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succumbed to abstention from water drinking。 Long before I entered the
army； I had constructed a theoryon premises that were doubtless as
insufficient as those that boyish theories are usually based uponthat
drinking water was a habit； and a pernicious one； which sapped away the
energy。 I took some trouble to curb my appetite for water； and soon
found that I got along very comfortably without drinking anything beyond
that which was contained in my food。 I followed this up after entering
the army； drinking nothing at any time but a little coffee； and finding
no need； even on the dustiest marches； for anything more。 I do not
presume that in a year I drank a quart of cold water。 Experience seemed
to confirm my views； for I noticed that the first to sink under a
fatigue； or to yield to sickness； were those who were always on the
lookout for drinking water； springing from their horses and struggling
around every well or spring on the line of march for an opportunity to
fill their canteens。
I made liberal use of the Creek for bathing purposes； however； visiting
it four or five times a； day during the hot days； to wash myself all
over。 This did not cool one off much； for the shallow stream was nearly
as hot as the sand； but it seemed to do some good； and it helped pass
away the tedious hours。 The stream was nearly all the time filled as
full of bathers as they could stand； and the water could do little
towards cleansing so many。 The occasional rain storms that swept across
the prison were welcomed； not only because they cooled the air
temporarily； but because they gave us a shower…bath。 As they came up；
nearly every one stripped naked and got out where he could enjoy the full
benefit of the falling water。 Fancy； if possible； the spectacle of
twenty…five thousand or thirty thousand men without a stitch of clothing
upon them。 The like has not been seen； I imagine； since the naked
followers of Boadicea gathered in force to do battle to the Roman
invaders。
It was impossible to get really clean。 Our bodies seemed covered with a
varnish…like； gummy matter that defied removal by water alone。
I imagined that it came from the rosin or turpentine； arising from the
little pitch pine fires over which we hovered when cooking our rations。
It would yield to nothing except strong soap…and soap； as I have before
statedwas nearly as scarce in the Southern Confederacy as salt。 We in
prison saw even less of it； or rather； none at all。 The scarcity of it；
and our desire for it； recalls a bit of personal experience。
I had steadfastly refused all offers of positions outside the prison on
parole； as； like the great majority of the prisoners； my hatred of the
Rebels grew more bitter； day by day； I felt as if I would rather die than
accept the smallest favor at their hands； and I shared the common
contempt for those who did。 But； when the movement for a grand attack on
the Stockadementioned in a previous chapterwas apparently rapidly
coming to a head； I was offered a temporary detail outside to； assist in
making up some rolls。 I resolved to accept； first because I thought I
might get some information that would be of use in our enterprise； and；
next； because I foresaw that the rush through the gaps in the Stockade
would be bloody business； and by going out in advance I would avoid that
much of the danger； and still be able to give effective assistance。
I was taken up to Wirz's office。 He was writing at a desk at one end of
a large room when the Sergeant brought me in。 He turned around； told the
Sergeant to leave me； and ordered me to sit down upon a box at the other
end of the room。
Turning his back and resuming his writing； in a few minutes he had
forgotten me。 I sat quietly； taking in the details for a half…hour； and
then； having exhausted everything else in the room； I began wondering
what was in the bog I was sitting upon。 The lid was loose； I hitched it
forward a little without attracting Wirz's attention； and slipped my left
hand down of a voyage of discovery。 It seemed very likely that there was
something there that a loyal Yankee deserved better than a Rebel。
I found that it was a fine article of soft soap。 A handful was scooped
up and speedily shoved into my left pantaloon pocket。 Expecting every
instant that Wirz would turn around and order me to come to the desk to
show my handwriting； hastily and furtively wiped my hand on the back of
my shirt and watched Wirz with as innocent an expression as a school boy
assumes when he has just flipped a chewed paper wad across the room。
