The Portland daily press., 1862-10-25
PORTLAND, ME-, SATURDAY MORNING,


Springs, miles, and during the night ride, the
rebels stole my blankets, knapsack, over-coat
and shawl We reached the Springs about
noon, and shortly after it commenced raining
very hard and then was almost sick, without
any covering, neither had got anything to
eat. They kept us in an open field about
mile from the crossing of the Rappahannock.
saw Gems. Lee and Jackson as we crossed
the bridge. A little before dark that night, we
had just got as comfortable as circumstances
would permit when over came shell close by
us. The rebels said it was the "Flying Dutch
man, (Gen. Sigel) so they started us off in
great hurry, and marched us about miles,
and put us in the woods for the night. We
stayed there three days, and during all this
the infantry men were passing, and all this
time we had no rations given us. tell you
was nearly starved. Finally, on the fourth day
about noon, we started off for Culpepper. l
had taken cold, and every limb was stiff and
could hardly walk. We walked until long af-
ter dark, and got within about a mile of C. be-
fore we halted for the night, ia distance of %
miles, nothing to eat here and no prospect of
got to the Rapidan river, where perhaps we
might, they said, come across their brigade
teams, and then we could get a little. You
cant imague how hungry l was. asked eve-
ry one met for mouthful and offered gold
dollar for piece of bread, but couldn't get it.
The next morning at daylight we were off
again. was very stiff and sore, the skin was
alloffofmy feet, and couldn't get my boots off,
and could but just move along, would walk
on my toes awhile and then OH my heels, but
every step seemed as though it would be my
last, and | thought l must lie down. but |
knew that if did, the guard would not hesi-
tate to boyonet me, so l kept up, and finally
about o'clock, we reached the Rapidan The
river was quite high, and the bridges all gone,
so we had to ford it. The current was so rap
i'd that should certainly have drowned, had
not great stout fellow almost carried me
across. l was very weak and faint and sore
that was ready to lie down, and to crown
all of my troubles, the blisters on my feet
burst in the water, and the sand worked
into the sore, and every step took was mis-
cry. OH you can't imagine how l suffered,
and there were many Others even worse off
than /, were it possible. We went about
mile from the river, and there we got some
thing to eat, for the first time since our advent
into secessid! We got good sized piece of
old mdggoty bacon, and five hard crackers. /
had never eaten bacon before, for could nev-
er eat fat meat, but never in my life did |
taste of anything so good as that bacon and
crackers. still had my boots on, forI couldn't
get them off, and they were filed with water,
and we couldn't get any wood to build fires
with, and the night was bitter cold. couldn't
walk to keep warm, and therefore 1 nearly
froze. The next morning we took the cars for
Gordonsyille. We had rather dirty cattle cars,
yet it was decided improvement on walking,
/ assure you. We reached Gordonsvlle about
noon, and were marched up to the Provost
Marshall's office, where our names, State and
Regiment were taken, and we were marched
off about mile, into the woods, were we
again received rations, and remained for two
days, when we once more took the cars, and
were off for Richmond, which interesting berg
we reached at 3 or o'clock, p. NJ, and were
marched about the town for the amusement of
the officers and men, who had us in charge,
and to exhibit the wild Yanks of the North to
the fair ladies of the interesting capitol of the
Southern Confederacy. And finally we brought
up at that interesting hole, Libby Prison
Warehouse. Five hundred and over were
put in one room. The windows were all out,
but if any one looked out, without any waver-
ing the guard shot at him.
We got some bread, and a small quantity of
meat this night, and the next morning we
were all drawn up, and the soldiers separated
from civilians, (sutlers, drivers, &C. and the
soldiers were then marched over to Belle Isle,
about two and half miles from the prison, but
directly opposite the city, where we found
some 6O00 of Yanks, about the hardest looking
set you ever could imagine could erist. Ev-
cry one was filthy and covered with vermn:
the sand was filed with them; not one single
person, no matter how neat he was, was ex-
empt; and those who were not particular
were perfectly covered; why, one couldn't set
down without getting some on him. There
were over 5000 in a space OF less than two
acres; you can perhaps imagine what a crowd
~.
NJ. We got IA of small loaf of bread; once
in three days 2 OF. of fresh boiled beef; the
other two days 2-3 of pint of what was
called bean soup, but we never discovered any
beans therein but the top was covered with
those black bugs which you'll always find in
old peas and beans. There was no salt in the
soup or bread nor on the meat and the meat
was so old that it would spoil before II NJ.
Sometimes at night we got another IA loaf
of bread, but this was only once in while.
Hundreds actually died for the want of bread.
Scarcely morning but 10 or 16 were found
dead about camp, caused by lack of food, and
exposure. Many others died during the days.
Hundreds had the scurvy, and we had no doc
tor nor medicines.
was sick almost all the time was there.
but managed to keep up.
Salt sold for IS. per spoonful; Molasses 15O
for and 1-2 pints; Flour s22 per bbl. Pota-
toes, 3 small ones 2s. Onions, 2 good sized,
2s.; Apples or 4, 2s.; Peaches do.
Any kind Of Northern money is taken, and
premium is usually paid. Treasury notes
(s5) are worth 81, and gold quick 81 for 81.
Yours truly, L.
Ea m i1v Groonri