The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-05-07
ENGIMEsT
The Great Story of Capturing a
Lpc6motive."
By REV. WIN, PrTTENGER.
loepyRInKTsD. 1ssl.i
Ole s.A-
ChApTrR Xxx.
LIBBY AND CATTLE THUNDER.
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In q few hours The train for which we waited
| arrived, and, passing onward without further
| noticeable events, long before morning we were
| in Richmond. There was the same intense and
piercing cold which had been the main element
in our suffering during this journey, but the
| sky was clear, and the rebel capital was dis
tinctly seen in the sparkling moonlight.
Everything looked grim and silent through the
frosty air, and our teeth chartered fast and loud
as wo walked up street of the sleeping city.
But the Sergeant in command OF our party
did not know what to do with US. We hoped
that some arrangements had been made tor
forwarding us directly to City Point, the place
| OF exchange, SO that we might that very day
behold once more the Stars and Stripes. Yet we
knew it was more probable that some detention
| would occur. The Sergeant left us where We
were while he started in search of the Provost
Marshal's office for instructions. We endea-
vored to shelter ourselves as best we could from
the unbearabe cold, which really threatened
to prove fatal. Two pieces of ragged carpet
were all the protection we had, in addition to
our well-worn Summer clothing, and we
spread these over our heads as we huddled
together in a solid mass in the angle of brick
wall. 1t was astonishing what relief this af-
forded,-especially to those who were in the
inside of the pack, where / happened to be.
Here we shivered till the Sergeant returned
He had found the headquarters of the Prison
Department and conducted us thither.
Several streets were threaded in the moon
light, and when the office was reached. to add
to our discomfort, it was destitute Of fire. We
stood in the empty room, looking at the grim
portraits of rebel generals for an hour or two
until the Marshal entered. He did not deign
to speak to us, but broke open sealed letter
Serg't White handed him and read aloud that
10 disloyal Tennesseeans, four prisoners of war.
aud sig engine there's were hereby forwarded to
Richmond by order of Gen. Beauregard. The
olA n1saHf fn oil rIncly
We hoped that the title of "engine thieves I"
had been left behind and that from henceforth
we would be only called prisoners of war;"
But we still trusted to be soon beyond their
lines, and it would make no real difference what
name they exchanged us under. The Marshal
then gave his orders, aud VIC were conducted
onward.
By this time it was daylight. Dec Z, 1862
Richmond looked still more cherries in the
cold morning than in the moonlight.
A long march through number of streets
brought US to the banks OF the James River
where we halted in front of most desolate-
looking but very large brick building, situated
near the water, and surrounded by fOrmid-
able circle of guards. This we supposed to be
prison, and soon learned that we were right.
1t was the famous Libby.
We entered, We're conducted up a fight of
steps, and reached a vast, open room, where we
saw, almost for the first time since our capture,
the old, familiar United States uniform, and
were soon in the midst of over hundred
United States soldiers.
Our greeting at first was not very friendly, as
we still wore the ragged clothing that had
served us all Summer; but as soon as our true
character and history were known, most
cordial welcome was extended. There was
only one small steve in the cold, empty room,
around which part of the inmates were hud-
died. But with the characteristic courtesy and
g L.
a place beside it.for us. When got warm /
had leisure to look around.
The prospect WAS not very cheerful. Above,
the floor had been, taken out, leaving only the
rafters between us and the roof The window
sasbes were all removed. and the cold wind
whistled in from the river far more sharply
than was c0nsistentwith comfort. Only very
scanty amount of fuelw allowed per day, and
when that was exhausted they had to endure
the freezing as best they could. The room
was too large and opea to be warmed through
out, and only feYNcould gather around the
stove. The food was neither better nor worse
than in other Southern prisons. Probably
among all the prisoners, past and present, we
were the only ones who were glad to be there
We regarded it as the sure pledge that our foes
had not deceived US i'll their promise of an ex-
change, for these men, with whom we found
ourselves, were actually going northward on
the next truce-boat, which was daily expected.
What matter the cold wind or the bare floor
with such hope? We felt that we were no
longer held as criminals. but were now in the
common prison, with other soldiers, sure that
the day Of final release could not be far Off
What wonder if our joy was too deep for words,
and we could only turn it over in our minds,
and tremble lest it should prove too delightful
to be realized? The vision of freedom was so
warm and vivid that all hardships were for
gotten.
u 4 II ~
comrades who had recently been captured, and
get news of the progress of the war from a
Federal standpoint. All the intelligence we
had obtained for long period came cOlOred by
Southern prejudices. In such communion with
friends who were still confident Of success in
the great conflict the time passed rapidly.
But in the midst of our conversation, prob
ably two hours after our entrance, an Of
ficer came to the door and called for the men
who had just been admitted. Every one in the
room but ourselves had taken the customary
oath of parole, not to serve against the COnied-
eracy until regularly exchanged; and suppos-
ing that omission in our case was about to be
supplied, we gladly responded. The guard led
us down to the entrance hall and called over
our names. The four prisoners of war who had
come from Atlanta with us were sent upstairs
again, while we were turned into au immense,
but dark and low, room on the left of the stair
way and the door locked behind u.s.
This was an awful moment. The full mean
ing of this separation burst upon us. We had
been taken away from those who were to be
exchanged and put in a room for those regarded
as criminals We had been bitterly deceived,
and our hopes at once fell from the highest
heaven to which they had scared. A cold sense
of misery and despair came over us. No wonder
we looked at each other with pale, troubled
countcnances in the dim light, and asked ques-
tions none were prepared to solve.
But for one moment only were we thus
crushed the next we eagerly sought an avenue
for hope Perhaps they did not choose to re-
cognize us as soldiers, and merely wished to
exchange us as civilians,--a matter of perfect
Indifference to us. provided we were exchanged
at all. We looked around to see what founda-
tion we could build OH for this pleasant con-
lecture.
Our present apartment contained even more
prisoners than tbat upstairs They were not
Northern soldiers, but were from all parts of the
South Some of them had been in prison ever
since the war broke out, while few had been
arrested for supposed anti-slavery sentiments
even before that event, and had lived in loath-
some dungeons ever since. There had been
reign of terror in the Southern States preced-
ing the war, as we'll as after the opening of the
contest which differed from the similar terror
in the French revolution mainly in being less
theatrical, and in striking humber victims.
A few Northern soldiersl were here who had
been put in for attempting to escape or for
other breaches of prison discipline. Every man
in the room had some kind Of "charge" against
him. These facts We're not calculated to
strengthen hopes of exchange, or even weaken