andersonville-第13章
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companions。
A few squares more and we arrived at a warehouse larger than any of the
others。 Over the door was a sign
THOMAS LIBBY & SON；
SHIP CHANDLERS AND GROCERS。
This was the notorious 〃Libby Prison；〃 whose name was painfully familiar
to every Union man in the land。 Under the sign was a broad entrance way；
large enough to admit a dray or a small wagon。 On one side of this was
the prison office； in which were a number of dapper； feeble…faced clerks
at work on the prison records。
As I entered this space a squad of newly arrived prisoners were being
searched for valuables； and having their names； rank and regiment
recorded in the books。 Presently a clerk addressed as 〃Majah Tunnah；〃
the man who was superintending these operations； and I scanned him with
increased interest； as I knew then that he was the ill…famed Dick Turner；
hated all over the North for his brutality to our prisoners。
He looked as if he deserved his reputation。 Seen upon the street he
would be taken for a second or third class gambler； one in whom a certain
amount of cunning is pieced out by a readiness to use brute force。 His
face； clean…shaved； except a 〃Bowery…b'hoy〃 goatee； was white； fat； and
selfishly sensual。 Small； pig…like eyes； set close together； glanced
around continually。 His legs were short； his body long； and made to
appear longer； by his wearing no vesta custom common them with
Southerners。
His faculties were at that moment absorbed in seeing that no person
concealed any money from him。 His subordinates did not search closely
enough to suit him； and he would run his fat； heavily…ringed fingers
through the prisoner's hair； feel under their arms and elsewhere where he
thought a stray five dollar greenback might be concealed。 But with all
his greedy care he was no match for Yankee cunning。 The prisoners told
me afterward that； suspecting they would be searched； they had taken off
the caps of the large； hollow brass buttons of their coats； carefully
folded a bill into each cavity； and replaced the cap。 In this way they
brought in several hundred dollars safely。
There was one dirty old Englishman in the party； who； Turner was
convinced； had money concealed about his person。 He compelled him to
strip off everything； and stand shivering in the sharp cold； while he
took up one filthy rag after another； felt over each carefully； and
scrutinized each seam and fold。 I was delighted to see that after all
his nauseating work he did not find so much as a five cent piece。
It came my turn。 I had no desire； in that frigid atmosphere； to strip
down to what Artemus Ward called 〃the skanderlous costoom of the Greek
Slave；〃 so I pulled out of my pocket my little store of wealthten
dollars in greenbacks； sixty dollars in Confederate graybacksand
displayed it as Turner came up with； 〃There's all I have； sir。〃 Turner
pocketed it without a word； and did not search me。 In after months； when
I was nearly famished； my estimation of 〃Majah Tunnah〃 was hardly
enhanced by the reflection that what would have purchased me many good
meals was probably lost by him in betting on a pair of queens； when his
opponent held a 〃king full。〃
I ventured to step into the office to inquire after my comrades。 One of
the whey…faced clerks said with the supercilious asperity characteristic
of gnat…brained headquarters attaches：
〃Get out of here！〃 as if I had been a stray cur wandering in in search of
a bone lunch。
I wanted to feed the fellow to a pile…driver。 The utmost I could hope
for in the way of revenge was that the delicate creature might some day
make a mistake in parting his hair； and catch his death of cold。
The guard conducted us across the street； and into the third story of a
building standing on the next corner below。 Here I found about four
hundred men； mostly belonging to the Army of the Potomac； who crowded
around me with the usual questions to new prisoners： What was my
Regiment； where and when captured； and：
What were the prospects of exchange？
It makes me shudder now to recall how often； during the dreadful months
that followed； this momentous question was eagerly propounded to every
new comer： put with bated breath by men to whom exchange meant all that
they asked of this world； and possibly of the next； meant life； home；
wife or sweet…heart； friends； restoration to manhood； and self…respect
everything； everything that makes existence in this world worth having。
I answered as simply and discouragingly as did the tens of thousands that
came after me：
〃I did not hear anything about exchange。〃
A soldier in the field had many other things of more immediate interest
to think about than the exchange of prisoners。 The question only became
a living issue when he or some of his intimate friends fell into the
enemy's hands。
Thus began my first day in prison。
CHAPTER VIII
INTRODUCTION TO PRISON LIFETHE PEMBERTON BUILDING AND ITS OCCUPANTS
NEAT SAILORSROLL CALLRATIONS AND CLOTHINGCHIVALRIC 〃CONFISCATION。〃
I began acquainting myself with my new situation and surroundings。
The building into which I had been conducted was an old tobacco factory；
called the 〃Pemberton building；〃 possibly from an owner of that name；
and standing on the corner of what I was told were Fifteenth and Carey
streets。 In front it was four stories high； behind but three； owing to
the rapid rise of the hill； against which it was built。
It fronted towards the James River and Kanawha Canal； and the James
Riverboth lying side by side； and only one hundred yards distant；
with no intervening buildings。 The front windows afforded a fine view。
To the right front was Libby； with its guards pacing around it on the
sidewalk； watching the fifteen hundred officers confined within its
walls。 At intervals during each day squads of fresh prisoners could be
seen entering its dark mouth； to be registered； and searched； and then
marched off to the prison assigned them。 We could see up the James River
for a mile or so； to where the long bridges crossing it bounded the view。
Directly in front； across the river； was a flat； sandy plain； said to be
General Winfield Scott's farm； and now used as a proving ground for the
guns cast at the Tredegar Iron Works。
The view down the river was very fine。 It extended about twelve miles；
to where a gap in the woods seemed to indicate a fort； which we imagined
to be Fort Darling； at that time the principal fortification defending
the passage of the James。
Between that point and where we were lay the river； in a long； broad
mirror…like expanse； like a pretty little inland lake。 Occasionally a
busy little tug would bustle up or down； a gunboat move along with
noiseless dignity； suggestive of a reserved power； or a schooner beat
lazily from one side to the other。 But these were so few as to make even
more pronounced the customary idleness that hung over the scene。 The
tug's activity seemed spasmodic and forceda sort of protest against the
gradually increasing lethargy that reigned upon the bosom of the waters
the gunboat floated along as if performing a perfunctory duty； and the
schooners sailed about as if tired of remaining in one place。 That
little stretch of water was all that was left for a cruising ground。
Beyond Fort Darling the Union gunboats lay； and the only vessel that
passed the barrier was the occasional flag…of…truce steamer。
The basement of the building was occupied as a store…house for the taxes…
in…kind which the Confederate Government collected。 On the first floor
were about five hundred men。 On the second floorwhere I waswere
about four hundred men。 These were principally from the First Division；
First Corps distinguished by a round red patch on their caps； First
Division； Second Corps； marked by a red clover leaf； and the First
Division； Third Corps； who wore a red diamond。 They were mainly captured
at Gettysburg and Mine Run。 Besides these there was a considerable
number from the Eighth Corps； captured at Winchester； and a large
infusion of Cavalry…First； Second and Third West Virginiataken in
Averill's desperate raid up the Virginia Valley
