第12章
TherewasalittlebandofdevotedChristianworkers,amongwhomwereOrderlySergeantThomasJ。Sheppard,Ninety—SeventhO。Y。L,nowaleadingBaptistministerinEasternOhio;BostonCorbett,whoafterwardslewJohnWilkesBooth,andFrankSmith,nowattheheadoftheRailroadBethelworkatToledo。Theywereindefatigableintryingtoevangelizetheprison。AfewofthemwouldtaketheirstationinsomepartoftheStockade（adifferentoneeverytime）,andbeginsingingsomeoldfamiliarhymnlike"Come,Thoufountofeveryblessing,"
andinafewminutestheywouldhaveanattentiveaudienceofasmanythousandascouldgetwithinhearing。Thesingingwouldbefollowedbyregularservices,duringwhichSheppard,Smith,Corbett,andsomeotherswouldmakeshort,spirited,practicaladdresses,whichnodoubtdidmuchgoodtoallwhoheardthem,thoughthegrainsofleavenwereentirelytoosmalltoleavensuchanimmensemeasureofmeal。Theyconductedseveralfunerals,asnearlylikethewayitwasdoneathomeaspossible。Theirministrationswerenotconfinedtomerelipservice,buttheylaboredassiduouslyincaringforthesick,andmademanyapoorfellow"swaytothegravemuchsmootherforhim。
Thiswasaboutallthereligiousservicesthatwewerefavoredwith。
TheRebelpreachersdidnotmakethatefforttosaveourmisguidedsoulswhichonewouldhaveimaginedtheywouldhavinguswherewecouldnotchoosebutheartheymighthavetakenadvantageofoursituationtorakeusforeandaftwiththeirtheologicalartillery。Theyonlyattempteditinoneinstance。WhileinRichmondapreachercameintoourroomandannouncedinanauthoritativewaythathewouldaddressusonreligioussubjects。Weuncoveredrespectfully,andgatheredaroundhim。Hewasaloud—tongued,brawlingBoanerges,whoaddressedtheLordasifdrillingabrigade。
HespokebutafewmomentsbeforemakingapparenthisbeliefthattheworstofcrimeswasthatofbeingaYankee,andthatamanmustnotonlybesavedthroughChrist"sblood,butalsoserveintheRebelarmybeforehecouldattaintoheaven。
Ofcourseweraisedsuchayellofderisionthatthesermonwasbroughttoanabruptconclusion。
TheonlyministerwhocameintotheStockadewasaCatholicpriest,middle—aged,tall,slender,andunmistakablydevout。Hewasunweariedinhisattentiontothesick,andthewholedaycouldbeseenmovingaroundthroughtheprison,attendingtothosewhoneededspiritualconsolation。
Itwasinterestingtoseehimadministertheextremeunctiontoadyingman。Placingalongpurplescarfabouthisownneckandasmallbrazencrucifixinthehandsofthedyingone,hewouldkneelbythelatter"ssideandanointhimupontheeyes,ears,nostrils;lips,hands,feetandbreast,withsacredoil;fromalittlebrassvessel,repeatingthewhile,inanimpressivevoice,thesolemnofficesoftheChurch。
Hisunwearyingdevotiongainedtheadmirationofall,nomatterhowlittleinclinedonemightbetoviewpriestlinessgenerallywithfavor。
HewasevidentlyofsuchstuffasChristianheroshaveeverbeenmadeof,andwouldhavefacedstakeandfagot,atthecallofduty,withunquailingeye。HisnamewasFatherHamilton,andhewasstationedatMacon。TheworldshouldknowmoreofamanwhoseservicesweresocreditabletohumanityandhisChurch:
Thegoodfatherhadthewisdomoftheserpent,withtheharmlessnessofthedove。Thoughfullofcommiserationfortheunhappylotoftheprisoners,nothingcouldbetrayhimintotheslightestexpressionofopinionregardingthewarorthosewhoweretheauthorsofallthismisery。Inourimpatienceatourtreatment,andhungerfornews,weforgothissacerdotalcharacter,andimportunedhimfortidingsoftheexchange。Hisinvariablereplywasthathelivedapartfromthesethingsandkepthimselfignorantofthem。
