andersonville-第103部分

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soldiers　made　a　lodgment　on　the　land　face。　　Then　began　some　beautiful
cooperative　tactics　between　the　Army　and　Navy；　communication　being　kept
up　with　signal　flags。　　Our　men　were　on　one　side　of　the　parapets　and　the
Rebels　on　the　other；　with　the　fighting　almost　hand…to…hand。　　The　vessels
ranged　out　to　where　their　guns　would　rake　the　Rebel　line；　and　as　their
shot　tore　down　its　length；　the　Rebels　gave　way；　and　falling　back　to　the
next　traverse；　renewed　the　conflict　there。　　Guided　by　the　signals　our
vessels　changed　their　positions；　so　as　to　rake　this　line　also；　and　so　the
fight　went　on　until　twelve　traverses　had　been　carried；　one　after　the
other；　when　the　rebels　surrendered。

The　next　day　the　Rebels　abandoned　Fort　Caswell　and　other　fortifications
in　the　immediate　neighborhood；　surrendered　two　gunboats；　and　fell　back　to
the　lines　at　Fort　Anderson。　　After　Fort　Fisher　fell；　several　blockade…
runners　were　lured　inside　and　captured。

Never　before　had　there　been　such　a　demonstration　of　the　power　of　heavy
artillery。　　Huge　cannon　were　pounded　into　fragments；　hills　of　sand　ripped
open；　deep　crevasses　blown　in　the　ground　by　exploding　shells；　wooden
buildings　reduced　to　kindling…wood；　etc。　　The　ground　was　literally　paved
with　fragments　of　shot　and　shell；　which；　now　red　with　rust　from　the
corroding　salt　air；　made　the　interior　of　the　fort　resemble　what　one　of
our　party　likened　it　to　〃an　old　brickyard。〃

Whichever　way　we　looked　along　the　shores　we　saw　abundant　evidence　of　the
greatness　of　the　business　which　gave　the　place　its　importance。　　In　all
directions；　as　far　as　the　eye　could　reach；　the　beach　was　dotted　with　the
bleaching　skeletons　of　blockade…runnerssome　run　ashore　by　their
mistaking　the　channel；　more　beached　to　escape　the　hot　pursuit　of　our
blockaders。

Directly　in　front　of　the　sea　face　of　the　fort；　and　not　four　hundred　yards
from　the　savage　mouths　of　the　huge　guns；　the　blackened　timbers　of　a
burned　blockade…runner　showed　above　the　water　at　low　tide。　　Coming　in
from　Nassau　with　a　cargo　of　priceless　value　to　the　gasping　Confederacy；
she　was　observed　and　chased　by　one　of　our　vessels；　a　swifter　sailer；
even；　than　herself。　　The　war　ship　closed　rapidly　upon　her。　　She　sought
the　protection　of　the　guns　of　Fort　Fisher；　which　opened　venomously　on　the
chaser。　　They　did　not　stop　her；　though　they　were　less　than　half　a　mile
away。　　In　another　minute　she　would　have　sent　the　Rebel　vessel　to　the
bottom　of　the　sea；　by　a　broadside　from　her　heavy　guns；　but　the　Captain　of
the　latter　turned　her　suddenly；　and　ran　her　high　up　on　the　beach；
wrecking　his　vessel；　but　saving　the　much　more　valuable　cargo。　　Our　vessel
then　hauled　off；　and　as　night　fell；　quiet　was　restored。　　At　midnight　two
boat…loads　of　determined　men；　rowing　with　muffled　oars　moved　silently　out
from　the　blockader　towards　the　beached　vessel。　　In　their　boats　they　had
some　cans　of　turpentine；　and　several　large　shells。　　When　they　reached　the
blockade…runner　they　found　all　her　crew　gone　ashore；　save　one　watchman；
whom　they　overpowered　before　he　could　give　the　alarm。　　They　cautiously
felt　their　way　around；　with　the　aid　of　a　dark　lantern；　secured　the　ship's
chronometer；　her　papers　and　some　other　desired　objects。　　They　then
saturated　with　the　turpentine　piles　of　combustible　material；　placed　about
the　vessel　to　the　best　advantage；　and　finished　by　depositing　the　shells
where　their　explosion　would　ruin　the　machinery。　　All　this　was　done　so
near　to　the　fort　that　the　sentinels　on　the　parapets　could　be　heard　with
the　greatest　distinctness　as　they　repeated　their　half…hourly　cry　of
〃All's　well。〃　　Their　preparations　completed；　the　daring　fellows　touched
matches　to　the　doomed　vessel　in　a　dozen　places　at　once；　and　sprang　into
their　boats。　　The　flames　instantly　enveloped　the　ship；　and　showed　the
gunners　the　incendiaries　rowing　rapidly　away。　　A　hail　of　shot　beat　the
water　into　a　foam　around　the　boats；　but　their　good　fortune　still　attended
them；　and　they　got　back　without　losing　a　man。

