The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-12-09
THE LIBBY PRISON.
INSIDE VIEW OF III.

INSIDE VIEW OF III.
We clip the following sketch of the Lib
by Prison, in Richmond, where so many
Union soldiers, as prisoners, have wasted
their lives, from sour Last Day in Dixie"
in the Atlantic Monthly. We presume it
is a correct view, (of course embellished
by the writer's peculiar egotism,) and it
furnishes a very good idea of the horrible
spot:
By this time we had reached dingy
brick building, from ore corner of which
protruded small sign, bearing, in black
letters on a white ground, these words:
LIBBY AND SON,
SHIP-CHANDLERS And GROCERs.
1t was three stories high, and, l was
told, eighty feet in width and hundred
and ten in depth. In the front, the first
story was on level with the street, allow
ing space for tier of dungeons under the
sidewalk; but in the rear the laud sloped
away till the basement floor rose above
ground. It's unpainted walls were scorch-
cu W al rusty DiO"D, duu iCc SuuhCH uOOIS
and low windows, filled here and there
with a dusky pane, were cObwebbed and
weather-stained, giving the whole build
ing most uninviting and desolate appear
ance. A faxen-haired boy, in ragged
"butternuts and Union cap, and an old
man, in grey regimentals, with bent
body and linping gait, were pacing to
and fro befoie it, with muskets on their
shoulders but no other soldiers were in
sight.
eff Ben Butler knew that Richmond
was defended by only such men. how long
would it be before he took it ?" / said,
turning to the Judge.
"Several years. When these men give
out our women will fall ia. Let Butler
try it,
Opening door at the right, he led US
into large, high-studded apartment, with
bare floor, and greasy brown walls hung
round with battle-scenes and cheap lithO-
graphs of the rebel leaders. Several Off
GERS in secession grey" were lounging
about this room, and one of them, short,
slightly y-built, youthful-lOoking man, rose
as we entered, and in half-pompous,
halfobsequious way, said to Judge Ould-
"Ah. Colonel Ould, am very glad to
see you"
The Judge returned the greeting with
a stateliness that was in striking contrast
with his usual frank and cordial manner,
and then introduced the officer to us as
Major Turner, keeper of the Libby" |
had heard OF hiM' and IL was WIN some
reluctance that LOOK 'he Proliereu hand.
! ~ a an1 o. m
no" c,er' "a" 'aAe ~ anu az '''e s'''ne
''iiie inquire
are you rsiaoeo 10 Dr' lurher' o.
faye,te'E.e >, ~.
go, ST, am o' 'ne oid virginia
Id'n''f' u ..e'I' me- me- a, ne.1-TnpPei pP
nor It he4Fo-'fader VINO did nor belong TO
,haC i",.'"sJ are 20" 1" N"f'''-oar'-
hhian'
eo, -, a., o., ., a.,
P7l"fe l couio "'o ""o'''er "o'o' 'lle
'uusc San'.
40 ''';Ioi ~, 'i.'0 S an - o'',
GeoFg'a. 1hey are strangers here, ana
'l"''A you 10 siio" 'he''' ''ef 'he
PlSoI' ,
-, Se'l''hlS' Ooiohe,' "'ost cer'a'niy'
Ii 10 ~ WIN sfea1 pleasure;
Anu a.; C,I' i..'.e '..h'I ous''eI acou', Pu'
J; Jn iito GAP, 'le ls" o'te,s ~ MS suUol
on,";Io Jnn 1'n" ',n ;n 'th 80 "' no"sT auo'u0l
euu'ue SUI uoo, .n1o u .ne ;.s p,Sop r., ne was
lew , aoTs , ia Oo1I ',u' 1no :i ntn o'' 'acques'
"neN 'uuso Ou.u say ~ 'nI IL,
o"i p'isone,S a. na,o 49, oIneu .h'., iulner'
.s lOt %. :, no no' 'no "'' ''e' 'e repre-
sen.ga uo e .,..,1
am NOV % SURF SUR o. .na., l rePiieo.
Ihese cflllsinS' l'iiu h'annereu men are
t'le wo,s' o' 's'ah'S "ne" 'hey nave 1he
power, .pnt ,o,,t th;nh lin, . .,n+,,