The morning call., 1892-01-24
A RELIC OF THE War.
A Book with The Autographs Of Many Of The
Officers Of The Union.

Among the many contributions that have
been sent to the Libby Prison Museum IS
one that was recently received from +. =.
Bog rdus Of Ypsilanti, Mich. According to
the Chicago Inter Ocean, it is a we.l-worn
little leather diary that could tell a
good many thrilling stories if the au-
tographs in it could only speak. This little
book was originally the property Of LIeuten-
ant Malmi A. Parks. Company II, First
Michigan Cavalry, who enlisted at the PreSi-
dents first call fer $4,000 men TO defend the
flag and who was captured at Manassas and
then confined in Libby Prison. In the book
are about geo autographs Of Union officers 10
tile prison when he was there, among which
are names of such noted men as Chaplain
John T. Mines, Fourth Maine Regiment and
rector or Grace Episcopal Church Of Bath,
Ne; Colonel Mike COrcoran, SiXty-nlnth
New York State Militia, New York City; w.
RAYMOND Lee. Major of the twentieth
Mass achusetts Regiment, and the Hon Al
fred Ely of Rochester, y. Y, the only Con-
gresham of the North ever confined in
Confederate prison. Congressman Ely at
the time Of his capture was witnessing the
battle or Manassas, and was subsequently,
exchanged. He Is the man that so startled
the North upon his return by the express
sion: The rebels are terribly II earnest
the album are names of men from New \ OTk
and the New England States. Attached to
the fy-leaf Of the book IS the original maud
script of a letter written by Lieutenant
Parks to Mr.. Bogardus, while the former
was q prisoner in Libby. 1t is remarkable
for the good humOr expressed IN 1t, not
wlthstandng the unpleasant and hopeless
circumstances that the writer was in. II
reads as follows:
RICHMOND tNa.), Aug. 8. lSGl.-fIlend Frank:
My enlistment having expired the ! st OF August,
/ am bow visiting some friends I'm THIS city
aud leading a very sedeuary He. l pass
my time IN reading, sleeping, playing en- ss,
euchre. whist or checkers, as my fancy dc
Iates. / find 10 much easier WORK, II not more
pleasant, Than repairing watches aud Jew
ely" ana IL pays about as well II Uucle
Samuel keeps his word as | am not yet "Iegu
larry discharged" By the way, FRANK, as
was about leaving the service" mot having
succeeded we'll In my FIRST attempt 10 suhlu-
gate The SOuih), and having no further use for
era BeauieEafds aids q believe bis name
was Colonel johnson. | neglected 10 take his
card, and my SO revolver | gave TO COM
paniOn Of his whose name / have forgotten. l
trust you viii excuse me. lie was so anxious
TO have II That | really could no. refuse him.
lie was very polite 10 ME, and as ! was very
much fatigued ana faint, he offered to let me
ride his horse, but l could not think Of ac-
ceptiug his Kind Ofer thinking he might
have further use for HIM, hut did accept Of
his Of1er OF an escort OF dozen armed men TO
keep of wild animals while going through the
woods 10 place / started for Ia the morning
| called Manassas-I don't think that could have
found the way without their assistance, as there
were many cross roads, and dithcullto travel
/ arrived at my destination about p. NJ,
and stopped at the Hotel de Barn
as It was much crowded | slept on an
oak mattress. / saw President Davis, GEN
eraI Beaureeard, and many other dlStin-
gushed individual, but was not honOred
by an Introduction. They were just taking
supper and appeared very happy The next
morning al o'clock / took the cars for Rich
mOud, and here / am find an unusual number
Of Northern people here for this season OF
the year. think The tide Of summer travel
must have turned. This letter VIII go via Adams
Express TO Washington. They are sent free and
answers VIII probably come The same way.
Write 10 me, but don't lsend anything 'coutTa-
band" Ny health is excellent and my friends
need have 10 fears for my personal safety while
] occupy my present quarters. l am stopping
al a large brick hotel on Main ST. eet, near the
James River The windows are secure by iron
bars and large number of armed mn guard
US day and night o keep of lntruders, 80 we can
sleep sweeJly without fear Of robbers or other
evilninGed people. Address me
LIEUTENANT N. A. PARKS,
Prisoner OF war, Richmond Va.
Care OF War Department, Confederate States Of
America.
The above letter has never been published
before, and isgc0nsidered to be very valu-
able manuscript by the management of the
Libby Prison War Museum.