, 1864-12-30

Our Soldiers Merry In Adverse CIrcum-
stances

Ihc following extract from 4 forthcoming
account, by Captain IzabaA Of life in the
Libby. Prison, at Richmond, will show
the reader in thls3 cold but. merry time
Of the gear that our poor fellows even in that
wretched hole know how to make the best of
their situation, and how to conquer misery
for timely mirth:
'Despite the general depression and the
cruel dIsappoin tmcnt caused By the non-ue-
livery Of boxes, you could not help perceiying
In the evening, here and there, certain scents
that the day we had passed through had been
an unusual one. The smack Of the new year
could, in fact, not be mistaken-the hearts Of
the few happy ones provided with tolerable
commissarlat inyoluntarily expanded. 1nvi-
tations to dinner we're extended between the
gloom one could behold in almost every rooms
one OF two small groups ranged around, what
tabts.
"There was, upon the whole, stronger dis
becoming almost prodigal In their expundi-
lures to reinforce the solitary taper that Con-
federate 1rbcrality almost always furnished
us. The brilliancy of the occasion they de-
termined should riral its festiyity. Even
corn bread ration into meal, which, they
hoped, by adding other ingredients, to meta
morphose into some savory pudding or inyit-
ing flap jacks,' looked more cheerful than
usual. Three Of my companions and myself
were the guYts Of Colonel c., 4th New York
do was to bring with us our spoons, tin cups,
and something to sit on-thc rest was p1ovi-
led BY our hospitable host. Seven was our
number at table-each good fellow In his
way-not excepting my humble self!
Lieutenant Morley, 18th Pennsylvania vol
untcer cavalry, was the chef de cuisine on the
occasion.
IA soup q Ia LIaosiae, supported by loaf
ofgood fresh bread, begun the entertainment.
Then, and without the annoyance OF change
Of plotes, followed superb raSont. Then,
again, came huge life breathing and llfe-in-
dies, placed tn the centre Of the white covered
table, shed their whole lustre on the small be-
witcling scene. Where are the wordsi in which
to express the surprise overwhelming every
one Of his guests when the Colonel, lowering,
one Of bis hands beneath the table, and rails
ing it again, plies bottle Of st. Julien? No
toasts we're given-no speeches made on this
festive occasion on which I could aver, hun
dreds Of our less fortunate companions gazed
with an mir Of unmistakable envy; and yet
every feature of the scene wAs suggestive
enough for those Who participated, and elo-
quent in it's aggggravation to those who were
only spectators. Away with yonr famous and
diplomatic dinners, recorded upon the pages
Of history! Away with that pompous dinner
Of Prince Tallcyrand. at which the Spanish
Bourbons were beguf1ed into swallowing the
loss of their thu one! Away with all these
make room for the memorable New Years
dinners of 1864 in Libby. Dinners worth
studying forsooth; and never to be forgotten,
warrant, by mortal who partook OF them.
Nor will neglect to record our New Years.
theatrlcals. Rest assured. ye actors in life
wasting, mountaineering Libby, your uncon-
querable humor, your potent morale, all shall
be recorded. In truth these t,eatricals,
which, despite the general poverty, were an
nounctd to whom 1t may concern in print.
ID programmes at cur expense those scenic
efforts in the cold, sp1ashy, thickly reekiug
kitchen: the cxtcmporizcd stage whose
wretched structure could scarcely be
detected by the light Of or three tallow can
dies: tue rugged, pale-faeed audience Of Lib.
biana, and the rebel spectators pceping in
through the bars with evident surprise aud
g'ee, ail deserve particular mention. -
"The programme consisted Of three parts
part I. purely musical, tho performers Captain