of the Cumberland Army, to the number of about two hundred
and fifty, were marched to Libby Prison.

This building has a front of about one hundred and forty feet, with a
depth of about one hundred and five. There are nine rooms, each one
hundred and two feet long, by forty-five wide. The height of ceilings
from the floor is about seven feet. The building is also divided into
three apartments by brick walls, and there is a basement below.

On entering the prison, we were severally searched, and every thing of
value taken from us. Some of us saved our money by putting it into the
seams of our garments before we arrived at Richmond. The officers of
the Army of the Cumberland were assigned to the middle rooms of the
second and third stories. The lower middle room was used as a general
kitchen, and the basement immediately below was fitted up with cells for
the confinement and punishment of offenders. These rooms received the
_sobriquet_ of Chickamauga.

The whole number of officers of the army and navy in prison at this time
was about eleven hundred--all having access to each other, except those
in the hospital. There were no beds or chairs, and all slept on the
floor. I shared a horse blanket with Surgeon Dixon, of Wisconsin, which
was the only bedding we had for some time. Our bread was made of
unbolted corn, and was cold and clammy. We were sometimes furnished with
fresh beef, corn beef, and sometimes with rice and vegetable soup. The
men formed themselves into messes, and each took his turn in preparing
such food as we could get.

At one time, no meat was furnished for about nine days, and the reason
given was, that their soldiers at the front required all they could
obtain. During this period, we received nothing but corn bread. Kind
friends sent us boxes of provisions from the North, which were opened
and examined by the Confederates, and if nothing objectionable was
found, and it pleased them, the party to whom a box was sent was
directed to come down and get it. Many of these were never delivered.
Every generous soul shared the contents of his box with his more
unfortunate companions. Had it not been for this provision, our life in
Libby would have been intolerable.

There was no glass in the windows, and for some time no fire in the
rooms. An application for window glass, made during the severest cold
weather, was answered by the assurance that the Confederates had none to
furnish. The worst affliction, howe