SThf Department.
Hints on Feeding and Fattening.
Animals destined for the shambles
are disposed of to the butcher to the
best advantage, if well fattened. —
The reason is that the flesh of a fat
animal is better than that of a lean
one, more delicate in flavor, tenderer,
sweeter, jucier—this aside from the
value of the fat itself. A very fat
animal is not in a natural condition,
and on this account it is desirable that
the feeding should be brought as rap
idly and steadily as possible to a con
summation. It is most undesirable
to have any -cheek to the steady lay
ing on of flesh and fat; positive ful
ling off in flesh is with sheep usually
fatal to their ever fattening well. Fat
tening animals are peculiarly liable to
certain ebsenre disorders, owing to
the unnatural circumstances in which
they are placed. Good farmers there
fore exert themselves to keep stock
stalled for fattening, healthy, by giv
ing them the comfort of clean st*ls,
the tonic of fresh air, the increased
appetite accompanying a variety or
change of diet, a healthy skin secur
ed by occasional currying, now and
then a little salt as an appetizer, and
to secure freedom from anxiety bv
quiet surroundings, regular feeding,
and the kindest U" atment.
In feeding swine, which are the
most easily fattened of our domestic
animals, great economy may be exer
cised by feeding very regularly, by
cooking the food, by occasionally feed
ing raw roots in small messes as a
general corrective, by feeding finely
broken up charcoal now and then, or
giving the hogs access to it, and se
curing cleanliness where they are fed
in pens. It is well to remove from
such hogs the inducement to exercise
in rooting, by wiring their noses.
A hard worked ox will never grow
fat. The more work he does, the less
will ho lay on fat, the amount of food
being equal; and conversely, the less
he works, the more easily will lie f» f
ten. Used in a horse-power," h'" na y
grind much corn; standing i n His
stall he may grind only which
he himself consumes, ijabor is ex
pended in both c~es, and why may
we not nrgu p 'hat the fattening of
the animi>-' IS retarded in proportion to
the ar^' l,nt ofclabor he does, and that
(,},« labor of beast in grinding his
own corn is thus a loss to the farmer.
Cooked feed digests more easily than
raw; that is, the stomach labors less.
Do we not profit therefore in cooking
the food, even of neat stock ? In
feeding this class of animals the mod
erate fermentation of hay and stalks
in connection witli bran or corn meal
and a little salt, whereby the stalks
become softened and the flavor of the
meal and salt is disseminated through
out the mass, has been found a great
saving. This iscooking without fuel.
Steaming fodder is extensively prac
tised also, as is well known, with eco
nomical results where it is conducted
on a sufficiently large scale and with
requisite care. Sheep are best fed
on raw material. Let them grind
their own grists. For some reason I
they seem tt» have better health for
it. The exception does not militate
against the rule, but shows the ne
cessity of watching the effect upon
all animals of artificial diet and un
natural surroundings.
BEES WORKING IN TWO HIVES. —
The following remarkable incident is
related by a correspondent of.the
London Agricultural Gazette: "On
the 20th of June this year, I hived a
very large swarm of bees in a straw
hive. Before they had been in it
many days, they discovered an unoc
cupied hive about two feet distant
from their own, half filled with clean
empty combs. They sagaciously took
possession of it, and used it as a store
house for honey, while combs were
being constructed in their new domi
cile. At night they did not abandon
their store-house, but left a guard of
about 500 bees, who remained there
contentedly, without any apparent
concern at the absence of the queen.
This hive was made of wood, with
glass windows, so that I could exam
ine the interior, day and night. I
could see the honey in the combs, and
the bees clusterod between them, and
coming out by hundreds to the glass,
when I held a light to it at night.—
During the day, the bees at the mouth
of the storehouse hive buzzed and
ventilated, just as if the queen had
been there. At dusk, some of them
ilew to their own home. After using
the extra hive for about three weeks,
the bees removed the honey from it
to their permanent abode* it being no
longer acquired for the harvest which
was for the time too abundant for
their accommodation at home."
ROSE BUGS DESTROYING GRAPES.
—ln some localities the rose bugs are
so numerous at the time certain grapes
are in flower, that they destroy the
cutire crop by eating tho blossom.—
At a recent meeting of the NewYorl.