The　wind　at　length　calmed　sufficiently　to　encourage　our　Captain　to
venture　out；　and　we　were　soon　battling　with　the　rolling　waves；　far　out　of
sight　of　land。　　For　awhile　the　novelty　of　the　scene　fascinated　me。　　I　was
at　last　on　the　ocean；　of　which　I　had　heard；　read　and　imagined　so　much。
The　creaking　cordage；　the　straining　engine；　the　plunging　ship；　the　wild
waste　of　tumbling　billows；　everyone　apparently　racing　to　where　our
tossing　bark　was　struggling　to　maintain　herself；　all　had　an　entrancing
interest　for　me；　and　I　tried　to　recall　Byron's　sublime　apostrophe　to　the
ocean：

　　　　　　　　　　Thou　glorious　mirror；　where　the　Almighty's　form
　　　　　　　　　　Classes　itself　in　tempest：　in　all　time；
　　　　　　　　　　Calm　or　convulsed…in　breeze；　or　gale；　or　storm；
　　　　　　　　　　Icing　the　pole；　or　in　the　torrid　clime
　　　　　　　　　　Dark…heavingboundless；　endless；　and　sublime
　　　　　　　　　　The　image　of　eternitythe　throne
　　　　　　　　　　Of　the　invisible；　even　from　out　thy　slime
　　　　　　　　　　The　monsters　of　the　deep　are　made；　each　zone
　　　　　　　　　　Obey　thee：　thou　goest　forth；　dread；　fathomless；　alone；

Just　then；　my　reverie　was　broken　by　the　strong　hand　of　the　gruff　Captain
of；　the　vessel　descending　upon　my　shoulder；　and　he　said：

〃See；　here；　youngster！　　Ain't　you　the　fellow　that　was　put　in　command　of
these　men？〃

I　acknowledged　such　to　be　the　case。

〃Well；〃　said　the　Captain；　〃I　want　you　to　'tend　to　your　business　and
straighten　them　around；　so　that　we　can　clean　off　the　decks。〃

I　turned　from　the　bulwark　over　which　I　had　been　contemplating　the　vasty
deep；　and　saw　the　sorriest；　most　woe…begone　lot　that　the　imagination　can
conceive。　　Every　mother's　son　was　wretchedly　sea…sick。　　They　were　paying
the　penalty　of　their　overfeeding　in　Wilmington；　and　every　face　looked　as
if　its　owner　was　discovering　for　the　first　time　what　the　real　lower
depths　of　human　misery　was。　　They　all　seemed　afraid　they　would　not　die；
as　if　they　were　praying　for　death；　but　feeling　certain　that　he　was　going
back　on　them　in　a　most　shameful　way。

We　straightened　them　around　a　little；　washed　them　and　the　decks　off　with
a　hose；　and　then　I　started　down　in　the　hold　to　see　how　matters　were　with
the　six　hundred　down　there。　　The　boys　there　were　much　sicker　than　those
on　deck。　　As　I　lifted　the　hatch　there　rose　an　odor　which　appeared　strong
enough　to　raise　the　plank　itself。　　Every　onion　that　had　been　issued　to　us
in　Wilmington　seemed　to　lie　down　there　in　the　last　stages　of
decomposition。　　All　of　the　seventy　distinct　smells　which　Coleridge
counted　at　Cologne　might　have　been　counted　in　any　given　cubic　foot　of
atmosphere；　while　the　next　foot　would　have　an　entirely　different　and
equally　demonstrative　〃bouquet。〃

I　recoiled；　and　leaned　against　the　bulwark；　but　soon　summoned　up　courage
enough　to　go　half…way　down　the　ladder；　and　shout　out　in　as　stern　a　tone
as　I　could　command：

