From the National Tribune, 10/6/1892

PRISON EXPERIENCE.
A Michigan Man Tells of His Treatment at Southern Hotels.

Having read articles from different comrades in regard to the treatment of Union prisoners by the rebels. I have waited for some one else to write up some of the things that occurred while I was boarding at Libby and other hotels of the kind. I was taken prisoner near Charlestown, Va., on the last day of February, 1862, by a part of Ashby's Cavalry. After I was taken one man came up and said, "You Yankee hound, what did you come down here for?" and struck me on the head with his revolver, fracturing my skull. After that two of them shot at me, but did not hit me. After we got back about two miles they stopped at a farm house, where they got a rope and threw it over the limb of a tree in the yard, and led my horse nearly under the noose, when one of them said: "Stop; there comes the Lieutenant." He rode up and put a stop to the proceedings. I learned that his name was Glinn or Glynn, and will say for him that he acted the part of a gentleman, and should this come to his notice I would be pleased to hear from him. About the last of March I found myself in Libby, upper floor, northwest corner. One morning a wagon backed up to the walk on the south side of the building, and they rolled 14 barrels of gunpowder into the building. There were others who saw this besides myself, but I cannot remember who, except one named Alcott or Allcock, a correspondent of the New York Tribune, another named Lawrence, afterward Assistant Harbormaster at Fort Monroe, and, I think, Serg't A. M. Edwards, afterward Lieutenant-Colonel of the 24th Mich. When the officers of the prison were asked what the powder was put in there for, they answered, "To send you fellows to ___ if McClellan captures Richmond."

I could tell how they put us on bread and water to discourage the boys, so they would join their army; of their shooting in at the windows when there was no provocation - only, their officers said, the boys were out of practice, as if they regretted that they did not kill more of us. - H. C. HACKETT, Co. G, 1st Mich. Cav., and Co. I, 1st Mich. Engineers and Mechanics, Union Springs, N. Y.

• Prev
• Next