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and eighty miles between Macon and Savannah there were only three
insignificant villages。 There was a station every ten miles； at which
the only building was an open shed； to shelter from sun and rain a casual
passenger； or a bit of goods。
The occasional specimens of the poor white 〃cracker〃 population that we
saw； seemed indigenous products of the starved soil。 They suited their
poverty…stricken surroundings as well as the gnarled and scrubby
vegetation suited the sterile sand。 Thin…chested； round…shouldered；
scraggy…bearded； dull…eyed and open…mouthed； they all looked alikeall
looked as ignorant； as stupid； and as lazy as they were poor and weak。
They were 〃low…downers〃 in every respect； and made our rough and simple。
minded East Tennesseans look like models of elegant and cultured
gentlemen in contrast。
We looked on the poverty…stricken land with good…natured contempt； for we
thought we were leaving it forever； and would soon be in one which；
compared to it； was as the fatness at Egypt to the leanness of the desert
of Sinai。
The second day after leaving Andersonville our train struggled across the
swamps into Savannah； and rolled slowly down the live oak shaded streets
into the center of the City。 It seemed like another Deserted Village；
so vacant and noiseless the streets； and the buildings everywhere so
overgrown with luxuriant vegetation： The limbs of the shade trees crashed
along and broke； upon the tops of our cars； as if no train had passed
that way for years。 Through the interstices between the trees and clumps
of foliage could be seen the gleaming white marble of the monuments
erected to Greene and Pulaski； looking like giant tombstones in a City of
the Dead。 The unbroken stillnessso different from what we expected on
entering the metropolis of Georgia； and a City that was an important port
in Revolutionary daysbecame absolutely oppressive。 We could not
understand it； but our thoughts were more intent upon the coming transfer
to our flag than upon any speculation as to the cause of the remarkable
somnolence of Savannah。
Finally some little boys straggled out to where our car was standing； and
we opened up a conversation with them：
〃Say； boys； are our vessels down in the harbor yet？〃
The reply came in that piercing treble shriek in which a boy of ten or
twelve makes even his most confidential communications：
〃I don't know。〃
〃Well；〃 （with our confidence in exchange somewhat dashed；） 〃they intend
to exchange us here； don't they？〃
Another falsetto scream； 〃I don't know。〃
〃Well；〃 （with something of a quaver in the questioner's voice；） 〃what are
they going to do； with us； any way？〃
〃O；〃 （the treble shriek became almost demoniac） 〃they are fixing up a
place over by the old jail for you。〃
What a sinking of hearts was there then！ Andrews and I would not give up
hope so speedily as some others did； and resolved to believe； for awhile
at least； that we were going to be exchanged。
Ordered out of the cars； we were marched along the street。 A crowd of
small boys； full of the curiosity of the animal； gathered around us as we
marched。 Suddenly a door in a rather nice house opened； an angry…faced
woman appeared on the steps and shouted out：
〃Boys！ BOYS！ What are you doin' there！ Come up on the steps immejitely！
Come away from them n…a…s…t…y things！〃
I will admit that we were not prepossessing in appearance； nor were we as
cleanly as young gentlemen should habitually be； in fact； I may as well
confess that I would not now； if I could help it； allow a tramp； as
dilapidated in raiment； as unwashed； unshorn； uncombed； and populous with
insects as we were； to come within several rods of me。 Nevertheless；
it was not pleasant to hear so accurate a description of our personal
appearance sent forth on the wings of the wind by a shrill…voiced Rebel
female。
A short march brought us to the place 〃they were fixing for us by the old
jail。〃 It was another pen； with high walls of thick pine plank； which
told us only too plainly how vain were our expectations of exchange。
When we were turned inside； and I realized that the gates of another
prison had closed upon me； hope forsook me。 I flung our odious little
possessions…our can； chess…board； overcoat； and blanket…upon the ground；
and； sitting down beside them； gave way to the bitterest despair。
I wanted to die； O； so badly。 Never in all my life had I desired
anything in the world so much as I did now to get out of it。 Had I had
pistol； knife； rope； or poison； I would have ended my prison life then
