When all was ready we moved down upon the Big Tent, in as good order as we could preserve while passing through the narrow tortuous paths between the tents.  Key, Limber Jim, Ned Carigan, Goody, Tom Larkin, and Ned Johnson led the advance with their companies.  The prison was as silent as a graveyard.  As we approached, the Raiders massed themselves in a strong, heavy line, with the center, against which our advance was moving, held by the most redoubtable of their leaders.  How many there were of them could not be told, as it was impossible to say where their line ended and the mass of spectators began.  They could not themselves tell, as the attitude of a large portion of the spectators would be determined by which way the battle went.

Not a blow was struck until the lines came close together.  Then the Raider center launched itself forward against ours, and grappled savagely with the leading Regulators.  For an instant—­it seemed an hour—­the struggle was desperate.

Strong, fierce men clenched and strove to throttle each other; great muscles strained almost to bursting, and blows with fist and club-dealt with all the energy of mortal hate—­fell like hail.  One-perhaps two-endless minutes the lines surged—­throbbed—­backward and forward a step or two, and then, as if by a concentration of mighty effort, our men flung the Raider line back from it—­broken—­shattered.  The next instant our leaders were striding through the mass like raging lions.  Carrigan, Limber Jim, Larkin, Johnson and Goody each smote down a swath of men before them, as they moved resistlessly forward.

We light weights had been sent around on the flanks to separate the spectators from the combatants, strike the Raiders ‘en revers,’ and, as far as possible, keep the crowd from reinforcing them.

In five minutes after the first blow—­was struck the overthrow of the Raiders was complete.  Resistance ceased, and they sought safety in flight.

As the result became apparent to the—­watchers on the opposite hillside, they vented their pent-up excitement in a yell that made the very ground tremble, and we answered them with a shout that expressed not only our exultation over our victory, but our great relief from the intense strain we had long borne.

We picked up a few prisoners on the battle field, and retired without making any special effort to get any more then, as we knew, that they could not escape us.

We were very tired, and very hungry.  The time for drawing rations had arrived.  Wagons containing bread and mush had driven to the gates, but Wirz would not allow these to be opened, lest in the excited condition of the men an attempt might be made to carry them.  Key ordered operations to cease, that Wirz might be re-assured and let the rations enter.  It was in vain.  Wirz was thoroughly scared.  The wagons stood out in the hot sun until the mush fermented and soured, and had to be thrown away, while we event rationless to bed, and rose the next day with more than usually empty stomachs to goad us on to our work.