Daily Nashville union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-05-01

knife, fork and spoon at blockade prices,
he is also furnished with a cotton oover-
let, and five yards of brown cotton mus
lin, from which to prepare a bed tick
When finished he is permitted to 60 into
the yard, where, from a large pile Of
atraw he fills the tick. Then, shoulder
ing the unwiedy mattress, he staggers
into the room and seeks a vacant spot.
~iiiiiohh hereafter siiaiiii be sacred 10 him-
self" Lieut. Harris and others of the
Balls Bluff capiiyes were particularly
badly treated. On reaching Richmond
they were
"Ihrust with six hundred privates into
warehouse 49, where, swelteriug with
the heat of midsummer, with closed win
doWs, and not room sufficient for them
all to lie wedge packed upon the floor
they remained, suffering and without
food, for nearly twenty -four hours. They
were then removed to their present quar-
ters, yet were permitted to occupy only
half the space subsequently allotted them
the eastern section Of the room being
filled with the prison guard and senti-
nels on post upon the same floor, with or
ders to bayonet all who approached
within three feet Of them.
''For weeks they slept upon the floor,
without blankets or overcoats, with
blocks of woodland not enough even of
those-for pillows It was not until
three months had elapsed that the Con-
federate authorities furnished straw and
cotton coverlets. Without servants, mess
tables, benches, or even knives and forks,
they ate their meals cross-legged upon
the floor, and off the window-sills, in a
primitive, yet Owing to the quantity
furnished) rayenous style Without wa
ter facilities, except a well in the yard,
which was used not only by the officers,
but also by five hundred men confined in
the upper stories Of the warehouse, one
of whom only was allowed to use it at
time, hours would pass each morning
before an officer was able TO wash
In October the treatment of the cap
tive officers was improved, but that Of
the priyates not. In all, 1885 were con-
fined in Richmond, and their condition is
painfully described. "With the floor for
q bed, without straw, many without pam
falcons, all with scant raiment, but few
| with blankets. whilst the soan air af mid
| winter plerces through the Unprotected
uildings-receiying half the ration OF
food allowed in the Federal army, cover
ed with vermin, starved and shivering,
they are crowded togef in herds.
Regardless Of life, dead to TIE dictates of
humanity, their jailors see them die dai
| ly, apparently without sympathy, evil
IDENTIFY without attempting to prevent
mortality" They had only two meals a
day, breakfast and supper. The FIRST a
small piece Of cold beef and five ounces
Of bread, the other half pint of soup, anC
five ounces Of bread, rice being sometimes
substituted for meat "The rice is offer
wormv: the most is c0olSed two dayi
before consumed, and lies exposed to
trough in the yard, becoming covered
with dust and ashes and the juice beinJ
extracted by making soup for one mea
: before the meat is served dry and hard
for the next"
People were allowed TO intrude upol
/ them, 10 insult them with the most foul
mouthed abuse Of their loyalty, The,
were not allowed to 90 near any Of In
windows, and seven Federal prisoner
were shot dead by the sentinels for in
advertehtly leaning from the window.
The prisoners amused and empIoye
themselves amid all their privationi
They had glee club, which sang ma
p tiOnal songs they had amateur theatri
; calls and, with such simple instrument
az Jack knife and Gle, they produce
q curiously carved trinkets in bone an
4 wood.
Mr. Faulkner, VINO was exchange
= against Mr.. Ely, visited She Richmon
G prisoners in December, and declared
;; "That United States officers in Rich
Z mond received treatment similar TO thi
u Of Confederate privates In the North
"That United States priyates wei
e treated much worse than COnfedera
a hpriyatos were in the North.
+ "That the priyateers North receive
$ every comfort possible under the circuu
u stances.
b That The Federal hostages in Ricl
i mond iail were treated far worse thi
e the priyateers were in the North
Lieut. Harris gratefully describes q
it relief 20 the suffering Federal priyates
y the Richmond warehouses from the libcr
10 donations OF clothes blaukcts, aud 9th
'- necesssrics, received from Philadolphi.
20 humanity and generosity, last Januar
y The prisoners were IN destituiion an
k rags, and the relief was ample and timei
h We have drawn on only two chapte
B. of tho bOok in the preceding facts o
r object being 10 show how the prisoners
ot Richmond were trchted, and how mu
,s they suffered. Lieut. Harris has liyoli
records as he proceeds, dcscibing b
,s In the oiiicers prison, and anDIhcf n {
10 priyates' prison--teIIins OF enc dai
'l pursuits and pastimes--incidehis gV
ie and gay of captivity --Christmas fe5'i'
v ties in tAc tobacco Wareh0usos--1u
.O iu prison--lrai. and descriptions Of 2
af lailers - anecdotes Of visitors - a
Pc | ranLLr n.u-.ua-iuh akaLchaa aL I