From the National Tribune,
1/6/1887
What Became of the Dog Slayer?
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: On
the 11th of July, 1863
, during a charge on
Fort
Wagner
, in which the 76th
Pa.
took part, Serg’t Louis P. Lienberger, of Co. B, was captured, with many
others of his command. After a few days they were marched to
Richmond
,
Va.
, and confined in Libby Prison, made notorious during the war as one of the
h---s on earth, where brave men struggled against starvation, filth, vermin,
etc., with no relief except when that welcome visitor, death, came to their
relief.
Comrade Lienberger, after a short stay in Libby, was
transferred to
Belle
Island
, where he remained till March, 1864, when he was paroled and soon after
exchanged.
While on Belle Isle the rations were so meager and of such
poor quality, that anything in the shape of food was eagerly sought after. The
officer in immediate command at the time was the owner of a fine pointer dog
that came inside the prison frequently in company with his master. So it
occurred to a member of the 13th
Ind.
and Comrade Lienberger that they would make the attempt to capture and kill
that dog, and thus procure food. Watching their opportunity they allured the dog
into their excuse for a tent, when they suddenly threw a blanket over him to
stifle his cries, and, while Lienberger held the dog’s hind legs, the
Indiana
man succeeded in cutting his throat. They dressed the carcass, selling some of
the meat and giving some away, still retaining a good share for themselves.
They were almost ready to congratulate each other upon
their success, when the alarming cry came sounding harshly on their ears that
the Lieutenant’s dog was missing, and that he was satisfied it had been killed
by some of the prisoners, and that if the guilty parties were not forthcoming he
would stop their rations for seven days. There was some hustling around to find
who did it, and it was soon saddled on the guilty parties. They were called out
to meet their accuser face to face, one at a time, the
Indiana
man being called last. His fate up to this time is unknown to Lienberger. He
never returned inside the prison. Lienberger, on being questioned by the
Lieutenant for his reason for helping to kill the dog, answered frankly that he
was starving, and simply helped to kill the dog to procure something to live
upon. The Lieutenant, after giving him a reprimand for his conduct, sent him
back to his quarters to reflect on the past and wonder what was in store for him
in the future. Comrade Lienberger is anxious to know the fate of the man who
dared so much with him to procure food. Though revolting under ordinary
circumstances, yet it was sweetness to starving men. If any comrade can give any
information in regard to the matter, it will be gratefully received and highly
appreciated, either through the NATIONAL TRIBUNE or directly to me. - LOUIS P.
LIENBERGER, Co. B, 76th
Pa.
,
Bainbridge
,
Ind.
Page
last updated on
07/24/2009
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