The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-03
OUR PRISONERS IN THE SOUTH.

Letter from Lieutenant Dempsey Soc""s
| Regiment, N. Y. 8. NJ, Now I'm Conn"c'
ment I'm Charleston Jail--The Hct"Ai'
! atory Measures, and How Colonel Cor
cOran Received the News OF IAis Con
| dcmnation-The Slidcn md Mason "ho
Port Royal Affairs, &C., &c.
The following letter from Lieutenant Dempsey, OF th'
Second regiment N Y. 8. NJ, was received by Mr.. vii
liam Sorley, OF this city,
CHARLESTON JAIL, 8. c., Nov. "a 1851
My DEAR FRESp--Here are back in jail again, after
being on exhibition for four months, to show the sreng
and power of the rebel under which We had almost
said ve but that would be eulogy) stay In order to
revive the dropping spirits OF its admirers.
As you are aware, were hcre before; but Is some
thing new for to be imprisoned twice for the same
offence However, they say are now permanently To-
Gated for the winter
We are surrounded by all the vile features peculiar to
prison life There under the roof with US per-
sons guilty OF the most revolving crimes that ever dis
graced human nauremurderers thieves, mail robbers,
even the abandoned wretches Of easy virtue; and so
powerful is the secession feeling in this stronghold OF
oellion that these vile criminals affect 10 despsc your
correspondent and his follow prisoners Of war.
You know that was always Of tho opinion that the
South contained the better portion Of our people, but
now under what delus,on laborcd. When think
been subjected to- wonder how they reconcile it with
their boosted chvalry. wish had paper to give you
full OF all that has occurred to since the bat
tic Of Manassas but this ID the last shoot in my posses
sion.
You no doubt received the letter sent you from the
tobacco factory ut Richmond and hope that thiswbch
send by an underground rou,e--wil also reach YOU
The inactivity OF life OF this Sort to man brought up
to active business, s sufficient punishment 10 say no.
Ot utniinn nsehu hpatN
We nave lost two by death snce wo lot Richmond
They belonged the Michigan First reg MT Now that
the winter Is upon u.s. how poor fellows will get along
don't know-some of III m without shoe to wear and
many without second shirt. Their suaerings you can
better imagine than caa describe yot thoy seldom
gfmbe exc pt when they hear Of peace meetings beng
h'd in the North when they think Of those who were
gallant soldiers in peace but civilians IN war. We
nat is the 'sNew York mess consisting Of Col Coreoran
aud LieQt. Connolly Sky ninth Capt furnish, seventy
ninth; Capt Dowfey, Eleventh Capt. Griffin, Eighth and
your humble vant-wouii have been ia the same pre-
deament had II not been for tho Kindness OF Bshop
Lynch Of Charleston who visited Col Corccran, and SEQ
iIK without bod to sleep SORT COTS matt esses
pillows &C. and, without being solicited, Loaf Col Cor
cfan some money which he, with his usual benevoence
distributed umons us. Tho Bishop tod the Colonel 70
draw on him tor whatever hey he wanted. But We
were not allowed III IS 70 be happy very long On the
10Th inst tho oilcer tho has charge Of informed Cob
mel Corcorau that Ia consequence Of the conviction OF
Smith, the privteers man in Philadelphia, General Rip
ley hah ordered the Coloe to 100 placed IN one Of the
fons coils, here to be krt in close eouhn' ment with
the positive assurance that II smith was oxocutoi NJ
would be ted TO this Colonel Go coran REPLIED
"Ne ell sir am ready; when engaged Ia this war made
mp my mind to sacrifice my life necessary in defence Of
that a, under which have lived and gailcd an honor
able position lhc condemned cells in this ai! In
the tower seven cells on Loor his cell Is on the third
door, west Side No. 49, There means Of heating
the col in the tower except by stove, situated in the
cetar the pipe Of which .ifs np through to the roof
This stove ID usually heated with coai, but am tod
thsre Is none 10 DO had At present. and cod damp
air arises here at this season OF the year the Cne SUI
fers severely yet lie does not complain know he is III
good spirits; tor WAS talking with him through the
iron bars this morning 10 olod about his quarters
ing 1t was colt, but it .ud not intimdate him. yet
thihk his constitution viii stand IL long If 90
vernnent hangs smith, tho Colonel will certainly DO
hanged, and although nm in favor Of vigorous prscca
tion Il the war Cannot see any good that would result
from hanging the privateers O0e thing certain
for every pirate government hargs the rebels will
hang officer and valuable ctlzon. BIT IT, On the
other hand, tho C,cnai is let his present quarters
til lie falls prey TO disease and death relieves him
his siferings, his country viii have lost patriot
ana gallant soldier.
Evety cbannc! u communication being cut OF, news
papers include /, imagined something extraordinary
had occurrcd which agre ably Confirmed by under
ground intelligence, which informed Of the capture OF
Mason ani Si9i, and the 5rtous victory at Port Royal
j is said that Royal run was second only to Bu
We have also heard that the notorious Wgfa has been
taken 1his graod the prisoners, called them
IN Richmond and said they would BE- hanged, and other
wise ci.wardly b:owhcit thcnl.
Hoping soon all my friends in New York re-
main, yours truly, JOHN W. DEMPSEY,
Lieutcpan Go. q, second regiment, N. y. $. 81.