andersonville-第47章
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It was quite near the spot where the Raiders' Big Tent had stood； and
afforded as good a view to the rest of the camp as could be found。
Key had secured the loan of a few beams and rough planks； sufficient to
build a rude scaffold with。 Our first duty was to care for these as they
came in； for such was the need of wood； and plank for tent purposes； that
they would scarcely have fallen to the ground before they were spirited
away； had we not stood over them all the time with clubs。
The carpenters sent by Key came over and set to work。 The N'Yaarkers
gathered around in considerable numbers； sullen and abusive。 They cursed
us with all their rich vocabulary of foul epithets； vowed that we should
never carry out the execution； and swore that they had marked each one
for vengeance。 We returned the compliments in kind； and occasionally it
seemed as if a general collision was imminent； but we succeeded in
avoiding this； and by noon the scaffold was finished。 It was a very
simple affair。 A stout beam was fastened on the top of two posts； about
fifteen feet high。 At about the height of a man's head a couple of
boards stretched across the space between the posts； and met in the
center。 The ends at the posts laid on cleats； the ends in the center
rested upon a couple of boards； standing upright； and each having a piece
of rope fastened through a hole in it in such a manner； that a man could
snatch it from under the planks serving as the floor of the scaffold； and
let the whole thing drop。 A rude ladder to ascend by completed the
preparations。
As the arrangements neared completion the excitement in and around the
prison grew intense。 Key came over with the balance of the Regulators；
and we formed a hollow square around the scaffold； our company marking
the line on the East Side。 There were now thirty thousand in the prison。
Of these about one…third packed themselves as tightly about our square as
they could stand。 The remaining twenty thousand were wedged together in
a solid mass on the North Side。 Again I contemplated the wonderful；
startling； spectacle of a mosaic pavement of human faces covering the
whole broad hillside。
Outside； the Rebel； infantry was standing in the rifle pits； the
artillerymen were in place about their loaded and trained pieces； the No。
4 of each gun holding the lanyard cord in his hand； ready to fire the
piece at the instant of command。 The small squad of cavalry was drawn up
on the hill near the Star Fort； and near it were the masters of the
hounds； with their yelping packs。
All the hangers…on of the Rebel campclerks； teamsters； employer；
negros； hundreds of white and colored women； in all forming a motley
crowd of between one and two thousand； were gathered together in a group
between the end of the rifle pits and the Star Fort。 They had a good
view from there； but a still better one could be had； a little farther to
the right； and in front of the guns。 They kept edging up in that
direction； as crowds will； though they knew the danger they would incur
if the artillery opened。
The day was broiling hot。 The sun shot his perpendicular rays down with
blistering fierceness； and the densely packed； motionless crowds made the
heat almost insupportable。
Key took up his position inside the square to direct matters。 With him
were Limber Jim； Dick McCullough； and one or two others。 Also； Ned
Johnson； Tom Larkin； Sergeant Goody； and three others who were to act as
hangmen。 Each of these six was provided with a white sack； such as the
Rebels brought in meal in。 Two Corporals of my company〃Stag〃 Harris
and Wat Paynewere appointed to pull the stays from under the platform
at the signal。
A little after noon the South Gate opened； and Wirz rode in； dressed in a
suit of white duck； and mounted on his white horsea conjunction which
had gained for him the appellation of 〃Death on a Pale Horse。〃 Behind
him walked the faithful old priest； wearing his Church's purple insignia
of the deepest sorrow； and reading the service for the condemned。 The
six doomed men followed； walking between double ranks of Rebel guards。
All came inside the hollow square and halted。 Wirz then said：
〃Brizners； I return to you dose men so Boot as I got dem。 You haf tried
dem yourselves； and found dem guiltyI haf had notting to do wit it。
I vash my hands of eferyting connected wit dem。 Do wit dem as you like；
and may Gott haf mercy on you and on dem。 Garts； about face！ Voryvarts；
march！〃
With this he marched out and left us。
For a moment the condemned looked stunned。 They seemed to comprehend for
the first time that it was really the determination of the Regulators to
hang them。 Before that they had evidently thought that the talk of
hanging was merely bluff。 One of them gasped out：
〃My God； men； you don't really mean to hang us up there！〃
Key answered grimly and laconically：
〃That seems to be about the size of it。〃
At this they burst out in a passionate storm of intercessions and
imprecations； which lasted for a minute or so； when it was stopped by one
of them saying imperatively：
〃All of you stop now； and let the priest talk for us。〃
At this the priest closed the book upon which he had kept his eyes bent
since his entrance； and facing the multitude on the North Side began a
plea for mercy。
The condemned faced in the； same direction； to read their fate in the
countenances of those whom he was addressing。 This movement brought
Curtisa low…statured； massively built manon the right of their line；
and about ten or fifteen steps from my company。
The whole camp had been as still as death since Wirz's exit。 The silence
seemed to become even more profound as the priest began his appeal。
For a minute every ear was strained to catch what he said。 Then； as the
nearest of the thousands comprehended what he was saying they raised a
shout of 〃No！ no！！ NO！！〃 〃Hang them！ hang them！〃 〃Don't let them go！
Never！〃
〃Hang the rascals！ hang the villains！〃
〃Hang；'em！ hang 'em！ hang 'em！〃
This was taken up all over the prison； and tens of thousands throats
yelled it in a fearful chorus。
Curtis turned from the crowd with desperation convulsing his features。
Tearing off the broad…brimmed hat which he wore； he flung it on the
ground with the exclamation！
〃By God； I'll die this way first！〃 and； drawing his head down and folding
his arms about it； he dashed forward for the center of my company； like a
great stone hurled from a catapult。
〃Egypt〃 and I saw where he was going to strike； and ran down the line to
help stop him。 As he came up we rained blows on his head with our clubs；
but so many of us struck at him at once that we broke each other's clubs
to pieces； and only knocked him on his knees。 He rose with an almost
superhuman effort； and plunged into the mass beyond。
The excitement almost became delirium。 For an instant I feared that
everything was gone to ruin。 〃Egypt〃 and I strained every energy to
restore our lines； before the break could be taken advantage of by the
others。 Our boys behaved splendidly； standing firm； and in a few seconds
the line was restored。
As Curtis broke through； Delaney； a brawny Irishman standing next to him；
started to follow。 He took one step。 At the same instant Limber Jim's
long legs took three great strides； and placed him directly in front of
Delaney。 Jim's right hand held an enormous bowie…knife； and as he raised
it above Delaney he hissed out：
〃If you dare move another step； you open you ； I'll open
you from one end to the other。
Delaney stopped。 This checked the others till our lines reformed。
When Wirz saw the commotion he was panic…stricken with fear that the
long…dreaded assault on the Stockade had begun。 He ran down from the
headquarter steps to the Captain of the battery； shrieking：
〃Fire！ fire！ fire！〃
The Captain； not being a fool； could see that the rush was not towards
the Stockade； but away from it； and he refrained from giving the order。
But the spectators who had gotten before the guns； heard Wirz's excited
yell； and remembering the consequences to themselves should the artillery
be discharged； became fre
