ational 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. -- _Resume_. -- 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
offic