davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-05
CHRISTMAS IN LIBBY
PRISON JOYOUS TIME
Captive Union Soldiers Found Five Barrels Of Rum and
INDUCED in Deep Drinking Revcl Which
Lasted All Night.

The Springfield man and the other
fellow had no trouble in getting as far
as the section Of the basement where
the tobacco was stored. and they quick
~ removed d board in the partition and
slipped through the opening thus made.
The board war replaced so that the for
side The two thieves began 70 iii their
pockets with the tobacco, when one Of
them overturned box. which made so
much noise that IL attracted the atten-
ton OF the guard, who Immediately
ordered the other prisoners to return TO
their beds He could not leave his post
but he could watch the partition sepa-
rating the tobacco from the rest OF the
basement. and the two brave foragers
were compelled to lie low for two hours.
Fortunately for them. the guard was
convinced that there was no one in the
tobacco section, for he did not inform
new guard paid no attention 20 the place
Find Big Store Of Rum.
The Springfield man and his com
panion then resumed their search for
tobacco, and In the course OF their
Investigations they came across I'VE
barrels filed with good old New Eng
land rum. This was the best sight
tured. and they were not slow 10
remove one of the plugs and put
their mouths TO the bunghole When
they had satisfied Their ord im a1ong tie
their comrades. who brought All sorts
OF receptacles TO have filed. The two
proud discoveries of the barrels re-
NAMED inside the Enclosure and in
the course of an hour they filed and
delivered to their companions over
twenty large pals of rum Night
was now coming on. and II was not
long before. the hospital was IN an
The corporal of the guard came in
70 attempt TO restore order. bGt ne
was seized bodily and thrown out OF
the room He was followed by Sergeant
Henry Wurtz. Of Andersonville fame.
who was also thrown out of the room
by the Jolly Union prisoners Captain
Gibbs OF Alabama. with squad OF
soldiers then came in 20 restore Or
prisoners most OF them complied with
ton OF an IFishman named Murphy,
who had been a member OF Els
gorth's FIRE Zouayes OF New YORK
Murphy bad had one OF his legs am.
putated near the hip, and ne nad
drunk lust enough rum TO make him
ugly
The jolifcation was then resumed
without interruption. and II lasted near
~ all night long Captain oipbs SUP
posed that the rum had been smuggied
IN by some of the guards at the instiga-
fio, Of the prisoners who had money 70
spend. and he did not learn until after-
ward that the ammunition Tor tne
Chris.fnas celebration was round Win
in the very walls of the hospital oulld-
ing itself The source OF the lquor sup
ply was found and removed the fohow-
trNay iav
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-05

ment Of the great republic. and weather
predictions then were an undiscov cred
fiction.
plevius "cut the dam" and torrents
of rain poured upon the troops. Soon
tho Virginia red clay became Destroy
ing mud. Guns, wagons. ambuiances.
animals and men sunk in the quagmire,
and Nature wrote failure upon Burn
sides banner. His efforts Is written in
the chronicles of the republic as The
Mud Campaign.
side felt some OF his officers had like
wise conspired against him.
In the anguish of his disappointment,
he prepared an order dismissing from
tRs sssyi0f Hooker * the sea sass
and Cochrane. and relieving from their
commands in the Army of the Potomac
Generals Franklin, Smith. Sturgis, Fer
ero ano Colonel Taylor.
stroy they first make mad" Burnside
personally took the order to Washing
ton and demanded of the admintstra-
ton its approval. else his resignation.
Mr.. Lincoln accepted the latter alter
native. and General Ambrose r. Burn
side faded from the command of the
Potomac army.
And just fifty years ago that bloody
drama wherein nearly early 200 goo actors
being enacted. Possibly ten percentum
of those who actively or Dassively
took part in the tragedy are to-day
alive TO tell the stirring story to their
children and grandchildren.
The Old Reaper is busy with the
harvest. and is rapidly garnering the
Gray and the Blue veterans into his
eternal harvest.
DE mortuis nil sed nisi bonum."
Georgia Soldiers Home, Atlanta. De-
gambler IL. 1912.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-05

