davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-04-29

might have exchanged them, and were
more than eager, if their liberty could
be gained, to 60 TO the front once more.
The prisoners did not whine and
nope, but made the best OF s-situation
that did not seem to have one redeem
ing feature in It, Before / reached
Libby, it seems, meat rations had been
occasionally issued. They must have
consisted principally OF bone. judging
from the large quantity OF osseouS mat
ter that remained; and On my first In
speetion Of the prison it seemed to me
that every other man was cutting away
at a piece Of bone, trying to form itinto
4 napkin ring. a paper cutter with the
name Of some loved one on il, or most
SacreigiOus looking crucihx. The men
who put In their time In this way were
said by their comrades TO have "bone
on the brain" One Of these carvers,
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-04-29

Lieutenant Colonel HeRry. of the Fiji
tesnth Kentucky cavalry, carved some
bone articles that were really exquisite
and which sold for very high prices, in
Confederate money. 10 the art cOnnOis-
seurs of Richmond. Colonel Henry,
had the advantage. however, Of having
been a sculptor before the war, a call
ing which ne subsequently practiced
with success. Before my coming boxes
from friends in the North had been re-
csived by prisoners under a flag OF
truce, and as these contained not only
food and raimeRt, but many books,
there was not a dearth Of reading mat
ter in Libby, but it was so cold that, IN
less a man were the owner of an over
coat and a couple Of blankets, which
few we're, it was impossible TO sit down
and read for any length Of time.
We had moot cOurts-martial,i in which
men we're tried for offenses, real or i'm
aglnary, and invariably convicted; the
penalty being Imprisonment for life,
unless sooner exchanged" In addl-
ton, we had literary and debating So
cleties and chess clubs, aud / have seen
bearded men shouting like boys over
game Of tag. We mad also a Minstrel
troupe in Libby prison, the talent OF
which would have done credit 70 the
regular stage. This troupe was per-
mitted, now and then, TO give perform
ances in the dining-ToOm, where the
tables were fitted up as q stage, and
among the audience we fre-
QuentIy had not only the
prison authorities, but many promi-
nent confederate OftiserS FROM the city,
who seemed to enjoy the jokes, even
when they were at their own expense, as
much as did we. The leader OF this
minstrel troupe was Captain ed" Mass,
Of the Eighty-eighth Pennsylvania, q
man whom every prisoner remembers
with loving gratitude. for although or
diRarilY the most quiet and retiring OF
mortals, he often caused us TO forget the
hunger and cold aud filth in hearty
laugh. He is nov Colonel" Mass, and
is, I understand, connected with the
custom house at Philadelphia.
One Of the most picturesque charac-
ters Of the prison at this time was Gen
erai Neal Dow, Of Maine, who had been
captured in the summer OF 1868, in Port
Hudson. / saw General Dow a few
months ago ia Portland, Maine, and he
did not look to DO one day older than
when I first met him, in Libby prison,
thirty years ago; though, ! must say,
be is at present much better dressed
and decidedly cleaner. Ia those days
General Dow was very slender, aud he
looked like a retired Turkish paSha,
with the leg of a red flannel drawers
drawn over his head like fez. The
General gave US frequent temperance
lectures, and all his hearers were ready
TO take the pledge pro tenn, and to APP
plaud his efforts in the cause OF
SObrety.
There was one remarkable character
connected with my prison experience
whom ! shall never forget, and whose
name 1 am sorry TO say l have unfor-
tunately forgotten, but il was William"
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-04-29

