The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1861-09-12
An Ohio Captain IN Richmond.
The Sandusky Register publishes the
following private letter from Capt.J. W.


Sprague, now in prison at Richmond:
RICHMOND, Va, Aug, 18.
SUNDAY, IN PRIsoN.
! wrote youa hssty note last Tuesday
evening, informing you Of my capture at
Big Birch by 100 Confederate cavalry as
| was on my way hOme That letter, Lieu
tenant Colonel Croghan was kind enough
to offer to send under flag Of truce t,
Gen. Cox to be forwarded TO you, l
trust it has reached you and relieved you
of much of the anxiety you would other
wise feel on my account.
From Lcwisburg, | went or horseback
to White Sulphur Springs where Gen
Wise had his headquarters at that time.
| was with Andrews Of the Hoffman DIa.
goons, Chicago and Sha-fsr of the Mt.
Vernon 18th Regiment, taken before him
and after short examination was told
that we would be sent to this place. [
was allowed the privilege of going about
the place as | chose OIL parole, the others
were confndd to the guard house. | was
called upon by several officers who treat
ed me with po!iteness and kindness, as
did also TOmpkius (late ofthe U. S. Az
to whose care | was particularly assigned
On Friday morning we took stage from
the Springs for Jackson River Station,
where we took the cars for this place,
staying, however over night a, Staunton
and arriving here yesterday at 3 o'clock
p. NJ. On arrival here my parole ceased
and | WAS conduc ed 10 the Tobrcco
Warehouse, and SHOWN into the lower
room on level with the street. here
are confined fifty of our officers. The
room ID about so feet by 100 leet; thro'
the center is row of tobacco presses
The room is well lighted aud ventilated
by windows well protected by bars of
Land the doors are carefully guarded
by sentinels. soon found Col. De.
Viliers, with whom was acquainted
ard also Coils Woodruff and Netf, with
other Ohio officers whom I had never
seen; but misfortune common to us all
very soon put us on familiar terms.
Upon inquiry, | found the prisoners
furnished bread, meat, coffee and sugar,
but nothing to eat from or with. When
supper came these gentleman kindly
divided With me these articles Of conve
.euce, and as l had had no dinner my
first meal in prison was u very hearty one
Each one Of the "mess" contributed fifty
cents per week, which supplies the tablr
with potatoes, tomatoes and other neces.
saly vegetables. The gentlemen say no
good butter can be Lad, so we 20 with
out. After supper made inquiry about
conveniences for eleeping and found that
each one had to furnish his own or 90
without AS l had no shawl or blanket,
| thought something must be done or
take the bare floor. [ fortunately found
a boy, a fifer from Maine, who is allowed
to pass out and in at will He went out
and bought me cot for SO so, and
o common white blanket for So; to NOR.
row he is to procure for me the necessary
table dishes and cutlery. Two from each
mess are detailed weekly to do the house
work. Our meat, bread and coffee are
brought in TO us cooked and we must do
the rest. Now il you or any of my home
friends should give me call will show
you my best eforIs in housekeeping when
my turn comes.
The upper rooms in this building are
occupied by non-commissioned officers
and soldiers. Their fare is believe. the
same as ours, except most of tle poor fel
lows have no money to supply themselves
with anything outside of The 'ratioas."
This treatment Of prisoners is unus ual
! in civilized war(are;' hut believe this
lGovernment is treating their prisoners
IPrecisely as they are informed our Gov