for instant use。 We could see all the grinning mouths through the cracks
in the fence。 There were enough of them to send us as high as the
traditional kite flown by Gilderoy。 The having at his beck this array of
frowning metal lent Lieutenant Davis such an importance in his own eyes
that his demeanor swelled to the grandiose。 It became very amusing to
see him puff up and vaunt over it； as he did on every possible occasion。
For instance； finding a crowd of several hundred lounging around the
gate； he would throw open the wicket； stalk in with the air of a Jove
threatening a rebellious world with the dread thunders of heaven； and
shout：
〃W…h…a…a y…e…e！ Prisoners； I give you jist two minutes to cleah away
from this gate； aw I'll open on ye wid de ahtillery！〃
One of the buglers of the artillery was a superb musicianevidently some
old 〃regular〃 whom the Confederacy had seduced into its service； and his
instrument was so sweet toned that we imagined that it was made of
silver。 The calls he played were nearly the same as we used in the
cavalry； and for the first few days we became bitterly homesick every
time he sent ringing out the old familiar signals； that to us were so
closely associated with what now seemed the bright and happy days when we
were in the field with our battalion。 If we were only back in the
valleys of Tennessee with what alacrity we would respond to that
〃assembly；〃 no Orderly's patience would be worn out in getting laggards
and lazy ones to 〃fall in for roll…call；〃 how eagerly we would attend to
〃stable duty；〃 how gladly mount our faithful horses and ride away to
〃water；〃 and what bareback races ride； going and coming。 We would be
even glad to hear 〃guard 〃 and 〃drill〃 sounded； and there would be music
in the disconsolate 〃surgeon's call：〃
〃Come…get…your…q…n…i…n…i…n…e； come； get your quinine； It'll make you
sad： It'll make you sick。 Come； come。〃
O； if we were only back； what admirable soldiers we would be！
One morning； about three or four o'clock； we were awakened by the ground
shaking and a series of heavy； dull thumps sounding oft seaward。
Our silver…voiced bugler seemed to be awakened； too。 He set the echoes
ringing with a vigorously played 〃reveille；〃 a minute later came an
equally earnest 〃assembly；〃 and when 〃boots and saddles〃 followed； we
knew that all was not well in Denmark； the thumping and shaking now had
a significance。 It meant heavy Yankee guns somewhere near。 We heard the
gunners hitching up； the bugle signal 〃forward；〃 the wheels roll off；
and for a half hour afterwards we caught the receding sound of the bugle
commanding 〃right turn；〃 〃left turn；〃 etc。； as the batteries marched
away。 Of course； we became considerably wrought up over the matter；
as we fancied that； knowing we were in Savannah； our vessels were trying
to pass up to the City and take it。 The thumping and shaking continued
until late in the afternoon。
We subsequently learned that some of our blockaders； finding time banging
heavy upon their hands； had essayed a little diversion by knocking Forts
Jackson and Bledsoetwo small forts defending the passage of the
Savannahabout their defenders' ears。 After capturing the forts our
folks desisted and came no farther。
Quite a number of the old Raider crowd had come with us from
Andersonville。 Among these was the shyster； Peter Bradley。 They kept up
their old tactics of hanging around the gates； and currying favor with
the Rebels in every possible way； in hopes to get paroles outside or
other favors。 The great mass of the prisoners were so bitter against the
Rebels as to feel that they would rather die than ask or accept a favor
from their hands； and they had little else than contempt for these
trucklers。 The raider crowd's favorite theme of conversation with the
Rebels was the strong discontent of the boys with the manner of their
treatment by our Government。 The assertion that there was any such
widespread feeling was utterly false。 We all had confidenceas we
continue to have to this daythat our Government would do everything for
us possible； consistent with its honor； and the success of military
operations； and outside of the little squad of which I speak； not an
admission could be extracted from anybody that blame could be attached to
any one； except the Rebels。 It was regarded as unmanly and unsoldier…
like to the last degree； as well as senseless； to revile our Government
for the crimes committed by its foes。
But the Rebels were led to believe that we were ripe for revolt against
our flag； and to side with them。 Imagine； if possible； the stupidity
that would mistake our bitter hatred of those who were our deadly
enemies； for any feeling that would lead us to join hands with those
enemies。 One day we were surprised to see the carpenters erect a rude
stand in the center of the camp。 When it was finished； Bradley appeared
upon it； in company with some Rebel officers and guards。 We gathered
around in curiosity； and Bradley began making a speech。
He said that it had now become apparent to all of us that our Government
