The evening world., 1889-12-09
HE FED LIBBY PRISONERS.
CAPT. A. j. WARNER, QuARTERMASTER OF
THE FAMOUS REBEL DUNGEON.

P%ris Of War Remember Him with
Love and Gratitute-His Emphatic
Protests Against the Inhuman Treat
ment OF Union soldiers-His Death
at st. Louis.
A well-known citizen of ST. Louis and an
ex-soldier. noticing in the St. Louis Poat-
Dispdtch q Geographic announcement from
Centralia. ILL.,. of the death Of Capt. A. j.
Warner Of that city, gave the following &c
count of his experiences with that gentleman
during the wnr to n reporter of that paper;
Capt. Warner during the rebellion was
Qunrtermaster of Libby Prison. Libby Prison
and all connected wi h it are, even to this
late day, mentioned only with execratioh by
the people OF the North md the men every
where who upheld the Union. But there aro
exceptions to every rule and good. honest
and true men are often found in the worst
company.
The majority of people all, in fnct, who
know little or nothing of the secret history Of
the war-plHce Capt. Warner in the same cav
egOry M the hend If unreasonable and other
demons who controlled the noisonie dun
misery and despair. But Capt. Warner was
not ono of these; lie was an honorable, hu-
name gentleman and q brave and noble man.
II know wher, of / speak. and l deem 1t
my duty 70 say a good word Tor his memory
and place HIN in his true light before the
perple of the country.
- was ill Richmond when the civil war
broke out. An uncomrromlsing Union man.
! found ut the time IN escape to tho Union
bate. Of Bull Run was fought. and saw the
arrival of the prisoners captured by the Con-
federntes. Thew were brought TO Richmond
in droves-tlred, hungry, many ot''ulem
wounded, and all strangers to the privations
of war. 80
No provision had been made for them
there were no quarters. no ratioIis. no inedi-
cal attendance for them. They were crowded
into old warehouses; empty stables and other
places unfit for the bnb taiiOn u men.
" Those who could not be slowed ava in
the city were sent to Belle Isle. which soon
became the isle of death. The prisoners we've
suffering he panGs Of hunger and thirst and
dying | Ike the cattle Oh the plains of the
Northwest after n blizzard.
Capt. War; or appealed to Gen. North
rop, the Confederate CoInmissnry of Supplies.
in their tehalf, and was brutally told that
hirelings drive them into the river or let
them die like rats III the trap to which they
have come
Then he applied TO Provost-M Marshal Win
der and WAS answered i'll the same vein.
Tho prisoners were starving and dyingyby
hundreds daily, and Warmers feelin.N tof
manly Indignation and his honor as n soldier
were excited. Leaning that there was q
train Of cars loaded with sweet potatoes just
across the river Mt Manchester, he went over.
seized the entire lot, had them boiled,
mashed mp and run through sleeves and manu-
fnctured into bread. which he fed to the
starving soldiers of the Union, saving hun
dreds Of valuable lives and ameliorating
suffering untold.
his act alone should make his memory
honored bv all true patriots. but his whole
course throughout the war was distinguished
nv similar humane and soldierly conduct.
He vas truly brave and noble man. and.
while discharging what he consclent,ouSly
believed to lie his duty. never forgot the con-
sideratlon dine n brave and noble foe. Let
did what no considered his duty. under the
most trying and extraordinary circumstances
as a Christian gentleman and o brave man."