The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-05-30
FALL OF VICKSBURG.
HOW PATRIOTISM PERFORMED AN
EXTRAORDINARY CURE.

Junius Henri Browne Relates an Interest
ing Reminiscence of His Experience In
Libby Prison--A Memorable Fourth--An
Instance of Mind Cure.
Toward the close of the spring of 1868,
being then war correspondent of the
New York Tribune, found myself in
Libby prison, Richmond. had been cap
tured with the late Albert ID. Richard
son and others while running the but
teries Of Vicksburg, our entire expedi-
ton having been destroyed. Not single
man of the 30 or 40 embarked in the en-
terprise had escaped the martial casual
ties of death, wounds or imprisonment.
Libby was the fifth military prison in
which / had already been confined in
about six weeks, and had learned there
that the prospect Of my release was ex-
ceeding slight, owing to the extraordi-
nary fondness of the Confederate authori-
ties for one they styled an internal abo-
litionist before the war. Still believed
| should recover my freedom by self de-.
liverance if in no other way, as l ulti-
mately did indeed. We are all hopeful
when we are in the twenties, when the
consciousness of early youth makes what
ever we desire delightfully."- imminent.
Tho poisonous atmosphere of Libby,
during that torrid summer especially,
| the scant, noxious food, the total lack OF
and incapacity for cleanliness, above all
the intolerable pressure Of confinement,
soon told even on my most vigorous and
elastic constitution. l had contracted
the summer before. among the swamp'
Of Louisiana and the bayous Of Missis
sippi, a malarious fever while with the
small besieging force Of Vicksburg ant
had nearly died of the disease which hat
proved fatal to SO many others. The
prison hardships naturally revived the
germs, still in my system, Of the malig
nant, tenacious fever and brought me t.
my rough boards and blanket, which
served In lieu of a bed. was reall,
very ill-quite as much SO as / had beer
the previous season. determined, how
ever, not to take any medicine and no
to go to the hospital, preferring to re
main in the quarters Of the Union Off
GERS, many Of whom ] had known ant
messed with in the field.
Ny fever was intermittent. One da,
would have strength to get up, wall
about and exchange few words witt
my fellows. The next day would be ex
tremely weak, scarcely able to stir. M
blood boiling, my brain delirious an
suffering greatly. These variations wer
constant and seemed to bring the en-
nearer and nearer. The officers general
", as l learned afterward, did not be
lieve would ever recover and were Of
fering odds that would not took LEI
interest in the result than they, lettin
each day, each hour, provide for itseli
having no further concern. II had ha
my wits about me, should have know
that they regarded my case as nearl
hopeless from the tenderness with whic
e they inquired about me. their visible e.
fort to cheer me showing that they Ii.
Il relinquished hope The hardest natui
betrays degree Of softness toward IL
man believed to be dying
When we were thrown into Libby, "
were aware that General (Joseph L
4 Johnston 1--WE could buy the RichmoI
papers in PRISON. was at the head of
Confederate force i'll the neighborhot
). Of Vicksburg, hoping to defeat Gener
Grant, who had invested that place, al
so relieve the besieged. Aware from o
military experience that it was We
dangerous for an army attacking t
4 enemy in front to be attacked in I
rear, as the southern press reported til