andersonville-第36章

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The　grin　on　Hill's　face　looked　still　more　verdant；　as　he　answered　with
gentle　deliberation：

〃WellmisterIdon'tgoaroundahuntingthingsbutI
ginerallytakecareofallthat'ssentme！〃

Jack　foamed；　but　his　fiercest　bluster　could　not　drive　that　infantile
smile　from　Hill's　face；　nor　provoke　a　change　in　the　calm　slowness　of　his
speech。

It　was　evident　that　nothing　would　do　but　a　battle…royal；　and　Jack　had
sense　enough　to　see　that　the　imperturbable　rustic　was　likely　to　give　him
a　job　of　some　difficulty。　　He　went　off　and　came　back　with　his　clan；　while
Hill's　comrades　of　the　One　Hundredth　gathered　around　to　insure　him　fair
play。　　Jack　pulled　off　his　coat　and　vest；　rolled　up　his　sleeves；　and　made
other　elaborate　preparations　for　the　affray。　　Hill；　without　removing　a
garment；　said；　as　he　surveyed　him　with　a　mocking　smile：

〃Misteryouseemtobeoneofthempartick…e…lerfellers。〃

Jack　roared　out；

〃By　…；　I'll　make　you　partickeler　before　I　get　through　with　you。　　Now；
how　shall　we　settle　this？　　Regular　stand…up…and　knock…down；　or　rough　and
tumble？〃

If　anything　Hill's　face　was　more　vacantly　serene；　and　his　tones　blander
than　ever；　as　he　answered：

〃Strikeanygaitthatsuitsyou；Mister；I　guessIwillbe
abletokeepupwithyou。〃

They　closed。　　Hill　feinted　with　his　left；　and　as　Jack　uncovered　to　guard；
he　caught　him　fairly　on　the　lower　left　ribs；　by　a　blow　from　his　mighty
right　fist；　that　soundedas　one　of　the　by…standers　expressed　it〃like
striking　a　hollow　log　with　a　maul。〃

The　color　in　Jack's　face　paled。　　He　did　not　seem　to　understand　how　he　had
laid　himself　open　to　such　a　pass；　and　made　the　same　mistake；　receiving
again　a　sounding　blow　in　the　short　ribs。　　This　taught　him　nothing；
either；　for　again　he　opened　his　guard　in　response　to　a　feint；　and　again
caught　a　blow　on　his　luckless　left；　ribs；　that　drove　the　blood　from　his
face　and　the　breath　from　his　body。　　He　reeled　back　among　his　supporters
for　an　instant　to　breathe。　　Recovering　his　wind；　be　dashed　at　Hill
feinted　strongly　with　his　right；　but　delivered　a　terrible　kick　against
the　lower　part　of　the　latter's　abdomen。　　Both　closed　and　fought　savagely
at　half…arm's　length　for　an　instant；　during　which　Hill　struck　Jack　so
fairly　in　the　mouth　as　to　break　out　three　front　teeth；　which　the　latter
swallowed。　　Then　they　clenched　and　struggled　to　throw　each　other。　　Hill's
superior　strength　and　skill　crushed　his　opponent　to　the　ground；　and　he
fell　upon　him。　　As　they　grappled　there；　one　of　Jack's　followers　sought　to
aid　his　leader　by　catching　Hill　by　the　hair；　intending　to　kick　him　in　the
face。　　In　an　instant　he　was　knocked　down　by　a　stalwart　member　of　the　One
Hundredth；　and　then　literally　lifted　out　of　the　ring　by　kicks。

Jack　was　soon　so　badly　beaten　as　to　be　unable　to　cry　〃enough！　　〃One　of
his　friends　did　that　service　for　him；　the　fight　ceased；　and　thenceforth
Mr。　　Oliver　resigned　his　pugilistic　crown；　and　retired　to　the　shades　of
private　life。　　He　died　of　scurvy　and　diarrhea；　some　months　afterward；　in
Andersonville。

The　almost　hourly　scenes　of　violence　and　crime　that　marked　the　days　and
nights　before　the　Regulators　began　operations　were　now　succeeded　by　the
greatest　order。　　The　prison　was　freer　from　crime　than　the　best　governed
City。　　There　were　frequent　squabbles　and　fights；　of　course；　and　many
petty　larcenies。　　Rations　of　bread　and　of　wood；　articles　of　clothing；
and　the　wretched　little　cans　and　half　canteens　that　formed　our　cooking
utensils；　were　still　stolen；　but　all　these　were　in　a　sneak…thief　way。
There　was　an　entire　absence　of　the　audacious　open…day　robbery　and　murder
the　〃raiding〃　of　the　previous　few　weeks。　　The　summary　punishment
inflicted　on　the　condemned　was　sufficient　to　cow　even　bolder　men　than　the
Raiders；　and　they　were　frightened　into　at　least　quiescence。

