Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-11-12
The UNION PRISONERS AT RICHMOND.


The other day We noticed the arrival Of nearly two hun
ded prisoners at Annapolis In the most horrible condition
from the want Of food and from teatment Several had
died the voyage Now told that forty have
died at Annapolis, aud that twenty-five thirty will
probably die These were detachment from the Libby
prison, the condition of affairs ia which is represented
follows by Major Houstan of the 1872 New York Volun-
teer who escaped from the Libby fortnight since The
Major says:
THE Union prisoners in the Libby prison have been
gradually reduced to state of starvation bling furnished
with small piece Of bread-One loaf to sixteen meD-
meat in the proportion and little wishy washy soup
day. he which among the prisoners
heart rendng in the extreme The for food
peous, and the rawlings Of the rendered insane 10
many instances by the pangs hunger sound through the
building night and day Men dying daily aud the bor-
of the Jersey prisonshp have been revived in the
treatment OF our poor incarcerated soldiers"
Journals in Virginia, South Carolina Georgia, and Ala
bama report the prices of food in the respective localities
and every the Confederate paper are
fearfuy high The price after ALL is not import
ant unless indication of scarcity but it happens
that the scarcity confessed and that there universal
cry that famine is approaching
The South conesses the deplorable prospect that lies
before it, and the full belief that it's duty owing first
to those Of its household its nhuu policy in regard
to the unfortunate prisoners in its hands stated These
to be starved deliberately. No other alternative is
suggested They do not even propose to parole them
few extracts from Richmond papers will illustrate the
truth of what is here written.
The Examiner of the 29h utmo says: ..
1--WE have nine thousand of them (prsoners) in this
city and four thousand Belle ISLE and the question
which forces itself upon the attention of every who
gives the matter thought is how they to be- fed
The Government will not agree to exchange them and
certainly cannot find them In yiotuals much longer They
have already eaten up all beef and have begun upon
the sheep"
The Wbig Of the 30th says
"The people are suffering already while the Yankees
comfortable, Is this fair Certainls The prisoners
be kindly treated but if forced to cto
between them and the wives and children of soldiers
in the field to say nothing of our people who threat
ened with starvation aud freezing there will be but
voice. and that not in favor of tho Yankees"
The Enquirer of the Sis. utmo says:
There is here if not scarcity, least great dearth
Of provisions and not less Of full while to tn, med
cinas, they contraband of war and enemies
extreme diligence IN keeping them from altogether
We would those Yankee soldiers that da the
field of battle far better than captivity here this
ter aud would accordingly counsel them also not to be
taken alive"
What be done to relieve brave soldiers from the
hord fate mpend ng them The pride of the South
will steel her against such concessions the exchange
parole of these prisoners. As the Examiner says
the Government will mt agree to exchange ihem," and
has but solution of the difficulty aud that is to thin
them out with scant fare Must our Government re-
t4ate Must refuse medicines food, and clothing to
the poor creatures Bedoes Island in order that the
gaunt and shadowy procession of the victims of the Rich
mond tyranny may have its parallel in New York; Would
this of retaliation be the of relieving the Union
prisoners whose suerings mainly caused by the
knowledged inability and poverty of the South7 There
must be wisdom enough at Washington to discover and
apply corrective OF this dreadful condition of affairs.
There is little time for delay Whatever action is adopted
should be immediate ard generous and should not be
hndered by any scrupes Of etiquette We are strong
enough to risk niormalty 10 mission of humanity TO
those who have volunteered to sustain the national honor
". Y. ON. ado.