had abandoned us； that it cared little or nothing for us； since it could
hire as many more quite readily； by offering a bounty equal to the pay
which would be due us now； that it cost only a few hundred dollars to
bring over a shipload of Irish； 〃Dutch；〃 and French； who were only too
glad to agree to fight or do anything else to get to this country。 ＇The
peculiar impudence of this consisted in Bradley himself being a
foreigner； and one who had only come out under one of the later calls；
and the influence of a big bounty。＇
Continuing in this strain he repeated and dwelt upon the old lie； always
in the mouths of his crowd； that Secretary Stanton and General Halleck
had positively refused to enter upon negotiations for exchange； because
those in prison were 〃only a miserable lot of 'coffee…boilers' and
'blackberry pickers；' whom the Army was better off without。〃
The terms 〃coffee…boiler；〃 and 〃blackberry…pickers〃 were considered the
worst terms of opprobrium we had in prison。 They were applied to that
class of stragglers and skulkers； who were only too ready to give
themselves up to the enemy； and who； on coming in； told some gauzy story
about 〃just having stopped to boil a cup of coffee；〃 or to do something
else which they should not have done； when they were gobbled up。 It is
not risking much to affirm the probability of Bradley and most of his
crowd having belonged to this dishonorable class。
The assertion that either the great Chief…of…Staff or the still greater
War…Secretary were even capable of applying such epithets to the mass of
prisoners is too preposterous to need refutation； or even denial。
No person outside the raider crowd ever gave the silly lie a moment's
toleration。
Bradley concluded his speech in some such language as this：
〃And now； fellow prisoners； I propose to you this： that we unite in
informing our Government that unless we are exchanged in thirty days； we
will be forced by self…preservation to join the Confederate army。〃
For an instant his hearers seemed stunned at the fellow's audacity； and
then there went up such a roar of denunciation and execration that the
air trembled。 The Rebels thought that the whole camp was going to rush
on Bradley and tear him to pieces； and they drew revolvers and leveled
muskets to defend him。 The uproar only ceased when Bradley was hurried
out of the prisons but for hours everybody was savage and sullen； and
full of threatenings against him； when opportunity served。 We never saw
him afterward。
Angry as I was； I could not help being amused at the tempestuous rage of
a tall； fine…looking and well educated Irish Sergeant of an Illinois
regiment。 He poured forth denunciations of the traitor and the Rebels；
with the vivid fluency of his Hibernian nature； vowed he'd 〃give a year
of me life； be J…s； to have the handling of the dirty spalpeen for ten
minutes； be G… d；〃 and finally in his rage； tore off his own shirt and
threw it on the ground and trampled on it。
Imagine my astonishment； some time after getting out of prison； to find
the Southern papers publishing as a defense against the charges in regard
to Andersonville； the following document； which they claimed to have been
adopted by 〃a mass meeting of the prisoners：〃
〃At a mass meeting held September 28th； 1864； by the Federal prisoners
confined at Savannah； Ga。； it was unanimously agreed that the following
resolutions be sent to the President of the United States； in the hope
that he might thereby take such steps as in his wisdom he may think
necessary for our speedy exchange or parole：
〃Resolved； That while we would declare our unbounded love for the Union；
for the home of our fathers； and for the graves of those we venerate； we
would beg most respectfully that our situation as prisoners be diligently
inquired into； and every obstacle consistent with the honor and dignity
of the Government at once removed。
〃Resolved； That while allowing the Confederate authorities all due praise
for the attention paid to prisoners； numbers of our men are daily
consigned to early graves； in the prime of manhood； far from home and
kindred； and this is not caused intentionally by the Confederate
Government； but by force of circumstances； the prisoners are forced to go
without shelter； and； in a great portion of cases； without medicine。
〃Resolved； That； whereas； ten thousand of our brave comrades have
descended into an untimely grave within the last six months； and as we
believe their death was caused by the difference of climate； the peculiar
kind and insufficiency of food； and lack of proper medical treatment；
and； whereas； those difficulties still remain； we would declare as our
firm belief； that unless we are speedily exchanged； we have no
alternative but to share the lamentable fate of our comrades。 Must this
thing still go on！ Is there no hope？
〃Resolved； That； whereas； the cold and inclement season of the year is
fast approaching； we hold it to be our duty as soldiers and citizens of
the United States； to inform our Government that the majority of our
prisoners ate witho