He had fought in the ring, and on one occasion had killed a man with a single blow of his fist, in a prize fight near St.
Louis.

We were all very proud of him, and it was as good as an entertainment to us to see the noisiest roughs subside into deferential silence as Ned would come among them, like some grand mastiff in the midst of a pack of yelping curs.

Ned entered into the regulating scheme heartily.

Other stalwart specimens of physical manhood in our battalion were Sergeant Goody, Ned Johnson, Tom Larkin, and others, who, while not approaching Carrigan's perfect manhood, were still more than a match for the best of the Raiders.
Key proceeded with the greatest secrecy in the organization of his forces.

He accepted none but Western men, and preferred Illinoisans, Iowans, Kansans, Indianians and Ohioans.