The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-11-19
Sale Of Libby Prison.
THAT FAMOUS REBEL PRISON DISPOSED OF
AT AUCTION.

Last week the sale of Libby prison, in
Richmond, for g., 1875, has revived many in
teresting "reminiscences of this historic old
building The old building is now occu
pied by F. NJ. BIyken as tobacco factory,
| Appended is brief sketch of its history.
Libby prison was the most famous of
the confederate military posts, and by the
confederate government it was ranked as the
most secure, although the success of the tun-
nelng enterprise of Straight Rose and others
rather deprecated the idea OF its safety, and
caused Major Turner to double his guards.
The Libby, in outward appearance, has
changed little since the war. Even the sign
although now much weather stained and
rather indstnct, is there still Libby pris.
on" The iron bars have been taken away
from the windows and sold as old iron. Soon
after the war the prison was without tenants,
but finally northern gentleman rented it
and fitted it up as a sumac warehouse. Sub
sequently il was used as tobacco steamery,
and then as a tobacco factory. The building
has front of l40 feet and depth of 105
| feet. When 1t was used as a prison it was
divided into nine rooms, each room l02 feet
long and 45 feet wide. The partitions have
been Knocked down. In many places on
the walls there can still be seen letters and
dates carved in the bricks by federal captves.
Scattered about there are designs by those
prisoners who were artistcaly inclined and
had turn for the sculptor's art. Skulls
crossbones coffins, chains are mixed up with
more ambitious attempts in the shape or
thin.legged animals, which the beholder's
fancy can take for horses, cows or dragons,
Men who were confined in the Libby are
scattered all over the Union, and yet it may
be doubted whether there is one in hun
dred who knows the history of Libby prison.
1t was built as warehouse by an old citi
zen of Richmond, Mr.. Libby and up to ten
years before the war he occupied the build
ing. When the war began the sign, Libby
& Sons, Ship Chambers and Grocers," was
over the entrance, and remained there up to
the year 1868. Many a federal prisoner will
remember seeing it. Old Mr.. Libby lived
on Church hill in the lower portion of the
city, near the historic st, John church, in
which Patrick Henry delivered his immortal
oration, concluding "but for me give me
liberty or give me death" This hill, over
looking the river, since the war, has been
turued into a park In his warehouse Mr.
Libby amsssed large fortune.
Libby prison was not the first choice of
the confederate government as a military
prison. Soon after the commenc, ment of
hosilities the authorities began to look
around for suitable building rs a prison
for Union soldiers Il ey fixed upon large
frame building in what is known as Lump
kin alley. This was the first military prison
in chmond, and perhaps the south, and
, was called Castle Goodwin" 1t mad been
built and used as Jail" for the housing of
, slaves bef"re they were sold Lumpkin al
ley was filled with these large houses called
'jails," and here the slave sales took place.
Castle Goodwin had not been used year
before it was found to be too small for the
accommodation of the prisoners. and the con.
federate authorities fixed upon the large
warehouse of Libby & Sons, ION the
dock"
Castle Goodwin was nearly a mile from
the river and in low swsmpy portion of
the city. 1t is singular fact that none o!
the Libby prison officials are now in Rich.
mond. There are quite number ofex con-
) ftderates who acted as guards at the prison
still living in Richmond. Major Turner, the
commandant OF Libby,was one of the young
est officers in the confederate service, and
his rank was owing to the fact that he had
been at West Point, When the states sece-
ded he was cadet there, and at once resign
ed and came south. He held the position
of commandment of the Libby until the
close of the war, when he went to Mexico
and experienced an adventurous life with
Macmillan. Afterward he returned to Miss
issipp, studied dentistry, AM one of his
friends says that he is now successful dem
tist in Memphis.