Fruit Growers, T. W. Field alluded
to this subject, that the
rose bugs came upon his vines in such
myriads that it was impossible to des
troy, or even drive them away. He
said that while the Isabella and Cat
awba were nearly all destroyed by
these pests, the Hartford Prolific and
Delaware bloomed too early for them,
and the Concord was but slightly af
fected. If this proves to be the case
t'Uf-wwfc#, it wii! K>: we'! for planters
to Bciuci. oui Us VnuCiiiiottTji licioie the
rose bugs make then- appearance.
"DON'T ATTEMPT TOO MUCH"—At
' tempting too much, or ' beginning to build
! without first counting the cost," as the be-
I setting sin of a great many people, and
the caution above written, is "as often need
ed by the farmer, as by the members of
any other class of community. For the
more we see of farmers and farm manage
ment, the stronger is our impression ofthe
great need, upon four-fifths of the farms
of the country,of a concentration of expen
diture in labor and capital. The contrary
system of expantir ■ if 'covering a great
deal of bread with a little butter,' prevails;
the farming is 'laid on thin,' the ground
is 'run over' carelessly in the makedo way
of working (shirking, rather) when to se
cure any reasonable profit, it should be farm
ed well and thoroughly.
Look again before you pronounce this
a harsh statement. Is it good policy tee-r
--pnml the labor of putting a crop over six
acres. when at the same cost a like result
may be realized from three or four ? That
is. put double the labor in preparation and
culture, and twice the manure on an acre,
and, taking out additional rent and taxes
you must pay Were you to sow two acres,
you will get as profitable a return in the first
instance as you would in the last. Besides,
the looks of the crop! Which would do
you the most credit as a farmer? Will you
be content with thirty bushelsof corn, per
acre, at an expense of perhaps, ten dollars,
when by adding labor and manure to the
amount of five dollars more, you may have
more than double the quantity of corn ?
Will you grow inferior stock, with the
same cave and food, when by a larger out
lay at first, you may have the best—tin" o
always saleable at good prices; w'" fe the
unimproved, scrubby animal, rcely finds
purchasers at any price? lot will not, if
you consider the suV uct carefully and un
derstanding^
Think » kor 'he matter, and "don't at
tend too much !" The more land one
n oiks on the 'spreading-it-thin' system, the
poorer he becomes. Call ill your 'interest
money,' draw out your 'bank deposites,'
and embrace your whole farm in a thor
ough course of culture. Drain, manure,
cultivate well, keep good stock, suit your
labor to your land, but still heed the cau
tion, Don't attempt too much.'
TIIE HOUSE. —The noblest conquest
which Wfon has ever made is that o<"
this proud and fiery animal, which
shares with him the fatigue of war
and the glory of battle; no less in
trepid than his master, the horse sees
peril and confronts it; he inures him
self to the sound of arms, he revels in
it, he seeks it, and kindles with the
same fire he tikewise participates in
his pleasures; at the chase, the tour
nament, the race-course, he shines,
he glitters; but,' quite as docile as he
is brave, he does not suffer his mettle
to overcome him, but knows how to
subdue his impulse ; not only does he
bend to the hand that directs him,
but he seems to "onsult itsdosire, and
ever obedient to the impressions he
receives from it, he starts, slackens
his pacoj or stands still, and acts but
to satisfy it. He is a creature that
renounces his own being, to exist sole
ly by another's will—that even knows
how to anticipate it—that, by the
speed and procisionof his action, ex
presses and accomplishes it; that
feels as much as we desire, and does
but what we wish; that, giving him
self up unreservedly, never rebels
against any duty, serves with all his
might, becomes thoroughly spent, and
even dies, the better to obey.
CAKE OF CARNATIONS. —Take great
care to protect your fine carnations
that are in pots from hard frosts, ex
cessive rains, snow or sharp frosts,
which will preserve them in strength
to flower in great perfection. The
choicest varieties of these plants should
always be removed in their pots, about
the beginning of November, and pla
ced in frames, or in a bed arched with
hoops, in a warm, dry situation in the
full sun, where they can be occasion
ally covered when the weather is un
favorable; but let the covers be kept
constantly off in the daytime when
the weather is mild and dry.
