andersonville-第104部分

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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　ever　since　I　had　come　through　the　lines。

I　vomited　until　I　felt　as　empty　and　hollow　as　a　stove　pipe。　　There　was　a
vacuum　that　extended　clear　to　my　toe…nails。　　I　feared　that　every　retching
struggle　would　dent　me　in；　all　over；　as　one　sees　tin　preserving　cans
crushed　in　by　outside　pressure；　and　I　apprehended　that　if　I　kept　on　much
longer　my　shoe…soles　would　come　up　after　the　rest。

I　will　mention；　parenthetically；　that；　to　this　day　I　abhor　milk　punch；
and　also　onions。

Unutterably　miserable　as　I　was　I　could　not　refrain　from　a　ghost　of　a
smile；　when　a　poor　country　boy　near　me　sang　out　in　an　interval　between
vomiting　spells：

〃O；　Captain；　for　God's　sake；　stop　the　boat　and　lem'me　go　ashore；　and　I
swear　I'll　walk　every　step　of　the　way　home。〃

He　was　like　old　Gonzalo　in　the　'Tempest：'

　　　　　Now　world　I　give　a　thousand　furlongs　of　sea　for　an　acre　of　barren
　　　　　ground；　long　heath；　brown　furze；　anything。　　The　wills　above　be　done！
　　　　　but　I　would　fain　die　a　dry　death。

After　this　misery　had　lasted　about　two　days　we　got　past　Cape　Hatteras；
and　out　of　reach　of　its　malign　influence；　and　recovered　as　rapidly　as　we
had　been　prostrated。

We　regained　spirits　and　appetites　with　amazing　swiftness；　the　sun　came
out　warm　and　cheerful；　we　cleaned　up　our　quarters　and　ourselves　as　best
we　could；　and　during　the　remainder　of　the　voyage　were　as　blithe　and
cheerful　as　so　many　crickets。

The　fun　in　the　cabin　was　rollicking。　　The　officers　had　been　as　sick　as
the　men；　but　were　wonderfully　vivacious　when　the　'mal　du　mer'　passed　off。
In　the　party　was　a　fine　glee　club；　which　had　been　organized　at　〃Camp
Sorgum；〃　the　officers'　prison　at　Columbia。　　Its　leader　was　a　Major　of　the
Fifth　Iowa　Cavalry；　who　possessed　a　marvelously　sweet　tenor　voice；　and
well　developed　musical　powers。　　While　we　were　at　Wilmington　he　sang　〃When
Sherman　Marched　Down　to　the　Sea；〃　to　an　audience　of　soldiers　that　packed
the　Opera　House　densely。

The　enthusiasm　he　aroused　was　simply　indescribable；　men　shouted；　and　the
tears　ran　down　their　faces。　　He　was　recalled　time　and　again；　each　time
with　an　increase　in　the　furore。　　The　audience　would　have　staid　there　all
night　to　listen　to　him　sing　that　one　song。　　Poor　fellow；　he　only　went
home　to　die。　　An　attack　of　pneumonia　carried　him　off　within　a　fortnight
after　we　separated　at　Annapolis。

The　Glee　Club　had　several　songs　which　they　rendered　in　regular　negro
minstrel　style；　and　in　a　way　that　was　irresistibly　ludicrous。　　One　of
their　favorites　was　〃Billy　Patterson。〃　　All　standing　up　in　a　ring；　the
tenors　would　lead　off：

　　　　　　　　　　〃I　saw　an　old　man　go　riding　by；〃

and　the　baritones；　flinging　themselves　around　with　the　looseness　of
Christy's　Minstrels；　in　a　〃　break　down；〃　would　reply：

　　　　　　　　　　Don't　tell　me！　　Don't　tell　me！〃

Then　the　tenors　would　resume：

　　　　　　　　　　〃Says　I；　Ole　man；　your　horse'll　die。'

Then　the　baritones；　with　an　air　of　exaggerated　interest；

　　　　　　　　　　〃A…ha…a…a；　Billy　Patterson！〃

Tenors：

　　　　　　　　　　〃For。　　It　he　dies；　I'll　tan　his　skin；
　　　　　　　　　　An'　if　he　lives　I'll　ride　him　agin；〃

