Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-08-13
A N1eHT IN LIBBY PRISON,

1t was November 5, 1868, and some of
the prisoners had got into a row about some
bread which they had got from the guard
in exchange for q pair of shoes. A free fist
fight resulted, in which q goodly number
took part. During the thickest of it im
marched the officer of the guard and a file
of soldiers.
He ordered us into ranks, four deep. He
then placed a guard over us, giving him the
following orders: "Shoot the first man of
fering to leave the ranks, sit down, Oh
speak. Allow no man to leave the ranks
under any consideration whatever. Cock
your gun, sir!!"
The guard obeyed. The officer and SOL
diers departed. The guard left with us
then let the hammer of his gun down.
threw his gun over his shoulder, and paced
up and down in our front.
Soon one of our men rested his hands
upon his knees and bent forward. The
guard suffered it. Others followed. No
response from the guard. One sat down,
and then another. The guard walked his
beat with steady pace, and never a word.
All sat down.
Suddenly there was a quick step on the
stair. Every man endeavored to be in line
but in vain. He discovered that we had
been allowed liberties, although hardly
sure what. He said sternly to our guard.
"Johnny, I did not expect this of you"
Johnny hung his head and uttered not q
word. After a severe reprimand he for
gave him. We did not sit down any more
while Johnny was on guard for fear of
harm to him.
The next guard was o good fellow and
allowed us to sit a part of the time, he
watching at the head Of the stairs and Civ
ing us the signal so We could be up in
time. The next guard was rigidly strict,
and we were kept standing his watch until
six o'clock. Should like to hear from the
first Johnny. E.. j. BEST.
Connersville, Wis.
Marching BY a Sleeping Army.
The Confederate army under Price had
been on the march four days, and on Octo-
Der 3, previous to the attack on Corinth,
bivouacked by the roadside. A Union force
marching for Corinth passed this sleeping
army without recognition. 1t is probable
that they were heard passing, but those
resting supposed it was a portion of their
own army. The orders to the Union SOL
diers were to make no noise-not to speak
above a whisper, and to allow no clanking
or rafting of arms. Great was the aston
ishment of the Johnnies in the morning to
learn That the Union TOrce yesterday IN their
rear was now at Corinth, and that they had
actually allowed an enemy under arms to
march within a few steps of them and pass
unmolested.
An anecdote furnished us by an eye-wit-
ness serves to illustrate the real ignorance
of their own immediate neighbors on both
sides. A Union soldier thought to steal a
blanket, and, slipping out of the ranks, ap-
preached the sleeping soldiers, supposing
them SOLDIERS of the blue" What was his
surprise upon raising the blanket to see
that the soldiers beneath it were "wearing
the gray" He spread down the blanket
noiselessly and made his way out of their
camp and into our ranks again. He then
informed his comrades in a whisper thai
the camp they were marching by was what
they would be fighting before night. This
division of our army reached Corinth and
wheeled into line just as the attack began
upon that place. This achievement wal
probably not excelled during the war fol
lucky conception and boldness of execu.
ton. j.. A. ROBERT.
Greencastle, Missouri.