PLANT TREES AND SHRUBS !—Now is
the time for this labor, about which The
Homestead utters these sensible and advis
ory sentences : —-But a few days more re
main this Spring suitable for planting
trees. Who will improve them in this
duty? Arc your roadsides all lined with
shade trees, and is every nook and corner
about your premises supplied with its ap
propriate tree, shrub or vine ? Improve
the first good day in supplying all vacan
cies, and, our word for it, you will find it
labor well spent.'
BLOWING FLOWERS EARLY IN HOT
BEDS. —Manysortsof bulbous, tuber
ous and fibrous rooted perenial flow
ers, if planted in pots, and now pla
ced in a hot-bed, hot-house, or any
forcing department at work, will
shoot and flower early without much
trouble, only to give occasional wat
ering. Pots of roses, dwarf almonds
double-blossom cherry, peach, etc.,
may also be placed in the forcing
houses for early bloomT
BfeiF" The grass and gravel walks
should all be %ept in decent order,
especially in the principal parts of
the garden and pleasure-ground; suf
fer no leaves of trees or other litter
to remain thereon, for such would
give them an appearance.
<£ durational department.
Order in the School-Room. _
The necessity of order and neatness in
and about the school-room I have chosen
as a subject, which has been explained by
precept more than by practice. But few
of the many teachers entrusted with the
charge of traing the youthful mind, ever
consider that so much depends upon the
attractiveness of the school-room. For it
is here that the student learns, not only
the lessons taught from books, but the
habits which characterize him through
life are formed while attending school;
ami one who has been accustomed to an
untidy and disorderly school-room, will,
in nine cases out of ten, ever be followed
by habits of slotlifulness.
Next to home the student should love
the school-room ; and as he wends his way
thither, fancy pictures in glowing colors
in his imaginative mind, the pleasure of
reciting well those long and arduous les
sons which, under the encouraging smile
of a teacher, seem but an easy task; and
it is with delight that he welcomes the
smiling fnt'es of his school-mates, who,
like him, are striving to gain the unfading
treasures of knowledge. Under the guid
ance of a teacher whose motto is, " a place
for every thing, and every thing in its
place," he will acquire the habits of or
der and system, in w^ ;ltever calling he
may engage.
The influc"* s which a teacher exerts
over his pupils by the example he setrf bo
forP ilieni, is the influence which guides
him through all the vieisitudes of those
lonfr years of patience and until ing study,
in the intricate and obtuse parts of sci
ence ; and though his precepts be good,
yet if his example fails to demonstrate the
same, it will be of little if any benefit to
his pupils.
Man loves to labor amid the works of
nature. When contemplating them in
their many and varied forms, he feels
strengthened and invigorated to commence
with renewed energy the task before him,
and the mind too, expands more freely and
drinks in deep draughts from # the peren
nial springs of knowledge with ease and
pleasure. The mind—most mysterious in
its mechanism, and wonderful iu all its
pronertics—is placed in the hands of the
■a< ticV to train in the way of knowledge,
and imbue it with the principles of truth
and justice, which shall ever p»ove a safe
guard against the vice and temptations
which beset its path: and if this daily as
sociation be where the hand of nature has
lavishly bestowed her bounties, will it not
learn to love the beautiful flowers, forests
and fields? Surely it can admire the or
der and regularity which characterize
them, for all these seem to work together
for'good in perfect unison, impressing up
on it the important part sooner or later to
be acted iu the grand drama of life, actu
ating each tosieze upon those means which
time will call him to employ. And to do
this he must be familiar with scenes gone
by : lie must treasure up those impor
tant truths which history, the ever living
language of the past, presents; but he sees
this only in the distance ; and now he re
solves to persevere and conque: all the ob
stacles in the way of accomplishing his
cherished hopes. If, thus, delight in the
beauties of nature, the student
to progress in his studies, then certaiuly
this is a sufficient excuse for ornamenting
the grounds attached to this often times
rude and rustic temple of knowledge,
where so many of childhood's happy hours
are spent. lie is but an indifferent ob
server who will not turn from nature up
to nature's God.
