“I wish I was in de land of cotton, Old times dar am not forgotten! Look away, look away, look away, Dixie Land! In Dixie Land, whar I was born in, Early on one frosty morning, Look away, look away, look away, Dixie Land! Den I wish I was in Dixie, Hooray, hooray! In Dixie Land I’ll take my stand, To live an’ die in Dixie! Away, away, away down South in Dixie; Away, away, away down South in Dixie—” Two hundred men sang it loudly. Bearded, gaunt, unkempt, large-eyed, in unsoldierly rags, they stood and sang Dixie—sang it fiercely, with all their pent power, with all their wild longing. It rolled and echoed through the building; it seemed to beat with violence at the walls, so that it might get out beneath the stars. It died at last. The prisoners in Division 3 turned again to the chairman. “Gentlemen, the editors of _The Pen_ crave your indulgence. The latest news by grapevine and underground is just in! The presses are working overtime in order that presently it may be served to you hot—” “The War is over!” “We are to be exchanged!” “England has declared—” “We have met the enemy and he is ours!” “We have received a consignment of tobacco.” “The rats have cried Hold, enough! A signal victory has been achieved—” “No; the bedbugs—” “The commandant has been called up higher.” “Is—is it an exchange?” The chairman put that hope out with prompt kindness. “No, no, Captain! I wish it were. That would be the next best thing to news of a big victory, wouldn’t it! But, see, they approach! Way for the noble editors! Way for _The Pen_ that has—ahem!—swallowed the sword!” The Junior Editor, having the biggest voice and being used to commanding Partisan Rangers, was the chosen reader. He stood forward. “Gentlemen, let me have your attention!—Can’t that lamp be turned up?—Thank you, Colonel! THE PEN _Light (mental) and Liberty (To the Dead Line)_ VOL. I. NO. 20. PRISON X. JUNE —, 1863 IMPORTANT NEWS _Received by Grapevine, and confirmed by Fresh Fish_ “General Lee is thought to be moving northward—” “_Yaaaih! Yaaaaaihhh! Yaaaaih!_” “He has certainly left the Rappahannock. Ewell has been observed moving toward the Valley, probably with the intention of falling on Milroy at Winchester—” “_Yaaaihhhh! Yaaaaaihhh!_—” “—and crossing the Potomac at Williamsport. Longstreet and A.P. Hill are in motion—” “_Yaaaih!_ Old Pete! _Yaaaih!_ A.P. Hill!” “If General Lee crosses the Potomac, surely all will be well. We trust in God that it’s true.” “Amen,” said the prisoners. “Amen, amen!” The reader turned the page.