Few people would pick out Libby
prison as place for spending jony
heid man says that the most memorable
Christmas eve he ever spent "ds
passed within it's walls The ceIe-
bration wac indeed. not according 20
Inc polite ideas OF a Christmas feast,
Tor II was nothing more nor less than
deep-drinking revei INDUCED IN .py
rum was secured and what was done
by the prison guards % PuS SOP
10 the uproar was told by one OF
those who pay yea. IN if peeesa b er' 1851
that the Springfield man found nm
self q prisoner IN LIBBY, ar ara . as M, ne
he was assigned TO the hospital, which
Was located in the Mayo tobacco
factory. adjoining the prison proper
and within the prison inclosuT rom his
wounds and was Just able to walk
without the aid of another man az
he happy Sar's brisoner seas nSattursiiy
p.Ts0' Very homesick about this time.
and they longed for some OF the luxuiles
and comforts whicn dney h Gantsin
pick Turner, OF Texas who had charge
OF the hospital section OF the prison
Of man with a big heart that hello
lot OF sympathy for the prisoners
The captain could not DO much for
them. but he did all ne couid a., 70 i, 10 90
his custom every Sunday morning 70
90 through the hospital and distribute
enough tobacco TO the men 20 last them
the whole week.
Such are the vagaries OF human ma
ture that when some one made the cls-
covery that there was a lot 81 toDecco
stored in the basement OF ire DElioihS
there WAS not a soldier IN me hospltal
who did not long 20 get hold Of some OF
it. even though he had already more
than ne could use. Ways ana means
were soon invented for stealing some OF
IL and the soldiers took more than usnai
delight in doing THE because they real
ized that the tobacco belOn geo 70 pm
vafe individuals who were On the g on
federate side On the day before Christ
mas ono OF the patients, ~ho had been
BADLY wounded in the foot. proposed 20
he Springfield man that they go INTO
the basement and make raio on the
tobacco
The Springfield man rcadiiy assented.
and with the assistance OF other PRISON
ers. i; was arranged that several OF them
should surround the CoDfecerat guard
who stood near the place here the to-
hacco was stored. This was easily done
l. was the rule that two men should De
allowed 20 20 into the yard al the same
time. while the guard watched them,
the rest of the prisoners having TO wait
their turns until the others came back
from their walk.
The men who were waiting. accord
irgIy stood between the guard and the
tobacco so that the two fcragers might
get 20 the tobacco without the guard
seeing them.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-05

old town General Ice dispatched 10
Richmond:
Headquarters, near Fredericksburg"
December IS
LAS far as can be ascertained this
stormy morning, the enemy has dis
appeared in our immediate front and
has recrossed the Rappahannock. i
at some other point r. E. LEE
Smarting under the defeat of the 18th
and insenslble of the lose of the con-
fdence of his army, Burnside began
the preparation OF new campaign
lie planned TO cross the river seven
or eight miles below. turn loose bis
cavalry TO destroy Lees communi-
cations and throw the Potomac army
upon Lees right and roar.
He had about completed his plans
ne was summoned TO Washington.
whore the President advised him of the
loss of prestige in the eyes OF his army,
and the criticism and objections to
his plans by some OF his ablest off,
GERS.
Inundated and chagrinned by the
frankness of Mr. Lincoln, General
burnsides first impulse was TO resign !:
second thought, however. prompted
him 10 make another attempt-this
lsth OF January. 1868, the Potomac
army began this operation. Good
weather heartened his officers and men
into more hopeful campaign. Burn
crossing. and Hooker and Franklin
moved upon this objective point by
parallel roads. Couch was sent 10
demonstrate below the town 10 mask
the upper movement and Sigcl was
left % guard the old camp.
The clerk OF the weather had not
az that era been Incorporated as a
part OF the machinery OF the govern
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-05
Colonel q. y. Saussy.


