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All the material for this had been wrested away from others。 While
hundreds were dying of scurvy and diarrhea； from the miserable；
insufficient food； and lack of vegetables； these fellows had flour； fresh
meat； onions； potatoes； green beans； and other things； the very looks of
which were a torture to hungry； scorbutic； dysenteric men。 They were on
the best possible terms with the Rebels； whom they fawned upon and
groveled before； and were in return allowed many favors； in the way of
trading； going out upon detail； and making purchases。
Among their special objects of attack were the small traders in the
prison。 We had quite a number of these whose genius for barter was so
strong that it took root and flourished even in that unpropitious soil；
and during the time when new prisoners were constantly coming in with
money； they managed to accumulate small sumsfrom ten dollars upward； by
trading between the guards and the prisoners。 In the period immediately
following a prisoner's entrance he was likely to spend all his money and
trade off all his possessions for food； trusting to fortune to get him
out of there when these were gone。 Then was when he was profitable to
these go…betweens； who managed to make him pay handsomely for what he
got。 The Raiders kept watch of these traders； and plundered them
whenever occasion served。 It reminded one of the habits of the fishing
eagle； which hovers around until some other bird catches a fish； and then
takes it away。
CHAPTER XXXV
A COMMUNITY WITHOUT GOVERNMENTFORMATION OF THE REGULATORSRAIDERS
ATTACK KEY BUT ARE BLUFFED OFFASSAULT OF THE REGULATORS ON THE RAIDERS
DESPERATE BATTLEOVERTHROW OF THE RAIDERS。
To fully appreciate the condition of affairs let it be remembered that we
were a community of twenty…five thousand boys and young mennone too
regardful of control at bestand now wholly destitute of government。
The Rebels never made the slightest attempt to maintain order in the
prison。 Their whole energies were concentrated in preventing our escape。
So long as we staid inside the Stockade； they cared as little what we did
there as for the performances of savages in the interior of Africa。
I doubt if they would have interfered had one…half of us killed and eaten
the other half。 They rather took a delight in such atrocities as came to
their notice。 It was an ocular demonstration of the total depravity of
the Yankees。
Among ourselves there was no one in position to lay down law and enforce
it。 Being all enlisted men we were on a dead level as far as rank was
concernedthe highest being only Sergeants； whose stripes carried no
weight of authority。 The time of our stay wasit was hopedtoo
transient to make it worth while bothering about organizing any form of
government。 The great bulk of the boys were recent comers； who hoped
that in another week or so they would be out again。 There were no fat
salaries to tempt any one to take upon himself the duty of ruling the
masses； and all were left to their own devices； to do good or evil；
according to their several bents； and as fear of consequences swayed
them。 Each little squad of men was a law unto themselves； and made and
enforced their own regulations on their own territory。 The administration
of justice was reduced to its simplest terms。 If a fellow did wrong he
was poundedif there was anybody capable of doing it。 If not he went
free。
The almost unvarying success of the Raiders intheir forays gave the
general impression that they were invinciblethat is； that not enough
men could be concentrated against them to whip them。 Our ill…success in
the attack we made on them in April helped us to the same belief。 If we
could not beat them then； we could not now； after we had been enfeebled
by months of starvation and disease。 It seemed to us that the Plymouth
Pilgrims； whose organization was yet very strong； should undertake the
task； but； as is usually the case in this world； where we think somebody
else ought to undertake the performance of a disagreeable public duty；
they did not see it in the light that we wished them to。 They
established guards around their squads； and helped beat off the Raiders
when their own territory was invaded； but this was all they would do。
The rest of us formed similar guards。 In the southwest corner of the
Stockadewhere I waswe formed ourselves into a company of fifty active
boysmostly belonging to my own battalion and to other Illinois
regimentsof which I was elected Captain。 My First Lieutenant was a
tall； taciturn； long…armed member of the One Hundred and Eleventh
Illinois； whom we called 〃Egypt；〃 as he came from that section of the
State。 He was wonderfully handy with his fists。 I think he could knock
a fellow down so that he would fall…harder； and lie longer than any
person I ever saw。 We made a tacit division of duties： I did the
talking； and 〃Egypt〃 went through the manual labor of knocking our
opponents down。 In the numerous little encounters in which our company
was engaged； 〃Egypt〃 would stand by my side； silent； grim and patient；
while I pursued the dialogue with the leader of the other crowd。 As soon
as he thought the conversation had reached the proper point； his long
left arm stretched out like a flash； and the other fellow dropped as if
he had suddenly come in range of a mule that was feeling well。 That
unexpected left…hander never failed。 It would have made Charles Reade's
heart leap for joy to see it。
In spite of our company and our watchfulness； the Raiders beat us badly
on one occasion。 Marion Friend； of Company I of our battalion； was one
of the small traders； and had accumulated forty dollars by his bartering。
One evening at dusk Delaney's Raiders； about twenty…five strong； took
advantage of the absence of most of us drawing rations； to make a rush
for Marion。 They knocked him down； cut him across the wrist and neck
with a razor； and robbed him of his forty dollars。 By the time we could
rally Delaney and his attendant scoundrels were safe from pursuit in the
midst of their friends。
This state of things had become unendurable。 Sergeant Leroy L。 Key；
of Company M； our battalion； resolved to make an effort to crush the
Raiders。 He was a printer； from Bloomington； Illinois； tall； dark；
intelligent and strong…willed； and one of the bravest men I ever knew。
He was ably seconded by 〃Limber Jim；〃 of the Sixty…Seventh Illinois；
whose lithe； sinewy form； and striking features reminded one of a young
Sioux brave。 He had all of Key's desperate courage； but not his brains
or his talent for leadership。 Though fearfully reduced in numbers； our
battalion had still about one hundred well men in it； and these formed
the nucleus for Key's band of 〃Regulators；〃 as they were styled。 Among
them were several who had no equals in physical strength and courage in
any of the Raider chiefs。 Our best man was Ned Carrigan； Corporal of
Company I； from Chicagowho was so confessedly the best man in the whole
prison that he was never called upon to demonstrate it。 He was a big…
hearted； genial Irish boy； who was never known to get into trouble on his
own account； but only used his