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As we marched down and boarded the train； the Rebels confirmed their
previous action by taking all the guards from around us。 Only some eight
or ten were sent to the train； and these quartered themselves in the
caboose； and paid us no further attention。
The train rolled away amid cheering by ourselves and those we left
behind。 One thousand happier boys than we never started on a journey。
We were going home。 That was enough to wreathe the skies with glory； and
fill the world with sweetness and light。 The wintry sun had something of
geniality and warmth； the landscape lost some of its repulsiveness； the
dreary palmettos had less of that hideousness which made us regard them
as very fitting emblems of treason。 We even began to feel a little good…
humored contempt for our hateful little Brats of guards； and to reflect
how much vicious education and surroundings were to be held responsible
for their misdeeds。
We laughed and sang as we rolled along toward Savannahgoing back much
faster than the came。 We re…told old stories； and repeated old jokes；
that had become wearisome months and months ago； but were now freshened
up and given their olden pith by the joyousness of the occasion。 We
revived and talked over old schemes gotten up in the earlier days of
prison life； of what 〃we would do when we got out；〃 but almost forgotten
since； in the general uncertainty of ever getting out。 We exchanged
addresses； and promised faithfully to write to each other and tell how we
found everything at home。
So the afternoon and night passed。 We were too excited to sleep； and
passed the hours watching the scenery； recalling the objects we had
passed on the way to Blackshear； and guessing how near we were to
Savannah。
Though we were running along within fifteen or twenty miles of the coast；
with all our guards asleep in the caboose； no one thought of escape。
We could step off the cars and walk over to the seashore as easily as a
man steps out of his door and walks to a neighboring town； but why should
we？ Were we not going directly to our vessels in the harbor of Savannah；
and was it not better to do this； than to take the chances of escaping；
and encounter the difficulties of reaching our blockaders！ We thought
so； and we staid on the cars。
A cold； gray Winter morning was just breaking as we reached Savannah。
Our train ran down in the City； and then whistled sharply and ran back a
mile or so； it repeated this maneuver two or three times； the evident
design being to keep us on the cars until the people were ready to
receive us。 Finally our engine ran with all the speed she was capable
of； and as the train dashed into the street we found ourselves between
two heavy lines of guards with bayonets fixed。
The whole sickening reality was made apparent by one glance at the guard
line。 Our parole was a mockery； its only object being to get us to
Savannah as easily as possible； and to prevent benefit from our recapture
to any of Sherman's Raiders； who might make a dash for the railroad while
we were in transit。 There had been no intention of exchanging us。 There
was no exchange going on at Savannah。
After all； I do not think we felt the disappointment as keenly as the
first time we were brought to Savannah。 Imprisonment had stupefied us；
we were duller and more hopeless。
Ordered down out of the cars； we were formed in line in the street。
Said a Rebel officer：
〃Now； any of you fellahs that ah too sick to go to Chahlston； step
fohwahd one pace。〃
We looked at each other an instant； and then the whole line stepped
forward。 We all felt too sick to go to Charleston； or to do anything
else in the world。
CHAPTER LXVI。
SPECIMEN CONVERSATION WITH AN AVERAGE NATIVE GEORGIANWE LEARN THAT
SHERMAN IS HEADING FOR SAVANNAHTHE RESERVES GET A LITTLE SETTLING DOWN。
As the train left the northern suburbs of Savannah we came upon a scene
of busy activity； strongly contrasting with the somnolent lethargy that
seemed to be the normal condition of the City and its inhabitants。 Long
lines of earthworks were being constructed； gangs of negros were felling
trees； building forts and batteries； making abatis； and toiling with
numbers of huge guns which were being moved out and placed in position。
As we had had no new prisoners nor any papers for some weeksthe papers
being doubtless designedly kept away from uswe were at a loss to know
what this meant。 We could not understand this erection of fortifications
on that side； because； knowing as we did how well the flanks of the City
