overcome with despair of surviving until released； their
hopelessness fed on the same germs which gave it birth； until it became
senseless； vacant…eyed； unreasoning； incurable melancholy； when the
victim would lie for hours； without speaking a word； except to babble of
home； or would wander aimlessly about the campfrequently stark naked
until he died or was shot for coming too near the Dead Line。 Soldiers
must not suppose that this was the same class of weaklings who usually
pine themselves into the Hospital within three months after their
regiment enters the field。 They were as a rule； made up of seasoned
soldiery； who had become inured to the dangers and hardships of active
service； and were not likely to sink down under any ordinary trials。
The insane of Florence were of a different class； they were the boys who
had laughed at such a yielding to adversity in Andersonville； and felt a
lofty pity for the misfortunes of those who succumbed so。 But now the
long strain of hardship； privation and exposure had done for them what
discouragement had done for those of less fortitude in Andersonville。
The faculties shrank under disuse and misfortune； until they forgot their
regiments； companies； places and date of capture； and finally； even their
names。 I should think that by the middle of January； at least one in
every ten had sunk to this imbecile condition。 It was not insanity so
much as mental atrophynot so much aberration of the mind； as a
paralysis of mental action。 The sufferers became apathetic idiots； with
no desire or wish to do or be anything。 If they walked around at all
they had to be watched closely； to prevent their straying over the Dead
Line； and giving the young brats of guards the coveted opportunity of
killing them。 Very many of such were killed； and one of my Midwinter
memories of Florence was that of seeing one of these unfortunate
imbeciles wandering witlessly up to the Dead Line from the Swamp； while
the guarda boy of seventeenstood with gun in hand； in the attitude of
a man expecting a covey to be flushed； waiting for the poor devil to come
so near the Dead Line as to afford an excuse for killing him。 Two sane
prisoners； comprehending the situation； rushed up to the lunatic； at the
risk of their own lives； caught him by the arms； and drew him back to
safety。
The brutal Barrett seemed to delight in maltreating these demented
unfortunates。 He either could not be made to understand their condition；
or willfully disregarded it； fo