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To have done things better would have involved soma personal discomfort。
He was not likely to incur personal discomfort to mitigate evils that
were only afflicting someone else。 By an effort of one hour a day for
two weeks he could have had every man in Andersonville and Florence given
good shelter through his own exertions。 He was not only too indifferent
and too lazy to do this； but he was too malignant； and this neglect to
allowsimply allow； rememberthe prisoners to protect their lives by
providing their own shelter； gives the key to his whole disposition；
and would stamp his memory with infamy； even if there were no other
charges against him。
CHAPTER LXXV。
ONE INSTANCE OF A SUCCESSFUL ESCAPETHE ADVENTURES OF SERGEANT WALTER
HARTSOUGH； OF COMPANY K； SIXTEENTH ILLINOIS CAVALRYHE GETS AWAY FROM
THE REBELS AT THOMASVILLE； AND AFTER A TOILSOME AND DANGEROUS JOURNEY
OF SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES； REACHES OUR LINES IN FLORIDA。
While I was at Savannah I got hold of a primary geography in possession
of one of the prisoners； and securing a fragment of a lead pencil from
one comrade； and a sheet of note paper from another； I made a copy of the
South Carolina and Georgia sea coast； for the use of Andrews and myself
in attempting to escape。 The reader remembers the ill success of all our
efforts in that direction。 When we were at Blackshear we still had the
map； and intended to make another effort；〃 as soon as the sign got
right。〃 One day while we were waiting for this； Walter Hartsough； a
Sergeant of Company g； of our battalion； came to me and said：
〃Mc。； I wish you'd lend me your map a little while。 I want to make a
copy。〃
I handed it over to him； and never saw him more； as almost immediately
after we were taken out 〃on parole〃 and sent to Florence。 I heard from
other comrades of the battalion that he had succeeded in getting past the
guard line and into the Woods； which was the last they ever heard of him。
Whether starved to death in some swamp； whether torn to pieces by dogs；
or killed by the rifles of his pursuers； they knew not。 The reader can
judge of my astonishment as well as pleasure； at receiving among the
dozens of letters which came to me every day while this account was
appearing in the BLADE； one signed 〃Walter Hartsough； late of Co。 K；
Sixteenth Illinois Cavalry。〃 It was like one returned from the grave；
and the next mail took a letter to him； inquiring eagerly of his
adventures after we separated。 I take pleasure in presenting the reader
with his reply； which was only intended as a private communication to
myself。 The first part of the letter I omit； as it contains only gossip
about our old comrades； which； however interesting to myself； would
hardly be so to the general reader。
GENOA； WAYNE COUNTY； IA。；
May 27； 1879。
Dear Comrade Mc。：
。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。
I have been living in this town for ten years； running a general store；
under the firm name of Hartsough & Martin； and have been more successful
than I anticipated。
I made my escape from Thomasville； Ga。； Dec。 7； 1864； by running the
guards； in company with Frank Hommat； of Company M； and a man by the name
of Clipson； of the Twenty…First Illinois Infantry。 I had heard the
officers in charge of us say that they intended to march us across to the
other road； and take us back to Andersonville。 We concluded we would
take a heavy risk on our lives rather than return there。 By stinting
ourselves we had got a little meal ahead； which we thought we would bake
up for the journey； but our appetites got the better of us； and we ate it
all up before starting。 We were camped in the woods then； with no
Stockadeonly a line of guards around us。 We thought that by a little
strategy and boldness we could pass these。 We determined to try。
Clipson was to go to the right； Hommat in the center； and myself to the
left。 We all slipped through； without a shot。 Our rendezvous was to be
the center of a small swamp； through which flowed a small stream that
supplied the prisoners with water。 Hommat and I got together soon after
passing the guard lines； and we began signaling for Clipson。 We laid
down by a large log that lay across the stream； and submerged our limbs
and part of our bodies in the water； the better to screen ourselves from
observation。 Pretty soon a Johnny came along with a bunch of turnip
tops； that he was taking up to the camp to trade to the prisoners。 As he
passed over the log I could have caught him by the leg； which I intended
to do if he saw us； but he passed along； heedless of those concealed
under his very feet； which saved him a ducking at least； for we were
resolved to drown him if he discovered us。 Waiting here a little longer
we left our lurking place and made a circuit of the edge of the swamp；
still signaling for Clipson。 But we could find nothing of him； and at
last had to give him up。
We were now between Thomasville and the camp； and as Thomasville was the
end of the railroad； the woods were full of Rebels waiting
transportation； and we approached the road carefully； supposing that it
was guarded to keep their own men from going to town。 We crawled up to
the road； but seeing no one； started across it。 At that moment a guard
about thirty yards to our left； who evidently supposed that we were
Rebels； sang out：
〃Whar ye gwine to thar boys？〃
I answered：
〃Jest a…gwine out here a little ways。〃
Frank whispered me to run； but I said； 〃No； wait till he halts us； and
then run。〃 He walked up to where we had crossed his beatlooked after
us a few minutes； and then； to our great relief； walked back to his post。
After much trouble we succeeded in getting through all the troops； and
started fairly on our way。 We tried to shape our course toward Florida。
The country was very swampy； the night rainy and dark； no stars were out
to guide us； and we made such poor progress that when daylight came we
were only eight miles from our starting place； and close to a road
leading from Thomasville to Monticello。 Finding a large turnip patch；
we filled our pockets； and then hunted a place to lie concealed in during
the day。 We selected a thicket in the center of a large pasture。 We
crawled into this and laid down。 Some negros passed close to us； going
to their work in an adjoining field。 They had a bucket of victuals with
them for dinner； which they hung on the fence in such a way that we could
have easily stolen it without detection。 The temptation to hungry men
was very great； but we concluded that it was best and safest to let it
alone。
As the negros returned from work in the evening they separated； one old
man passing on the opposite side of the thicket from the rest。 We halted
him and told him that we were Rebs； who had taken a French leave of
Thomasville； that we were tired of guarding Yanks； and were going home；
and further； that we were hungry； and wanted something to eat。 He told
us that he was the boss on the plantation。 His master lived in
Thomasville。 He； himself； did not have much to eat； but he would show us
where to st