Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1862-03-07
The Rebel Prisoners.

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now at Camp Douglas near that city. Many
Of the incidents related are decidedly laugh
able and many very painful. We are happy
to hear that the prisoners are generally well
treated, both by the officers in charge and
the civilians visiting them. We extract from
the Tribune some few incidents which will
be of interest to eur readers: aH
The prisoners have already commenced
writing letters home to their relatives and
friends, who may be expected to feel consid-
erable anxiety on their account. The duty
Of examining these missives, to prev mt the
conveyance into Secessia of reasonable or
improper information, has, for the present,
been contided to Col. JAS. "A. Mullisan. 1t is
a delicate and at the same time a difficult
duty, but which the Colonel will undoubted-
ly perform with as much credit to himself as
he received for the handling of his forces at
Lexington. One Of the captives yesterday
exhibited to person from the city COM
paratively large roll of Confederate scrip, all
Of which he said he would willingly part with
if a line could be sent to his family at home,
satisfying its members that he was not to be
shot as a traitor. =, ...t, IA @St ...g...
The commander, of the post, seconded by
his subordinates, is. doing all in his power to
reduce things to some sort or order. Disci-
pline is much better observed than at first
and even the rebel barracks begin to assume
a military appearance. The prisoners de-
clare themselves satisfied with their accom-.
modations, and freely admit that they are
much better than they had dared to expect
Soap and water were eagerly sought after
on Saturday by the prisoners, and in front of
every line Of quarters could be seen squads
stripped to the waist, washing, securing and
polishing each other They declared that it
was the first wash they had had in weeks
Their popularity was exemplifed by a tall
swarthy looking Texan, who, upon percciy,ng
that his messmate was wiping himself with =
towel, exclaimed -"Goliar! Bill, you haven't
got through with that ar scrub, hcv you y
"Yes," replied Bill, haint you? ?' Don't
AK that for week look here, Bill, I've been
a slathering suds around my neck for an
hour, and haint got off but one layer Of dirt
yet and thar's four more thicknesses." 8 -
Notwithstanding the present haggard and
warworn appearance Of the prisoners, were
they washed and shaven and otherwise re-
cruited after their late fatigues, they would
be a nOble-looking set Of men. They were
uniformly courteous in their intercourse with
visitorS-much more So we regret to say.
than few blackguards who visited them. -
The Tennessee men whom we met invariably
said that they had had enough Of fighting.
and if they could be liberated would at once
settle down to quiet life. Many expressed
wish to settle in Illinois. The mississippi
ans, when interrogated. simply said that they
"got we'll out of this scrape" before they
said anything about it-their air and bearing.
though courteous, bctokening that they were
ready to continue the fight, and carry it to
the bitter end. "" 9
A member Of the 4sth Tennessee, who BY
the way was born and bred in Ross county,
Ohio, describing how the politicians and
dcmagogues humbug the people, said: "Why
sometimes have been to these stump meet
ings, and heard so much about our being the
wisest. bravest, and best loo ing people in
the world. that | have gone home thinking
that Napoleon was a fool to what was"
One Of the contrabands in the camp was
on Saturday hobblinr along behind his mas
ter, a rebel officer, carrying his baggage and
personal effects in hat-box and valise-
Casting look out upon the lake the darkey
accosted his master as follows "Golly, Massa
Richards, who'd thunk we's coming up to
this yere Northern watering place to spend
the summer, yah, ynh!" Massa Richards
looked at the icy scene, shivered, drew his
yellow blanket closely about him, and made
no reply. Doubtless he thought it was
crowding the season, and that this Northern
trip was too early to be fashionable, and
more forcible than agreeable.
A laughable incident occurred, which will
perhaps teach the offender that rebel may
be a quick at a repartee as any other man.
A soldier had given Scotch bonnet to a reb-
el who had lost his headgear. An officer of
the Scotch regiment who chanced to notice
it. commenced bantering him about disgrace
ing Scotch bonnet by placing it on rebels
head. Thank Godp' exclaimed Reb., ut
is only matter of necessity. I had rather
be in hill than ho Scotchman!' The
officer suddenly came to the conclusion that
he had business in some other part Of the
camp. sfeas.ss.sE
A Tennessean yesterday CHANGED to init.
mate that he voted for James Buchanan for
President. This attracted attention of the
bystanders, who began to ask him the direct
question, Did you vote for BUCHANAN p He
at FIRST strcnuously denied IT,; but at last
said, "IWell, gentlemen. if you, must know
the truth, did vote him: and may God for
give me for it!"l gls p4aiqi aret4a.H
On Sunday an elderly. well-dresscd lady
was looking about among the members Of
the 10th Tennes see regiment, when in the
person o. a fine booking, intelligent man Of
% or 80 years, she recognized her son. The
recognition was mutual, and mother and son
rushed into each others arms. The young
man, whose name is William Pithey, left his
home in this city Ave years since and went
South to seek his fortune At Huntsville,
Alabalna, . few menths since. a personal
enemy, as he supposed. denounced him as an
Abolitionist, and he was left the choice Of two
Alternatives, and joined tho rebel army. He
was made prisoner at Fort Donelson, and
brought to his former home captive, His
parents, who are highly respectable people
and old residents here, on Saturday learned
of his whereabouts, and on Sunday hastened
to his quarters. His mother was admitted,
but his father was not allowed to pass. .As
she found him, she sObbed, "Oh, my dear
boy, you have been the subject Of many
prayers, and youarc not past praying for yet.
4 thank God, he is once more under the folds
Of the flag Of the Union" Mother and son
were perlnittedto go to the gate, whore the
father had been waiting to greet his son. The
guards, understanding the matter. offered no
hindrance to the meeting, and allowed them
to embrace each other. We understand that