Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-06-27
From the Burlington Free Press.
FROM A SOUTHERN MILITARY PRIS.
ON.
LETTER FROM CAPTAIN DREW.

II hOh n DV0 II GhN MILL Ihln-
ON.
LETTER FROM CAPTAIN DREW.
SALISBURY, N. c., May 80, 1862
DEAR FREE Pass: Our wanderings, since
we were compelled to accept the Hospitality
Of tie South have been greater than those
Of Ulysses, and our imprisonment much more
unpleasant, he being detained by goddess,
we by y--well, will call no names From
Charleston and Richmond we were hurried
off to he tune Of the Yankee guns. Had our
feet attacked Charleston, as the people there
expected, it would have fallen at once There
Das not 5000 there aud the forts were entirely
Unprepared, ! say this on absolute knou ledge
Again, had our gunboats run up the James
River as soon as the Morrimac was destroyed
they could have come TO Richmond, for no
distractions mere IN The channel Of The riUer and
he ammunition had no, gone down 10 "Blu6s
Point Battery" This knoto 10 be true
They would have found hundreds Of Union
men N prison and out, and city "gad 10 be
captured Then what fall in shin-plas-
tors !" TO show you how Confederate
notes were regarded there, notice sold,
on being ordered South, $50 in gold for $50
Confederate money, and a $40 Z. S. Treasu-
~ notes for ttoo $40 Confederate notes This
tells the confidence of the people" with a
vengeance When we were sent South last
summer, at every place we were greeted with
loud shouts for " jeff. Davis" and groans for
the Yankees generally and q" Abe Lincoln "
in particular. This time the crowds were
smaller and silent ! heard but one shout
for " jeff. Davis and that fellow was drunk
Every one that spoke said irish the 50ar
Cas our" 1t begins to look dark to them.
Ruin stares them in the face, and yet in their
ignorance they think it is the L. S. Govern
ment that is to blame The thousands of
llaion men in North Carolina and Virginia
are as powerless TO act as infants, for about
them are armed desperadoes who are always
glad Of any chance to plunder and any pre-
text to murder.
Nothing can exceed the destitute condition
Of the South Of every thing save the bare ne
cessaries Of life Medicines are few and hard
TO be procured at fabulous prices. For the
1900 prisoners that have been here for months
not enough medicine TO fill a haversack was
procured Men have lain with their limbs
biackcned By sclTUy and nothing done for
them. All the " Yankee notions arc gone
needles, thread, pins, paper, and the thousand
articles of comfort are no more, or If they
exist are only to be bought by paying enor-
nous prices.
Luxury will not destroy the rebels, for such
thing is not known. They say they give US
as good as they have, and this is what we get:
a haif ration the poorest kind of pork, and a
half ration the msaRest lind of -four We
get other things at our own expense Coffee
costs Sl.50 per To-, butter S 90, sugar so
cts But amid all these disadvantages they
will fyht for years Those who expect to
subdue them at once or by any one victory
are greatly mistaken. The masses Of the rob
e soldiers are Of tho poor Uhaes" who new
er Jared better in their lives never had so
much money never 50 good chance to
plunder. Besides, there is no Disgusting the
fact that the license of ,oar is very taking to
the southern mind. Ruin may fall on the
wealthy and influential, but these are but a
small part of the people. The multitude have
nothing to lose. These are the fellows that
talk So patriotically about "burRiag cotton and
totous and cities and leaUing nothing bat black
cned ruins to tOeic0me The Yankees" If they
are beaten from Richmond and Corinth they
can mover take up another line Of defence
with any hope of success, yet they will fight
in detached parties for years. Success at
Richmond or Cornth will give them time to
concentrate and discipline the "monster army
they intend to raise by the Conscription
act" These troops will be better than any
other they have raised, for the better classes
will not escape being drafted Their " pet
scheme is to throw 5000 men into Mary
land and " carry the ioar into africa
The confederate officers are very oommuni-
cative and their plans are pretty freely talked
Of. Besides there are plenty Of Union men
tuh oil hat i tvotno nj
find out much that is of interest in various
ways. The men will all be away tomorrow
and none but officers and citizens will remain.
Our position will grow ioorse as the fortunes
oj the people faiis It is our lot to be made
the victims OF every change Of policy "lbe
Black Hole in which we were last confined
at Richmond was chosen, as we were told,
because our Government put "Tiglman" in
Jail or because they heard So" In my opin-
ion, though, much Of this petty tyranny
comes from petty officers aud is known but lit
tie about by DAVIS or any of his ministers.
A clergyman visited us there and finding it
So horrible went to President Davis about i.
His reply was IL supposed they had quarters,
comfortable and suited to their rank" Gen.
Winder, who at first was very kind to us so
far as | know, has changed. The great hatred
against Coi. Corcor6R seems to have died
away. At least the papers do not abuse him,
and he is shown considerable attention But
Col. Wilcox will never be thought well Of by
the Confederates. They remember too well
his zeal in Michigan to prepare troops, even
before South Carolina had gone out.
There are s3 officers and 300 citizens here,
The citizens are closely confined, The officers
go out in the yard to walk by giving their pa
role that they will not escape. Guards are all
around the yard. We have heard report
that an exchange of prisoners was contem-
plated. 1t seems to us high time, since there
can be no more recognition in exchanging then
in holding men as prisoners Of lcdr. We are
all anxious to try Manassas over again
But must bring my letter to a close and re-
main, Ptnctus non rtctas,
Yours. J. T. ID.
Our Army Correspondence.
FROM THE CAVALRY REGIMENT