The national Republican., 1861-09-24
ARRIVAL OF UNION PRISONERS FROM
RICHMOND.


regiment; Colonel Thompkins; DR.. Harris, of
the second Rhode Island regiment; Lieutenant
Goodenough, acting surgeon Of the fourteenth
New York regiment; DR.. VIM. H. Wilson, as
sistant to DR.. Powell, Of the second; Volunteer
| Assistant Surgeon Connolly Andrew Nc
Clutchey, assistant surgeon Of the New York
seventy ninth, and DR.. De Bouttelai, of the
medical staff Of the Minnesota regiment-who
were made prisoners at Bull Run have arrived
| in this city direct from Richmond, having been
released on their parole, aud sent with flag
of truce to Fortress Monroe whence they made
their way to Washington by way of Baltimore.
They are accompanied by s. Philips Day
special correspondent Of the London Herald.
| Until within few days past there were
about 1900 Federal prisoners at Richmond.
Many Of them have been sent to New Orleans.
Mr.. Ely is still at Richmond. The above.named
surgeons have taken care Of our wounded, and
have a letter from Lieutenant Todd, brother
in law of President Lincoln, highly compli-
menIary of their services, and rejecting se-
riously upon the Federal surgeons who forsook
tuelT WOunuCu COulputIiOts ut bOinc
weeks since, to return North.
General Beauregard's headquarters Is OF
Fairfax Court. House, and General Johnston's
is supposed to be at Winchester.
1t was not supposed at Richmond that the
Confederates would make an attack upon Wash
ington.
From DR.. Wilson, we learn that much distress
prevails in snd about Richmond, particularly for
the want of the common necessaries Of life, and
much dissatisfaction on the part Of many once
prosperous and influential citizens of the city.
In the first place, nearly all Of the hotels were
occupied thr oughout by the sick and wounded,
the nurses and medical staff, and large proper
ton Of the cases were very difficult Of success
full treatment. The Doctor had occasion sew.
eral times to pass through the wards allotted to
the Florida regiment, Of whom there were
nearly four hundred down with the meases and
typhoid fever. One difficulty in the way Of the
successful practice Of the physicians was the
difficulty Of providing pure and genuine medi
: Cines and qunine 30 extensively u:ed could
not be purchased for less than eight dollars per
ounce.
Whisky of common distilaiion, which
h usually sold at the rate OF 40 to SO cents pei
= gallon, readily obtained sl.75 to $500; buttel
was 40 cents per pound /; coffee, common Rio
40 cents hams, 80 cents. The usual price il
the restaurants for ham and eggs for one per
son was so cents, and other edibles in proper
. ton. Bad boiled beef the worst kind Of coffee
e sour bread (baked by steam), and no vegeta
q bles, constituted ratons daily served to boil
J the Confederate soldiers and the Federal pris
Z oners. 1t was difficult also in purchasing small
supplies 10 obtain change, and even the bar
e keepers were freely issuing small iron checks Il
remedy the Inconvenience. The Confederate
h currency was depreciating, and for gold dol
=. lar one could easily get drink Of good whis
J, ky Q6 cents) and one dollar Confederat
10 note. .s
l. These physicians, during the battle of Bul
e Run and afterwards. were diligently employed
o in attending alike the wounded of both par
> ties, and General Beauregard personally or
dered them to be released on their parole o
Q honor but soon as they reached Richmond il
was indignantly taken from them, and them
selves thrust into one of the large tobacco
X warehouses, which was pretty well filed will
y Federal prisoners. hestrictest watch was KEEP
" on them, and the guard, If he saw singh
e head thrust out of the window, would level hi
J. piece, and, with an oath, order 1t to 20 in
4 Soon as General BeauTegard heard Of thei
condition, be Immediately ordered their re
lease, which was Effected after three week
close confinement, when they were at liberty t,
d go through the city at random.
e A few days since, the Doctors were notife,
G that they would be sent 10 their homes b,
,r means Of flag Of truce, aud, at five o'clocl
Saturday morning, they left in q train, sool
reaching Weldon, and then Norfolk, by tn
Ssaboard and Roanoke railroad. They wer
,r under the charge Of brother of General Win
|. der, and speak of his kindness and attention
in the highest terms. On the same afernoo
they left Norfolk in the steamer Arrow, an
were taken off near Fortress Monroe in tim
b for the Baltimore boat. All these physician
agree in the assurance that there are not les
than two thousand, aud perhaps more, citizen
!. of Richmond who not only deeply regret tn
war; but declare that it was provoked by tn
r ambitious demagogues OF the South, who woul
make even the welfare Of the whole countr
subordinate to their own selfish aims. Bu
o those citizens, OF course, did not feel free t
communicate their sentiments to any save
those In whom they had the fullest confidence
|