The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-03-15
The Confederate Prisoners at Chicago.
From the Obiaago Times

Camp Douglas, with its rebel occupants,
continues to AFFORD the great object OF attrac-
rigid system of admission by passes has been
fnangurated, there are mary who seem to be
ON sufficiently good terms with the colonel
commanding to procure these necessary little
bits Of paper. At any rate the camp Is b..
sieged from morning till night by an anxious
and inquisitive crowd, about half Of VIII om
continue to gain admission, while the other
half are left on the outside to sigh over their
hard treatment.
A sort Of rude curiosity In this affair Is be-
ing developed, which IL becoming daily more
and more apparent. The unfortunate oap-
tives are quite willing to answer all ques-
confessed that they ara disguised with the In
quisitive glances Of visitors, and the asser.
lions openly expressed and thrust upon them
hundred times daily, that lyon are liz the
wrong. and l an in the right" Then there
Is certain class of persons who, when once
admitted within the camp, wander from bar
rack to barrack, and seek out the comnunica-
tive prisoners, with whom they commence to
argue, just as though the settlement of this
accursed rebellion. depended on their own et-
forts
Unjust be highly repugnant to the impetu-
Gus Southrons to endure the stares ano put
up with the remarks Of their visitors and,
although these may be likely to lead them TO
psnitence, would 1t not be far better II the
guards were instructed to keep visitors at a
respectable distance? Sinners are more apt
to become penitsnt when left to their own
thoughts, for these overcome their worst re-.
solves, and In the gloominsss OF silence re.
pentance takes the place Of revenge.
INTELLECTUAL AND PHYSICAL CAPACITIES or
THE PRIsONRRs.
As has BEEN previously remarked, these pr.
soners, or at least the great majority OF them,
have been greatly moderated, both in intel.
notion has pictured our Southern brother as
a fierce, devil. may-eare sort fellow, with
little Of intelligence, and still less principle.
He was thought TO be a lasy, untutored per.
lion was thought to be exceedingly unit for
fighting. Yet these prisoners, in nine cases
out of ten, are found to be strong, muscular
men, the very picture OF soldierly ply sidue.
We all know how UGH they havo Uttered
in their Southern campaigns, faring on the
poorest of bacon, and enduring oil manner OF
deprivations. Yet they do not complain
aud. although there are many among their
torn to military duty, there are not q few
who proclaim that they never will be sub
dued, but will dght till death for the "Con i.
federacy." In this Is real earnestn ess which
we had fancied these rebels 10 be. The Mis-.
sissippians are nne specimens of ply tcal
strength, and far ahead Of prisoners from
other States In this respect.
As there are In camp representatives OF
seven States. 1t Is fair to infer that the Mis-
sssi ppians are the very flower of the South
ern. army The Tennessssans. If we may ex-
ce the Irish brigade Of that State, are very
inferior to their fellow soldiers of other
Sta'ee. They are, indeed, the very worst spe-
cimens of humanity among the captives, -
The Texans are tall In stature, and come
nearer the popular estimate Of the Southern
character than any of the rest. They are,
for the most part, better clad, though some
of them seem TO have been placed in a posi-
ticn where dress was not at all consulted.
All the prisoners are receiving the best Of
treatment, are allowed plenty to eat, and are
artered in warm, comfor table barracks -
They say they have met with extreme Kind.
ness on the part OF the Northern people, and
admit that they have uniformly Jared far
better than In the rebel camps of Dixie
[Humbug
One of the sick died suddenly yesterday
morning. He was taken Ill with severe
cold few days since. and gradually became
more i'll. uat til he breathed his last early yes
terday forenoon. His name was Ezekiel Bal
ley, q member Of company +, of the Goth Mis-
sissippi regiment, and he has two surviving
.rcthers In the same company. He was son
OF Colonel William Bailey, q wealthy plan
ter, living In the town of Lake, twelve miles
from jackson, Mississippi. His com rndss
watched tsnderly over his dying bedside, and,
when all was passed, shed bitter tears over
the loss Of their departed fellowssoldier. It
was q sad sight never to be forgOtt by those
who behold the aush of life fade from the