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Commissioner of Exchange。 The Rebels instantly refused to treat with
him； on the ground that he was outlawed by the proclamation of Jefferson
Davis。 General Butler very pertinently replied that this only placed him
nearer their level； as Jefferson Davis and all associated with him in the
Rebel Government had been outlawed by the proclamation of President
Lincoln。 The Rebels scorned to notice this home thrust by the Union
General。
8。 On February 12； 1864； General Butler addressed a letter to the Rebel
Commissioner Ould； in which be asked； for the sake of humanity； that the
questions interrupting the exchange be left temporarily in abeyance while
an informal exchange was put in operation。 He would send five hundred
prisoners to City Point； let them be met by a similar number of Union
prisoners。 This could go on from day to day until all in each other's
hands should be transferred to their respective flags。
The five hundred sent with the General's letter were received； and five
hundred Union prisoners returned for them。 Another five hundred； sent
the next day； were refused； and so this reasonable and humane proposition
ended in nothing。
This was the condition of affairs in February； 1864； when the Rebel
authorities concluded to send us to Andersonville。 If the reader will
fix these facts in his minds I will explain other phases as they develop。
CHAPTER XL
PUTTING IN THE TIMERATIONSCOOKING UTENSILS〃FIAT SOUP〃SPOONING〃
AFRICAN NEWSPAPER VENDERSTRADING GREENBACKS FOR CONFEDERATE MONEY
VISIT FROM JOHN MORGAN。
The Winter days passed on； one by one； after the manner described in a
former chapter；the mornings in ill…nature hunger； the afternoons and
evenings in tolerable comfort。 The rations kept growing lighter and
lighter； the quantity of bread remained the same； but the meat
diminished； and occasional days would pass without any being issued。
Then we receive a pint or less of soup made from the beans or peas before
mentioned； but this； too； suffered continued change； in the gradually
increasing proportion of James River water； and decreasing of that of the
beans。
The water of the James River is doubtless excellent： it looks wellat a
distanceand is said to serve the purposes of ablution and navigation
admirably。 There seems to be a limit however； to the extent of its
advantageous combination with the bean （or pea） for nutritive purposes。
This； though； was or view of the case； merely； and not shared in to any
appreciably extent by the gentlemen who were managing our boarding house。
We seemed to view the matter through allopathic spectacles； they through
homoeopathic lenses。 We thought that the atomic weight of peas （or
beans） and the James River fluid were about equal； which would indicate
that the proper combining proportions would be； say a bucket of beans （or
peas） to a bucket of water。 They held that the nutritive potency was
increased by the dilution； and the best results were obtainable when the
symptoms of hunger were combated by the trituration of a bucketful of the
peas…beans with a barrel of 'aqua jamesiana。'
My first experience with this 〃flat〃 soup was very instructive； if not
agreeable。 I had come into prison； as did most other prisoners；
absolutely destitute of dishes； or cooking utensils。 The well…used；
half…canteen frying…pan； the blackened quart cup； and the spoon； which
formed the usual kitchen outfit of the cavalryman in the field； were in
the haversack on my saddle； and were lost to me when I separated from my
horse。 Now； when we were told that we were to draw soup； I was in great
danger of losing my ration from having no vessel in which to receive it。
There were but few tin cups in the prison； and these were； of course；
wanted by their owners。 By great good fortune I found an empty fruit can；
holding about a quart。 I was also lucky enough to find a piece from
which to make a bail。 I next manufactured a spoon and knife combined
from a bit of hoop…iron。
These two humble utensils at once placed myself and my immediate chums on
another plane； as far as worldly goods were concerned。 We were better
off than the mass； and as well off as the most fortunate。 It was a
curious illustration of that law of political economy which teaches that
so…called intrinsic value is largely adventitious。 Their possession gave
us infinitely more consideration among our fellows than would the
possession of a brown…stone front in an eligible location； furnished with
hot and cold water throughout； and all the modern improvements。 It was a
place where cooking utensils were in demand； and title…deeds to brown…
stone fronts were not。 We were in possession of something which every
one needed every day； and； therefore； were persons of consequence and
consideration to those around us who were present or prospective
borrowers。
On our side we obeyed another law of political economy： We clung to our
property with unrelaxing tenacity； made the best use of it in our
intercourse with our fellows； and only gave it up after our release and
entry into a land where the plenitude of cooking utensils of superior
construction made ours valueless。 Then we flung them into the sea； with
little gratitude for the great benefit they had been to us。 We were more
anxious to get rid of the many hateful recollections clustering around
them。
But； to return to the alleged soup： As I started to drink my first ration
it seemed to me that there was a superfluity of bugs upon its surface。
Much as I wanted animal food； I did not care for fresh meat in that form。
I skimmed them off carefully； so as to lose as little soup as possible。
But the top layer seemed to be underlaid with another equally dense。
This was also skimmed off as deftly as possible。 But beneath this
appeared another layer； which； when removed； showed still another； and so
on； until I had scraped to the bottom of the can； and the last of the
bugs went with the last of my soup。 I have before spoken of the
remarkable bug fecundity of the beans （or peas）。 This was a
demonstration of it。 Every scouped out pea （or bean） which found its way
into the soup bore inside of its shell from ten to twenty of these hard…
crusted little weevil。 Afterward I drank my soup without skimming。
It was not that I hated the weevil less； but that I loved the soup more。
It was only another step toward a closer conformity to that grand rule
which I have made the guiding maxim of my life：
'When I must； I had better。'
I recommend this to other young men starting on their career。
The room in which we were was barely large enough for all of us to lie
down at once。 Even then it required pretty close 〃spooning〃 together
so close in fact that all sleeping along one side would have to turn at
once。 It was funny to watch this operation。 All； for instance； would be
lying on their right sides。 They would begin to get tired； and one of
the wearied ones would sing out to the Sergeant who was in command of the
row
〃Sergeant： let's spoon the other way。〃
That individual would reply：
〃All right。 Attention ！ LEFT SPOON！！ and the whole line would at once
flop over on their left si