The National tribune., 1885-04-23
LIBBY PRISON.
A Comrades Experience In the Hospital There

Comrades Experience In the Hospital There.
To THE EDITOR: Yankees "reminiscences
of Libby Prison and the discussion between
several of your correspondents about Lieut.
Col. Swanwick, of the POD H., reminded me to
look up my diary of Libby Prison experiences,
and it may be that extracts therefrom may in
terest some of your readers.
Col. Coburns Brigade (33d Ind, S5th Ind,
pod Wis. and 10Th Mich.) had been defeated
and nearly all captured by Van Dorm. at Thorn
sons Station, Tenn, March 5, 1853. Twenty
days later detachments of the 22d Wis. and
10Th Mich, guarding railroad at Brentwood,
between Nashville and Franklin, were Z" COB
bled up" By two brigades under Forrest.
was in the Brentwood force, and having in
voluntarily accepted the invitation thus gwen
to take a trip to Richmond, arrived there early
in the morning of April 9. Fatigue and ex-
posure on the trip (the rebels having robbed US
of our blankets and oyercoatS at Jullahoma)
had developed disease in many of the boys,
which in my case took the form of a dangerous
attack of Inflammation of the bowels; SO on our
arrival AT Libby Prison l had to be placed IN
the hospital of that institution. i now quote
from my diary:
Tho intolcrable jolting of the cars peculi-
ariy painful to me that night, stopped at a
O'Clock on the morning of Thursday, April 9,
and we were Informed that we had arrived at
the city of Manchester, on the opposite side OF
James River from the celebrated capital OF the
Confederate States of America, the boasted
impregnable Richmond. Remained in the cars
until broad daylight when we were ordered
out. A few rods march brought US to the long
bridge spanning James River, and anon we
had accomplished what the experience of Scott
the genius of Mcclellan, the impctuosity of
Pope, the bravery of Burnside had signally
failed to dove had advanced Forward to
Richmondn After crossing the river
we turned into street running parallel with
it, and a short walk brought US TO the famous
Libby Prison. / had walked up from the cars
but the exertion was almost too much for me-
and when we halted in front of the prison it
was with difficulty l kept from fainting. l
was Immediately taken into the hospital
This was a long room, extending across the
east end of the building on the lower floor. 1t
contained so cots, and, except that 1t was
low and lily ventilated, was comfortable and
well adapted to the purpose. was shown into
the Mushroom, performed the additions SO
sadly needed after two weeks wallowing in
the dust, then given clean shirt and put into
cot No. Is, on the west side of the room. The
bed was clean but consisted of a straw mat
tress only, the straw in which was like the
butter on our toast here-thiniy laid on. The
pillows were also of straw, and could perceive
little difference between them and the logs OF
wood, or stones, that we usually used for pill
lows on cur marches and while on picket in
Kentucky ard Tennessee There were four
rows of these cots across the room. and each
row had its nurse or waiter. If patient
wanted anything he would call out his num-
Der, which would bring the nurse belonging to
that row or ward TO him.
"These nurses deserve more than passing
notice They were all, with one exception
land he pretended to be-, deserters from our
army. One was SPaniard, one Frenchman,
one an Englshman Ia sailor, one a German,
X nd Nnyy
the latter, more anon. They were all, except
the New Yorker and the German, perfect
brutes; would do nothing except what they
were absolutely compelled to, and, the French
man especially, who waited upon my ward.
would never grant favor without bestowlng
preliminary curse. The Surgeon in charge, a
DIR. SiGimcns, was perfect gentleman. and
treated all the patients with great kindness.
A large majority of the patients in
the hospital were officers, only eight enlisted
men being left after April IL, when all the en-
listed men in the prison who could travel were
sent forward for exchange The officers, as
near as L could ascertain, all belonged to our
brigade except two-a Leut.-Col. Swanwick,
wounded and captured at Murfreesboro, and a
Navy Lieutenant.
"Eyery morning an old negro came into the
room selling Richmond papers. He would call
out in a siDg-song tone, Hires de mo'nin' pa
persl' Great news in de papers' Great
the news, or whether any news, that was his
inyariable refrain"
On the 23d of April, being barely able to
travel, Twas sent forward to City Point with
small party of enlisted men, all sick or wounded
VIII not quote my account of the trip, which
was very unpleasant one in my weakened
condition, being made in leal1y freight cars on
a cold. rainy day; but discomfort and pain were
all forgotten when the cars ran down TO the
dock at City Point. There, waiting for u.s.
was the splendid steamer State Of Maine, with
the glorious Stars and Stripes floating over her.
/ never before could appreciate the rhapsodies
with which poets have written of this emblem
Of our country. But now nothing / had ever
seen appeared SO beautiful to me as that rec
tangular bit of cloth, speaking as it did of free
dom and plenty and home. How utterly insig
nificant in comparison appeared the little cotton
three-barred, ven-starred rag Tapping over
one of the few houses remaining in City Point.
But / wish to tell something of the romantic
experience of the Libby Prison hospital nurse
whom / have mentioned as the New Yorker.
He was known in the hospital by the name Of
"Devore," but was surprised to learn, as soon
as he had au opportunity to speak with me
privately. that he was the son in-law of an in
innate personal friend Of mine, member of
my company. His real name was George Bal
lentyne. He was Sergeant in the engineer
corps of our army, stationed at Suffolk, Va;
was engaged in making surveys and obtaining
information beyond the lines, when he was cut
off by party OF rebels. Seeing escape hopeless,
he boldly approached the party and represented
himself as deserter, hoping in that way to
avoid accusation as a spy and to eventually
obtain opportunities to regain our lines. His
story evidently was not fully believed, as he
was kept prisoner in Libby, but was placed
on duty as hospital nurse, or rather dispenser
of medicine or kind Of hospital steward. A
few days before / was released he was re-
moved from the prison to DO work for the Con-
federate Government as plumber, which was
his svocation at home He was much pleased
with the change, and assured me that he should
soon make the attempt to give his butternut
brethren the slip. About three months later,
while with my regiment in Tennessee, re-
ceived letter from him. He was safe with his
command, and wished my statement as evil
dence in confederation of his story of his 60
journ with the rebs. From other sources
learned that he was relieved of the charge of
desertion. Whether he is still living or not
/ do not know.-HARvEY REID, Co. A, 22d Wis,
Sabula, Iowa
Libby Tunnel Once More.