HillfirstcameintoprominenceasthevictorinthemoststubbornlycontestedfightintheprisonhistoryofBelleIsle。WhenthesquadoftheOneHundredthOhio——capturedatLimestoneStation,EastTennessee,inSeptember,1863——arrivedonBelleIsle,acertainJackOliver,oftheNineteenthIndiana,wastheundisputedfisticmonarchoftheIsland。
Hedidnotbearhisblushinghonorsmodestly;fewofarightarmthatindefinitelocalityknownas\"themiddleofnextweek,\"issomethingthatthepossessorcanaslittleresistshowingascanagirlherfirstsolitairering。Toknowthatonecancertainlystrikeadisagreeablefellowoutoftimeisprettysuretobreedadesiretodothatthingwheneveroccasionserves。JackOliverwasonewhodidnotlethisbicepsrustininaction,butthrashedeverybodyontheIslandwhomhethoughtneededit,andhisideasastothosewhoshouldbeincludedinthisclasswideneddaily,untilitbegantoappearthathewouldsoonfeelithisdutytoletnounwhippedmanescape,butpoundeverybodyontheIsland。
OnedayhisevilgeniusledhimtoabusearatherelderlymanbelongingtoHill\'smess。Ashefiredoffhistiradeofcontumely,Hillsaidwithmorethanhisusual\"soft\"rusticity:
\"Mister——I——don\'t——think——it——just——right——for——a——young——man——to——call——an——old——one——such——badnames。\"
JackOliverturnedonhimsavagely。