Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-01-06
New Years Eve Tn LIBBY Prison-our
soldiers uerry in Adverse Ctrcum.

prison II Richmond, will show the reader 10 thi-
cold but merry time Of the rear that our poor
fellows. even In that wfetched hole know how
TO make the best OF their situation. and how 20
conquer misery, for time. by mifih'
Despite the general depression ana the cruel
disappointment caused BY the non delivery Of
boxes. you could not help pcrceiving IN he even
ing, here and there, certain scenes aud manifest
ations sufficient 10 remind YOU that the day we
had passed through had been an unusual one
The smack Of the new year could, in fact sot
be mistsken-the hearts of few happy ones
provided w,sh tolefable commi.satiat nvoluu
tadly expanded Invitations TO dinner were ex
tended between the moro intimate ones, ADD
amidst the general gloom one could behold IN
almost every room. one or two small group
ranged around. what for Libby. might Justly be
termed festive tables
There was, upon the whole, a stronger display
OF light than ordinarily, fellow prisoners beeom
ing almost prodigal In their expenditures 10 rein
force tho solitary taper that confederate liberalty
almost always furnished Us The hrilliancy OF
the occasion they determined should rival ts fe-
tviS. Even those industrious ores grated the
evefy day corn bread ration into meal. which
they hoped, by adding other ingredients. to met
amorphose into some saVOry pudding or inviting
FLAP jacks" looked more cheerful than usual
! Three Of my companions aud myself were the
\ guests OF Colonel c., 9Th New York yolun-
teer cavalry. All we were uired to do was o.
bring with Ia our spoons tin cups. and something
/ TO cit On-the rest was provided by our hosptabe
host Seven was our number At table-each =
good fellow In bis way-not excepting my hum
bic self
Lieutenant NJ orIey, 18th Pennsyly yolun.
teer cavalry. was the chef de Cuisine on the &C
casion.
/ A soup de la LinosiRe. supported by Loaf
Of good fresh bread, began the entertainment
Then. and without the annoyance of change OF
plates, followed a superb ragout. Then. again
came huge life breathing and life inspiring
maccaron pudding. Two sperm candles. placed
in the centre Of the white covered table, shed
their whole lusire on the sm. bewitching scene
Where are the words in which to express the
surprise overwhelming every one of his guest:
when the Colonel, lowering one of his hands be
meath the table, and, raising IL again. plies bot
tie of St Julien!
No toas,s were given no speeches made OF
the festive OCCASION. on which, could aver, hun
dreds Of our less fortunate companions gazec
with all air Of unmistakable envy; aud yet every
feature of the scene was Suggestive enough fo
those who participated, and eloquent in IT'S az
gravation to those who ~ere only spectators
Away with your asoous and diplomatic dinners
: recorded upon the pages OF history Away witt
that pompous dinner of Prince Talleyrand. a
which the Spanish Bourbons were bcguiled int,
swallowing the loss Of their thr0nel Away witt
|, all these-make room for the memorable New
Years dinners ofIe64 in Libby-dnners wortl
studying, forsooth aud never 10 be forgotten,
, warrant, hy a mortal who partook of them
e Nor will | neglect to record our New Year
. theatrcals Rest assured, We actors in life vast
ing. vermin breeding Libby. your unconquerabl'
humor, your potent morale, all shall be recorded
In truth. these theatricas, which, despite th'
general poverty, were announced " to whom
, il may concern in printed programmes a
our expense those scenic efforts in the cold
splashy, thckly -reeking kitchen; the extempo
c rized stage whose wretched structure cOul,
7 scarcely be detected by the dim light of our tire
talow candles; the ragged, pale faced audienc
OF Libblans, and the rebel spectators peeping il
c through the bars with evident surprise and gee
{ all deserve particular mention
The programme consisted of three parts. Par
/. Purely musical. the performers Captain
Shell, Kendall and Moss, and Lieutenants Jone
0 and Lombard Part H. Likewise musical, and
with a banjo solo by Lieut.. Thomas, closed wit
clog dance by Lieut.. Ryan. " The Rival Low
ers an infermesso. here followed-actors, Capt
= Mass and Lieut.. Randolph. Part III consste
+ of the -" Country Woman in Photographic GA
lery." and a masquerade ball. the additional &C
tors being Major Neiper. Captain Williams
and Lieutenants Wech. Bennett, and Moran
Admission free Children in not admit
ted +"
As the call flights out was by special orde
delayed in our favor until midnight we were en-
abled after the theatricas to make efforts at sur
{ dry other sports Up we marched TO bon ton
the central room Of the prison-where purel
n musical entertainment was extemporzed. Lieu
Jones gave amid a storm of applause, DO the
G think of me homer Ny Hungarian major
}. perhaps the most sickly looking figure in tn
A prison. guitar in hand sang Shubert's serenade
I lie nd H.. al sato arsifl
=" called forth much applause by n witty ditty O
; his own creation In the midst of these melodi
d Gus strains. creative At once of mirth and sad
Il ness. arrived the fatal twelve O'Clock
The guard. with vigorous pnnctuality. and PEI
T. haps more than punctuality, now began to sen
!, up the echo Of the hated lights out" The SO
=. itary tallow candle. threatening soon to expir
in its own sweat. had to be eKtinguished; but nc
. so with the strain of music. There we stood
> crowded in the corner Of the room, performin
d and listening to the grand finale in thick dark
: ness Now every one quietly withdrew to hi
own quarters-an operation which, as many la
already stretched ont on the floor. was by n
= means easy task in the dark. On mountin
c to the third story final treat awaited me. "
million for drink, said /. half in earnest I
Lieutenant Colonel c.. who scrambled u
with me. ." There are elements of hope here,
he replied And in few minutes hope stoo
forth in full reality in the shape of half bottl
of bitters, the property OF Lieutenant Stearns.
/ Quietly and sedately we posted ourselves be
side the window in the clear moonlight, chstlin
: and gradually quaffng the sweet bitters till tn
: last drop was guped. Lieut.. s. has m
e most sincere thanks for his liberality Nor ca
:. withhold my admiration for his vigilance i
having saved this precious beverage for the oC
c casion. Articles of much less attraction find, i
!, Libby. volunteer customers almost every min
!; ute
There was little music in our souls when W
awoke next morning 10 the sound of "roll call
II There was perceptble a regular falling back {
+ boxes" and exchange" though not without
, rising confidence in the tactics of Gen. Butler
D the negotiating of exchange.
G 4 Roman Almanac.
r Among the interesting discoveries which AT
being daily made at Pompeii that of ROMA