New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-08-04
INTERFERING FROM RICHMOND
AND ssr.,SgIg:X.

Statement by Surgeon John NctrcFor
Experiences of Twelve Months Cuptir-
i.y-Isow Union Prisoners are Treated
-IIenrticss Condaci of Rebel Women
Their Iniumnn Treatment Of the sicI.
and Dead-r.urgc Number OF Rebel
Troops in Ricliniond-LcI,cr from Col.
(orcornn.
BY the arrival Of Surgeon John McGregor Of the
Third Connecticut Volunteers, in his city from
Salisbury, ". c., who has been Internationally die
charged, we are enabled To lay before our readers
some interesting intelligence relative % the progress
Of events at various places in the South, incGding
Richmond, which latter city the Surgeon has also
lately been in DIR. McGregor was taken prisoner at
the battle Of Bull Run and has ever since that
orable day, been cose captive among the Rebels,
both ut Richmond and Salisbury, North Carolina.
He arrived in this city, direct from Salisbury. on
Friday last. On the day Of the battle Of Bull Run
DIR. McGregor remained with Lis meA duIin. the
heayes, hre, aud did all in his power 10 alleviate
their suierings and give them encouragement under
the severe ordeal of conflict which they were obliged
to meet aai which the Connecticut troops met upon
that OCCASION to their honor may il be sad, without
Ainching, until the disastrous retreat was COM
menced. DIR. McGregor remained on the battle
field seven days after the fight, engaged in
attending to tie worst OF tie wounded.
From thence he was taken 10 Richmond,
together with other Union prisoner among whom
was Col. Corooran. These prisoners were detained
in Richmond until the 10Th Of September, when they
were rent down to CLarleston. The main points OF
interest occurring in these Vi mites during this Pc
Rod have Ieen detailed at length by parties who
returned North since, aud il will here be unneces-
fary TO 20 over them. Having remained FIVE days
in Charleston Prison, they were removed 20 Caste
Piuckney where they remained until tie landing OF
the feet # Port Royal. The phones were then
sent ba K TO the Charleston jail, where they were
d.tained until the lst Of January. II wac IN this
Jail that they were confined dunng the great con
Migration which took place IN CheHeston. Every
house and every thing IN the neighh0rhOOd OF the
Jail on fire, aud the yard was iled with burn
in brands and all imaginable rubbish, coming from
the burning buildings. While the fire wa raging 10
full fury, The prisoners. i.sitad oi being given a
chance to save Themselves from burning up, were
confined ia separate cel' The IRE iG~ned every
thing around The jail and it wa "a miracle how that
building escaped without sharing the anne fate
II was about this period tbat Dr.. GrlswOld, one Of
the Union Assistant Snrgeons died. After his death
der to ascertain what Disposition hc should make Of
the body. lie received the following reply: 4" Dig
"A hole aud bury hin ike "a dimn-d dog And this
If the kind Of feeling which exists al over the
South in regard 10 such matters. lruly We are
fighting body Of semi-savagei, instead Of men
whom some clam to be our brothers. During their
stay in Charleston, Dr. McGr-gor states the treat
ment OF the Union prisOncrs was mort savage. They
never received the least particle " necessary az
parcl, and had 10 1--we upon ratious congl ing Of
bacon and bread. The bacon WIS Of the worst de-
scrpton, being alive with MAJ COS aud tie bread
FOUR Il lemon
On the ist Of January the party left Charleston for
Columbia. The Union forces Wcre then 40 Stone,
and beng increased at Port Royal, So That il the
route 10 Columbia they could hear the cluuonAaing
quite plainly Previous 10 leaving Charleston, how-
ever, The greatest panic prevailed III that city, and it
was expected that the Union troops would occupy
the place III bhor. time. la the opinion Of many
it would require but 3 0j0 men 10 DO this.
Upon arriving 1t Columbia Tie prisoners were a.
once confined ia close jail. Their fare ~ IT,. place
is claimed 10 have been better than on nny former
occasion. Capt. Shlyer the Rebel officer in charge
lid all IA his power to make them comfortable; Lut
The women Of Columbia, when they hearl Of ths
Kindness beng shown " the Yankees" made quite
an outcry about ~, and /. was stopped, and Capt
SILVER WAS arrested. Subscqu ntly, however, on
investigation into the cifcumtl dnces that officer was
rcinetaied IN hls position. Illr ecu Oh TIE lniDu
prisoners escaped while n Columbia. portion OF
them were gone over siX weeks, having reached u
within a few miles Of the Ulion lines but were all
subsequently recapturcd. During their conin, ment
IN this place the officers and occupied their time
in making rugs aud other articles large amount
Of these were sold by the men. Boxes Of clothing
from the United States Government were received
at this place, not particle Of anything beng iaF-
nished by the Confederate Government.
A few days before they left Columbia, which was
on the 2Gth Of February, Col. Coreoran and the
other hostages were released. They were notified
by Col. Preston that arrangements had been made
for an exchange Of prisencrs, and on the Goth o.
February started on their journey North. Owing
TO the insullciency OF transportation, the prisoners
were divided into three detachment. Col. Wilcox
took charge Of one Col. Corcoran Of another, and
E,I lloot.un &c ,Ia tl,ird ILav uyara ohiUed In