The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1863-11-13

the Yankee chapiaina wh0 have been re,eased
from the Libby and sest home are fsns the "a serr
with their 'amep,atIoA oyer the ssnsrtnxs ., the
famous Libby prison. The soldiers who 70 hack
a"ht make sseh fass about the matter a. the
usually well.ftd chaplalns. The ailas.oos 10 the
emcen who control the psiswn ere plrticularIy
SPICY The "esasi .Gsay eyesn of Gen. winder
seen 70 have hooked tAroaeh evssy eantng Con-
nec'icnt preacher Who has been here, ano the
"neafdIsss Capt. Tasaer ~ 10 descsibed as an Ia
eafaate hend, who spends most OF his spare time
'n devisins new torfnres fsa "those unfortunate
defenders Of their coanfsy's ag'' who have f:iIen
I'M" sis hands. These tostnrsa have driven Rev.
1eo.' Il. Hammer, Of the loth Penn. cavalry, (of
Mlifoy . command,) to write alne columns Of the
pennsyvania Inquirer, describing the misery they
caused him. We take some extracts from his ae-
count to show what sort Of narratives are given 1.
the North hy the returned prisoners:
ARRIVAL AND sscErTIos at RtcHxoSp.
Arrived at Richmond, we were marched through
lalns and surgeons glad Ut ihelr arrivai, having
been fed with the idea thai they would be passsd
through az once to the Hniged States. THE fol-
lowing viii show how near came - The truth
ofour hopes, and how exceedingly green we had
been 70 be SO easily guIled. Upon our nearing the
prison, the first thing thai attracted attention was
"a sign reaching out ffom the corner Of the bu.id-
Ing on Which were the omiaou. and no, very clas
sic words, "Ltbby i Son, ship chambers aud
erocers." The second sight, all the window open.
fgs In the part Of the building facing flied with
human heads, rising one above the other, Which
we soon recognized ?. beIossins % Union prison
Catching the Eye Qf eap1aia ef satairy, was
greeted VIII peculiar aaA Aastfon, IN
military phrase, movement In one time and two
motions, thus, ore had conveyed n the head, and
ttusn oil hu uuNh ltt tqpt
with the nail on The other hand.
And now, above the din of the guards and the
00ise OF the boys In The streets, rings out the cry,
"Fsesh fish, fresh ish, ," and that, too, we per
ceisrd, from the building Itself What can II
n,ean' All, we, too, soon learned that by this ex-
preston infOrmation was conveyed 10 all prison
that new occupants Of the prison were arfiv-
ing, new sharers In i.ibbys hOnors, new devOtees
al the shrine Of her hospitality II any one In the
crowd, from tender gard 10 the cravings OF bis
physical nature, had II thought pressed forward in
his mind of hearty supper upon the finny deni
zens Of James river transferred to the table OF tile
Libby by some generous som, he was sadly disap-
pointed. Another cry from some brave soul, this
time OF warning: "Look Out for your money !''-
Looking up, the windows were vacant, ana we
could only conceive Of what II meant, or think
that some one was making sport OF our misfnr-
tunes. Some few took warning and conceded
their money best they could; the most OF US be-
Ing unsophistieared youths aud dreaming of no
harm, neglected the precaut0n, and became the
victims Of misplaced confidence.
HOW UNION PR,ssNSRs ARE ROBBED.
Entering the Office and registering our names,
r0nk, regiment, and place and date Of capture,
we were passed along Into a large hall, where
stood one, the very embodipent of brutality,
meAnness, and fendishness run mad, called the
Prison Inspector, who passed ms, Individually.
through a clOse exanlin alton Of our persons and
effects, the latter sOrrOwtully small, owing TO the
thievinz pr0pensittes OF our dear erring southern
brethren. I have before said they would lie;
must now add they will steal. Everything Of value
was taken from us-canteens, haversacks gum
blankets, in some cases orr wOOlen blankets, our
money and vauabies, private papers and pocket
diaries, lists of dead aud YOunded, aud even last
messages from some brave martyrs To their friends,
nothing being retained hut the few things that
seemed TO be Tar Of ourselves and necessary 10
conceal cur nakedness. The Surgeons, w:.ose
private property Is always respected In war, We're
likewise stripped of their effects. Their green
sa she's and badges of their profession were taken
from them, their pocket caseR OF instruments alb
stfncteG, their pocket medicines cOnfSchted, so
that upon our Introduction into the mysteries of
the Libby we had tfy things 10 care for, fewer
still to lose.
THE FIRST NIGHT IN LyBBY PRISON.
