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little gossiping seances like the yarn…spinning watches of sailors on
pleasant nights。 Our squad； though its stock of stories was worn
threadbare； was fortunate enough to have a sweet singer in Israel 〃Nosey〃
Payneof whose tunefulness we never tired。 He had a large repertoire of
patriotic songs； which he sang with feeling and correctness； and which
helped much to make the calm Summer nights pass agreeably。 Among the
best of these was 〃Brave Boys are They；〃 which I always thought was the
finest ballad； both in poetry and music； produced by the War。
CHAPTER XXXIV。
MAGGOTS； LICE AND RAIDERSPRACTICES OF THESE HUMAN VERMINPLUNDERING
THE SICK AND DYINGNIGHT ATTACKS； AND BATTLES BY DAYHARD TIMES FOR THE
SMALL TRADERS。
With each long； hot Summer hour the lice； the maggot…flies and the
N'Yaarkers increased in numbers and venomous activity。 They were ever…
present annoyances and troubles； no time was free from them。 The lice
worried us by day and tormented us by night； the maggot…flies fouled our
food； and laid in sores and wounds larvae that speedily became masses of
wriggling worms。 The N'Yaarkers were human vermin that preyed upon and
harried us unceasingly。
They formed themselves into bands numbering from five to twenty…five；
each led by a bold； unscrupulous； energetic scoundrel。 We now called
them 〃Raiders；〃 and the most prominent and best known of the bands were
called by the names of their ruffian leaders； as 〃Mosby's Raiders；〃
〃Curtis's Raiders；〃 〃Delaney's Raiders；〃 〃Sarsfield's Raiders；〃
〃Collins's Raiders；〃 etc。
As long as we old prisoners formed the bulk of those inside the Stockade；
the Raiders had slender picking。 They would occasionally snatch a
blanket from the tent poles； or knock a boy down at the Creek and take
his silver watch from him； but this was all。 Abundant opportunities for
securing richer swag came to them with the advent of the Plymouth
Pilgrims。 As had been before stated； these boys brought in with them a
large portion of their first instalment of veteran bountyaggregating in
amount； according to varying estimates； between twenty…five thousand and
one hundred thousand dollars。 The Pilgrims were likewise well clothed；
had an abundance of blankets and camp equipage； and a plentiful supply of
personal trinkets； that could be readily traded off to the Rebels。 An
average one of themeven if his money were all gonewas a bonanza to
any band which could succeed in plundering him。 His watch and chain；
shoes； knife； ring； handkerchief； combs and similar trifles； would net
several hundred dollars in Confederate money。 The blockade； which cut
off the Rebel communication with the outer world； made these in great
demand。 Many of the prisoners that came in from the Army of the Potomac
repaid robbing equally well。 As a rule those from that Army were not
searched so closely as those from the West； and not unfrequently they
came in with all their belongings untouched； where Sherman's men；
arriving the same day； would be stripped nearly to the buff。
The methods of the Raiders were various； ranging all the way from sneak
thievery to highway robbery。 All the arts learned in the prisons and
purlieus of New York were put into exercise。 Decoys； 〃bunko…steerers〃 at
home； would be on the look…out for promising subjects as each crowd of
fresh prisoners entered the gate； and by kindly offers to find them a
sleeping place； lure them to where they could be easily despoiled during
the night。 If the victim resisted there was always sufficient force at
hand to conquer him； and not seldom his life paid the penalty of his
contumacy。 I have known as many as three of these to be killed in a
night； and their bodieswith throats cut； or skulls crushed inbe found
in the morning among the dead at the gates。
All men having money or valuables were under continual espionage； and
when found in places convenient for attack； a rush was made for them。
They were knocked down and their persons rifled with such swift dexterity
that it was done before they realized what had happened。
At first these depredations were only perpetrated at night。 The quarry
was selected during the day； and arrangements made for a descent。 After
the victim was asleep the band dashed down upon him； and sheared him of
his goods with incredible swiftness。 Those near would raise the cry of
〃Raiders！〃 and attack the robbers。 If the latter had secured their booty
they retreated with all possible speed； and were soon lost in the crowd。
If not； they would offer battle； and signal for assistance from the other
bands。 Severe engagements of this kind were of continual occurrence； in
which men were so badly beaten as to die from the effects。 The weapons
used were fists； clubs； axes； tent…poles； etc。 The Raiders were
plentifully provided with the usual weapons of their classslung…shots
and brass…knuckles。 Several of them had succeeded in smuggling bowie…
knives into prison。
They had the great advantage in these rows of being well acquainted with
each other； while； except the Plymouth Pilgrims； the rest of the
prisoners were made up of small squads of men from each regiment in the
service； and total strangers to all outside of their own little band。
The Raiders could concentrate； if necessary； four hundred or five hundred
men upon any point of attack； and each member of the gangs had become so
familiarized with all the rest by long association in New York； and
elsewhere； that he never dealt a blow amiss； while their opponents were
nearly as likely to attack friends as enemies。
By the middle of June the continual success of the Raiders emboldened
them so that they no longer confined their depredations to the night；
but made their forays in broad daylight； and there was hardly an hour in
the twenty…four that the cry of 〃Raiders！ Raiders！〃 did； not go up from
some part of the pen； and on looking in the direction of the cry； one
would see a surging commotion； men struggling； and clubs being plied
vigorously。 This was even more common than the guards shooting men at
the Creek crossing。
One day I saw 〃Dick Allen's Raiders；〃 eleven in number； attack a man
wearing the uniform of Ellett's Marine Brigade。 He was a recent comer；
and alone； but he was brave。 He had come into possession of a spade； by
some means or another； and he used this with delightful vigor and effect。
Two or three times he struck one of his assailants so fairly on the head
and with such good will that I congratulated myself that he had killed
him。 Finally； Dick Allen managed to slip around behind him unnoticed；
and striking him on the head with a slung…shot； knocked him down； when
the whole crowd pounced upon him to kill him； but were driven off by
others rallying to his assistance。
The proceeds of these forays enabled the Raiders to wax fat and lusty；
while others were dying from starvation。 They all had good tents；
constructed of stolen blankets； and their headquarters was a large； roomy
tent； with a circular top； situated on the street leading to the South
Gate； and capable of accommodating from seventy…five to one hundred men。
All the material for this had been wrested