The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1890-06-13

life, the scene that will cling most
wildly to my memory while conscious
ness lasts, | should say, without hesita-
ton, it was the picture presented by my
fellow prisoners on my first introduce
tion to the Tower West Room" of
Libby prison. This was the room into
which the stairs from Turner's Office
led.
1t was long, wide, dismal section of
the warehouse, with low ceiling sup
ported by heavy uprights. Fastened to
these uprights were q few lean tallow
candles from which came enough light
to reveal u mass of ragged, pale-faced
men who stood packed upon tho floor
like fish in basket.
soon learned tho cause of the noise
and uproar that had preceded me. The
instant came to view at the head of
the stairs the ghastly-looking throng
surged toward me with such q series of
fierce yells as l never before heard,
though afterward l became a partaker
in these indescribable orgies.
"Fresh fish! Fresh fish. Fresh fish,"
was the salutation of tho ragged mob,
and every man, not only of this section
but all over the prison seemed to be
swelling tho ineXplicablc chorus of
''Fresh fish, | soon learned that this
was the name applied to prisoners just
in from tho front, and that every man
had to undergo the same form of in
itiation.
where's your baggage?' 'I'm the
porter; give me your checks! "Lot me
show you to your room-the best in this
hotelr' keep your hands out of thai
fresh-fish's pocket; the .Johnnics have
left him nothing!' "IIave q bath be-
fore supper, sir?" slot whisky punch
and cigars for two!' Bread or bfood!''
With these cries ringing in my ears, to
the accompaniment of shricks of laugh
ter that had in them nothing of merri-
ment, / was pulled about, and would
have fallen had not ono of tho men
seized my arm and whispercd:
"Don't get mad at the poor fellows,
Harry, but come with me-"
The voice of my guide was that of
Howard Scott. turned and looked at
him. / had not seen him for year;
then there was not a more gallant nor
handsomer young soldier in tho West.
Now, here he was-thin, pale and
ragged, but with light In the fine Dyes
that showed privation had not weakened
his spirit
AS he led me through the crowd he
introduced me to other spectral figures,
any two of whom might havo passed for
twins. These figures asked me for the
latest news from the front, and all were
eager to learn if there was any prospect
of an immediate exchange, and, seeing
that could give them no encourage
ment, they turned sadly away.
Howard led me into room to the east,
which he explained was the lower mid
die" or Lower Chickamauga Room
the long apartments taking their names
from the armies or battles in which most
of the officers were captured. Tho two
upper rooms to the east were known as
''the Upper and Lower Potomac" We
went up another flight of steps and di-
rectly under the rafters wo reached the
upper Chickamauga," where Howard
chung out" and where / found many
old friends, all looking so changed and
bearing themselves so bravely thatit was
only with an effort l could keep back
my tears.
Howard gave me some corn bread,
''iron-clad" they called H.; it was heavy
and unpalatable, but as had had moth
ing to eat since leaving Bristol that
morning devoured the bread nor heed
ed the bits of cob on which my teeth
grated.
had just finished this simple repast,
and was wondering where or how the
swarms of men about me slept, when
from the southwest corner of the prison
voice rang out:
mine o'clock; post number one, and
alls WE'LL Lights out up thar! Lights
out, Yanks!'
mine o'clock; post number two, and
all's well"
"Nine o'clock; post number three, and
all's wellr'
And so from post to post, around the
prison, tho cries of the guards rang out,
while a band of men, who did not APP
pear to be on guard, shouted: Lights
out!" till the last post on Carey street
had announced that it was nine o'clock
and that all was we'll.
With the first cry of Lights outr
the prisoners in the Upper Chickamauga
rushed to the crossbeam, on which
blankets and overcoats were hung, and
began making their beds on the cold,
wet boards.
Howard had an overcoat and blanket
left him by a chaplain who had been
recently exchanged, and, with the
former under us and the latter over us,
we lay down against the brick wall that
separated is from the Upper Potomac
room.
The prisoners at the other side Of tho
wall--all OF whom were fine fellows, as 1
subsequently learned-wcre l think the
noisiest crowd / ever encountered. AS
soon as the last tallow dip was out, one
Upper Potomac man began barking like
a dog, and this aroused scores Of ROSTERS
and ducks, geese and turkeys innumer-
able. Then child began crying, and
hundred men shouted heroic prescrip-
tons for allaying its collie. ''I'll fix. it'll"
screamed the imaginary mother. This
was followed by the vigorous dashing
of something against tho wall and
roar OF savage laughter.