Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-08-14
THE

a large NUMBER OF PIAfatoSAaMSA AoAeo9SH
frem Northern prisons, have arrived in Charles
ton. The Mercury gives a list Of their names
and dates and capture, and states that the &C
counts obtained from them in regard to the
brutal treatment to which they have been con-
stantly subjected during their captivity, realize
all that has ever been written Of the cowsrdly
aud malignant cruelty of the Lincoln govern
ment and its hirelings. Most of the privateers-
men were tried and convicted as pirates, and,
during the long and terrible term Of their con-
fnement in the close, damp and filthy cells
allotted to condemned felons, the cheerful pros
pect of a halter was frequently held up for their
edifcsi5n. The crew of the Petrol were i'm
prisoned for six months in Moyamsnsing Prison,
Philadelphia, five months in Fort Lafayette, and
about four weeks in Fort DelawaR. A consid-
cradle portion Of this period was spent by these
unfortunate men IN double irons; their fare was
q very small piece of bread aud a still smaller
piece of salt pork twice a day, occasionally va
RED by a little bean soup of about the consist
ency Of water. Nearly two-thirds of the men
had scuTvy and the itch.
The government allowance for rations pur-
ports to be sixteen cents a day for each prison
er; but it was stated in Philadelphia news
paper that Capt. GIBSON, by "his excellent
management saved about two-thirds OF this
sum-, and expended it in clothing, which the
prisoners never received the benefit Of The
Confederate commissioned officers, forty-seyen
in number, were confined in a room forty feet
long, by fifteen in width, the ascent to which
was made by a ladder twenty feet long, which
was taken awsy every night. On some days,
as the caprice of the commanding officer hap
pened to De, the officers were permitted to walk
for half an hour on the parapet of the fort The
treatgnc mt Of Colonel ZARyONA (the " French
Lady y so well known fr his daring feat III
accomplishing the capture of the steamer St
Nicholas, and other vessels on the Potomac, is
described to have been most viilsinous and in
humsn. He is still languishing in a cell, so
narrow as to give him no opportunity to lie
down, and into which the light of heaven never
penstrates, except through a small suger hole
in one of the boards with which his cell window
has been planked up. And yet this gallant
.sn Is a regularly commissioned officer of the
Confederate States! The general determination
Of the exchanged prisoners is to be shot before
they viii again be taken and undergo the mis-
Of q Northern prison. Just before the pris
,neTs left Fort Delaware, the following order
rom the War Department was read:
When a generalexchange shall be established
hose prisoners who are willing to take the oath
allegiance, and as to whose loyalty there is
10 question, will not be forced into the rebel
ines.
ISignedl c. P. WALCOTT,
Assistant Secretary OF Wax.
June 18th, 1862.
Out Of nearly 1000 prisoners, only q little over
hree hundred availed themselves of this offer.
The remainder, who were to be exchanged, were
st Yarina, on James river, fifteen miles
Richmond, from which place, weak and
gsary as they were, they were obliged to walk
o Richmond, without orders where to report, or
o whom to apply for food and lodging. The
richmond Examiner, of Thursday, says:
In consequence Of this neglect the greater !
Of them are lying shout the city with ]
ut morey and without food. We heard, yes ?
srdsy, that to escape the horrors Of starvation 4.
lsy Lad been advised to repair to Belle Isle and |
the evacuated quarters of the Yankees,
nd to subsist On their l~esvings. Is this a
ting welcome for men who perilled their lives
nd suffered the horrors Of Northern dungeons
" their c0untry's caUsel .
Many of these brave prvateersmen who have {
stunned to Charleston are in a needy condition =
fer spending a little time in recruiting their
salth snd enjoying their longed for liberty, I
ley intend again entering the service of their
ruggling country. .