〃here；　now！　　I　want　you　fellows　to　straighten　around　there；　right　off；
and　help　clean　up！〃

They　were　as　angry　and　cross　as　they　were　sick。　　They　wanted　nothing　in
the　world　so　much　as　the　opportunity　I　had　given　them　to　swear　at　and
abuse　somebody。　　Every　one　of　them　raised　on　his　elbow；　and　shaking　his
fist　at　me　yelled　out：

〃O；　you　go　to　；　you　　　。　　Just　come　down　another　step；
and　I'll　knock　the　whole　head　off　'en　you。〃

I　did　not　go　down　any　farther。

Coming　back　on　the　deck　my　stomach　began　to　feel　qualmish。　　Some　wretched
idiot；　whose　grandfather's　grave　I　hope　the　jackasses　have　defiled；　as
the　Turks　would　say；　told　me　that　the　best　preventive　of　sea…sickness　was
to　drink　as　much　of　the　milk　punch　as　I　could　swallow。

Like　another　idiot；　I　did　so。

I　went　again　to　the　side　of　the　vessel；　but　now　the　fascination　of　the
scene　had　all　faded　out。　　The　restless　billows　were　dreary；　savage；
hungry　and　dizzying；　they　seemed　to　claw　at；　and　tear；　and　wrench　the
struggling　ship　as　a　group　of　huge　lions　would　tease　and　worry　a　captive
dog。　　They　distressed　her　and　all　on　board　by　dealing　a　blow　which　would
send　her　reeling　in　one　direction；　but　before　she　had　swung　the　full
length　that　impulse　would　have　sent　her；　catching　her　on　the　opposite
side　with　a　stunning　shock　that　sent　her　another　way；　only　to　meet
another　rude　buffet　from　still　another　side。

I　thought　we　could　all　have　stood　it　if　the　motion　had　been　like　that　of
a　swing…backward　and　forwardor　even　if　the　to　and　fro　motion　had　been
complicated　with　a　side…wise　swing；　but　to　be　put　through　every　possible
bewildering　motion　in　the　briefest　space　of　time　was　more　than　heads　of
iron　and　stomachs　of　brass　could　stand。

Mine　were　not　made　of　such　perdurable　stuff。

They　commenced　mutinous　demonstrations　in　regard　to　the　milk　punch。

I　began　wondering　whether　the　milk　was　not　the　horrible　beer　swill；
stump…tail　kind　of　which　I　had　heard　so　much。

And　the　whisky　in　it；　to　use　a　vigorous　Westernism；　descriptive　of　mean
whisky；　it　seemed　to　me　that　I　could　smell　the　boy's　feet　who　plowed　the
corn　from　which　it　was　distilled。

Then　the　onions　I　had　eaten　in　Wilmington　began　to　rebel；　and　incite　the
bread；　meat　and　coffee　to　gastric　insurrection；　and　I　became　so　utterly
wretched　that　life　had　no　farther　attractions。

While　I　was　leaning　over　the　bulwark；　musing　on　the　complete　hollowness
of　all　earthly　things；　the　Captain　of　the　vessel　caught　hold　of　me
roughly；　and　said：

〃Look　here；　you're　just　playin'　the　very　devil　a…commandin'　these　here
men。　　Why　in　　don't　you　stiffen　up；　and　hump　yourself　around；　and
make　these　men　mind；　or　else　belt　them　over　the　head　with　a　capstan　bar！
Now　I　want　you　to　'tend　to　your　business。　　D'you　understand　me？〃

I　turned　a　pair　of　weary　and　hopeless　eyes　upon　him；　and　started　to　say
that　a　man　who　would　talk　to　one　in　my　forlorn　condition　of　〃stiffening
up；〃　and　〃belting　other　fellows　over　the　head　with　a　capstan　bar；〃　would
insult　a　woman　dying　with　consumption；　but　I　suddenly　became　too　full　for
utterance。

The　milk　punch；　the　onions；　the　bread；　and　meat　and　coffee　tired　of
fighting　it　out　in　the　narrow　quarters　where　I　had　stowed　them；　had
started　upwards　tumultuously。

I　turned　my　head　again　to　the　sea；　and　looking　down　into　its　smaragdine
depths；　let　go　of　the　victualistic　store　which　I　had　been　industriously
accumulating　e