Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1862-11-07
THE PAROLED PRISONERS AT CAMP
DOUGLAS.


THE Neao Covena'at, published at Chicago.
We presume it is generally known that
our troops, about eight thousand in num-
ber, who were taken prisoners by the reb-
els at the shameful and inexcusable surren-
der at Harper's Ferry, were paroled and
are now quartered at Camp Douglas n
this city, where they occupy the filth
sheds dignifed by the name barracks"
which the rebels vacated on their return
to the South. Having lost almost their
entire camp equipage, and their little per-
sonal property at the surrender, and hav-
ing received no pay for four and six
months, they are compelled to endure much
in the way of discomfort and privation.
They are generally very poorly clad, and
insuficiently supplied with blankets, and
are shivering in the cold winds that
sweep over the pairie, and across the lake
shore, where they are encamped. Their
food has not always been of the best kind
as any one can prove to his satisfaction
by visit to the camp, and the absence
of proper cooking arrangements renders
this matter even worse. Most of their
superior officers are detained in Washing
ton as witnesses in the investigation of
the Harper's Ferry surrender, and the
subordinates with them seem to be def
ciest in ability or inclination or power to
bring order out of the chaos which sur
rounds the almost demoralized regiments,
or to render tolerable their compulsory
stay in their present wretched quarters.
Worn down by their tiresome journey
from Harpers Ferry to Chicago, which
was made by long marches, and more
fatiguing rides in densely packed freight
cars, poorly cared for since, without en-
ployment or occuprtiou of any kind, ut
terly destitute of even the commonest
reading matter, and without money to
supply themselves with it, dispirited
homesick, discouraged and exposed under
the most unfavorable circumstances, to a
Western climate, at a season of the year
ri 90, -, lon4;lo ;,g,oooo, oro b,,of,l 70
the unclimatcd, there is much sickness
among them, which is on the increase.
A large number are in hospitals, while a
still larger number are in the barracks,
treated or not, in their miserable hunks,
as the regiments happen to have humane
surgeons
The hospitals are generally we'll cared
for. The ladies of the city have organ
lied system by which certain number
are daily detailed to the hospitals, who
carry with them the gruels, broths and
other delicacies necessary to sufferers, and
who remain to see that the poor fellows
are properly fed. Where the hospitals
are under the care of humane and compe.
tent surgeons, and surgeons of this stamp
are by no means very numerous the
sick men are made perfectly comfortable
and, excepting the ministrations of atfec-
tion are as we'll off as if sick at home.
But the sick in barracks are to be pitied
We have visited this latter class in
two of the regiments exclusively, attract
ed to them by having found there old ac'
quaintances from Auburn, N. Y, and rel
atives. They are the 9th Vermont, and
l25th New York. if we remember alright
who are in the stables of the Horse Faii
grounds, outside of Camp Douglas. Oul
neighbors' horses and COWS are in cleaner
and better quarters
The hospital accommodations are SC
scanty that man is not sent from his
regiment till it is certain he is to have a
severe fit of sickness, and then he is ex
pected to walk thither supported by hi
companions. We overlook one man OF
his way to the hospital, mile distant
who had been two weeks sick with fever
lie was Of herculean proportions, but 50
feeble from sickness, that dispite the ait
of his comrades he repeatedly sank to tn
earth. We were told that there was no
an ambulance attached to the camp. w
have never seen one there in any of ou
visits. Full one third of these two regi
ments were on the sick list with jau ndice
fever and ague, and severe colds w