Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-08-20
Letter from a PRISONER. at 1vashlnr,on.
=. ~ From the Richmond Examiner. -
III7- EIII I-I77III177 ~ > -III-IIIIs
WASHINGTON. DC. Ana. u Is6l

| WASHINGTON, ID. O., Aug. T. 1851
| To tie Editor of tie Ergminer Having permis
sion to write few lines to my friends, and being
desirous TO give Information to the friends Of al
who held here as prisoners to condition and
treatment address my letter 10 you with the re-
quest you publish Il, There are sixty one Of US
confined in the old Capitol building, list Of whose
names you viii find enclosed The authorities have
placed over US IS General Superintendent Mr.. Nc,
Durnit, of New York, KIND and afsble gentleman,
who does everything Ia his power to render our
situation comfortable. The officers and guard un-
der Mr.. McDurmit kind and gentlemanly In their
department to u.s. DR.. Greenlesf, the attending
prison surgeon, Is very kind to US. have dispo-
sidon to say, in behalf Of the regular Federal OH
with whom have had anything TO dO that they
treated US a. prisoners Of war should be, and not
some Of their papers have stated we ought to be
treated. The statements which frequently appear
in the Northern papers from anonymous writers
about inhUman and barbarous treatment by the
Confederate Government of their prisoners sFe
simply ridiculous, as no man OF common sense
could or would believe them ] am forced to be-
heve the editors of pspers who publish these anony
articles of bad treatment of prisoners by our
Government, do SO to engender spirit Of revenge
in the minds of the Northern people which they
know cannot be done otherwise. Il may be,
for aught know, that reports of HEtreatment Of
our prisoners are circulated through our Govern.
ment II so, can say, so far as those confined here
coneerned il ais mistake except in the instance
Of the mob on Pennsylvania avenue while We were
being conveyed to cur present place Of confinement.
In that instance we were shamefally and barbarous
ly treated. We were dOgged from one end Of the
avenue to the other by an infuriatea mob, yelling
chang the rebels-shO0t the d-n Secessionsts,1 and
oUing stones, by which several Of Us came very
near losing our lives. Some received severe and
painful wounds On their heads-others were hit in
different places by st0nes-none of the party, twelve
or fifteen in number escaped being hit. Had il not
been for the powerful exertions Of the officer and
his who had us in charge, driving back the mob
no doubt all would have been killed. The officer in
charge of Us proved himself man Of frDluess and
bravery-his owu men as well as we were being
feled 70 the ground by stones, he himself in the
midst of a continual shower Of rocks; still undis
mayed. he urged his men to be firm and defend US
at the sacrifice of their own lives; this they did The
mob consisted of men and boys, white and black
few drunken soldiers could occasionally be. seen
rushing toward US with drawn knives, but neither
the general mob or the few soldiers seemed inclin-
eo come in close proximity 70 the bayonets Of our
guard. With this exception our treatment has
been good. l am glad to say the Government off,
eials have guarded against any more such scenes
being enacted by detailing larger force to guard
prisoners through the streets Of the city to their
place of confinement Our friends in this city and
Baltimore have been very kind in furnishing US
with cethmg and food of different kind from that
usually furnished soldiers. The Government fur
nishes Us with two meals day-soldisrs' fare.
Our friends furnish US with such as can be fur
nished by friends. We long to be exehanged-we
had rather be with cur comrades in arms on the
tented field ready to help them battle for our eeun-
try snd homes than rsvel In the Injuries Of prince
II mansions. How long are we to remain prison
ers2 It is q miserable life to lead even under IA.
vourable circumstances; but to know our country
men are contending for theirs and our homes, and
we unable to aid them, is almost insufferabie. We
beg you urge our Government have us exchanged.
Respectfully yours, &c-s RM. G. HrNPHREYs.