Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-08-08
The Federal Prisoners.

Three large tobacco factories on MAR
4 street, near 18th, are now occupied by the
prisoners brought from Aanassa. We have
not been furnished with q "permit" to visit
the interior of any of these prison depots, but
| whilst in pursuit of information, have indulg.
ed IN the privilege, common to all, OF an out
side view. The first thing which will arrest
the attention of passer-by is the presence
| of number of soldiers moving lazily about
| in squads, or sitting about upon the sidewalk
with their backs against the fences, whilst
/ sentinels are pacing up and down. IN front OF
/ and along side the factories. The inner line
| of the narrow brick pavement is the limit
| within which no one IL allowed to pass with
ont a "permit." If you do but stop minute,
| and project your toe over the line, the senti-
| mel will require a retrograde movement of
your foot. Such is the discipline. The force
at present employed in guard duty is COM
posed of the b. Y. CT buckingham Yancey
Guard) and soldiers OF the provisional Ar
N.Y." The windows of the first and second
stories of Harwood's factory are furnished
with few iron bars. The windows in the
upper stories, as well as those in the other
factories, have no such attachments. The
prisoners, excepting when they are sleeping
or eating, are constantly gazing out of the
windows. They are not allowed to hold con-
versation with outsiders, but chat freely with
each other.
On Saturday, we observed four of the pri.
soners engaged in a game of cards near one
of the windows AT another, one of them
was smoking pipe. and seemed to be quite
contented with his lot. We mention these
little facts to Indicate that the yankees"
las they are termed) are not treated with that
rigOr which some have supposed. On the
cross street, squad of ten or fifteen of them.
mostly ZouaYes, were engaged with spades,
in digging a trench to carry off the rain.
Others were "toting" water, in tubs, from a
spring near by. Three or four have been de-
tailed to wait upon the wounded, and these
were allowed to cross the street from one fac
tory to another unattended by guard
Most of the prisoners seemed cheerful, but
some looked haggard and detected. During
our stay, two fine hearses drew up at the
front door of Harwood's factory. Each con-
tanned coffin, which was removed into the
building. On inquiry, we learned that two
of the prisoners had died from the wounds
received in the battle of the 2lst ult., and
their bodies were about to be seut to the bu-
rial ground. The prisoners crowded to the
front windows to witnsss.the removal of their
departed comrades, but curiosity, rather than
sympathy, was depicted upon their cOuuten-
ances.
Everybody is asking "What's to be done
with the prisOners?" Some suggest that they
be sent "down South" to Fort Sumter and
elsewhere to be taken care of until Lincoln
is ready to exchange. Others think the best
behaved among them should be sent home, in
order that they mayimpart their experience to
{ le deluded people If their section, upon the
same principle that a singed cat is sometimes
turned loose to brighten away Others. 1t is
stated that the shoemakers among them will
be required to learn their grub" by making
shoes Tor the Confederate army.
We hope that while the prisoners are kept
here, their spiritual welfare will not be. neg
lected- John Randolph aptly remarked on a
certain occasion, "The Heather are at your
doors'' The same remark is applicable to
these prisoners, and conveys a hint to our
Missionary Societies which should not be dis
regarded. Why compass sea and land to
make one prOselyte," when we have among
US large number of men who have been so
accustomed to the doctrines Of devils"
preached 10 them by the Beechers and Chez
vers OF the North, that the Gospel of Jesus"
is absolutely unknown to many of them. We
would not require them to listen TO a dis
course, or read tract, in which the truth was
but they should be inUded to at
tend divine service every Sunday at the Be
theI church. or some other convenient place.
which might be fitted up for the purpose, and |
thus have an opportunity of hearing profit |
able and wholesome sermon, founded upon
the word of God.
1t mil ht not be amiss to furnish them with |
copies Of the Declaration of Independence SO |
printed that the ''selfevident truths" of that |
mperishable instrument would be brought |
to their attention. If their |
minds are not totally blinded by prejudice |
and ignorance, they would not fail to per-
ceive that the people of the South are viudi-
eating, while the North is opposing, that
principle asserted on the 4th of
July, 1776, "that TO secure life, liberty, and
the pursuit of happiness. governments are
instituted among men, deriving tteir just pOacers
from the consent Of the governed. y Richmond
Who