"But,father,"saidIoneday,withanimpatiencethatIcouldnotwhollyrepress,"youmustcertainlyhearorreadsomethingofthis,whileyouareoutsideamongtheRebelofficers。"Likemanyotherpeople,I
supposedthatthewholeworldwasexcitedoverthatinwhichIfeltadeepinterest。
"No,myson,"repliedhe,inhisusualcalm,measuredtones。"Igonotamongthem,nordoIhearanythingfromthem。WhenIleavetheprisonintheevening,fullofsorrowatwhatIhaveseenhere,IfindthatthebestuseIcanmakeofmytimeisinstudyingtheWordofGod,andespeciallythePsalmsofDavid。"
Wewerenotanylongergoodcompanyforeachother。Wehadheardoverandoveragainalleachother"sstoriesandjokes,andeachknewasmuchabouttheother"sprevioushistoryaswechosetocommunicate。Thestoryofeveryindividual"spastlife,relations,friends,regiment,andsoldierexperiencehadbeentoldagainandagain,untiltherepetitionwaswearisome。Thecoolnightsfollowingthehotdayswerefavorabletolittlegossipingseancesliketheyarn—spinningwatchesofsailorsonpleasantnights。Oursquad,thoughitsstockofstorieswaswornthreadbare,wasfortunateenoughtohaveasweetsingerinIsrael"Nosey"
Payne——ofwhosetunefulnesswenevertired。Hehadalargerepertoireofpatrioticsongs,whichhesangwithfeelingandcorrectness,andwhichhelpedmuchtomakethecalmSummernightspassagreeably。Amongthebestofthesewas"BraveBoysareThey,"whichIalwaysthoughtwasthefinestballad,bothinpoetryandmusic,producedbytheWar。
CHAPTERXXXIV。
MAGGOTS,LICEANDRAIDERS——PRACTICESOFTHESEHUMANVERMIN——PLUNDERING
THESICKANDDYING——NIGHTATTACKS,ANDBATTLESBYDAY——HARDTIMESFORTHE
SMALLTRADERS。
Witheachlong,hotSummerhourthelice,themaggot—fliesandtheN"Yaarkersincreasedinnumbersandvenomousactivity。Theywereever—
presentannoyancesandtroubles;notimewasfreefromthem。Theliceworriedusbydayandtormentedusbynight;themaggot—fliesfouledourfood,andlaidinsoresandwoundslarvaethatspeedilybecamemassesofwrigglingworms。TheN"Yaarkerswerehumanverminthatpreyeduponandharriedusunceasingly。
Theyformedthemselvesintobandsnumberingfromfivetotwenty—five,eachledbyabold,unscrupulous,energeticscoundrel。Wenowcalledthem"Raiders,"andthemostprominentandbestknownofthebandswerecalledbythenamesoftheirruffianleaders,as"Mosby"sRaiders,"
"Curtis"sRaiders,""Delaney"sRaiders,""Sarsfield"sRaiders,"
"Collins"sRaiders,"etc。
AslongasweoldprisonersformedthebulkofthoseinsidetheStockade,theRaidershadslenderpicking。Theywouldoccasionallysnatchablanketfromthetentpoles,orknockaboydownattheCreekandtakehissilverwatchfromhim;butthiswasall。AbundantopportunitiesforsecuringricherswagcametothemwiththeadventofthePlymouthPilgrims。Ashadbeenbeforestated,theseboysbroughtinwiththemalargeportionoftheirfirstinstalmentofveteranbounty——aggregatinginamount,accordingtovaryingestimates,betweentwenty—fivethousandandonehundredthousanddollars。ThePilgrimswerelikewisewellclothed,hadanabundanceofblanketsandcampequipage,andaplentifulsupplyofpersonaltrinkets,thatcouldbereadilytradedofftotheRebels。Anaverageoneofthem——evenifhismoneywereallgone——wasabonanzatoanybandwhichcouldsucceedinplunderinghim。Hiswatchandchain,shoes,knife,ring,handkerchief,combsandsimilartrifles,wouldnetseveralhundreddollarsinConfederatemoney。Theblockade,whichcutofftheRebelcommunicationwiththeouterworld,madetheseingreatdemand。ManyoftheprisonersthatcameinfromtheArmyofthePotomacrepaidrobbingequallywell。AsarulethosefromthatArmywerenotsearchedsocloselyasthosefromtheWest,andnotunfrequentlytheycameinwithalltheirbelongingsuntouched,whereSherman"smen,arrivingthesameday,wouldbestrippednearlytothebuff。
