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;