The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1867-12-31
LOVE III THE LIBBY;
OR. THE DISGUISED SENTINEL
A Sketch Of the Late War.
IS . MARSHAL HANNA.


4 dreary place was tie Libby then,
aul is yet. But replace was far more
ropalsr,e when tho var went on, and il
crowded with Prisoners when it was a
great human cage, always full, but ncy-
er overlooking
One would suppose That love could
not live there bat Ike a delicate flow
en- would hayeall its perfume trodden
out beneath the feet Of heartless men,
who cared not FOR love only for lite
and liberty II was dreary winter,
too, that Of 1864, and the Libby pile,
long and low, looked more lonesome
and repulsiye than ever, covered with
M outer pail Of snow, and the leadon
current Of the James making down in
the background Oh, the dead muflled
sounds Of winter that last winter
through which theinfant Codfedoracy
was destined 70 pass The armies that
had borne the banner ofthe giant Child
beyond the Potomac, forced back were
lying in the snow, coiled about Rich
nond, in lines that thinner and weak
er grcw, melting away
The hopes Of the people were sinking
by degrees, lower and- lower and the
face and form 81 the Child grew gaunt
and speclrelike dying Of hunger and
cold. Christmas eve came, but brought
no preparations ior the Christmas feast
There was gloom in the chamber and
gloom in tho hoyel There was glad
ness only whore there was treachery-
in tho hearts and homes Of the few Tn
ION men aud women. Without tho
snow fell silently, steadily, save when
the winds aYoee, aud rising in anger
ed gusts, sweep aloft the drift and cast
them in clouds upon the mir, or sent
the flakes beating into the faces.o tho
scnhnels who paced their rounds about
the Libby post.
From within the prison came the
sound 81 feet; of men doomed to per-
petual motion or the more dreaded
alternative. Of freezing to death It
was low, montonons shufliing, that be
came at last the spirit q unrest, per-
yading and filing the place. There was
a stir towards the office that announc-
ed fresh arrival Of prisoners, and the
sentinel on the Office post shouted;
Corporal of the guard, post No. -"
The corporal appeared jaunty fellow,
who had never shown himself in the
tie presence 81 the Yankee until the
latter was prisoner, when he was bold
indeed.
Bring in the prisoners said the
valiant corporal and they we're march
Cd il ana ranged before the registered
clerk who began
What is your name2" addressing
the only commissioned officer in the
party whose uniform and insignia Of
raak WAS that of a major
Ny name Edward Glover, Maj
or Illinois cavalry
Glover. Glover, unused the clerk,
turning back the pages of the greatreg-
istcr Have you no; been prisoner
here beforeg
j have been
"Aud exehangedy'
No; / escaped,
"Wl,h whom did you escape aud how
viii YOU be 20 good Is to telIt'
eIulll ] escaped with Col streight
ard LIS party How we escaped, you
well know
How long did yen remain concealed
n Richmond after your escape
y renamed behind one week; my
comrades stopped not until they had
IS. lie lsyonets o. their friends be-
tpeeu this hated prison aud themselves
7 aas .ck and tainted "a making the
psaa i ,he tunnel BAT I was cared
By rien., may ! ash questioned
tie e.erk, Who hoped 70 anarel ihe
mgstesg at thai memorable eseape
which bad reflected seriously upon