ThemethodsoftheRaiderswerevarious,rangingallthewayfromsneakthieverytohighwayrobbery。AlltheartslearnedintheprisonsandpurlieusofNewYorkwereputintoexercise。Decoys,"bunko—steerers"athome,wouldbeonthelook—outforpromisingsubjectsaseachcrowdoffreshprisonersenteredthegate,andbykindlyofferstofindthemasleepingplace,lurethemtowheretheycouldbeeasilydespoiledduringthenight。Ifthevictimresistedtherewasalwayssufficientforceathandtoconquerhim,andnotseldomhislifepaidthepenaltyofhiscontumacy。Ihaveknownasmanyasthreeofthesetobekilledinanight,andtheirbodies——withthroatscut,orskullscrushedin——befoundinthemorningamongthedeadatthegates。
Allmenhavingmoneyorvaluableswereundercontinualespionage,andwhenfoundinplacesconvenientforattack,arushwasmadeforthem。
Theywereknockeddownandtheirpersonsrifledwithsuchswiftdexteritythatitwasdonebeforetheyrealizedwhathadhappened。
Atfirstthesedepredationswereonlyperpetratedatnight。Thequarrywasselectedduringtheday,andarrangementsmadeforadescent。Afterthevictimwasasleepthebanddasheddownuponhim,andshearedhimofhisgoodswithincredibleswiftness。Thosenearwouldraisethecryof"Raiders！"andattacktherobbers。Ifthelatterhadsecuredtheirbootytheyretreatedwithallpossiblespeed,andweresoonlostinthecrowd。
Ifnot,theywouldofferbattle,andsignalforassistancefromtheotherbands。Severeengagementsofthiskindwereofcontinualoccurrence,inwhichmenweresobadlybeatenastodiefromtheeffects。Theweaponsusedwerefists,clubs,axes,tent—poles,etc。TheRaiderswereplentifullyprovidedwiththeusualweaponsoftheirclass——slung—shotsandbrass—knuckles。Severalofthemhadsucceededinsmugglingbowie—
knivesintoprison。
Theyhadthegreatadvantageintheserowsofbeingwellacquaintedwitheachother,while,exceptthePlymouthPilgrims,therestoftheprisonersweremadeupofsmallsquadsofmenfromeachregimentintheservice,andtotalstrangerstoalloutsideoftheirownlittleband。
TheRaiderscouldconcentrate,ifnecessary,fourhundredorfivehundredmenuponanypointofattack,andeachmemberofthegangshadbecomesofamiliarizedwithalltherestbylongassociationinNewYork,andelsewhere,thatheneverdealtablowamiss,whiletheiropponentswerenearlyaslikelytoattackfriendsasenemies。
BythemiddleofJunethecontinualsuccessoftheRaidersemboldenedthemsothattheynolongerconfinedtheirdepredationstothenight,butmadetheirforaysinbroaddaylight,andtherewashardlyanhourinthetwenty—fourthatthecryof"Raiders！Raiders！"did,notgoupfromsomepartofthepen,andonlookinginthedirectionofthecry,onewouldseeasurgingcommotion,menstruggling,andclubsbeingpliedvigorously。ThiswasevenmorecommonthantheguardsshootingmenattheCreekcrossing。
OnedayIsaw"DickAllen"sRaiders,"eleveninnumber,attackamanwearingtheuniformofEllett"sMarineBrigade。Hewasarecentcomer,andalone,buthewasbrave。Hehadcomeintopossessionofaspade,bysomemeansoranother,andheusedthiswithdelightfulvigorandeffect。
TwoorthreetimeshestruckoneofhisassailantssofairlyontheheadandwithsuchgoodwillthatIcongratulatedmyselfthathehadkilledhim。Finally,DickAllenmanagedtosliparoundbehindhimunnoticed,andstrikinghimontheheadwithaslung—shot,knockedhimdown,whenthewholecrowdpounceduponhimtokillhim,butweredrivenoffbyothersrallyingtohisassistance。