Lees army had tested both tactics
in war. attack and defense IN the
seven DAYS. Slaughrer's Mountain
and Second Manassas - had assumed
.he aggressive At Sharpsburg II Ead
stood upon the defensive and shattered
the Federal attempts TO .dFfFe us
ba.-fe line and successfully with
drew from the field, taking us I'M
pcdimenta with 4 50 successtnily
ne ~ soIiowing, lie leaves US
the debris Of his late camps, two dis
abIed pieces OF artillery. few hundred
his Wounded and part OF his unburied
dead not a sound field piece caissOn.
ambulance or wagon; not a tent, box
He takes with him the supplies gathered
IN Maryland and the rich spoiis OF
Harper'e Ferry -<.,-,,-
essayed TO follow him across the
Potomac. he turned upon the pursu-
ing corps with such savage energy
the harvest OF A. Il. HiiTs rifles and
Pendiefon's guns literally damned
the murky waters OF the Potomac
The exhaustion OF sharpsburg taxed
Mcclellan. He felt lothe to move
until his government would more
tirsns Of this lefhargy. directed the
energetic Stuart 20 cross the potomac
and Investigate the cause OF eoeIa.
inactivity. Seiectins iso u nlS 49,
forced the ford. pushed across the
state OF Maryland and by night was
in possession of Cham oers oure WheIe
ment stores and nearly three hundred
prisoners fell into Stuarts han1s.
Then. detailing q sniho,,ent io fse;,e ne
for horses and. successfully evacing
al the traps set ana toFess s,,i sen' r 20
intercept H,5ts;; -, - v-bs.e.s Ford
losing two men. who struggled from
-ne column but delivering 70 the
orIa-ferraster's department about l.
30 1Seen and deep was McCIei.an's
,bagrio thaf this bronze bearded gray
trooper had again rode rings rouno
min In his Official report the Federal
,,-or,r,arScr saws. Il had made such
disposition a. in my judgement would
insure the capture or cestructieh OF
stuart and his command" But bobby
Burn-s maximum again played Nc
Clellsn a shabby trick. and stuart
and his troopers had the laugh on
T rs. campaign OF the Army OF
Norffern virginia since the assumption
Of command BY General Lee = splen-
didiy SUMMARIZED in the following
Headquarters Army OF
Northern rirsiSnis', ,ss,
r.c,c~al Order Ne IFS
In reviewing the achievements Of
the army during the present campo On
tho Com handing General cannot with
hold the expression q hts admiration
% the indomitanle courage ~ he- u,s,
erdurance Of privation and hardship
on the march.
since your great Victories around
Richmond YOU have defeated the
c~cnv AZ Cedar Mountain. expelled
ms from the Rappahannock. and after
= conflict Of three days. utterly re-
r,,iecd him on the Plains Of Manassas
snd forced him 90 take shelter within
tho forfife ations around his capital.
without hating for rcpoec, YOU
crossed the Potomac. etormed the
tefvf.a Of Harper's Perry. made prison
o. Of more than HOO men. captured
rpwards Of seventy pieces OF arttl-
lerv. all their small arms ana otber
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-05
COATS-OF-ARMS

Superbly hard-pssnta< by Americas
foremost heTaidlc Artist Prices nod
crate Thousands OF Ausr1cans hzs-
M right % coat-arsno- s-nd nsu><
Of your ancestral families Eescercn--
me- Roolpiafes Just pubiish>d.
s.Sefders Of virginia and Allied PAM
iies.- 20, families. two rOl1rnse. pro-
fusslv Illustrated. tfe send fot lst q
ancestral iinsa BUTLER DE7EIBJT-
ING COMPANY. : " f-e 81. Ne" lor<~
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-05

