The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-11-09

The Rebel Prisoners I'm New York.
REPORT OF THE SANITARY COMMISSION AS TO THE
CONDITION OF THE REBEL PRISONERS IN NEW YORK
The following is the report OF the United States Sanitary
Commission upon tho condition Of the prisoners in tho
forts at New York.
New YORK, Oct. 81, 1851.
SrR-With your permission | visited the prisoners Of
war and Of state Governors Island Monday last
should have extended my visit to Fort lafayette and
Ellis Island where smaller portions placed, had
not learned that they all TO be removed the day
to Boston harbor suppose, however that Of the
prisoners could be badly of If those crowded in the case
mates Of Castle William not and therefore report
Of the condition In which found them may properly
sufficient reply TO all the complaints which.
have appeared in the New York papers.
No doubt the circumstances under which these men
brought to Governors Island made their condition
for week two very trying and almost inhuman. nj
clothed already sick from the voyage and previous
posure they suddenly prccpitaed upon post not
prepared to receive them-when there neither ade
quate room, clothing medical force but these
voidabe deficiencies supplied with all the expedi
ton possible all alacrity shown II appears by the
commandant and his surgeon and other officers to
the case In very short mo bedding, Blankets suHi-
Gent TODD and suitable medical attention. furnished
to all. AS saw them they were in better condi-
ton, in all respects, than half in
the field Not SO crowded, as most soldiers in
blankets and more devoted medical attention. There
nothing tocomplan ofexcept the fact that
casemate although here quite roomy furnish very poor
ventilation, and in comfortable quarters
The men complained Of nothing (although gave them
ample opportunities to do so except the loss of liberty
They spoke kindly of their physicians and the officers in
command The climate seemed their chief objection to
this region 1t went sore with them to be sent still fur
Their North They wanted to stay where they had made
friends knew their prison and their keepers and where
they were nearer TO sympathizers and to home.
The classmates were singuarly clean. / purpO6ely
went unannounccd, and found the floors bright and
sweet. Every man had his bed, and adequate
blankets In addition TO the government supplies the
State Of North Carolina had been permitted to send
comforts to the prisoners, and dsinterested bene6-
cence in New York had done something more / could
really find room 10 add anything from the stores Of
the Sanitary Commission
The hospitals humano'y and tenderly administer
ed by Surgeon Swain and Assistant Surgeon Peters The
sick looked perfectly comfortable In the regular hos
pta and in the temporary hospitals classmates per-
mted Medicines Of the best kinds in limited quanti-
ties and necessary stnuants abundance were sup
piled u the a6ck Several very desperate OF ty
phod had been saved by the assduy OF the physicians
The low spirits of all the prisoners are Of course highly
unfavoabe to convalescance and doubtless the sick list
and the bill of mortality Seventeen had 0ed) both
larger than they would have been had not homo sickness
very much prevailed.
The men were usually reluctant either 10 wash or 70
exercise They had to be driven to both. Pains
taken compel them be IN the open several hours
each day They not confined within narrow bounds,
but had many acres for play ground.
The surgeon told me he had only tooth brush
in among the rank and file. They evidently
careless IN personal habits dirty and sluggish The Off
GERS were perfectly comfortable for prisoners and com
planned OF nothing. saw, the whole abundant evf
dence OF the uneasonabeness OF the complaints made OF
the treatment Of these men.
would be AZ great consolation 10 believe that
our prisoners treated by the rebels half well.
~ '@@ HENRY HY' W. BELLOWS,
President OF the U. S. Sanitary Commission.
Hon. w. II. SEWARD, Secretary OF State