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and tobacco juice drenchings。
The tunnel…traitor was taken to Captain Jack。 That worthy decided to
brand him with a great 〃T；〃 the top part to extend across his forehead
and the stem to run down his nose。 Captain Jack got his tattooing kit
ready； and the fellow was thrown upon the ground and held there。 The
Captain took his head between his legs； and began operations。 After an
instant's work with the needles； he opened his mouth； and filled the
wretch's face and eyes full of the disgusting saliva。 The crowd round
about yelled with delight at this new process。 For an hour； that was
doubtless an eternity to the rascal undergoing branding； Captain Jack
continued his alternate pickings and drenchings。 At the end of that time
the traitor's face was disfigured with a hideous mark that he would bear
to his grave。 We learned afterwards that he was not one of our men； but
a Rebel spy。 This added much to our satisfaction with the manner of his
treatment。 He disappeared shortly after the operation was finished；
being； I suppose； taken outside。 I hardly think Captain Jack would be
pleased to meet him again。
CHAPTER XXVII。
THE HOUNDS； AND THE DIFFICULTIES THEY PUT IN THE WAY OF ESCAPE
THE WHOLE SOUTH PATROLLED BY THEM。
Those who succeeded； one way or another； in passing the Stockade limits；
found still more difficulties lying between them and freedom than would
discourage ordinarily resolute men。 The first was to get away from the
immediate vicinity of the prison。 All around were Rebel patrols； pickets
and guards； watching every avenue of egress。 Several packs of hounds
formed efficient coadjutors of these； and were more dreaded by possible
〃escapes；〃 than any other means at the command of our jailors。 Guards
and patrols could be evaded； or circumvented； but the hounds could not。
Nearly every man brought back from a futile attempt at escape told the
same story： he had been able to escape the human Rebels； but not their
canine colleagues。 Three of our detachmentmembers of the Twentieth
Indianahad an experience of this kind that will serve to illustrate
hundreds of others。 They had been taken outside to do some work upon the
cook…house that was being built。 A guard was sent with the three a
little distance into the woods to get a piece of timber。 The boys
sauntered； along carelessly with the guard； and managed to get pretty
near him。 As soon as they were fairly out of sight of the rest； the
strongest of themTom Williamssnatched the Rebel's gun away from him；
and the other two springing upon him as swift as wild cats； throttled
him； so that he could not give the alarm。 Still keeping a hand on his
throat； they led him off some distance； and tied him to a sapling with
strings made by tearing up one of their blouses。 He was also securely
gagged； and the boys； bidding him a hasty； but not specially tender；
farewell； struck out； as they fondly hoped； for freedom。 It was not long
until they were missed； and the parties sent in search found and released
the guard； who gave all the information he possessed as to what had
become of his charges。 All the packs of hounds； the squads of cavalry；
and the foot patrols were sent out to scour the adjacent country。
The Yankees kept in the swamps and creeks； and no trace of them was found
that afternoon or evening。 By this time they were ten or fifteen miles
away； and thought that they could safely leave the creeks for better
walking on the solid ground。 They had gone but a few miles； when the
pack of hounds Captain Wirz was with took their trail； and came after
them in full cry。 The boys tried to ran； but； exhausted as they were；
they could make no headway。 Two of them were soon caught； but Tom
Williams； who was so desperate that he preferred death to recapture；
jumped into a mill…pond near by。 When he came up； it was in a lot of
saw logs and drift wood that hid him from being seen from the shore。
The dogs stopped at the shore； and bayed after the disappearing prey。
The Rebels with them； who had seen Tom spring in； came up and made a
pretty thorough search for him。 As they did not think to probe around
the drift wood this was unsuccessful； and they came to the conclusion
that Tom had been drowned。 Wirz marched the other two back and； for a
wonder； did not punish them； probably because he was so rejoiced at his
success in capturing them。 He was beaming with delight when he returned
them to our squad； and said； with a chuckle：
〃Brisoners； I pring you pack two of dem tam Yankees wat got away
yesterday； unt I run de oder raskal into a mill…pont and trowntet him。〃
What was our astonishment； about three weeks later； to see Tom； fat and
healthy； and dressed in a full suit of butternut； come stalking into the
pen。 He had nearly reached the mountains； when a pack of hounds；
patrolling for deserters or negros； took his trail； where he had crossed
the road from one field to another； and speedily ran him down。 He had
been put in a little country jail； and well fed till an opportunity
occurred to send him back。 This patrolling for negros and deserters was
another of the great obstacles to a successful passage through the
country。 The rebels had put； every able…bodied white man in the ranks；
and were bending every energy to keep him there。 The whole country was
carefully policed by Provost Marshals to bring out those who were
shirking military duty； or had deserted their colors； and to check any
movement by the negros。 One could not go anywhere without a pass； as
every road was continually watched by men and hounds。 It was the policy
of our men； when escaping； to avoid roads as much as possible by
traveling through the woods and fields。
From what I saw of the hounds； and what I could learn from others；
I believe that each pack was made up of two bloodhounds and from twenty…
five to fifty other dogs； The bloodhounds were debased descendants of the
strong and fierce hounds imported from Cubamany of them by the United
States Governmentfor hunting Indians； during the Seminole war。 The
other dogs were the mongrels that are found in such plentifulness about
every Southern houseincreasing； as a rule； in numbers as the inhabitant
of the house is lower down and poorer。 They are like wolves； sneaking
and cowardly when alone； fierce and bold when in packs。 Each pack was
managed by a well…armed man； who rode a mule； and carried； slung over his
shoulders by a cord； a cow horn； scraped very thin； with which he
controlled the band by signals。
What always puzzled me much was why the hounds took only Yankee trails；
in the vicinity of the prison。 There was about the Stockade from six
thousand to ten thousand Rebels and negros； including guards； officers；
servants； workmen； etc。 These were； of course； continually in motion and
must have daily made trails leading in every direction。 It was the
custom of the Rebels to send a pack of hounds around the prison every
morning； to examine if any Yankees had escaped during the night。 It was
believed that they rarely failed to find a prisoner's tracks； and still
more rarely ran off upon a Rebel's。 If those outside the Stockade had
been