The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-06-13
MILITARY MIR AGILE.
The Effect Of Good News Upon a
Sick Soldier,
WHILE HE WAS IN PRISON.
A Raging Fever Cured by Patriotism.
The Surrender Of Vicksburs An
nounccd BY a Colorcd Barber to
Prisoners Of Libby Prison-A Thrill
ing Incident Of War. "


friends found himself a Confederate
prisoner In Libby prison. with the Union
army officers. from 1900 to I, 500. who oc-
cup!ed two entire floors Of the old to-
bacco warehouse, that had been con-
yerted Into place Of military detention.
The Italian proyerb says truthfully
enough, "Thero are no ugly loves or
pleasant prisons" Libby was no ,ex-
ceptlon. It was very hot, ill-ventilated,
mephitic. that wholesome breathing was
impossible Yet the inmates. In addition
to poor and insufficient food remained
generally lp very fair health. One OF
their greatest problems was how to. en-.
ploy their time. was spared this anxi-
ETY.. being occupied with an attack Of
maarial fever, contracted from the
swamps of Mississippi and Louisiana
during the first siege Of sSVicksburg.
Close confinement, bad air. and improp-
cr provisions helped on the fever. In
accordance with the intermittent char
ucter Of the disease, one day I would
feel comparatively we'll, being able to
rise from my rough. improvised bunk
and tottcr up and down the floor, ad-
dressing q few words to my fellow prls-
oncrs. The next day I would be back
on my rough boards. very, limp. my
brain on fire. often dellrlous! I learned
afterwards that the officers considered
ME in Il dangerous condition, many
thinking there was no. chance for nue..
Bets were laid on my recovery, the odds
being against II.
General Grants advance on Vlcks-
burg from the east and south began in
April, 1863 He marched In person from
ioung's Point, La, with large land
force. several days before we descended
the Mississippi at midnight on May 3,
on n tug. dashed to two barges. loaded
with provisions and bales OF hay. for the
army Our little expedition was totally
destroyed by the enemy's guns and we
two began the circuit OF the Confeder-
acy under the escort Of Its soldiers. We
heard in Richmond. through the local
newspaper. about Grants series Of brill
liant victories leading to the investment
OF the town on the 18th Inst. The south
ern press naturally underrated Grants
triumphs, but we realized how significant
they were. and we were confident Of
final success.
Towards the end Of the month, the
Richmond journals declared with great
citation that General Joseph L. Johnston,
having, at the head OF 80. 900 troops, got
in the rear OF Grant, would soon relieve
The, beseged place. We could not tell. Of
course. how much Of this Story was true.
But. If 1t had any foundation, the Union
position was fraugh. with peril. and we
were extremely anxious,
The prisoners talked Of nothing but
the counter-siege far into the night, dis
cussing all its prospects for and against
us. was too weak to talk, and felt all
the worse for my enforced silence.
July 1 finally arrived. The southern
ers had expressed more and more faith
IN the victory Of the previous week. and
pretended that they We're hourly expect
Ing to hear of 1t through Official sources.
As the Fourth crept on. we We're
wrought up to the highest pitch.
At 3 o'clock In the afternoon observ-
cd an elderly colored man approaching
my bunk. His face and person were
very familiar to US. He daily visited the
prison TO shave the officers, and had at
tracted our attention by expressing ar
dent sympathy with the south. We had
talked with hundreds Of his race and
had never before met one of them not
opposed to slavery. We had not thought
him sincere. and told him he was trying
10 incur the favor of his masters by pre-
tending to be what he was not. This he
so stubbornly and constantly denied
that We decided he must be an excep-
ton to the rule.
Naturally grave and depressed In
manner, we were struck by the fact
that his face was on that occasion
~rcathed In smiles; that he was chuck
ling all over. He turned his head from
right to left, as IL distrustful Of some
thing. But the moment he reached our
part OF the floor. he wrung his hands
Tor Joy. and In Il loud whisper said:
oh. Lawd, massas. Vicksburg gone
up shuah. I kin hor back no longah.
les bust with de big noos. hurd de
Semmen In de offs down stains reaG!n
de dispatch. | walnut you gemmcn to
Know all bout It. Isn't. t NIFTY big
Aooa? Fla. ha, ha!" and he held his
SIDES, as he sat down on the foot OF my
DUNK, laughing TIL the tears started to
MS eyes. Ills sense Of caution was
quite forgotten In his overlooking glad
ness ..-
The tldings were communicated all
over the room Ike n flash. Hardly one
81 the officers; had understood Il word
% what had been said. But as soon as
,ie barber began to laugh, n cheer. fol-
ip"eu by roar. went up from hun
afcd threats. Many had fallen asleep
Notwithstanding the excitement, for
me afr vas so hot and heavy that they
hHccuInbed to It, Then rush was
maze FOR our quarter. and we were ca
6tFly Questioned, There was nothing TO
communicate but the simple fact, and
mtt they had already had anticipated
mat IL sufficient" said scores of men.
ne news Is glorious enough for one
u4y'" The cheering and huzznhing con-
United with redoublcd force Every
M'insht added 10 thc enthusiastic voclf-
ration md the tumult. A few were
IVY S%"p'!cal.. Perhaps The negro
l'uld rot be trusted. lie might have
~ INC report wrong. AS II to qucnch
VI hpub', John Browns Body was
saI,.IirI. and all the prisoners Joined In
nm VIII Other patriotic songs were
ctlntud lun tho ,,.,IIe gboot, ,,,i,h ~