something. and he was an old negro,
and sold the Richmond daily papers.
Every morning about daylight the old
man passed the prison, shouting his
wares, and knowing, perhaps, that the
papers were not served regularly TO the
prisoners, he tried, as be walked along
the Carey street front, 10 give US an
idea OF the news, something after this
fashion:
"All Richmond daily papersl Great
cavalry raid along de Potomac! Yam
KEGS advancing on de city. Great bat
tie gwine TO be fought Lees army
inst where twas" aad so on In vague
and luSty description Of events. for all
of which he drew on his own magma
ton.
Immediately after daylight Little
Ross" Sergeant Dick Turner and
guard Of from five 10 ten men would
enter the prison and assemble the men
in the Upper Potomac room, from
which they were counted out, as before
described. This was called ''roll-call."
Roll-call over, the men made = wild
rush for the two stoves ia the dining
room, which would have been wholly
inadequate for their wants bad there
been anything 10 cook.
At this time our rations consisted Of
black beans and corn bread; the latter,
because OF It's hardness and the fact
that the cobS appeared TO be ground mp
with the meal, was called ''iron-clad.
The onlv way il could be made palata-
Die was by reducing it to meal again
and recooking it in the form OF slap
/ lacks on the rusty stOye-lid. The mess
What mad a few tallOW candles TO grease
the stove, or a piece OF ham rind, was
considered particularly fortunate.
The men were divided into messeS,
not by the prison authorities, but by
themselves. and one Of their number
always drew rations forothe lot. The
men who suffered most were those from
Kentucky, Tennessee and Southern
Missouri, for, during the time that sup
plies were permitted to come through
under q flag Of truce from the north,
these men were unable TO communicate
with their friends, owing to the fact
that they were outside oar lines or in
& hands OF ae enemy, and 50 thel
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-04-29

lower Potomac room and section OF
plank removed from under the door.
we were enabled to get some up to our
comrades in the prison proper.
The cellar or hospital basement liter
ally swarmed with rats. We could hear
them screaming as We moved forward
Ia the Stygian darkness, and In their
efforts to avoid US they frequently
dashed against our legs.
1t was about the middle OF January
that determined to find out for myself
OF the existence of tunnel and work
Jog party.
Captain Singer who had been severely
wounded at the battle Of Chickanauga,
but who had recovered, and whose
lameness was affected, in order to pre-
vent his being sent to the upper floors,
was by my side as we pushed forward
to the front, where we knew the en-
trance to the tunnel must be. We heard
low voices, and finally man said with
an oath:
"Hist! boys. There's some one COM
ing from the frontl'
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-04-29
- for ID $500 Rloilsr.

WriNsa for ire Sunday Rs0itsr.
PHILADELPHIA, PA. April 2s.-A few
years ago an article was printed in the
leading papers Of the country pretend
Ing 70 describe the famous Libby tun-
mel, and claiming that its success was
due TO the connivaRce OF the rebel
guards. This statement was so false in
avery detail, and the writer was so en-
tirely ignorant OF the subject he pre-
tended TO treat, that the survivors Of
Libby, as rule. treated it with deserved
contempt.
My old friend General Franklin B.
Fisher, chief signal officer OF the Army
Of the Potomac, who was ia Libby at
the time, and is now prominent law
yer in bis native Philadelphia, was
moved to indignation, and wrote Wig
Orous denial offths canard.
just here, aud before going any further
with my subject, permit me 90 say that
] have always entertained an intense
admiration for the aforesaid Fisher.
During that terrible winter OF $3.50,
when we were cold, hungry, tilthy and
crowded, General, then Captain Fisher,
succeeded IN smuggling In some way
some law books into the prison. Amid
surroundings that would have dis
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-04-29

The magnitude OF this country,is not
Adequately appreciated by great per-
.centage Of Europeans. Especially has
this been true in the past. An Engllsh
novel OF few years ago described the
glories of the Rockies as seen from New
Orleans. IL met a German In Brus-
sels," said sn Acquaintance OF the
writer, who became much Interested
In me- when he learned thatI was an
American, and all on account OF friend
he had Ia the United States. Do you
know himP' he asked, his name Is
Henry Walter The name is not as
common as John Smith, and did know
a Henry Walter. Where does your
friend live? I asked. In PittsbOrg,'
he replied. The Walter chsncedto be
the same. But what remarkable oc-
currencel That German must have re-
NAMED with very insular ideas OF tho
area OF this country. He probsoy re-
CARDS IL as about the size OF Staaen lsl-
and, or possibly, HohonzoIlern.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-04-29

that made such 3 good shield in es-
Gaping was discovered. A black boy
was sent through and reappeared In the
cellar under the hospital. The secret
was out. The tunnel had been diseoy-
cred. but not before il had proved a
gateway to liberty and Gods land" Tor
sixty men.
From that day it. became historical,
ard the great Libby tunnel is destined
to rank in history as one OF the most
gallant war achievements OF modern
times. ALFRED r. CALHOUN.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-04-29

