The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1892-01-13
CHAPTER X.


We were placed aboard the cars one
cold morning at Bristol, and shortly
after dark that night we were in Rich
mond- At Danville we we're Joined by
several hundred prisoners, who had
been gathered there, all rs cold,
hungry and lighting mad" as our
selves.
On the way to Richmond the Union
officers were not allowed to communi-
cate with the men, and, on reaching
there, the enlisted soldiers we're
marched over to Belle Isle, and the rest
of us were sent to Libby.
1t was after dark when we began the
walk to the prison, with a compact body
of guards surrounding us, under the
command of lank, chilly-looking
Lieutenant. A freezing rain beat into
our faces from the northeast, and the
rays from the swaying gas-lamps cut
through the darkness like shears of
flaming lances.
'sCarey street, and that's Castle
Thunder" said one Of the guards, in
reply to a prisoner in my front.
There was a canal visible to the right.
and beyond that few yards the black,
swollen flood of the James. Castle
Thunder, the place of confinement for
political prisoners, spies and deserters,
doomed up, dull, brick warehouse to
the left There was a close line OF
guards about it, and, through the
dimly-lit windows of the gloomy
structure, / could see dark, moving
forms, and the lamp shining full at the
corner revealed in the second-story,
southeastern window number of hag-
gard, gray faces.
That's Libby down below to the
right, said the same guard in response
to the same questioner.
| looked ahead, and to the right, a
short distance below Castle Thunder,
saw circle of lamps that flashed on
the Icy bayonets Of moving guards.
Out of the misty bleakness there doomed
huge, square building, and many dim
lights came with cold phosphorescent
glow from its windows to the west and
north.
A few minutes and we came to stop.
Halt who comes there?" demanded
the guard posted at the northwest cor
ner.
1.-THE provost guard with prisoners,
replied the Lieutenant in command.
looked up and saw little sign at the
corner Of the building on which was the
legend Libby & Sons. Tobacco Facto-
ry." This sign creaked above a side
door that led into the prison Office and
through 1T we were marched, and halted
before desk like that presided over by
the sergeants in night charge OF police
stations.
The floor was wet and the lights dim.
A little man, whom afterwards learned
to know as Gross" ran out from the
group of men standing near the desk,
and called out exoitedly:
Come, now, gentlemen, no crowding.
Please to register decently and in order;
and prepare to have your baggage ex-
amined.n
"Baggagel" roared an officer In my
front. ''Well, that's cool. Why,
haven't had my baggage since two min
utes after ! fell into your hands. At
least once an hour since then some
guard has gone through me, and except
that six changed boots seven times and
Eats fifteen, they've an been dissp-
pointed"
A tall, black-bearded, piratical-looi-
ing fellow, wearing the cheyrons OF .
sergeant, leaped into the line OF prison
ers and shouted, with coarse oath:
.'Order herel Get in Incl Come on
one at time or tharll be trouble"
Eyes, gents, one at time and decent
ly and In ORDER" called out little Ross,
not at all bad fellow, as every old resi-
dent of Libby will confess.
Major Turner sat down and prepared
to write. He was about thirty-flve years
of age, dressed in fine gray uniform,
which like its wearer, had never seen
service in the field. He was of medium
height, slender, smooth-faced and with
light gray eyes, and certain something
in his manner that denoted culture,
even refinement.
Turner must have had the record ct
every Union officer present, yet he went
over all again, and while he asked the
now very familiar questions as to State,
regiment and rank, Ross and Sergeant
Black George" the men in pris-
ON called him, went through all our
pockets and very few bundles. The
thoroughness with which this work had
been accomplished was shown by the
fact that on the whole twenty prisoners
present not one contraband article was
found.
AS the men were examined they passed
up rough wooden stairway to the Sec
ond story, from which came an uproar
which ! could not comprehend till had
taken the same way.
can not think it was design, but
certain It is / was the last man exam
ined. After ] had been searched and
....t.~a.