TheproceedsoftheseforaysenabledtheRaiderstowaxfatandlusty,whileothersweredyingfromstarvation。Theyallhadgoodtents,constructedofstolenblankets,andtheirheadquarterswasalarge,roomytent,withacirculartop,situatedonthestreetleadingtotheSouthGate,andcapableofaccommodatingfromseventy—fivetoonehundredmen。
Allthematerialforthishadbeenwrestedawayfromothers。Whilehundredsweredyingofscurvyanddiarrhea,fromthemiserable,insufficientfood,andlackofvegetables,thesefellowshadflour,freshmeat,onions,potatoes,greenbeans,andotherthings,theverylooksofwhichwereatorturetohungry,scorbutic,dysentericmen。TheywereonthebestpossibletermswiththeRebels,whomtheyfawneduponandgroveledbefore,andwereinreturnallowedmanyfavors,inthewayoftrading,goingoutupondetail,andmakingpurchases。
Amongtheirspecialobjectsofattackwerethesmalltradersintheprison。Wehadquiteanumberofthesewhosegeniusforbarterwassostrongthatittookrootandflourishedeveninthatunpropitioussoil,andduringthetimewhennewprisonerswereconstantlycominginwithmoney,theymanagedtoaccumulatesmallsums——fromtendollarsupward,bytradingbetweentheguardsandtheprisoners。Intheperiodimmediatelyfollowingaprisoner"sentrancehewaslikelytospendallhismoneyandtradeoffallhispossessionsforfood,trustingtofortunetogethimoutoftherewhentheseweregone。Thenwaswhenhewasprofitabletothesego—betweens,whomanagedtomakehimpayhandsomelyforwhathegot。TheRaiderskeptwatchofthesetraders,andplunderedthemwheneveroccasionserved。Itremindedoneofthehabitsofthefishingeagle,whichhoversarounduntilsomeotherbirdcatchesafish,andthentakesitaway。
CHAPTERXXXV
ACOMMUNITYWITHOUTGOVERNMENT——FORMATIONOFTHEREGULATORS——RAIDERS
ATTACKKEYBUTAREBLUFFEDOFF——ASSAULTOFTHEREGULATORSONTHERAIDERS
——DESPERATEBATTLE——OVERTHROWOFTHERAIDERS。
Tofullyappreciatetheconditionofaffairsletitberememberedthatwewereacommunityoftwenty—fivethousandboysandyoungmen——nonetooregardfulofcontrolatbest——andnowwhollydestituteofgovernment。
TheRebelsnevermadetheslightestattempttomaintainorderintheprison。Theirwholeenergieswereconcentratedinpreventingourescape。
SolongaswestaidinsidetheStockade,theycaredaslittlewhatwedidthereasfortheperformancesofsavagesintheinteriorofAfrica。
Idoubtiftheywouldhaveinterferedhadone—halfofuskilledandeatentheotherhalf。Theyrathertookadelightinsuchatrocitiesascametotheirnotice。ItwasanoculardemonstrationofthetotaldepravityoftheYankees。
Amongourselvestherewasnooneinpositiontolaydownlawandenforceit。Beingallenlistedmenwewereonadeadlevelasfarasrankwasconcerned——thehighestbeingonlySergeants,whosestripescarriednoweightofauthority。Thetimeofourstaywas——itwashoped——tootransienttomakeitworthwhilebotheringaboutorganizinganyformofgovernment。Thegreatbulkoftheboyswererecentcomers,whohopedthatinanotherweekorsotheywouldbeoutagain。Therewerenofatsalariestotemptanyonetotakeuponhimselfthedutyofrulingthemasses,andallwerelefttotheirowndevices,todogoodorevil,accordingtotheirseveralbents,andasfearofconsequencesswayedthem。Eachlittlesquadofmenwasalawuntothemselves,andmadeandenforcedtheirownregulationsontheirownterritory。Theadministrationofjusticewasreducedtoitssimplestterms。Ifafellowdidwronghewaspounded——iftherewasanybodycapableofdoingit。Ifnothewentfree。
