Afterrelievinghismindofaquantityofvigorousprofanity,andthreatsto\"buckandgag\"andcutofftherationsofthewholeroom,theofficerwouldreturntohisquartersintheguardhouse,butbeforehewasfairlyensconcedtherethecapandblousewouldgooutagain,andthemaddenedguardberegaledwithaspiritedandvividlyprofanelectureonthedepravityofRebelsingeneral,andhisownunworthinessinparticular。
OnenightinJanuarythingstookamoreseriousturn。Theboysonthelowerfloorofourbuildinghadlongconsideredaplanofescape。TherewerethenaboutfifteenthousandprisonersinRichmond——tenthousandonBelleIsleandfivethousandinthebuildings。OftheseonethousandfivehundredwereofficersinLibby。BesidesthereweretheprisonersinCastlesThunderandLightning。Theessentialfeaturesoftheplanwerethatatapreconcertedsignalweatthe,secondandthirdfloorsshouldappearatthewindowswithbricksandironsfromthetobaccopresses,whichashouldshowerdownontheguardsanddrivethemaway,whilethemenofthefirstfloorwouldpourout,chasetheguardsintotheboardhouseinthebasement,seizetheirarms,drivethoseawayfromaroundLibbyandtheotherprisons,releasetheofficers,organizeintoregimentsandbrigades,seizethearmory,setfiretothepublicbuildingsandretreatfromtheCity,bythesouthsideoftheJames,wheretherewasbutascantyforceofRebels,andmorecouldbepreventedfromcomingoverbyburningthebridgesbehindus。
Itwasamagnificentscheme,andmighthavebeencarriedout,buttherewasnooneinthebuildingwhowasgenerallybelievedtohavethequalitiesofaleader。
Butwhileitwasbeingdebatedafewofthehotheadsonthelowerfloorundertooktoprecipitatethecrisis。Theyseizedwhattheythoughtwasafavorableopportunity,overpoweredtheguardwhostoodatthefootofthestairs,andpouredintothestreet。Theotherguardsfellbackandopenedfireonthem;othertroopshastenedup,andsoondrovethembackintothebuilding,afterkillingtenorfifteen。Weofthesecondandthirdfloorsdidnotanticipatethebreakatthattime,andweretakenasmuchbysurpriseasweretheRebels。Nearlyallwerelyingdownandmanywereasleep。Somehastenedtothewindows,anddroppedmissilesout,butbeforeanyconcertedactioncouldbetakenitwasseenthatthecasewashopeless,andweremainedquiet。
Amongthosewholedintheassaultwasadrummer—boyofsomeNewYorkRegiment,arecklesslybravelittlerascal。Hehadsomehowsmuggledasmallfour—shooterinwithhim,andwhentheyrushedouthefireditoffattheguards。