Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-05-23

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the northwest corner, hung a small wooden
sign-Libby Il Son. On entering the pri'on
we were formally Introduced to Maj.
Thomas i. Turner, the keeper. He osked
me, as he uid all Others il | had any vaua-
bles. | had in my bootleg 1928 in gre u
backs, and told him / made it selling pup rs
and was going to send it to my mother, In
Vermont, as She had to depend on VII
and four other brothers who were Ia the
army sent her fur support. Ny lip quivered
a little. He patted me on the shoulder and
said, "My boy, when you 20 out OF here,
come into the flee aud get this package"
He took my passes and pinned them around
the money. handing me back the sl2 In
confederate mccoy given me by the lieuten-
ant for Captain Remington's whskeY.
We were placed 10 Il room ON the second
| moor, directly over the rom used by the
guards, being the fourth window from the
| corner the room was very large one, 100
feet long, 30 feet wide, supported by large
'snare wooden beams running through the
entire. We found 10 the room two sailors
who were captured on the coast. The first
question from them was "Where are you
from ~ One of them l noticed was par
ticu arly interested Ia me, after hearing that
| l came from Vermont, and began iuQuiriug
about my family. felt a. II had found a
friend He was from my native town, Rur-
| lngton. We called HIM Sailor Ben" bis
family was wealthy, and like most OF the
Green Mountain Boys" he went on. at the
| first tap Of the drum. We became bunk
mates, he not having any blanket, shared
my saddle-hlar ket aud papers with him, and
while the $l2 lasted we Toasted on sweet
potato pie, for which 81 apiece was paid
After few days prison life we fell into the
habit OF passing away the time playing
pussy in the corner" Simon says thumbs
up" and checkers, and three dollars was
p i'd for pack Of cards. The sentinels
walked their beat and hourly passed the
word from post TO post, something like the
following Post No 4, 10 o'clock and alls
we'll" the next Johnny would catch 1t up
Post No. 8, 10 o'clock ard sll's WE'LL
During the night, before taps sounded, our
boys would start song, perhaps
"Homc, sweet Home"
then "John Brown" then THE Star Span
gled Banner :" The guards would salute us
with, shut up, there, you d-n Yankees"
and then they would give us the "Bonny
Blue Flag" my Maryland" or Dixie"
Time wore on very slowly until the Sth OF
December, when rumors were afOat that we
! were to be parOled. There was anxiety,
hope and fear we could not sleep well that
night. There we're on that night something
like four hundred prisoners in the room, our
little family having grown. One hundred
! citIzen prisoners were assigned to one room.
On the morning Of the 10th OF December,
We were all IL high glee over the possibility
! Of release. Groups could be seen here and
there talking over the prospect. Sunday
|, morning, thu 1lth, we were all ready to fall
in for roll call and us fast as our names were
called we were to go down stairs and fall in
. in front OF the prison.
Not forgetting the kind words which
; Major Turaer had spoken to me when first
, entering the prison, when my name was
called | was down stairs in about
three jumps, throwing my blanket
upon spike as did all OF them. l
found my friend, Major Turner, in his Office.
He gave ME the same money, passes etc.
e We were SON on the cars for City Point.
where for the fr.t time since my capture
SAW tie old flag on the flag Of truce b at,
City Of New York" That night | sailed
= for Annapolis, winch we reached the second
D day, after KIP. riencing very heavy weather
T. uu Chesapeake Bay. After arriving at
Annapolis the ,ulGiers and my friend,
=, "SailOr D. were ordered INTO camp, | was
d scharged aud took the first tram for Wash
ington. arriving thee on the 18Th. After
taking bath, and getting nd II my bosom
Close | 'uxiit uut the war department, had
my pass, received and si2u.d, next day,
by boat, down The Potomac, aud On 4
venture, took five hundred New York
! HerGids stol ping At Agra Greek. soon
learned That he Iruu BrI-ade was at Belle
, Plaiu Landing. Having been away from
nome 80 long expected AN ov,rUaung. Tor
; winch prepared myself. When presenting
1t yset at headquarters, The sk!rmish began
IN TINS way
"H here lave You been, leaving US with
ont papers So luuEt'
| well. General, have been to Richmond,
where on: brigade has been trying ~ 20 for
some time"
> "Dldnt the boys tell you not to 20 back
through the liues--lhat Mosby was picking
; up Every one ne could get hold OF 2"
~ eli, General, The bays hid to have
papers" lind not say Captain Remington
had - have the whiskey, for never
.queslcd on the boy, and don't believe
they did on me-
"Sen," says good old Pap. Cutler,
go mt aud tel my orderly to give you
, horse, aud we want papers regularly here
alter which was done until the battle OF
Gettysburg, which Will tell you aboat some
other timc. c. Is. AVBRRy