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consequence。
Soon it drifted in to us that Sherman had cut loose from Savannah； as
from Atlanta； and entered South Carolina； to repeat there the march
through her sister State。 Our sources of information now were confined
to the gossip which our menworking outside on parole；could overhear
from the Rebels； and communicate to us as occasion served。 These
occasions were not frequent； as the men outside were not allowed to come
in except rarely； or stay long then。 Still we managed to know
reasonably； soon that Sherman was sweeping resistlessly across the State；
with Hardee； Dick Taylor； Beauregard； and others； vainly trying to make
head against him。 It seemed impossible to us that they should not stop
him soon； for if each of all these leaders had any command worthy the
name the aggregate must make an army that； standing on the defensive；
would give Sherman a great deal of trouble。 That he would be able to
penetrate into the State as far as we were never entered into our minds。
By and by we were astonished at the number of the trains that we could
hear passing north on the Charleston & Cheraw Railroad。 Day and night
for two weeks there did not seem to be more than half an hour's interval
at any time between the rumble and whistles of the trains as they passed
Florence Junction； and sped away towards Cheraw； thirty…five miles north
of us。 We at length discovered that Sherman had reached Branchville； and
was singing around toward Columbia； and other important points to the
north； that Charleston was being evacuated； and its garrison； munitions
and stores were being removed to Cheraw； which the Rebel Generals
intended to make their new base。 As this news was so well confirmed as
to leave no doubt of it； it began to wake up and encourage all the more
hopeful of us。 We thought we could see some premonitions of the glorious
end； and that we were getting vicarious satisfaction at the hands of our
friends under the command of Uncle Billy。
One morning orders came for one thousand men to get ready to move。
Andrews and I held a council of war on the situation； the question before
the house being whether we would go with that crowd； or stay behind。 The
conclusion we came to was thus stated by Andrews：
〃Now； Mc。； we've flanked ahead every time； and see how we've come out。
We flanked into the first squad that left Richmond； and we were
consequently in the first that got into Andersonville。 May be if we'd
staid back we'd got into that squad that was exchanged。 We were in the
first squad that left Andersonville。 We were the first to leave Savannah
and enter Millen。 May be if we'd staid back； we'd got exchanged with the
ten thousand sick。 We were the first to leave Millen and the first to
reach Blackshear。 We were again the first to leave Blackshear。 Perhaps
those fellows we left behind then are exchanged。 Now； as we've played
ahead every time； with such infernal luck； let's play backward this time；
and try what that brings us。〃
〃But； Lale；〃 （Andrews's nicknamehis proper name being Bezaleel）； said
I； 〃we made something by going ahead every timethat is； if we were not
going to be exchanged。 By getting into those places first we picked out
the best spots to stay； and got tent…building stuff that those who came
after us could not。 And certainly we can never again get into as bad a
place as this is。 The chances are that if this does not mean exchange；
it means transfer to a better prison。〃
But we concluded； as I said above； to reverse our usual order of
procedure and flank back； in hopes that something would favor our escape
to Sherman。 Accordingly； we let the first squad go off without us； and
the next； and the next； and so on； till there were only eleven hundred
mostly those sick in the Hospitalremaining behind。 Those who went
awaywe afterwards learned； were run down on the cars to Wilmington； and
afterwards up to Goldsboro； N。 C。
For a week or more we eleven hundred tenanted the Stockade； and by
burning up the tents of those who had gone had the only decent；
comfortable fires we had while in Florence。 In hunting around through
the tents for fuel we found many bodies of those who had died as their
comrades were leaving。 As the larger portion of us could barely walk；
the Rebels paroled us to remain inside of the Stockade or within a few
hundred yards of the front of it； and took the guards off。 While these
were marching down； a dozen or more of us； exulting in even so much
freedom as we had obtained； climbed on the Hospital shed to see what the
outlook was； and perched ourselves on the ridgepole。 Lieutenant Barrett
came along； at a distance of two hundred yards； with a squad of guards。
Observing us； he halted his men； faced them toward us； and they leveled
their guns as if to fire。 He expected to see us tumble down in ludicrous
alarm； to avoid the bullets。 But we hated him and them so bad； that we
could not give them the poor satisfaction of scaring us。 Only one of our
party attempted to slide down； but the moment we swore at him he came
back and took his seat with folded arms alongside of us。 Barrett gave
the order to fire； and the bullets shrieked aver our heads； fortunately
not hitting anybody。 We responded with yells of derision； and the worst
abuse we could think of。
Coming down after awhile； I walked to the now open gate； and looped
through it over the barren fields to the dense woods a mile away； and a
wild desire to run off took possession of me。 It seemed as if I could
not resist it。 The woods appeared full of enticing shapes； beckoning me
to come to them； and the winds whispered in my ears：
〃Run！ Run！ Run！〃
But the words of my parole were still fresh in my mind； and I stilled my
frenzy to escape by turning back into the Stockade and looking away from
the tempting view。
Once five new prisoners； the first we had seen in a long time； were
brought in from Sherman's army。 They were plump； well…conditioned； well…
dressed； healthy； devil…may…care young fellows； whose confidence in
themselves and in Sherman was simply limitless； and their contempt for
all Rebels and especially those who terrorized over us； enormous。
〃Come up here to headquarters；〃 said one of the Rebel officers to them as
they stood talking to us； 〃and we'll parole you。〃
〃O go to h… with your parole；〃 said the spokesman of the crowd； with
nonchalant contempt； 〃we don't want none of your paroles。 Old Billy'll
parole us before Saturday。〃
To us they said：
〃Now； you boys want to cheer right up； keep a stiff upper lip。 This
thing's workin' all right。 Their old Confederacy's goin' to pieces like
a house afire。 Sherman's promenadin' through it just as it suits him；
and he's liable to pay a visit at any hour。 We're expectin' him all the
time； because it was generally understood all through the Army that we
were to take the prison pen here in on our way。〃
I mentioned my distrust of the concentration of Rebels at Cheraw； and
their faces took on a look of supreme disdain。
〃Now； don't let that worry you a minute；〃 said the confident spokesman。
〃All the Rebels between here and Lee's Army can't prevent Sherman from
go