Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1864-11-25

weather at times, being SO wet, as to
obligc us to stand up nearly all night, the
ground being fat and close, thus retain
ing all the water which fell upon the sur
face, which'in places was ankle deep
Many Of the eficers became sick and
were taken to the hospital.
After repeated requests and protests
we were removed from the Jail yard, and
part of us confined in the work house,
Here our accommodations were much
better, but we were destined to another
move. We had been here only three
days when we were moved to the Roper
Hospital, near by. Where upon giving
our parole not to escape we were allowed
the adjacent grounds which were quite
extensive, aud privileged to purchase
such provisions as We desired These we
obtained by sending one Of the guards to
the market or grocery. But as in the
Jail yard and work house. so here we
were often awakened at night by The
shrieking ofthe shells from Gen. Fosters
guns as he sent his compliments to the
inhabitants Of the city of Charleston
Nor were We exempt from the receipt of
fragments of his annoying messengers,
| for on several occasions huge
piece of shell came crashing through the
building into our very midst, but
fortunately but one officer was injured by
them. Our ratons were little better
here than We had received before since
our capture Here we remained in a
state OF constant excitement caused by
the rumors Of exchange which were in
constant circulation till the 30th day of
Sept, when all the Naval offices were
notified to prepare to start Immediately
for Richmond for exchange, which order
We We're not slow in carrying out, and at
an early hour we reached the cars which
were to take us to Richmond, where we
found our men who had been kept at
, Au,lersonyilc. Most of them were in
horrid condition, having been kept on
such short rations that they Were nearly
starve 50 nearly 50, that several died
while on onr way to Richmond. And
here | may add that We We're three days
and three nights riding in filthy freight
cars, without morsel OF provisions being
issued to us by the rebel authorities and
i train loaded With eonscripts for Lees
army going on just ahead Of Us, render
ID it nearly impossible for US to obtain
enough to quiet the gnswings Of hunger.
On the morning Of the 81 Of Oct, at )
o'cloes iu>t-ad of geiag on beard Of a
| " Trace Boat to be exchanged. We tauWd
ourselves inmates OF the far famed
:. Libby Prison.n Tired aud worn out
We ls. down apoa the floor and very
so4n forgot our sufferinss aud hard fare
ia quiet thought not unai-turbed repose,
f1r re it known by all whom it may con-
lrn, that the" vcrmin III Libby ar the
lar ,e>t aud hungriest ever known to exist.
On the roll being called in the morning
at roclock our delicate appcttcs were
tempted by having about two ounces of
" corn meal and water baked and about
two ounces OF fresh meat boiled, this We
managed to eat without much trouble,
having been craving for food for three
days. We received nothing more until
o'clock p. NJ, when We were teas.cd on
bean water" some few beans through
neglect on their part having got into the
water, and about the same quantity Of
"cticken teeI' as they gave Us in the
morning. This constituted our daily ra-
tion while in Libby. Twice day we
got our corn bread, meat with it in the
mornings, and bean soup in the afternoon.
We were kept in the Libby until the
18th, when We were marched on board
the truce boat, (having been paroled on
the 7th., and ut / | o'clock on the 18th
of October, 1864, "a day long to be re-
membercd by our party,) we were landed
within the Union ilhes. Here We met
the rebel naval prisoners. all we'll dressed
and trunks flied with clothing. and We
noticed one officer had his sword carrying
lit into the rebel lines, while we had been
deprived of our clothing. and nearly
starved, and our men dying OF starvation.
Twelve men died on the passage from
yarina to Annapolis, and Others were
only just alive being beyond the power Of
physicians skill to revive.
/ have thus tried to give you faint
idea of the chivarous (?) manner IN which
we were treated, while prisoners in the
hands of the rebels nor have exagger-
stcd in the least, but have omitted some
of the worst features of our treatment
such as calling roll, three or four times
day, keeping US standing in the sun for
hours together giving US nothing to cat
some days but teacuptul of rice, and
tablespoonful Of lard, restricting Us from
e, en- 10 king out of the windows, while IN
the Libby Prison, and imposing every in-
convenience upon us in their power.
Very respectfully yours,
A. b. SLOWER, Ensign U. 5. N.