Newbern weekly progress. [volume] (Newbern, N.C.) 1858-1863, 1861-12-03

January next.
YANKEE PRISONERS AT CHARLESTON
LETTERS FROM COLONEL CORCO-
RAN.
We make the following extracts of letters from
Col. Corcoran, of the New York Sixty Ninth
Regiment, now in confinement at Castle Pinck
ney, S. G. He was captured it will be remenl-
bered, at Ball Run. and is held as Il hostage for
Smith, convicted of piracy in Philadelphia. Col.
G.. says:
In my last I mentioned that the people of
Charleston had treated with considerab' e
courtesy the occasion of our arrival IN and
departure from that city, but neglected to state
another favorable change in our treatment here
The officers have the liberty of the island on
which the castle is situated, frotn revellie to re
treat, and are nj owed on the ramparts until tat
toe. The rank and file are allowed the Hber-
ty of the interior yard during the afore-
said hours. This is quite change from Virginia
hospitality, where we had not been permitted
one moment for air exercise during the nifty
days Of our detention in the memorable to-
bacco factory and without bedding of any kind.
The bishop of this place visited me and SPOKE
in that mild, gentle'nanly and Christian splrit
for which all our clergy everywhere, and under
all circumstances. have been truly character,
ized. He handed me all the funds IN his posses
sion, and Of which stood in the greatest neeh
aud appointed to come here last Thursday to Gel
ebrate mass and attend to the religious neccssl-
ties of the prisons but the day proved so wet
and stormy that it was impossible, without i'm
minent danger to cross over from the city, but
we expect him at his earliest convenience. This
is the first time that any apparent interest has
been takeu of our spiritual welfare.
The GOOD sisters of our faith residing in Rich
mond, (Uho tha::l< God. rise above all nation
al or sectional strife and contention of the world
with their usual and self-sacrihcing and Christian
disposition TO render aid and comfort TO the ftIc
ted } attended to such of our wounded as were
at the general hospital and ourofhcers and men
who represented all classes of religion, are unan
imous in their praise Of the care and attention
bestowed in dressing and cleaning the wounded,
and many attribute their recovery to their untlr-
ing exertons.
In another letter, Colonel Corcoran writes as
follows:
The Prisoners here who left Richmond on the
18th ut., consist of thirty-four officers and i2o
non commissioned officers and prlvates; among
the former are three Coiouels, Lieutenant Colo
mel and MAJ or
This place is already known, therefore needs
no description. The casemates are occupied as
quarters As no visitors are allowed here, we
are not 80 subjected to the idle and offensive
ri0sity of spectators, was the case at hich-
mond, where crowds were permitted 10 assemble
III front of prison to stare at US ali day, when
ever we wont TO catch breath of air at the win
dows, when the more favored individuals OBJ
tanned pass to enter, aud in many cases took oc-
casion to ask all kinds of questions lnded, the
people of Charleston presented striking con
trast in gentemanly behavior tow ards US, on
bers were present on both occasions, not a single
offensive word was spoken or act committed
We are all here in great need of clothing, and
in many cases without single cent to procure
any of the different things essentially necessary
! received some funds from a relative in klch
mond, which have been expended, and L1euten-
ant Connolly and myself among the bank
rupts for some days past. L am we'll satlshed.
there are some in Charleston who would divide
their last dollar with me, but cannot accept 1t,
as there appears to be no possible way OF repay
ing herhaps for years. Indeed, some gentlemen
were so kind as to make inquiry If needed any,
thing, to which replied in the negative; and
while at Richmond received a communication
from gentleman from Montgomery, Ala, who
is said to be of the weaIthiest gentlemen in
that city, stating that he was most desirous of
supplying with anything required.
| am quite satisfied to remain here as long
as it may be considered necessary to serve the
purpose of my Government or our people; but
l am exceedingly anxious that the rank and
file of the diferest regiments should be seen to
as soon as possible. The poor fellows are all
most earnestly devoted to the best interest of
their country, and are suffering much troW
want of proper clothing or any changes of un-
der garments Many are without shoes, coa\
or bed covering, which is cheerless prospect.
with the near approach of cold weather and,
above all things, their poor families, IN many
cases must certainly suffer from want of the
assistance they could render if at liberty, and
made no provision for absence beyond that
time, and whose future welfare depends upon
their return at the very earliest period.
YANKEE PRISONERS AT RICHMOND, VA.
Letter from HIM. {. Harris.
Ny prison associates are gentle
men from nearly every State in the North and
West whose heels or heads could not prevent
them from being captured at Bull Run, Bali S
Bluff, ETC., ETC. Thrown together are
many are the resources we have for abstracting
amusement from the monotony of prison life
AS sit now at ''our mess" table, [ cast a
glance around, and photograph the following
picture:
On nv right within reaching distance, sit
silently engrossed in cards, captain from
PENNSYLVANIA. lieutenant each from Maine,
Wisconsin. Massachusetts, Ohio. Further on
two army chapains are quietly discussing the
past present and future religious condltion OF
the world in general, and, for aught know,
their own present unfortunate condluon III
particular.
A few steps more to the right, and we hnd
Lieut.. Peacock, of the steamer Fanny, cap
tqred by the Confederates at Chlcamacomlco'
lie Is surrounded by a colonel, aquartermaster
and doctor whose attention lie is engrosslng
ny an animated relation of the Fannys sur
prise ana capture. His description is graphlc,
ana sometimes illuminated with touches OF
humor that convulses his audience. More OF
hIm anon, Tor he is the brightest particular star