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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 in any
direction without