Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1883-01-31
IN LIBBY.

~ Wu0 vi tuc HIOTHllS VI Viz OIL
Of December 1868 when our party
OF about three hundred prisoners,
captured ut Missionary Ridge, Nov.
oath, were taken from the cars and
marched under rebel bayonets 70
the front Of Libby Prison, at Rich
mond, Va. The men were then
turned over 10 the commander of
Belle Island, where so many Of our
brave boys persisted from cold and
hunger, and the officers, about twen-
ty in number, taken charge ofby
Major Turner, then the commander Of
Libby prison, and taken into one of
the large rooms Of Libby, used as
an office and prison reception room,
where we were searched very closely
by two rebel sergeants and all II
sidearms, sword belts, pocket knives
and greenbacks that had not already
been taken were then taken from u.s..
We asked why our money was TAX
EN- and the reply was that it would
be returned TO us on our release or
exchange. There was a great deal
OF money taken from the prisoners
in this way with the promise that
it would be returned some time. 1t
was evident that this was not their
intention, for it is not known that a
prisoner ever left there who had n
dollar returned to him. Our little
party, however, did not furnish
them much; only about four or five
dollars. W. were expecting to be
searched before we arrived there
and those who had money had il
secreted. Capt. Page had forty dol
lars in greenbacks which he secreled
between the soies of his shoes. The
shoes were old and worn on the bot
tom so that the soles would separ-
ate and between these he slipped
the greenbacks, except one dollar.
This he left in his inner vest pocket
as a ruse. They found the one but
not the forty.
Our names were then taken and
we were marched up a pair of stairs
and turned into the prison. Here
we found about one thousand or
more Union officers from all parts
OF the northern army.
We did not find here as we ex-
pected a lot of poor, emanciated,
quiet, suGdued, hungry prisoners,
but were greeted with almost yel,s
of fresh fish, fresh fish, search him
search him, put 'em out" etc. This
was kept up for some time as a sort
OF initiation. When this had some
what subsidized; then came the ask
ing Of questions, such as: "Where
were you captured, how is the north
when do you think we will be ex-
changed? etc. These and and similar
questions were asked and answered
as we thought enough for twice the
number present.
Libby prison was built before the
war and was used by Libby & Son
as a jobbing house. Their sign.
from which the prison DERIVES its
name, was then and still is project
ing from one corner of the building. |
1t contains nine rooms, three rooms
each in the first, second and third
stories. Each room is forty-fye
feet wide by n hundred feet long
long and very low. The ioists,
which We're not ceiled or plastered
can be reached by the hand. Win
dows at each end, heavily cross
barred, admitted the light, and rows
Of large posts supported the rooms
above. The rooms in the second
and third stories were used rs the
prison. These were all connected
by common sized doors, so we had
access from one to the other. The
lower middle room was used by the
prisoners as a kitchen and wash
room. Here were two large old
cooking stoves, q few wash boilers
and one hydrant, which, it can be
to their credit, furnished plenty
Of clear, cool water. This room,
however, was only accessible in the
daytime, At night the prisoners
were ordered above and the steps
taken down. This was done so our
chances Of escape would be less.
The west lower room was used by
the kebs. as an office and guard
quarters. The east lower room was
vacant, or rather occupied by rats.
The outside was encircled by
some twelve or fourteen guards; SO
( a Yank got in there he was safe.
The guards were relieved every
wo hours by a new relief. They
their guns loaded with in
tructions that if any disturbance
u unusual noise occurred among
he prisoners to give the alarm by
iring the gun. They adopted the
Id revolutionary plan Of crying out
t the commencement Of every hour
Il the nivhk. after nine O'Clock Nc.