, 1862-08-19
Union Prisoners at Richmond
Correspondence Of the Philadelphia Pre.s.1


The steamer Ariel, Capt. Jehn DAILY, re-
Gently Of the Philadelphia and Wilmington
line, went up on Tuesday morning, under
flag If truce, to City Point, fiye mics above
HarriEon'a Landing, With several confederate
prisoners, II charge of Lieut.. Darling, design
authorities, to bring back the Union officers
eaptured during Gea. McClsllaa's late retreat.
On arrival, Lieut., Darling Was informed BY an
offictr who appeared that orders had been
sent the night before not to allow an ex-
change there, bu. that it would be effected at
Atkins Landing. Fortifcations have been
erecting there for q fortnight past, and,
doubtless, considerable reinf0rcement5
had arrived that evening, which it was
rot desirable for our returned officers
to know OF. The engineer Of the Ariel, while
attending to some work on the root, saw be-
hind the blutf, through an aperture in the
trees, about half an acre Of closely packed
men, who evidently formed part of large
lumber. The Ar1tl returned to Gen. McClel-
1an's camp for orders, and finally sailed, in
company with Cen Thomas,s nagg-of.truce
boat, the Henry Burden, to Atkins Landing.
On passing City Point, to the surprise OF Ill,
the dock Was In flames. The motive Of this
has Jet to appear. At about eight o'clock on
Tuesday evening the returned Union officers
ar11ved at Aiken's Landing, the majsrity hay
1ng walked: from Richmond. q distance Of
thirteen miles Their exchange should hare
been effected week ago, but no satisfactory
reason was given for tne.r nnwarrantable de-
tent1on. T1ey report having been politely
treated By the rebel officers In charge OF
thin, but we're allowed the scanty fare Of
daily, without veg. tables, and generally with
out talt. Their drink was exclusively water.
They we're. however, allowed to. purchase
dellcacles at the enormous prices current in
Richmond. Their quarters were most dis
grac. 1u,iy inconVenient, crowded, and badly.
Col. Corcoran and the other Salisbury p1is-
ontrs were expected daily in Richmond, but
at the last dates had not arrived. No officers
among the nnwounded taken had died, though
several had suffered from sickness, dyaentery
being the chief complaint.
Gen. Mccall and Gen. Reynolds have return
ed, and the former complains much Of the in
dignity to which, as a general officer, and q
nan. advanced In years, he vas subjected, In
being confined, with eighty others, in one
room, where no convenience Whatever for
comfort existed. He WAS at first paroled, aud
lived with general Reynolds for three days at
the Spottswood House; -but On hearing that
Gen. PettJgreW Was not paro1ed, but confined
at Fort Delaware, the rebel government, as an
Offset, sent them to prison. General Petit
mad much better accommodations than they.
General Mccall repeat.dly wrote toGen. Win
der respecting his condition, but gained no
satisfaction While at the spottswood House
he Was called on by several old army acqunin-
t1nces, among whom where Generals Magru-
der, Fields, aid Hill; but after changing his
quarters be saw no more Of them. Gen Nc
Call is debi1itatea, but otherwise well. He does
not contemplate visiting Philadelphia till the
warts over, and immedistely went on shore, IS
the steamer touched Hanison's Landiog, to
visit the Reserses, of whom he is very proud
BE says their fighting. was magnificent, aud
an11ously inquired If, in the absence Of his
ehcls1 report, Justice had been done them By
the public press. On being told that commen-
dati~ns upon them were great, he appeared
satisfied. BE will issue bis Official report ere
long,