The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-23

officers, after having been coniiI cd there nearly two
months Subject TO all the harassing thoughts Of cap
tiviy racksd with uncertainty and the OF appre
tensions makes feel kceny the sucrings OF those
noble men who now confined In Richmond and
other Southern cities, who, 10 their credit DO
II said, disdaned to run, refusing to purchase
safety at the expense OF their honor; and now
that the government is determining on an exchange
OF prisoners, o for all sakes, tho sake Of h
mainly let 1t be done as speed as ssibs II should
DO the detetmpat,os Ct every Northern rescue
them from the tomb which now SURF oulde thom, far
from their families in enemy country g. ect TO a
the anxeties Of prisoners life, which at home
not have the most remote Idea nor the slightest concop-
ton Of, and which makes them just obecs Of commse.
riton ana pity Although most Of them have expressed
awi ghess 70 stay and sni.r as long as 1t answers tho
purpose o government that IN should 10 yet they
are OF opiti that exchange of prisoners would
vove no prnc le which would Interfere with the gene
RAJ policy OF the government
The memo able 2lsl OF July will live in my mind
as long memory asts but Il not my intention horo
70 recount the incidents or sckenng details Of that dread
fui daywhich so many have attemp cd and given be-
iorc--bnt will connne my Sell to TOW facts which hap
pened under my immediate notice, having charge Of
the buildings around sudcy church, which sed for
hospital purposes under whose many bravo mon
D. cdtied thor last. Those buildings contained two
hundred and lightly OF our wounded All the force
had TO attend their pressing ten surgeons
aud some hall dozen pryaes who volunteered TO remain
and assist them IN their arduOus duties. From this fact
somc idea may DO formed OF the sulerngs those poor
=
at the proper timc and proud to think that thes
surgeons who remained and nObly did their duty arc
known to their country and will DO ror it,
ana remain standing reproach those whom saw de-
SORT their posts leaving their Ia that their hour
reed and still harder 10 think that who to
assist were Obliged to leave them at order from
RAJ Johnston on Monday night. Our leave taking
WAS painful III tho extreme. MANY Of them welt
them s MSe w sns q rs mo! as'
do. but there was appeal from il, nnd
the rebel ollcer who bore tho ordor was deeply
avctei bat said It was percmptory and we st oboy
SO we had 10 other alternative but TO submit 10 fate
VIII Oh grew harder every hour IL sad TO leave
strangers undor such circumstances, BIT wAen
patwi many OF my own regiment among others poor
captain McIIade AM LeutenaIt lailbn, who ay the
same room with Coone sIocrm and MAJOR Balou II the
Ri dc Island regiment vino both mo tai y wo nnGc
il ssnds pang OF the Ike nest anguis. thro IA my
heart Poor Colonel Slccum, who past III earlh.
y aid lay rolling ms head. with his eyes H.
turned, from which the light bad forever fed
a melancholy spectacle II tho late Of war; ana NJ ,or
Balon though conscious, bearing his nsony with the
greatest tortitG deno muimnr al nan, but look or
the most intense graitnc rewarded thrse who extended
T. him the slightest con.prt y Was hcartcen ing
think We wee rb.lged 70 10 indon q. 30 aid go
others many Of whom lied from neglect,
9eon allowed remain ard attend tcn. AZ we rode
over TIRE battle field we picked Up five ri vino
still awe On reaching ucD. Iieaure sard's hoad
quart rs ut MANASSAS, We stated the condition al our
wo dcd, and must say in justice to lin thtt he regret
TED The order had en- gwen and in the ming allowed
th' 81 siretoi who would sign an unqualified pa oe
return TO Sudlcy church und attend t. the wugnGc, max
ing ~ an inevitable necessity them 70 81 III this
u
Cannon, q tho sixty ninth Ncw Yik Stto Miiiti and
lc. ndolhll, oi the lire yotayts, together with hn
crsgned, were the only officers q ~ thu ken
who offered the privilege II signing the sa1nc parole
as the surgeons, winch We pcremptoilly refused TO
20, although p,a;caly urged ~ c1iorc Pres
si'iered it would b. violating tho oath We to.k
to support our own s yctl melt. The first night We
reached Manassas surrounded by tho s.as o,
Goneiais Johnston and .eaufeFaid, whom, msFt say,
treated is with great consideration, and sym.
paihizc with IS in cur msiort ne, bit qest,oncd
Intimately as 70 tins number OF nra had cugascd in tho
tsi't, how much artillery, &C.; AM froa tict manner
shouid judge They considered II Il tcas bought vic
tory and one would suppose they were the losers,
not the gamers Of the day. On the 2Sth OF July
were put in baggage ard sent 90 Richmond
strong guard On our way to that city tho grea curl
'siy ovinccl 10 seo tho Yankee prisoneis The
what brought is hcro-did iialdcr and rob
TIL IN Of tle,r bomcss Nhc, we e,rhe4 Richmond we
co.ned in bacco factory Aain 3. Get, where
we met large number OF our conri9c5 thcn my
I'd irnl Colonel Co co.ac, an! many oilers whom /
knew in New York. ais1 met thtre tn Non. Alfred
i!y, whom 1 afterwards became Ill .iuiac Win,
and would SLY, in Justice C. t!iat gentleman,
ihas lie behaved in eNee5 way becoming his
p ston as member Of TIL federal Congress. and any
reports that have been pHbii4led contrary TO this de-
eafo TO be lalse II a hard 10 be prisoner any lime.
