Year: 1876

To the Editor of the Press


Libby Prison was formed of three tobacco
ware houses. 1t was a block of three large
brick stores-three stories high in front and
four stories in the rear-separated in the rear
from canal by'a broad driveway fifty or sixty
feet wide, and under each store was cellar
with heavy brick partition walls. In the Sec
ond and third floors doors had been cut through
the partition walls, so that the prisoners con-
fined there could have a free range through the
whole of the two upper stories. Prisoners new
ly arrived were received at the offices and
searched-this ceremony was dispensed with in
my case-and money was taken away, and in
many instances small keepsakes and other tri.
fies were taken, and often this operation of
searching was roughly performed.


From some of the windows, the new arrivals
could be seen for distance Of hundred feet
or more, before they reached the prison, and
signals were made to them, that they were to
conceal their money and other articles which
they wished to preserve, and this was success-
fully accomplished in many cases. These cap
tives, when turned into the prison, were gener-
ally furnished with blanket each-not always
and then they were at liberty TO select upon
the floor, any unoccupied place they could find
where they were to lie upon the bare boards,
without bedding of any kind. Some of the
prisoners suffered very much in this way, es-
pecally from the cold. As to the hard floor
most men could become accustomed to that in
time, but not from the cold from which many
contracted serious diseases, especially as many
of the windows had been taken from their
frames, so as to admit of sufficient ventilation.
Ii this precaution had not been taken, the per-
sons near the windows would close them, so
that the air would become contaminated as
the floors were entirely covered with sleepers or
with persons trying TO sleep.


On my admission to the prison, / was sup
piled with one small, poor, thin second hand
rebel blanket, that was all, and a New York
othcer lent,me an army over coat, which en-
abled me to get through the nights with much
less than the general amount of discomfort,
with a small bag of books and extra stockings
for pillow. A few days aiterward, box
came to me from some unknown party at Bal
timore containing dozen blankets, which en-
abled me to supply some comrades who were in
desperate need, and to make my own position
more comfortable. / remember the case of a
Captain Metcalf OF Maryland, new arrival
who had no blanket. His first night in the
prison was passed sitting by the remains of the
fire in the stove, and after the fire was gone he
suffered very much. was happy in supplying
bin with one of my blankets Sometime after
. tudts SOD6 DdeS OI DldQkeLS were sent to the
prison to my care from our government which
afforded supply sufficient for our absolute
needs, especially as the prisoners were ingeni-
GUS in making the most and the best of their re-
sources.


Each officer had now at least two blankets.
In many cases they associated themselves to-
gether, two and tive, thus having two blankets
under them and two above. They added to the
comfort of this by putting newspapers between
the blankets and quilting them in SO as to keen
them in Dlapo Col Tldan of
member of the Legislature, had place upon
the floor near mine, and believe he as the
first to suggest this plan and to adopt it, and
afterward it was generally practised. Many Of
our comrades were ingenious and industrious
in providing ways and means of diminishing
the dscomforts of our position, and they were
generally kind and helpful to each other.


L was the senior officer at Libby, and my


headquarters" were marked by table about
four feet square, made for me by an officer,
from an old dry-goods box, and by large
high backed arm chair made for me by another
officer, of the same material, and another
officer kindly made for me short military
cloak of part of blue army blanket which
was too small to be used as blauket-a very
important addition to my wardrobe, as 1 had
none but summer clothing and little of that.


The officers resorted to many expedients TO
pass away the time. There was a large book
store in Richmond-no longer needed there
and from it we purchased many scientific and
literary works at a very low price. Publishers
in Philadelphia and New York sent us hand
some presents of excellent books, SO that we
had good supply of reading matter, by pass
ing these works about from hand to hand.
Among our number we had professors from
Northern colleges, who helped very mnch in
softening the rigor of our position. There
were classes in mathematics, in mental philos-
ophy, in law and in French. Capt. Charleroi
of New York regiment had around him ev-
cry day, squatted on the floor like so many
Turks, great number of officers to whom he
gave lessons in Freuch-bis mother toDgue-by
which many of them prcfted very much. Col
Cosuola, of New York cavalry regiment had
a very large class where he taught the company
battalion and brigade drill, and some lessons in
greater tactics.


There were among us but few officers who
had no taste for books and study. Our com.
rades were generally men of education and cul-
ture who found great pleasure, as well as profit
and relief from ennui, in books. There were
in our number few who had TO taste in that
direction, and they were driven to great straits
to pass away the time that hung heavily upon
their hands, They had cards and sometimes
noisy games, by which they occasionally an
noyed those who preferred other and quiet
modes of passing away the time. With love
OF books time will hang heavily on no mans
hands if only he can obtain books in plenty and
such as he likes. N. ID.