ThealmostunvaryingsuccessoftheRaidersin——theirforaysgavethegeneralimpressionthattheywereinvincible——thatis,thatnotenoughmencouldbeconcentratedagainstthemtowhipthem。Ourill—successintheattackwemadeontheminAprilhelpedustothesamebelief。Ifwecouldnotbeatthemthen,wecouldnotnow,afterwehadbeenenfeebledbymonthsofstarvationanddisease。ItseemedtousthatthePlymouthPilgrims,whoseorganizationwasyetverystrong,shouldundertakethetask;but,asisusuallythecaseinthisworld,wherewethinksomebodyelseoughttoundertaketheperformanceofadisagreeablepublicduty,theydidnotseeitinthelightthatwewishedthemto。Theyestablishedguardsaroundtheirsquads,andhelpedbeatofftheRaiderswhentheirownterritorywasinvaded,butthiswasalltheywoulddo。
Therestofusformedsimilarguards。InthesouthwestcorneroftheStockade——whereIwas——weformedourselvesintoacompanyoffiftyactiveboys——mostlybelongingtomyownbattalionandtootherIllinoisregiments——ofwhichIwaselectedCaptain。MyFirstLieutenantwasatall,taciturn,long—armedmemberoftheOneHundredandEleventhIllinois,whomwecalled"Egypt,"ashecamefromthatsectionoftheState。Hewaswonderfullyhandywithhisfists。Ithinkhecouldknockafellowdownsothathewouldfall—harder,andlielongerthananypersonIeversaw。Wemadeatacitdivisionofduties:Ididthetalking,and"Egypt"wentthroughthemanuallaborofknockingouropponentsdown。Inthenumerouslittleencountersinwhichourcompanywasengaged,"Egypt"wouldstandbymyside,silent,grimandpatient,whileIpursuedthedialoguewiththeleaderoftheothercrowd。Assoonashethoughttheconversationhadreachedtheproperpoint,hislongleftarmstretchedoutlikeaflash,andtheotherfellowdroppedasifhehadsuddenlycomeinrangeofamulethatwasfeelingwell。Thatunexpectedleft—handerneverfailed。ItwouldhavemadeCharlesReade"sheartleapforjoytoseeit。
Inspiteofourcompanyandourwatchfulness,theRaidersbeatusbadlyononeoccasion。MarionFriend,ofCompanyIofourbattalion,wasoneofthesmalltraders,andhadaccumulatedfortydollarsbyhisbartering。
OneeveningatduskDelaney"sRaiders,abouttwenty—fivestrong,tookadvantageoftheabsenceofmostofusdrawingrations,tomakearushforMarion。Theyknockedhimdown,cuthimacrossthewristandneckwitharazor,androbbedhimofhisfortydollars。BythetimewecouldrallyDelaneyandhisattendantscoundrelsweresafefrompursuitinthemidstoftheirfriends。
Thisstateofthingshadbecomeunendurable。SergeantLeroyL。Key,ofCompanyM,ourbattalion,resolvedtomakeanefforttocrushtheRaiders。Hewasaprinter,fromBloomington,Illinois,tall,dark,intelligentandstrong—willed,andoneofthebravestmenIeverknew。
Hewasablysecondedby"LimberJim,"oftheSixty—SeventhIllinois,whoselithe,sinewyform,andstrikingfeaturesremindedoneofayoungSiouxbrave。HehadallofKey"sdesperatecourage,butnothisbrainsorhistalentforleadership。Thoughfearfullyreducedinnumbers,ourbattalionhadstillaboutonehundredwellmeninit,andtheseformedthenucleusforKey"sbandof"Regulators,"astheywerestyled。AmongthemwereseveralwhohadnoequalsinphysicalstrengthandcourageinanyoftheRaiderchiefs。OurbestmanwasNedCarrigan,CorporalofCompanyI,fromChicago——whowassoconfessedlythebestmaninthewholeprisonthathewasnevercalledupontodemonstrateit。Hewasabig—
hearted,genialIrishboy,whowasneverknowntogetintotroubleonhisownaccount,butonlyusedhisfistswhensomeofhiscomradeswereimposedupon。Hehadfoughtinthering,andononeoccasionhadkilledamanwithasingleblowofhisfist,inaprizefightnearSt。Louis。
