Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-12-20
CoNFEDER ATE PRISONERS ~ oBIO-HORRlBLE
BARBARITIEs-INTEREs EsFISG STATEMENT.


A. ]. Morey Esq, editor OF the CynthlAns (Ky)
News who has recently escaped from the Federal prison
at Columbus Ohio furnishes the fOlosins interesting
narrative 10 the Memphis Avalanche under tatS Of De-
cember ll'h:
Having mai nv esca7s from Oh, Tsdessl prison 10.
Gated near Co!umous Olio | deem IL due 10 the tNo
hunired aud forty brave but unforuuae SOlthesn
whom lef incarcera.ed there thu % N OF October
lat 20 make kacvn % tho South snd the world the
suf ring aud indgnigg 20 which they are subjected by
Their inhuman lllor5. ..#-
Tbs voyrr1nert prison 20 xl!.L rc.or Is .. Camp
Cb,as about four nils south of tic eitv Of Ccuwbos
the capital Of the Safe Of Olio. Brig General Hill 10
the commander uaier the direction OF Gems Mitchell
and Rosecrsns the prison being used Tor 'he eonne
men. OF military ald political prisoners for both Ken
tusky and Northwestern Virginia !; contsinl about
half an acre Of ground iacossd By plank val nearly
95 fee, high Sn tOsers on tEo sides Ilsids Of this
incl,sure tVo rows Of br,ri sIali's, with tOoSs
O6 bv Is ten ach In these small fopms each occH-
ME by abou: 25 mec and In this contracted space the
crowd Of prisoners are compelled cook md sleep
Nsu Of every cas ani grade budded tOgsiher, and
all treated as fellows.
Il vilI be remembered tha, Columbus is in = very
cold country The winter winds bleS 6etceIy from
tboe Norhsrn feln water lakes the State Of Oh o.
and Camp Chase prisol receives its toll share OF the
chilling blasts Yet while vas pFisoae, there, inelu-
ding the month OF Octobsr when the seAthef vAs very
rainy and severely col ], fires uero allowed In the
prizOn th8 hAli uakod hulFcIing PfcoHSs.
Promises we're made fcn time 10 time - ths sueoF IL
nate officers that the prison should bs vsEmsd either BY
stoves or by steam heating apparatus but up 10 ths
2sh day Of October steps had been taken LOOKING %
that end To add 20 the discomfort OF the poor priso
ners the uretohed shanties hir only shelter, leaked
bstly keeping the ,ors their ouy bed, Snd even Their
scAniy bed clothing soaked Sih water fhs fear gas
entertained by the p'i,oaers generally, and constantly
exofesssd that t WAS ne intention tha they shoula
nsri.h from the effects Of cold and damp rhs treat
nspt Of human beings BY those calling Themselves
Crisians il unparalleled. Inhumani:T and cruelty BY
tba Lincoln Government towards those in ts poser 10
pocy whch has been Suggested by many oil its Aihe'
10 pu. down the rebellion.
be prsonrrs sometimes remain 10 this Sretehed pre-
on weeks before they receive hsnks which shsn
thsy get T. would hardly have ben sufficient fos their
comfort in GUNNER let aonst Northern Octocer fhs
consequence Of this severe exposure Has thes most O
th proaers were sick from Affections OF the lungs and
throat and number died Wills vn thsrs While many
wee peri,hhg by inches coughing lsay their lusgs and
InAuy were suffering from pusumOnA measles and ohss
dlsssses Ismay seem Incredible that tAS body Of sai
ferInT pck men, including considsssbs Aunes' Of Pss
oners of var we're left through that damp eod ana
Tbls October without Are and bali naked In that srssch
Cd nudnels Of prison, and uiAeus sasQsse neo'ss