were protected by the Savannah and Ogeeche Rivers； we could not see how a
force from the coastwhence we supposed an attack must come； could hope
to reach the City's rear； especially as we had just come up on the right
flank of the City； and saw no sign of our folks in that direction。
Our train stopped for a few minutes at the edge of this line of works；
and an old citizen who had been surveying the scene with senile interest；
tottered over to our car to take a look at us。 He was a type of the old
man of the South of the scanty middle class； the small farmer。 Long
white hair and beard； spectacles with great round； staring glasses；
a broad…brimmed hat of ante…Revolutionary pattern； clothes that had
apparently descended to him from some ancestor who had come over with
Oglethorpe； and a two…handed staff with a head of buckhorn； upon which he
leaned as old peasants do in plays； formed such an image as recalled to
me the picture of the old man in the illustrations in 〃The Dairyman's
Daughter。〃 He was as garrulous as a magpie； and as opinionated as a
Southern white always is。 Halting in front of our car； he steadied
himself by planting his staff； clasping it with both lean and skinny
hands； and leaning forward upon it； his jaws then addressed themselves to
motion thus：
〃Boys； who mout these be that ye got？
〃One of the Guards：〃O； these is some Yanks that we've bin hivin' down
at Camp Sumter。〃
〃Yes？〃 （with an upward inflection of the voice； followed by a close
scrutiny of us through the goggle…eyed glasses；） 〃Wall； they're a
powerful ornary lookin' lot； I'll declah。〃
It will be seen that the old； gentleman's perceptive powers were much
more highly developed than his politeness。
〃Well； they ain't what ye mout call purty； that's a fack；〃 said the
guard。
〃So yer Yanks； air ye？〃 said the venerable Goober…Grabber； （the nick…name
in the South for Georgians）； directing his conversation to me。 〃Wall；
I'm powerful glad to see ye； an' 'specially whar ye can't do no harm；
I've wanted to see some Yankees ever sence the beginnin' of the wah； but
hev never had no chance。 Whah did ye cum from？〃
I seemed called upon to answer； and said： 〃I came from Illinois； most of
the boys in this car are from Illinois； Ohio； Indiana； Michigan and
Iowa。〃
〃'Deed！ All Westerners； air ye？ Wall； do ye know I alluz liked the
Westerners a heap sight better than them blue…bellied New England
Yankees。〃
No discussion with a Rebel ever proceeded very far without his making an
assertion like this。 It was a favorite declaration of theirs； but its
absurdity was comical； when one remembered that the majority of them
could not for their lives tell the names of the New England States； and
could no more distinguish a Downeaster from an Illinoisan than they could
tell a Saxon from a Bavarian。 One day； while I was holding a
conversation similar to the above with an old man on guard； another
guard； who had been stationed near a squad made up of Germans； that
talked altogether in the language of the Fatherland； broke in with：
〃Out there by post numbah foahteen； where I wuz yesterday； there's a lot
of Yanks who jest jabbered away all the hull time； and I hope I may never
see the back of my neck ef I could understand ary word they said； Are
them the regular blue…belly kind？〃
The old gentleman entered upon the next stage of the invariable routine
of discussion with a Rebel：
〃Wall； what air you'uns down heah； a…fightin' we'uns foh？〃
As I had answered this question several hundred times； I had found the
most extinguishing reply to be to ask in return：
〃What are you'uns coming up into our country to fight we'uns for？〃
Disdaining to notice this return in kind； the old man passed on to the
next stage：
〃What are you'uns takin' ouah niggahs away from us foh？〃
Now； if negros had been as cheap as oreoide watches； it is doubtful
whether the speaker had ever had money enough in his possession at one
time to buy one； and yet he talked of taking away 〃ouah niggahs；〃 as if
they were as plenty about his place as hills of corn。 As a rule； the
more abjectly poor a Southerner was； the more readily he worked himself
into a rage over the idea of 〃takin' away ouah niggahs。〃
I replied in burlesque of his assumption of ownership：
〃What are you coming up North to burn my rolling mills and rob my comrade
here's bank； and plunder my brother's store； and burn down my uncle's
factories？〃
No reply； to this counter thrust。 The old man passed to the third
inevitable proposition：
〃What air you'uns puttin' ouah niggahs in the field to fight we'uns foh？〃
Then the whole c