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life of a blacksmith sacred。 No matter how bitter the feud between
tribes； no one will kill the other's workers of iron； and instances are
told of warriors saving their lives at critical periods by falling on
their knees and making with their garments an imitation of the action of
a smith's bellows。
All whom we met were eager to discuss with us the causes； phases and
progress of the war； and whenever opportunity offered or could be made；
those of us who were inclined to talk were speedily involved in an
argument with crowds of soldiers and citizens。 But； owing to the polemic
poverty of our opponents； the argument was more in name than in fact。
Like all people of slender or untrained intellectual powers they labored
under the hallucination that asserting was reasoning； and the emphatic
reiteration of bald statements； logic。 The narrow round which all from
highest to lowesttraveled was sometimes comical； and sometimes
irritating； according to one's mood！ The dispute invariably began by
their asking：
〃Well； what are you 'uns down here a…fightin' we 'uns for？
As this was replied to the newt one followed：
〃Why are you'uns takin' our niggers away from we 'uns for？〃
Then came：
〃What do you 'uns put our niggers to fightin' we'uns for？〃 The windup
always was： 〃Well； let me tell you； sir； you can never whip people that
are fighting for liberty； sir。〃
Even General Giltner； who had achieved considerable military reputation
as commander of a division of Kentucky cavalry； seemed to be as slenderly
furnished with logical ammunition as the balance； for as he halted by us
he opened the conversation with the well…worn formula：
〃Well： what are you 'uns down here a…fighting we'uns for？〃
The question had become raspingly monotonous to me； whom he addressed；
and I replied with marked acerbity：
〃Because we are the Northern mudsills whom you affect to despise； and we
came down here to lick you into respecting us。〃
The answer seemed to tickle him； a pleasanter light came into his
sinister gray eyes； he laughed lightly； and bade us a kindly good day。
Four days after our capture we arrived in Bristol。 The guards who had
brought us over the mountains were relieved by others； the Sergeant bade
me good by； struck his spurs into 〃Hiatoga's〃 sides； and he and my
faithful horse were soon lost to view in the darkness。
A new and keener sense of desolation came over me at the final separation
from my tried and true four…footed friend； who had been my constant
companion through so many perils and hardships。 We had endured together
the Winter's cold； the dispiriting drench of the rain； the fatigue of the
long march； the discomforts of the muddy camp； the gripings of hunger；
the weariness of the drill and review； the perils of the vidette post；
the courier service； the scout and the fight。 We had shared in common
The whips and scorns of time；
The oppressor's wrong； the proud man's contumely；
The insolence of office； and the spurns
which a patient private and his horse of the unworthy take； we had had
our frequently recurring rows with other fellows and their horses； over
questions of precedence at watering places； and grass…plots； had had
lively tilts with guards of forage piles in surreptitious attempts to get
additional rations； sometimes coming off victorious and sometimes being
driven off ingloriously。 I had often gone hungry that he might have the
only ear of corn obtainable。 I am not skilled enough in horse lore to
speak of his points or pedigree。 I only know that his strong limbs never
failed me； and that he was always ready for duty and ever willing。
Now at last our paths diverged。 I was retired from actual service to a
prison； and he bore his new master off to battle against his old friends。
。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。
Packed closely in old； dilapidated stock and box cars； as if cattle in
shipment to market； we pounded along slowly； and apparently interminably；
toward the Rebel capital。
The railroads of the South were already in very bad condition。 They were
never more than passably good； even in their best estate； but now；
with a large part of the skilled men engaged upon them escaped back to
the North； with all renewal； improvement； or any but the most necessary
repairs stopped for three years； and with a marked absence of even
ordinary skill and care in their management； they were as nearly ruined
as they could well be and still run。
One of the severe embarrassments under which the roads labored was a lack
of oil。 There is very little fatty matter of any kind in the South。
The climate and the food plants do not favor the accumulation of adipose
tissue by animals； and there is no other source of supply。 Lard oil and
tallow were very scarce and held at exorbitant prices。
Attempts were made to obtain lubricants from the peanut and the cotton
seed。 The first yielded a fine bland oil； resembling the ordinary grade
of olive oil； but it was entirely too expensive for use in the arts。
The cotton seed oil could be produced much cheaper； but it had in it such
a quantity of gummy matter as to render it worse than useless for
employment on machinery。
This scarcity of oleaginous matter produced a corresponding scarcity of
soap and similar detergents； but this was a deprivation which caused the
Rebels； as a whole； as little inconvenience as any that they suffered
from。 I have seen many thousands of them who were obviously greatly in
need of soap； but if they were rent with any suffering on that account
they concealed it with marvelous self…control。
There seemed to be a scanty supply of oil provided for the locomotives；
but the cars had to run with unlubricated axles； and the screaking and
groaning of the grinding journals in the dry boxes was sometimes almost
deafening； especially when we were going around a curve。
Our engine went off the wretched track several times； but as she was not
running much faster than a man could walk； the worst consequence to us
was a severe jolting。 She was small； and was easily pried back upon the
track； and sent again upon her wheezy； straining way。
The depression which had weighed us down for a night and a day after our
capture had now been succeeded by a more cheerful feeling。 We began to
look upon our condition as the fortune of war。 We were proud of our
resistance to overwhelming numbers。 We knew we had sold ourselves at a
price which； if the Rebels had it to do over again； they would not pay
for us。 We believed that we had killed and seriously wounded as many of
them as they had killed； wounded and captured of us。 We had nothing to
blame ourselves for。 Moreover； we began to be buoyed up with the
expectation that we would be exchanged immediately upon our arrival at
Richmond； and the Rebel officers confidently assured us that this would
be so。 There was then a temporary hitch in the exchange； but it would
all be straightened out in a few days； and it might not be a month until
we were again marching out of Cumberland Gap； on an avenging foray
against some of the force which had assisted in our capt