place but little confidence in anything that may be said in relation to this subject.

Sawyer has become our best authority on exchange, and expresses his opinions with all the bombast and assurance of a Wall-street broker. This is the Captain Sawyer, who, with Captain Flynn, of the Fiftyfirst Indiana Infantry, was sentenced to be shot in retaliation for two Rebel officers tried and shot by Burnside, in Kentucky, for recruiting within the Federal lines.

Flynn was a modest man, and bore his notoriety commendably. Sawyer did a great deal of talking, and made himself a mark for many rich jokes. The prisoners often remarked that they would give a thousand dollars to be shot as Sawyer was.

HOSTAGES DESTINED FOR SALISBURY.

A short time since twenty-four captains were ordered down to Turner's office to draw lots for the chances of going to Salisbury, North Carolina. Three of the number were to be chosen as hostages for as many Rebel officers confined by our authorities in the penitentiary at Alton, Illinois. The lots fell on Captains Julius L. Litchfield, of the Fourth Maine Infantry, Edward E. Chase, First Rhode Island Cavalry, and Charles Kendall, of the Signal Corps. Last night they were ordered out and sent to their destination, where they are sentenced to hard labor.*

December 31, 1863.-This day closes up the old year, and soon, if life be spared, we shall enter upon

*We afterwards learned that they refused to work, and were never compelled to.

the duties of the new; and how shrouded in gloom are the issues of coming time. Thronging memories of past joys are throwing a pall of sadness on the countenances of many, while others, thinking of the festivities of other days, on the occasion of this anniversary, seem desirous of celebrating as they were wont to do in the more peaceful days of yore. Many are making preparations to have a dance in the "cookroom" this evening. Evening advances, and with its onward march the dance ensues. For a time they seem to forget that they are securely enclosed within these inhospitable prison walls. The merriment and hilarity continue till the old year passes away to re

turn no more.

Some, apparently disgusted with the reckless merriment, collect in groups, and sing, in full chorus, national songs, till the old year is gone. "The StarSpangled Banner," "Red, White, and Blue," " Rally Round the Flag, Boys," peal through the long rooms with terrible emphasis, and, when the chorus,

'The Union forever,-hurrah, boys, hurrah!
Down with the traitors and up with the stars,

While we rally round the Flag, boys, rally once again!
Shouting the battle-cry of Freedom!"

is reiterated again and again, with significant beating of feet, it seems as if the very roof must give way before the accumulated volume of sound.

Some, as quietly as they can, in the midst of so much noise, watch the old year out, according to their custom, with prayer and religious songs. All make a "watch-night" of it, for sleep is entirely out of the question.

Some time ago a contribution of a little money, still preserved from the rapacity of the authorities, was taken up among us, and some musical instruments were purchased. A bass-viol, violin, and banjo, compose our orchestral display, besides a bushel or more of "bones."

All these are on "extra duty" to-night and certainly assist us, in some degree, to forget our aches and privations. Such jollifications the Rebels allow, I suppose, because they happen to be in good humor or have amusements of their own to attend to.

NEW YEAR IN LIBBY.

January 1, 1864.-We hail the new year with peculiar emotions, hoping it may be the harbinger of release, and that its experiences may be less dark and repulsive than those of the. past. Its records will, ere long, be fixed by the historian, and posterity will know the successes and defeats, the trials and sufferings, of the present eventful epoch.

Some little attempt has been made by the cooks to give us a "New Year's dinner," although no extra rations have been issued. For instance, instead of simply boiled rice and corn-cakes, they have given us rice soup, or rice-water and gruel; rice pudding, that is, boiled rice mixed with corn-meal and water; cornmeal pudding, which is meal-batter mixed with boiled rice; then we have had boiled rice and corn-bread, pure, unmixed, à la Libby. It has been well nigh equal to the fare described by the poet of Castle Thunder. He says:

"We have eighteen kinds of food, though 'twill stagger your

belief,

We have bread, beef, and soup, and bread, soup, and beef;
Then we separate about, with twenty in a group,

And get beef, soup, and bread, and beef, bread, and soup;
For our dessert we obtain, though it costs us nary red,
Soup, bread, and beef, and beef, soup, and bread."

The following is now our daily allowance of rations:-Three-fourths of a pound of coarse cornbread, one gill of rice, one-half pound of beef, and a very little salt. On such rations we are left to live or die. Groceries can be purchased of the prison commissary at the following rates: —

At the above prices the prisoners may purchase the necessaries of life by disposing of their clothing, rings, and anything else of value which it may be their good fortune to possess.

PUNISHMENT FOR SINGING OUR NATIONAL SONGS.

January 24.-It has all along been our custom to go down to the cook-room occasionally for a promenade, there being better opportunities for exercise there than in our own quarters. It is a great relief to walk without being constantly compelled to elbow