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Page 41
When will the North wake up to a true and manly patriotism in the
defence of their national life, now threatened by the tiger-grasp of
this atrocious Rebellion? Hundreds upon hundreds of young men I see
in stores and shops, doing work that women could do quite as well;
and large numbers of older men who have grown wealthy under the
protection of our benign government, are idly grieving over the
taxation which the war imposes, and meanly asking if it will not
soon end, that their coffers may become plethoric of gold; while the
question is still unsettled whether the Rebellion shall sweep them
and their all into the vortex of ruin and anarchy. _The North is
asleep! and it will become the sleep of death, national death, if a
new spirit be not speedily awaked!_
CHAPTER VII.
MY ESCAPE.
Obstacles in the Way of Escape. -- Farewell to Selma. --
Gold _versus_ Confederate Scrip. -- An unnamed Friend. --
Conscription Act. -- Swearing in a Regiment. -- Soldier
shot. -- Chattanooga reached. -- Danger of Recognition. --
Doff the Military. -- Transformation. -- A Bivouac. -- A
Retired Ferryman. -- Conscience _versus_ Gold. -- Casuistry.
-- Embarkation and Voyage. -- Pistols and Persuasion. -- An
unwilling Pilot. -- A Night-reverie. -- My Companion's
Pisgah. -- Selim. -- Secession a destructive Principle. --
Practical Illustration. -- A third Night in the Rocks. --
Home and the Welcome. -- The Dying Deserter. -- One more
Move--but how? -- My Loss and Selim's Gain. -- Off for
Home. -- Federal Officer and Oath of Allegiance. -- Plea for
Treason. -- Sanctity of an Oath. -- _R�sum�_. -- Home.
It was now evident that I could not avoid the conscription if I
remained longer, and yet I could not secure my pay; and how could I
travel hundreds of miles without means? I would have sold one of my
horses, but prices were low at Selma, far away from the seat of war,
and the pay must be in Confederate money, which was of little value.
This sacrifice I was unwilling to make, especially as I might need
every dollar I could procure to help me out of Dixie. Other
obstacles lay across the pathway of escape. Every military point was
guarded, and every railroad and public highway under military
control. It was hence impossible for me to escape, traveling in
citizen's dress; and yet I had no military commission, having left
the service when I entered the hospital. I resolved to retain my
officer's cap and martial uniform, and travel as a Confederate
officer on furlough, and if not questioned too closely might
succeed.
On the morning of May 26th I had made all the arrangements possible
for the welfare of my patients, and passing through I looked each in
the face, as a kindly farewell on my part, to which they might
return their adieu some days after, when they "found me missing." I
charged young Dr. Reese to take good care of the men till I
returned, as I thought of taking my horses up the Alabama river to
place them on a farm for pasture. Taking a last look at the
beautiful town of Selma, with a suppressed sigh that I should no
more enjoy the society of its fair ladies, I embarked on the _Great
Republic_ for Montgomery, the capital of the State, and for a time
the capital of the Confederacy. I reached this point in the evening,
having made sixty-five miles toward the north star. I remained at
Montgomery over night, and managed to obtain a military pass and
transportation from this point to Chattanooga, which was now in
possession of a large force of Confederate cavalry, organizing
themselves into guerrilla bands, while the Federal forces held the
north side of the Tennessee. While here it seemed necessary to
exchange my Confederate money into gold, as the only sure means of
paying my way when I should reach the Federal lines. But this was
not easily effected. The Confederates sent their gold to Europe by
millions to buy arms and munitions of war, relying upon the
patriotism of the people to keep up the credit of the national
currency; and lest brokers should undertake to depreciate it, they
passed a law imposing a heavy penalty upon any one who should
discount Confederate notes. For a time this succeeded in keeping up
the credit of the circulating medium; but all gold disappeared, and
silver change was unknown. But as I must have gold, I walked into a
broker's office and stated that I wished to purchase seven ounces of
gold, and exhibited a roll of Confederate notes. After a little
figuring, he said seven ounces would cost me two hundred and seventy
dollars of my money. I replied, "Weigh it out."
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