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was rather thickly wooded； and covered with undergrowth； when the
Stockade was built； and certainly no bit of soil was ever so thoroughly
cleared as this was。 The trees and brush were cut down and worked up
into hut building materials by the same slow and laborious process that I
have described as employed in building our huts at Millen。
Then the stumps were attacked for fuel； and with such persistent
thoroughness that after some weeks there was certainly not enough woody
material left in that whole fifteen acres of ground to kindle a small
kitchen fire。 The men would begin work on the stump of a good sized
tree； and chip and split it off painfully and slowly until they had
followed it to the extremity of the tap root ten or fifteen feet below
the surface。 The lateral roots would be followed with equal
determination； and trenches thirty feet long； and two or three feet deep
were dug with case…knives and half…canteens； to get a root as thick as
one's wrist。 The roots of shrubs and vines were followed up and gathered
with similar industry。 The cold weather and the scanty issues of wood
forced men to do this。
The huts constructed were as various as the materials and the tastes of
the builders。 Those who were fortunate enough to get plenty of timber
built such cabins as I have described at Millen。 Those who had less eked
out their materials in various ways。 Most frequently all that a squad of
three or four could get would be a few slender poles and some brush。
They would dig a hole in the ground two feet deep and large enough for
them all to lie in。 Then putting up a stick at each end and laying a
ridge pole across； they； would adjust the rest of their material so as to
form sloping sides capable of supporting earth enough to make a water…
tight roof。 The great majority were not so well off as these； and had
absolutely； nothing of which to build。 They had recourse to the clay of
the swamp； from which they fashioned rude sun…dried bricks； and made
adobe houses； shaped like a bee hive； which lasted very well until a hard
rain came； when they dissolved into red mire about the bodies of their
miserable inmates。
Remember that all these makeshifts were practiced within a half…a…mile of
an almost boundless forest； from which in a day's time the camp could
have been supplied with material enough to give every man a comfortable
hut。
CHAPTER LXIX。
BARRETT'S INSANE CRUELTYHOW HE PUNISHED THOSE ALLEGED TO BE ENGAGED IN
TUNNELINGTHE MISERY IN THE STOCKADEMEN'S LIMBS ROTTING OFF WITH DRY
GANGRENE。
Winder had found in Barrett even a better tool for his cruel purposes
than Wirz。 The two resembled each other in many respects。 Both were
absolutely destitute of any talent for commanding men； and could no more
handle even one thousand men properly than a cabin boy could navigate a
great ocean steamer。 Both were given to the same senseless fits of
insane rage； coming and going without apparent cause； during which they
fired revolvers and guns or threw clubs into crowds of prisoners； or
knocked down such as were within reach of their fists。 These exhibitions
were such as an overgrown child might be expected to make。 They did not
secure any result except to increase the prisoners' wonder that such ill…
tempered fools could be given any position of responsibility。
A short time previous to our entry Barrett thought he had reason to
suspect a tunnel。 He immediately announced that no more rations should
be issued until its whereabouts was revealed and the； ringleaders in the
attempt to escape delivered up to him。 The rations at that time were
very scanty； so that the first day they were cut off the sufferings were
fearful。 The boys thought he would surely relent the next day； but they
did not know their man。 He was not suffering any； why should he relax
his severity？ He strolled leisurely out from his dinner table； picking
his teeth with his penknife in the comfortable； self…satisfied way of a
coarse man who has just filled his stomach to his entire contentan
attitude and an air that was simply maddening to the famishing wretches；
of whom he inquired tantalizingly：
〃Air ye're hungry enough to give up them G…d d d ss of bs yet？〃
That night thirteen thousand men； crazy； fainting with hunger； walked
hither and thither； until exhaustion forced them to become quiet； sat on
the ground and pressed their bowels in by leaning against sticks of wood
laid across their thighs； trooped to the Creek and drank water until
their gorges rose and they could swallow no moredid everything in fact
