The national Republican., 1862-02-24
The Rsisa.sd pri,ons,..

=
On Friday evening, three hundred and ninety
i've Federal prisoners, recently cosAned IN
Richmond, arrived In our city, and ere now
quartsred Of the Soldiers' Rest, near the Depot
They were exchanged for an equal number
held In our possssion, who are now probably
also enjoying the sweets Of liberty" in rebel.
dom. Among the lot are eighteen or nineteen
officers, and they, together with the men, ex.
hibit the most lively satisfaction in being able
once more to do battle for our glorious cause.
Their descriptions Of scenes passed, trials
borne, and wanton inrults received without the
power to redress, Is most graphic, and would
cause every patriotic cheek to tipgle with In.
digpation. ...,s
The men say that, as general thing, their
captors were ignorant, brutal, and vindictive.
All the tortures and indignities that devilish
ingenuity could suggest were heaped upon
their defenceless heads. Our friends were
bouyed up, however, with the steadfast belief
that the wheel Of fortune would soon revolve,
and thus enable them to contrast the conduct
OF noble and brave captors with that of ruffian.
y, half civilized secessionists. How their an.
ticipations were realized, may be gathered
from the accounts Of every recent battle One
by one the pillars Of the pirate government
are tumbling to the earth, never to be replaced,
and our friends will soon have ample oppor.
tunity to prove that the brave are always
generous"
All of the men agree that there is strong
Union sentiment iu Richmond, which only
awaits an opportunity to blaze forth. In the
city Of Richmond there is Union league, near
three thousand sRong, composed of s.aunch
and true men, the material that can be relied
upon when the day of reckoning comes. Du-
ring their confinement, our soldiers were fire.
quently the recipients Of favors from the bands
of these men. Innumerable were the evidences
Of their sympathy; necessary articles of wear.
ing apparel, food, and delicacies, which none
but friends would think of bestowing, were
received. Who presented them, and how they
passed the guard, is known only to the donors
But they came, and were the mears of allevi.
ating their ,ufferings.
The men describe the regular prison fare as
being execrable, and the food so filthy that
they often went hungry rather than partake of
It.
With few exceptions, the men had no change
Of clothing from the time of their capture
until the latter part of December, when con.
siguments Of clothing were received from the
North. The Government clothing was not re-
ceived until week before their exchange
The health Of the men during their condne.
ment was tolerably good. The California regi.
ment (Baker's) lost but four men during thlir
confinement, out If two hundred and twenty
who were taken prisoners at Balls Bluff. Out
of the whole three hundred and ninety but
thirty are sick or wounded.
Their place Of confinement in Richmond was
q large tobacco warehouse on Main street.
The building was entirely too small for the
accommodation Of 80 many men, and they suf
fered greatly for want of room and fresh air.
The prisoners released were captured prin-
cipally at the battle Of Balls Bluff, though
among them are some who were captured at
Bull Run, and In various skirmisheS along the
lines Of the army Of the Potomac. They be-
long 10 New York, New Jersey, Pennsy lvanis,
Massachusetts,, Indiana, Captured at Hatteras)
Ohio, California, Minnesota, Vermont, and Con.
necticut regiments; also few regulars, who
were captured at Bull Run.
A furlough OF thirty days will be granted,
thus sffordiug an opportunity TO those who de.
sire to do 90, to visit their families and friends.
Lieut.. White, one Of the returned officers, is
said to be the last remaining officer (with the
exception of Colonel Corcoran,) captur, d in
the fight of Bull Run.
The men give an amusing account Of the
currency of the South. They fay that specie
Is as rare as honesty, and when found, Is
priced more highly. Shinplasters of every
denomin alton, from five cents up, are issued
without limit, and by all who are able 10 nav
for the white paper and printing Of them; the
result Of which is circulating medium tha,
all are anxious to keep moving" The soldiers
have several hundred dollars of this trasb, wi hicb
they refuse to part with, keeping it as mementoes
of their incarceration in rebel prison, and with
which they would not part for double the
amount In gold. which the shnplasters profess
to represent. Rebel currency, yesterday, was
at an enormous premium in Washington.
We suhjoin several specimens of this beauti.
full currency:
"FRoNT ROYAL, Va.
mo. 42) September /, 1861.
Due by Miller 4 Weaver, payable in Vir
ginia bank notes, to the bearer, on the presen.
tation of these due bills In sums of five dollars
WEAVER IL MILLER"
"Good for one shave, at J. NJ. Simms'. Main