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the rudiments of physiology。
There was a little band of devoted Christian workers； among whom were
Orderly Sergeant Thomas J。 Sheppard； Ninety…Seventh O。 Y。 L； now a
leading Baptist minister in Eastern Ohio； Boston Corbett； who afterward
slew John Wilkes Booth； and Frank Smith； now at the head of the Railroad
Bethel work at Toledo。 They were indefatigable in trying to evangelize
the prison。 A few of them would take their station in some part of the
Stockade （a different one every time）； and begin singing some old
familiar hymn like
〃Come； Thou fount of every blessing；〃
and in a few minutes they would have an attentive audience of as many
thousand as could get within hearing。 The singing would be followed by
regular services； during which Sheppard； Smith； Corbett； and some others
would make short； spirited； practical addresses； which no doubt did much
good to all who heard them； though the grains of leaven were entirely too
small to leaven such an immense measure of meal。 They conducted several
funerals； as nearly like the way it was done at home as possible。 Their
ministrations were not confined to mere lip service； but they labored
assiduously in caring for the sick； and made many a poor fellow's way to
the grave much smoother for him。
This was about all the religious services that we were favored with。
The Rebel preachers did not make that effort to save our misguided souls
which one would have imagined they would having us where we could not
choose but hear they might have taken advantage of our situation to rake
us fore and aft with their theological artillery。 They only attempted it
in one instance。 While in Richmond a preacher came into our room and
announced in an authoritative way that he would address us on religious
subjects。 We uncovered respectfully； and gathered around him。 He was a
loud…tongued； brawling Boanerges； who addressed the Lord as if drilling a
brigade。
He spoke but a few moments before making apparent his belief that the
worst of crimes was that of being a Yankee； and that a man must not only
be saved through Christ's blood； but also serve in the Rebel army before
he could attain to heaven。
Of course we raised such a yell of derision that the sermon was brought
to an abrupt conclusion。
The only minister who came into the Stockade was a Catholic priest；
middle…aged； tall； slender； and unmistakably devout。 He was unwearied in
his attention to the sick； and the whole day could be seen moving around
through the prison； attending to those who needed spiritual consolation。
It was interesting to see him administer the extreme unction to a dying
man。 Placing a long purple scarf about his own neck and a small brazen
crucifix in the hands of the dying one； he would kneel by the latter's
side and anoint him upon the eyes； ears； nostrils； lips； hands； feet and
breast； with sacred oil； from a little brass vessel； repeating the while；
in an impressive voice； the solemn offices of the Church。
His unwearying devotion gained the admiration of all； no matter how
little inclined one might be to view priestliness generally with favor。
He was evidently of such stuff as Christian heros have ever been made of；
and would have faced stake and fagot； at the call of duty； with
unquailing eye。 His name was Father Hamilton； and he was stationed at
Macon。 The world should know more of a man whose services were so
creditable to humanity and his Church：
The good father had the wisdom of the serpent； with the harmlessness of
the dove。 Though full of commiseration for the unhappy lot of the
prisoners； nothing could betray him into the slightest expression of
opinion regarding the war or those who were the authors of all this
misery。 In our impatience at our treatment； and hunger for news； we
forgot his sacerdotal character； and importuned him for tidings of the
exchange。 His invariable reply was that he lived apart from these things
and kept himself ignorant of them。
〃But； father；〃 said I one day； with an impatience that I could not wholly
repress； 〃you must certainly hear or read something of this； while you
are outside among the Rebel officers。〃 Like many other people； I
supposed that the whole world was excited over that in which I felt a
deep interest。
〃No； my son；〃 replied he； in his usual calm； measured tones。 〃I go not
among them； nor do I hear anything from them。 When I leave the prison in
the evening； full of sorrow at what I have seen here； I find that the
best use I can make of my time is in studying the Word of God； and
