From street, lane and alley, they thronged the thoroughfares
in which the troops were moving, and keeping pace with them, in like
silence, moved steadily on. By exactly calculated movements, each
division came upon the ground almost at the precise spot it was to
occupy, and upon deploying into line formed part of a hollow square
enclosing the whole space in which the Prison was situated. A field
piece heavily loaded with grape, was placed in position in front of the
iron gate of the Prison. A body of riflemen marched down Broadway,
cleared and took possession of a house next the Prison, and which
commanded its roof, and filled the roof of the house with sharpshooters.
Another body of riflemen were posted on a bluff in rear of the Jail, and
which commanded that side. In the meantime windows, roofs of houses, and
hill tops at a safe distance were crowded with spectators. Such sounds
as must necessarily attend the moving and getting into position so large
a body of men were soon hushed; and in profound silence, all awaited the
progress of events.
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