Libby.—An old tobacco warehouse in Richmond, Va., which was temporarily converted into a military prison; and for cruelty and torture to the Union prisoners this place was second only to Andersonville.
Salisbury.—A town in North Carolina, which had another depot for prisoners.
There were also prisons established for the retention of Confederate prisoners at Camp Douglas, Chicago, Camp Chase, Ohio, Elmira, N. Y., Point Lookout, Md., and Rock Island, Ill.
At Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, a permanent military prison was established in accordance with an act of Congress passed March 3, 1873, in which soldiers of the U. S. army are confined for serious offenses against military law.
At Dartmoor, a desolate region in England, a prison was constructed in 1809 for the confinement of French prisoners of war which deserves a passing notice, inasmuch as Americans were confined there during the war of 1812. It comprised 30 acres, inclosed with double walls, with seven distinct prison-houses with inclosures. In 1812 there were 6000 American prisoners of war within its walls who were treated with much cruelty, and, in consequence of the appearance of mutinous intentions of some of the prisoners on account of the tardiness of the English officials in releasing them after the treaty of peace was ratified, they were fired upon by the English soldiers, which resulted in the killing of 5 and wounding of 33 prisoners. This act was regarded in America as a wanton massacre.
Privas. A town of France, capital of the department of Ardèche, 26 miles southwest from Valence. In the civil wars of the 16th and 17th centuries in France, Privas, which was then a strongly-fortified town, played a conspicuous part, being always favorable to the Protestant party. In 1629 it was bravely defended by a small garrison under St. André de Montbrun against Louis XIII., but after a siege of two months had to be abandoned. Montbrun being soon afterwards taken was hanged, and the fortifications of Privas were leveled to the ground.
Private. The title applied in the British army to a common soldier of the cavalry and infantry; the corresponding rank in the artillery being gunner or driver, and in the engineers, the sapper. A private in the cavalry is sometimes called a trooper. In the U. S. army all the soldiers who are below the grade of non-commissioned officers are called privates.
Privy-coat. A light coat or defense of mail, concealed under the ordinary dress.
Prize. That which is taken from another; a thing seized by force, stratagem, or superior power. Hence, specifically, anything captured by a belligerent using the right of war.
Prize. The application of a lever to move any weighty body, as a cask, cannon, or the like.