The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-12-04


Interesting Letter from a Tus.
carawas Soldier now I'm PFis-
on AZ Richmond. =
LIBBY PRIsoN, RIcHMoND, VA.,l
Nov 81, 1868. !
Mn EDiToR:-Knowing Of no better
way to kill the monotonys of "prison
life" for few hours, aud having on op.
portunity Of sending letter through
(ViA Underground Railway'0 by re-
leased Federal surgeon, thought l would
improve It by giving } ou hurried and
brief account Of my capture, aud the
treatment received while under the iuris.
diction Of the $50 called" Southern
Oontederacy. In doing SO, l need not
enter into a minute detail Of our "vic.
tory" and occupation Of the capital Of
Mississippi on the l4th day of May last,
in which the S0th took such Q conspicu.
Gus part, and covered itself with honors.
OF which, no doubt, you have long ere
this had fnll particulars. Suffice to say,
that after the battle the wounded (some
2l3, myself among the number) we're
conveyed in ambulances to jackson and
placed in the Court Hdusn, which we
occupied as 9 hospital. And oh! how
our hearts leapsd with joy to know we
were resting under the old "Star Span.
gled Banner" which floated mojestically
and VIGOROUSLY over the roof, where
but a few hours previous that dirty
"Secesh rag" reigned supreme. The
day after its occupation-but not before
burning all the government houses,
stores, provisions, etc., found in the
place-our forces commenced to evacn.
ate. Knowing they would have another
battle soon, and not having sufficient
ambulaDceS, they were forced to leave
US at the mercy of the rebels. No soon.
er had the rear of our army gotten fairly
out before a squad of rebel cavalrymen
came dashing into town. The smoke
and fire of the hs-1ii sa.aing buildings had not
ye' u'ea away; anu as tney gazed upon
the ashes and maugled ruins of their
once pretty town, the soldiers and citi.
zens alike became infuriated with re.
Venge. They threatened US with every
conceivable manner Of punishment
Some were in favor Of mobbing US,
Others for setting FIRE to the building
and burning us amid part of their ruin.
ed city. Had it not been for the pro.
lection of a colonel and some four hun.
dred OF bis men we had captured and
paroled, | candidly believe they would
have showed us no mercy. He station.
ed his men around the building, and
placing himself in the doorway, address.
ed us as follows: "You took me prison.
er and treated me like gentlemen and
with God for my witness, | will protect
you against any such outrage, If it costs
me my commission or life. After re-
naming in jackson eight days we we're
ushered into some rough four hors
wagons, and conveyed over rocky and
billy road to the cars, distance of five
miles four forces having burned the
bridges and torn up the track thus far. J
On arriving at the depot, to our disap.
pointment, we found the cars had gone.
We were then forced to lay out on the
cold, damp ground all night, with moth.
ing to eat for twenty.four hours, and
great number of the wounded without
blankets. Morning came at last, which
was hailed with joy, and with it came a
few broken down hog cars to transport
us on our painful and tedious journey to
Richmond. Here the greater part of
our snferings coGimenced-here the true
metal and soldierly qualities of the brave
men who composed that little band ofI
prisoners were tested and displayed.-
Amid oil the sa!ferinngs Gid Gid taa: t!ss wsn.ch
they knew would yet have to be endured,
they laughed aud joked as though seat
ed around the camp fires Of their own
regiments Many times on the road we
had to change cars, and tn men (the
greater part of them could scarcely stand
1n their feet) were made to walk the
ilslanc OF a mile. We were attended
with like troubles during the whole
1f the journey through a distance Of
'ourteen hundred and fifty miles. 1
OUR ARRIVAL AT RICHMOND.
Arrived at Richmond, tired and hun.
yry, but all glad we had at last came to
resting place. for few days at least,
and happy with the prospect that we
we're soon to be paroled and sent North
But alas some of US were doomed to
disappointment. Unfortunately for those
who held commissions, as we found the
exchange Of officers had been suspend.
ID, aud that we we're doomed to pine
away in a oathsome pridoD for an indie.
Unite time. The 6rst thing after arriv.
ing at Libby" was to undergo o vigor.
ous search, and robbed of all money,
watches, private papers, &C., &C., in
our possession; even the last word Of
dying comrade to his friends which was
entrusted to our care, Some of US were
lucky enough to suspect this. and had
secreted the greater part Of the money
away (Which was not large amount),
leaving few dollars in our.wallets for
q bait, which worked admirably. Next
came the introduction into the prison,
where we were consoled with the idea
that this was to be our home for weeks,
months, and perhaps years to COME
GU oIi Sshat o consolation 10 know that
this miserable, dirty, filthy place, shut
out from home, liberty, friends, and all
we prize dear, victims for our so;S::;' count; |.
cause, was to be our abiding place for
an unlimited time. Had / known then