The National tribune., 1897-07-15
THE NATIONAL qRBUNET WASHINGTON o. THURSDAY 49,

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 stock
ade-where / was-we formed ourselves
into a company of so active boys
mostly belonging to my own battalion
and to other Illinois regiments-of which
was elected Captain. My First Lieu
tenant was a tall, taciturn, long-armed
member of the 111th ILL.,, whom we called
Egypt" as he came from that section
of the State. He was wonderfully handy
with his fists. / think he could knock
fellow down so that he would fall
harder and lie longer than any person |
ever saw. We made a tacit division of
duties: I did the talking and Egypt"
went through the manual labor Of knock
ing 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 pursued the
dialog with the leader of the other
crowd. AS soon as be thought the con-
versation 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 mule
that was feeling well. That unexpected
left-hander never failed. 1t 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
Go. l of our battalion, was one Of the
small traders, and had accumulated $40
by bis bartering. One evening at dusk
Delaney's Raiders, about 25 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 $40. 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 un-
endurable. Serg't Leroy L. Key, of
Co. M, our battalion, resolved to make
an effort to crush the Raiders. He
was a printer, from Bloomington, ILL.,,
tall, dark, intelligent and strong-willed,
and one of the bravest men 1 ever
knew. He was ably seconded by "Lim-
ber Jim," of the 9th ILL.,, whose 1.-THE,
sinewy form and Striking features re-
minded one of a young Sioux brave.
He had all of Keys desperate courage,
but not his brains or his talent for
leadership.
Though fearfully reduced in numbers,
our battalion had still about 100 we'll
men in it, and these formed the nucleus
for Keys 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 Co. /, from Chi
cago, who 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 fists
when some of his comrades were I'M
posed upon. He had fought in the
ring, and on one occasion had killed |
man with a single blow Of his fist, in a |
prize fight near St. Louis. We were all |
very proud of him, and it was as good |
as an entertainment to us to see the |
noisest rotghs subside into deferential |
silence as Ned would come among them,
like some grand mastif in the midst of |
d pack Of yelping ours.
Ned entefed into the regulating
scheme heartily. Other staIwart speci- |
mems Of physical manhood in our bat
talon were serg't Goody, Ned johnson,
Tom Larkin, and Others who, while not |
approaching Carrigan's perfect man.
hood, were still more than a match for
The best of the Raiders.
Key proceeded with the greatest Sc.
srecy in the organization of his forces. He
accepted none but Western men, and |
preferred Illinoisans, Iowans, Kansans,
Indianians and Ohioans. The boys
from those States seemed to naturally
20 together, and be moved by the same
He informed Wirz what he
doing, so that any unusual
,ommotion within the prison might not
De mistaken for an attempt upon the
and made the excuse for
opening with the artillery. Wirz, who
10 be in complaisant humor,
Of the design, and allowed
him the use Of the inclosure of the
North Gate to confine his prisoners in.
Tn snife of Rows effnrfs at sacrecv