The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-05-01
THE REBEL sARsARIrIEs At MANASSAS.
Report or the Joint Committee ON tn
Conduct Of the War.

WAsmSoros, April 90, 1852.
The Joint Committee the Conduct Of tho War have
made report regard TO the barbArous treatment by
the rebels at Manassas Of tho remains OF officers and
dsrs Of the United States killed in battle there. They
examined number OF Witnesses whose testimony sub
mted. The facts disclosed OF repusive, shocking
and painful character.
Nathaniel +. Parker testified that the food OF the pr
soners was always bad, and sometimes naussous, and
many died from sheer neglect He Tbbitts, OF
the New York Twenty seventh, shot he passing
his window on November 8, and he died OF 10 On the
18TH The murderer promoted by the rebel govern
ment.
Dr. Hamiston, of the Brooklyn regiment testified that
he was brually refused permission to remain the field
and attend TO tho wounded men, When, twenty four
hours afterwards, himself and companions were allowed
to 80 to their relief, the rebel surgeons would not
allow them to perform any operations, bu,
mangled the poor fellows themselves in . hor.
rible When they cut or Corporal Prescott's
eg he says the assistants pulling on tho flesh at
each side trying TO get flap enough 10 the bone
They had sawed on the bone without leaving any or the
flesh TO form the flaps TO IT, and with a the force
they could they could nos get flap enough 10 cover
the bone. They then obliged 70 saw Of about an
inch moro OF the bono, and them when they came
70 put In the stitches. they could approximate the
edges within less than inch and half OF each other
OF course as soon as there any swelling tho stitches
Sre out and the bone stuck through again. Dr. Swain
tried afterwards 70 remedy IL by performing another
operation, but PRESCOTT had become 80 debtatsd tina.
he did not survive. Corporal Prescott was young man
Of high position, and had received very liberal sduca
tion.
Tho same witness describes the sunsrines or tho
wounded after tho baltic n inconceivab,v bor
rible; with bad food, covering, no water, they
wcre tying upon the floor ~ thickly as they
could DO laid. There was not . particle az
light IN the house TO enable 10 move among them.
Deaf 10 oil his appeals thoy continued to refuse winter
to these suffering men, and he was only enabled 70 pro-
By setting cups under the caves 20 catch the rain
that was falling, and in this way hs spent the night,
catching the water and conveying 70 tho wounded to
drink Az there was no light, he was obliged 10 crawl
on his hands and knees 70 avoid stepping on their
wounded limbs; and he adds, IL Is not a wonder tnas
next morning found that several had died durius The
night. The young surgeons. who seemed 70 delight in
hacking and butchsrins these brave defenders Of our
flag, not, would sesm permitted 10 perform any
operations upon the rebel wounded. Some a our
battle Geld until Tuesday nigh. and "wednesday morninS
when brought In their wounds completely alivs
with hrye, deposited there by nes, having laid out
sunshine OF Tuesday Tns dead laid upon the eld I'M b
rsd for Ave days and this included men, only Of his
This witness tests that the rebel dead wsre OF
and Inferred deccnty.
In answer 10 . question, whether the Confedcratss
themselves were nos also destitute Of MEDICINE he r.
piled they could not have been for they took al ours
70 surgical instrunents He received mona Oh
the attention from the the other side which
10 his own language "I should have shown 10 thorn
had position been reversed"
The testimony u VIM r. Swslm Assistant Surgeon OF
the Fourteenth New York regiment confirms the state
ment Of Dr. Hamston in regard " the brutal operations
Corporal Prescott He gives evidsscs OF the careless
bsartless, and cruel manner, In which tho surgeons
operated upon men. Previous 70 leaving for Rich.
mond md ten or twelve days after the battle he saw
some OF ne Untsn soldcrs unburied the neld and
entirely naked. Walking around were . great many
women gloating over the horrid sight Tho case Of T
Fsrguso Of one Of the New York regiments mentioned
by Dr. Sweim. When getting into his Ambulance TO ook
ssr bis wounded, he dred upon BY the rebels
whsn he toA them who he was. They said "thsy would