Keep Your Job Despite a Group Attack?

Here is a true story.  In a previous job, I
reported to a very senior manager (Chief
... Officer) who was generally supportive of what
I was doing, at times enthusiastically so.
Unfortunately, the Chief had a confidant, who
exercised a great deal of influence over him.

The confidant built up a strong coalition around
himself.  This "team" had many targets (including
myself) and their attacks were relentless (it went
on for years) and steadily escalating.

Turnover was already high, and it was clear that
all of us would eventually be picked off one by
one.  Hence, I tried to unite some of the other
victims (all senior-level employees) in order to
defend ourselves.  These employees showed a lot of
initiative in their work, were not afraid to make
proposals to senior management, etc.

Together, however, the targeted employees were
very timid.  It was impossible to act in unison
with them -- they were afraid to be seen together
even briefly.  This was quite surprising, since
the danger was clear but not immediate (i.e. each
of them would last at least a few months before
the confidant finally got rid of them).

The confidant's "team", however was very bold,
meeting openly to strategize, going out on long
lunches and dinners together, etc.  This is
despite the fact that, individually the coalition
members (including the confidant himself) were
quite cowardly, and very afraid of the Chief.

So, I eventually left, and the other targeted
employees were all picked off one by one, as
expected.  Was this the right thing to do, should
I have tried to stick it out till the very end?
Is there any way to fend off such a team attack?

posted on 1168551446.03