especially the Psalms of David。〃
We were not any longer good company for each other。 We had heard over
and over again all each other's stories and jokes； and each knew as much
about the other's previous history as we chose to communicate。 The story
of every individual's past life； relations； friends； regiment； and
soldier experience had been told again and again； until the repetition
was wearisome。 The cool nights following the hot days were favorable to
little gossiping seances like the yarn…spinning watches of sailors on
pleasant nights。 Our squad； though its stock of stories was worn
threadbare； was fortunate enough to have a sweet singer in Israel 〃Nosey〃
Payneof whose tunefulness we never tired。 He had a large repertoire of
patriotic songs； which he sang with feeling and correctness； and which
helped much to make the calm Summer nights pass agreeably。 Among the
best of these was 〃Brave Boys are They；〃 which I always thought was the
finest ballad； both in poetry and music； produced by the War。
CHAPTER XXXIV。
MAGGOTS； LICE AND RAIDERSPRACTICES OF THESE HUMAN VERMINPLUNDERING
THE SICK AND DYINGNIGHT ATTACKS； AND BATTLES BY DAYHARD TIMES FOR THE
SMALL TRADERS。
With each long； hot Summer hour the lice； the maggot…flies and the
N'Yaarkers increased in numbers and venomous activity。 They were ever…
present annoyances and troubles； no time was free from them。 The lice
worried us by day and tormented us by night； the maggot…flies fouled our
food； and laid in sores and wounds larvae that speedily became masses of
wriggling worms。 The N'Yaarkers were human vermin that preyed upon and
harried us unceasingly。
They formed themselves into bands numbering from five to twenty…five；
each led by a bold； unscrupulous； energetic scoundrel。 We now called
them 〃Raiders；〃 and the most prominent and best known of the bands were
called by the names of their ruffian leaders； as 〃Mosby's Raiders；〃
〃Curtis's Raiders；〃 〃Delaney's Raiders；〃 〃Sarsfield's Raiders；〃
〃Collins's Raiders；〃 etc。
As long as we old prisoners formed the bulk of those inside the Stockade；
the Raiders had slender picking。 They would occasionally snatch a
blanket from the tent poles； or knock a boy down at the Creek and take
his silver watch from him； but this was all。 Abundant opportunities for
securing richer swag came to them with the advent of the Plymouth
Pilgrims。 As had been before stated； these boys brought in with them a
large portion of their first instalment of veteran bountyaggregating in
amount； according to varying estimates； between twenty…five thousand and
one hundred thousand dollars。 The Pilgrims were likewise well clothed；
had an abundance of blankets and camp equipage； and a plentiful supply of
personal trinkets； that could be readily traded off to the Rebels。 An
average one of themeven if his money were all gonewas a bonanza to
any band which could succeed in plundering him。 His watch and chain；
shoes； knife； ring； handkerchief； combs and similar trifles； would net
several hundred dollars in Confederate money。 The blockade； which cut
off the Rebel communication with the outer world； made these in great
demand。 Many of the prisoners that came in from the Army of the Potomac
repaid robbing equally well。 As a rule those from that Army were not
searched so closely as those from the West； and not unfrequently they
came in with all their belongings untouched； where Sherman's men；
arriving the same day； would be stripped nearly to the buff。
The methods of the Raiders were various； ranging all the way from sneak
thievery to highway robbery。 All the arts learned in the prisons and
purlieus of New York were put into exercise。 Decoys； 〃bunko…steerers〃 at
home； would be on the look…out for promising subjects as each crowd of
fresh prisoners entered the gate； and by kindly offers to find them a
sleeping place； lure them to where they could be easily despoiled during
the night。 If the victim resisted there was always sufficient force at
hand to conquer him； and not seldom his life paid the penalty of his
contumacy。 I have known as many as three of these to be killed in a
night； and their bodieswith throats cut； or skulls crushed inbe found
in the morning among the dead at the gates。
All men having money or valuables were under continual espionage； and
when found in places convenient for attack； a rush was made for them。
They were knocked down and their persons rifled with such swift dexterity
that it was done before they realized what had happened。
At first these depredations were only perpetrated at night。 The quarry
was selecte