Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-12-22
From Nedary.s Columbus crisI
From Medary's Columbus Crsis.
Horrible Disclosures in Relation OF
camp Chase PrisOn-TsOVV they Treat
PrisOners-The Camp OverfIOwing
with Vermin-A EEau Murdered.

with Vcrmin-A Mau murdered.
From what we learn of our own Ohio citizens
who have been incarceratei in the prison at Camp
Chase for what the Abolitonists are pleased to
call political Olfenses, we have become satisfied
that il IS dae the honor OF State to once de
mand a reformation there Ii the history of that
prison Is ever written it II cast reprOach upon
Ohio and her citizens which they ought at once
to repudiate.
The Democratic party, especially, should not
let its burning barbsrities. crimes. and even tor
lures, rest upon its shoulders. We and our paper
were long since excluded from even peep into
that bloody Biste, and are, therefore, not re-
sDOnsibe for its crimes, iniquities and bnrbar
ties We probably never should have known or
heard of it, had not several of our own citizens
been there to bring forth the horrid tale of woe
and suffering.
We speak wholly of the political prison. the
prison OF state, we know nothing whatever of
what occurs in the prison where "rebels taken in
arms are kept that is ''the prisoners Of war;
Ii must not 6e forgotten that there has been
from six to seven hundred political prisoners at
Camp Chase at a time; and although several hun
dred have been lately discharged without trial
there are yet there some four hundred-one or
two hundred Of these have arrived there within
few days past from Kentucky and Western Eir
ginii. These men taken from their homes
some from their beds at night, some from their
houses in daytime, and a great many of them are
picked up in their fields work, and never suf-
fered to see their families before being spirited of
to Ohio and incarcerated in this celebrated Bas-
tile, which viii soon bs famous Omutz
itself
Our Ohioans are put into the same prison with
these men from other States, and from them we
have learned some facts which the people Of Ohio
ought TO know. Many Of these men have been
kept i'm this prison for over one year, a great
many for five. six. seven and eight months, with
out even seeing outside, or being allowed TO com
municate personally with any one, not even wife,
child. father. mother, stranger
They are furnished with nothing but single
blanket, even these cold nights. unless they are
able to purchase additional comforts with money
they NAV be able 10 command. Many are poor
men, and unable 10 purchase; they were not per
mitted to bring along change of clothing, and
many had on when seized nothing but summer
wear, and that has become filthy, worn out, and
scarcely hangs upon their backs
They have bedding, and are, therefore,
compelled to sleep on the bare boards. They
have not enough wood furnished to keep fires up
all night. and hence the suffering is intensified by
the cold We tther Il they attempt. after night,
to walk out in the yard TO take off the chills of
the dreary night. they instantly threatened to
be shot by the guards, ordered by those in
command
Dr.. Allen, of Columbiana county. Ohio, said
and blue. The wood furnished them Is four foot
long, and they are compelled, each mess, to chop
il up for themselves, and, the provisions being
furnished raw, they have TO cook il for them
selves. Recollect, always, that these are the
political prisoners, against whom no one appears
as accuser. and no trial is permitted.
The prison has become fthy-awfully so-and
the rats are in droves II the prisoners attempt
to kill one of these rats they are forbidden. and
Threatened with being shot inst ntly. Recollect,
always, said above, these political lTis
oners, against whom some malicious negro
worshper has created a suspicion of disloyalty.
but whose name is kept secret, and hence there
can be trial.
The prison is perfectly alive with lice, and no
chance is given to escape the living vermin. A
dead man, one of the prisoners, was the other day
carried out to the dead yard, and laid there over
night and when visited in the morning by the
other prisoners, who heard there was a dead man
there they found the hair on his head stiff with
lice and nits-the lice creeping into his eyes in
great numbers, and. he lay with his mouth
open, the lice we're thick crawling in and out of
his open mouth.
Not long since two of the prisoners got into a
scutfIe in trying their strength. and finally into
fight, a. was supposed, and several other prison
ers rushed 70 part them, when the guards from the
lookout above fired on them, killing cid man
by the name of Jones, from Western Virginia.
and a ball grazing the skull Of another. he fell
and iG was supposed at first he was killed also;
another Of the balls passed through board at the
head of a sick in the hospital, and only es-
capped him by a few inches. The two men in the
scufIle were not hurt.
|. We might go further, but God knows this i.
enough for once. IL is enough TO make ones
blood run cold TO think OF il.
Now If any one doubts this--if the authorities
at camp or at the State House doubt it, if the
Legislature when il meets will rs'se committee
We promise to name the witrssses who, II seni
for, will, under oath. prove all this Ind as much
more, some Of which is too indecent 70 print In a
newspaper for the pnblic ear.
Ne do not bring these things to light for any
other purpose than an act OF humanity, OF re
spect for the fair fame Of Ohio. and TO direct pnb
lie attention to them that the brutal authorities o
that camp may have justice done them. The
Commandant Of the camp is himself member
Of the Ohio House Of Representatives. he will
no doubt appear Oh the first Monday Of January
to take his seat. Lex him answer TO his peers on
that h0or--let him answer TO his constituents who
elected hm-let him answer to the whole people
of Ohio. if be dare, whether these things are &C
OF not. Heaven be blessed if any modification
can be put upon these transactiOns-any excuse
Of the most trivial nature, by which the fame o
Ohio may be vindicated from the crime ane
stigma which otherwise must go down to all Tins
apon the pages Of our history.
0rrrusro ron Coxrp RAMS 1t Il reDOrfef