We knew we were still near the sea coast--really not more than forty miles away--and we felt that if we could once get there we should be safe.

Andrews and I meditated plans of escape, and toiled away at our cabin.
About a week after our arrival we were startled by an order for the one thousand of us who had first arrived to get ready to move out.

In a few minutes we were taken outside the guard line, massed close together, and informed in a few words by a Rebel officer that we were about to be taken back to Savannah for exchange.
The announcement took away our breath.

For an instant the rush of emotion made us speechless, and when utterance returned, the first use we made of it was to join in one simultaneous outburst of acclamation.
Those inside the guard line, understanding what our cheer meant, answered us with a loud shout of congratulation--the first real, genuine, hearty cheering that had been done since receiving the announcement of the exchange at Andersonville, three months before.
As soon as the excitement had subsided somewhat, the Rebel proceeded to explain that we would all be required to sign a parole.

This set us to thinking.