Sergeant　Hill's　administration　was　vigorous；　and　secured　the　best
results。　　He　became　a　judge　of　all　infractions　of　morals　and　law；　and　sat
at　the　door　of　his　tent　to　dispense　justice　to　all　comers；　like　the　Cadi
of　a　Mahometan　Village。　　His　judicial　methods　and　punishments　also
reminded　one　strongly　of　the　primitive　judicature　of　Oriental　lands。
The　wronged　one　came　before　him　and　told　his　tale：　he　had　his　blouse；　or
his　quart　cup；　or　his　shoes；　or　his　watch；　or　his　money　stolen　during　the
night。　　The　suspected　one　was　also　summoned；　confronted　with　his　accuser；
and　sharply　interrogated。　　Hill　would　revolve　the　stories　in　his　mind；
decide　the　innocence　or　guilt　of　the　accused；　and　if　he　thought　the
accusation　sustained；　order　the　culprit　to　punishment。　　He　did　not
imitate　his　Mussulman　prototypes　to　the　extent　of　bowstringing　or
decapitating　the　condemned；　nor　did　he　cut　any　thief's　hands　off；　nor　yet
nail　his　ears　to　a　doorpost；　but　he　introduced　a　modification　of　the
bastinado　that　made　those　who　were　punished　by　it　even　wish　they　were
dead。　　The　instrument　used　was　what　is　called　in　the　South　a　〃shake〃
a　split　shingle；　a　yard　or　more　long；　and　with　one　end　whittled　down　to
form　a　handle。　　The　culprit　was　made　to　bend　down　until　he　could　catch
around　his　ankles　with　his　hands。　　The　part　of　the　body　thus　brought　into
most　prominence　was　denuded　of　clothing　and　〃spanked〃　from　one　to　twenty
times；　as　Hill　ordered；　by　the　〃shake〃　in　same　strong　and　willing　hand。
It　was　very　amusingto　the　bystanders。　　The　〃spankee〃　never　seemed　to
enter　very　heartily　into　the　mirth　of　the　occasion。　　As　a　rule　he　slept
on　his　face　for　a　week　or　so　after；　and　took　his　meals　standing。

The　fear　of　the　spanking；　and　Hill's　skill　in　detecting　the　guilty　ones；
had　a　very　salutary　effect　upon　the　smaller　criminals。

The　Raiders　who　had　been　put　into　irons　were　very　restive　under　the
infliction；　and　begged　Hill　daily　to　release　them。　　They　professed　the
greatest　penitence；　and　promised　the　most　exemplary　behavior　for　the
future。　　Hill　refused　to　release　them；　declaring　that　they　should　wear
the　irons　until　delivered　up　to　our　Government。

One　of　the　Raidersnamed　Heffronhad；　shortly　after　his　arrest；　turned
State's　evidence；　and　given　testimony　that　assisted　materially　in　the
conviction　of　his　companions。　　One　morning；　a　week　or　so　after　the
hanging；　his　body　was　found　lying　among　the　other　dead　at　the　South　Gate。
The　impression　made　by　the　fingers　of　the　hand　that　had　strangled　him；
were　still　plainly　visible　about　the　throat。　　There　was　no　doubt　as　to
why　he　had　been　killed；　or　that　the　Raiders　were　his　murderers；　but　the
actual　perpetrators　were　never　discovered。




CHAPTER　XXXIX。

JULYTHE　PRISON　BECOMES　MORE　CROWDED；　THE　WEATHER　HOTTER；　NATIONS
POORER；　AND　MORTALITY　GREATERSOME　OF　THE　PHENOMENA　OF　SUFFERING　AND
DEATH。

