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31 early 1864 December 1863–february 1864 in early December fort Warren’s command changed. colonel Dimick was out, replaced by Major stephen cabot of the 1st Battalion heavy artillery, Massachusetts volunteers. Gibbes called him “a Boston cur—a cod fish-stinking, onion eating, Black republican.” cabot cut the prisoners’ ration drastically and answered a storm of complaints with word that he was feeding the required ration. he prohibited newspapers and alcohol, cut off the sutlers’ trade that had provided so many of the amenities of life, and halted the flow of parcels from Baltimore. Master Wragg asked his father in savannah to send him no money, “as we are not allowed (Per special order) to purchase any necessaries, therefore it will be of no use to me.” But he soon found he could have used all the family could send, for the new commandant’s tactics spawned a burgeoning black market—“the underground railroad,” the rebels called it. The reduced ration began to pinch the stomachs of the well-fed rebels. But alexander’s mess had an ally. The Atlanta’s dog, fanny, had made friends with a mess sergeant. on the days beef was issued, he sent extra meat to alexander for the dog. “of course we took charge of the meat,” the luff said, “and the little dog was given the bones.”1 Just after the change in command the Atlanta’s doctors, freeman and Gibbes, were exchanged. They left the fort on December 7, escorted by a lieutenant named Thayer. Their steamer put them ashore in Boston just after noon, and after acquiring transportation tickets at the quartermaster’s office, the trio dined at a restaurant . The rebels plied the lieutenant with drinks. “at last he got very humorous,” Gibbes said, “and in an accommodating mood allowed us to walk Boston for 5 hours.” freeman wore a black suit, while Gibbes sported his new confederate early 1864 / 277 navy uniform. freeman thought it “may create some trouble” and gave Gibbes his overcoat, taking the junior surgeon’s cape for himself. The trio wandered the city, looking at skaters on a pond on Boston common. Gibbes, usually the soul of courtesy, laughed when a yankee girl fell through the ice. They walked on, absorbing the sights of Boston’s revolutionary War history, making occasional barroom stops to keep their escort in good humor. at 6:00 p.m. they and their guard boarded a train for new york. The trio changed trains there for Baltimore and arrived at fort Monroe on December 9. They were exchanged on the twelfth and carried up the James to richmond, where they discovered old savannah friends Paul Jones and oscar Johnston. it was an emotional homecoming for the doctors. Gibbes visited his brother, hamilton, aboard the Patrick Henry, then headed south and spent christmas with his father on Dr. l. W. Dick’s farm outside summerville , south carolina.2 Gibbes would not be reassigned to the savannah squadron, so on the twentyninth he went to savannah to close business both professional and personal. he lodged at the naval hospital and made the rounds, saying his goodbyes. he spent his evenings with the caruthers and Kollock families and had a walk in forsyth Park with Maria. he had never found the key to her heart and was resigned to having only her friendship. The next day he was strolling the park with hessie elliott and her cousin nancy from Beaufort. he cruised up and down the river on the Firefly, visited aboard the new ironclad Savannah, delivered messages and letters to the families of Atlanta officers still in fort Warren, and had dinner one day and supper the next with Dr. John sandford, back in savannah after duty at Mobile and charleston. The end came in a rush of new year’s Day goodbyes, and he bid the city adieu at five thirty on the morning of January 2, 1864, bound for richmond to take his surgeon’s exam.3 The new year broke cold in savannah with winds blowing near gale force. conscripts new to the water were surprised at the ferocity of the savannah river. The waves broke over the Savannah’s flush decks and crashed ashore with tremendous force.4 The high command thought the federals might try their luck somewhere other than charleston this year. They anticipated the yankees moving inland from Port royal and striking the charleston & savannah railroad, then following the rail line south to assault...

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