Evening star., 1862-09-29
THE WASHINGTON VOLUNTEER NrRSTs
AND OTHER UNION PRISONERS IN
RICHMOND.
AN INTERELTING DESCRIPTION OF THEE
ADVENTURES

Mr.. James II. Bell of the Interior Depart
ment, one of the volunteer nurses recently cap
tured al Bull Run, was among those released
from the Richmond prisons OIL "Wednesday last
and arrived here on Friday. From him we get
the following interesting particulars OF the ad-
ventures OF the Washingtonians:
The citizen prisoners Of Washington just re-
leased with POpe's officers Were captured abour
II o'clock on Sunday, August 30, some miles
southwest of Bull Run bridge. Relying upon
the truthfuness of Popr's dispatch they pushed
on, thinking the hattie field in our possess sion
till the first they knew the rebel cavalry lurk-
ing in the bushes had them surrounded. They
We're marched of through the battle field for )
miles toGainesvilie. where they were q quarters.d
IN wheat field adjacent TO a crowd Of some
1.500 L. :. soldier prisoners. They were kept
al this place until Wednesday morning. when
an order came march for Fairfax Iourt
House TO he sent beyond the rebel lines. They
had nothin eat from Sunday morning tiil
"Wednesday AT o'clock when they were
marched into comfield and told TO help them.
selves raw or roasted From this place they
proceeded by the Fairfax turnpike through the
entire secession army. resting on each side of
the turnpike, 10 a large farm house some miles
in the rear OF Fairfax Court House. At this
place they slept on the gronnd usual, with
out blanket or shawl, anything 10 sustain
n ,turr, wafer being denied for nearly the entire
night On the afternoon Of Thursday they were
ordered TO march i'm the direction of Big Falls
OF Potomac, being promised safe conduct across
TO Maryland.
during the afternoon and night, till towards
morning, when they were stopped within five
miles of Great Falls. Here the Rebel General
Ripley made them 4 speech, saying that Ihey
were enemies of the South: that if we Were NOT
for the South. they were against ii; thar their
object III going to the battle field was TO gloai
over supposed Confederate revease: and that
hr should send them TO Richmond. &c. They
Were here placed in sixteen wagons and con-
yeyed over the rough and rocky road back to
Gainesville. On the road the guards sho; a
h.ler rnr "A "a,
prisoners. They passed through the battle
field, on the way back to Gaines willie, by a diff
frrent route TO the two first. and saw 4 much
larger number OF Union dead than on either of
the other occasions. 1t being SATURDAY., the
dead had been on the field seven days unburied.
In one place the dead OF Gen. Stahl's brigade
covered the ground SO thick as TO almost touch
each other. They saw large piles OF rails and
wood, seemingly recently hauled for the inten-
ton of burning the now black and puirid bodies
On Saturday night they slept at Warrenton,
proceeding the next day TO White Sulphur, and
sleeping on Sunday night in the woods near the
Rappahannock. They Were permitted to rest
an hour al Culpdper. then took the track Of the
Central Va. Railroad for the Rapidan. When
about five miles OH the way. met jeff Davis aud
j. Il. Benjamin on 4 hand car, route for Cul-
peper. Al Rapidan station they got a rationo I
bacon. which, with the hog shot several days
betore.w were the only two cooked rations during
their nine days tramp.
They were conveyed in the cars from Rapidan
TO Gordonsyilie, where they were told by DIR.
30, lie that marshal law prev allied, dad hence
Hsitker srarr ar food rrds diforcd them. The treat.
ment Al this place Was most brutal. For three
mortal hours they, with Pope's Officers and some
HIn soldier prisoners, were compelled TO stand
IN The hot sun and submit To the humiliation Of
having their persons searched for money, while
all maiN,er of coarse and abusive rpithets We're
freely applied rom the naughty, pompous,
wagering mayor down TO the dirty
sa,ages, known as Confederate soldiers.
Prom Gordonsyille they reached Richmond AT
nlghtiall NJ the end OF the ninth day. and du-
ring that tirue eat nothing but green corn when
they could get il, except the two rations named,
and slept witioutany covering but their clothes.
the bare ground. during the entire iaunt
They We're confined III a room OF the Libby
prison which had been used only week before
as a negro hospital. On the floor the filth had
collected nearly an inch in thickness The
place was entirely destitute Of any article OF
bare walls and the furuacp-like tin root. They
endured confinement in this place tor sc renteen
days. The food furnished them was not only
insufficient but unfit for any animal but hog
10 eat. The consequence was that they Were
good customers Of the prison sutler, who con-
descended TO sell them few luXuries At the fol-
lowing eAorbitant prices, yiz:-Irlsh potatoes,
g. per bushel; tomatoes, -; butter, Sl.50 per
pound; moiasses, SO per gallon; sugar. e5 cents
per pound; coffee, made OF crushed crackers
parched, % cents per pound bacon, none 10 be
had, although 81 per pound was offered.
Mr.. Bell furnishes the following list OF pris.
oners now confined in the Libby Prison. The
prisoners are nearly naked and eaten mp by lice.
Their case is truly deplorable, demanding the
earliest attention OF the Government before
their desperation produces permanent insanity
or death. In fact, many Of them have already
become insane, ing TO the condition Of the
prison and their harsh treatment t
: Tho follow :.:S Ee2tuak:ans have beer con
faed from four 70 uine uouthA and are -
g#s -. -.