and there； and departed with the unceremoniousness of a French leave。
I remembered that I could get a quietus from a guard with very little
trouble； but I would not give one of the bitterly hated Rebels the
triumph of shooting me。 I longed to be another Samson； with the whole
Southern Confederacy gathered in another Temple of Dagon； that I might
pull down the supporting pillars； and die happy in slaying thousands of
my enemies。
While I was thus sinking deeper and deeper in the Slough of Despond； the
firing of a musket； and the shriek of the man who was struck； attracted
my attention。 Looking towards the opposite end of the； pen I saw a guard
bringing his still smoking musket to a 〃recover arms；〃 and； not fifteen
feet from him； a prisoner lying on the ground in the agonies of death。
The latter had a pipe in his mouth when he was shot； and his teeth still
clenched its stem。 His legs and arms were drawn up convulsively； and he
was rocking backward and forward on his back。 The charge had struck him
just above the hip…bone。
The Rebel officer in command of the guard was sitting on his horse inside
the pen at the time； and rode forward to see what the matter was。
Lieutenant Davis； who had come with us from Andersonville； was also
sitting on a horse inside the prison； and he called out in his usual
harsh； disagreeable voice：
〃That's all right； Cunnel； the man's done just as I awdahed him to。〃
I found that lying around inside were a number of bits of plankeach
about five feet long； which had been sawed off by the carpenters engaged
in building the prison。 The ground being a bare common； was destitute of
all shelter； and the pieces looked as if they would be quite useful in
building a tent。 There may have been an order issued forbidding the
prisoners to touch them； but if so； I had not heard it； and I imagine the
first intimation to the prisoner just killed that the boards were not to
be taken was the bullet which penetrated his vitals。 Twenty…five cents
would be a liberal appraisement of the value of the lumber for which the
boy lost his life。
Half an hour afterward we thought we saw all the guards march out of the
front gate。 There was still another pile of these same kind of pieces of
board lying at the further side of the prison。 The crowd around me
noticed it； and we all made a rush for it。 In spite of my lame feet I
outstripped the rest； and was just in the act of stooping down to pick
the boards up when a loud yell from those behind startled me。 Glancing
to my left I saw a guard cocking his gun and bringing it up to shoot me。
With one frightened spring； as quick as a flash； and before he could
cover me； I landed fully a rod back in the crowd； and mixed with it。
The fellow tried hard to draw a bead on me； but I was too quick for him；
and he finally lowered his gun with an oath expressive of disappointment
in not being able to kill a Yankee。
Walking back to my place the full ludicrousness of the thing dawned upon
me so forcibly that I forgot all about my excitement and scare； and
laughed aloud。 Here； not an hour age I was murmuring because I could
find no way to die； I sighed for death as a bridegroom for the coming of
his bride； an yet； when a Rebel had pointed his gun at me； it had nearly
scared me out of a year's growth； and made me jump farther than I could
possibly do when my feet were well； and I was in good condition
otherwise。
CHAPTER II。
SAVANNAHDEVICES TO OBTAIN MATERIALS FOR A TENTTHEIR ULTIMATE SUCCESS
RESUMPTION OF TUNNELINGESCAPING BY WHOLESALE AND BEING RECAPTURED EN
MASSETHE OBSTACLES THAT LAY BETWEEN US AND OUR LINES。
Andrews and I did not let the fate of the boy who was killed； nor my own
narrow escape from losing the top of my head； deter us from farther
efforts to secure possession of those coveted boards。 My readers
remember the story of the boy who； digging vigorously at a hole； replied
to the remark of a passing traveler that there was probably no ground…hog
there； and； even if there was； 〃ground…hog was mighty poor eatin'； any
way；〃 with：
〃Mister； there's got to be a ground…hog there； our family's out o' meat！〃
That was what actuated us： we were out of material for a tent。 Our
solitary blanket had rotted and worn full of holes by its long double
duty； as bed…clothes and tent at Andersonville； and there was an
imperative call for a substitute。
Andrews and I flattered ourselves that when we matched our collective or
individual wits against those of a Johnny his defeat was pretty certain；
and with this cheerful estimate of our own powers to animate us； we set
to work t