ONE THING AT A TIME WELL DONE.—
To TeacJiers: —Never conquer two dijf
cidt studies at onec. One enemy at a
time, is not a better rule for the warrior
than the student. Let the student make
frequent reviews. Never let him enter
upon a new lesson, till he has reviewed the
old one. If possible, let him review on
each Saturday, what he has read during
the week.
Let the student, at the beginning of a
book, get short lessons. It is the only way
to make a scholar. The teacher cannot
hear long lessons with accuracy.
A student should never be permitted to
recite poorly, day after day. Now and
then, by accident, he may make poor reci
tation, but he should generally have his
lessons well. Let the teacher be certain
that the lessons arc so short that the stu
dent can get them, and then let him be
required to get them.
What has been said may be summed up
in the following general rule: let the sta
dent hare such lessons as he certainly can
get well, aiul tkt>< let him be required to
yet them xeell. A pupil that will not learn
well such lessons as he ran learn, if small,
should be induced to it by the application
of some persuasive more or less pungent.
If he is so large as to be beyond the reach
of any ]>ersuasive, he should be sent hoifie.
No conscientious teacher will permit ltis
school to be injured by so bad an example.
The boy should be put to other business.
He had better be doing something behind
the plough or the counter, than nothing at
his books.— Preface to Coltou't Greek
Reader.
tar No less than fifteen histories, twen
ty-five biographies, twenty-seven geogra
phies and travels, thirty-eight novels, elev
en poetical works, and elevcu theological,
are announced as about to issue from the
British press.
#eUqiou2 JHjjartmcnt.
TOLERATION.
BT r, JOUWBOS.
Though iatbe mat! -re of our faith
We cannot all agree;
Yet.in the bond* of friendly lore,
We can all united be;
For w»-ak indt-fd must be that creed,
In (act not worth a f-atoier;
Win e advocates refuse to kneel,
Ilore and peace together.
Thfft world Indeed would wiser be
I fall would ceaee contention,
If none would strengthen by his acts
The rank we«*«l* of dissension.
If each and every one would strive,
In love's wide fi«dd to labor;
Choose his own creed—and alg> give
The same right to his neighbor.
Let the Soul Assert Itself.
There are no divinities among us. The
most finely-touched spirit in our midst is
only a spark of the Divine, struggling up
to its Bource through the opaque wrap
pings of mortality. Our prelates are hu
man, and our prophets arc fallible. The
most they can give us is here and there »
glimpse and a suggestion ; for the re-'t we
must lift up our eyes and strf''-li forth
our hands, standing fast by the oracles ot
God and the voice within us.
Hut we have fn'leu upon days of auda
city and assumption. Grave doctors roll
up their ithical. aestlietical and theological
pill*, and sagely count them out—so many
sugar-coated, blue, and belladonna to be
takifll every hour till thoroughly indoctrin
ated. To make answer: "I have meat
that ye know not of," or, " I see a light
yonder," is rank heresy. If they cannot
dispel the illusion with any crow-bar of
logic, or battering-ram of rhetoric, we are
given over to the father of lies with an unc
tious anathama.
To what purpose, then, aro our strong:
instincts and full-voiced souls? We go
forth with our destinies in our hands. It
is not Paul, nor Apollos, nor Cephas we
seek, hut an answer from the Infinite with
out to the infinite within. No man of
true magnanimity will use the prestige of
his genius, the magnetism of his person
ality, nor even the fine threads of intui
tion and prophecy, to compel another from
his convictions. To a great, reliant soul,
there is something pitiable in the sight of
a personality blown away and merged by a
power that it does not acknowledge, yet
cannot resist.
There hath been appointed under heav
en, no moral, intellectual, or religious
monarchy. The new-born babe is a self
asserter, in spite of swathing bands. The
blue-eyed boy of six summers will startle
the deepest philosopher with his innocent
questioning, and sometimes leap at once
to the solution of a problem, which the
most sapient research had failed to com
pass.
