Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-12-19
Correspondence Springfield Republican,
ABUSES N THE CONVALESCENT
(ANp
CANP ELLSWORTH, near Alexandra, Va. !
Saturlav Novembar l0th


CANP ELLSWORTH, near Alexandra, Va
Saturday, November 20.h.
Though | may not be able to furnish any
thing new in regard to this camp, yet may
be able in my inside rieJ0 Of the institution
70 make known few facts not generally IN
derstood by the public and especially by the
friends of soldiers. OF those having friends
here.
The entire camp, including the three til-
| icrcnt departments, VIZ "IarOlad camp,
where all parJieI prisoners from the army
o. the Potomac are sent until exchanged
'sJraggleis camp, where s-raggiers from
the army. dessrters and clnvll-scent liz Tor
duty ZAP. san, and the "cluvlieSccut camp
! proper under the military supervision OF
/ CIl /. $ B-.knap, of the SjLh New I0rk
l Volunteers. TIE camp Is located on Shutters
] hill, one ml.s from the city of Alexandra,
/ city which for l.-liuess, surpasSes anything
! | have ye, seen il Dixie. But this has u0tL-
ins TO do with the c1nvllesce1t camp Of
/ which | p-Jrls, % speak. This camp Is sub
divided into divisions, one division fr each
states troops. They are here placed under
the Cl4rEe VI sergeant appointed for the
purI lss by CJl. Bsikuap. commanding the
camps. As soon ss a squad arrives f-am the
dii-reH, hospitals lisr is 'a- 3. OUT. auI all
I it for duty are sent % the .a.zler's camp
to be placed on duty. Those DO, fit or duty
are sent TO the cluY4l5scent camp and placed
10 Attlo dlmluulve tents six ty seven on the
ground. No floors nor straw % spread their
blankets on. but the poor fellows Just from
comfortable quarters IN TIE hospitals lrs
turned INTO talss pans. and compelled O.
sleep 90 the cold, damp srJuad, and this ia
q climate but little warm than that Of
Massachusetts,. In these miserable dlg ken
nels the men are obliged % stay until called
for 10 ~ 10 their respective regiments. Ma
ny Oh them are not cured, and the exposure
Aere frequently brings on their Old com
plants. and ln this condition they are sent
10 tAeir regiments. t-r rati1us they are fed
on pork, fresh beef and bread, with occasion
ally q few potatoes and onions These art i-Ies.
together with sugar and fee. are issued o.
the men raw, owing % the scarcity Of wood
The men have 20 20 out aud pick up wood
and hggJ,s % cook tLcir msltauI bill their
coffee. There is ul wood o. De had UitIfu
radius ot two miles. md the men are Obliged
TO 60 Jhar distance .or wood. or eat thsir n
tilus raw.
Many ei tie men are without blankets
-ai lv-r-J4ts, aud -ufr exceedingly from
t-e llc4-ueI- weather. Clu.Liu, is Issued
O. those needing 10 when i- can De Obtained
Uli-l IS bug s--l .l. There axe ult Jess tuau
l..0N I-u 'u -l- different divisions .l this
ccuT.--s-5l- camp. and. with @ .av e..sr-
&. l-, a.i i-t- the Sam u----.-ag 1u o. -r uut.
lve ln r-w Ilik and t.-li, arI u this
LL-4-l -za ".. % -l--a--l.e existence. /. can
.-t-. Dr. called -Fi1--i- is u-1-.r er.i.g
here. no -- Oh. mon l-s ..-..rr-. -a.t
.-- -'-' i.- -- y l.5
80.
under
-, 1.
-' ' -- -. "l-l 'li and
l-.- --- -.l 1--s ana
--'-4' -..---.i- '--- .--- 4. 5ll'y ana ..L-
-. " -- Is '-s--i' -- a---
-I I --- ------.i --l--i.-- -li--.
----- --. '.'-- - 4 -r M '-
''7'7' ---' ! l'z-, --I,
- - -'--- ----.-.1 ----i .i-a
U ----- . -'---5 .--7' An1---s 5 -r-
~ ---- --s-- ASS -7 l-l'li- 7ecie-
"ls ~ .I' s-Ht % sr2li lame
--A s--7. % li- I----- ....z
------' % ---.s' "a. i..--e -it ll p. .-2 de-
''-'1 ~ l.. ---I.iT t.-l many
e.. ,-- ieh i4 il- -I----- -1--,- department
I o- '-.' -'-' -i---'i- camp lltlt-' -'l1r5 ifr
,--' u .-l-i -s.'l-- - ..s, vel il-.-..us-
. l-4' / -il 7--iy O. ~. tl.1s a-e uJca ig7v
sALi@-i- -i --7---s ,1-4klns away Irlm lu-
y ~ A--lIas around tl.s camp. / would
suggest A.-3 '--t 81 any 10 y1ur LIBERAL cit.-
4-l7 si'--I 7-- %, l3 la-e any cn,ri1ltl0us
/ u A-'-.ei-' SOCKS G. mI-i-t).es lrd drawers.
l-sy should send chem % Sergeant o. j..
f '..-i--i' provost sei sa4n. ilr tie camp, dy
... .