The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-08-06
THE PRISONERS IN FORT DELAWARE.
Our Fort Delawar Correspondence.


Our Fort Dclaw Correspondence.
FoRr DELAWARE, August 3, 1862.
The Neos Of ne Exchange Of Prisoners Received, ANA
Hop-1he Barracks and Their 4ecommoda 'ions-Caps
(noO Cooc) Gibsos-is Successor-7hs Admiaistrdtion
Of the Oath TO Repe',tant Rebes-Hoo Their Formr Com
pa'ions Treated Ihens Afey1oards-A F0h-H QUILL
ed-Retesped Ned Ddy--A Prirate M.iI-U,on Vic
torious-7he Unrpen,cm Rebels Sent Beck 10 Drie, DC
On Monday last the prisoners, some OF whom have
been confinement for fifteen months, notified
that they be exchanged by the government for
those no have been long suffering all the pri
that prisoners OF be heir The
that enacted within the quarters OF tho prisoners
at the time the communicated to them were
Of varied character Some gave vent to their joy in
yels Of delight while others moderate and looked
with perfect nonchalance upon everything about
them. occasionally shaking hands with their com
rades, otherwise giving quiet vent to their
pleasure While a great portion OF the prisoners
processing the greatest JOY at being able again to
return TO the South, there portion over whom the
that they be exchanged spread tho deepest
gloom or these portion had taken the oath
Of allegiance to the woud-be government Of JEFF Davis
but did not wish either go back to fight again in the
rebel army, take the oath to support the govern
ent Of the United States, which would them TO
violate their oa,hs given to the South Here was trbula
ton for which there was no remedy; hence these men,
who had sworn TO support the rebellion, when tho
time for them to march on board the transports
that in waiting to convey them to City Point,
marched along with every manifestation of unfeigned
sorrow.
For some months communications have been received
from numbers OF these men, asking to be allowed 10
take the oath; and although of these communca
tons were answered. simply because 1t was a matter
with which the commander Of the post had nothing to
do their tak6n and Tuesday Major
segebarth walked into the quarters of the prisoners and
called of the Of those who hal requested to take
the OATH and at once marched them out upon the parade
ground where they interrogatcd to whether they
knew what the pnrport of the oath Some
that they did not Others that they did and willing
10 take 1t any moment, the time desiring
join Of the companies at the post Each and
every questioned ASIDE from the others in
gard TO swearing allegiance, and afterward EXPLAIN
ton as 10 what would be required Of them should they
take the prescribed oath mado to them naase
After cheerfully giving their assent to comply with all
the oath required Of them provision made for their
accommodation outside Of the prisoners barracks and
away from their former companions, who had
threatened do injury any OF them who should take
the OATH and upon their returning to their former quar-
tiers for their clothing and other effects they bru
tally insuted and in some instances attacked. For q
short time the enjoyment went on unhterruptedly
but at length, seeing that their insults went unre
scented, they became boder, and commenced
throwing stones over the barracks at their
former companions, who had had the pleasure
Of At least sgnyng their intention to take the oath
when opportunity offered to them. At this juno
ture strong guard placed at the gates leading TO
the barracks sentines instructed shoot
all those who persisted in rebellion against the proper
authorities But rebellion and INSTRUMENTATION had been
am q wit hiatt
time that they prisoners OF war, and kept
their amusement against the appeals Of the
geant Of the guard until it found necessary train
the howitzers upon them and send file OF men, accom-
panied by Major Segebarh Of whom they had whole
some dread, and whom at the same time, they
held in great respect. The Major, after giving
some Two or three very loving embrace IN
his salart arms cleared the yard and drove them
manned perfectly docile with the exception Of uterng
few additional threats 10 what they would do when
they again caught the oyasts down in .secesho The
day the fight OF the day before was renewed more
private scale and in instance, the Provost Mar
shall caught the rebels and Of the recruits
fighting each other the moat lie at ordered
them to desist and come with him. and, after bringing
them face to face upon Of the bridges crossing the
moat ordered them individually TO strip to the but and
tight between themselves whatever existing be
tween Secesh demurred; Union was anxious, and the
Marshal pressed the matter by stating that all accounts
be settled up before tho permitted to
leave the fort After few bantering words had passed
between the cbdren Of chiyalry, they at length pitch
ed most puglllStlc style, ana
time the honors seemed about equally divided At length
M may make Of the pugilistic phfasc) the claret
came in copious stream from "Unon's" proboscs but
the tide OF battle changed and Seccsh commenced
retrograde while Union seeing the advantage
gained pressed IN hot pursuit. and at length the par
ties came to close quarters aud clenched Who would
have been hard to tell both parties
about the same build and weight The parties had drawn
too close to the edge Of the bridge and just about the time
that Secesh had gained the under hold his adversary
they both unceremoniously precpitated into the
ditch which was filed with water, amid the shouts OF
those who mad been to the spo by me unusual
cooling their tempeTs and each made without further
ado, bee line for his quarters. Whether this is an
in regard TO present difficulties between the two
sections oil the country am unable TO say.
On Friday the last thousand shipped for Dixie, and
few OF them will be thrown into prison or shot for
refusing 20 again into the ranks where they have ex
perenced nothing but absolute misery according to their
conversation for the past eight months. Some pro
vision should be made for men who have been compelled
the oath support King Cotton and who, upon
deserving forces otherwise getting here should
be exempt from taking the oath TO fight against that
which they have sworn to support The following named
vessels conveyed the prisoners from the island ATTAIN
tic under the charge OF Captain Jones' Independent bat
terry, Pennsylvania Volunteers Coatzacoacos, under the
command Of Lieutenant krause, Marine and Fertilization
Artillery Merrimac, under command OF Lieutenant PAUL
OF the Marine and Fertilization Artillery Adutant Gen
cral Thomas personally superintended the embarkaon
Of the men, assisted by Captain Stevenson OF the Marine
Battery. Acting Aid-deC Camp TO General Thomas.
None Of the prisoners who decided TO remain at the
North--of whom there are three hundred and ten
instead Of four hundred as was reported-have
yet taken the oath, although Is daily expected and
much wished for, almost all the Of Northern
origin, whose families in mihy cases reside Morrill, and
whom they wish 10 join soon as possible. They are
permitted the free range Of the isand and after their
close captivity for many months, enjoy their priv
leges immensely.
II is understood that this spot is 70 be the depot
for all prisoners OF ana large and comfortable par
racks capable Of accommodating i've thousand mei
have recently been erected and almost ready
occupation The barracks, when completed, together
with those already up, will accommodate nearly ten
thousand men. new invoice OF prisoners IS expected
in a few days.
Captain A. A. Gibson of the regular army, who so long
hynorably acted commandment OF the post has &C
cepted the coonclcy Of the Ono Hundred and Twelfth
Pennsylvania regiment and left Friday last TO ein his
command in the field in Virginia. Captain Glib on before
leaving paid compliment to the garrison OF the
fort aud their officers upon their soldery conduct dn
ring his upon the island He goes, leaving many
friends regrettng his absence His successor IS MAJOR
H. s. Burton Uniled States Army, who gentleman Of
considerable merit having served some months with the
and Nhlnag Already