Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-11-20

How U>IuN MN ARE TREATED N RicH-
uo>D.-A correspondent of the New York
Times writing from Baltimore gives an ac-
count of visit to the hospital in that city,
and Of the recently arrived paroled prisoners
from Richmond whom he saw there. We
extract as follows
These men had been on B lie Island (Which
seems to be a barren waste) without any protec-
ton against the weather, except what they had
themselves constructed They had lain on the
sand. which was to them both bel and covering,
exposed, both sick and well, To all extremes oi
heat and cold, without clothes, without iood'
(exccpt small portions Of the most repuisife
kinds,) for weeks dnd months, many having been
taken prisoners at before the battle OF Gettys-
hurch Many were suffering from what are
called saHd-soros, ami the surgeons, IN VAN at
tempted to produce general circulation OF blooi,
the cutcle in many Instances seemingly dFiea
on The bono from exposure, and nearly the color
aud consistency OF parchment. If food was de-
mel them, 1t would seem if the yeriest -bar-
barian woull have given them shelter to die be
meath.
With this preparation visited the wards
ON entering the first room. some sick men, SIT
tnr m silence near the fire. lifted their hands To
show as, that with WAS entering the unseen
but not unexpected visitor-dcdfh. Before Us
Law Young man lust breathing hIs last, mere
skeleton. whose dying throes seemed to place in
stronger relief a frame which must once have
belonged to a strong and vigorous life. We
turncsl away in our horror, only to look upon
auothcr who would soon follow ms mariyred
rnur,dc Near them stool two male nurses,
vino. after witnessing horrors Of all kinds, both
ON the battlefield and III the hospitals, stood
ror.tectlv subdued and hcart-wrung, in witness
In, that most fearful of all deiths-degfh from
sfGrrafi0H.
In another room was a poor young boy, qtlal-
lv s,uahd IN appearance, network OF bone,
perfectly crszed and tossing bis arms about ana
talking wildly and indistnctly he,i too, conii
live but few hours, and most probably never
be sane again. The next patient was respect
able-lookIug middle-aged German, with the oei-
clothes drawn tightly over his head, meaning
and writhing in his agony Ny frlend
bes,red me TO listen | could only distinguish
,bese words a. am 50 tIrei, something 10 eat,
ubat torment" and then the ejaculation, - On,
II,iu Christ - Then saw others, emaciat-
eJ 10 the last degree. several Of whom were try
; inc IN eat-their kind nurses tempting them
u1,b delicacies and such food as they could bear:
some. after taking the longed-tor article and
putting 1t to their lips, would turn away win
4 an agonired loathing expression, as If eager 10
swallow, but incapable Of the effort otners'
after eating with furnished haste, would aiter
few moments eject II all, their -stomachs belng
too much weakened TO bear nourlshment either
solid or liquid. Could anything be more ieariu,
than this living death this furnishing win ioci
before their eyes aud within their reach. lhere
were other patients who were better, tney cou,u
digest light food and lad some hope OF me
was then the sixth day since they came, ana ou'
of $50 men 53 had died Of i'll treatment and ac-
tuaIstarvation. The. Surgeons sait at lehs' NO
thirds OF the $50 would die, and II any recover
ed II would be with broken constitutions. utter-
ly incapable of ofsupporting themselves NAN.
had diel Oh first arriving unconscious from ,he''
sutierings that they were among friends ana u
the land they had died for. Others were TOO Ia
gone to say much, but thankful to feel that the'
might die under the old flag and be taken hoin
to be buried with their kindred.