Every homo should be the fostering
place of tlrae qualities which make self
sustained men and women; but ft is too
often a kind of mint,%hose copper, silver
and gold coin are all stamped alike with
the ancestral arms. Away with the mum
mery of hereditary opinion—political, re
ligious, or any other ! To fasten the faith
of a developing soul to the skirts of your
own creed, is a wrong to that soul, to your
self, and to your creed. Sooner or later,
the knowledge will come to him that your
light is his darkness. The heavens have
not opened to him; he has been walking
blindly in your footsteps, with no revela
tion. The rays of the Godhead may
stream upon your upturned gaze, but his
eyes follow the trail of your garments; he
sees no glory—hears no " well-beloved"—
feels no inspiration ; and, at last, enfeebled
with spiritual vassalage, and disheartened
by the gloom, he looses his hold, and is
tossed about helplessly. Let the glow of
your faith and the might of your prayers
surround- suhc a soul like an atmosphere;
but wait patiently till it thrills to the still
voice of the Revealer.
And ye weary-hearted—vexed and be
wildered with the counter teachings of
good and evil spirits, who come'alfke with
white wings and soft-pleading whispers,
pointing diverse ways to truth; ye mis
guided, with the demon of unbelief crouch
iug.darkly and heavily upon the beautiful
faith of your childhood; ye self-distrust
ful—despising the oracle within, so un
blessed of the oraclo without—be silent!
0, be silent! and the voice of the outer
Jove shall stir the soul of the inner Jove
to a glad l; Eureka!"
Sleep as Heaven's Gift.
11 Andsohegivcth.his beloved sleep."—
sleep of the body is the gift of God- So
said Honor of old, when he described it as
descending from the clouds, and resting on
the tents of the warriors around old Troy.
And so sang Virgil, when he spoke of Pa
linurus falling asleep uprm the prowofthe
ship. Sleep is thegiftofGod. We think
(hat we lay our heads upon our pillows,
and compose our bodies in a peaceful pos
ture, and that, therefore, we naturally
sleep. But it is not so. Sleep is the gift
of God; and not a man wouk. ose his
eyes, did not God put his fingers on his
eyelids—did not the Almighty send a soil
and balmy influenceover his frame, which
lulled his thoughts into quiescence, mak
ing him enter into ihat blissful state of rest
which we call sleep. True, there be some
drugs and narcotics thereby men can poi
son themselves well-nigh to death, and then
call it steep; but the sleep of the healthy
body is the gift of God. lie pestows it;
he roeks the cradle for us every night; he
draws the curtain of darkness; he bids the
sun shut up his burning eyes; and then
he comesand says, 'Sleep, sleep, my child!
I give the sleep.' Have you not known
what it is, at times, to lay upon yonr bed
and strive to slumber 112 And. as it is said
of Darius, so might be said ot you; 'The
king sent for his musicians, but his sleep
went from him.' You have attempted it,*
but you could not do it ; it is beyond your
power to procure a healthy repose. You
imagine, if you fix your mind npon a cer
tain subject until it shall engross your at
tention. you will then sleep; but you find
yourself unable to do so. Ten thousand
things drive through yourbrain, as if the
whole earth were agitated .before you. —
You see all things you ever beheld, dan
cing in a wild phantasmagoria before your
eyes. You close you eyes, but still you
sec ; and there be things in your ear, aud
head, aud brain, which will not let you
sleep. It is God alone who alike seals up
the sea-boy's eyes upon the gidy mast, and
gives the monarch rest; for, with applian
ces and means to boot, he could not rest
without the aid of God. It is God who
steeps the miud in Lethe, and bids us
slumber, that our bodies may be refreshed
so that, for to-miirrow's toil, we may rise
recruited and strengthened. O, my friends
how thankful should we be for' sleep !
Sleep is the best physician that I know of.
Sleep hath healed more pains of wearied
bones than the juost eminent physicians
upon earth. It is the best medicine; the
choicest thing of all the names which are
written in the lists of pharrHacy. There is
nothing like to sleep ! What a mercy it is
that it belongs alike all! God does not
make sleep the boon of the rich man ; he
does not give it merely to the noble, or the
rich, so that they can keep it a peculiar
luxury for theinselvas; but ho bestows it
upon all. Yes, if there be any difference,
the sleep of the laboring man is sweet,
whether he eat a little or much.'
From tlie Louisville Journal.
Thrilling Narrative of Libby Prison.
