The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-06-27
From Southern Military Prison.
LETTER FROM CAPTAIN DREW.

SALISBURY, y. c., May %, 1862
Our wanderinss, since We were compelled
to accept the "Hospitality of the South"
have been greater than those of Ulysses, and
our Imprisonment much more unpleasant, he
being detained by goddess, We by -,
well, will call no names. From Charles
ton and Richmond we were hurried off to the
tune Of the Yankee guns. Had our feet at
tackled Charleston, as the people there ex-
pected, it would have fallen at once There
were not 5000 troops there and the forts
were entirely unprepared. ! say this on ab
solute hnopledge. Again, had cur sunboats
rmac was destroyed, they could have come
to Richmond, for no Instructions weye IN the
rtcer andNe ommmHion had not gone dowm
to Blut's Point Eahe,y. This l know to
be true. They would have found hundreds
of Union men in prison and out, and city
glad to be captured" Then what fall n
"shinplasters.." TO show YOU how 'confede-
rate notes were regarded there, notice: |
sold, on being ordered south, $40 in gold for
$50 in confederate money, and so |. S.
treasury note for two $40 confederate notes
This tells the confidence of the people" with
a vengeance. When we were sent south
last summer, at every place were greeted with
loud shouts for jeff Davis and groans for the
Yankees generally and "Abe Lincoln" in par
,icular 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: 81 wish the war was
over" 1t begins to look dark to them
Ruiz stares them in the face, ard yet in THEN
ignorance they think it is the [. S. govern
ment that is to blame. The thousands Of
Union men in North Carolina and Nirgini;
are as powerless to act as infants, for abou
them are armed desperadoes who are alway!
glad Of any chance to punder and any pre-
ttAt W uluIutI.
Nothing can exceed the destitute condi
ton of the South of everything save the nee
essaries of life. Medicines are few and hare
to be procured at fabulous prices. For tn
1900 prisoners that have been here fo
months not enough medicine to fill haver
sack was procured. Men have lain wit
their limbs blackened by scurvy and nothin
done for them. All the yankee notions
:, are gone; needles, thread, pins, paper, an
the thousand articles of comfort are no more
: or if they exist are only to be bought by pay
t ing enormous prices.
: Luxury will not destroy the rebels, fc
A such thing is not known. They say the
4 give US as good as they have, and this
r what we get: half ration the poorest kin
n Of pork, and q half ration the meanest kin
t of fom. We get other things at our ow
|, expense. Coffee costs Sl.j0 per h., butte
i 81, sugar SOC. But amid all these disadval
e tages they will fight for years. Those WI
Y expect to subdue them at once or by any OF
r victory are greatly mistaken. The mass
It of the rebel soldiers are of the "poor white
g who never Jared better in their lives; new
d had so much money; never so good chan
y to plunder. Besides, there is no disguisir
! the fact that the license of war is very takir
to the southern mind. Ruin may fall on Il
J. wealthy and influential, but these are but
s. small part of the people. The multitu'
is have nothing to lose. These are the fello,
y that talk so patriotically about burning &C
r ton and towns and cities and leaving nothil
IS but blackened ruins to welcome the Yankee:
g If they are beaten from Richmond and Cl
* inth they can never take up another line
A. defense with any hope of success, yet tn
d, will fgh, III detached parties for years. 81
no cess at Richmond or Corinth will give tht
OF time to concentrate and discipline the "mt
IT. ster army" they intend to raise by the &C
'u- scription act. These troops will be bet
IN than any others they have raised, for the b
ls) ter classes will not escape being drafted
IN Their "pet scheme" is to throw 10000 N
IN into Maryland and carry the war into .
m rica." ."-Bulington Free Press.