All　during　July　the　prisoners　came　streaming　in　by　hundreds　and　thousands
from　every　portion　of　the　long　line　of　battle；　stretching　from　the
Eastern　bank　of　the　Mississippi　to　the　shores　of　the　Atlantic。　　Over　one
thousand　squandered　by　Sturgis　at　Guntown　came　in；　two　thousand　of　those
captured　in　the　desperate　blow　dealt　by　Hood　against　the　Army　of　the
Tennessee　on　the　22d　of　the　month　before　Atlanta；　hundreds　from　Hunter's
luckless　column　in　the　Shenandoah　Valley；　thousands　from　Grant's　lines　in
front　of　Petersburg。　　In　all；　seven　thousand　one　hundred　and　twenty…eight
were；　during　the　month；　turned　into　that　seething　mass　of　corrupting
humanity　to　be　polluted　and　tainted　by　it；　and　to　assist　in　turn　to　make
it　fouler　and　deadlier。　　Over　seventy　hecatombs　of　chosen　victims
of　fair　youths　in　the　first　flush　of　hopeful　manhood；　at　the　threshold　of
a　life　of　honor　to　themselves　and　of　usefulness　to　the　community；
beardless　boys；　rich　in　the　priceless　affections　of　homes；　fathers；
mothers；　sisters　and　sweethearts；　with　minds　thrilling　with　high
aspirations　for　the　bright　future；　were　sent　in　as　the　monthly　sacrifice
to　this　Minotaur　of　the　Rebellion；　who；　couched　in　his　foul　lair；　slew
them；　not　with　the　merciful　delivery　of　speedy　death；　as　his　Cretan
prototype　did　the　annual　tribute　of　Athenian　youths　and　maidens；　but；
gloating　over　his　prey；　doomed　them　to　lingering　destruction。　　He　rotted
their　flesh　with　the　scurvy；　racked　their　minds　with　intolerable
suspense；　burned　their　bodies　with　the　slow　fire　of　famine；　and　delighted
in　each　separate　pang；　until　they　sank　beneath　the　fearful　accumulation。
Theseus　＇Sherman。　　D。W。＇the　delivererwas　coming。　　His　terrible　sword
could　be　seen　gleaming　as　it　rose　and　fell　on　the　banks　of　the　James；　and
in　the　mountains　beyond　Atlanta；　where　he　was　hewing　his　way　towards　them
and　the　heart　of　the　Southern　Confederacy。　　But　he　came　too　late　to　save
them。　　Strike　as　swiftly　and　as　heavily　as　he　would；　he　could　not　strike
so　hard　nor　so　sure　at　his　foes　with　saber　blow　and　musket　shot；　as　they
could　at　the　hapless　youths　with　the　dreadful　armament　of　starvation　and
disease。

Though　the　deaths　were　one　thousand　eight　hundred　and　seventeen　more　than
were　killed　at　the　battle　of　Shilohthis　left　the　number　in　the　prison
at　the　end　of　the　month　thirty…one　thousand　six　hundred　and　seventy…
eight。　　Let　me　assist　the　reader's　comprehension　of　the　magnitude　of　this
number　by　giving　the　population　of　a　few　important　Cities；　according　to
the　census　of　1870：

Cambridge；　Mass　　　　　89；639
Charleston；　S。　　C。　　48；958
Columbus；　O。　　　　　　　　31；274
Dayton；　O。　　　　　　　　　　30；473
Fall　River；　Mass　　　　26；766
Kansas　City；　Mo　　　　　32；260

The　number　of　prisoners　exceeded　the　whole　number　of　men　between　the　ages
of　eighteen　and　forty…five　in　several　of　the　States　and　Territories　in
the　Union。　　Here；　for　instance；　are　the　returns　for　1870；　of　men　of
military　age　in　some　portions　of　the　country：

Arizona　　　　　　　　　　　　　　5；157
Colorado　　　　　　　　　　　　15；166
Dakota　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　5；301
Idaho　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　9；431
Montana　　　　　　　　　　　　　12；418
Nebraska　　　　　　　　　　　　35；677
Nevada　　　　　　　　　　　　　　24；762
New　Hampshire　　　　　　　60；684
Oregon　　　　　　　　　　　　　　23；959
Rhode　Island　　　　　　　　44；377
Vermont　　　　　　　　　　　　　62；450
West　Virginia　　　　　　　　6；832

It　was　more　soldiers　than　could　be　raised　to…day；　under　strong　pressure；
in　either　Alabama；　Arizona；　Arkansas；　California；　Colorado；　Connecticut；
Dakota；　Delaware；　District　of　Columbia；　Florida；　Idaho；　Louisiana；　Maine；
Minnesota；　Montana；　Nebraska；　Nevada；　New　Hampshire；　New　Medico；　Oregon；
Rhode　Island；　South　Carolina；　Utah；　Vermont　or　West　Virginia。

These　thirty…one　thousand　six　hundred　and　seventy…eight　active　young　men；
who　were　likely　to　find　the　confines　of　a　State　too　narrow　for　them；　were
cooped　up　on　thirteen　acres　of　groundless　than　a　farmer　gives　for　play…
ground　for　a　half　dozen　colts　or　a　small　flock　of　sheep。　　There　was
hardly　room　for　all　to　lie　down　at　night；　and　to　walk　a　few　hundred　feet
in　any　direction　would　require　an　hour's　patient　threading　of　the　mass　of
men　and　tents。

The　weather　became　hotter　and　hotter；　at　midday　the　sand　would　burn　the
hand。　　The　thin　skins　of　fair　and　auburn…haired　men　blistered　under　the
sun's　rays；　and　swelled　up　in　great　watery　puffs；　which　soon　became　the
breeding　grounds　of　the　hideous　maggots；　or　the　still　more　deadly
gangrene。　　The　loathsome　swamp　grew　in　rank　offensiveness　with　every
burning　hour。　　The　pestilence　literally　stalked　at　noon…day；　and　struck
his　victims　down　on　every　hand。　　One　could　not　look　a　rod