The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-23
a CHRISTMAS DUTY.
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Sufrerings OF Our Prisoners
Among the Rebels.
Touching Appeals from Richmond, Tus-
calOOSa, Charleston, sc.
-S>~.>o-0>-~>~~~~>~~O~~o~
Arc We Insensible to the PrivatiOns Of Those
Who Have Dled for Us:
>>>~~>--o~~>~N~~~~~~~>o~~.
NECESSITY FOR IMMEDIATE EXERTICN,
Demands for Blankets, Clothing
and Other Necessaries.
LET ALL AID IN THE GOOD WORK,
&c., &c, &c.
NECESSITY FOR IMMEDIATE EXERTICN

AcsS Gcs, &c
TERRIBLE CONDITION OF TEx UNION PRISONERS
NOW THEY FARE AMONG THE REBELS OF RICH.
M0NL-sHAMEFuL AND BRUTAL TREATMENT--PosI
TON or THINGS IN THAT CITY-NAHRATIvE OF A.
LATE RESIDENT, ETC., ETC.
We arc put in posscss'a of interesting informa-
Zion relative to matters Transporting in the rebel
capital Richmond by tho arrival OF respectable person
named Michael Martin, who resided In that city for
tho space OF eighteen months prior present difficult
tics.
Mr.. Martin is by profession. but has been
employed on public works at Richmond for some time
He Is Union man an, owing to Norfolk, was
transmitted TO Fortress under flag Of truce Ho
loft Richmond on the 18th Instant and arrived in Now
York Thursday last ha ng blessed his stars for his
fortunate and opportune escape from the hands tho
rebels.
The principal information which Martin seems most
dcsirous TO mpart s with regard to tho condition and
treatment Of the Union prisoners at Richmond This no
describes as bong the most brutal and savage known
modern civilization, and speedy retribuiion Is being
earnestly called for upon tho heads OF those who thus
transform themselves into the hdeous double forms OF
human prosecutors and rebels. As each letter trans
mittcd TO the North by the Union prisoners
u opened and read at Richmond before its
transmission, they have not opportunity of lay.
ing bare to their friends hero the terrible sucrnss to
ehoJ lDe tuintS and
which arc cast upon them at almost every step they take
ny these statements OF Martin II would appear that our
nooe souiefs are placed In a most frightfu position
Tho rights OF honorable warfare ment those of
christian civilization and tender heart cdness are not in
the slightest Manner regarded, and our ehrou Of the
South act towards their brethren Of the North with
barbarity that can only DO eqoallod by the sansuna
encounters OF more ancient times.
There were at the time Martin left Richmond between
q nd tan h,,,,ra lint,
tobacco factories of that city, them being situated
on Main street. Among those some OF tho Sixty
ninth, Fourteenth and Fire 2ouave regiments Of New
York. as well AS all those prise taken Lcesburg
They arc crowded into small $50 to 100 at
time and nothing in tho smallest way for III r
comforts aud convenience that their condition may be
more cas- y imagined than desc, ibcd. m sleep upon
the bare 1oofs without covering aGy do crpticn most
Of them being nearly nude The state Of Gh which
cessariy from this lodc Il living Ma I'm crs,rb,s
as perfectly rightf, ami the poor e.ws pres n. d tru,y
doplorabie appearance. by way as ayius their sui
fcrngs they are TO- ted at anu i,suea Ly 1hr rebel
ailors favorIte pracic ng the rebel sodioiy is to
stand around the Prisons ;d vii nur is q. u
poke Itself out from window Tbs pra ia, Gr,,v 10 =
laigs extent, generally with excellent ann From th,
horrible practice appears that have lost their
lives, and numbers woundst from the ball,ts that
come whzzing through the windows when no head las
appeared to crafty tho b ody ine.ts O. their captogs
Tho food with which The unioa.S's provided is a 50 of
the very worst description. They receive Two tc is o.
day, consisting Of rice and potatoes, ald ran TN low
diet they bear more the oarnneo o. spectr, Ethan
ing against those unfortunate hr usho The VIII 10
community IS also savagsy strong had .Lc pop. ac
their free Will they wouli masac every vf them ia
cola blood Added 10 ali these ogrbc truths fact
that numbers arc expiring daily under tbs treatment;
but OF The nino hundred ut III, hnons than
one hal arc id PROSTATE LON sickness prod eed by
those accumulated barbAritles hat oesra.
