Year: 1863

Am. Crane, OF the lst VT. Cavalry,


who with his companion succeeded in
making his escape from Richmond recent
ly, sends letter to the Irasburg Express.


After detailing the circumstances Of his
capture and transportation to Richmond,
he says:


Once in the city we were paraded in
the street and marched off through rows
of silent men and women. Two or three
times shout was raised as we went by,
but il was from boyish rabble. There
was no enthusiasm, but spirit of apathy
overcome by grief, and care, and pain,
and want. The crowd of prisoners as ii
went by was in livelier spirits than their
captors.


II was not a long walk to the famous
Libby prison. As we filed in we were


again counted this time about three hun


dred OF us-and the door was locked


behind us. 1t was dark, and soon those
who were not already stretched on the


floor for the night followed the example
Of those who had been inmates of the
den for awhile. Those who had blankets
spread them. Others threw themselves


on the hard floor, perhaps with an over


coat about their shoulders, and perhaps
with nothing save the clothing worn dur.
ing the day. There no groups of friends
here and there, though friends might be
together for the whole floor was covered
with sleeping forms.


Morning revealed the long high room


We were occupying, stretching across the


middle Of the building, with the grated


windows at each end. There was an
absence OF glass, or even sash and the
ram and wind beat mercilessly in Just as
the storm chanced 10 drive. There was
no provision for fires, though there were
two fise places in which coal might Ae
used. There was plentiful supply Of
water on one side of the room. These
were our quarters.


About nine in the morning an officer
came and ordered us ont to roll CALL We
were drawn up in line four deep and
counted. That was s'roll can,n and was
attended by the officers in charge daiM
At this roll cali we were counted off into
smesseso of a dozen men each for the
drawing of rations. One man was elect
ed from each mess to whom the officers
gave the rations for the whole twelve, and
he in turn divided the amount he received
anieng the men of his mess.


At this roll, too, an officer gave us an
invitation to deliver up what money we
had about us, saying at the same time
that If we came forward and gave it up
willingly, an account should be kept, and
we should have the amount returned
when we were discharged or exchanged
but if we did not, we should be search
ed, our money all taken and no return
made. Influenced by these threats MANY
gave their greenbacks-the rebels would
take no other, thus showing their contempt
for their own worthless rags. The nac-
counth was kept on loose sheet of pa
per, no date, nothing but the name Of the
person and the amount Of money. Our
company we're not searched, though
heard that others were who came in after
wards.


This operation over we drew rations for
the day-half a loaf of bread nearly as
large as our government gives, and a
piece of boiled fresh beef, Of not more
than two cubic inches to each man. This
was the first food that had been issued to
US since taken, and was the amount we
drew daily while was prisoner. The
quality was usually good enough though
the beef was abominably fresh. But to
think of hearty man living on eight or
ten ounces Of soft bread and piece of
beef as large as his two fingers daily!


Well, that night they took us out Of
the Libby and put us into an old tobacco
factory, tilthler and far more inconvenient
than we had seen before. After few
days, however, water was provided for
each Of the three floors, the rooms were
cleaned Q little, and our condition made
more endurable than at first.


On the 18th the surgeon made his ap-
pearance amongst us for the first time
He looked at us about as half wav far
mer would examine flock of a hundred |
sheep, and then went away. After this |
he came daily. Those who were the
worst We're taken to the hospital. The
inside of that institution / did not see.
uor desire to. Life was bad enough in
prison.


It is but justice, however, to state that
there was one alleviatlng feature. The
guards embraced every opportunity to sell
us bread. This was contrary to orders
and had they been detected, would have
been sent to Castle Thunder. But thew
had no feelings of personal enmity TO
crafty. and were only too glad to make
few dollars in trade with the Yankees.
Many were the hungry men who added
ially another loaf or two to the half loaf
allowed bv the rebel government Prices
aowever, ranged rather high. Two or
'hree loaves of bread. not weighing more
han SIX ounces, for dollar; butter four
% four and half dollars per pound /: ap-
oes two dollars per dozen-small and
vormy at that; pies, small and poor. at
,ne dollar each. and OTHER things in pro-
,ortlon-prices ri'ing. This was in con-
ederAte currency. We could sell our
.reenbacks for three, four, FIVE, and some
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