All…together；　with　a　furious　〃break　down〃　at　the　close：

　　　　　　　　　　〃Then　I'll　lay　five　dollars　down；
　　　　　　　　　　And　count　them　one　by　one；
　　　　　　　　　　Then　I'll　lay　five　dollars　down；
　　　　　　　　　　If　anybody　will　show　me　the　man
　　　　　　　　　　That　struck　Billy　Patterson。〃


And　so　on。　　It　used　to　upset　my　gravity　entirely　to　see　a　crowd　of　grave
and　dignified　Captains；　Majors　and　Colonels　going　through　this
nonsensical　drollery　with　all　the　abandon　of　professional　burnt…cork
artists。

As　we　were　nearing　the　entrance　to　Chesapeake　Bay　we　passed　a　great
monitor；　who　was　exercising　her　crew　at　the　guns。　　She　fired　directly
across　our　course；　the　huge　four　hundred　pound　balls　shipping　along　the
water；　about　a　mile　ahead　of　us；　as　we　boys　used　to　make　the　flat　stones
skip　in　the　play　of　〃Ducks　and　Drakes。〃　　One　or　two　of　the　shots　came　so。
close　that　I　feared　she　might　be　mistaking　us　for　a　Rebel　ship　intent　on
some　raid　up　the　Bay；　and　I　looked　up　anxiously　to　see　that　the　flag
should　float　out　so　conspicuously　that　she　could　not　help　seeing　it。

The　next　day　our　vessel　ran　alongside　of　the　dock　at　the　Naval　Academy　at
Annapolis；　that　institution　now　being　used　as　a　hospital　for　paroled
prisoners。　　The　musicians　of　the　Post　band　came　down　with　stretchers　to
carry　the　sick　to　the　Hospital；　while　those　of　us　who　were　able　to　walk
were　ordered　to　fall　in　and　march　up。　　The　distance　was　but　a　few　hundred
yards。　　On　reaching　the　building　we　marched　up　on　a　little　balcony；　and
as　we　did　so　each　one　of　us　was　seized　by　a　hospital　attendant；　who；　with
the　quick　dexterity　attained　by　long　practice；　snatched　every　one　of　our
filthy；　lousy　rags　off　in　the　twinkling　of　an　eye；　and　flung　them　over
the　railing　to　the　ground；　where　a　man　loaded　them　into　a　wagon　with　a
pitchfork。

With　them　went　our　faithful　little　black　can；　our　hoop…iron　spoon；　and
our　chessboard　and　men。

Thus　entirely　denuded；　each　boy　was　given　a　shove　which　sent　him　into　a
little　room；　where　a　barber　pressed　him　down　upon　a　stool；　and　almost
before　he　understood　what　was　being　done；　had　his　hair　and　beard　cut　off
as　close　as　shears　would　do　it。　　Another　tap　on　the　back　sent　the　shorn
lamb　into　a　room　furnished　with　great　tubs　of　water　and　with　about　six
inches　of　soap　suds　on　the　zinc…covered　floor。

In　another　minute　two　men　with　sponges　had　removed　every　trace　of　prison
grime　from　his　body；　and　passed　him　on　to　two　more　men；　who　wiped　him
dry；　and　moved　him　on　to　where　a　man　handed　him　a　new　shirt；　a　pair　of
drawers；　pair　of　socks；　pair　of　pantaloons；　pair　of　slippers；　and　a
hospital　gown；　and　motioned　him　to　go　on　into　the　large　room；　and　array
himself　in　his　new　garments。　　Like　everything　else　about　the　Hospital
this　performance　was　reduced　to　a　perfect　system。　　Not　a　word　was　spoken
by　anybody；　not　a　moment's　time　lost；　and　it　seemed　to　me　that　it　was　not
ten　minutes　after　I　marched　up　on　the　balcony；　covered　with　dirt；　rags；
vermin；　and　a　matted　shock　of　hair；　until　I　marched　out　of　the　room；
clean　and　well　clothed。　　Now　I　began　to　feel　as　if　I　was　really　a　man
again。

The　next　thing　done　was　to　register　our　names；　rank；　regiment；　when　and
where　captured；　when　and　where　released。　　After　this　we　were　shown　to　our
rooms。　　And　such　rooms　as　they　were。　　All　the　old　maids　in　the　country
could　not　have　improved　their　spick…span　neatness。　　The　floors　were　as
white　as　pine　plank　could　be　scoured；　the　sheets　and　bedding　as　clean　as
cotton　and　linen　and　woolen　could　be　washed。　　Nothing　in　any　home　in　the
land　was　any　more　daintily；　wholesomely；　unqualifiedly　clean　than　were
these　little　chambers；　each　containing　two　beds；　one　for　each　man
assigned　to　their　occupancy。

