andersonville-第44章
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seemed to naturally go together； and be moved by the same motives。
He informed Wirz what he proposed doing； so that any unusual commotion
within the prison might not be mistaken for an attempt upon the Stockade；
and made the excuse for opening with the artillery。 Wirz； who happened
to be in a complaisant humor； approved of the design； and allowed him the
use of the enclosure of the North Gate to confine his prisoners in。
In spite of Key's efforts at secrecy； information as to his scheme
reached the Raiders。 It was debated at their headquarters； and decided
there that Key must be killed。 Three men were selected to do this work。
They called on Key； a dusk； on the evening of the 2d of July。 In
response to their inquiries； he came out of the blanket…covered hole on
the hillside that he called his tent。 They told him what they had heard；
and asked if it was true。 He said it was。 One of them then drew a
knife； and the other two； 〃billies〃 to attack him。 But； anticipating
trouble； Key had procured a revolver which one of the Pilgrims had
brought in in his knapsack and drawing this he drove them off； but
without firing a shot。
The occurrence caused the greatest excitement。 To us of the Regulators
it showed that the Raiders had penetrated our designs； and were prepared
for them。 To the great majority of the prisoners it was the first
intimation that such a thing was contemplated； the news spread from squad
to squad with the greatest rapidity； and soon everybody was discussing
the chances of the movement。 For awhile men ceased their interminable
discussion of escape and exchangelet those over worked words and themes
have a rare spell of reposeand debated whether the Raiders would whip
the regulators； oi the Regulators conquer the Raiders。 The reasons which
I have previously enumerated； induced a general disbelief in the
probability of our success。 The Raiders were in good health well fed；
used to operating together； and had the confidence begotten by a long
series of successes。 The Regulators lacked in all these respects。
Whether Key had originally fixed on the next day for making the attack；
or whether this affair precipitated the crisis； I know not； but later in
the evening he sent us all order： to be on our guard all night； and ready
for action the next morning。
There was very little sleep anywhere that night。 The Rebels learned
through their spies that something unusual was going on inside； and as
their only interpretation of anything unusual there was a design upon the
Stockade； they strengthened the guards； took additional precautions in
every way； and spent the hours in anxious anticipation。
We； fearing that the Raiders might attempt to frustrate the scheme by an
attack in overpowering force on Key's squad； which would be accompanied
by the assassination of him and Limber Jim； held ourselves in readiness
to offer any assistance that might be needed。
The Raiders； though confident of success； were no less exercised。 They
threw out pickets to all the approaches to their headquarters； and
provided otherwise against surprise。 They had smuggled in some canteens
of a cheap； vile whisky made from sorghumand they grew quite hilarious
in their Big Tent over their potations。 Two songs had long ago been
accepted by us as peculiarly the Raiders' ownas some one in their crowd
sang them nearly every evening； and we never heard them anywhere else。
The first began：
In Athol lived a man named Jerry Lanagan；
He battered away till he hadn't a pound。
His father he died； and he made him a man agin；
Left him a farm of ten acres of ground。
The other related the exploits of an Irish highwayman named Brennan；
whose chief virtue was that
What he rob…bed from the rich he gave unto the poor。
And this was the villainous chorus in which they all joined； and sang in
such a way as suggested highway robbery； murder； mayhem and arson：
Brennan on the moor！
Brennan on the moor！
Proud and undaunted stood
John Brennan on the moor。
They howled these two yearly the live…long night。 They became eventually
quite monotonous to us； who were waiting and watching。 It would have
been quite a relief if they had thrown in a new one every hour or so；
by way of variety。
Morning at last came。 Our companies mustered on their grounds； and then
marched to the space on the South Side where the rations were issued。
Each man was armed with a small club； secured to his wrist by a string。
The Rebelswith their chronic fear of an outbreak animating themhad
all the infantry in line of battle with loaded guns。 The cannon in the
works were shotted； the fuses thrust into the touch…holes and the men
stood with lanyards in hand ready to mow down everybody； at any instant。
The sun rose rapidly through the clear sky； which soon glowed down on us
like a brazen oven。 The whole camp gathered where it could best view the
encounter。 This was upon the North Side。 As I have before explained the
two sides sloped toward each other like those of a great trough。 The
Raiders' headquarters stood upon the center of the southern slope； and
consequently those standing on the northern slope saw everything as if
upon the stage of a theater。
While standing in ranks waiting the orders to move； one of my comrades
touched me on the arm； and said：
〃My God！ just look over there！〃
I turned from watching the Rebel artillerists； whose intentions gave me
more uneasiness than anything else； and looked in the direction indicated
by the speaker。 The sight was the strangest one my eyes ever
encountered。 There were at least fifteen thousand perhaps twenty
thousandmen packed together on the bank； and every eye was turned on
us。 The slope was such that each man's face showed over the shoulders of
the one in front of him； making acres on acres of faces。 It was as if
the whole broad hillside was paved or thatched with human countenances。
When all was ready we moved down upon the Big Tent； in as good order as
we could preserve while passing through the narrow tortuous paths between
the tents。 Key； Limber Jim； Ned Carigan； Goody； Tom Larkin； and Ned
Johnson led the advance with their companies。 The prison was as silent
as a graveyard。 As we approached； the Raiders massed themselves in a
strong； heavy line； with the center； against which our advance was
moving； held by the most redoubtable of their leaders。 How many there
were of them could not be told； as it was impossible to say where their
line ended and the mass of spectators began。 They could not themselves
tell； as the attitude of a large portion of the spectators would be
determined by which way the battle went。
Not a blow was struck until the lines came close together。 Then the
Raider center launched itself forward against ours； and grappled savagely
with the leading Regulators。 For an instantit seemed an hourthe
struggle was desperate。
Strong； fierce men clenched and strove to throttle each other； great
muscles strained almost to bursting； and blows with fist and club…dealt
with all the energy of mortal hatefell like hail。 One…perhaps two…
endless minutes the lines surgedthrobbedbackward and forward a step
or two； and then； as if by a concentration of mighty effort； our men
flung the Raider line back from itbrokenshattered。 The next instant
our leaders were striding through the mass like raging lions。 Carrigan；
Limber Jim； Larkin； Johnson and Goody each smote down a swath of men
before them； as they moved resistlessly forward。
We light weights had been sent around on the flanks to separate the
spectators from the combatants； strike the Raiders 'en revers；' and；
as far as possible； keep the crowd from reinforcing them。
In five minutes after the first blowwas struck the overthrow of the
Raiders was complete。 Resistance ceased； and they sought safety in
flight。
As the result became apparent to thewatchers on the opposite hillside；
they vented their pent…up excitement in a yell that made the very ground
tremble； and we answered them with a shout th
