Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1862-01-01
Letter from "A Prisoner az I.1on'
1nond.
BatT1sH Ho1row. Dec. 23d 1876,

BaIT1sH HoLLow, Dec. 23d 1861.
FRIEND CovER:--I take the liberty
TO send you herewith, an extract from a
letter just received from Lieut.. VIM. Booth.
He was wounded and taken prisoner at
Bull Run, and is now prisoner at Rich
mond. thought It might be interesting
to others. therefore yoa are at liberty to
publish it, ifyou think proper.
Yours DC, A. X. i.
RIcHMoSD Va, Dec. 4th, 1861.
DEAR FRIEND ~
Ny health, is very good, although the
time passes slowly. 1t almost seems that
Uncle Abe, had forgotten us; or did not
care much for us anyhow. 1t is now
more than four months since we have en-
dured this calling captivity, and we see
not, that anything is being done to allevi-
ate it. and to us it begins to look as
though nothing could be done. Some OF
the men are nearly bare, and great many
have died. and lnore will die, if they are
not soon released. Every day is witness
of some one being borne to the grave
The sight Of is hearse are becoming quite
familiar to us. Nearly all the wounded
have recovered, or are dead. Ina. is,
those taken at Bull Run. Some of our
Wisconsin men are disabled for life, and
are still held as prisoners. A large num-
Der of men have been sent South, as the
prisons here are full. We think something
should be done for us Immediately. There
are some three thousand Of US, including
more than one hundred commissioned Of
ficers, who are looking to their government
for succor. They are not the men who rau
from Bull Run. But they are those who
did not run. Thus it is-while we are left
here TO endure the priyatations and miser-
les Of prison life, the fast runners are pro-
NOTED for their feetncss.
This looks to US, rather like bribc
upon cowardice. don't want you to I'M
derstand me that all we've towards who
ran. After the command was given. twas
duty, before that twas cowardice, I'm
derstand mel claim no merit for not
running. The bullet in my leg, put stop
to that; but thera are many here, who
could have escaped if they had run when
the rest did. We understand the reason
why we are not exchanged is it cannot be
done without recognizing the rebels as BEL
ligerents; but they have already exchan-
2, d five officers, and in this, they have
obeyed the scripture which says, 1.-The last
sh..I BE first and the first shall be last"
for included IN the number was one Hale
who represented himself as being Lieut..
in the Navy, and a nephew of Secretary
Welles, perhaps that accounts for his ex-
change while Lieutenants who We're
wounded, and have been here four times
as long as he, are still left. 1t may be all
right but it is hard for us too see the reas-
oning. However we are not expected to
be astute politicians, nor to understand the
different approximations towards recogni-
ton, exhibited in the exchange of fee or
fee hundred prisoners. But it may pos
sibly be explained to our satisfaction, and
we, ia time, taken to Abraham's bosom.
My wounds entirely healed. though it
is affected somewhat 10y cold vet not
enough to prevent, though it may slightly
impair, my loc5notion. l think may be
able to run the next time | fight. That
is if they don't shoot in the legs.
l should like to visit you very much,
but my friends here cannot spare me just
now. suppose you, all Of you, take a
hunt once in while; so do we here, but
our game is small, and we don't have to go
out Of doors to hunt it. You may guess
its kind.
Give my love to all my friends, and ac-
cept the same yourself, from your friend,
WILLIAM BooTH.