Wewereallveryproudofhim,anditwasasgoodasanentertainmenttoustoseethenoisiestroughssubsideintodeferentialsilenceasNedwouldcomeamongthem,likesomegrandmastiffinthemidstofapackofyelpingcurs。Nedenteredintotheregulatingschemeheartily。OtherstalwartspecimensofphysicalmanhoodinourbattalionwereSergeantGoody,NedJohnson,TomLarkin,andothers,who,whilenotapproachingCarrigan"sperfectmanhood,werestillmorethanamatchforthebestoftheRaiders。
Keyproceededwiththegreatestsecrecyintheorganizationofhisforces。HeacceptednonebutWesternmen,andpreferredIllinoisans,Iowans,Kansans,IndianiansandOhioans。TheboysfromthoseStatesseemedtonaturallygotogether,andbemovedbythesamemotives。
HeinformedWirzwhatheproposeddoing,sothatanyunusualcommotionwithintheprisonmightnotbemistakenforanattemptupontheStockade,andmadetheexcuseforopeningwiththeartillery。Wirz,whohappenedtobeinacomplaisanthumor,approvedofthedesign,andallowedhimtheuseoftheenclosureoftheNorthGatetoconfinehisprisonersin。
InspiteofKey"seffortsatsecrecy,informationastohisschemereachedtheRaiders。Itwasdebatedattheirheadquarters,anddecidedtherethatKeymustbekilled。Threemenwereselectedtodothiswork。
TheycalledonKey,adusk,ontheeveningofthe2dofJuly。Inresponsetotheirinquiries,hecameoutoftheblanket—coveredholeonthehillsidethathecalledhistent。Theytoldhimwhattheyhadheard,andaskedifitwastrue。Hesaiditwas。Oneofthemthendrewaknife,andtheothertwo,"billies"toattackhim。But,anticipatingtrouble,KeyhadprocuredarevolverwhichoneofthePilgrimshadbroughtininhisknapsackanddrawingthishedrovethemoff,butwithoutfiringashot。
Theoccurrencecausedthegreatestexcitement。TousoftheRegulatorsitshowedthattheRaidershadpenetratedourdesigns,andwerepreparedforthem。Tothegreatmajorityoftheprisonersitwasthefirstintimationthatsuchathingwascontemplated;thenewsspreadfromsquadtosquadwiththegreatestrapidity,andsooneverybodywasdiscussingthechancesofthemovement。Forawhilemenceasedtheirinterminablediscussionofescapeandexchange——letthoseoverworkedwordsandthemeshaveararespellofrepose——anddebatedwhethertheRaiderswouldwhiptheregulators,oitheRegulatorsconquertheRaiders。ThereasonswhichIhavepreviouslyenumerated,inducedageneraldisbeliefintheprobabilityofoursuccess。TheRaiderswereingoodhealthwellfed,usedtooperatingtogether,andhadtheconfidencebegottenbyalongseriesofsuccesses。TheRegulatorslackedinalltheserespects。
WhetherKeyhadoriginallyfixedonthenextdayformakingtheattack,orwhetherthisaffairprecipitatedthecrisis,Iknownot,butlaterintheeveninghesentusallorder:tobeonourguardallnight,andreadyforactionthenextmorning。
Therewasverylittlesleepanywherethatnight。TheRebelslearnedthroughtheirspiesthatsomethingunusualwasgoingoninside,andastheironlyinterpretationofanythingunusualtherewasadesignupontheStockade,theystrengthenedtheguards,tookadditionalprecautionsineveryway,andspentthehoursinanxiousanticipation。
We,fearingthattheRaidersmightattempttofrustratetheschemebyanattackinoverpoweringforceonKey"ssquad,whichwouldbeaccompaniedbytheassassinationofhimandLimberJim,heldourselvesinreadinesstoofferanyassistancethatmightbeneeded。