Soon the train began 10 ack up.
Whether the road agents were doing IL
or the engineer, vi tarmis, could not
tell and | hated 10 stick my head out,
fearing that il would be shot into and
dis6gnred for life. We backed for about
seven miles at low rate OF speed ana
stopped at a little coaling station, the
name OF which have forgotten, for that
happened II years ago.
Pretty soon nerved myself up sum
GENTLY to look out and see what our fate
was 10 be. We had also run out OF
everything TO talk about, so lifted the
sunny head from my breast, where IL
had broken the stem OF my pipe. which
was In that pocket, and setting the fair
one again. upright 10 the seat l went
cautiously outside.
found that, as we stopped there an
hour before on our way down, the fire.
man had forgotten his shovel accidon-
tally, and now we had returned TO
get IL.
4
Quite different from this was the
stopping of the train years before on
the main line and on the Green River
division. Whether Bill Allen was the
engineer or Aleck wilkins or DaBnie
Breeze or Fatty Harris, I'll never tell,
but as twilight was deepening into
evening the long train swayed slowly
on a side track 40 miles from anywhere
on earth and gently came to stand
still, with the squak OF brakes, the hiss
of extra steam and moan peculiar TO
long train stopping 90 the wide plains
In the teeth Of screaming blast.
Everybody jumped up and looked at
everybody else. The sleeping car por-
ter admitted that it was not a stopping
place there for passenger trains. and
that as everything was on time some
thing else must be the matter.
Finally six or seven young chaps
dared each other TO go forward and find
out what was wrong. They found the
engineer standing proudly by his ma
chine, and to inquiring passengers he
replied haughtily by pointing over his
shoulder down the road ahead. appar
emily four or i've miles, 10 where the
line OF the horizon seemed to be bisect-
ed by the iron track Of the railroad, aud
at that point, evidently booming right
toward US, as though we had no rights,
was a blazing, twinkling headlight.
Passengers began TO breathe more
freely and to murmur: What an es-
cape." "How 10 the midst OF life we
are in debt" etc, anc / started purse
for the engineer. Ny GOODNESS and
sang froid never desert me when there
is a hat 10 be passed around. ] collected
as l went and was meeting with good
success when an elderly man from Con-
necticut, with red throat whiskers and
two pairs OF spectacls. came along and
asked what was the row.i
"Side tracked for an east bound train,
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-04-29

trenomy tsw. Tendsrfoot and pilgrim
as am and not conversant wiki the
wild and GRUMPY west, you'h excuse me
for putin in my oar. but that North
American headlight. an the horizon 10
not q part OF the roHin stock'of this
road. apd you've side tracked Us here
for two hours waitln for the planet
Venus to so by"
And he was right about II too.
was so mortified that | got onsthe
wrong car with SIS in my hat.
How wondrous is the starry vault or
heaven, aud how strange thatsafter cen
turtles OF reverberating thunser In the
celestial dome the milky way'has never
soured!
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-04-29
THB GREAT
Libby TUNNEL
ONE OF THE MOST THRILLING CHAPTERS OF
THB WARS HISTORY.

How il Was Planned and Exscutsd-A Break for
Liberty Which Required HsrOism, Skill and
Hard Labor-Ths Story Graphically Told BY
Ols Of ihs Participants
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-04-29

THE BLOOD is tho SURGE OF hearth.
Keep 1t pure by taking Hoods Ssrsapa-
rllla, which is peculiar TO itself, and
superior In strength, economy and
medicinal merit.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-04-29

HOOPS Pills are purely vegetable.
carefully prepared from the best In
gradients 25c.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-04-29
100000 BOOKS GIVEN AWAY=5O Cent Book Free,
THE INvALIo's FRIEND.


of
will Address,
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-04-29

said !. collecting as spoke aud rapidly:
changing $40 Dill SO as to get SIS OUT
oft.
'sSide tracked for your mothers
aunt's cat on your fathers side!" he
calculated. 81 teach school in Yale coll
lege by time and get $500 for teachin' as :
The National tribune., 1894-12-20