Andrews　doubted　if　we　could　stand　all　this　radical　change　in　our　habits。
He　feared　that　it　was　rushing　things　too　fast。　　We　might　have　had　our
hair　cut　one　week；　and　taken　a　bath　all　over　a　week　later；　and　so
progress　down　to　sleeping　between　white　sheets　in　the　course　of　six
months；　but　to　do　it　all　in　one　day　seemed　like　tempting　fate。

Every　turn　showed　us　some　new　feature　of　the　marvelous　order　of　this
wonderful　institution。　　Shortly　after　we　were　sent　to　our　rooms；
a　Surgeon　entered　with　a　Clerk。　　After　answering　the　usual　questions　as
to　name；　rank；　company　and　regiment；　the　Surgeon　examined　our　tongues；
eyes；　limbs　and　general　appearance；　and　communicated　his　conclusions　to
the　Clerk；　who　filled　out　a　blank　card。　　This　card　was　stuck　into　a
little　tin　holder　at　the　head　of　my　bed。　　Andrews's　card　was　the　same；
except　the　name。　　The　Surgeon　was　followed　by　a　Sergeant；　who　was　Chief
of　the　Dining…Room；　and　the　Clerk；　who　made　a　minute　of　the　diet　ordered
for　us；　and　moved　off。　　Andrews　and　I　immediately　became　very　solicitous
to　know　what　species　of　diet　No。　1　was。　　After　the　seasickness　left　us
our　appetites　became　as　ravenous　as　a　buzz…saw；　and　unless　Diet　No。　1　was
more　than　No。　1　in　name；　it　would　not　fill　the　bill。　　We　had　not　long　to
remain　in　suspense；　for　soon　another　non…commissioned　officer　passed
through　at　the　head　of　a　train　of　attendants；　bearing　trays。　　Consulting
the　list　in　his　hand；　he　said　to　one　of　his　followers；　〃　Two　No。　1's；〃
and　that　satellite　set　down　two　large　plates；　upon　each　of　which　were　a
cup　of　coffee；　a　shred　of　meat；　two　boiled　eggs　and　a　couple　of　rolls。

〃Well；〃　said　Andrews；　as　the　procession　moved　away；　〃I　want　to　know　where
this　thing's　going　to　stop。　　I　am　trying　hard　to　get　used　to　wearing　a
shirt　without　any　lice　in　it；　and　to　sitting　down　on　a　chair；　and　to
sleeping　in　a　clean　bed；　but　when　it　comes　to　having　my　meals　sent　to　my
room；　I'm　afraid　I'll　degenerate　into　a　pampered　child　of　luxury。　　They
are　really　piling　it　on　too　strong。　　Let　us　see；　Mc。；　how　long's　it　been
since　we　were　sitting　on　the　sand　there　in　Florence；　boiling　our　pint　of
meal　in　that　old　can？〃

〃It　seems　many　years；　Lale；〃　I　said；　〃but　for　heaven's　sake　let　us　try　to
forget　it　as　soon　as　possible。　　We　will　always　remember　too　much　of　it。〃

And　we　did　try　hard　to　make　the　miserable　recollections　fade　out　of　our
minds。　　When　we　were　stripped　on　the　balcony　we　threw　away　every　visible
token　that　could　remind　us　of　the　hateful　experience　we　had　passed
through。　　We　did　not　retain　a　scrap　of　paper　or　a　relic　to　recall　the
unhappy　past。　　We　loathed　everything　connected　with　it。

The　days　that　followed　were　very　happy　ones。　　The　Paymaster　came　around
and　paid　us　each　two　months'　pay　and　twenty…five　cents　a　day　〃ration
money〃　for　every　day　we　had　been　in　prison。　　This　gave　Andrews　and　I
about　one　hundred　and　sixty…five　dollars　apiecean　abundance　of　spending
money。　　Uncle　Sam　was　very　kind　and　considerate　to　his　soldier　nephews；
and　the　Hospital　authorities　neglected　nothing　that　would　add　to　our
comfort。　　The　superbly…kept　grounds　of　the　Naval　Academy　were　renewing
the　freshness　of　their　loveliness　under　the　tender　wooing　of　the
advancing　Spring；　and　every　step　one　sauntered　through　them　was　a　new
delight。