Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1900-02-26

| eyes. But, even in this condition,
hunger had not left him. The scene
seemed to fascinate me, and in spite
of the responsiveness of the picture, I
| continued to look upon it, though it
was much against my will. [ saw him
try to get to his mouth dirty piece
of bread which he held in his hand;
the effort was in vain; the hand fell
nerveless by his side; convulsive
shudder, and he was dead. After he
had been dead half an hour his hand
still clasped over the poor dirty piece
of bread, zouave, who had one leg
amputated, observing the bread,
dragged himself through the filth and
dirt and unclasping the dead mans
fingers, took the bread from the dead
mans hand, and ate it like famished
wolf.
"Men lay on the filthy floor unable
to help themselves, gasping for breath
while their more healthy companions
trod upon and stumbled over them.
The common expression used was
Il shall die unle SIS I get fresh air.
Every breath they breathed was load
effiuvia of the dead. When rations
were issued two thirds of the very
sick got nothing, for the manner of
issuing was without order and the
distribution was by general scramble
among those who were the best able
to wrangle for it. was fortunate in
getting rations the first day in Libby,
but the second and third got none.
Meanwhile my fever grew worse and
worse, oppressed for breath, crowded
for room, unable to getinto the prison
yard to perform the common func-
tions of nature, to which was added
the want of medicines and even COM
mon food, made my situation so hor
hope for relief in death. All this was
made worse by the constant wrangling
for room, for air and food"
Other prisons in Richmond were
Smiths Prison, Castle Thunder, and
Belle Isle.
Castle Thunder was used as a prison
for northern citizens, southern Union
lists, Federal deserters, rebel convicts
and negroes. Here all manner Of
cruelties were practiced, and among
the rebels themselves it had a most |
unsavory reputation, life there being
considered we'll nigh the elimination |
of earthly misery.
From Aupust to October 1853 |
among the officers of Libby Prison
was issued paper called ''The Libby |
Chronicle" 1t was read from man
uscript by the editor, Chaplain Louis !
n. Boudry, every Friday morning at |
ten O'Clock. In the issue of August |
28 was a poem written by private |
(name uuknown) in Castle Thunder, |
and conveyed to the editor through |
secret channels, from which extract |
four verses:
On Carey Street, in Richmond, there is mon
grel den
OF thieves, sneaks and towards mixed up
with gentlemen.
Oh what living shame to huddle in togeth-
Men and beasts, wild and tame, like birds of
every feather!
The Reb. authorities scared up this greatest
wonder.
Made it a prison, and named it Castle Thun-
der.
Here they tumble in characters of every hue.
Reprobates stepped in sin with the Christian
and the Jew.
Conscripts by the dozen, at daylight and af-
ter dark,
Come pouring in the Castle, like animals in
the ark;
Some are small. some are great, some show
pluck, some white liver,
some from Mississippi State and "Goobers'
from Tar River.
substitutes and deserters come in in sorry
plight,
And sub gents also are here quartered for the
night.
runners are here shut up, they say,
for warming,
But seldom leave promised, early the next
morning.
While on Potomac's banks both parties try
to nab em.
# they escape the Yanks, Old Jeff is sure to
grab 'em.
'o-caIled spies are quartered here, who think
it real hard luck,
They all from Yankeedom, except one
Kennuck.
are here, and one for being
guide
The boys call .sDoodIebug," for he piloted
Burnside.
Here's an oysterman, who, the officers dis
cover,
s Union up in York, but Secesh on James
river.
The bread we daily get is of very good sort,
rue, it's the staff of life, but our staff is
rather short.
Dur beef's SO lean and dry, that. swallowing,
it will bound back,
Unless we recollect afore to grease the hol-
low track;
t is too tough and strong for our noses or
knives,
,I,ao +1ar 41,;, !