The New York herald., 1862-01-12
eENr-aAl MANssltlp's DIVISION.
Or NEWPORT NEWS CORRESPONDENCE.

Re~ Of Prisoner Belonging to the Third AassoeSsseas
BaHasscn-Inssrestiso Nayrotipe Of His Adce7aurss-
SuGerines in Prtson-Opinons Of Reoe! Sotdses-r'a'
in Prison Of Federal DesertersSIate Of he Wsaihv N
Cdmp-Neeroes Deserted from "Secessia"-caftain and
Provost Marshal Chrsensen Appointed AID to GaTas
Wool, &C., dc.
Among the prisoners who were released ffom Richmond
Jail on Friday last was private belonging to the Massa
chusetts battalion stationed at this post. His name Is
Augustus Bney and he taken prisoner on tno 2ls'
of october last some eight miles from camp, when two
of the companies Of battalion on foraging tour
with twenyfour wood wagons. He gives his story as
follows
Twas out together with two others, advance
s,ard and probaby venturee little far of from the
main party We that come of the enemy sodi RS
were in the neghborhood and had informed Capt Barnes
of the fact But had idea that they very eose
upon u.s. when all at opse party Of more than hun
dred them came outSof the woods not two hundred
yards US, and the officer commanding them gave
order FIRE upon US. Before, however, they could get
time discharge their pieces had thrown ourselves
down on the ground and managed not only 70 escape
their Shots but to creep in amongst some bushes growing
the side of the road Ny comrades escaped in this
way having succeeded in getting pretty wen sheltered,
but my legs unfortunately caught sight of by one
of the pursuers and the whole crowd at bounced
upon me. No had they got hold of me than our
main party came in sight, about half mile up the
road AS they gave signs to approsch the whole rebel
force seized by terrible panic, and all fed heer-
skcter through the woods, without listening to the COM
mand Rally rally,' shouted continually by the officers
Twas driven along with the crowd kicked and beaten when
did fast enough and sometimes threatened
with death if impeded their fight in the least. could
not help chucklng nwardly at this stampede when
found afterwards that besides these hundred in
fantry there three four companies of cavalry
right back Of the woods and less than mile from them
whole regiment and knowing that our force consisted
OF only hundred and fifty in all, who, besides,
encountered with twentyfour wood wagons The
panic general and the whole force infantry and ca
vay did stop in their wild career until they were
safely inside of the itrenchments at Youngs Mill was
put in log hut, where remained for about hour, af
which tied horse and taken to Yorktown,
where arrived the evening Twas at brought
before Gen. Magruder, who asked me great many ques
tons about camp the strength Of our force, If we
questions affected the greatest ignorance telling him
that as private had no chances of information To
the General looked like man who was under the con-
Influence Of liquor He that ug smile which
characterzes the drunkard, and lacked that bearing
which one expects in man of such high rank. was
| kept in close confinement at Yorktown for two
days, and had occasion there to speak with several
rebels who under for attempting to DESERT
They estimated the force then at Yorktown at from
twelve to fifteen thousand and gave me good account OF
the general dissatisfaction and suffering which existed
While in Yorktown was PANIED to sec three deserters
ON our sde-two from the First regiment New York
Volunteers q believe their Dennis Gleeson OF
Company and John Telyea, Of Company g. and
from the Sixteenth Massachusetts, regiment the name of
tho latter could not find out but learned that he
old State prison bird In justice to the rebel soldiers
must that they showed the greatest disgust for
miserable traitors. They told repeatedly that
they would trust an honest prisoner hundred times
than deserer. On the 23d Of October was taken
from Yorktown jail and put board Of that
went some distance up York river, when ] was trans
ferred into q railroad car which took me TO Rich
Yrond On nnva rival WAS n nkont0 OnA
OF the tobacco warehouses, which used PRISONS
and, although the prospect before me not very
bright, felt certain kind OF joy in being in Company
with of my faith, and TO have the privilege Of
sharing their sorrows and privatons. The room in
which was confined contained hundred prisoners, and
altogether small there four feet square
room for EACH The cold and dampnsss were times
terrible and had to sleep the cold floor Of the
time without any covering ALL When the cold got to
be to endanger our lives each given
thin quilt, made Of cotton cloth We had two
meals day, but the quantity insufficient,
and could easily have consumed whole days
rations at ono single meal. was In continual
state Of suffering from want Of enough to eat and
tracted cough, which kept all the time was in
prison. and the effects of which will get
months to los, forty pounds those two months
Many Of soldcrs-strong, hearty when put
prisonwere terribly reduced by the cold and damppess
Of the room no medical assistance was rendered. and
some have received such shocks to their as
probably can be quite remeded Our great trouble
how to make time pass We soon got tired Of talk
IL together and pacirg up and down the ROOM any
dared to approach the windows he fred
upon by the guards Fire Zouave shot in the head
tho wintow In the latter part Of Imprisonment We
noticed that the vigilance OF the guards had much relaxed
to such put The soldiers guard every
other day There only two relieves, and only
kets for half the menthose going on duty took the
kets from the guards that were relieved misera-
b woebegone set Of mea than these secession soldiers
cannot be imagined. Not one out of ten could read
write and their behavior towards their officers they
by turns insolent and dogged. In order make
them attend little their duties they had be piled
considerably with whiskey that at last was an ex
rahl tn a her m on uard II han.
pcned sometimes that sentinel would cali upon Of
read to him the regulations posted around the walls
aud sairways. They did not try TO conceal their dis
satisfaction at ALL one of them said 70 the day be-
fore LETT know that in the long we will get
awful thrashing and wouldn't have gone il hadn't
been OBJ ged to- Very few of them had uniforms and
hardly any decent shoes the old rair had and had
Altogether received most painful impression Of the
al condition morally and physically, Of the poor white
man Of the South He s stupid. ignorant and lazy, and
dvoid Of every feeling Of humanity honor. When the
white fares badly, 1t hardly be expected that
any taken Of the negroesn fact, they looked
terribly wre,cled They overworked received no
clothing and poor and scany foodand this is independ
ece ia the south Can any one wonder that receive
ment il fast Increasing in Richmond2
Occasionally We had joyful times in our prison. the
news q any victory gained ty forces would be
existence The Of the victory Beaufort cached
the day before II was published in the Richmond pa
pers, and likewise the intelligence OF the burning OF
Charleston The glorious battle at Dronesvie the rebels
freely admitted o be an gnominious defeat. Nothing can
depict The wh,h thrilled through every heart when
news came Int sumo q Us were to be sent home. The
privilege ol accorded TO those who had been
Imprisoned the longest; but somehow or other
/ managed to get into the good graces OF
tho man who called the roll and / persuaded
him TO add my TO the list. On Friday morning the
Sd Of January half past five o'clock hundred and
forty Of left the place that had been dreary abode
for such sad, long time, and embarked the steamer
Northampton, which brought down the river, one
hundred and thirty miles, to tho lighthouse opposite
Mulberry and where were transferred to the ua,on
steamer George Washington (happy omeuD and one.
gaddened by the sight Of sacred Gag by the
feeling of freedom look back upon that hanuy
moment without feeling stirred in my innermost heart
1t mpcnsed amply for all the suilernss had en-.
drrcd.
Ihave eth few remarks TO add. Tho three Union
dcscrtcrs whom met at Yorktown carried 10
Richmond and put in the sano room with When
told the circumstance Of their desertiun to my fellow
prisoners u concluded at gvo them trial.
and regular jury em anneled, with Judge aud coun
sells aud all other requisites. The whole ceremony was
conducted In the most earnest and pro- manner and IL
was finally conc udcd that would suffer them 10