Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-08-24

THEIR NHUAAN TREATMENT.
We are furnished with the following let
tiers, received yesterday:
FoKr LAFAYETTE, Aug. 6, 1861.
My Dear Wye:-I wrote to you on tne 3Ist
July, and the day following, but both letters
have been suppressed by the authorities, l
suppose, and cannot have reached you-
We are closely confined in q strong prison,
denied all Intercourse with any human be-
ipg outside, and are not permitted to write
or to receive newspapers, and are under strict
prison discipline, guarded night and day by
soldiers, and treated exactly as felons in the
penitentiary, except that we are not yet re-
auired to work. Our prison is massive,
gloomy building. forming hollow square,
and covers the whole island on which it is
built. Seven of US are con6ned in one case
mate, and sleep upon straw beds without
pillows, and with but one blanket. We drink
wretcbed coffee, which is composed of parch-
ed beans, or some other vile ingredient, from
tin cups. Four ounces of bread at each meal,
and the latest pork, which we cannot touch.
and some putrid beef. are served up. Our
money was all taken from US Immediately on
our arrival. and We were very coolly told
that we could only have il as our jailors
choose 10 allow it TO US. We are not permit
ted to keep pen, ink, or paper, for fear our
wretehed situation should be made known 10
our friends.
had to resort to stratagem to write this,
and will endeavor to send it secretly. We are
in total darkness as regards what we are held
for. or how long we will be imprisoned; bat
we all conclude that we will not be released
until peace is declared, and perhaps not then.
am as wretched as any human being can
| be, but only on your account. Surely some
one will come 10. your aid. You have friends,
! or those who have proiessed to be for many
years Think of me as one that is dead and
| utterly useless to you, and act accordingly.
/ have not The slightest hope at present of
| the suffering occasioned by a continued re-
currence to the hopelessness of my condition,
| together with the wretched diet set before
me, must speedily terminate life which, in
| The course OF Nature, would soon have ceased
under better circumstances trust, my dear,
| kind, affectionate wife, you will not become
| discouraged, but trust to your boys, who are
affection ate, and who will, feel assured,
| prove blessing to you and your dear little
| ones May God bless their endeavors, and
/ make them ornaments to society.
OH how l long to see you all. dream
/ OF Won sometimes, and always feel relieved
when | can commune with you even in my
restless slCmbers. / shall never forget the
sweet laugh of my dear little boy WREN last
| saw him at Fort McHenry. What relief 1t
would be if l could have your likenesses /
could live longer and more contentedly II /
had them by me. You cannot imagine, un-
less you had experienced the same restraint,
what sOlace it would be in my wretched,
hopeless condition to have them by me. AL
though l have six others with me who are all
young men. feel like one alone. | cannot
enter into any of their amusements, and We
have no books that can read except Childe
Harold.
II will be useless to answer this, as the let
ter would be examined and not sent to me,
aud you Cannot possibly send one privately.
We meet NessTs. Howard and Gatchell and
The other prisoners in the yard twice day,
and are permitted to walk together an hour
morning and evening. Farewell, my ever
dear, dear wife. Kiss my dear little ones
for me, and do not forget to speak OF their
father as often as you can.