bic at the preicnt tte among them mber OF cxe
ricnced physicians, as al! those II tho South are |
away With tie army, SO that The sick have |
tendance or medicine Of any sort Tho only person
among the rebels at Richn nd who at all shows The |
prisoners any sympathy is man ca I'D culreluastcr |
Warner who does all in his power alleviate tbs safer.
angs cngcndered from this terrible tIoalm nj. lie
provided several blankets for their nmoia,o, and
every point which relief b. phtainc. with Ut beng
injurious TO his position ia the rbc service he
ly keeps olea to hoso oppressed martyrs tho
cause This specimen Of generous h. nlanity nIu.g
oasis OF dc y and vencss is descry ing Of H. hest
comncndal.o. and the Of Waracr viii lie loaoted
by all who may escape tho iauge Of the cbo rhs
rebels have Also refused t. allow any IA scs in the |
prisons, several plying men having oGere thei.
vices. large iInher OF the citizens Of Richmond were
in favor Of making the Unions in the Goa! pits
and tho matter was under seriots consideration.
Aud now that this IL the ferfu condition thcse
who have Offered their lives ana services defence OF
our republic, they turn Their eyes II sappacal)n !
t. the North, in oFdor that they may bo released
that their friends In this region, for whose city they
10 thor fir Sues TO 90 OF TO die vii not ls thea pc
away III afJu and pcs icntial southern prs without
making the most strenuous cxoftions their rel asc
horror OF thor cells, AMI though their patriotism may
Tor time receive shock, yet when $40 eli
70 the air The FREQ North 1t w revive aa ana burst
foitl with m force and warmth than before
The pfosic u reb lion IN Richmond is pursuing tho
oven tonor OF its way with The usual fire aad fny
ceSsion bolts and bubb e. and carries with its turbl
stream Of rampant ard maddenng doetne ali those who
come within i,s vortex
Works III "ichnod machine int, nod - against The
bockadinS vesscs. Il Was constructed OF sheet
the form oi segar, and abJ Gt from tory Giy
feet Ill len TIA aad six feet beam. propelled
by air, mannei by six !ersons, and would work ,nder
the water. 1t considered by the PEOPLE Richm
70 be very 20 dabii apparatus, n great thin
house. anu the spikes were cut of at ow water mark.
The number rebel soldiers IN active service at Ech
mond when our iniogman LETT was between tarec and
Tour thousand but the number OF sick over
fifteen thousand These uvaded rebel soldiers
stated to be ia tile most distressed itim without
Clothes sufficient food or tho requisite attendance to
alleviate their slerpgs. There were bowe,n twenty
1vc and thirty factories led with rcbcl sick a
few Gays before Our informant let there Ave
thousand sick sent down from fDyd's brigade, the
greater portion Of whom died alter their arrival
The reign OF death Is no doibt Exaggerated Richmond
and consternltion casts its dark pail upon atcd city
From Yorktown thore also came ebou, tho,s,l,
sick Snrs being built all owe. tho city accom-
MEDIATE these sufferers but the rsh great that
one half could scarcely be pro- erly loasei.
Troops. as fast they could be led being
cent dDwn to Yorktown report b-ing that
over 40 100 yankees III That viciay. The feel
ing manifested on reception ct tho news that Mlsn and
Sdcl were captured partook moro ot genuine satisac
lion than otho wise Nearly cycy person esscd tbs
conviction that England would at declare war and
break tho blockade, when the North wp at once be
ann.hilaed They expressed the conviction that
could whip them upon the water, but when il como to
s0hu cLSouhteIs, tnc sure 10 ITO
visions enormously high in tho city there were
but few vessels IN Richmond The steamer Jamestown
was lying MP IN dock and was Md roady for departure,
but could get no crew 10 man her.
on arriving al Norfolk, Martin vas present at
successful attempt to launch the scrrinac From Nor
FOX be was conveyed TO Fort ncuroo ard thence 10
new YORK, arriving at tbs dat ab mentioned.
EXPERIENCE OF ouARTERMAsTER MURPHY. LATE or
AhH Thirty -EiGHrH skw YORK STATE VIOLIN
AEi1s- THE WOUNDED OF BULL RUN AND IT'S
o - Ai-s-AFFEc7INd SCENES OF SUFFERING
uOH otn PRISONERS FARE
0Ifi ~" SPEEDY ExcnANGE, ETC., ETC.
we nave received the following communication from
ouartcimastor Murphy, late Of the Thirty eighth Now
York State Volunteers (co, c Guard who was taken
prisoner at tho battle If Bull run and who nado his Ca
cape rom RICHMOND The narrative will BIO found Of
much interest,"
TO TB3 EDITOR OF TIE HERALD.
copxpn ar Nc