No sooner Is the door opened into tie second
story wherein are the prisoners, than another
sound is heard, ''close UP, close up,' and again
anTher, "Sve him air, give him air, /" The latter of
which is rendered highly necessary by the persist
eni efforts Of the s'hearng' TO hear the news and
to learn what is going Oh IN the Otter world. For
some uOurS newcomers ENJOY very
or time for reflection, As the news Is recOuned
again and again, until II would seem THAI all hands
must have memorized 1t. Oh, "a first night in Lib
by, Who can tell The thoughts that crowd thick
and fast upon the mind OF the poOt unfOrt, ,lnate.-
Is he huneryh Unless he meets an acquaintance
he will learn that food will be obtained and drawn
for him the next morning. IL ne dry! He Is point
ed to very NASTY corner OF the room, and told to
help ihm,self 10 the ysl:eW, thick, warm and nau-
sestins extract OF James River, which awaits a
turn OF the spigot at the hydEent Does he look
around aud hsk timdiy where he IL to sleeps lie
Is pointed to the dlYty floor aud told 10 help him
self TO any unOccupled ssuI ana De sure nor 10 sur
np the bugs TOO much.
If on the march be preserved his courage and
dow Of spirits, and carried bold and defiant front
to his enemies, here the same reason does not ex-
LIST, and crawling away In The dark, ee can ihlns
uutii his heart aches, or he wishes himself dead.
IL Thoughts of home have with persistent efforts,
been thrust aside, or stranged IN the birth, Oh!
here and now, home, friends, wife and children,
all that Is precious and dear to mans social ma
t,re, ponr In with overwhelming power, seemingly
determined 10 revenge themselves upon las for Our
treating them SO slightingIy before. Has he blan
ket? lie spreads IL down ip the selected spot IL
not he lies upon the bare fi0Or, and while sleep
frsakes his eyes, and slumber his eTeids. runs the
gauntlet of his thoughts, npbradings, Or IearIgi
msgiviaRs of the future, or shifts from side to side,
TO relieve the hard pressure OF his aching bone@.
hts nostris penetrated with stencil al once
strange and alIcst Dsuferable, until he could we.l
fancy himself 10 some charnel house, Or among all
The elements of nauseousness in lhe universe.
Does NJ thus fall OIL Into an unsSs{ slpmbef,
Ovsrta xcd nature demanding repose, then hS -
startled by lloyd nOsa, and after several repeti.
tions hears the words -sP0st Number Three, ahd
all is we'll" The guards are vigilant aud nn.
meTous, escape being almost 1paposslh'e. Is u
well with him? Oh, what u MQckery 10 his fseI-
inSs1 Has his mind been wrought upon hy tales Oh
zs0ring pathos and elOQuence. then he iH eOHcep-
t,on IL covered with lirey evidences of the desfa
dalton Of those around him, and the gloomy pros
<.c ,tss snuf hal f1S :
lut the constant paterin2 OF fee: ns the sIeepiess
ones move around the room, praying tor the morn
Ing light, or some heavy sleeper sno1es ;ngd
enough to AWAKEN Iffe conscience even Of rebel,
or acme one less happy, stanled by some terrible
vision, screams Ovf wih terror fofpiis Inc coveted
luxury.
THE MORNING. TOILET IN LIBBY.
At last the day dawns, and opening his eyes 20
scenes surrounding, he behOids about TWO hundred
officers diligently engaged. intent upon some work
Does he ask the import, not yeftaking In his mind
the reality, he Is facetiOusy answered ''in0rnins
deyOtions,'' or by another, "skirmish drill
Doubtful vet as % what itAll mesnss he sees his
at his elbow removing the various afti-
cies OF bis apparel and passing them through
strict scrutiny, ever and anon giving emphasis 10
the earnest movements Of bis hands. Very tim
idly and with shocked modesty, hs steals glance
a. himself, and Oh. horror of nof,oss' Jas. uGae'
roah e leeD kline, but something, moving mass,
come what gray In appearance and u iermanic In
proportions, which siaslles him, Until gathering
courage friendly boot rallies 10 the rescue.
sRKAKFAsT, DINNER. AND SUPPER.
With an appetite shaSpsned ty long fasting ne
sarrounds the table, but hardly sn,ers the combat
unt ne learns that he must spare his sati0us OF he
viii have nothing for dinner aud supper. ThHs
warned he desisis, still hungry, aud. Indeed, the
more eager from having aroused slumbeEing ma
tnre. he 10 hsngrI, Others are hungry, they al are
S,nusvv have bepn for days and weeks. A word
Of ADVICE for the ladies' Meyer make hash for
men delivered from Libby prison, II ybu expect 10