News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-02-26
Richmond Revisited.
SOME OF Col. WooDBURY's PRISON
"REMINISCENCES.
RIcHMoND Va Feb G. 'S6

RICHMOND, Va, Feb. 6, sc.
In July, 1861, l came into this cit,
lying upon the bottom of freigh
car, making the journey from Man
assas in thirty hours. I arrived her
last evening in Pullman, making tn
journey from Washington in less thai
five hours. I enjoyed the last rid
much better than the first. Upon m,
arrival the first time l was loaded in
to a wagon and taken to the POO
House" Yesterday took a carriag
to the Exchange hotel, where l fuunC
better quarters and more freedom
than in '61.
visit Richmond now. that | may
see if anything remains of the pris
ons in which | was confined, and Sc,
other objects of interest to one who
had been in the Union Amy; and
have been much gratified with what
have seen.
We took carriage, driven by 6
darkey who was in Richmond during
the "wah," and who is thoroughly
posted, both as to the events of that
time and the objects of present inter
est in Richmond. He was pretty
''full," but as he said: 81 doan know
what you gemmens is, but rs soliC
for Blaine and Logan" we overlooked
his condition. We passed the house
in which jeff. Davis lived during the
war. 1t was square, plain house,
in a good location, surrounded by
grounds of small area.
Nearly opposite was the residence
of Alexander Stephens. This is 6
larger and better house than the Da'
Wis house, but yet of moderate size.
A short distance from him is the cap.
ltol of Virginia. 1t is an old stone
building of moderate dimensions,
much smaller than the Vermont State
Capitol, and was the Confederate
Capitol during the war. 1t is situat-
ed upon commanding eminence in
the center of the city, and is sur
rounded by quite large and fine
grounds. Near the building stands
one of the finest monuments [ ever
saw. 1t was designed by the sculp
tor Crawford before the war, but was
not completed until seven years after.
1t is of granite, heXagonal in shape,
upon six pedestals around the base
and bronze figures representing diff
erent periods in colonial and revolu-
tionary history, the battles of Eutaw
Springs, Bunker Hill, Saratoga, etc.
Still higher up the monument, upon
projections, stand heroic statues OF
the patriots and founders Of the State,
John Marshall, Patrick Henry, Thorn
as Jefferson, George Mason, Govern
or Nelson and Arthur Lewis. Upon
the top is fine equestrian statue OF
Washington. Near by is a statue OF
"Stonewall jackson" placed upon a
modest pedestal, upon which was in
scribed somewhat as follows: This
statue is presented by some English
gentlemen as a tribute Of admiration
for Gen. j. j. Jackson as a patriot
and soldier, gratefully accepted by
the people of Virginia. l couldn't
quite endorse the ''patriot" part of it.
Entering the Capitol we visited the
Senate chamber, which was very
small and insignificant, and the House
of delegates, also very small and
plain. In the portrait gallery there
were great many fine paintings OF
both patriots and rebels. Wash
ington, Munroe and others of the first
class-Lee, johnson, Floyd, Jackson
and others of the latter. While there
are fine full length portraits of Lee,
Jackson and Joe Johnson, there is
none of JEFF. Davis. In the library
there is large photograph or crayor
drawing Of him, showing his bust
only. 1t was all l cared to see OF
him. In this room-which was OF
small dimensions for the purpose
were many interesting things. In
fOne end fTn0r1 i've iTSoI5l1 ~ fI,e, COL
-lery, III a festoOn, was arranged the
Confederate flag and two Virginia
flags. L did not see the United States
flag about the building. Opposite the
Capitol is the church in which JEFF.
Davis was sitting when he was APP
prised of the fall of Petersburg, and
that Richmond must be evacuated.
upon the northern outskirts of the
city stands an old substantial brick
building, which is used now, as il
was before the war, for the poor
house. In '6l this was used for the
hospital for the badly wounded OF
both armies. | passed five weeks
there then and to-day | found the
room and place in the room, in which
L lay then. From thence we drove to
an eminence which overlooks the
rredegar iron works, where most oil
The arms of the rebels were made dur
ing the war. Beyond and over an
arm of the James, we could see Bell
Isle, where so many Union prisoners
were confined and maltreated. From
there we were driven down to the
banks of the James to the famous
Libby prison, where over 10000
Union prisoners Were confined during
the four years of the war. This is
now used as fertilizer mandatory,
hut is visited daily by many people
from the north, notably ex-Union
soldiers. l met there to-day the
Lieutenant Colonel of the S5th New
York, who was prisoner there, and
who, with his wife, was revisiting for
the first time the place of his suffer
ings. About 100 feet from Libby
stands an old tobacco warehouse
which was used as prison during
the war, and in this was con-
fined after l was removed from the
poor house. l visited the room in
which lay, and this time was allowed
to 90 out when | desired. We saw
The remains of some of the rebel for
tifications around the city aud various
other things of interest, but have al
ready made this letter too long.
U. A. W.
In connection with the approaching in
auguration of President Cleveland. TWO