During all this time all correspondence
seemed to indicate that Indiana was regarded
as the only Departmental organized BODY OF
the G.. A. X. in the United States. The De-
partment officers of Indiana in July, August,
aud September, 1866 never heard of any
State or Post organization in other States
No o: her g. AR. organization than the In
diana Department was represented in Pitts
burg Indiana Headquarters, however. al
ways recognized the head in DIR. Stt phenson,
and the right in him to claim for his State
the paternity of the Order, and The propriety
of his taking the initiative in calling c)a-
vention to establish National organization
was not questioned by Indiana. At the
same time the first Encampmtnt WIS held
in Indianapolis, because The Indiana Depart
ment was recognized as the first State organ
ization.
This is the history in brief Of the begin
ming of the Grand Army OF the Repaid in
Indiana, in 1866. and there is but one N
clusion-ihat upon the evidences herein set
forth, and on file at Department Of Indiana
Headquarters, the organization of what is
today known as The Grand Army of the Re-
public was born to the soldiers and on its
way 10 National existence from the mo-
ment Gen. Foster left the presence of Mai.
B. T. Stephenson, August, 1866, with the
draft of the first Ritual and Constitution in
his possession.
1t is also made plain that the Grand army
of The Republic, as a National body, was first
organized in the city Of indianapolis, Ind,
by Gen. Foster, who was the first Depart
ment Commander as well as Acting Com
mander-in- Chief for nearly four months.
Since the war ten. Foster has been, hon.
ored with several impoi tant offices Of honor
and trust; among them, Alderman pf the
city OF indianapolis, City Treasurer, Pres-
dent OF The Board OF Trade for several years;
was appointed by President Garfield United
States Marshal for the District of Indiana.
He was married May /, 1861, 10 Margaret
X. Foust, OF Indianapolis, and departed for
the seat OF war on the 9th. His union was
blessed with two children, son and
daughter, both living. His wife died sud-
denly May z, 1891.
He is n member Of George III. Thomas Post,
IL, GAR; Society Army OF the Potomac,
Union Veteran Legion, Loyal Legion, l. o.
O. f., and 32d degree Mason. The Gen
eral is still actively engaged in business, and
enjoying fair health, with f., C. and l.. in
scribed upon his banner. surrounded by a
host OF comrades ana patriotic friends who
make his life a joyous one in smoothing the
path that leads to the Grand Army that are
bivouacking on the other shore. X
The National tribune., 1894-12-20

We traced him 10 Wilcox, from Wilcox to
Bisbee, from Bisbee to NOgales, where we
learned that his mother lived in a little village
some hundred miles over the border in Sonora,
and whittier he had probably gone. 1t was
now nearly Midsummer. We had travelled
many hundred mile, and were weary and
worn. But it was big stake we were play
ing for, which alone kept hope and courage
in our hearts After the necessary delay by
the customs officials we set out through Old
Mexico feeling sure we would overhaul our
man within the next week. After some four
or five days travel, which was slow and pain
full because of the terrible heat, we camped
one evening near water-hoie for the night.
About daylight the next morning we were
awakened by sudden snort from one of the
burrOs. Bill was up in an instant, when
bang! bangi bang! came q volley of rifle
balls, aud Bill fell to the ground with the
blood tricklIpg from dark red spot under
his arm. reached for my Winchester, and
raised on one knee, when / was clubbed in
the head with musket, and the foot of a
Mexican soldier was placed on my neck with
the butt of his gun descending in my face.
When | regained consciousness, found
myself in Mexican prison. l could speak
the language but poorly, yet | tried with
my utmost ingenuity to find out what was
there for, the reason of my Imprisonment,
and the murder of my partner. But all
could get from the guard was "Quien sabe.n
To all my questions and entreaties came that
inexorable "Quien sabe"
/ remained in that dark, gloomy place for
seven months without knowing why | was
there. One day an American Army officer
came that way on some official business, aud
was shown through the prison. greeted
him as a deliverer. Never before was | so
glad to see the face of white man and the
uniform of the United States Army. l ap-
pealed to him to do all he could in my be-
half and he promised to do so. The next
day he returned and stated that my partner
and had been found guilty of numbering a
Mexican miner, and stealing his gold a por
tion of which he had concealed in a bag of
beans marked with red "; that we had
been run down and captured with the evil
dence of guilt upon us; that my partner
had been killed in self-defense, and that
had been taken alive after desperate strug-
gle; that part of the gold had been found
in our pack, and the original bag, with
portion of the beans
This in substance wns the report Of the
Sergeant who made the arrest and was ac-
cepted in toto by the Mexican authorities.
He furthermore stated in the coolest possible
manner that / would be hanged in due course
of time. He was sorry for me, but hoped
that / would bear up under the ordeal,
The National tribune., 1894-12-20

