command of Lieut。…Col。 Bassett。 The heroic attack of this regiment； made
on the 27th of May； 1863； its unsurpassed 〃charge；〃 its great loss； and its
severe endurance on the field of battle； are incidents which have passed
into history。 The noble daring of the First Louisiana gained for the black
soldiers in our army the praise of all Americans who value Republican
institutions。
There was； however； one scene； the closing one in the first day's attack
on Port Hudson； which； while it reflects undying credit upon the bravery
of the negro； pays but a sorry tribute to the humanity of the white general
who brought the scene into existence。 The field was strewn with the
dead； the dying； and the wounded； and as the jaded regiments were leaving
the ground； after their unsuccessful attack； it was found that Capt。 Payne；
of the Third Louisiana； had been killed； and his body； which was easily
distinguished by the uniform； was still on the battle…field。 The colonel of
the regiment； pointing to where the body lay； asked； 〃Are there four men
here who will fetch the body of Capt。 Payne from the field？〃 Four men
stepped out； and at once started。 But； as the body lay directly under the
range of the rebel batteries； they were all swept down by the grape；
canister； and shell which were let loose by the enemy。 The question was
again repeated； 〃Are there four men who will go for the body？〃 The
required number came forth； and started upon a run； but； ere they could
reach the spot； they were cut down。 〃Are there four more who will try？〃
The third call was answered in the affirmative； and the men started upon
the double…quick。 They； however； fell before getting as far as the preceding
four。 Twelve men had been killed in the effort to obtain the body of the
brave Payne； but to no purpose。 Humanity forbade another trial； and yet it
was made。 〃Are there four more men in the regiment who will volunteer to
go for Capt。 Payne's body？〃 shouted the officer。 Four men sprang forward；
as if fearful that they would miss the opportunity of these last： one was
Jerome Fletcher； the hero of our story。 They started upon the run； and；
strange to tell； all of them reached the body； and had nearly borne it from
the field； when two of the number were cut down。 Of these； one was
Jerome。 His head was entirely torn off by a shell。 The body of the
deceased officer having been rescued； an end was put t the human
128
… Page 129…
CLOTELLE
sacrifice。
129
… Page 130…
CLOTELLE
CHAPTER XXXVII
THE ANGEL OF MERCY
The sad intelligence of Jerome's death was brought to Clotelle while
she was giving her personal attention to the sick and wounded that filled
the hospitals of New Orleans。 For a time she withdrew from the gaze of
mankind； and gave herself up to grief。 Few unions had been productive of
more harmonious feelings than hers。 And this blow； so unexpected and at a
time when she was experiencing such a degree of excitement caused by
the rebellion； made her； indeed； feel the affliction severely。
But the newspaper accounts of the intense suffering of the Union
prisoners in the rebel States aroused her； and caused her to leave her
retirement。 In the month of October； 1863； Clotelle resolved to visit
Andersonville； Ga。； for the purpose of alleviating the hardships of our sick
and imprisoned soldiers； and at once put her resolution into effect by
going immediately to that place。 After crossing the lines； she passed as a
rebel lady； to enable her the more successfully to carry out her object。 On
her arrival at Andersonville； Clotelle took up her abode with a private
family； of Union proclivities； and commenced her work of mercy。 She first
visited the hospitals； the buildings of which were merest excuses for
hospitals。
It was the beginning of November； and； even in that southern latitude；
the cold made these miserable abodes uncomfortable nights and mornings。
The dirty； unventilated rooms； with nothing but straw upon the cold； damp
floor； for beds； upon which lay the ragged； emaciated Union prisoners；
worn down to skin and bone with disease and starvation； with their sunken
eyes and wild looks； made them appear hideous in the extreme。 The
repulsive scenes； that showed the suffering； neglect； and cruelty which
these poor creatures had experienced； made her heart sink within her。
Having paid considerable attention to hospital life in Europe； and so
recently from amongst the sick at New Orleans； Clotelle's experience；
suggestions； and liberal expenditure of money； would have added greatly
to the comfort of these helpless men； if the rebel authorities had been so
130
… Page 131…
CLOTELLE
disposed。 But their hatred to Union prisoners was so apparent； that the
interest which this angel of humanity took in the condition of the rebel
sick could not shield her from the indignation of the secession officials for
her good feeling for the Union men。 However； with a determination to do
all in her power for the needy； she labored in season and out。
The brutal treatment and daily murders committed upon our soldiers in
the Andersonville prisons caused Clotelle to secretly aid prisoners in their
escape。 In the latter work； she brought to her assistance the services of a
negro man named Pete。 This individual was employed about the prison；
and； having the entire confidence of the commandant； was in a position to
do much good without being suspected。 Pete was an original character；
of a jovial nature； and； when intending some serious adventure； would
appear very solemn； and usually singing a doleful ditty； often the
following； which was a favorite with him：
〃Come listen； all you darkies； come listen to my song： It am about
old Massa； who use me bery wrong。 In de cole； frosty mornin'； it an't so
bery nice； Wid de water to de middle； to hoe among de rice；
When I neber hab forgotten How I used to hoe de cotton；
How I used to hoe de cotton； On de old Virginny shore；
But I'll neber hoe de cotton； Oh！ neber hoe de cotton
Any more。
〃If I feel de drefful hunger； he tink it am a vice； And he gib me for
my dinner a little broken rice； A little broken rice and a bery little fat；
And he grumble like de debbil if I eat too much of dat；
When I neber hab forgotten； etc。
〃He tore me from my Dinah； I tought my heart would burst： He
made me lub anoder when my lub was wid de first； He sole my
picanninnies becase he got dar price； And shut me in de marsh…field to
hoe among de rice；
When I neber hab forgotten； etc。
〃And all de day I hoe dar； in all de heat and rain； And； as I hoe
away dar； my heart go back again； Back to de little cabin dat stood
among de corn； And to de ole plantation where she and I war born！
Oh！ I wish I had forgotten； etc。
131
… Page 132…
CLOTELLE
〃Den Dinah am beside me； de chil'ren on my knee； And dough I am
a slave dar； it 'pears to me I'm free； Till I wake up from my dreaming；
and wife and chil'ren gone； I hoe away and weep dar； and weep dar all
alone！
Oh！ I wish I had forgotten； etc。
〃But soon a day am comin'； a day I long to see； When dis darky in
de cole ground； foreber will be free； When wife and chil'ren wid me； I'll
sing in Paradise； How He； de blessed Jesus； hab bought me wid a price；
How de Lord hab not forgotten How well I hoed de
cotton； How well I hoed de cotton On de old Virginny
shore； Dar I'll neber hoe de cotton； Oh！ I'll neber hoe de
cotton Any more。〃
When away from the whites； and among his own class； Pete could
often be heard in the following strains：
〃A storm am brewin' in de Souf； A storm am brewin'
now。 Oh！ hearken den； and shut your mouf； And I will tell
you how： And I will tell you how； ole boy； De storm of
fire will pour； And make de darkies dance for joy； As dey
neber danced afore； So shut your mouf as close as deafh；
And all you niggas hole your breafh； And I will tell you how。
〃De darkies at de Norf am ris； A
小提示：按 回车 [Enter] 键 返回书目，按 ← 键 返回上一页， 按 → 键 进入下一页。
赞一下
添加书签加入书架