The weekly union record., 1864-08-20

lives willing sscrifcs on The altar Of Liberty.
/ was KEEP, 10 Libby Prison Floor, No. 5,
Smiths building, abou, eight months. We.
expected to be treated as honorable prisoners
Of war, but Instead, were treated SIS so many
wid dogs. Oilers were mainly cooducd in
LIBBY, and know ihat S systematic starva-
uoo was practised on Us. The men who from
time TO time broush, Us food, or who guarded
Us, appeared stout and healthy, Indicating
thai they lived we'll Oar kiod folks at home
sent Is 4 great many boxes of nice things 10
eat, and the commissioner for the State Of
Ohio was careful that all such articles were
sent to Richmond. FROM what We learned
while II prison, We were quite certain that
large quantities Of estabies and other comforts
bad been received for Union prisoners, We, Us
poor devils never got taste or smell We
were fed at noon each day. The bill Of fare
was corn bread AID water sometimes water
and corn bread. The bread was composed Of
coruhasks, corpcobs, and corn ground together,
each nan receiving piece half the size Of his
hand, three inches thjck aud half cooked.
Sometimes mea. was brought Us, which was
nothing bat the flesh taken from dead horses,
and mules that were bFough, by car loads
from the baitle-felds or wherever q dead ani.
mai could be found When given 10 Us cooked
such meat would sicken Us with lis s,euch.
While eating this food he maggo,s would fall
on the floor. but they were carefully gathered
up aud helped 10 satisfy The hunger gnawiog
at the viials Rats, cats and dogs when
caught were considered dainty. You remem.
Der what dae set Of teeth had-wel they
are now all decayed ard loose, caused by guaw-
in- pieces Of bones.
Ne doubt you have read of those prisoners
who dug a tunnel and escaped from Libby. l
was the first one out of the hole Myself and
two comrades kept compauy-weut through
deep SHOWS, low. dreary and desolaie swampS
and suffered much from the cold in the noun
tain regions, as ii was The mou.h of January
A'ler enduring great bardships and wandering
g." NHt HdN Aot II anu etA NSGASs anu HSkAiLS
within twenty miles Of the Union lines. We
were captured one night while crossing an
open field. l actually wished to die then aad
there, rather than go back TO that accursed
prison Yet back we vent to the same hell
hole from which We had escaped. When Ie-
leased through the great excrions of General
P.,.I, ,oF, l.. ] l.
carried on sretchers to the ships. Arriving
at Annapolis, fGy one third Of the number
died The agents and the nurses Of the SAM
tary Commission received Us. and through
weeks Of slow recovery, each rough soldier
was tended with a moiherly love ard solicitude
Many were the deicacies given Us TO coax
back health and life. Now I have written
more than was intended, AMI confess that /
cherish bitter feelings towards the enlightened
cbvary, who have thus treated a helpless
prisoner. Since returning 10 the north have
visited places where rebel prisoners are kept.
and saw that they were having a coed time.
with foil rations of healthy food, warm cloh-
ing and comfortable quarters When exchan
gei they 90 back fat and saucy, deriding the
North for its kindness, and ready to lend q
willing hand in gathering carrion flesh for
Union prisoners.
You my not expect me 10 visit you this fall
think HAT few months Of recreation will res
tore MY health, when shall return 10 the front
again, and if needs be lay down my life in be-
half Of oar great and gloriods cause. remain
as ever, your afectionate brother,
FRANK OLIVER
First Regiment, Co. B., Ohio V l.