Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-09-13
rHE poRT DoNELsONffEnsenERs.

Grst instalment Of these heroes reached beI
from Vicksbmg, and since then trains have bee
constantly arriving, bearing the bronzed fe
lows who withstood the iron sleet of the bite
days Of February, and who have since bee
, subject to the indignities and hardships {
Northern prisons. Yet Notwithstanding sl thet
| trials and perils, the prisoners are generally IooI
, ing hearty, aud viii be ready for the field after
few days recuperation.
1t has been my good fortue to meet with sew
eral old acquaintance, and from them 1 hay
: gathered quite a budget of incidents connecte
, with their captivity. The prison fare at Cam
Morton, near Indianapolis, was that usually al
lowed troops, but the psrsimony or cupidity @
: the commissary of the post, caused him TO stin
the allowance. In fact, it was generally under
stood that this patriotic % oficer of Lincol
was making a very nice thing out of his place
by cutting short the rations and selling them
His monthly profits were said to Re over $500
It is not q matter Of just complaint for us, how.
ever, since the boys were not positively starved
and it is only proper that one poor devil of
Yankee official should cheat q nation of seoua
drels. The regulations Of the prison were very
strict and inloTced with the greatest severity. A
number of our men were ruthlsssly murdered for
the most trivial o~fense-peeriDg through tie
fences, talking loud, and giving the slightest IN
dicatiOn Of their r-estiveness. Correspondence
was allowed with friends, but all letters subject
to the s~trictest surveillance. No money was al
lowed but in the smallest quantities, and there
can be no question but that the prison authori-
ties embezzled a large amount Of funds sent BY
the sympathizers of the rebellion in Kentucky.
Tie ladies Of that State forwarded to the pris-
oners vast supplies of clothing and delicacies,
bat even these were declared contraband, only
actual necessaIies being allowed; the surplus
being forfeited and given to the Hoosier rsgs-
mufius.
Various escapes were made, and but few
that were not entirely successful. Yet some
poor fellows paid dear for their attempts to re-
gain liberty. The guards were g timid, craven
set of militia, who frequently fred into tie
whole body Of men, when they saw any mani
f~estatiOn of irsubordination. So cowardly were
they that the prisoners were not even allowed
pOcket-knives, for fear that with these slight
weapons, they might rise aud Overpower their
oppTessors. For reading matter they were only
permitted tie Cincinnati gazette and CONNER
eiol, and The Indianapolis J0uynaI-all intense
abolition journsls-the Cincinnati Enquirer and
Indianapolis Sentinel were declared contraband,
and though the prisoners sometimes obtained
them by brides, whenever discovered in their
possession they were destroyed.
The health Of our men lately has been very
good, but directly after the fall of Donelson the
mortality among them was great, owing to their
long and terrible exposure in battle. There are
hundreds of graves in the vicinity of Indianap-
OILS, where rest some Of the bra7est and choicest
spirits Of our Southern land. There, afar from
the tender love Of mothers-they
yielded up their lives, and amid the SCOTS and
Of Gn u~nleeling people, were committed
% tbeir last homes. Forever viii that be con-
ground where they repose, and more
.lan one spot in the Northern despotism viii be
lallowsd to cur eyes, AID shrined in our hearts.
The tip from prison to Fisksburg was Of
great length-more than three weeks-and its
horror and Inconvenience cannot be imagined.
in dirty cars, cEammed in filthy steam
,oats, cur boys were subject to every possible
discomfort. Bad fare, bad water, bad sleeping
rTsngements-eveTything bad, except the con-
Of Captain LasseHe, who was charged with
he management Of the exchange, and of his
xceeding kindness all speak in glowing terms.
The boats were purposely delayed as long as
ossible on the Mississippi, it appearing TO be
be desire OF somebody to protract the suffsrings
f the prisoners as much as possible. They
also bent upon delaying his large aces
to our fighting force. But their whole con-
uct in this matter Of exchanges has been char !
cterized by the perGdy and Punie faith Of the t
.ankees. 4
The prisoners have now all reached here ex- t
opt those confined at Camp Douglas, near Chi '
lgoi they however are daily expected. The
,umissioned officers are still behind, and it is c
1t known what causes their detention, unless a
is the purpose of the Lincoln government to \
Jay the re Organization Of our forces. '
4 fine camp has been established at the fair
ounds mar here, where the work of organizing
G captured regiments will be proceeded with ,
and eneTgetically by General Tlgh-
an, who has secured over eight thousand !.
les for their equipment.
The ID KentuSky-that splendid body of 81
en-whose chivaiEic bearing, admirable dis 3
pine and heroic fighting, was in the mouths of g
the western army last spring has a separate W
of en~campment. Col. Roger W. Hanson N
at work placing his man in complete readi- pl
IS for the service. It is supposed that Col. y
snson and his men will be ordered to unite
tn Bragg's army, where, it is rumored, Col. N
is to have the command of a brigade. 1 lie
eak within the bounds Of truth when l say !,
At there is no officer in the Confederate service tb
deserving promotion. He is the very en- Il
of all that is s%oldierly, brave, strict, p'
ge-hearted, eagIe-eyed of rare craftsmanship nj
d a force Of moral character that few possess. al
The Breckenridge division is once more p
ield, and its haIlowed battle f igs viii soon be ~
danger in a new sphere Of operation fs.
Sas been largely recruited, and embraces now to
Gns and healthful corps of men as can be
nd in The Contederacy. 1t will not be long m,
ore you of tho APPEA may be enabled to an on
to the world lis victorious march to the SCI
10 frontier. o.
append 3 recent general order which it is on
due the men of this splendid division, should ca
published. Sc DE KAY. an
We
THE OFFICERS nj SOLDIERS OF THE MI
B-RECUERIDGE DIVISION sta
The m-sior-genersl commanding the division cal
calling the attention OF the brigade and regi- ere
ntal commanders to the first and second para bu
.pbs Of general orders No. 81, from the War car
partment at Richmond, relating to the in
lotion of the names of different battles on
colors, refers with peculiar pride and graft sSs
,tion TO the action of his troops in the battles gr'
ebiioh and Baton ROUGE. and to the s1ccess. Civ
5aesTee If tho citv If Vjcksburo est
h ough every alinc c ovei eve!y obstacle, SUI