Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-15


serve them. This was at midnight er-
oct(y, and seven hours before any United
States troops entered the city. | wit
messed the firing of the large tobacco
building on the diagonal corner from
my storehouse, and the burning OF Penn
berton. The latter | did my best to
preserve by having water carried to me
so that | could extinguish the burning
window-frames. and had fiattered myself
that L might save Pemberton. when a
cry came that the roof of my storehouse
was in flames. | rushed across Cary
street to my store and up. TO the upper
floor, where the fire was making head
way in the roof. Giving orders 70 my
two men (privates) whom / had parOled
to assist me in handling the supplies,
and to squad of colored prisoners who
were kept around Libby, TO bring water,
after a good deal OF hard work the fire
was put out, thus saving the storehOuse
and the Government supplies and pre-
venting the spread OF the FIRE in the di-
rection of Libby. Had not succeeded
in subduing the fire, and my storehouse
being consumed. nothing short of mi
racle could have saved Libby Prison. AS
my store had (perhsps has yeti comhus-
tible wings of wooden material, and
coming within about forty feet of the
prison, no human exertion of mine, with
the help l then had, could have saved
Libby, with it's invaluable prison records
Yon will thus perceive why | take such
interest and that l have good reason to
be interested in the old building. having
saved it and its contents from being
burned down on the morning of April 3,
1865.
1t is not political or any sentimental
sympathy with the South, "as such, E"
that prompts me to write as do. |
have always held, and still hold. that
the war was a wicked and in
excusable one. | have always been
a Republican in politics but the
war being ended and its issues pre-
sumably settled aud accepted, / en-
deayor to be guided by the laconic and
comprehensive expression OF my old
glorious commander, General Grant, TO
that other great aud grand commander,
General Lee-"L Let us have peace.
1t has never been my fortune to have
visited Richmond since April 10, 1865,
although | always intended to do so
and expect TO see it ere long, but if
Libby is taken away the very pith and
incentive to go would be destroyed. not
only to me but to all others who were
ever confined in it, If old Libby
should be gone, and ye gods gone
on such a missiOn-to be "peep-
show" for those who never helped
the Union by Drawing the dangers of
the battlefield or experiencing the cruel
ties of "prisouers of war" When ]
visit Richmond | shall be glad to meet
il alive some old acquaintances-not notably
Captain John West firm of Johnston &
Vest and Mr.. William ("Billy") White,
and hoping that efforts OF a successful
nature will he put forth, and that the
and unholy attempt to re-
move Libby Prison will be frustrated,
and that Richmond will be saved the
great modification of having the most
monument of the war torn
from her midst and by implication be q
party to q scheme which will have the
to make the South appear rs
having monopoly of barbarity utterly
unknown and unequalled by a people
common ciyilization-trustlng
Richmond viii not permit herself to bo
placed in a false light, and that the
country generally will be found brand
ing the proposition as it Justly and truly
deserves, am, dear sir, very respect
fully your obedient servant,
JAMES STEWART,
Late Captain Company X, One Hundred
and Forty-sixth New York Volunteers,
Colonel by Breyet, 152 Fifth avenue,
Pittsburgh, Pa.