The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-01-16
Correspondence of the, N. Y. Herald.
PIE HsturneI PTisoueTss4sHoW they were
Trcated at Richmond and how received

TYCMx20 kIc0mOmO
0n-their Return
FoRrREss MoxRoE, Jan. 5, 1862.
Two hundred and thirty-nine hearts
were day gladdened by being released
from y loathsome prison and harsh
treatment. ~
By permission Of Major-General
Wool, the representatives. of the press
were allowed to accompany the flag of
truce, as also several officers of the
pest On leaving Newport News the
white flag was displayed, and in this
manner we ran to within about one mile
from Shipping Point, on the James
river. When the George Washington
east her anchors 10 was about half-past
twelve o'clock, and in that position we
remained until after three o'clock.
The rebel boat was in sight for more
than sn hour before it reached US.
Finally We were enabled to descry
the name Of the rebeltruce boat, which
was the Northampton, and as soon as
the latter was within gunshot of us the
band struck up. the sweet strain of
"Hone, Sweet Home;" but the first
sight of the Stars and Stripes was too
much for the released prisoners. and
they act up such a shout as made the
wsikin ring. The cheers were an
swercd from onr boat, and finally both
boats were made fast, and Captain Mill.
ward introduced Captain Whipple to
the officer in charge, who proved to be
Captain George c.. Gibbs, commander
Of the prison at Richmond. Captain
Whipple returned the compliment by
introducing Captain Millward, after
which the roll was called by Mr.. Charles
Z. Chapman, Of the Seventh Ohio Vol
unteers who for some time was one of
the prison secretaries.
As soon as the now released prison
srs stepped upon the deck of our ves-
sci they could scarcely refrain from Civ
ing vent to their feelings in the most
enthusiastic manner-cheering, yelling
and dancing were INDUCED in, and the
most patriotic sentiments were uttered
by the overjoyed soldiers.
Our officers treated Captain Gibbs
with marked politeness, and helm return
was very courteous to us. ier-.
Al C'St SSeoI i0oAhiS5 eSt VI Iuch
appeared anywhere, none looked worse
than the poor fellows who passed thro'
a five months confinement in filthy,
ill-ventilated and miserable prison,
which was mentioned by Mrs. Ricketts,
as equal to the Jersey prisonship. The
stories these poor men relate are most
heartrending. Bread and beef consti-
tinted the bill of fare daily, without any
variation. The space allotted to each
prisoner was not large enough for
man to stretch himself in, and the
Tombs of New York is styled as par
disc compared with the Richmond pris-
ons. The guard set upon the watch
around the tobacco warehouses are
designated as brutal bloodthirsty set.
and either a real or fancied insult is
punished by them with death. When
an unfortunate prisoner only dares to
put his head out of the window, and
one of the guard (who, as usual thing
are generally two-thirds drunk) detects
him in the act, he is fired upon, and if
he should not happen to be hit it is not
owing to the good intention of the
british sentinel. One poor fellow
named Gleason was shot dead while in
the act of looking out of the window
from the fourth story Of the prison.
Those prisoners also inform me that
there are vast number of Union peo-
pie in Richmond, who have, when con-
sistent, contributed many little com
forts. Could these people only speak
their mind openly they would emphat-
ically and decidedly declare for the
Union. 49,. s,,af -.
--eer BALTIMORE, Jan. 4, 1852.
Two hundred and thirty-nine Union
prisoners, who have been confined at
Richmond, arrived here this morning
by the steamer from Fortress Monroe.
They were received, on landing, by
the officers Of the Union Relief
Association of this city, and escorted
to the spacious rooms provided by that
society. These rooms occupy the
whole space Of alarge four story build
ing on South Eutaw street, near the de-
pot of the Washington Railroad. On
entering these hospitable apartments,
the weary and prisonworn eaptives
found warm fires blazing, and a wei
come prepared for them, which will
cause them to remember the warm
hearted people Of Baltimore to their
dying day. Long tables were spread,
covered with clean. white cloths, on
which was an abundance of the most
excellent viands that the markets af-
ford, all served up hot in hotel style.
At Richmond, the prisoners, accord
ing to their accounts, were crowded to-
gether in tobacco warehouses, with
nothing to sleep on but the floor, and
and with but scanty covering. They
had no convenience for washing or per-
sonal cleanliness. Their food was
soanty and of the worst possible des-
ERUPTION, except the bread, which was
fresh and sweet
Mr.. James Gilletts, of the Seventy
first Regiment New York State Militia,
who was one of the prison secretaries,
and whose statement l give below,
kindly furnished me the annexed table
Of prisoners captured by the rebel for
css and brought to Richmond, to De-
cember ~, 1861: nof..8T f--gl48s
Remaining at Richmond, 9osf l,019