The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-11-29
Federal Prisoners in the South.

On the first page we give letter from
Captain Drew who has been held prisoner by
the rebels since the Dist of July. We see by
the Littleton Journal that Henry \. Bowman
of LYMAN who was taken prisoner at that
same battle, has returned home. Young Bow
man gives a vivid and sickening account of
the fate Of our troops who were taken pris-
oners by the rebels. 1t was in the afternoon
of the Bull Run battle that cannon ball cut
off one of his legs below the knee, when he
was taken to the rear by two companions,
and finally, in the same manner he was taken
with others to Sudley's Church. When a
messenger reached this place with the intelli-
gence that the federal troops were in retreat,
followed closely by the rebels, the attendants
left their wounded comrades 10 their fate
The church was surrounded by the rebel cav
airy, and the inmates, forty in number, were
taken prisoners. Those who could walk
were marched to Manassas, while those who
could not were left on the floor mangled,
bleeding and dying. SO frightful were their
wounds that ere the morning dawned, twenty
had closed their eyes in death, with no one
to alleviate their pain, and nothing but the
signs and groans of their companions to sing
their last requiem"
Young Bowman remained in this habita
ton of the dead until Tuesday morning,
without any thing being done for his leg, or
a single morsd of food to eat, when to his
iov surgeon came in. The bone was so
fractured that it became necessary to ampu-
tate the limb about four inches below the
knee Joint. Chlorotorm was admins tered.
and during the operation he suffered no pain
whatever, and for some three days he re-
NAMED in sort of stupid and insensibe
condition. He remained at this church ten
days, receiving but little care and attention,
when with others he was taken to Manassas
and thence to Richmond, and lodged in ii
miserable, filthy tobacco factory. with no bed
ding but a single blanket, and stick Of rood
for a pillow. He represents the room as the
most loathsome, filthy place possible, vet into
this dirty dungeon were crowded one hun
dred wounded prisoners, covered with blood
and almost melting under the severe heat. -
Added to the dirt and filth We're innumerable
quantities of bugs and lice which nhabi;
such places. And to this was soon added a
worse thing il possible. Their wounded and
mangled flesh from want of proper care and
treatment had become magsoty, and Henry
thinks at one time he took out of his ampu-
tated leg at least pint, The living was al
so extremel y poor. made up entirely Of sour
bread and bits Of fresh beef. No tongue can
depict or pen describe the horrors Of this
scene. He says it is beyond description and
hardly within the reach Of imagination. Yet
in this loathsome prison house Henry re-
NAMED eleven long and weary weeks, with
nothing to divert his attention. and not even
hearing word from his home or friends
Sad indeed was that experience. Nearly ev
cry day, he says, Of those long eleven weeks
some one Of his wounded companions gladly
welcomed the messenger OF death who should
alleviate their suferings and put all end e
their woe. Sadly they were borne away from
their view to the dead house. each expecting
that he, too, would soon follow in the same
dark and dismal way
The day of deliverance finally came, and
young Bowman is now with his widowed
mother and sympathizing friends and VT
can easily believe that there will be a Joyful
thanksgiving in that household tomorrow.
AS We gather around the tireSdes of dear
friends on this the annual Thanksgiving day.
many silent PRAYER will go up for the sick
and wounded prisoners row in the hands of
merciless rebels, who but one short year ago
met with Us around the testal board.