Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1863-12-02
S. HOWARD, Publisher
IN A RICHMOND PRISON.

who with companion succeeded IN making
his escape from Richmond last week, sends
a letter to the lrasburg Erpress. After
detailing the circumstances of his capture
and transportation to Richmond he says:
Once in the city we were paraded in the
street and marched off through rows of ST.
lent men and women Two or three times
a shout was raised as we went by, but it
was from boyish rabble There was no
enthusiasm, but spiritless apathy over
come by grief and care. aud pain, and
want. The crowd of prisoners as it went
by was in livelier spirits than their captors.
1t was not long walk to the famous
Libby prison. AS we filed i'll we were
again counted--this time about three hun
"dred of us-and the door was locked be.
hind US. 1t Was dark; and soon those who
were not already stretched on the floor for
the night followed the example set by
those who bad been inmates Of the den
for a while. Those who had blankets
spread them Others threw themselves
on the hard floor. perhaps with an over
coat about their shoulders and perhaps
with nothing save the clothing worn dur.
ing the day. There were no groups of
friends here and there though friends
might be together for the whole floor was
entirely covered by the sleeping forms.
Morning revealed to US the long high
room we were occupying, stretching across
the middle of the building, with the gra-
ted windows at each end. There was an
absence of glass, or even sash. aud the
rain or wind beat merciessly in just as
the storm chanced to drive. There was
no provision for fires, though there were
two fire places in which coal might be
used. There was also plentiful supply
of water at one side of the room. These
were our quarters. About nine in the
morning an officer came in and ordered
us out to roll call. We were drawn up in
line four deep and counted. That was
'"roll-call," and was attended to by the
officers in charge daily. At this roll call
we were counted off into "messes" of a
dozen each, for the drawing of rations.
One man was elected from each mess to
whom the officers gave the rations for the
whole twelve, and he divided the amount
be received among the men of his mess.
At this roll, too. another officer gave us
an invitation to deliver up what money
we had about us, saying at the same time
that if we came forward and gave it up
willingly. an account would be kept, we
should Have the amount returned when
We were paroled or exchanged; but if We
did not we should be searched. our mon
ey all taken aud no return made. lnAu-
enced by this threat many gave their
greenbacks; the rebels would take no 9TH
er, thus showing their contempt for their
own worthless rags The account" was
kept on loose sheet of paper, and con-
sisted only of the name of the person and
amount of money--no book, no receipt,
no date. nothing but the name and the
amount on those loose sheets of paper
Our company were not searched, though |
heard that others were who came in after
ward. '-s.- ..7
This operation over we drew rations
for the day-haIt loaf Of bread nearly
as large as our government gives, and a
piece of boiled fresh beef, Of not more
than two cubic inches, to each man.
This was the first food that had been is
sued to us since taken, and was the
amount we drew daily while was pris-
roner. The quality was usually good
enough, though the beef was abominably
fresh. But to think Of hearty mans liv-
Ting on eight or ten ounces of soft bread
sand a piece of beef as large as his two
sdusers daly!l
~ :, !, .n.J @tf ~
WELL that pight they took US out of the
Libby aud put us into IN old tobacco fac
tory, filthier and far more inconvenieut
than we had seen before. After few
days, however, water was provided for
each of the three floors, the rooms were
cleaned little, and our condition made
more cndnrablc than at first.