I was captured on the 21st of Septem
ber. 1863, by the Eighth 1 'exas Cavalry,
in Cooper's Gap of Lookout Mountain,
fifteen miles from Chattanooga. At the
same time some two hundred others of
Col. AVatkius' Third Cavalry Brigade fell
into the hands of Gen. Wheeler's corps.
The first act of Confederate kindness that
I received was at the hands of a Captain,
who threatened to blow my brains out for
refusing to inform him of direction ta
ken by our retreating column. lie also
kindly relieved me of my sash, which I
had refused to deliver to him.
We were placed under charge of the
First Kentucky (rebel) Cavalry. ToCapt.
Witt, of this reg't., I am indebted for the
preservation of my hat, coat, boots and
watch; which, but for his care, would most
certainly have been taken from me. Num
bers had already been robbed. Almost
every overcoat and blanket had already
been taken.
It was amusing, even to a prisoner, to
witness the manner in which this robbery
was committee!. If a Federal soldier was
the possessor of a. good hat or a pair of
boots, a rebel would approach him, and,
with mocking politeness, invite our Fed
eral to " Come down outen that ar hat;
come up outcn them ar boots." Rather
quickly, by some rough game that two
played at, boots and hat changed posses
sor. -In some instances the Union sol
dier would be permitted to pick up some
pieces of leather and felt to replace, in
some measure, what had been taken from
him.
If the prisoner had provisions, he was
considerably relieved of them. That night
many a rebel mess rejoiced over a nice
warm cup of Yankee coffee.
About fifty wagons were captured, most
of which, after being plundered, were
burned, the teams having been taken off
by the drivers in their escape.
On the night of our capture we were
quartered in the camp of the Ist Kentucky
cavalry. And here I would gratefully ac
knowledge the kindness shown me by Dr.
William Gault, surgeon of the reg't., who
generously shared his blanket and his
crust with me, and did everything in his
power for our wounded. My greeting also
to Dr. Evans and Capt Rogers, of the Ist
Kentucky.
It was a cold night; the men were put
into a lot, without shelter and with very
few blankets. They built a fire, keeping
from freezing as best they could. Xo ra
tions were issued,
On the following day we were escorted
by details from the Bth and 11th Texas,
and Ist Kentucky cavalry, under command
of Lieut. Brooks, of Ist Ky. cavalry, to
Tunnel Hill. Lieut. Brooks proved him
self to be a kind and humane gentleman.
We started early in the morning, march
ing until nearly midnight, making short
baits every few miles to rest. The pris
oners, being cavalrymen, were easily fa
tigued ; besdes, many were sick. Dark
night came on by the time we reached
Ringgold, the whole party nearly fagged
out. Longing for rest, we certainly ex
pected to remain in Ringgold until morn
ing. But no; the inexorable man of au
thority ordered Lieut. Brooks to drive his
prisoners on. On we went.
And as the weary he p d pressed on, many
a foot was blistered sore, many a throat be
came dry and parched, many a parched
tongue craved for water, many a knee
grew too weak to bear the wearied frame
any further.
For some the task was more than they
could perform. Many dropped by the
roadside exhausted. In these cases the
guard showed more mercy and tenderness
than we expected. A number of them
dismounted, put the exhausted prisoners
upon their horses, themselves, in many in
• stances, leading the horses which tho rid
ers were too weak to control. At last the
longed-for end of the journey came, and
we were turned out on the common for the
remainder of the night. We could hardly
be expected to eat without food or sleep
without covering. Finally, about a pint
of coarse cornmeal for three men, and a
small piece of bacon was brought to us,
and devoured with a relish. How the
meal was made into bread and baked I
really do not know. However, the Yan
kee soldier is very shifty, and carries with
him, even iuto captivity, his propensity
for burning rails.
On the 23d we were moved to Dalton ;
on the 24th to Atlanta. Still no rations
had been issued.
The rpason assigned was that they had
nothing. Weary, hungry, and blanket
less, we turned out upon the commons;
confined to a small-space by a company of
Home Guards; who, with bright but
trembling bayonets, compelled us to keep
at a respectful distance. This space was
horribly filthy ; the ground without sod.
eovere® with pebbles and jagged rocks.
Here it was doubtless intended that we
should repose anil sweetly slumber. Heavy
dews fell at night, and no wood was allow
ed. Our condition was anything but
, pleasant.
