Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-01-02
From the n. Y. Times, Dec. Gath.


We had an interview Yesterday with Samuel
ID. Hurd, of Bangor Maine, Second Lieuten-
ant in Co. {, of the Second Regiment of Maine
| Volunteers, who was badly wounded and taken
| prisoner at the battle of Bull Run, and who
reached this city yesterday on his return from
! Charleston lie left that city on Thursday the
! 18th inst, having been one of some three hun
| dred prisoners who were confined in the CITY
Jail which was burned during the late conla-
grafton, the prisoners making their escape by
| jumping from a small window the only one
which was not barred Mr.. llurd was shot
through both ,egs AT Bull Run, and was also
wounded in the side. He was taken to Manas-
ses, where his wounds We're dressed, by rebel
surgeon named McWams, from MARYLAND.
They were afterwards removed to Richmond
and confined in Edwards tobacco Warehouse
! from which they we're taken to Charleston
about four hundred of the whole number being
confined in Castle lickney, aud the remainder,
about three hundred, being sent soon after to
the City Jail. The Jail was a large brick build
ing on Broad street, and nearly all the prisoners
were IN large upper room, the windows of
which were barred and closed with iron shut
ters, except one small one overlooking very
narrow street in the rear of the building. MI
Hurd states that the fire broke out, as nearly
as he could Judge, in gIs-house next door to
sash and blind factory, and that it spread with
great rapidity. Great efforts were made to eX-
tinguish it, but without the slightest effect.
The engines, worked by negroes and whites,
seemed utterly powcrless, and the flames spread
finally to the jail, the roof of which was on
fire. No movement was made to let the pris-
oners out. The guards usually stationed around
the building were away, and no soldiers were
visible. Mr. Hurd states that Col. Corcoran
was the first one to leap through the window,
eXclaiming as he went out, "Here goes for Beau
fort or the North" Hurd was the next and
as hs struck upon the pavement, he says half
dozen others came upon him. and the whole
room was speedily emptied of its inmates.
They spent the night in the vicinity of the
flames, keeping together as well as they could
many of them being severely wounded. They
had nothing to eat and nothing to drink, except
some liquor which portion of their number
got from the cellars of houses from which the
occupants had been driven by the fire. AT
about 10 o'clock guards were sent to take them
in charge They treated them with great bru
tality, striking with their g glns those of ;hem
who did not move quickly enough. One of
the soldiers told the sergeant Of the guard that
Col. Corcoran was missing. His reply was per-
haps he was burned-if not he must be hunted
up. Men were sent to look after him. At2
O'Clock the whole squad of prisoners were driven
TO Castle Pickney again, where they were left
in the open courtyard through the whole of
that day and the following night, without shell
ter of any kind, and with no other clothing than
that in which they made their escape. Col.
Corcoran was not in Castle Pic,ney with the
rest of the prisoners, nor had Mr.. Hurd been
able to obtain any intelligence concerning him.
lie thinks it probable that he made an effort to
escape to Beaufort On Thursday Hurd and
half dozen others of the wounded prisoners
were told that they would be sent North. Six
others, named Frank Tunes of New York,
NICHOLSON, Of Vermont, and McBrien, OBrien,
Wilson and Nillot, were also released on taking
an oath not to serve again against the South,
nor to reveal anything they might have learned
there. They were all put into a railroad train
and taken to Richmond, and thence to Norfolk
having nothing to eat or drink on the way.
From Norfolk they were sent under flag of
truce to Fort Monroe, and thence to Washing
ton. Mr.. Hurd says that the treatment of the
prisoners has been brutal and infamous. Their
allowance of food was a quart of oatmeal, with
three pints of water day-and they were con-
stantly exposed to the SCOTS, jeers and insults
of the mob. At Richmond they were required
to do picket duty part of the time, and to shoot
any prisoners whom they saw looking out at a
window. llurd was in this way wounded in
the neck, and fellow prisoner from Maine,
named Daggett, was killed. Mr. Hurd states
that among the prisoners removed from Rich
mond to Castle Pinckney early in September
was Mr.. Hurlbert-and from his description
of his personal appearance we are inclined to
think it is Mr.. w, ii. Hurlbert, formerly con-
| nected with the Times. and well known in this
! city. lie was left in Castle Pinckney and not
taken to Charleston with the rest of the prison.
ers. When Mr. Hurd returned to the Castle,
after the fire, Hurlbert recognized him and
! spoke of his return. Mr.. Hurd states that
Hurlbert has suffered greatly from his mprison-
ment, that he has had severe attack of ty-
phoid fever and is exceedingly pale and enact
ated. lie is very low. spirited and Respondent.
| His treatment is the same as that of the other
! prisoners. Among the prisoners left there were
| two named Tripp and Palmer, from Scranton,
| Pa. two, named Boorman and Chase from
| Wilkesbarre, and quite u number of men be-
longing to the New York Seyenty-frst and
Fire Xouayes. At Charleston, the general
| opinion seemed to be that the fire was the work
of the negroes. The citizens mainly went to
Savonnah. The negroes were not guarded, but
| Mr.. Hurd saw no reason to suppose that their
feelings toward he North were different from
| those of the whites. At Richmond where thev