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seven…fold of what they had measured out to us； then we would be content
to go to death afterwards。 Had the thrice…accursed Confederacy and our
malignant gaolers millions of lives； our great revenge would have stomach
for them all。
The December morning was gray and leaden； dull； somber； snow…laden clouds
swept across the sky before the soughing wind。
The ground； frozen hard and stiff； cut and hurt our bare feet at every
step； an icy breeze drove in through the holes in our rags； and smote our
bodies like blows from sticks。 The trees and shrubbery around were as
naked and forlorn as in the North in the days of early Winter before the
snow comes。
Over and around us hung like a cold miasma the sickening odor peculiar to
Southern forests in Winter time。
Out of the naked； repelling； unlovely earth rose the Stockade； in hideous
ugliness。 At the gate the two men continued at their monotonous labor of
tossing the dead of the previous day into the wagon…heaving into that
rude hearse the inanimate remains that had once tempted gallant； manly
hearts； glowing with patriotism and devotion to countrypiling up
listlessly and wearily； in a mass of nameless； emaciated corpses；
fluttering with rags； and swarming with vermin； the pride； the joy of a
hundred fair Northern homes； whose light had now gone out forever。
Around the prison walls shambled the guards； blanketed like Indians；
and with faces and hearts of wolves。 Other Rebelsalso clad in dingy
butternutslouched around lazily； crouched over diminutive fires；
and talked idle gossip in the broadest of 〃nigger〃 dialect。 Officers
swelled and strutted hither and thither； and negro servants loitered
around； striving to spread the least amount of work over the greatest
amount of time。
While I stood gazing in gloomy silence at the depressing surroundings
Andrews； less speculative and more practical； saw a good…sized pine stump
near by； which had so much of the earth washed away from it that it
looked as if it could be readily pulled up。 We had had bitter experience
in other prisons as to the value of wood； and Andrews reasoned that as we
would be likely to have a repetition of this in the Stockade we were
about to enter； we should make an effort to secure the stump。 We both
attacked it； and after a great deal of hard work； succeeded in uprooting
it。 It was very lucky that we did； since it was the greatest help in
preserving our lives through the three long months that we remained at
Florence。
While we were arranging our stump so as to carry it to the best
advantage； a vulgar…faced man； with fiery red hair； and wearing on his
collar the yellow bars of a Lieutenant； approached。 This was Lieutenant
Barrett； commandant of the interior of the prison； and a more inhuman
wretch even than Captain Wirz； because he had a little more brains than
the commandant at Andersonville； and this extra intellect was wholly
devoted to cruelty。 As he came near he commanded； in loud； brutal tones：
〃Attention； Prisoners！〃
We all stood up and fell in in two ranks。 Said he：
〃By companies； right wheel； march！〃
This was simply preposterous。 As every soldier knows； wheeling by
companies is one of the most difficult of manuvers； and requires some
preparation of a battalion before attempting to execute it。 Our thousand
was made up of infantry； cavalry and artillery； representing； perhaps；
one hundred different regiments。 We had not been divided off into
companies； and were encumbered with blankets； tents； cooking utensils；
wood； etc。； which prevented our moving with such freedom as to make a
company wheel； even had we been divided up into companies and drilled for
the maneuver。 The attempt to obey the command was； of course； a
ludicrous failure。 The Rebel officers standing near Barrett laughed
openly at his stupidity in giving such an order； but he was furious。 He
hurled at us a torrent of the vilest abuse the corrupt imagination of man
can conceive； and swore until he was fairly black in the face。 He fired
his revolver off over our heads； and shrieked and shouted until he had to
stop from sheer exhaustion。 Another officer took command then； and
marched us into prison。
We found this a small copy of Andersonville。 There was a stream running
north and south； on either side of which was a swamp。 A Stockade of
rough logs； with the bark still on； inclosed several acres。 The front of
the prison was toward the West。 A piece of artillery stood before the
gate； and a platform at each corner bore a gun； elevated high enough to
rake the whole inside of the prison。 A man stood behind each of these
guns continually； so as to open with them at any moment。 The earth was
thrown up against the outside of the palisades in a high embankment；
along the top of which the guards on duty walked； it being high enough to
elevate their head； shoulders and breasts above the tops of the logs。
Inside the inevitable dead…line was traced by running a furrow around the
prison…twenty feet from the Stockadewith a plow。 In one respect it was
an improvement on Andersonville： regular streets were laid off； so that
motion about the camp was possible； and cleanliness was promoted。 Also；
the crowd inside was not so dense as at Camp Sumter。
The prisoners were divided into hundreds and thousands； with Sergeants at
the heads of the divisions。 A very good police force…organized and
officered by the prisonersmaintained order and prevented crime。 Thefts
and other offenses were punished； as at Andersonville； by the Chief of
Police sentencing the offenders to be spanked or tied up。
We found very many of our Andersonville acquaintances inside； and for
several days comparisons of experience were in order。 They had left
Andersonville a few days after us； but were taken to Charleston instead
of Savannah。 The same story of exchange was dinned into their ears until
they arrived at Charleston； when the truth was told them； that no
exchange was contemplated； and that they had been deceived for the
purpose of getting them safely out of reach of Sherman。
Still they were treated well in Charlestonbetter than they bad been
anywhere else。 Intelligent physicians had visited the sick； prescribed
for them； furnished them with proper medicines； and admitted the worst
cases to the hospital； where they were given something of the care that
one would expect in such an institution。 Wheat bread； molasses and rice
were issued to them； and also a few spoonfuls of vinegar； daily； which
were very grateful to them in their scorbutic condition。 The citizens
sent in clothing； food and vegetables。 The Sisters of Charity were
indefatigable in ministering to the sick and dying。 Altogether； their
recollections of the place were quite pleasant。
Despite the disagreeable prominence which the City had in the Secession
movement； there was a very strong Union element there； and many men found
opportunity to do favors to the prisoners and reveal to them how much
they abhorred Secession。
After they had been in Charleston a fortnight or more； the yellow fever
broke out in the City； and soon extended its ravages to the prisoners；
quite a number dyin