On the 25th wo received first one, and
afterwards five days' rations, consisting of
a few crackers and meat in proportion.—
Citizens who came to give or sell to the
soldiers were driven away by the guard.
At night we were driven into " Hell's
Half Acre,' ( an enclosure surrounded by a
plank mill some eighteen feet iu height,
with sentries walking their beats above us.
We were guarded by graybacks with guns,
and tormented by graybacks without guns.
The latter were very small and quite in
sinuating in their addresses, also said to
■ be branded C. S. We called them At
lanta Home Guards. 1 can give but a
passing notice of the " Hell's Half Acre;"
yet it has a tragic history, which will yet
come to light. A large number of deser
ters from Bragg's army were confined
there waiting their fate; also a Tennessee
Major, with ball and chain, brought by
disease to a mere skeleton ; for what cause,
let those tell who kept him there until
death released him.
From Atlanta to Richmond, we were
guarded by Texas, Alabama, and Georgia
troops, commanded by Captain John W.
Turner, of the 19th regiment South Caro
lina infantry. By him we were treated
universally with kindness and courtesy.
Arrived at Richmond on the Ist ofOc
toher llp, m. The enlisted men were
sent to various buildings; the officers taken
to the famous Libby.
The sensation a prisoner feels u]>on see
• ing Libby for the first time is indescribable.
Ho certainly feels as if he had already lost
all of his friends, and now his own turn
had come.
In the office of the prison, as much of
our money as coufcl be heard from was ta
ken from us and eredited. No search was
made.
We were taken into the third story, di
rected down a dark pair of stairs into a
darker room, and to"go down thar." A
horrible stench greeted us; the floor was
wet, and covered from one end to the other
with human bodies. By climbing upon
and under a large table in the room we
managed to find space upon which to lie.
The rations of the officers we found to
jonsist of eight or ten ounces of light bread,
two or four ounces of spoiled or badly cur
ed bacon, smelling so badly that wc were
obliged to hold our nostrils in order to eat
it.
In addition to this we received a small
quantity of peas, full of vorms, or, in lieu
of peas, three quarts of rice, for fifty men.
We afterwards received about four ounces
of beef per day, instead of bacon, and corn
bread took the place of wheat bread.
At one time The ration of meat was stop
ped, two or three small frosted weet pota
toes being given instead. The reason for
issuing such potatoes being that they were
commissary stores, and unless used would
rot entirely. At times we received no food
for two days. Then meat would be with
held for several days, and the privilege of
buying denied us. The surge jns left
Libby on the 24th of November. On the
21st, 22d, 23d and 24th no meat had been
g ven us, and the bread was of such char
acter that we could scarcely eat it. On the
20th of November the prisoners in Castle
Thunder had been nine days on bread and
water. One of them, a citizen prisoner
from Connecticut, named Thompson, had
received from home a box containing
clothing, valued at perhaps 850, which he
offered to give freely for one pound of
meat. Sometimes our supply of wood was
cut off for a day, though many cords were
lying within twenty yards of our prison.
It may well be asked how could we live
on such fare. lam certain that not more
than five officers of the hundreds in Libby
lived for more than a week at any time
upon the rations furnished by the prison
authorities. Those who attempted it, from
being too proud or to foolish to receive from
their more fortunate fellows, soon became
lean, lank, cadeavorous frequentersof the
kitchen to keep warm, or were sent as pa
tients to the hospital. We were divided
off into classes of about thirty each, with
one of the members a a commissary, who 1
levied a weekly tax upon those who had
money. This money was spent for veget
ables to put into our soup and hash; sirup
and burnt rye to be Used as coffee. We
also divided ourselves into smaller messes
of from four to six members, with a eater
cr, who would buy butter, eggs, coffee,
meat, and extra bread for his mess. When
the market was denied us, long faces were
decidedly in the ascendant. Besides the
privilege of the market, officers arc allow
ed to receive boxes of provisions from home.
These boxes, I beleive. are. almost without
an exception, received by those whom they
are sent.
The officers were confined in six'rooms,
each 43 foet wide by 102feetin length. In
one end of each room was the sink, which,
often neglected, would become so offensive
that we could scarcely bear the stench.—
The floors were frequently washed and
scrubbed just before dark, and
us a wet floor to sleep upon, thus-adding
another item to the list of our many dis'
comforts.
