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resulted in quite a pile of severed members。 I presume more bungling
operations are rarely seen outside of Russian or Turkish hospitals。
Their unskilfulness was apparent even to non…scientific observers like
myself。 The standard of medical education in the Southas indeed of
every other form of educationwas quite low。 The Chief Surgeon of the
prison； Dr。 Isaiah White； and perhaps two or three others； seemed to be
gentlemen of fair abilities and attainments。 The remainder were of that
class of illiterate and unlearning quacks who physic and blister the poor
whites and negros in the country districts of the South； who believe they
can stop bleeding of the nose by repeating a verse from the Bible； who
think that if in gathering their favorite remedy of boneset they cut the
stem upwards it will purge their patients； and if downward it will vomit
them； and who hold that there is nothing so good for 〃fits〃 as a black
cat； killed in the dark of the moon； cut open； and bound while yet warm；
upon the naked chest of the victim of the convulsions。
They had a case of instruments captured from some of our field hospitals；
which were dull and fearfully out of order。 With poor instruments and
unskilled hands the operations became mangling。
In the Hospital I saw an admirable illustration of the affection which a
sailor will lavish on a ship's boy； whom he takes a fancy to； and makes
his 〃chicken；〃 as the phrase is。 The United States sloop 〃Water Witch〃
had recently been captured in Ossabaw Sound； and her crew brought into
prison。 One of her boysa bright； handsome little fellow of about
fifteenhad lost one of his arms in the fight。 He was brought into the
Hospital； and the old fellow whose〃chicken〃 he was； was allowed to
accompany and nurse him。 This 〃old barnacle…back〃 was as surly a growler
as ever went aloft； but to his 〃chicken〃 he was as tender and thoughtful
as a woman。 They found a shady nook in one corner； and any moment one
looked in that direction he could see the old tar hard at work at
something for the comfort and pleasure of his pet。 Now he was dressing
the wound as deftly and gently as a mother caring for a new…born babe；
now he was trying to concoct some relish out of the slender materials he
could beg or steal from the Quartermaster； now trying to arrange the
shade of the bed of pine leaves in a more comfortable manner； now
repairing or washing his clothes； and so on。
All the sailors were particularly favored by being allowed to bring their
bags in untouched by the guards。 This 〃chicken〃 had a wonderful supply
of clothes； the handiwork of his protector who； like most good sailors；
was very skillful with the needle。 He had suits of fine white duck；
embroidered with blue in a way that would ravish the heart of a fine
lady； and blue suits similarly embroidered with white。 No belle ever
kept her clothes in better order than these were。 When the duck came up
from the old sailor's patient washing it was as spotless as new…fallen
snow。
I found my chum in a very bad condition。 His appetite was entirely gone；
but he had an inordinate craving for tobaccofor strong； black plug
which he smoked in a pipe。 He had already traded off all his brass
buttons to the guards for this。 I had accumulated a few buttons to bribe
the guard to take me out for wood； and I gave these also for tobacco for
him。 When I awoke one morning the man who laid next to me on the right
was dead； having died sometime during the night。 I searched his pockets
and took what was in them。 These were a silk pocket handkerchief； a
gutta percha finger…ring； a comb； a pencil； and a leather pocket…book；
making in all quite a nice little 〃find。〃 I hied over to the guard； and
succeeded in trading the personal estate which I had inherited from the
intestate deceased； for a handful of peaches； a handful of hardly ripe
figs； and a long plug of tobacco。 I hastened back to Watts； expecting
that the figs and peaches would do him a world of good。 At first I did
not show him the tobacco； as I was strongly opposed to his using it；
thinking that it was making him much worse。 But he looked at the
tempting peaches and figs with lack…luster eyes； he was too far gone to
care for them。 He pushed them back to me； saying faintly：
〃No； you take 'em； Mc； I don't want 'em； I can't eat 'em！〃
I then produced the tobacco； and his face lighted up。 Concluding that
this was all the comfort that he could have； and that I might as well
gratify him； I cut up some of the weed； filled his pipe and lighted it。
He smoked calmly and almost happily all the afternoon； hardly speaking a
word to me。 As it grew dark he asked me to bring him a drink。 I did so；
and as I raised him up he said：
〃Mc； this thing's ended。 Tell my father that I stood it as long as I
could； and〃
The death rattle sounded in his throat； and when I laid him back it was
all over。 Straightening out his limbs； folding his hands across his
breast； and composing his features as best I could； I lay； down beside
the body and slept till morning； when I did what little else I could
toward preparing for the grave all that was left of my long…suffering
little friend。
CHAPTER XLVII。
DETERMINATION TO ESCAPEDIFFERENT PLANS AND THEIR MERITSI PREFER THE
APPALACHICOLA ROUTEPREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTUREA HOT DAYTHE FENCE
PASSED SUCCESSFULLY PURSUED BY THE HOUNDSCAUGHT
RETURNED TO THE STOCKADE。
After Watt's death； I set earnestly about seeing what could be done in
the way of escape。 Frank Harvey； of the First West Virginia Cavalry；
a boy of about my own age and disposition； joined with me in the scheme。
I was still possessed with my original plan of making my way down the
creeks to the Flint River； down the Flint River to where it emptied into
the Appalachicola River； and down that stream to its debauchure into the
bay that connected with the Gulf of Mexico。 I was sure of finding my way
by this route； because； if nothing else offered； I could get astride of a
log and float down the current。 The way to Sherman； in the other
direction； was long； torturous and difficult； with a fearful gauntlet of
blood…hounds； patrols and the scouts of Hood's Army to be run。 I had but
little difficulty in persuading Harvey into an acceptance of my views；
and we began arranging for a solution of the first great problemhow to
get outside of the Hospital guards。 As I have explained before； the
Hospital was surrounded by a board fence； with guards walking their beats
on the ground outside。 A small creek flowed through the southern end of
the grounds； and at its lower end was used as a sink。 The boards of the
fence came down to the surface of the water； where the Creek passed out；
but we found； by careful prodding with a stick； that the hole between the
boards and the bottom of the Creek was sufficiently large to allow the
passage of our bodies； and there had been no stakes driven or other
precautions used to prevent egress by this channel。 A guard was posted
there； and probably ordered to stand at the edge of the stream； but it
smelled so vilely in those scorching days that he had consulted his
feelings and probably his health