latter idea at Skinkers Neck, twelve
miles below Falmouth.
General Lee discovered this intent
and placed ID. II. Hill and his division
in observation with Stonewau IN sup
porting distance. IN such POSITION ne
could readily go to the assistance OF
d II. Hill. or aid Longstreet on the
Confederate left The movement by
the upper fords of the Repentance
did not seem to appeal to Burnside.
though to the student OF military tao
tics that plan seemed the more feasible,
and later was employed oy Hooker
after he succeeded TO the command OF
the Potomac Army. ae such movement
must threaten General Lees commune
cation with Richmond and necessarily
COMPEL him TO sbondan his fortinec line
and accept battle upon ground OF the
enemy's own choosing. or else fall back
to a moye interior line. - 49,,
BY the movement OF ID. II Hill and
jackson. Burnside conceived the idea
General Lee had sufficiently weakened
his centre 10 invite attack there. Win
reasonable hopes OF success
on the night of December 10. 1852.
General Hunt. chief Of artillery OF the
Potomac Army. posted on StanoE1
Heights iE pieces OF artillery, some 81 OF
force attem pting the crossing az the
city. A. the same time the federal
troops were placed IN readiness TOT tne
attack and the pontoon trains moved 70
Burnside determined 70 throw FIVE
bridges across the stream-thrce at
n
half lower down near the mouth OF
Deep Run.
simmer and Hooker were TO attempt
the bridges az the town. while Franklin
was 10 essay the crossing At Deep Run.
At A NJ. Of the iith OF Dccem Der
the working parties moved siicntly 70
the river and began the laying OF tho
bridge Of boats To guard against such.
General Ice had stationed part 81 BARK
dale Mississippi brigade, together with
the Eighth Florida and 4 bird georgia
regiments along the south bank.
A heavy fog Curtained the fedcral
operation. Shortly after ? A. NJ the
Confcdcratcs discovered their activity.
ASA. NJ. two signal guns doomed the
already planned warnings. Bar sdalc
mon responded 10 the signal. About :
A. NJ the FOG parted and the morn
revealed the location or the Federal
workers The Mississippi rifles quickly
swept the bridges clear OF the working
force. soon they return and again the
Southern rifles spoke. and once more
the workmen were driven on. twice De-
tween then and dawn the attempt vas
made but the workers were forced back.
Two regiments Of blue soldiers came 20
the relief Of :he bridge builders. ana IA
: brief space Of time lost 70 Of thcif
mum bcrs
Barksdslc's Mississippians proved
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-05
June IS. '7s.
March 9. 70.


My Dearest Madam.-It gave me
the sincerest satisfaction to hear OF
your safe delivery and additional pleas
ure TO know that you and your dear in
FAINT continue SO WE'LL have a great
deal to thank you and Mr.. Armistead
for, you are constantly heaping fevors
upon me. and what return can I make?
1 am nothing, and have nothing but a
grateful heart most unfeignedly attach
ed to you and yours. Mr.. Feflde dined
at Major Smiths on Sunday, the bad
weather has prevented my hearing any,
thing since. Captain Deane went early
on Monday morning in his yawl to carry
the major on board a man of war, be-
lieve he has not returned-when he does
l hope to hear a little more. live in
much anxiety and uncertainty, but re-
sign myself to the disposal of Provf-
dence to that hard fortune which may
possibly accompany US to the grave
My best respects attend Mr.. Armistead
my love to the dear children-accept
my coed wishes for a perfect recovery
of your health, and believe that I am
with greatest truth.
Your ever affectionate and sincere
friend,
r FETT.nE
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-05
z. FEILDE.

The Feilde,s eventually became thor
oughly alarmed and disguised at the
condition of things near Gwyn's Island.
and they betook themselves to Nov
York. On August II, 1873. Mrs Feilde
wrote another letter to Mrs. Araistead.
Dear Madam,-The very few op-
portunities we meet with OF writing to
Virginia makes me glad to embrace the
one which now occurs OF conveying q
few lines to inform you that We are WE'LL
and to assure you that We constantly
entertain the same regard for our friends
at Hesse, OF whose health and welfare
it will always give us pleasure to hear.
was much disappointed in not receiv-
ing a line from you by Mr.. Smith when
he came to Elizabeth Towne, and We
were very sorry that a permit could not
be obtained for his coming into the city
At the time that the first letter was re-
ceived Mr. Feilde had been confined to
his room many days by swelling of his
foot but he Immediately went to mako
application for passport, but as 1t was
refused ne could do nothing further He
afterwards wrote TO Mr. Smith by .
flag and nothing could exceed our aston
ishment when he said Mr. Rodolph in
formed him that we had two OF his
negroes living with us which Is 90 far
from truth that / do declare have not
seen anyone of Mr. Smiths negroes
since l arrived here except Daniel, who
called here about a fortnight ago.
Neither have we had any negroes IN
our service since we left Virginia. What
could have induced Rodolph to pro-
pagate 80 great a falsity. am at loss
to determine for as he never favored US
with a call since we were in private
lodgings he could not with any GER
tainty report what servants We had or
whether we had any at all am more
circumstantial about this falsehood, as
IL has given me a great deal OF concern
for / know that in general people are
too ready to believe any report TO tho
disadvantage of the absent I was
equally surprised and concerned at sec
ing your servant Jack. where he now IL
/ really do not know. Mr. Feilce unttes
with me in respects and good wishes to
Mr. Armistead and yourself and family
in which Betsy and Jenny desire 20 Join.
and love 70 my dear God-Daughters
remain dear madam
Your affcctionate friend and humble
servant. Z. FEILDE-
From the year I7s5 20 the Revolution
Virginia was intoxicated with prosper
ity. This was a period Of luxurious and
extravagant living each planter WITH
few exceptions owned his string OF
racers and his race course he Import
ed fine raiment and costly furniture
aud ia many cases mortEaged his estate
for the ready money which he constant
" needed and which he would return
from the proceeds OF hts next years
CROP. our Trend VIII ArTnistead vas no
exception 20 the rule. lie and his wife
Maria lived az the apex OF contenpor-
aneous luxury. had nine children. many
horses. chariots. servants, e. cetrs-
eC-ontinred to next sunday.)
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-05