Wirz was still engrossed in his writing； and did not look around。 I was
emboldened to reach down for another handful。 This was also successfully
transferred； the hand wiped off on the back of the shirt； and the face
wore its expression of infantile ingenuousness。 Still Wirz did not look
up。 I kept dipping up handful after handful； until I had gotten about a
quart in the left hand pocket。 After each handful I rubbed my hand off
on the back of my shirt and waited an instant for a summons to the desk。
Then the process was repeated with the other hand； and a quart of the
saponaceous mush was packed in the right hand pocket
Shortly after Wirz rose and ordered a guard to take me away and keep me；
until he decided what to do with me。 The day was intensely hot； and soon
the soap in my pockets and on the back of my shirt began burning like
double strength Spanish fly blisters。 There was nothing to do but grin
and bear it。 I set my teeth； squatted down under the shade of the
parapet of the fort； and stood it silently and sullenly。 For the first
time in my life I thoroughly appreciated the story of the Spartan boy；
who stole the fox and suffered the animal to tear his bowels out rather
than give a sign which would lead to the exposure of his theft。
Between four and five o'clock…after I had endured the thing for five or
six hours； a guard came with orders from Wirz that I should be returned
to the Stockade。 Upon hastily removing my clothes； after coming inside；
I found I had a blister on each thigh； and one down my back； that would
have delighted an old practitioner of the heroic school。 But I also had
a half gallon of excellent soft soap。 My chums and I took a magnificent
wash； and gave our clothes the same； and we still had soap enough left to
barter for some onions that we had long coveted； and which tasted as
sweet to us as manna to the Israelites。
CHAPTER XXXIII
〃POUR PASSER LE TEMPS〃A SET OF CHESSMEN PROCURED UNDER DIFFICULTIES
RELIGIOUS SERVICESTHE DEVOTED PRIESTWAR SONG。
The time moved with leaden feet。 Do the best we could； there were very
many tiresome hours for which no occupation whatever could be found。
All that was necessary to be done during the dayattending roll call；
drawing and cooking rations； killing lice and washingcould be disposed
of in an hour's time； and we were left with fifteen or sixteen waking
hours； for which there was absolutely no employment。 Very many tried to
escape both the heat and ennui by sleeping as much as possible through
the day； but I noticed that those who did this soon died； and
consequently I did not do it。 Card playing had sufficed to pass away the
hours at first； but our cards soon wore out； and deprived us of this
resource。 My chum； Andrews； and I constructed a set of chessmen with an
infinite deal of trouble。 We found a soft； white root in the swamp which
answered our purpose。 A boy near us had a tolerably sharp pocket…knife；
for the use of which a couple of hours each day； we gave a few spoonfuls
of meal。 The knife was the only one among a large number of prisoners；
as the Rebel guards had an affection for that style of cutlery； which led
them to search incoming prisoners； very closely。 The fortunate owner of
this derived quite a little income of meal by shrewdly loaning it to his
knifeless comrades。 The shapes that we made for pieces and pawns were
necessarily very rude； but they were sufficiently distinct for
identification。 We blackened one set with pitch pine soot； found a piece
of plank that would answer for a board and purchased it from its
possessor for part of a ration of meal； and so were fitted out with what
served until our release to distract our attention from much of the
surrounding misery。
Every one else procured such amusement as they could。 Newcomers； who
still had money and cards； gambled as long as their means lasted。 Those
who had books read them until the leaves fell apart。 Those who had paper
and pen and ink tried to write descriptions and keep journals； but this
was usually given up after being in prison a few weeks。 I was fortunate
enough to know a boy who had brought a copy of 〃Gray's Anatomy〃 into
prison with him。 I was not specially interested in the subject； but it
was Hobson's choice； I could read anatomy or nothing； and so I tackled it
with such good will that before my friend became sick and was taken
outside； and his book with him； I had obtained a very fair knowledge of
the rudiments of physiology。
There was a little band of devoted Christian workers； among whom were
Orderly Sergeant Thomas J。 Sheppard； Ninet