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 50 many
Union soldiers, as prisoners, have wasted
their lives, from ''Our 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 very good idea of the horrible
spot: ..... ...
By this time we had reached a 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 AID GRocEKs.
1t was three stories high, and, l was
told, eighty feet in width and hundred
and ten in depth. In the front, the 6rst
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. Its implanted walls were scorch-
ed to rusty brown, and its sunken doors
and low windows, filled here and there
with 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 limping gait, were pacing to
and fro befole 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 ?" I 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 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 it was with some
reluctance that took the prOtfered hand
However, did take it, and at the same
time inquired
care you related to DR.. Turner, of
Fayetteville?
"No, sir. l am of the old Virginia
family" q never met a negro-whipper
nor a negro-trader who did not belong to
that family.) care you a North-Care-
linian?'
Before I could add another word, the
Judge said
no, Major; these gentlemen Eail from
Georgia. They are strangers here, and
Id thank you to show them over the
prison.
Certainly, Colonel, most certainly.
ii 10 IL Will great PLEASURE.
And the little man hustled about, put
on his cap, gave few orders to his subOr-
dinates, and then led US through another
outside door into the prison. He was q
few rods in advance, with Col. Jacques,
when Judge Ould said to me
"Yonr prisoners have belied Turner.
You see he's not the hyena they've repre-
sented." '. ., .
81 am not so sure of that,"I replied.
"These cringing, mild hammered men are
the worst of. tyrants when they have the
power" s.. .-... ...,.
"But you don't think him tyrant!"
"I do. He's a coward and a bully. or
can't read English. It's written all over
his face"
The Judge laughed boisterously, and
called out to Turner
81 say, major, our friend here is paint
ing your portrait. ..a. ....
II hope he is making handsome man
of me-" said Turner, in sycophantic
way.
"No, he isn't. He's drawing you to the
life-as if he'd known you for half GEN.
tury." -" 80 M @f3@a.
. We had entered room about forty feet
wide and hundred feet deep, with bare
brick walls, rough plank floor, and mar
row, dlngy windows, to whose sash only q
few broken panes we're clinging. A row
of tin wash basins, and wooden trough
which served as a bathing tub, were at
one end OF it, and half-a.dozen cheap
stools and hard bottomed chairs were lit
tered about the floor; but it had no other
furniture. And this room, with five 9th.
ers of similar size and appointments, and
two Easements fioored with earth and filed
with debris, compose the famous Libby
Prison, in which, for months together, the