Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-12-13
Correspondence of the Free Press.I
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.

NEW 1 ORk, Dec. :, 1871.
N,ssrs Editors Of the Free Press
have this morning had talk with a man di-
rect from Charleston, S. c., and have thas been
put in possession of some interesting information
concerning affairs in Secessia. There are in the
common Jail at Charlesto 80 officers and l33 pri-
Yates, taken at the battle of Bull Rum treated
like oonvicts, except that they are not ironed.-
They get three cakes of pilot bread and little
piece of maggoty bacon, with a small allowance of
Coffee (this is about half rations ARE ragged
to the last degree,-sleep on the bare earth h,-and
are reviled and abused continually. Yet they
keep up good heart, and bear their captivity like
men. A number of sailors-the crew of the ship
Grenada, which was captured some time previous,
being sent on North, generously gave them all
the clothing and bedding they could possibly
spare. 1t was but little, but made few Of them
more comfortable. Capt. Drew had been in poor
health, but Jared no better than tho rest. send
you little note from him. There arc three other
Vermonters, whose names my informant did not
remember.
The prisoners are jealousy guarded, no inter
course being allowed with the inhabitants, and
nothing has reached them from their friends, ex-
cept that Capt, Gordon of the Regulars, once got
a package. Letters, clothing, money, all is pro-
bably sei4ei by the rebels. The only amusement
the prisoners have is to walk to and fro in the
prison grounds. They were removed from Castle
Pinckney to thejail about FIVE weeks. since. In
the Castle they were treated moro decently, but
were compelled to pay heavy prices foi every
thing they bought. Since the taking of Hatteras
they are villainously treated. Every person en-
tering or leaving the Jail is searched, to make
sure that nothing is smuggled in or out for the
yankees"
There are not many troops about Charleston,
and so great was the fright after the taking of
Beaufort, that enc thousand men could easily
have taken possession of the city q Many houses
are shut-their occupants having fed, and many
have packed up ready to leave at an hours warn
ing. OF many things there is great lack; the
medicine chest of the Grenada was eagerly seized;
the waterpipes and cave trOughs have been torn
from the houses TO supply lead for bullets. The
cargo of the Grenada, sugar and molasses, sold
for SIS, 900; it might perhaps have been worth
$50 900 in New York. The Grenada' cap
tured by the privateer Sal lie, resistance being
offered, and taken into inlet thirty or forty
miles below Charleston. The Sallie ran On the
bar going in, and was injured SO much that she
will not 60 to sea again
There is intercourse still with the North. Tho
New York papers are received in Charleston, and
extracts from the Herald appear daily in their
papers. Gel Corccran is supplied with papers-how,
was not stated. There are many Irish among the
rebel troops there who feel much sympathy for
him.
Money,-specie--is exceedingly scarce, and
shinplasters of every kind and nominal value,
exceedingly abundant. Postage stamps OF the
rebel manufacture, circulate freely as change,and
fye.cent and ten-cen. shinplasters are manufac-
tured by cutting those of larger dcnomina'ioh' Id
pieces.
In and around Richmond there are more troops
That city seems better off in almost every respect,
than any other that my informant passed through.
Every man wears uniform of some kind; the
s'crackers' or country whites, who form large
part of the Amy, usually have nothing but cap,
the rest of their dress being homespun, and a
knapsack and dirty blanket strapped on their
| backs. There ia said to be a "ram" at Richmond,
| all ready to 60 down the river. TIE Merrimac
/ and the Germantown are reported to be nearly
| ready for sea at Norfolk
In regard to the capture Of Mason and Slide1,
the general opinion was that England would sure
ly demand their release, and the newspapers pub
lshed long articles, showing the illegaty of their
seizure, by all the principles Of National law
The independence of the Southern Confedercy is
| considered sure.
The women in Charleston, my informant said,
we're more bitter against the North than the men.
Indeed, most of the insults to which the priso-
ners were subjected, came from women, taunting
them with their poverty and nakedness, which no
soul in Charleston lifted finger to alleviate. -
1t made my cheeks burn and my hands clench to
hear how our brave men, helpless prisoners, some
of them sick, and some not recovered of their
wounds, are treated. May the day of their de-
liverance soon come
The privateer Sallie had captured another ves-
sell, the Betsey Ames, and brought her into
Charleston, where she will be fitted out as q pir-
ate The Sallie passed in and out of the harbor
about as she pleased. running time so close to
Federal vessel as to hear tho cry Of her sentries
on board. few hours after she came in for the
last time, five Federal vessels made their appear
ance, directly in hertrack. While the Grenada wal
lying below Charleston, in the creek, such of the
crew were left on board, Jared we'll, exchanging
sugar and molasses, for potatoes, fowls and fresl
meat tbutaftsrreaching the city they were put int
Jail and Jared n o better than the rest. The bonn
bardment of Beaufort was distinctly heard BY
thsm; they reported that shortly after, Tatna,ii
hsst came up the creek in desperate haste, rsfus