Daily Nashville union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-06-08
Narrative OF "A Returned Prisoner.
Health Of Col. COreOrnn.

&. AeaAIh OF COLI COrcOrans
Mr. F. Darby, Of Syracuse, N. Y. 2 private
OF Company ID, Twelfth New York Volun,
teers, was taken at Upton's Hill. Va, Au-
gust ~, 1861 He was carried to Richmond
and detained ia the Tobacco Warehouse
Prison three months. He was stripped of
bis overcoat and all his private property at
Fairfax Court-house. He states that he.
with Eve hundred other prisoners, belonging
to various Union regiments, were sent to
Tuscaloosa, Ala, on the 25 III Of November.
The prisoners, as they were removing them
through the streets of Richmond, broke out
aud sang the "StaT.Spangled BaDner.p
They were Transferred by raiirood, going TO
Montgomery and thence by steamer down
the Alabama and up the TOmbigbee and
Black Warrior. On The way tbevT were Ell
lowed three hard crackers aud small niece
of bacon daily; the latter was maggotty and
| unfit Tor food. At every station they were
taunted 10 the most unteeling manner. The
| citizens would run by the side Of the cara at
! some places and call upon the officers TO
| "shoot tho Yanhoo BUuS or - "Wbat
| did you come down here forW "What are
| you lighting for ~ "You came down To
raYage our houses, and burn our women ana
children, didn't ye2p Guess you've rot
enough of it, havn't you?" "How did Won
! like Manassasl' were the more ocr6,np
phrases and salntatons. At Tuscarora bey
were placed 10 a vacant hotel, the United
States Courthouse, and the Postofiioe. The
owner Of the hotel strenuousiy opposed lis
being used for that purpose, but the Lieut..
Commanding said he would turn the Yam
KEGS loose aud take it. Their ratons here
consisted Of pound Of corn bread, without
salt, and a pound OF beef shanks aud necks.
raw, daily, After II was cooked il AFFORDED
about three ounces OF meat TO each man
Halt pint Of rice soup was also allowed Ia
a man. The men were generally without
clothing or blankets, and slept on the bare
floor without bed or covering. They were
closely con6ped, and were allowed 10 20 out
only four at time. Meantime the majority
OF the men were afflicted with severe disr
rhGl. A tub placed to receive ordure and
ollal was permitted to stand Ia tho room for
twelve hours, and often until o'clock ia
the morning The prisoners were literally
covered with vermin. Until the Govern.
ment clothing was received 10 January, they
had no change OF garments. Guards were
constantly stationed in front Of doors and
windows, which were always kept closed
during The night During the daytime they
were sometimes opened tor ventilation.
The poor citizens of the town were In a
deplorable condition for food. They said
they had been obliged to enlist to keep from
starving. Between seventy and eighty OF
the rebel guards were sent to the hospital.
sick, 10 less than six weeks after they arrived
ia the town. The rebels were 30 reduced ia
men that officers often we're compelled to
perform quad duty.
Papers sometimes found their way into
the prison. The accounts Of each action
generally stated that there was a great
slaughter Of the Hessians, and nobody hurt
on our side"
About the oath Of February they signed a
parole, and on the lst OF Mareh started on
their return. During their confinement four
had died One OF these was Corporal Hum
phreys, Of the Philadelphia Cavalry; another
private OF the New York Twenly-sevenlh
belonging TO POugbkeepsie, aud third Goa
ley, oil the First Minnesota Regiment The
other was private Of the Seventh OHIO.
They were transported Ia box-csFs, gen
orally used for carrying horses, ead geri
eleven days on their way 10 Weldon, N q
Here the order FIR their release was counter
manded by Howell Cobb, the rebel Bdge
der General. Ga the road they received
three crackers daily, With meat only par
of the time. They were sent to Salisbury
| N. G., and placed 10 close confinement, altel
being thirteen days on the route. Thel
were confined In an old cotton factory. Her,
they found about i've hundred Uuion PRISON
ers from New Orleans. and three huudtel
aud dity sailors aud soldiers from Richmond
m king total Of some thirteen huudred. -
ihe Indignation OF ths prisoners wus iuteGs
on hldiug themselves deceived and etaine.
after The promise OF Liberation. They wer
all opposed 10 the proposed visit OF Mr Feb
VINO was reported 10 be coming with moue
o relieve their wants. They did not wish q
leave a dollar Of gold or silver ia The hand
OF the reprl-.
! A. Salisbury their AIioas consisted "a