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"Of the Libby Prison" I find the following description in my diary kept while I was an inmate of that famous abode of misery. Close to the canal and at the corner of Cary and 21st Sts. And within a mile of "Rocketts" stands the horrible Libby Prison. The entire length of the building on Cary St. is about 135 ft. with a depth of about 90 ft. on 21st St. It is divided into 3 sections by stout brick wall and is on the side next to the canal four stories while on Cary St. It is but 3 stories in height - each of the stories being divided into 3 oblong rooms of 45 x 9O ft. On the ground floor the room next to 21st Street is appropriated to the rebel guard, the next to the Union officers and the third is the hospital. This is on the Cary St. side or front of the building. On the Canal side the lower story or ground floor is the cook house and receptical for the dead until a sufficient number have accumulated to make it worthwhile to remove them or until the stench becomes too great for the rebels themselves to bear. Some of the few prisoners were Quakers and were released on the payment of $500 each.
(A rum a turn turn, a rum a turn turn)
Beat his heart to the rhythm of a civil war drum.
At sixteen years he was too young to fight,
but his patriotism burned with a fire and a light.
(A rum a turn turn, a rum a turn turn)
So - he dreamed - to the rhythm of a civil war drum
of glory and deeds and doing his part.
He was big and strong and ready to start.
(A rum a turn turn, a rum a turn turn)
"Please" he begged to the rhythm of a civil war drum...
with a wave and a smile he stepped into line.
"Don't worry mom and dad, everything'll be fine."
(A rum a turn turn, a rum a turn turn)
He left to the rhythm of a civil war drum.
Down the stony roads past the wheat and the oats,
'long the fields where the briars tugged at their coats.
(A rum a turn turn, a rum a turn turn)
They marched to the rhythm of the civil war drum.
For miles and miles and days and weeks,
they marched through the hollows and the bogs and the creeks.
(A rum a turn turn, a rum a turn turn)
They marched to the rhythm of a civil war drum.
Then a puff and a "Crack" and one lay dead,
Now he suddenly knew what lie ahead.
(A rum a turn turn, a rum a turn turn)
How they fought to the rhythm of a civil war drum!
An eternity later, with wound and deed,
he returned a man; now to plant the seed.
(A rum a turn turn, a rum a turn turn)
His glory was the story of the civil war drum.
Dear Brother:
I have picked up my pencil to drop you a few lines. I am well and this may find you the same. The battle commenced here on the first of the month inst. We got here on the second early in the morning, and were taken out to fight at four in the afternoon. We fought for over an hour, and drove them back about one mile. Then another corps was sent into relieve us, and we fell back. The Rebs drove that corps back, and we had to double quick for about half a mile. Then the Sixth Corps came in and drove the Rebs back over the sarne ground that we had done, and held it so that we got out our dead and wounded.
Our regt. went into the battle, six hundred strong and now we muster 250. 1 suppose if all the stragglers were in we would have300 men. Our Brigadier General Zob, and our Colonel R.P. Roberts were killed. Our Major is missing. I will give you the names of Co. H. that I know have been killed. Jonathan Berlin, Jas. Taggart, John Blackmore, Allander Grier, wounded, Capt. Samuel Campbell, through the side of the neck, the doctors says that it is not dangerous,J.B. Vance side of the thigh, not very bad. Thomas Miller in the hand. James Beal, in the hand. George Fox, in the thigh, Hugh Adams in the thigh. There are many others killed and wounded that you don't know. Capt. Campbell is getting along very well. I heard from him today. Jake Fleigal is missing. I can't find him on the battlefield nor hearof him in the hospitals. I suppose that he has been taken prisoner. David Whitehill is missing and several others that you don't know. I suppose that they are prisoners. I wish that you would tell Berlins about Jonathan, being killed. He was buried yesterday by our prisoners. He has no relatives to write to them about his death. The Rebs began falling back yesterday evening. They have lost numbers of their men, killed, wounded and prisoners. I think they will get out of old Pennsylvania, as quick as possible. Our boys are following them. I suppose our corps will be amongst the rear this move, for it is badly cut up, and we had to do some big marching to get here. We marched thirty five miles in one day. It was the hardest days marching that we had done. James Campbell of Florence was killed, but I believe that the rest of the boys that you know are all right. The Johnny Rebs came pretty near getting me a prisoner but I managed to get out of their reach. We fought an awful hard battle, but had the better of them most of the time. I lost my portfolio, and paper and knapsack, but I have gathered up enough things to do me. Excuse bad writing for I have but little time, and it might be some time before I can send a letter. I send my love to you all. Give my respects to inquiring friends.