TheRaiders,thoughconfidentofsuccess,werenolessexercised。Theythrewoutpicketstoalltheapproachestotheirheadquarters,andprovidedotherwiseagainstsurprise。Theyhadsmuggledinsomecanteensofacheap,vilewhiskymadefromsorghum——andtheygrewquitehilariousintheirBigTentovertheirpotations。TwosongshadlongagobeenacceptedbyusaspeculiarlytheRaiders"own——assomeoneintheircrowdsangthemnearlyeveryevening,andweneverheardthemanywhereelse。
Thefirstbegan:
InAthollivedamannamedJerryLanagan;
Hebatteredawaytillhehadn"tapound。
Hisfatherhedied,andhemadehimamanagin;
Lefthimafarmoftenacresofground。
TheotherrelatedtheexploitsofanIrishhighwaymannamedBrennan,whosechiefvirtuewasthatWhatherob—bedfromtherichhegaveuntothepoor。
Andthiswasthevillainouschorusinwhichtheyalljoined,andsanginsuchawayassuggestedhighwayrobbery,murder,mayhemandarson:
Brennanonthemoor！
Brennanonthemoor！
ProudandundauntedstoodJohnBrennanonthemoor。
Theyhowledthesetwoyearlythelive—longnight。Theybecameeventuallyquitemonotonoustous,whowerewaitingandwatching。Itwouldhavebeenquiteareliefiftheyhadthrowninanewoneeveryhourorso,bywayofvariety。
Morningatlastcame。Ourcompaniesmusteredontheirgrounds,andthenmarchedtothespaceontheSouthSidewheretherationswereissued。
Eachmanwasarmedwithasmallclub,securedtohiswristbyastring。
TheRebels——withtheirchronicfearofanoutbreakanimatingthem——hadalltheinfantryinlineofbattlewithloadedguns。Thecannonintheworkswereshotted,thefusesthrustintothetouch—holesandthemenstoodwithlanyardsinhandreadytomowdowneverybody,atanyinstant。
Thesunroserapidlythroughtheclearsky,whichsoongloweddownonuslikeabrazenoven。Thewholecampgatheredwhereitcouldbestviewtheencounter。ThiswasupontheNorthSide。AsIhavebeforeexplainedthetwosidesslopedtowardeachotherlikethoseofagreattrough。TheRaiders"headquartersstooduponthecenterofthesouthernslope,andconsequentlythosestandingonthenorthernslopesaweverythingasifuponthestageofatheater。
Whilestandinginrankswaitingtheorderstomove,oneofmycomradestouchedmeonthearm,andsaid:
"MyGod！justlookoverthere！"
IturnedfromwatchingtheRebelartillerists,whoseintentionsgavememoreuneasinessthananythingelse,andlookedinthedirectionindicatedbythespeaker。Thesightwasthestrangestonemyeyeseverencountered。Therewereatleastfifteenthousandperhapstwentythousand——menpackedtogetheronthebank,andeveryeyewasturnedonus。Theslopewassuchthateachman"sfaceshowedovertheshouldersoftheoneinfrontofhim,makingacresonacresoffaces。Itwasasifthewholebroadhillsidewaspavedorthatchedwithhumancountenances。
WhenallwasreadywemoveddownupontheBigTent,inasgoodorderaswecouldpreservewhilepassingthroughthenarrowtortuouspathsbetweenthetents。Key,LimberJim,NedCarigan,Goody,TomLarkin,andNedJohnsonledtheadvancewiththeircompanies。Theprisonwasassilentasagraveyard。Asweapproached,theRaidersmassedthemselvesinastrong,heavyline,withthecenter,againstwhichouradvancewasmoving,heldbythemostredoubtableoftheirleaders。Howmanytherewereofthemcouldnotbetold,asitwasimpossibletosaywheretheirlineendedandthemassofspectatorsbegan。Theycouldnotthemselvestell,astheattitudeofalargeportionofthespectatorswouldbedeterminedbywhichwaythebattlewent。
Notablowwasstruckuntilthelinescameclosetogether。ThentheRaidercenterlauncheditselfforwardagainstours,andgrappledsavagelywiththeleadingRegulators。Foraninstant——itseemedanhour——thestrugglewasdesperate。
Strong,fiercemenclenchedandstrovetothrottleeachother;greatmusclesstrainedalmosttobursting,andblowswithfistandclub—dealtwithalltheenergyofmortalhate——felllikehail。One—perhapstwo—