For a time many of the officers had no
blankets or other bedding—the bare floor
to lie upon, nothing to keep them warm.
Very few had more than one blanket, un
til supplied by thcU. S.Sarfitary Commis
sion and friends at home. There was no
glass in the windows ; hence many were
compelled, by the cold wind whistling
through, to pace the floor for half the night
to save themselves from freezing.
On November 20th the following prices
were paid by officers in Libby Prison for
the articles named : —Flour perbbl., 8200;
meat of any kind per pou id, S3; meal per
bushel, 830; butter per pound, 80; eggs per
dozen, 83; chickens per pair, 812; one tur
key, 830; sugar per pound, 84; coffee per
pound, 812; potatoes (sweet or Irish) per
bushel, 830; onions per dozen, 83; oysters
per quart, 820, molasses, per gallon, 824;
apples perbbl., 800; nails 20c apiece. These
prices were paid in Confederate money,
seven dollars of which was worth onedol
lar in greenbacks.
Such is but a faint description of the
officers' fare in I/ibby. Of the private sol
dier's condition I do not know enough to
give n just idea. Ido not believe pen can
portray his sufferings. You have doubt
less seen many accounts published by per
sons released from Richmond. Most of the
accounts I believe to be true; yet much,
very much, is still uui >ld. Those officers
who have been in Hello Island tell of suf
fering and privations endured that makes
your blood run cold.
I have seen prisoners, Federal soldiers,
pick up old, hard, musty corn bread out of
the muddy guttcrsof the street, and cat it.
I have seen them, when stooping for this
bread, fall upon the ground from weak
ness—from what I believe to have been
starvation. I have heard them, when of
fered clothing by tho Federal officers, to
say, ' Give us bread first—wo are starv
ing." I know that they were robbed of
their blankets and clothing at Atlanta atld
in Richmond. I saw huudrcdsoftheni be
ing sent off to Danville, without blankets,
without overcoats, without shoes, without
socks. lam certain that not one in fifty
had a blanket. Our Government may
well look after the prisoners takeu to Dan
ville.
The reasons assigned for such treatment
Were various. Sometimes because they
could do no better; sometimes it was as
punishment for some petty offence; at other
times it was—well, what! . Perhaps the
following extract from the Richmond Ex
aminer, of Oct. 30,1853, will throw some
light upon the subject.
"The Yankee Government, under all the
laws of civilized warfare and the cartel,
arc entitled to these men, and, if they will
not take them, let them be put where the
cold and scant fare will thin them out in
accordance with the laws of nature."
CHATTANOOGA, Dec. 14—Col. Wil-.
kins, commanding a Kentucky brigade,
returned to-day, from a cavalry reconnois
sanee as far as Lafayette. Th«y dashed,
into Lafayette and captured a rebel signal
station, six officers, forty privates. The
balanoeofa large force of rebels fled.
The 20th IV regiment has been erder
ed home for furlough, having re-enlisted
as veteran volunteers. A number of vet
eran regiments and batteries are prepar
ing to enlist under the new order.
A rumor prevails that Longstreet in his
retreat from Knoxville lost four thousand
prisoners and pearly all his cannon and
trains.
General Palmer's resignation as com
mander of the 14th corps, which was *c
cepted, has been recalled, and he is again
in command.
James Walker, a New York artist, has
been commissioned to paint the battle of
Chattanooga.
ASYLUM FOB SOLDIERS' ORPHANS.
—About a year ago, the Directors of'
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company
offered to place at the disposal of the
State Government the sum of fifty
thousand dollars, to encourage volun
teering, but Gov. Curjin did not feel
authorized to accept it. In the be- •
lief that the offer of the Company
still remains good, we learn that Gov.
Curtin intends suggesting to the Leg
islature that it authorize him to re
ceive the sum, and that an appropria
tion be made, in addition, the whole
amount to be used for the establish
ment of a home for the orphan chil
dren of soldiers of tnis State. The
suggestion is a very praiseworthy one,
and reflects great credit upon the Gov
ernor. We trust it may be adopted.