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them。
By and by a line of wagons came over from Wilmington laden with rations；
and they were dispensed to us with what seemed reckless prodigality。
The lid of a box of hard tack would be knocked off； and the contents
handed to us as we filed past； with absolute disregard as to quantity。
If a prisoner looked wistful after receiving one handful of crackers；
another was handed to him； if his long…famished eyes still lingered as
if enchained by the rare display of food； the men who were issuing said：
〃Here； old fellow； there's plenty of it： take just as much as you can
carry in your arms。〃
So it was also with the pickled pork； the coffee； the sugar； etc。 We had
been stinted and starved so long that we could not comprehend that there
was anywhere actually enough of anything。
The kind…hearted boys who were acting as our hosts began preparing food
for the sick； but the Surgeons； who had arrived in the meanwhile； were
compelled to repress them； as it was plain that while it was a dangerous
experiment to give any of us all we could or would eat； it would never do
to give the sick such a temptation to kill themselves； and only a limited
amount of food was allowed to be given those who were unable to walk。
Andrews and I hungered for coffee； the delightful fumes of which filled
the air and intoxicated our senses。 We procured enough to make our half…
gallon bucket full and very strong。
We drank so much of this that Andrews became positively drunk； and fell
helplessly into some brush。 I pulled him out and dragged him away to a
place where we had made our rude bed。
I was dazed。 I could not comprehend that the long…looked for； often…
despaired…of event had actually happened。 I feared that it was one of
those tantalizing dreams that had so often haunted my sleep； only to be
followed by a wretched awakening。 Then I became seized with a sudden
fear lest the Rebel attempt to retake me。 The line of guards around us
seemed very slight。 It might be forced in the night； and all of us
recaptured。 Shivering at this thought； absurd though it was； I arose
from our bed； and taking Andrews with me； crawled two or three hundred
yards into a dense undergrowth； where in the event of our lines being
forced； we would be overlooked。
CHAPTER LXXIX。
GETTING USED TO FREEDOMDELIGHTS OF A LAND WHERE THERE IS ENOUGH OF
EVERYTHINGFIRST GLIMPSE OF THE OLD FLAGWILMINGTON AND ITS HISTORY
LIEUTENANT CUSHINGFIRST ACQUAINTANCE WITH THE COLORED TROOPSLEAVING
FOR HOMEDESTRUCTION OF THE 〃THORN〃 BY A TORPEDOTHE MOCK MONITOR'S
ACHIEVEMENT。
After a sound sleep； Andrews and I awoke to the enjoyment of our first
day of freedom and existence in God's country。 The sun had already
risen； bright and warm； consonant with the happiness of the new life now
opening up for us。
But to nearly a score of our party his beams brought no awakening
gladness。 They fell upon stony； staring eyes； from out of which the
light of life had now faded； as the light of hope had done long ago。
The dead lay there upon the rude beds of fallen leaves； scraped together
by thoughtful comrades the night before； their clenched teeth showing
through parted lips； faces fleshless and pinched； long； unkempt and
ragged hair and whiskers just stirred by the lazy breeze； the rotting
feet and limbs drawn up； and skinny hands clenched in the last agonies。
Their fate seemed harder than that of any who had died before them。
It was doubtful if many of them knew that they were at last inside of our
own lines。
Again the kind…hearted boys of the brigade crowded around us with
proffers of service。 Of an Ohio boy who directed his kind tenders to
Andrews and me； we procured a chunk of coarse rosin soap about as big as
a pack of cards； and a towel。 Never was there as great a quantity of
solid comfort got out of that much soap as we obtained。 It was the first
that we had since that which I stole in Wirz's headquarters； in June
nine months before。 We felt that the dirt which had accumulated upon us
since then would subject us to assessment as real estate if we were in
the North。
Hurrying off to a little creek we began our ablutions； and it was not
long until Andrews declared that there was a perceptible sand…bar forming
in the stream； from what we washed off。 Dirt deposits of the Pliocene
era rolled off feet and legs。 Eocene incrustations let loose reluctantly
from neck and ears； the hair was a mass of tangled locks matted with nine
months' accumulation of pitch pine tar； rosin soot； and South Carolina
sand； that we did not think we had better start in upon it until we