endlessminutesthelinessurged——throbbed——backwardandforwardasteportwo,andthen,asifbyaconcentrationofmightyeffort,ourmenflungtheRaiderlinebackfromit——broken——shattered。Thenextinstantourleaderswerestridingthroughthemasslikeraginglions。Carrigan,LimberJim,Larkin,JohnsonandGoodyeachsmotedownaswathofmenbeforethem,astheymovedresistlesslyforward。
Welightweightshadbeensentaroundontheflankstoseparatethespectatorsfromthecombatants,striketheRaiders"enrevers,"and,asfaraspossible,keepthecrowdfromreinforcingthem。
Infiveminutesafterthefirstblow——wasstrucktheoverthrowoftheRaiderswascomplete。Resistanceceased,andtheysoughtsafetyinflight。
Astheresultbecameapparenttothe——watchersontheoppositehillside,theyventedtheirpent—upexcitementinayellthatmadetheverygroundtremble,andweansweredthemwithashoutthatexpressednotonlyourexultationoverourvictory,butourgreatrelieffromtheintensestrainwehadlongborne。
Wepickedupafewprisonersonthebattlefield,andretiredwithoutmakinganyspecialefforttogetanymorethen,asweknew,thattheycouldnotescapeus。
Wewereverytired,andveryhungry。Thetimefordrawingrationshadarrived。Wagonscontainingbreadandmushhaddriventothegates,butWirzwouldnotallowthesetobeopened,lestintheexcitedconditionofthemenanattemptmightbemadetocarrythem。Keyorderedoperationstocease,thatWirzmightbere—assuredandlettherationsenter。
Itwasinvain。Wirzwasthoroughlyscared。Thewagonsstoodoutinthehotsununtilthemushfermentedandsoured,andhadtobethrownaway,whileweeventrationlesstobed,androsethenextdaywithmorethanusuallyemptystomachstogoadusontoourwork。
CHAPTERXXXVL
WHYTHEREGULATORSWERENOTASSISTEDBYTHEENTIRECAMP——PECULIARITIESOF
BOYSFROMDIFFERENTSECTIONS——HUNTINGTHERAIDERSDOWN——EXPLOITSOFMY
LEFT—HANDEDLIEUTENANT——RUNNINGTHEGAUNTLET。
ImaynothavemadeitwhollycleartothereaderwhywedidnothavetheactiveassistanceofthewholeprisoninthestrugglewiththeRaiders。
Thereweremanyreasonsforthis。First,thegreatbulkoftheprisonerswerenewcomers,havingbeen,atthefarthest,butthreeorfourweeksintheStockade。Theydidnotcomprehendthesituationofaffairsasweolderprisonersdid。Theydidnotunderstandthatalltheoutrages——orverynearlyall——weretheworkof——arelativelysmallcrowdofgraduatesfromthemetropolitanschoolofvice。TheactivityandaudacityoftheRaidersgavethemtheimpressionthatatleasthalftheable—bodiedmenintheStockadewereengagedinthesedepredations。Thisisalwaysthecase。Ahalfdozenburglarsorotheractivecriminalsinatownwillproducetheimpressionthatalargeportionofthepopulationarelawbreakers。WeneverestimatedthattheraidingN"Yaarkers,withtheirspiesandotheraccomplices,exceededfivehundred,butitwouldhavebeendifficulttoconvinceanewprisonerthattherewerenotthousandsofthem。Secondly,theprisonersweremadeupofsmallsquadsfromeveryregimentatthefrontalongthewholelinefromtheMississippitotheAtlantic。Thesewerestrangerstoanddistrustfulofalloutsidetheirownlittlecircles。TheEasternmenwereespeciallyso。ThePennsylvaniansandNewYorkerseachformedgroups,anddidnotfraternizereadilywiththoseoutsidetheirStatelines。TheNewJerseyansheldalooffromalltherest,whiletheMassachusettssoldiershadverylittleinCommonwithanybody——eventheirfellowNewEnglanders。TheMichiganmenweremodifiedNewEnglanders。Theyhadthesametricksofspeech;