The “Libby Burlesque Troupe,” as they announced in their programme Saturday morning, October 17th, 1863, appeared for the last time that evening, owing to their having an engagement in Washington, for which purpose they expected to leave on the next “Flag of Truce Boat.” They exhibited to a crowd of Yankees with one or two Rebels included. The performances were very good, considering the impromptu manner in which they were gotten up. They consisted of songs, dances and the reading of the “Libby Ironical,” which was a burlesque on the “Libby Chronicle,” the weekly issue of which had been read the forenoon previous.
During the hot weather of July and August, the variety displayed in the costume of the inmates of the Prison, was decidedly laughable. Here you would see a man with nothing but drawers and shirt on, there one with drawers minus the shirt, while close by was another with the shirt minus the drawers, and then another one with nothing on but a linen coat (Raglan style), his clothes being out washing, no doubt. This style of dress was very comfortable during that kind of weather, but when the cold days of October came, it was rather unpleasant to be compelled to go around without socks or drawers and only one shirt, which valuable article we were obliged to dispense with occasionally for the purpose of having them washed. We had blankets enough during the warm weather, but when the cold nights set in, it was discovered that while some had an abundant supply, others had only one, and many had none at all. Repeated complaints having been made to the Rebel officials, Inspector Turner made his appearance one Sunday morning and proceeded to make a division of the house, putting prisoners in one room and blankets in the other. He then gave to each man as he passed back into the room, two old blankets (U. S.), but the supply not being sufficient to go around, the remainder of the men had to go without, and on application to the authorities we were informed that they had no more, and consequently could give us no more. The bedding and clothing furnished to our sick in the hospital was supplied by the United States Sanitary Commission.
The principal topic of conversation and excitement in Libby was the “Exchange Question.” When we first made our advent in that highly popular institution, it was certainly thought that we would not possibly remain longer than ten days or two weeks. But at the end of that time we were still there, the Commissioners not having met; “but just as soon as they do meet we will be exchanged sure, and go home by the first Truce boat.” In this manner we consoled ourselves in our misfortune. Well, the Commissioners met, but did not agree. And the Rebel authorities then published a statement, that they had made a proposition to our Government, which was so plausible on its face that we thought it would be immediately accepted, as a matter of course, but something intervened to prevent the exchange. And so it went on, first one rumor and then another; first would come the report that the surgeons and chaplains were going to leave on the next boat, and the officers were to follow immediately; this statement would be directly succeeded by the report that the Commissioners had disagreed and there would be no more exchanges during the war. The next report would come from the hospital, to the effect that a clerk in the War Department had just been to see a friend there and told him that a boat was up, and that the chaplains and some of the officers would be exchanged. And so on without end, each day bringing some new sensation relative to the exchange question, and each one without foundation. Upon the arrival of any of these statements it would be followed by the vociferous cries of “get ready,” “pack up,” “pack up,” from all parts of the house, while the inmates would soon gather in crowds to discuss the correctness of the report. One would be certain of its truth, for it came from a reliable gentleman; the next would be a little doubtful, while the third one declared he would hardly believe we were exchanged even if Capt. Turner should come up himself and announce the fact.
Lieut. Flick, for an attempt to bribe the guard and escape, was taken out and confined in the cell for some three weeks, then released and sent back among the officers.
When we first entered Libby we could exchange our greenbacks for Confederate trash at the rate of two dollars of the latter for one of the former. In a short time they began to increase in value, until we were able to get seven and a half Confederate for one of Federal, at which rate it ranged for a long time. At first the exchange of money was conducted through the sentinel stationed on guard at the stairway, but two or three having been arrested for so doing, put a stop to that manner of transacting business and another, but less dangerous, plan was adopted. One hundred dollars in greenbacks would be raised and sent out by one of the negro boys belonging to the establishment, who would exchange it with some citizen, and bring us back seven hundred and fifty dollars in Confederate rags, which was the only kind of currency we could use in the purchase of provisions.
The following is the list of officers from our regiment who were captured at Winchester and confined in Libby: Col. W. T. Wilson, Lt. Col. H. B. Hunter, Adjt. Blair, Capts. Riggs, Caldwell, Robbins, Rosenbaum, Randolph, Bender and Chamberlin; Lieuts. Davis, Smith, Bevington, Schuyler, Pumphrey, Breckenridge, Sowers, Colver, Williams, Acker and Boyce, making twenty-one in all. The enlisted men were taken to Belle Isle, confined there about three weeks, when they were paroled and sent North.
On October 7th, the chaplains were aroused early in the morning, marched to the boat, and then taken down the James river to City Point, where they met the Flag of Truce boat, and went North. They were all very much elated, except Chaplain McCabe, of the 123d Ohio, who, on account of poor health, was obliged to wait for the next boat.
On the 11th a meeting of the Ohio and Pennsylvania officers was held for the purpose of making the necessary arrangements preparatory to holding our election. On the 13th election was held. At the Pennsylvania polls Curtin received a large majority. And at the Ohio polls one hundred and sixty-three votes were cast—one hundred and sixty-two for Brough and one for Jewett. Three Ohio officers refused to vote.
On the 16th we were notified by the Rebel authorities that they would only furnish us twenty-five dollars—Confederate—per month out of our money in their possession. This amount would not have furnished potatoes for one week, at the rate we were paying for them, but as we were under Rebel authority, we of course, had to submit.
Furnished with only a limited supply of Government rations, money taken from us, and only allowed in such small sums that it really amounted to nothing, caused us to think that perhaps they meant to starve us. Richmond daily papers were constantly complaining about their government feeding so many Yankees there; and one paper advised the authorities to confiscate the boxes of clothing and provisions that were sent us by our friends in the North.