either had the shock cut off； or had a whole ocean and a vat of soap to
wash it out with。
After scrubbing until we were exhausted we got off the first few outer
layersthe post tertiary formation； a geologist would term itand the
smell of many breakfasts cooking； coming down over the hill； set our
stomachs in a mutiny against any longer fasting。
We went back； rosy； panting； glowing； but happy； to get our selves some
breakfast。
Should Providence； for some inscrutable reason； vouchsafe me the years of
Methuselah； one of the pleasantest recollections that will abide with me
to the close of the nine hundredth and sixty…ninth year； will be of that
delightful odor of cooking food which regaled our senses as we came back。
From the boiling coffee and the meat frying in the pan rose an incense
sweeter to the senses a thousand times than all the perfumes of far
Arabia。 It differed from the loathsome odor of cooking corn meal as much
as it did from the effluvia of a sewer。
Our noses were the first of our senses to bear testimony that we had
passed from the land of starvation to that of plenty。 Andrews and I
hastened off to get our own breakfast； and soon had a half…gallon of
strong coffee； and a frying…pan full； of meat cooking over the firenot
one of the beggarly skimped little fires we had crouched over during our
months of imprisonment； but a royal； generous fire； fed with logs instead
of shavings and splinters； and giving out heat enough to warm a regiment。
Having eaten positively all that we could swallow； those of us who could
walk were ordered to fall in and march over to Wilmington。 We crossed
the branch of the river on a pontoon bridge； and took the road that led
across the narrow sandy island between the two branches； Wilmington being
situated on the opposite bank of the farther one。
When about half way a shout from some one in advance caused us to look
up； and then we saw； flying from a tall steeple in Wilmington； the
glorious old Stars and Stripes； resplendent in the morning sun； and more
beautiful than the most gorgeous web from Tyrian looms。 We stopped with
one accord； and shouted and cheered and cried until every throat was sore
and every eye red and blood…shot。 It seemed as if our cup of happiness
would certainly run over if any more additions were made to it。
When we arrived at the bank of the river opposite Wilmington； a whole
world of new and interesting sights opened up before us。 Wilmington；
during the last year…and…a…half of the war； was； next to Richmond； the
most important place in the Southern Confederacy。 It was the only port
to which blockade running was at all safe enough to be lucrative。 The
Rebels held the strong forts of Caswell and Fisher； at the mouth of Cape
Fear River； and outside； the Frying Pan Shoals； which extended along the
coast forty or fifty miles； kept our blockading fleet so far off； and
made the line so weak and scattered； that there was comparatively little
risk to the small； swift…sailing vessels employed by the blockade runners
in running through it。 The only way that blockade running could be
stopped was by the reduction of Forts Caswell and Fisher； and it was not
stopped until this was done。
Before the war Wilmington was a dull； sleepy North Carolina Town； with as
little animation of any kind as a Breton Pillage。 The only business was
the handling of the tar； turpentine； rosin； and peanuts produced in the
surrounding country； a business never lively enough to excite more than a
lazy ripple in the sluggish lagoons of trade。 But very new wine was put
into this old bottle when blockade running began to develop in
importance。 Then this Sleepy hollow of a place took on the appearance of
San Francisco in the hight of the gold fever。 The English houses engaged
in blockade running established branches there conducted by young men who
lived like princes。 All the best houses in the City were leased by them
and fitted up in the most gorgeous style。 They literally clothed
themselves in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day； with
their fine wines and imported delicacies and retinue of servants to wait
upon them。 Fast young Rebel officers； eager for a season of dissipation；
could imagine nothing better than a leave of absence to go to Wilmington。
Money flowed like water。 The common sailorsthe scum of all foreign
portswho manned the blockade runners； received as high as one hundred
dollars in gold per month； and a bounty of fifty dollars for every
successful trip； which from Nassau could be easily made in seven days。
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