The New York herald., 1862-02-07
The Treatment OF Union Prisoners at
Richmond.
TO THE EDTTOR OF THE TINEs.


The account Of the treatment received by federal pri
soners at Richmond published in the Northern journals.
and reproduced in your columns Of Monday, wholly ex-
aggerated and totally without foundation.
While resident In the Virginia capital from Juno to
October Of the past year, became perfectly familiar
with the manner in which the prisoners Of wore
commodatsd and treated My impression ia that they
were allowed every needful indulgence, and that
siderable kindness extended to them. So sensitive,
indeed they of this that tears of gratitude would
sometimes roll down their cheeks, while their hearts
would swell with emotion. They thought that when they
who would strip them Of their raimsnt instead
Of which they found them good Samaritans who bound
up their wounds poured in oil and wne and took Of
them.
Ihave myself bestowed tr0ing attentions upon some
of these and citizen Of Richmond prohibited
from extending to them any kindness he felt disposed
show. Indeed, so numerous and repeated these
practical attestaons Of good feeling that the local jour-
mails mad more than once 70 remonstrate considering t
scarcely just that the enemys prisoners should receive
decacies and favors while their own sick and wounded
needed both.
constantly passed the tobacco warehouses at the
north end OF the city, whore 900 more prison.
ers were confined. They allowed all manner Of
privileges; in fact they did as they liked. have
peadsdly them at the open windows smoking or
reading The guard placed them consisted but OF
few mon, and approved vsiters were permitted to
visit and converse with them daily. II not
until . conspiracy had been entered into to break
from their confinement that stringent measures were
resorted to. Several prisoners made their escape,
but recaptured. Still, most emphaticaly deny
that any Of the sentnes fred at the prisoners because
they stood the windows The Southern volunteers are
under better restraint and discipline than commit
deavons @ to escape. which in ts. would form ja.s
catory cause. II would be well II the North treated
southern prisoners with even half the humanity shown V
the Unionists at Richmond. 8. PHILLIPS DAY.
Al UPPER ALBANY STREET RroEus PARK, Jan. 21, 1862
TO THE EDITOR OF THE LONDON TIMES.
Among the American news In the Times Of to-day 10 .
statement extracted from ia letter from Baltimore pro-
Tossing TO give Of the OF the
prsoners,' who were exchanged on the James river
the I'D inst The writer alleges that the prisoners At
Richmond were treated with great brutality. He does
partcuarizs the acts OF which he complains except
stating that, "fom the 2lst Of July the date Of their
capture until tho 18th Of December, they liable
be shot IL at the windows"
Now, as visited Richmond for three weeks in the
month Of October last am position to testify THAI
the foregoing allegation untrue as regards that period
least While at Richmond daily had occasion to pass
the warehouses in which the ederat prisoners
confined. There were invariably numbers Of them
sitting the window sills and looking into the streets.
Neither the senes posted beneath any one else over
seemed TO interfere with the practice. The buildings in
which they were confined were not unlike English mill.
ry barracks h. in dd r.! visit the qeSs
that there would be ny objection to my having order
do So was by many credible persons assured moro
over, that the treatment OF the prisoners humane
and gentle and recolsct whom in America, seeing in
New York paper letter from fedcrnst officer, pri
soner at Richmond in which he stated that such the
case.
The writer Of the letter in question saws t wa, rs.
lated to him. that in instance of the prisoners,
young man, was shot dead at the window by person
in tho street u Is impossible TO refuts charge
vs9s nor dol wish TO SIT myself up the advocate OF
the South but AZ can testify that what the writer al
leges his knowledge s untrue, there need be lit
tie reliance placed on which he states from report
must say however that such an occurrence appears TO
me most unlikely, as have never seen town 10 Ame
RIGA or elsewhere more orderly .han WIS chnohu IN
re ised CORPS were caDtopef in the neghborhood.
For their prolonged dete ion these prisoners have 10
thank their own ME hays ~ nov rs,Ssed
n CHrsHAM STREET, Jan TO-