Arkansas true Democrat., 1862-04-24
Letter From Q Prisoner.
Yours, very truly,
 J. ERICSSON.

The following letter Is from young prisoner taken at Ft Donelson and now confined in Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio:
 1 would like to give sou description of the diff ferent battles, but it might prevent this reaching you. You may rest assured Gen. Pillow Was to blame for our surrender; Floyd somewhat SO, us hc ranked Pillow, but did not assume it. Gen. Buck ner IS a purer man better soldier than either of them The battle aturGav Was perhaps as hard as ever fought on thi4 continent, the object of 1t being to drive the enemy's rigkt wing back, 50 us to let our little army pass out.
 After severe contest for over six hours, the enemy's right wing was driven back, and our army in Q condition to move out, when Gen. Pillow or dercd the army back to the cntrenchments The firing had ceased on both sides and our army would have been saved and the writer of this would still have been in service, fighting for and assisting his country, when she needs the hearts and arms of every southerncr to drive back the foe, My little personal troubles not comparable to the anxiety
 feel for the result of the struggle that is go ing on. We can only get q one sided account of affairs, and only allowed to buy tine most ultra northern sheets. The Cincinnati Enquirer and Herald arc nterdict6l.
 There are three hundred and sixty y-soven officers in this pr5on-a space of ffyone by sxty-tw6 yards, walled in by fence sixteen feet high, and sentincs walking on top ol the fence night and day. There are two rows ot houses, like negro cabins, with two rooms in row, each fourteen by nineteen feet, and we have sixteen or seventeen ill our room and you can imagine how crowded we are.-- Some few are in tents. All the officers ill our mess have friends who supply them with clothing and money and we really live wci--the governor fur nshing us with plenty of good beef, bacon, bread, crackers neal, potatoes, beans candles sugar. soap and vinegar; and allow us to buy oysters, fish, cakes, pies apples, etc.
 The ladies have been kind to uF, and send us nick hacks. It is believed here that we will be sent to Sandusky island, in Lake Erie, as soon as the ice breaks, (about the last of April which will be de- cidedly advantageous to our health, for dread be- ing cooped up ill the summer months. In regard to our release, God only knows when that will oc cur, and may be here for years. But wish you to urge upon all to have the cotton crop destroyed, fl itis cndangercdby the approach of the enemy. If they get cotton and tobacco, and other southern products, they can go on with the war; If they fail to do this, they will soon be financially ruined.
 Have this urged on the planters, committees ap-~ pointed by the board of police to burn and destroy everything that would be of service to the enemy, take the negroes to Che swamps and cane brakes, if the enemy advances into the country. The qucs- ton is of life and death if the North is ful, our property is dcsroyed-all that have south ern procvities will hc conliscated, so that the South will be pcnnilc5s; and there should be no such word as give up--ight and keep on fighting it is our only salvation. l hope Mississippi is turning out men ill this struggle, and that will again see you all under more favorable auspices.