(Signed)
R.M. Crouse, (H Co. Pa. 140th)
Thurs. Jan. 1, 1863. Camp Newar New Berne, N.C. moved our camp cross trent river then went to un & got a regerous dinner & a drink of whiskey so on & soforth.
Fri. 2. Nothing on hands today in camping. Dry in camp to day.
Sat. 3. Went over to the 168 to Joe Thoeant you don't know how glad I was to see him he maid me a preasant of 1 shirt & drangees.
Sun. 4. Sunday morning inspection Nick Calhoon & I went over to see Thornt.
Mon. 5. Our knap sacks came on this morning from Suffolk. Mine was robed. I sent sister Lil a letter to day.
Tues. 6. Went to town today in the forennoon Thornt came over to see me but I was in town, a shower of rain this evening.
Wed. 7. Bregede review by Colonel Howell today 1 @ nice day for it.
Thurs. 8. Went to town this morning and bregade review by General Hunt.
Fri. 9. Nothing on hands today the 96 N. Y. stacked arms & has refused to do any more duty until paid off.
Sat. 10. A regimental court martial today in camp two of Co. F & 18 of W.A.
Sun. 11. The comicary to come on this eve from Suffold. I was down at the cars this eve to meet them & got most killed on the bridge got my finger mashed got three letters.
Mo. 12. 1 got excused from duty today & went to town.
Tues. 13. Nothing of importance on hands today in camp.
Wed. 14. Went to town today with Jacob Martin & run around the most of the day & then returned to camp.
Thurs. 15. 1 skirmished drill in the afternoon. A wet & windy knight as ever I saw in my life.
Fri. 16. Went to town today & had a skirmish drill in the afternoon.
Sat. 17. Nothing on hands today wrote George Dawson a letter.
Sun. 18. Went to church today in New Berne N.C.
Mon. 19. On guard today Capt. May is discharged from the U.S. States Army.
Tues. 20. Came of guard today it is a wet day.
Wed. 21. Capt. May left for home today I went to town today & got a pair of suspenders & a vest.
Thurs. 22. Nothing on hands today I traided pockets books with John Risinger.
Fri. 23. Nothing on hands today drewed a pair of shoes from Uncle Sam.
Sat. 24. Nothing in camp today but drill.
Sun. 25. Brigade inspection in the forenoon & then I went to town to church to the Episcupalians & to Joe Ghomes McGaffick.
Mon. 26. Drill in the morning & in the afternoon.
Tues. 27. On guard today lost my pocket book today fifty cents & eight stamps.
Wed. 28. Wet day in camp. Dress parade got a letter from May Reed.
Thurs. 29. Nothing on hands today went down to town to see Y.B. McGaffick.
Fri. 30. Nothing on hands today I don't feel very well today stayed in camp all day.
Sat. 31. Company drill this morning Regimental drill in the afternoon.
Feb. 1, 1863 Sunday. Setting in the Methodist Church in New Berne N.C. listing to a good preach came home by Thornt.
Mon. 2. Nothing special today in camp all day very lonesome.
Tues. 3. There is about one inch of snow this morning for the first this winter it is very windy today on guard to day.
Wed. 4. Came of guard this morning a cold day for north Carolina went to town to see thomas McGaffick.
Thurs. 5. A wet day in camp it rained all knight last knight it just run through our tent like sive.
This Diary of Clark C.A. Hunter is in the
possession of a grandson C.A. Hunter of Merced, California. 1,
Vivian McLaughlin, sister-in-law of Mr. Hunter borrowed the diary
and copied it as it was written, thus the mis-spelled words and
no punctuation were as the original.