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pretty thorough search for him。 As they did not think to probe around
the drift wood this was unsuccessful； and they came to the conclusion
that Tom had been drowned。 Wirz marched the other two back and； for a
wonder； did not punish them； probably because he was so rejoiced at his
success in capturing them。 He was beaming with delight when he returned
them to our squad； and said； with a chuckle：
〃Brisoners； I pring you pack two of dem tam Yankees wat got away
yesterday； unt I run de oder raskal into a mill…pont and trowntet him。〃
What was our astonishment； about three weeks later； to see Tom； fat and
healthy； and dressed in a full suit of butternut； come stalking into the
pen。 He had nearly reached the mountains； when a pack of hounds；
patrolling for deserters or negros； took his trail； where he had crossed
the road from one field to another； and speedily ran him down。 He had
been put in a little country jail； and well fed till an opportunity
occurred to send him back。 This patrolling for negros and deserters was
another of the great obstacles to a successful passage through the
country。 The rebels had put； every able…bodied white man in the ranks；
and were bending every energy to keep him there。 The whole country was
carefully policed by Provost Marshals to bring out those who were
shirking military duty； or had deserted their colors； and to check any
movement by the negros。 One could not go anywhere without a pass； as
every road was continually watched by men and hounds。 It was the policy
of our men； when escaping； to avoid roads as much as possible by
traveling through the woods and fields。
From what I saw of the hounds； and what I could learn from others；
I believe that each pack was made up of two bloodhounds and from twenty…
five to fifty other dogs； The bloodhounds were debased descendants of the
strong and fierce hounds imported from Cubamany of them by the United
States Governmentfor hunting Indians； during the Seminole war。 The
other dogs were the mongrels that are found in such plentifulness about
every Southern houseincreasing； as a rule； in numbers as the inhabitant
of the house is lower down and poorer。 They are like wolves； sneaking
and cowardly when alone； fierce and bold when in packs。 Each pack was
managed by a well…armed man； who rode a mule； and carried； slung over his
shoulders by a cord； a cow horn； scraped very thin； with which he
controlled the band by signals。
What always puzzled me much was why the hounds took only Yankee trails；
in the vicinity of the prison。 There was about the Stockade from six
thousand to ten thousand Rebels and negros； including guards； officers；
servants； workmen； etc。 These were； of course； continually in motion and
must have daily made trails leading in every direction。 It was the
custom of the Rebels to send a pack of hounds around the prison every
morning； to examine if any Yankees had escaped during the night。 It was
believed that they rarely failed to find a prisoner's tracks； and still
more rarely ran off upon a Rebel's。 If those outside the Stockade had
been confined to certain path and roads we could have understood this；
but； as I understand； they were not。 It was part of the interest of the
day； for us； to watch the packs go yelping around the pen searching for
tracks。 We got information in this way whether any tunnel had been
successfully opened during the night。
The use of hounds furnished us a crushing reply to the ever recurring
Rebel question：
〃Why are you…uns puttin' niggers in the field to fight we…uns for？〃
The questioner was always silenced by the return interrogatory：
〃Is that as bad as running white men down with blood hounds？〃
CHAPTER XXVIII
MAYINFLUX OF NEW PRISONERSDISPARITY IN NUMBERS BETWEEN THE EASTERN
AND WESTERN ARMIESTERRIBLE CROWDINGSLAUGHTER OF MEN AT THE CREEK。
In May the long gathering storm of war burst with angry violence all
along the line held by the contending armies。 The campaign began which
was to terminate eleven months later in the obliteration of the Southern
Confederacy。 May 1； Sigel moved up the Shenandoah Valley with thirty
thousand men； May 3； Butler began his blundering movement against
Petersburg； May 3； the Army of the Potomac left Culpeper； and on the 5th
began its deadly grapple with Lee； in the Wilderness； May 6； Sherman
moved from Chattanooga； and engaged Joe Johnston at Rocky Face Ridge and
Tunnel Hill。
Each of these columns lost heavily in prisoners。 It could not be
otherwise； it was a consequence of the aggressive movements。 An army