that imagination could suggestto assuage the pangs of the deadly
gnawing that was consuming their vitals。 All the cruelties of the
terrible Spanish Inquisition； if heaped together； would not sum up a
greater aggregate of anguish than was endured by them。 The third day
came； and still no signs of yielding by Barrett。 The Sergeants counseled
together。 Something must be done。 The fellow would starve the whole
camp to death with as little compunction as one drowns blind puppies。
It was necessary to get up a tunnel to show Barrett； and to get boys who
would confess to being leaders in the work。 A number of gallant fellows
volunteered to brave his wrath； and save the rest of their comrades。
It required high courage to do this； as there was no question but that
the punishment meted out would be as fearful as the cruel mind of the
fellow could conceive。 The Sergeants decided that four would be
sufficient to answer the purpose； they selected these by lot； marched
them to the gate and delivered them over to Barrett； who thereupon
ordered the rations to be sent in。 He was considerate enough； too； to
feed the men he was going to torture。
The starving men in the Stockade could not wait after the rations were
issued to cook them； but in many instances mixed the meal up with water；
and swallowed it raw。 Frequently their stomachs； irritated by the long
fast； rejected the mess； any very many had reached the stage where they
loathed food； a burning fever was consuming them； and seething their
brains with delirium。 Hundreds died within a few days； and hundreds more
were so debilitated by the terrible strain that they did not linger long
afterward。
The boys who had offered themselves as a sacrifice for the rest were put
into a guard house； and kept over night that Barrett might make a day of
the amusement of torturing them。 After he had laid in a hearty
breakfast； and doubtless fortified himself with some of the villainous
sorgum whisky； which the Rebels were now reduced to drinking； he set
about his entertainment。
The devoted four were brought outone by oneand their hands tied
together behind their backs。 Then a noose of a slender； strong hemp rope
was slipped over the first one's thumbs and drawn tight； after which the
rope was thrown over a log projecting from the roof of the guard house；
and two or three Rebels hauled upon it until the miserable Yankee was
lifted from the ground； and hung suspended by the thumbs； while his
weight seemed tearing his limbs from his shoulder blades。 The other
three were treated in the same manner。
The agony was simply excruciating。 The boys were brave； and had resolved
to stand their punishment without a groan； but this was too much for
human endurance。 Their will was strong； but Nature could not be denied；
and they shrieked aloud so pitifully that a young Reserve standing near
fainted。 Each one screamed：
〃For God's sake； kill me！ kill me！ Shoot me ifyou want to； but let me
down from here！〃 The only effect of this upon Barrett was to light up
his brutal face with a leer of fiendish satisfaction。 He said to the
guards with a gleeful wink：
〃By God； I'll learn these Yanks to be more afeard of me than of the old
devil himself。 They'll soon understand that I'm not the man to fool
with。 I'm old pizen； I am； when I git started。 Jest hear 'em squeal；
won't yer？〃
Then walking from one prisoner to another； he said：
〃D…n yer skins； ye'll dig tunnels； will ye？ Ye'll try to git out； and
run through the country stealin' and carryin' off niggers； and makin'
more trouble than yer dd necks are worth。 I'll learn ye all about
that。 If I ketch ye at this sort of work again； dd ef I don't kill
ye ez soon ez I ketch ye。〃
And so on； ad infinitum。 How long the boys were kept up there undergoing
this torture can not be said。 Perhaps it was an hour or more。 To the
locker…on it seemed long hours； to the poor fellows themselves it was
ages。 When they were let down at last； all fainted； and were carried
away to the hospital； where they were weeks in recovering from the
effects。 Some of them were crippled for life。
When we came into the prison there were about eleven thousand there。
More uniformly wretched creatures I had never before seen。 Up to the
time of our departure from Andersonville the constant influx of new
prisoners had prevented the misery and wasting away of life from becoming
fully realized。 Though thousands were continually dying； thousands more
of healthy； clean； well…clothed men were as continually coming in from
the front； so that a large portion of those inside