New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-06
RETURN OF RELEASED UNION PRISON
Frs FROM RICHMOND.

A number of Massachusetts, soldiers, who were
recently released from the Richmond PRISONS psssed
through this city on Monday, on short furlough to
visit their friends.
| The following is statement by two Of them
Tbona. j. Pou.Iand, First Sergeant of Company II,
Goth Massachusetts, and Thomas Il. Ross, Corporal
Of Company A, 18th Massachusetts Regiment;
Wa were in the battle of Balls Dluif on the 2lst
Of October last and were taken prisoners ut that
time. About 400 Of us marched 10 LeesburQh that
pipht aud from there TO Manaosas, dirtance OF
about tLiriy-iive miles, during which We received
OILY pierre Of corn bread each about the tlze OF q
man = band which was tho first morsel we had re-
ceived for the previous thrty-siH honrs.
At Manassas they took list of the names, and
said We would have good quarters. They then
marched us into some yards mcosed by board fences
about 10 feet in hight, with lao covering beneath Tue
broad canopy Of the heavens, and here we sept on
the cold. wet ground, with not even blanket LOT
covering or fire for warmth. and the supper pro-
yided cousisted OF raw lam. On the following
morning breakfast WAS served up, each man recev
ing half OF n small loaf of bread, siier which We
were formed in squads Of 80 each snd proceeded 70
Richmond by carr. 80,
Al every place we passed, men, women and child.
rem crowded around To get vsw OF the " Yankees,
some Of them expecting TO see some horrible ctea-
,ure. and one old woman, In utter ahtonsineDt, on
finding that Yankees very much resembled other
wbie mo,tals, exclaimed: "Why, thought Ian
KEGS had horDsr Iron arriving ut Richmond, we
were taken to Mayos tobacco house, building
about 81 feet BY 30 and three stories in hight.
Upon entering the building, Sergeant Wurtz be-
longing 10 II Louisiana regiment, orde red the men 10
fall ill., Some OF the men neglec'ing TO obey the
order with sufficient alacrity TO suit the officer, he
exclaimed in broken English. " Fall III, you ID
Yankees; if speak to You again will speak with
a bullet" A couple Of days after this one Of the
prisoners stepped up 10 the grated window, when
tho sentinel fired him, the ball grazing his arm
and lodging III the wall. Subsequently another Of
the prisoners who was passing down stairs TO the
ward happened 10 &c, close TO the window, when
ball fired by a sentinel below came whzlng psst
his head
For nut Der of days the men were compelled TO
sleep upon the bare floor without any covering, and
there being no receptacle for the bones, meat, and
other refuse II wa, necessarily piled up IN one
corner, and becoming putrid would cause an n!oler-
able stencil. After week this evil was renedied:
straw mstra-ses were procured, and the prironerr
were enabled 20 keep their quite neat. In this
rorrn 81 BY 20 feet were confined IL Of the Msssa-
chustts 20th 20 Of the Massachusetts 18TH % Of tho
California regiment and - Of the Tammany regi-
men', making II total Of l0a. We received two meals
day, sometimes bread and beef, mashed
,nruips and bread, black beans and bread, rice
and bread, none Of which was seasoned
excep, occasionally with q little salt; coffee or
tea WIS ever allowed. For dinner fur
nshed less than pint Of SOUP and half Of n small
LOAF Of bread. Te soup was most frequently made
I 10 from dGnaged and puirld meat, and on the top
OF il would be fonnd floating enormous naggo's
MANY Of them detir,d that the dinner should
be served after dark In order that their up
petes might not la wholly impaired by these un-
welcome sights. The beef served up was generally
good, and whenever II was bad. word being
sent 10 Capt. Warner, he always caused il 10
be- exchanged. The captain was invariably
very kind aud did all III bis power for the welfare
Of the prisoners. The prisoners were ordered TO
IL III -
ana ten or twelve Of them were put III irons but
without eject. They declared that they would su'
FER death before they wonld become The drudges o.
the !azy Confederate soldiers. After five weeks we
were sent 10 officers quarters to act Ms stewards
und after that Jared well as the officers we're al
lowed TO purchuec whatever luxuries they chose
The following were the prices pad for some OF the
articles procured for the officers: Raw coffee T. H.
81 a o. green tea, s3 u 10; butter, 80 a j6e. T.
/ ~ sweet aud Irish potatoes SOC. T. peck; onions
;Oc y quart sirup 81 2Ods - q gallon.
IDe officers formed n society called the " Rich
moud Prison Association" of which Congressman
Ely was the President. Owing to the fact that u
very dfagreeable little insect frequently found its
way into their quarters from the room above, they
adopted the motto /" bite and be id" and n sign
suggestive OF the operation OF crushing II between
the ihumb-nails.
The following was very popular with the mem
bers OF the association:
THE PRISONERS SONG.
Written expressly for the Richmond Prison Association by
Capt Isaac Hart, from the Wabash. Author OF Exchange
Come, brother prisoners. JOIN In tho song
Oar stay Ia prison will no, he long
ChOfHs-Koll on roll on, sweet moments. roll on,
Andle,thc poor prisoners 80 home-goho home.
Our friends at home have made dem sd
To have returned THE patriot band
Roll on, ro! on. sc.
Our Government 10 bound to obey,
For irom the People they get thesr pa.
Roll on, roll on, &c.
Cop,ro,msn Fly {. hr.t Oh the lst
Aud he'll soon be hone our friends to sssi't
hol on fs on, &c.
And rive 10 III. mind tho widest rangs
And spsesd himself on the theme OF EIchsnfs
koll on roll on, &C.
thd whom We arrive In tho land OF the free
Ihey VIII smiln aud weconis Joyfay.
Roll on toll on &c.
Aud wl-n before them we shortly stand
| We III repeat Ger motto, " Bite aud be d. ulnedv
| Roll on roll on, &c.
On the 18th OF February the Commis-arv entered
the quarters, and rubbing bn hands and smiling said;
Well boys, Tomorrow morning I'm going To send
you all to Abraham's BOSOM This announcement,
was hailed with demonstrations 0. ioy; and on IN,
follow ing morning, 30 Of IA, rank aud file took oul
departure Oh iiag-Of-truce boat ana proceeded tc
within about H. niles Of Newport News, where ~,
remained all night, III consequence OF Il dense fog
On the morning OF the 10Th the l.. \. boat Exprcs,
came up, when we hailed her with three heart,
cheers. Alter getting board We gave three groaD,
for the Confederate hag, and three more for LIEUT.
T.. Mack, who was Oh board the Rebel boat. We
proceeded Ia Fortress Monroe and after short stol
took the Adelaide aud went TO Baltimore, where ",