Nv Dear nfadam.-T cannot think
Of letting the messenger 50 for the
news without q line 20 inquire after
the health Of my dear friends after the
fatigue Of mind and body you must
have undergone from your prec!pitate
retreat. II wss ny fuli intention TO
have been At Hesss that week. Tor
wanted much 90 see you. ] bore you
have not suffered IN your health and
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-05

The Feilde's eventually became thor
oughly alarmed and disguised at the
condition of things near Gwyn's Island.
and they betook themselves to Nov
York. On August II, I7?s. Mrs Feilde
wrote another letter to Mrs. Arnistead.
The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1913-11-14
NEW IDEA OF FAMOUS STATUE
Surely the Most Original of All Put
Forward Concerning the Venus
Do Medici.

Aunt Judy had been brought up
from the plantation on the coast for a
visit to the "big family house in Sa.
vannah. There she learned to her in.
dignant and outspoken disapproval
that one of her granddaughters, whom
she had never seen, had been allowed
to go north to study for the operate
stage. Aunt Judy had once been q
spectator of as much of a musica
comedy as one could see between the
time of the curtain rising upon 6
ballet and chorus and the time Of
Judys outraged exit from the theater
To the old woman the expedition O.
the mistress granddaughter was much
as II the girl had elected to go off II
the company of Satan, Caligula ant
Henry VIII
Also, there was marble Venus d.
Medici in one corner of the drawing
room Of the big family house. Jud.
had her own ideas about this statue
too.
II amt sho'," Judy said one day il
confidence to friend OF the family
who had asked to see the girl, II ain
sho-ol missis amt never tole me-
but t'ink dat wife rock girls pc
trait er dat gran chile whut run off Il
bad comp'ny."-New York Evenin
Post.
The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1913-11-14
FEW VALUES IN GOOD ROADS
Added Freedom and Pleasures Are
Among Some Of the Real Benefits
Of Lower Cost Of Hauling.

Five miles to the picnic ground
does that mean for you an hours hard
work guiding your team over "chugs"
and ruts and around and through mud
holes. with tired horses and soiled
clothes when you get there. or does
1t mean q pleasant drive OF thirty
minutes or less with no exertion on
your part and little on the part Of
your team?
In the winter when the plays and
lectures come to your town. can you
drive in and arrive as neat and calm
as any townsman. or do you tt, 4 OF
all the long stretches of bad roads
between you and the town hall. and
decide to stay at home rather than
face them?
Good roads are needed not only be-
cause they save the farmer money
and increase hand values, but because
In very real sense they bring him
nearer to all the rest of the world.
and enable him and his family to
share in pleasures and privileges
often out Of his reach when roads are
bad. says the Progressive Farmer.
When you go to figure on the cost
and the value Of improved highways.
do not forget that they have a real
and a great value in the added enjoy
ment and the added freedom they
bring: and that this IL a benefit not
less real than reduction in the cost
of the hauling you do.