b to be mulgued, without puwcr Ia Gefend yo self
il htrcr still. urng the nf,y tags that WIS c1nanei
there, there was hardly gcan II sunshine change
the inonoony o. the scene dig veutariag laok
of beng insnl,oi and permitted - GA sre
thu prison walls without guard or wounded at .icb-
inond received very little at ntion tn rebc sur
mission Is charity and good il! to al; they have lea
vi themselves to many, and 70 red consolation aio the
minds Of those who from The chaye wged their way
eternity. Those wh'arc living aad hata hceu the
Il cns Of Their tender care VIII yoaura 10 say never
urget tlcm. The wounded in our hesiitlls wcr, also
indebted tur many Eind att rtiats "a lie vito Of Cap
tain Ricketts,, Unto states Army, INST esiiahe aly,
" no consented 10 become risoer wait Oh ho HIS
band, who WAS severely wouG1ed.
How gra,ile'l We wore when tho reach, us OF
1ur victory at Hittoras inlet, as cS ecic that
IN exchange OF prisoners woGld aks place. ten al
| t.f,.la bod nJ,ss
hat they were ready and oniy too glad to make
barge government WAS wi lilig
We H'1u ~ ihc nope vi ue'ls cAchaa lf1ta Week
% week, and that our goyeti Ell woutd not oc tn
mindful OF position, sCalld, Though sea ws
between and our homes and tho holes aal feats which
lgnted us from day u Cay, be Imagined, Int can
never be Gescr oil and haIia b4eu fortunate cnogh
10 Lave escal cd fIcm that gloomy n SON after the great
est slcrings ard feeling Tor tn Sc have icl b, Ii nd na
IN niucment, prompted to espass On tito a,aes
of your valuable journal boring hat my ak voice may
reach these who have the powe 10 raise theirs Ia those
legislative hail, whore bis alb raj being dg.
en- sed viii be my apcl (! fo tg 1t sch !cagth on
a saljcet which Interests me 70 80 great Deg &C.
CHARLES i. M"l.TiY,
late Qua .termasier 3sth regiment y. !. S.V
Tho following letter las beca addressed hy scvcla
medical men Of distinction in the army The Pres lclt
in the hope that suitable position may te awarded 10
Quaicrmastor Murphy, for his bravery nrd cooness
WASHINGTON Cry, NOV. 20 1861
IIoy. A. LINCOLN, pEEsii gHI USl1ID Sr4.Hs
We take & eat pleasure in Recommending to your a.
vorab notice LcUtt matt Charles Murphy, Qaartc master
q the Thirty shh regiment ~ -. Y. ru.catt Mar.
lhy remain with hesHfg At Siaioy church, after
the battle Of l!l run and devoted Inns t. q caro- OF
the wounded, and though repeatedly urged H. wi the
rest Of tie Amy, he nst molly refuse The ground hat
lot col he spa cd itom slant care Of Tho
wounded aad chose rather to sec. death or n;it On
mont, than leave the brave SOL iers to die on
tbs field inca Cd for. His al to the surgeons ly his
cgy and activity, WAS creator thaa any other I've
mon; and from the coe OF the tight Eut ,ic tu.owu.
light, wien lie 1ved To Manassas he al net take
munienl's resi-, bit ike nohic hearted and
nan, IL is, gave ha SET enticy Up 10 tho suffering
Ihysvhofn called rocto )" and the rabcs suppus-
ing him a. be offered Parole; but when Ia found
t. sufficient number Of surgeons return to ut
tend tho WOUNDED he most perem pioriy refused
ccut 1t aud wac taken irisoncr 70 licnmci d. On my
arrival in that city ound him engaged curing for the
wounded federal soldier there, he hal boon Sdiov
Chrch Hospital. feel hat the conduct o.. Lieut. MIR
liy merits the rmcs nuend1ti,n ia thai with am
PIE uc and means of escape, he cc Eis ber
ty for those WHO had no Just Claim Lia. Very re
spectfuliy, J. II. STEWART,
Surgeon First Minnesota Volunteers.
WM. +. SWAIN,
Asst. Surgeon Fourteenth y. US. NJ.
FOSTER SWIFT NJ D.,
Surgeon Eighth N. Y. State Militia
G.S. WINSTON,
Asst. Surgeon Eighth ~ VS.
LETTER FROM UNION PRISONER IN RICHMOND
THE FIRST CALIFORNIA REGIMENT PRISONERS NJ
LONGING TO II, ETC., ETC.
Mrs. Louis pieral, wife OF Captain Bicral of h. citv
and who now commands Company q, of tho First Cali
Fnr,t rcntf, nnt ti ,tx,l ,I..t.