New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-17
Interview With stenswaii Jaek~sn.
tESIscs rom q Private LettsrI
CAsP PAROLE, Annapolis, Nd, Jan. 6,

tf,Juecs nom fr1vNe LeUsLJ.
CAsP PAROLE Annapolis, Md, Jan. G, 1869.
DEAN SIR: 1 will attempt, In accordance win
your REQ nest, TO give you an account OF my inter-
view with Stouewal Jackson while q prieoner at
bis camp, and OF my sojourn at Libby Prison In
Richmond. A. few days after my capture was
seut to jackson camp at Eineveh, Warren County,
Va. reached there Tuesday, Nov. H. In company
with four others. Gen. jackson came ont OF bis
ian old church near by, aud desired us to wait
/ few minutes, as he would like to ask MS q few
QUESTION:.
a When were you taken r. he inquired
/ " November =" replied. .,
Have you any New'iork papers win you
| he asked.
| replied that we hadnot. but told him had reau
TIE Herad of the 5th, which had reached camp Oh
the day of my capture
"Ah did YOU" said he. {" I wanted TO inquire
abont The recent elections. DO you know what ma
lority Seymour received ~
&" Between ten and fifteen thousand" replied.
/" Do you know how many Congressman the DEM
ocrais elected in the State T.
| answered that it was believed they had elected
nineteen ont of the thirty.one.
"Were the Moods both elected T.
| ] answered that they We're, and that AL OF the
city aud river districts were claimed M Democratic
! 6Goodr % he replied "New-York City wilt have
more 10 say in tie next session of Congress than oil
the rest of the Sta'e.'
"Their constituents wonld hardly feel fattered to
| hear you" said. =,
] " ANY man VINO sincerely desires peace, NC Wiu
should certainly rejoice ut their election. IL you
had such men in power at Washington, to-day.
there would be no more blo0dshed, and we could
easily come to an honorable settlement"
did not dispute that, nor ask him what he wonld
call an honorable settlement Desiring to CONTINUE
the conversation, l agreed with hlIn
''But they all claimed to be War Democrats" /
continued, and in favor of more vigorous prose-
cution of the war Was that mere political
dodgei Your soldiers would hardly cheer the an
nOuncement of the election OF War Democrats, l
should think"
"Oh, nor he replied. "They are in favor Of
prosecuting the war with more vigor. They think
that If we are TO be conquered, IL should be done
at once, before Spring If we moi subjugated by
that time, they will demand peace, and force your
Government to stop the war. We know we can
hold out, and when tho next Congress meets they
will all be found 10 be Peace men, and willing TO
recognize our independence, in preference to a
bloody and endless war. When once convinced that
! they cannot conquer ms by merely gaining one or
two battles they will cease to be War Democrats.
1t is because we know them 10 be more reasonable
than the Republicans, that my men cheerod the
news Of SeyInour's election. But what other news
was there 2"
"New jersey" 1 answered, has gone strongly
Democratic, and the rarity has gained in Ohio"
| "Yes" said the General al heard that they
had carried Ohio. Did you notice whether Nallsn-
digham was reelected or not =
| !" lie was defeated" answered, "but another
! friend of yours in the West was returned
"Who was 1t p be inquired.
"Voorhees o.
"a good Democrat" he said. "Vaandigham was
| too outspoken AT first; be would have been re-
elected If he had been more moderate
! The General was here interrupted and IA he
turned TO leave he asked if any of had any
green backs We would like 10 exchange for Con-
We remained there no days, with the "Jackson
Foot Cavalry, brigade of Irish soldiers. Those
with whomI conv rsed said they would give almost
any hing TO lie back at the North, bnt they were
in Virginia when the broke out, there was
nothing else TO do but join the army.
4 We were paraded on the 18Th, and the next morn.
ing started for Winchester. From there we walked
to Stanton in five days, distance of ~ miles, and
\ thence by cars 10 Richmond and Libby Prison.
i As we were paroled, We had more liberty than
the rest OF the party. There we're "a OF u.s. and
only five paroled Instead Of staying with the rest
nights we would put up at hotels. and report 10 the
Provost in the morning and JON our party Two or
three times We stayed over day or two, and went
on with the next lot. At place, which it would
be unwise TO mention, we found some negroes who
asked us if We were Yankees. On assuring them
we were, and speaking few kind words, they
asked us TO follow them at distance TO room OF
theirs We had no, been there long before several
Joined them, each speaking some word through the
key-hole, without which they would get no reply
! from those within. They asked ue inuumerable
questions about the North the Adnuitt ration, and
beet Of our knowledge. They told us that they
organized into secret socetes throughout the SOUTH
and were patiently waiting for Gin " opportunity" TO
render the Presidents expected Proclamation Of
Freedom their aid. Several present were men whom
their masters trusted in mportaii, transactions, and
many assured that their masters could hardly be
convinced that Mty would do aughi against the
" institution" but placed the mort mIlict conf
denee H. them. They appeared 10 be well pce'ed in
public affairs, and confident that the Confcderacy
was on ts last egs, they siid the people every
where were grnmbhng aud complaining Of hard
I times, and praying for peace. One compared the
" Coniederncy' TO close door in the room which
hung on only one hinge, and that cracked
/ In Libby we were placed III large room about
10 by % leet The room entirely destitute Of
everything save one bench capable Of holding five
We had las in the room. and not - bad blankets.
The windows were all open, not one pane OF glaze
being LEFT. We had a fire. place at one end Of the
ROOM but the fortunate few who got around It would
shul or the heat from reaching the unlucky mortals
Ut no time did get more than two hours sleep but
would wake az shiyerng and walk the door to get
warm Livery crack in the HoOr appeared 10 be
swaIming with yermin, aud none OF US could say we
we're free from them We had two meals day--at
A. NJ. and p. mat each meal d halt loaf Of
bread and a cup Of weak soup aud meat twice IA
week. But few had cups, and those who had none
bad 10 20 without the pleasure OF drinking cold soup
which had never heard Of such article as salt. On
leaving the phkon. those who had blankets were
obliged 70 leave them, but all were glad TO leave ut
any cost. When next meet them, hope it will be
with Iihc in hand and with victorious army.
! remain youft truly, d. ID. L.