Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-12-04
LIBBY PRISON SOLD AT AUCTION.

LIBBY PRISON SOLD AT AUCTION.
Libby Prison, the historic military JAN
of the Confederate Government, was re.
Gently sold at auction under oeeu OF
trust. The auctioneer stated that the
property was being rented as tobacco
factory at $50 a month. The building was
started at So, 500, and went up by slow de-
crees to Sc. 900. The auctioneer said re-
proachfully that it cost over half this
amount to put down the piles upon which
the building was erected. He then sug-
gested that such was the value OF the his
torical associations of the building, that II
it were pulled down the bricks could easily
be sold at the North for 81 apiece, and as
there were $40, 900 bricks the building
would bring S240, GOO. He would, how
ever, be satisfied to sell it for less money.
This appeal sent the bidding up to Sc, 725,
and twas knocked downto James I. Gray, q
Young capitalist of Richmond. The build
ing is now occupied by F. M. Boyken as a
tobacco factory. A crowd OF negroes
looked through the upper story lron-bars,
interested spectators of the sale.
Libby Prison was the most famous OF
the Confederate military prisons, and by
the Confederate Governmental was ranked
as the most secure. although the success OF
the tunneling enterprise of Streight, Rose,
and Others rather deprecated the idea of
it's safety, and caused Major Turner 70
double his guards. The Libby IN outward
appearance has changed little since the
war Even the sign, although now mucn
weather. stained ard rather indistiuct,
is there still Libby Prison" 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 gentle
man rented it and fitted it up as SUI
mac warehouse. Subsequently 1t was used
as a tobacco steamery, and then as to-
bacco factory. The building has front of
l40 feet and a depth of los feet. When it
was used as 4 prison it was divided into
nine rooms, each l02 feet long and 10 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 captives Scattered
about there are designs by those prisoners
who were artistically inclined and had a
taste for the sculptor's art. Skulls, cross
bones, collins, chains, are mixed up with
the more ambitious attempts in the shape
OF thin-legged animals, which the behold
er'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
hundred who knows the history of Libby
| Prison 1t was built as warehouse by an
old citizen of Richmond, Mr.. Libby, and
up to ten years before the war he occupied
the building. When the war began the
sign, Libby & Sons, Ship Chambers and
Grocers," was over the entrance, and re-
NAMED there up to 1868. Many a Federal
| prisoner viii remember seeing it. Old Mr..
Libby lived ON Church Hill, in the low er
portion OF the city, near the historic st.
Johns Church, in which Patrick Henry
delivered his immortal Grafton, concluding,
but for me- give me liberty or give me
death" This bill, overlooking the river,
since the war has been turned into park,
and is known as Libby Hill Park. In his
warehouse Mr.. Libby amassed large for
| tune.
Libby Prison was not the first choice of
the Confederate Government as a military
prison. Soon after the commencement Of
hostilities the authorities began to look
around for suitable building as a prison
for Union soldiers. They fixed upon a
large frame building in what is known as
Lumpkin's alley. This was the first mill
tary prison in Richmond, and perhaps the
South, ana was called Castle Goodwin. -
1t had been built and used as a SO jail for
the housing of slaves before they were
sold. Lumpllin's alley was filed with
these large houses called ''jails, and here
the slave sales took place. Castle Goodwin
had not been IN use year before it was
found to be too small for the accommoda-
| ton of the prisoners, and the Confederate
authorities fixed upon the large warehouse
OF Libby & Sons, ''on the dock"
Castle Goodwin was nearly mile from
the river, and in low and swamDy portion
of the city. 1t is a singular fact that none
of the Libby Prison officials are now in
Richmond. There are quite number Of
ex Confederates who acted az guards at
the prison still living mere. Major Turner,
the commandant at the Libby, was enc of
the youngest officers in the Confederate
service, and his rank was owing to the fact
that he had been at West Point. When
the States seeded he was q cadet there,
and at once resigned and came South. He
held the position of commandant of the
Libby until the close of the war, when he
went to Mexico and experienced an adven-
furious life with Macmillan. Afterward
he returned to Mississippi, studied dem
tistry, and one of his guards saysthat he is
now a successful dentist in Memphis.