The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1882-04-27

most extraordinary manner, doubt
less some officer Of tho homo guard
aud sueering, asked u this was
"Falsotaff's army Of recruits !" NO"
replied I, understanding the insult,
1--WE are not but here they come =
pointing to detachment of dilapi,
dated rebels coming around corner
with the sbuflliug, unmilitary gait
which is peculiar to the Johunies.
The officer road away without any
more attempts at wit. Iu the mean
time. tho sidewalks we're lined with
citizens who came to see the "yauks"
as they would TO the exhibition of
some strange animal. A very few
exhibited any pity. A few women
mestly Irish or German--gave us
food at the rick of their lives. We
we're finally ordered into tbs prison,
and there went through the ceres
mony Of another search. Every.
thing the chivslty took a fancy to
was coufscated az contr ,baud. we
ba1 nothing more for them, they
had taken everything from us at
Atlanta But | did see them take
from other men, pocket knIfes, combs
needles and thread. left the prison.
ers nothing but what they had on
their backs.
Libby prison was at on time n
Soap aud Candle maunfuctury. three
stories high, the rooms were large
and poorly ventilated anl disgust,
ingly filthy. The dust and tobacco
juice of years had gathered in hill.
ocks aud ricgjs over the floor.
These apartments we're iudescribab'
ly foul. They had been filed with
prisoners who htl ist been renov-
ei to N Ike room for us. aud had left
behind them all tho offl Of mortal
maladies, weakness AMI wounds
There had been no sweeping or
cleaning. but into Que Of these rooms
We were forced, compelled to drink
in the snifJcatins mir, tn, frat breath
of which caused me to shuiler. Tue
room in which I, With about two
hnndruI other Union Soldiers. was
placed. was to filthy for description.
Here fpr five DAYS, almost suifocat-
ing from want Of air, aud crowded
room. remaine having rations is,
saed to mo only twice day. 10
starving quantities, and poor in
quality. in fact not hit for any hu-
man being to eat No. medical at
teu,ion vas given to the sick, aud
the borror nf our situation Seemed
more thar conl1 be borne. To such
u degree were We crowded, that We
were obliss to arrange ourselves in
tiers, like pins on paper when we
slept az night. constant Interference
With eachotber's sleeping room caus.
cd snch continued wransliug ns to
make night aud day more like the
abode of iends than one of human
beings,
At last onehundrel md thirty
were taken from this abode OF tor
ture, aud sent over to Belle Island,
which is situaied ON a bend OF the
james River. about half mile west
Of Richmond.
The river at this point is very
swift of current, aul full OF fantastic
groups of rocks aud little islands,
covered with luxnriant foliage among
which tho water dashed 10 sparkling
foam. Three bridges span the river
between the island aud the city. Tne
leland contains sone forty or fifty
acres, rising ut the lower
extremity, towards Richmond, in
gentle, sandy plain. aud npon tins
was situated the prison camp, con-
sisting of about four acres Of the
lowest land on the james River, al
most on level with the river, aud
consequently unhealthy. y
the prison grounds to the
westward the island rises into pre-.
cipitous bluff, there crowned by
strong earthworks, which command
I'd the river abo We. The prison
grounds were surrounded by low
board railing, aronnd which uards
were stationed ut intervals OF fifteen
PAGES. The guard regulations on
this island were very strict. The
guard had orders. that no conversa-
lion should bs carried on between
prisoners aud guard, and that no
prisoner should come within three
feet Of the railing or e'uhauknsnt