Worcester daily spy., 1861-11-09
CONDITION OFTHE PHIS-
nNrWSIN NEW YORK REARISOR.

WAsuINCroN, Nov The following is the
report of the U. S. sanitary commission upon
the condition of the prisoners in the forts at
New York -:
New York, Oct 81, 166l.-Sir, with your
permission, visited the prisoners Of war and
of state at Governors Island, on Monday last.
should have extended my visit 10 Fort La
fayette, and to Ellis Island, where smaller por
tons were placed had | not learned that they
were all to be removed the next day to Boston
harbor | suppose, however, that none OF the
prisoners could be badly oil, if those crowded
in the casemates OF Castle William were not,
and therefore a report Of the condition III
which found them may properly serve as a
sufficient reply to all the complaints when
have appeared in the New York papers.
No doubt the circumstances under which
these men were brought to Governors Island
made their condition for a week or two very
trying and almost inhuman. Ill clothed, ana
already sick from the voyage and previous
exposure, they were suddenly preclpltated
upon port not prepared to receive them,
where there was neither adequate r0om, cloth
inv, nor medical force. But these unavoida-
bic deficiencies were supplied with all the ex"
pediGon possible. All alacrity was shown, 1t
appears by the cOmmandant and his surgeon,
and other officers, to meet the case. In a very
short time, bedding, blankets, sufficient food,
and suitable medical attention, was furnished
to ALL AS saw them, they were in better
condition in all respects than halt our own
men in the field-not so crowded as most OF
our soldiers in tent, with as abundant food,
with as good blankets, aud more devoted med
ical attention
There was nothing to complain OF, except
the unavoidable fact that casemates, although
here quite roomy, furnish very poor venuIa'
and inn nas pNt1 1nt prt n
The men complained of nothing although
gave them ample opportunity 10 do so, except
the loss OF liberty They spoke kindly of
their physicians and the officers in command.
The climate seemed to be their chief objection
to this region. 1t went sore with them to be
sent still farther north. They wanted to stay
where they had made friends knew their
prison. and their keepers, and where they
were nearer to sympathzers and to home.
| purposely went unannounced, and found
the floors bright and swept Every man had
his own bed, and adequate blankets In adj
dition to the government supplies, the state
of North Carolina had been permitted to send
some comforts to the prisoners, and dislnter-
ested beneficiaries in New York had done
something more. | could really find no room
to add anything from the stores of the sanitary
commission. The hospitals of the prisoners
we're very humanely and tendery admins
tered by Surgeon Swain and Assistant
Surgeon Peters. The sick men looked per-
fectly comfortable in the regular hospital and
in the temp, rary o ptas, as casemstes per
mitted. Medicines OF the best kinds, in limit
ed quantities, and necessary stimulants in
abundance, were supplied to the sick. Sever
al very desperate cases OF typhoid fever had
been saved by the assiduity Of the physicians.
The low spirits Of all prisoners are of course
highly unfavorable to convaiesCence. Doubt
less the sick list and the bill of mortality
seventeen had ded-were both larger than
they would have been had not homesicSness
very much prevailed
The men We're usually reluctant either to
wash or exercise. They had to be driven to
both. Pains were taken to compel them 10
be in the open air several hours each day.
They were not confined to harrow bounds but
had many acres Of play ground. Th. surgeon
told me he had seen only one tooth brush in
use among the rank and file They were evi.
IDENTIFY careless in personal habits, dirty and
sluggish. The officers were perfectly com
Portable for prisoners and complained of
nothing.
saw, on the whCle, abundant evidence OF
the unreasonabeness of the complaints made
OF the treatment of these men. 1t would be a
source OF great consolation to believe that our
prisoners were treated by the rebels half as
we'll Very respectfully, yours,
HENRY w. BELLOWS,
Pres. U, s. Sanitary Commission.
Hon, ". H. Seoard, Secretary Of 'State.