Fifteen Months in Dixie; Or, My Personal Experience in Rebel PrisonsDay, W. W. (William Worthy)
History
Fifteen Months in Dixie; Or, My Personal Experience in Rebel Prisons
Day, W. W. (William Worthy)
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Prisoners and prisons
Another of these Raiders got his just punishment while trying to rob a
half-breed Indian, a member of the Massachusetts Heavy Artillery. The
raider attempted to steal the Indian’s boots from under his head, when
the descendant of King Phillip plunged a knife into the hoodlum, killing
him dead on the spot.
A number of murders had been committed by these Raiders, and robberies
innumerable, when matters were brought to a focus one day in the early
part of July, by Lieutenant Davis, then in command of the Prison vice
Wirz who was sick, declaring that no more rations would be issued until
these men were given up.
He had no need to threaten us;—we were willing to give them up;—we had
no earthly use for them. Give them up? yes; and pay boot, to get rid of
them. But it required a man of nerve to lead in the arrest of these
desperadoes. It was no child’s play, as there were between four and five
hundred of them, and to arrest the leaders meant “business.” That man
was found in the person of Sergeant Leroy L. Key, of the 16th Illinois
Cavalry, who was ably seconded by a tall, lithe, young fellow known as
“Limber Jim,” a member of the 67th Illinois.
To the efforts of these two men, the prisoners at Andersonville were
indebted, more than any other men, for the comparative peace and
security of the prison after the 11th of July.
Key was the head, and furnished the brains, of the organization known,
at first, as the “Regulators,” afterward as the “Prison Police.” Limber
Jim was second in command, and first in a fight.
These two men organized a force of men in the southwest corner of the
stockade, from the best material which could be found. It needed strong
brave men for the work in hand; for these Raiders were strong, athletic
men, and desperate characters, and the Regulators must need face the
lion in his den.
On the 3d of July Key at the head of the Regulators, armed with clubs,
made a charge on the Raiders, who had been expecting the attack and were
prepared. I was standing on the north side of the swamp, and was in good
position to see the fight.
Key, followed by Limber Jim, led the charge; for a few minutes the
spectators could tell nothing of how the Regulators were faring. The air
was filled with clubs, which were descending on men’s heads, shoulders
and arms. The fighting mass surged, and swayed, and finally the Raiders
broke and ran; and then the spectators set up such a shout as must have
cheered Key and his brave men.
That day and the next, the Regulators arrested one hundred and
twenty-five of the worst characters among the Raiders. Davis gave Key
the use of the small stockade at the north gate, as a prison in which to
hold them for trial.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account