acting offensively usually suffers more from capture than one on the
defensive。 Our armies were penetrating the enemy's country in close
proximity to a determined and vigilant foe。 Every scout； every skirmish
line； every picket； every foraging party ran the risk of falling into a
Rebel trap。 This was in addition to the risk of capture in action。
The bulk of the prisoners were taken from the Army of the Potomac。 For
this there were two reasons： First； that there were many more men in that
Army than in any other； and second； that the entanglement in the dense
thickets and shrubbery of the Wilderness enabled both sides to capture
great numbers of the other's men。 Grant lost in prisoners from May 5 to
May 31； seven thousand four hundred and fifty； he probably captured two…
thirds of that number from the Johnnies。
Wirz's headquarters were established in a large log house which had been
built in the fort a little distant from the southeast corner of the
prison。 Every dayand sometimes twice or thrice a daywe would see
great squads of prisoners marched up to these headquarters； where they
would be searched； their names entered upon the prison records； by clerks
（detailed prisoners； few Rebels had the requisite clerical skill） and
then be marched into the prison。 As they entered； the Rebel guards would
stand to arms。 The infantry would be in line of battle； the cavalry
mounted； and the artillerymen standing by their guns； ready to open at
the instant with grape and canister。
The disparity between the number coming in from the Army of the Potomac
and Western armies was so great； that we Westerners began to take some
advantage of it。 If we saw a squad of one hundred and fifty or
thereabouts at the headquarters； we felt pretty certain they were from
Sherman； and gathered to meet them； and learn the news from our friends。
If there were from five hundred to two thousand we knew they were from
the Army of the Potomac； and there were none of our comrades among them。
There were three exceptions to this rule while we were in Andersonville。
The first was in June； when the drunken and incompetent Sturgis （now
Colonel of the Seventh United States Cavalry） shamefully sacrificed a
superb division at Guntown； Miss。 The next was after Hood made his
desperate attack on Sherman； on the 22d of July； and the third was when
Stoneman was captured at Macon。 At each of these times about two
thousand prisoners were brought in。
By the end of May there were eighteen thousand four hundred and fifty…
four prisoners in the Stockade。 Before the reader dismisses this
statement from his mind let him reflect how great a number this is。
It is more active； able…bodied young men than there are in any of our
leading Cities； save New York and Philadelphia。 It is more than the
average population of an Ohio County。 It is four times as many troops as
Taylor won the victory of Buena Vista with； and about twice as many as
Scott went into battle with at any time in his march to the City of
Mexico。
These eighteen thousand four hundred and fifty…four men were cooped up on
less than thirteen acres of ground； making about fifteen hundred to the
acre。 No room could be given up for streets； or for the usual
arrangements of a camp； and most kinds of exercise were wholly precluded。
The men crowded together like pigs nesting in the woods on cold nights。
The ground； despite all our efforts； became indescribably filthy； and
this condition grew rapidly worse as the season advanced and the sun's
rays gained fervency。 As it is impossible to describe this adequately；
I must again ask the reader to assist with a few comparisons。 He has an
idea of how much filth is produced； on an ordinary City lot； in a week；
by its occupation by a family say of six persons。 Now let him imagine
what would be the result if that lot； instead of having upon it six
persons； with every appliance for keeping themselves clean； and for
removing and concealing filth； was the home of one hundred and eight men；
with none of these appliances。
That he may figure out these proportions for himself； I will repeat some
of the elements of the problem： We will say that an average City lot is
thirty feet front by one hundred deep。 This is more front than most of
them have； but we will be liberal。 This gives us a surface of three
thousand square feet。 An acre contains forty…three thousand five hundred
and sixty square feet。 Upon thirteen of these acres； we had eighteen
thousand four hundred and fifty…four men。 After he has found the number
of square feet that each man had for sleeping apar