The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1864-04-22

but true. They even went SO far as TO
take d few sheets Of paper and envelopes
from me. We we're then taken up stairs
and Introduced to our new quarters. But
first let ME describe to You the famous
Libby Prison. II is large brick build
ing about $50 feet in front by lO5 deep.
Fronting on Cary and extending back 10
Canal Street, Immediately in the rear Of
it was the canal and James River.
The Building was, previous to war. 90.
cupisd by Libby s Son, who carried on
in it their business as ship. Chambers and
Grocers. Internally it much resembles
an Ohio grain warehouse. It is three
stories high. with basement story un-
derneath. and is divided in three tiers of
rooms. The lower room Of the first tier
is occupied by the various officers engag-
ed in the control of the prison. The two
upper rooms were at tile time Of our arri-.
val used for the confinement, of prisoners.
and we found there Col. Streight's com.
mand and few others amounting to 1856
officers. or the middle tier, ono room
was occupied by citizen prisoners and do;
serters from the Union army. The third
tier was used as hospital for Federal pris-
oners. The basement contained couple
Of cells for the close confinement Of pris-
oners. the remainder of it was devoted to
the use of the slaves employed about tho
premises. The attaches OF the Prison arc
as follows: ~
Capt. Turner, commandant, Lieut. Ls-
touche, Lis assistant, and by the way the
most ob|ging official we had anything to
do with. Inspector Turner, who was one
of the MOST tyrahnieal beings that ever
lived. and had been jockey ID one Of tho
Northern cities previous to the War.
Ross, who attended TO the calling Of the
roll-he was deserter flom the North
George "a sergeant) under lackey
used to communicate orders TO the prson-
sand Cllarley---a mulatto who superiu-
tended the gang O. Darkies in their labors,
When we entered Libby, Tie upper one
of the two rooms in which we were placed
contained hunks sufficient forthose who
werethen in the prison,whilo. they used tho
lower one for the cooking and eating pur-
poses. We were obliged to take up our
residence in the lower room and sleep on
the floor at nights, sud use It to set on
in the day time as We lad no OTHER seats
furnished except stationary benches at
the tables. There was a small room par.
toned off for kitchen which contained
three old stoves and some old pots, kettles
and pans, which comprised all the cook
ing utensils furnished us and which We
used in preparing our food. The wash
sink and the water closet were combined
in another small room. The rations that
were issued to us for some time consisted
of about or ounces Of soft bread, 8
ounces of fresh beof, principally forequar-
ters and bone, to each man per day, also
a small allowance ofsalt, vinegar and 1
few miserable red beans, as,,
For the first two months and half
this was our allowance then owing TO
considerable complaint having been made
there was decided Improvement, We be-
gan to get good bread all the time, where
as, previously it had been sour about twice
out Of three times, we began to get some
hind quarters of beef,and the rations Of
salt and vinegar doubled, and rice substi.
tuted for beans. Shortly after we took up
our lodgings there, we applied for some Of
our money down stairs, but we met with
the reply "that none of Milroys' command
could have d---d cent" nor we get any
from them until after the, LIST Of October.
We W also informed that we would
not be allowed to purchase anything out
side. Gas st-eight's command were then
permitted to do, so we. had. to smuggle
our pu releases through them for some time
until their orders were tacitly counter
and We were permitted to pur.
chase whatever we wanted. TIE
first two weeks while subsisting ou, "a.
lions We were often glad 70 pick up crumbs
on the table to satisfy our hunger. ,stasr
[ro Be cosuSusD.l 's~