New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-05-28
THE sUFFERINGS OF UNION PRISONERS
AT RICHMOND.
. SHOCKING REVELATIONS.

| Ut ONlON lhiSONEhS
AT RICHMOND.
SHOCKING REVELATIONS.
TIE Hartford Egeaing Press makes the following
extracts from private letter written by an officer
now confined in Richmond. 1t vouches for the genu-
ineness Of the letter:
Our condition ia most dark and dreary.
There only three windows to the room, and those
on one end. The floor IL always in a filthy condi-
ton. IL having been used fora pork warehouse Jim
mediately before were removed to 1t, however,
for savepen), the floor is perfectly saturated with
grease This makes j. impossible TO get il clean, and
causes il TO be coated with an amalgam of porkfat
and all kinds of dirt. In walking this vile stuff adj
heres to the shoes, and we need scraper more In
walking here than you do in walking in the street.
Then add to this the fifth that comes from above:
Almost 400 men are on the two floors above US, and
frequently it has now been the for two Gays,
their waterclosets overflow and discharge their awful
contents upon us. This comes down sometimes in
torrents. Yesterday it poured down where cap
tain was lying with broken leg He had TO be
moved as quickly possible, and has not been able
to occupy bis place since, on account OF this stream
of pollution flowing from above. A similar stream,
with scarcely an nermission, has been now for two
DAYS pouring down into the cook-room, which Is
room partitloned off in one corner OF the one which
we occupy. All our cooking is done in this room.
You Will say, I" how can you eat answer, have
scarcely thought of the matter in relation TO eating
Our schooling has prepared for it, You will wish
TO know what my food ia. This can soon tell you,
though 1 might give you dietetic history which
would painfully interest you. Our food, as furnished
by the Southern Confederacy, consists in the morn
ing Of bread and meat; for dinner, meat and bread;
for tea, meat and bread, and bread and meat. This
il all; and this il all we get unless we have money
10 send out for articles Many times we cannot do
this when we have the money, as we have not been
4 able 20 do so now for three days. Therefore we
have had no sugar, Coffee no potatoes, no money
Al these articles are raIities, costing immensely
We have made out to supply ourselves comfortably
well by the blessing of kind Providence.
May Lit is May-day but what dreary one
dark and lowry without, and the floods within have
continued all night and still pour down upon MS
from the sinks and privy holes above. We are the
sewer for near 400 men, There is not q foot In the
cook.roon excepting under the stove, winch 10 not
covered with water. A hole has been cut insthe
ceiling. which lets most of the water down IN one
place, instead of sitting it down all over. Several
holes in the plank of tbs floor have been cut this
morning. 10 allow the water standing on 1t 10 pass
through into the basement which has long since be-
come an awful muck-hole. Thus everything Il being
prepared for disease when the warm weather shall
come. The measles have already broken out
among us. .
/ On the whole We ere in a most deplorable con-
ditlon; and what very much aggravates this I'M
beargbIe state is the sending home of the men and
non.comnis.ioned officers while the officers are stils
held in custody. All the officers wear the most
gloomy faces. Our fate is uncertain. SO far as we
can Judge being denied the papers entirely, one man
being few days ago gagged, aud then made 10 keep
time half day at "a time in order 10 compel HIM TO
tell how a paper wac got in), our army from the
Rappal annock seem TO be moving on TINS place. In
this case we shall by means be suffered to remain
in Richmond, but will undoubtedly be sent sou'h'
You can imagine the uricsirableness Of this.
Nav The rumor is that the officers ore to be
taken South. This is very probable. Report says
we are to be taken to Salisbury, Nc. IL may be
interesting to you and others TO know something
about what here called citizen prisoners. lhey
are Union men, citizens Of the Southern States.
DO not know whether this is the only depot Tor This
kind of prisoners. But there are hundreds in this
place. ii know but few of them. Some act as cooks
in the lower kitchen, and bring our meat and bread
in TO US. All these men are in every respect, very
worthy There were three ministers among them
One las died. The cause Of his sickness and death
reveals the barbarism of the Rebels, and at the same
time what the Union men suffer. This Mr. Web
ster for such his name, was citizen OF FairiaN
County, taken prisoner about a month before nus
death. He was taken with the following men who
were engaged in the peaceful occupations OF ire;
William y Spur aged SO YEAR,; Isaac Wlbirt, %
wears of age; e. White, William Showers, 40 years
!. old. These men were not, IN one instance, per-
mitted 10 60 into their houses for money or eioIh
inc. or to bid their friends goodbye. Ihey
wore marched with the army eight days, during
which time they slept ont doors-it being IN the
month of January--and had but one meal per day.
, Wien the age OF these men Is considered, the par
, barsrn is unparalleled But something worse tnan
hi, follows. On the second days march, Mr..
showers who had reached his three-score years AMI
ten. dropped dead on tho road. The battalion halted
not for n moment and the officer Ia command for.
bade ANY attention whatever TO be paid to tho dead
man. sayo TO carry the body and place It by the
wsyside There il was left. On the third day !
march a negro dropped down dead, and his remains
were served in tie same way. The desolatlon
wrought by these hearless Rebelsis actually beyond
description. have seen men by scores taken to The
prison, frequently followed by their wives ana chi
dren until they were repulsed by the guards ana
in one case the husband and wife kissed over the
bayonet, the husband disappearing within tht
. prison. whils the wife went weeping away.
could write much more on this painiul subject, Du
this will suffice to give you some idea Of the state
things
Ecening, Nay I've have had most terrible
day The Hoods from above continue. AT one TINE
e while writing this letter. the pipe from the uppe
closets burat and discharged the excrement OF 4O'
men upon us, filing the room with the villainou
odor. 10 fell within few feet OF our dining
Every man lit his pipe and smoked for his HE. In
awful stencil Is still IN the room. DO not write tn
E to add to your affection, but have concluded yo
would like to know JUST how we are situated, and
am convinced also that the people OF the North ong
i to know how their officers are treated Many wh
: have gone home have not given the true view
have told the truth in this letter. You are ~ no
4 erty TO publish extracts from it. You must nor pc.
= NIT my name TO appear, for one man, for ge';lu5
letter through, telling facts, was put lnto H.,
i cell and fed on bread and water Tor ten aaye.
OF the letters of the prisoners published at ''' No''
' appear in the Southern papers.
4 HOW THE MEN OF MASSACHUSETTS, DE-
I, HAVE.
.y.fll Last