Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-12-27


One cold morning found our miserable ba nd
within few miles Of G. / remember
some one said, It's Christmas at home TO-
day | had forgotten it, and raising my
eyes at the words, | happened to catch q
glimpse of ,Iims face as he trudgei 6y the
side Of a Confederate. Poor boy the man
was eating some bacon and corn-bread a. he
rode along, and Jim's hungry eyes followed
every morsel with the pathetic earnestness of
q starving dog. lie did not speak. but kept
up with the horse, never dropping his gaze,
although the road was full Of pitfalls, a.
| though fascinated By the very sight OF the
/ food. The mute appeal Of his white, hollow
| face and the thought that It was Christmas
day Overcame me, ana the first tears Of my
manhood rolled down my checks.
Toward noon we were marched into c.
prison. 1t vas an open lot, cncircled BIZ
| high fence. and crowded with ragged. dirty.
and sickly prisoners, some OF them looking
more like savages than civilized Amcric rs
A rough shed ran along one side of the fence.
but as only small portion of the men q. aid
be crowded within its limits, by far the rs-
CT number were exposed 70 the Weat ler,
and consequently were suffering from low
fever and diseases of the lungs. As We en-
tered this abode of misery We were inme-
diately surrounded by the gauut inhabitants
and overwhelmed with questions. Most Of
them semmed half craled but the ,ardest
spectaces Of all were those who sat q art,
sternly hopeless. waiting for the deliycrancc
Of death.
. During the afternoon "a rumor p ssed
through tue PRISON that food was co. .iug
BY this time the horrors of the seen, had
sunk deeply INTO nv mind, MY courage fell
and knew | could not long endure 81 en-
life. Having carried Jim 70 a corner, sat
down beside him. Tie boy was somewhat
dellrious, and almost wished | could cl auge
places with him, for then / need not think.
There was one at home who would hear oil
my capture. Need say my thoughts were
Of her -
At this point Adam awakened u d new
interest in the story
The food came at last Bad al ID Was.
hunger rendered it palatahle. Even Jim re- /
yIved a little and one of my company. a /
young man from the same town. couiacl e. (
us his intention Of trying % escape durin. /
the night Il was like running The gauntlet
of q thousand deaths but be was NOT 90 De +
persuaded from his purpose 80 gave him /
a pcncIled note, breathing a courage / mv-I
self was far from feeling, % take u my Iar-
ling beg your pardon the word slipped ,
out By mistake. stammerej Mr. Blunt. with I
a scarlet face.
o. No mistake a; alI, eyclljmed Adam. as
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