Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-03-21
Life in the Libby Prison.

The Trinity journal puDllShes letter from
VIM. Norris, California soldier in the MIS-.
sachusetts Contingent from California, TO
his brother which we append. He writes
from the National Hospital, Annapolis, al.
ter having been EXCHANGED from the rebel
prison at Richmond:
You desired me tn give you description
of my capture and imprisonment. ! will
rndeavor T. do so in as brief Il manner as
can. On the 22d Of August was detailed
to go to Washington in company with twen-
tv-tive other men to exchange worn out
horses for the same number OF good ones.
We got in on Saturday evening and remained
over Sabbath in the city. On Monday at IL,
A. NJ, we left for camp; having four hnrs.s
apiece. We went until 8, 7. NJ, when, as
we were passing through a short lane in the
pine woods, we discovered platoon formed
in front OF us. They shot several OF our
horses at first fire. We replied, and cur
horses soon became unmanageable. ! got
nv horses united from the saddle, but could
not manage the horse / was on. We con-
tinued firing several moments, when we
were charged in the rear b. ano her platoon
when it came to hand and hand tglt.
could have gotten away If had made use OF
the time, but thought it would not dc to
leave the boys in trouble, so l continued to
ElgIt, uillIl HNS b4S VI N'Ae
and demanded me to surrender. l found il,
was no use to say no, as l would be shot II
did They ordered me 10 mount my horse
and be rode of. y, rode forty miles that
night, and when we stopped We were nearly
perished for water. We asked them tn allow
us to 60 and get a drink, or that they would
get Us some in our canteens but they only
cursed us as id Yankees, and said that If
they had the power they would hang us, In
the fight Mosebv was wounded in two places.
In the morning We had to start alOOt for
Richmond. We walked to within fifteen
miles of Culpepper, when we gave out. Our
feet were so swollen that We had to cut our
boots off. Here fourteen Of Us (ls others
were added TO the number on the way) had
to pay S7j to get Il man tG haul us 70 Culpep-
per, from whence we went by way Of the cars
to Richmond, where we arrived on the 29th
of August, and were locked up for the night
in an apartment 50 by l00 feet. II was kept
wet all the time to prevent the "graybackS"
from driving the prisoners out. They could
be seen at all times crawling over the floor.
We were allowed no fire, and had to lay on
the floor without any blankets, and after the
rebels had taken their share as they called it,
all the clothes had left was thin blouse, a
cotton shirt, one pair Of pants and no drawers.
| had $40 60 left Of my money. | took cold.
In the morning we were marched TO Belle
Island, where we were allowed two acres and
a half for six thousand men, and less than
one-half Of them had tents to sleep in, and
no blankets at all. Our rations consisted Of
one-half ration OF bread, and soup made Of
one ounce Of beef, to one spoonful Of beans,
boiled in a pint OF water. One ounce Of beef
per day was all allowed. The beans were
full Of worms; they would rise in the kettle
until you could scarcely see the water. Tne
water we had TO use was from holes sunk be-
tween the tents six feet deep in the earth.
Graybacks were to be seen at all times of the
day crawling over the sand, and floating on
the water. The small space of ground we
occupied was di,ched around and the guards
stood on the outside. At shutdown the gates
were shut that led to the rear, and were not
opened until sunrise the next morning. II
took until noon every day to carry oil the
filth Of the night. remained here one week
and saw men die OF in piles, like hogs in the
winter of the Western States. After | had
been there about a week t ok sick with the
measles; remained week longer and was
unable to walk, when two OF oar boys car
ried me into the hospital as it is called. I
gave them all the money had left, as they
were starved until they did not look natural,
and I did not suppose l shold ever want any
more. The hospital was a long tent with no
floor. The sick were laid in rows so close
that it was almost impossible to turn over
unless all turned. None were allowed in the
tent but the sick, and no lights at nj Int. /
was living once between two men who were
very sick. About midnight one OF them
seemed to be worse. As turned TO him he
gave struggle I felt his brow it WAS cold
and damp. He was dead. The other was in
much pain. lay few moments and heard
him catch his breath as il in great pain, and
turned back to him. But he too was dead.
About six feet from where laid another was
eroaning. In a moment it stopped. 4 COM
rade living by his side said he was dead, and
then all was silent.
was given over for as good as dead By the
doctor, and did not expect to live from one
hour to another; nor did I desire to live, for
felt chat had seen enough. Here | re-
mained week longer, and never had dose
of medicine. But was favored Of the Lord
with a violent fever, which resulted in my
benefit. They then removed me to Libby
Prison hospital, where had straw bed and
one blanket. At this place the doctor pro-
nounced ME beyond hope, so got no medi-
cine. After remaining week, the rebels
were arran ling to send boat load away, and
took my name, rs they said | would die on
the cars before reached City Point. But
the Lord kept life in me, so I'll t their ctEe''
tations were thwarted. | arrived ut Cry
Point on the -29th of September. and game
to this hospital on the 3Oth; Where am
well taken care Of, aud am slowly put s'eaui,
ly regaining my wonted health OF 0'DJ anu
mind.