The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-22
ESCAPED IN FULL DRESS.
A Prisoners Impressive Departure from Libby
without Leave.

a Prisoners Impressive Departure from Libby
without Leave.
Whom Gen. John Morgan. the famous Confod.
crate raider, visited Libby Prison, carly in 1864,
he said "Therc is no undertaking In the world
that you have not men In the prison qualified
for; that's why 1t is strange that more of you
fellows don't try to get away"
In Libby Prison. at the timeof Morgan's visit,
there were about 1,iOO officers. from h~cardlcss
second lieutcnants, In their teens, to grizxled
leaders of brlgadcs and divisions. These men
came not only from every State and Territory
in our own land. but they represented the armies
OF nearly every European nation. We had law.
yers, doctors. clergymen. college professors, on
ginecrs. editors, and every variety of skilled
mechanic. Among the craftsmen was Capt.
Cooper of Connecticut. who had learned the
trade OF tailor in his youth. and was conducting
u clothing store at Hartford, when patriotism
dominated profit and sent him into the army.
Where every man felt sick and mean," to
use an expression common at tho time. only
the very sick and helpless were sent to the
prison hospital, the eastern, ground floor room
of Libby. DIR. Sabal, the Confederate surgeon
In charge OF the prison hospital, was as generous
and sympathetic as he was handsome and able,
and that is saying much. This gentleman kept
the hospital full. and the fact that 1t was much
NhTller tnun tnC OLncr quarters Unhue III u &c
sirablc place.
There Is one ailpent which, at the front or In
prison. old soldiers" could assume without
immediate fear of detection. and that is rheu.
matism. rheumatism OF the affected character
has kept many n man. with more cunning than
courage, out OF the range OF the enemy's rifles
l was myself In hospital, recovering from ty
phoid pneumonia, when Capt. Cooper was
brought down from the lower east room. Rheu
matism in the legs had 80 crippled the Captain
that he could hardly crawl, but his arms ap
peared to be all right. The nurses in the hospital
were detailed Union soldiers who had been con
fined In the Pemberton building. n warehouse
lower down and across tho street from
Libby. Capt. Cooper proved to DO a Jolly
good fellow; but 1t was noticed that when the
Confederate authorities were not about hi
rheumatism did not seem to interfere with agilt
locomotion. Where Cooper got his needles anC
thread l cannot imagine, but he had those GOV
cted appliances. and he used them to repair tn,
damages in the old uniforms OF his comrades.
Ono day while Cooper was sitting cross:legget
on his cot repairing the rents in Capt. Bohannan'
trousers. La Touche, tho prison Adjutant. cam,
in and watched the flying needle with unusua
interest. La Touche was a stout. man, who's,
| thick neck and florid face bespoke a love for gooc
living. He was very neat in his person, a bache
lor, and no end OF q gallant, as We afterwarl
learned.
See here, Captain" called out Adjutant La
Touche. after he had watched Cooper for SOM
time, are you a regular tailor o.
That is my trade" replied Cooper.
Think you could mako me q full-dress uni
form IL l furnished you the materials g. was tn,
next question.
IF had your measure and a plate to go by.
20; we have no plates. but can give you tn
details; l know all about en- Then the Con
| fpueratp At1utant went on TO saw that he hAf
secured all the materials. but that tailoring ha'
become SO expensive in the Confederate capita
'You see" continued La Touche, there is t
be a ball at the State House in two weeks. ant
price in time for that event 1t would take
great load off my mind"
Confederate money had deprecated yer:
ordinarily plentiful. were fabulous. Knowin
this, the cautious Yankee said:
what woulc you have to pay a Richmon
tailor for making such a uniforml"
About $4oo." blurted out La Touche.
III guaranteed you satisfaction and charge
one-half. would you give me the job 7"
GLADLY" said the delighted ad iutant, and tn
contract was closed. La Tonche must hav
much secrecy in his manner when the next da
he came in alone. carrying a large bundle, 1
which was the materialt to be made up.
Cooper examined the goods after taking hi
customers measure 'the customer brought
tap, ,s lsa ,iRo c Si1s h dniied o %hen La r0uehe 'uFne
~ don't want n deposit. Adjutant, becaus
I'm afraid you'll clear out and not come back I
my shop for the goods; but. as you know.
hard w man needs more and better fee
than one who's doing nothing. SO IL you coul
let me have a little on account from time
La Touche took the hint and left 800. A
there were no dangerous cases In the hospital 4
ants were confined to the morning and evening
On such occasions, Cooper had his work hidde
away under his blanket. and his
was invariably No better, sir"
With nothing to read. and only the old hon
or the present situation to think of. time hun
like an ever.crushing weight on the hands OF II
prisoners. But as soon ms Cooper started in
work in the hospital evcry.man who could cray
from his blanket gathered about to watch;
Every day, soon after noon. La Touche dance
silently into the hospital to be- fitted and to 81
how the work of art was pr3eseding;,, A. eae
ready the day before the ball" said Cooper,
The night before this creation in gray. blu
paid for-Capt. Singer OF tho Thirty-third Obi
who had about recovered from a gunshot wour
to one side and said:
Il have a plan for escape, and 1 want you
n?"ieoff Course, I'll do IT," said. "But why n
let mo In T.,
"I CAN'T
because. confound 1t, there is only Oh
suit!
Singer then went on to explain that no hi
out, when the guards were changed at dayligl
the next morning. Now. ever since the Go
began to assume form. this idea had taken shal
in my mind. and l so told Singer. We drew 10
to see which should try 1t, and my compani'
won. In my anxiety to see how Singer ma
out I kept awake all night. On larceny int
he left my side about an hour before dhyligl
/ watched him moving 10 where Cooper la
about fifty feet away. Then followed n lol
silence. A half hour passed, and l was wond'
! ing d, Singers slowncss, when Coopers ang
: voice broke the stiffness:
"a man who'll try to steal from a fellC
! soldier In prison is no man at ALI no said: b
= no did not raise his voice so as to be heard by t
, guards outside.
. the stuff isn't yours; 1t belongs to t
/, enemy" Singer protested. holly.
/ belongs to the enemy, eh Not by a 10
= sight it doesn't. That uniforms mine. WI
n !, confound you. ever since La Touche left Il
. afternoon I've been AT work reducing the CIR
. 80 that it'll fit myself"
a "Yo are going to try 1t yoursclff"
81 am. Captain chuckled Cooper. IN
= old fellow, go back to your blanket: and II y
a keep your mouth closed. and your eyes OF
y you'll soon see one OF tho best-drcssed Confcd
: ate officers In Richmond waltzing out OF Il
:. prison, with 500 ir grayhacks In his poke
a Singer came back. but there was no need TO
y port, as ! had overheard all.
Cooper's purpose waa soon known to nil
|, men In the hospital. It was also known II
a the doctors came In at o In the morning, a
y that La Touche would be on hand for his u