Here, in Virginia, I met the most spiteful and venomous secessionists I had yet seen.
One of them--a prisoner--said that he had advocated raising the black flag, asserting that if it "had been done at first, the war would have been over long since."
"No doubt of it," I replied; "the whole Southern race would have been exterminated long before this."
This way of ending the war had not entered his mind, and he became very indignant at the suggestion.
All the next day was cold and gloomy. After noon, we succeeded in obtaining some wood for the big stove, with permission to make a fire in it, which was soon done, and a genial glow diffused over the whole room, in time to warm us before taking our departure for Richmond.
We started a while before dark, seated in good, comfortable cars--the best we enjoyed on the route. But we only ran a short distance to a junction, where we were again to change cars. The next train had not yet arrived, and we built a large fire, as it still continued bitterly cold. We could easily have escaped, for the passengers mingled with us around the fire, and we even went to a considerable distance away to procure fuel. But so confident were we of a speedy exchange, that we did not make the effort, and the golden opportunity passed unimproved. Oh! how greatly we afterward regretted that we had not at least made the attempt. Soon the other train arrived, and a few hours placed us in Richmond--the goal to which every Union soldier is turning his eyes, though he would not wish to reach it in the manner we did.
The City by Moonlight--Old Accusation Renewed--Libby Prison--Discomfort--A Change--Citizens' Department--Richmond Breakfast--Removed under Guard--Castle Thunder--Miniature Bedlam--Conceal a Knife--Confined in a Stall--Dreadful Gloom--Routine of a Day--Suffering at Night--Friends Exchanged--Newspapers--Burnside--Pecuniary Perplexities--Captain Webster--Escape Prevented--Try Again on Christmas Night--Betrayed--Fearful Danger Avoided.
It was still the same sparkling moonlight, and the same intense and piercing cold, that marked our journey the preceding night, when we left the cars, and entered the rebel capital.
Everything looked grim and silent through the frosty air, and our teeth chattered fast and loud as we walked through a few squares of this now historic city.