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calling rolls and issuing rations。 It was not at all difficult at times
to make a hundred men count as a hundred and ten； and so on。
Wirz could count beyond one hundred； and this determined his selection
for the place。 His first move was a stupid change。 We had been grouped
in the natural way into hundreds and thousands。 He re…arranged the men
in 〃squads〃 of ninety； and three of thesetwo hundred and seventy men
into a 〃detachment。〃 The detachments were numbered in order from the
North Gate； and the squads were numbered 〃one； two； three。〃 On the rolls
this was stated after the man's name。 For instance； a chum of mine； and
in the same squad with me； was Charles L。 Soule； of the Third Michigan
Infantry。 His name appeared on the rolls：
〃Chas。 L。 Soule； priv。 Co。 E； 8d Mich。 Inf。； 1…2。〃
That is； he belonged to the Second Squad of the First Detachment。
Where Wirz got his； preposterous idea of organization from has always
been a mystery to me。 It was awkward in every wayin drawing rations；
counting； dividing into messes； etc。
Wirz was not long in giving us a taste of his quality。 The next morning
after his first appearance he came in when roll…call was sounded； and
ordered all the squads and detachments to form； and remain standing in
ranks until all were counted。 Any soldier will say that there is no duty
more annoying and difficult than standing still in ranks for any
considerable length of time； especially when there is nothing to do or to
engage the attention。 It took Wirz between two and three hours to count
the whole camp； and by that time we of the first detachments were almost
all out of ranks。 Thereupon Wirz announced that no rations would be
issued to the camp that day。〃 The orders to stand in ranks were repeated
the next morning； with a warning that a failure to obey would be punished
as that of the previous day had been。 Though we were so hungry； that；
to use the words of a Thirty…Fifth Pennsylvanian standing next to mehis
〃big intestines were eating his little ones up；〃 it was impossible to
keep the rank formation during the long hours。 One man after another
straggled away； and again we lost our rations。 That afternoon we became
desperate。 Plots were considered for a daring assault to force the gates
or scale the stockade。 The men were crazy enough to attempt anything
rather than sit down and patiently starve。 Many offered themselves as
leaders in any attempt that it might be thought best to make。 The
hopelessness of any such venture was apparent； even to famished men；
and the propositions went no farther than inflammatory talk。
The third morning the orders were again repeated。 This time we succeeded
in remaining in ranks in such a manner as to satisfy Wirz； and we were
given our rations for that day； but those of the other days were
permanently withheld。
That afternoon Wirz ventured into camp alone。 He vas assailed with a
storm of curses and execrations； and a shower of clubs。 He pulled out
his revolver； as if to fire upon his assailants。 A yell was raised to
take his pistol away from him and a crowd rushed forward to do this。
Without waiting to fire a shot； he turned and ran to the gate for dear
life。 He did not come in again for a long while； and never afterward
without a retinue of guards。
CHAPTER XX。
PRIZE…FIGHT AMONG THE N'YAARKERSA GREAT MANY FORMALITIES； AND LITTLE
BLOOD SPILTA FUTILE ATTEMPT TO RECOVER A WATCHDEFEAT OF THE LAW AND
ORDER PARTY。
One of the train…loads from Richmond was almost wholly made up of our old
acquaintancesthe N'Yaarkers。 The number of these had swelled to four
hundred or five hundredall leagued together in the fellowship of crime。
We did not manifest any keen desire for intimate social relations with
them； and they did not seem to hunger for our society； so they moved
across the creek to the unoccupied South Side； and established their camp
there； at a considerable distance from us。
One afternoon a number of us went across to their camp； to witness a
fight according to the rules of the Prize Ring； which was to come off
between two professional pugilists。 These were a couple of bounty…
jumpers who had some little reputation in New York sporting circles；
under the names of the 〃Staleybridge Chicken〃 and the 〃Haarlem Infant。〃
On the way from Richmond a cast…iron skillet； or spider； had been stolen
by the crowd from the Rebels。 It was a small affair； holding a half
gallon； and worth to…day about fifty cents。 In Andersonville its worth
was literally above rubies。 Two men belonging to different messes each
claimed the ownership of the utensil； on the ground of being most active
in securing it。 Their claims were strenuously supported by their
respective messes； at the heads of which were the aforesaid Infant and
Chicken。 A great deal of strong talk； and several indecisive knock…downs
resulted in an agreement to settle the matter by wager of battle between
the Infant and Chicken。
When we arrived a twenty…four foot ring had been prepared by drawing a
deep mark in the sand。 In diagonally opposite corners of these the
seconds were kneeling on one knee and supporting their principals on the
other by their sides they had little vessels of water； and bundles of
rags to answer for sponges。 Another corner was occupied by the umpire；
a foul…mouthed； loud…tongued Tombs shyster； named Pete Bradley。 A long…
bodied； short…legged hoodlum； nick…named 〃Heenan；〃 armed with a club；
acted as ring keeper； and 〃belted〃 back； remorselessly； any of the
spectators who crowded over the line。 Did he see a foot obtruding itself
so much as an inch over the mark in the sandand the pressure from the
crowd behind was so great that it was difficult for the front fellows to
keep off the linehis heavy club and a blasting curse would fall upon
the offender simultaneously。
Every effort was made to have all things conform as nearly as possible to
the recognized practices of the 〃London Prize Ring。〃
At Bradley's call of 〃Time！〃 the principals would rise from their
seconds' knees； advance briskly to the scratch across the center of the
ring； and spar away sharply for a little time； until one got in a blow
that sent the other to the ground； where he would lie until his second
picked him up； carried him back； washed his face off； and gave him a
drink。 He then rested until the next call of time。
This sort of performance went on for an hour or more； with the knockdowns
and other casualities pretty evenly divided between the two。 Then it
became apparent that the Infant was getting more than he had storage room
for。 His interest in the skillet was evidently abating； the leering grin
he wore upon his face during the early part of the engagement had
disappeared long ago； as the successive 〃hot ones〃 which the Chicken had
succeeded in planting upon his mouth； put it out of his power to 〃smile
and smile；〃 〃e'en though he might still be a villain。〃 He began coming
up to the scratch as sluggishly as a hired man starting out for his day's
work； and finally he did not come up at all。 A bunch of blood soaked
rags was tossed into the air from his corner； and Bradley d