etc. / began TO explain to him the true
situation, when he interrupted me with (:
Beg pardon, but / know what you would
say. Of course, you fellows always try 10
ease your conscience and cast the blame on
someone else. 1t is natural, | presume,
but in your case the proof is positive, so
bid you good-by.
/ besought him if he would not himself
listen, to send some American TO me that
might at least make q statement.
After he was gone / felt very wretched,
indeed. Here i vas in a foreign prison,
and charged with the gravest of crimes, and
to be hanged without even the formality Of
trial. few d 'ys afterward, DIR. w, who
was passing through the country en- route to
the City of Mexico, and whom my military
friend had chanced to meet, called upon me.
The remainder is soon told. After | had
made a complete statement of the facts, the
Doctor laid the matter before the proper
authorities, and Jose, who was living in the
village, was at once placed under arrest.
In due course of time, and afler sundry pro-
ceedings, and great display of red tape,
the sutler was brought down from the post
and at once recognized Jose as the party from
whom lie had purchased the bag Of beans,
and myself as the one TO whom he had sold
them, so in just II months and six days from
the date OF my imprisonment | stepped forth
once more free, ragged, dirty, and without
bean.
The National tribune., 1894-12-20

S;onewall Jackson at that time, or, rather,
if Shields's Division had been defeated and
Stonewall jackson had moved on to HaTpers
Ferry and Washington, it is fair to believe
that certain political movements in agitation
at that time might have resulted differently.
Il have heard since the war that Jack
sons defeat WAS greater blow TO Southern
svmpathizerS in New York and Washington
than it was to the leaders of the Confed-
eracy."
PROMOTED TO COLONEL.
May ,. 1862, L,eut.-Col. Foster was pro
NOTED Colontl OF the 18th, vice Sullivan, pro-
NOTED 10 rigadier-General. June %, Fos-
tel was transferred with his regiment TO the
Army OF the Potomac, joining that army at
Harrison'7 Landing July 4, the day after the
battle OF Malvern Hi. Remained with the
Army OF the Potomac until ordered TO re-
inforce Pope'> army, when his command was
assigned temporarily 10 the Fourth Corps,
on the Peninsula.
After a short soiourn with the Fourth
Corr he was transferred, with his regiment,
10 Suffolk, Va, on the NansemOnd River and
the border of the great Dismal Swamp,
between Petersburg and Norfolk, known as
tie Blacllwater. Here he was placed in
The National tribune., 1894-12-20

Glory shot like n rocket to the top of the
flagstaff and waved in all her majesty. The
clarion tones OF the buge rang out and re-
verberated in the vast stiffness Soldiers
fell into line for the morning roll call, and
the Officer of the Day strutted about as
though he was the most important person
aye on earth.
After admiring the scene, we took up our
journey, with our faces to the mountains
and our backs to civilization, which we
were to see no more for months, and perhaps
never. For in those times he who went
into these mountains took his life in his
hands, and often pad the penalty for his
rashness by leaving his bones to bleach upon
the rocks. For days we travelled over
wastes of desert, hills, aud mountains, sleep
ing at night with our Winchesters by our
sides, and awake at the slightest sound.
OAc day we camped high in the mountains,
near a running stream of water, and decided
to remain there for some time and thor
oughly prospect the country around. There
was good feed for our burros, and we con-
siructed dwelling Of poles and ir-boughs,