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never seen。
The excitement and suspense were terrible。 We waited for what seemed
ages for the next gun。 It was not fired。 Old Winder was merely showing
the prisoners how he could rally the guards to oppose an outbreak。
Though the gun had a shell in it； it was merely a signal； and the guards
came double…quicking up by regiments； going into position in the rifle
pits and the hand…grenade piles。
As we realized what the whole affair meant； we relieved our surcharged
feelings with a few general yells of execration upon Rebels generally；
and upon those around us particularly； and resumed our occupation of
cooking rations； killing lice； and discussing the prospects of exchange
and escape。
The rations； like everything else about us； had steadily grown worse。
A bakery was built outside of the Stockade in May and our meal was baked
there into loaves about the size of brick。 Each of us got a half of one
of these for a day's ration。 This； and occasionally a small slice of
salt pork； was call that I received。 I wish the reader would prepare
himself an object lesson as to how little life can be supported on for
any length of time； by procuring a piece of corn bread the size of an
ordinary brickbat； and a thin slice of pork； and then imagine how he
would fare； with that as his sole daily ration； for long hungry weeks and
months。 Dio Lewis satisfied himself that he could sustain life on sixty
cents； a week。 I am sure that the food furnished us by the Rebels would
not； at present prices cost one…third that。 They pretended to give us
one…third of pound of bacon and one and one…fourth pounds of corn meal。
A week's rations then would be two and one…third pounds of baconworth
ten cents； and eight and three…fourths pounds of meal； worth； say； ten
cents more。 As a matter of fact； I do not presume that at any time we
got this full ration。 It would surprise me to learn that we averaged
two…thirds of it。
The meal was ground very coarse and produced great irrition in the
bowels。 We used to have the most frightful cramps that men ever suffered
from。 Those who were predisposed intestinal affections were speedily
carried off by incurable diarrhea and dysentery。 Of the twelve thousand
and twelve men who died； four thousand died of chronic diarrhea； eight
hundred and seventeen died of acute diarrhea； and one thousand three
hundred and eighty…four died of dysenteria； making total of six thousand
two hundred and one victims to enteric disorders。
Let the reader reflect a moment upon this number； till comprehends fully
how many six thousand two hundred and men are； and how much force；
energy； training； and rich possibilities for the good of the community
and country died with those six thousand two hundred and one young；
active men。 It may help his perception of the magnitude of this number
to remember that the total loss of the British； during the Crimean war；
by death in all shapes； was four thousand five hundred and ninety…five；
or one thousand seven hundred and six less than the deaths in
Andersonville from dysenteric diseases alone。
The loathsome maggot flies swarmed about the bakery； and dropped into the
trough where the dough was being mixed； so that it was rare to get a
ration of bread not contaminated with a few of them。
It was not long until the bakery became inadequate to supply bread for
all the prisoners。 Then great iron kettles were set； and mush was issued
to a number of detachments； instead of bread。 There was not so much
cleanliness and care in preparing this as a farmer shows in cooking food
for stock。 A deep wagon…bed would be shoveled full of the smoking paste；
which was then hailed inside and issued out to the detachments； the
latter receiving it on blankets； pieces of shelter tents； or； lacking
even these； upon the bare sand。
As still more prisoners came in； neither bread nor mush could be
furnished them； and a part of the detachments received their rations in
meal。 Earnest solicitation at length resulted in having occasional
scanty issues of wood to cook this with。 My detachment was allowed to
choose which it would takebread； mush or meal。 It took the latter。
Cooking the meal was the topic of daily interest。 There were three ways
of doing it： Bread； mush and 〃dumplings。〃 In the latter the meal was
dampened until it would hold together； and was rolled into little balls；
the size of marbles； which were then boiled。 The bread was the most
satisfactory and nourishing； the mush the bulkiestit made a bigger
show； but did not stay with one so long。 The dumplings held an
intermediate positionthe water in which they were boiled becoming a
sort of a broth that helped to stay the stomach。 We received no salt；
as a rule。 No one knows the intense longing for this； when one goes
without it for a while。 When； after a privation of weeks we would get a
teaspoonful of salt apiece； it seemed as if every muscle in our bodies
was invigorated。 We traded buttons to the guards for red peppers； and
made our mush； or bread； or dumplings； hot with the fiery…pods； in hopes
that this would make up for the lack of salt； but it was a failure。
One pinch of salt was worth all the pepper pods in the Southern
Confederacy。 My little squadnow diminished by death from five to
threecooked our rations together to economize wood and waste of meal；
and quarreled among； ourselves daily as to whether the joint stock should
be converted into bread； mush or dumplings。 The decision depended upon
the state of the stomach。 If very hungry； we made mush； if less
famished； dumplings； if disposed to weigh matters； bread。
This may seem a trifling matter； but it was far from it。 We all remember
the man who was very fond of white beans； but after having fifty or sixty
meals of them in succession； began to find a suspicion of monotony in the
provender。 We had now six months of unvarying diet of corn meal and
water； and even so slight a change as a variation in the way of combining
the two was an agreeable novelty。
At the end of June there were twenty…six thousand three hundred and
sixty…seven prisoners in the Stockade； and one thousand two hundredjust
forty per dayhad died during the month。
CHAPTER XXXI
DYING BY INCHESSEITZ； THE SLOW； AND HIS DEATHSTIGGALL AND EMERSON
RAVAGES ON THE SCURVY。
May and June made sad havoc in the already thin ranks of our battalion。
Nearly a score died in my companyLand the other companies suffered
proportionately。 Among the first to die of my company comrades； was a
genial little Corporal； 〃Billy〃 Phillipswho was a favorite with us all。
Everything was done for him that kindness could suggest； but it was of
little avail。 Then 〃Bruno〃 Weeksa young boy； the son of a preacher；
who had run away from his home in Fulton County； Ohio； to join us；
succumbed to hardship and privation。
The next to go was good…natured； harmless Victor Seitz； a Detroit cigar
maker； a German； and one of the slowest of created mortals。 How he ever
came to go into the cavalry was beyond the wildest surmises of his
comrades。 Why his supernatural slowness and clumsiness did not result in
his being killed at least once a day；