The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-08-10

vailed IN mat city ana ~ was eNpecteutpat
the Union troops would occupy the place
in short time. In the opinion Of many
in would require but fiFe theusand men
10 do this, ,... ... ........f.. .l.,.
| Upon arriving al Columbia the pris0n-
ers were at once confined Ia close Jail
Their fare at this place is claimed to
have been better than on any former oc-
easieH. Captain a5ivsT, the Rebel officer
in charge, did all in bis power to make
them comfortable; but the women Of Coll
umbis, when they heard Of the kindness
being shown "the Yankees, made quite
an cutlery about IL, and il was stopped,
and Captain SILVER was arrested. Sub
sequen'ly, however, on investigation into
the circumstances, that officer was rein
stated in his position. Thirteen Of the
Union prisoners escaped while at Col
umbia. A portion Of them were gone
over six weeks, having reached within a
few miles Of the Union line, but were sill
subsequently recapiured. During their
i confinement in this place the officers and
men occupied their time 10 making rugs
and other articles. A large amount Of
\ these were sold by the men. Boxes of
clothing from the United States Govern
meht we're received at this place, not
particle of anything being furnished by
the Confederate Government
1 A few days before they left Columbia,
which was on the Goth of February, Col.
CorcOran and the other hostages, were re-
leased. They were notified BY Colonel
Preston that arrangements had been made
for an exchange of prisoners; and Onthe
26th of February started on their Journey
North. Owing TO the insufIieiency of
transportation, the PRISONERS were di-
vided into three detachmtnts. Colonel
Wilcox took charge Of one, Colonel Cor
cOran of another, aud Colonel Woodruff
of the third. They were obliged to give
q parole not TO attempt to escape, al
though a detachment Of soldiers was
sent with them. Thepenalty Of such an
attempt was set downin writing 10 be an
ignominiOus death. On arriving in
Raleigh they missed the cars, and were
detained there some six hours, at which
point they met the Roanoke prisoners,
who had been exchanged by our Cow
eminent. These men had also been de-
tanned at Raleigh, The latter expressed
themselves quite pleased at the treatment
which they received ut The North, the Of
iicers showing their side arms as proof
that everything had been returned 10
them. These rebels expressed il as their
opinion that when they started from the
/ North they understood ii was for the
purpose of being exchanged for Those
they met at Raleigh. .f
On starting once more, the party ar
I'D AZ Datanal.rtrnr al,
morning They were here also detained
on account Of the cars being taken pos
session of by the Wise Legion. Consid-
cradle excitement existed in the city al
the time, and several persons were ar
rested for treason for simply walking
with Col Corcoran in the streets. This
, fact as well as that of the unjust sus-
picions announced m regard to Colonel
COrcoran giving information to his Gov
eminent at the time, has been given pub
licity to. The party were then permitted
10 proceed on their way, arriving in
Richmond, for the second time, on the
. 18th OF February, when they were
marched to a tobacco factory and put ia
close confinement. And now comes On,
most bitter part Of the recital. Although
the newspapers have of late been TEEN.
ing with accounts OF the suffering OF oul
brave Union prisoners in Richmond AMI
other places, yet statement coming from
gentleman Of such known Intelligence
aud standing as DR.. McGrcgor, must no
be heediessly passed over
The prison where the Union soldiers
were confined was, shortly before thei
taking pOssessiOn of il, used as hospit
al, aud no beds were procured for them
only aid ticks which had been used for
} length Of time by fever patients anC
: wounded soldiers. They remained il
this building until a few days after the
attack of the Merrimac upon our Feet
when they were removed 10 Libby's
: buildings, on Carey street. The Off
GERS, numbering about seventy Wer,
, placed in one room, eighty by one hun
bred and forty in size, and not RlloWeC
20 leave it on any account whatever
Their guard commenced amusing them.
selves by building a large Gre in thl
room, saying they would Smoke out thl
, damned Yankees an operation they
were nearly successful In performing
Complaints being made % the rebel Off
GERS they only laughed &C the idea as
good joke. A citizen prisoner leapet
2 from the third-story window 10 tn
ground, every part Of his system beinl
! broken By the dreadful concession. Thil
! unfortunate man was allowed % remah
: "a this condition for hours before ia,
, rebel soldiers would allow assistance 4
. reach him Two days after, he brestheC
, his last ia Tie most intense agony. An
, other incident Of brutality was exhibited
: on the finding Of the body Of a drowned
man la the canal A rope was attached
, and hanging above the water II was al
3 lowed 20 remain in that condition 70
weeks, presenting a most horrible spec
taele 10 the eyes Of AL psssers by Tn
e probability il that Il was a Union ma
r on whom the rebels vented their spleef
. IN this demoniac manner
E While in Richmond at that time re zen
I forcements for Yorktown passed through
/ that city 10 large numbers. Tho ships 10
s obstrucling james river were laden with
1 10 sight Of the prisoners and the Who'll
J. block adjoining the Jail was taken down
p Night and day troops passed through Oh
D city. After the battle Of WILLIAMSBURG
D the rebel wounded could be plainly see
Q passing by, aud able bodied men b
8 thousands were seen In hacks hastcnin
c past, as II the exertions which wcr
q made during the day were too much 70
4 them. These hacks were also put int
Q service Ia order 10 carry soldiers trot
. York depot 10 various points. After III
rebel srmy moved from Williamsbur
I nearer TO Richmond, the streets andeye
c part Of the city were crowded with Sol
d diers, who biyouacked there during n