Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-12-11
From the n. Y. Herald of.the tth.
OUR PRISONERS IN THE SOUTH.


Lr1rIR IRON LIEUT.. DENrsrr, srcosD RrGInrsr N. T.
g. n, NOW IN CoyFsENISr CHLRLIsroH JAIL
Tex RErALIAroRr MrAsuRrs, AND low Col CONGO
RAN RECEIVED THE NEWS or HIS oosDrxKArroHGTar
sLrpKLL AND Mason AND PoRr ROYAL AFFAIRS, &c.
The following letter from Lieut. Dempsey, Of the So
cond Regiment n. Y. s. NJ received by Mr.. William
Sorley Of this city
CHARLESTON JAIL, 8. O., Nov. "a, 1851.
Nv Dear Friend-Here are back In jail again, If.
ter being on exhibition for four months 70 show the
strength and power of the rebel rag under which We
had almost said live but that would he an eulogy) stay,
in order to revive the dropping spirits Of IT, admirers
Az you are aware here before but Is some
thing new for men to be imprisoned twice for the same
o.ncs. However they say We are now permanently 10.
Gated for the winter.
We are surrounded by all the vile features peculiar TO
prison fe T6ere under the same roof with Us per-
sons guilty Of the most revolving crimes that ever dis
graced human nsure-murderers, thieves mail robbers
even the abandoned wreches OF easy vrue and 80 pow
eIfu is the secession feeng in this stronghold OF rebel
lion that these vile criminals eff CT to depse your cores
pendent and his fellow prisoners of war. q.
You know was always of the opinion that the South
contain the better portion Of people, but nov see
under what delusion abored When think Of our
don, and petty tyrannies we have been sui scted to-
wonder how they reconcile IL with their boosted chvay
wish had paper 10 give you full account Of all that
has occurred since the battle Of Manassas but this
1, the last sheet In my possession.
You no doubt received the letter sent you from the
I'tobacco factory at Richmond, and hope that this
which send by underground route-will also reach
YOU The inactivity of life Of this sort, to man
brought up to active business Is sufficient punishment
to cay nothing Of the many ndignities which are
heaped upon We have lost two men by death since
we left Richmond They belonged to the Michigan First
Regiment. Now that the winter is upon US, how our
poor fellows will get along don't know-soe Of them
without shoe to wear, and many without second
THAR auffa better imagine than i
eau describe; yet they seldom grumble except when
thy hear of peace meetings being held in the North,
they think Of those who we're gallant soldiers in
peace but civilians in We-that Is the "New York
Connolly Sxty-nnth Captain Parrish, Seventy ninth;
Captain Downey, Eleventh Captain Griffin, Eighth, and
your humble servantwoud have been In the same pre-
dicament had It not been for the kindness Of Bishop
Lynch of Charleston who visited Col Corcoran and
lag u.s. without bed to sleep on, sent US cots, mat
Eesses pillows, &c. and without being solicited, lent
Col Corcoran some money which be, with his usual be-
nevolence, distributed among The Bishop told the
Colonel to draw him for whatever money he wante
But we were allowed thus to be happy very long
On the 18th nst the officer who has charge Of IT.
formed Col Corcorsn, that in consequence Of the
viction OF Smith, the privateers man, in Philadelphia
Gen. Ripley had ordered the Colonel to be placed in
of the feons cells there to be kept 10 coee confinement
With the positive assurance that Il Smith was executed
be would be executed also. To this COL Corcoran re-
Piled "Well, sir, am ready when ! engaged In this
var made up my mind to sacrifice my life, il necessary,
in defence Of that flag under which have lived and
gained all honorable position" The condemned cells
ia this Jail In the tower, seven cells on floor
his cell is on the third floor, west side, No. l9.-
There are no means Of heating the cells in
| the tower, except by stove, situated in the
cellar the pipe Of which up through to the roof
Tnis stove Is usually heated with COAL but am told
there ia none to be had at present. and cold damp air
arises here at this OF the year. the Colonel suffers
severely; yet he does not complain. / know be 10 In
good spirits; for talking with him through the
iron bars this morning. he oked about his quarers say
ing Il was cold, but IL could not intimdate him. yet
think his constitution will not stand It long, II our gov.
eminent hangs Smith, the Colonel will certainly be
hanged and although am in favor OF vigorous prose-
cuon Of the war; cannot see any good that would re-
suit from hanging the prvateers' men. One thing Is
certain for every private our government hangs, the
rebels will hang officer and valuable citizen But
IT, on the other hand the Colonel Is left in his present
quarters until he falls prey to disease, and death re-
heves him from his susrngs, his country will nave lost
| a true patriot and gallant soldier.
Every channel OF communication being cut of, news.
papers included we imagined something extraordinary
nad occurred which agreeably confirmed by under
ground intelligence which informed Of the capture Of
lpon and Sde and the glorious victory at Port Roy
al It is said that Royal Run second only TO Bull
Run We have heard also that the notorious Wga has
been taken. This gratsd the prisoners a. be called on
them in Richmond and ssd they would be hanged and
otherwise covardly brovbeat them
Hoping soon to see all my friends in Net York.
| main, yours truly,
JOHN W. DEMPSEY,
Liant Co n Second regimant N Y g. n