Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1863-12-07


~ llJ E, -YlysseeyI 1rTsUuers
Richmond, via of City Point, and from
them obtained the highly interesting ac-
count we give on the condition. of affairs
at the seat of the Rebel Government.
Drs. Whitney and Ketchum were cap
tured by the rebels at the Fitzhugh Hos
pital, Falmouth, on the 18th of june AT
that time there were some fifty patients
at this hospital One of these men had
his leg amputated by DR.. Shippen, OF
Philadelphia, and lay in very critical
condition, but neither the entreaties of
the Surgeons or of the men themselves
could induce the rebels to leave them be-
hind This man was returned from Rich
mond a week after his capture, and,
strange to say. Notwithstanding the fa-
tigue and hardship undergone by him in
being conveyed to Richmond, he has
entirely recovered from the effects Of the
operation, and is now we'll and hearty.
After the party arrived at Richmond,
occurring at halfpast 10 o'clock in the
morning, they were obliged to stand in
the streets three hours exposed, as Dr.
Whitney says, to one of the most scorch-
ing suns he ever stood under The sick
and wounded were then conveyed to
Libby Prison in carts, jolting and jost-
ling them in a fearful manner. DR.
Whitney demonstrated against the inhu-
mainly of the act, and for this he was
arrested by man calling himself the
Chief of Police, and taken before the
Provost Marshal Mr. John Griswold, of
Baltimore Here the Major was strip
ped of his money, $3.50, and of his sword
and sash. He was then sent to the Libby
Prison, in command of Capt Turner
The Doctor was told when his money
was taken from him, that when he left
the prison his money would be returned
to him in kind The fulfllment of this
promise is yet to be realized by the Doc
tor.
The room in which the surgeon was
confined, (the room allotted to oficers),
was in the third story of the building.
This room already contained some two
hundred Il was 100 feet in length and
43 feet in width by measurement. This
room was in charge of Col. Straight. 1t
is described by the surgeon to be in very
cleanly condition when he first entered
it, but this was owing to the attention of
the officers, from whom a detail was ap-
pointed every day to keep it in order. If
the cleanliness of the room did not meet
with the appreciation of the inspector,
the officers were punished, by depriving
them of some article of fo3d
Here the meals of the officers were
cooked, one stove being allowed for the
entire number There were hunks in it,
built of bare wood, for only one-half of
the inmates. The remainder were
obliged to lay upon the floor. One blan-
ket was allowed to each officer, that is if
any were brought by them to the prison.
More than this number fell into the hands
of the rebel authorities Those who
were so unfortunate as to come unpro-
vided, were obliged to make out the best
way they could.
The Surgeon states that the clubhouse
provided for the use of the officers di.
rectly communicated with the room they
occupied, and the condition of it "a room
only eight feet square) was of the mos
disgusting and filthy character. The
water furnished them was the muddy
water of the James river, and the supply
at all times was most deficient, so much
so, that it was difficult to procure enough
| for cooking and drinking purposes, le
alone that needed for the cleanliness o
their persons.
When these Surgeons entered the pris
on their rations consisted of one pound
of beef day (bones and all) and sixteer
ounces of bread The beef they wer,
obliged to cook themselves Ten stovei
were allowed for some three hundred
and fifty men, one hundred and fifty o
them in the story over where the officer
were confined.
In the?matter Of rations, the surgeon
both state that the prisoners began to nc
tice deficiency after the middle of tn
last month. Then the article of fres
beef was missing, making its appearance
only about once every four days On
pound of corn bread was furnished theI
each day, with the usual accompanies
! of one s,Ceet potatoe. They were trea
J ed with the greatest contempt on ever
J oceasion-dogs could hardly be treate
worse.
From the hearsay Of these gentlemen
they suppose that about ten thousan
prisoners are yet confined at Richmon
some $500 of them at Belle Islam
7 The treatment of the prisoners at Bel
h Island is described to be of the most i
human character.
d In regard to the rations sent by th
il Government to our prisoners there, the
gentlemen state that the Rebel Cover
ment refused them but the clothing W
81 allowed to be distributed under the S
perintendence of Gen. Neal Dow; b
this gentleman was suddenly remov
= from his position, and Capt. Forbes,
!. Gen. Bayards cavalry, appointed in
. stead. Our men are stated to be neal
'R naked, and confined in sheddings
which it is impossible to protect the
from the weather.
These gentlemen left Richmond on
I, "a h ult, and, as we have stated befo
arrived here yesterday morning. I'll
were accompanied to City Point by Co
missioner Ould, and delivered to our
thorities on board the conveys at
point named.
Major White of Pennsylvania, atteu
Tor ed to escape with the surgeons at {
:, Point, but was detected by telegr
and sent back In extenuation of
: offense the Major stated that he was
!. deavoring to get to the North for the I
pose of effecting such an arrangement
- would insure the exchange of our sts
9s' .es, ing prisoners The Major was sent b
ard to be confined in the dungeons dark
res, res, deep of the Libby
lat From Surgeon John T. Luck, of
,,PPs. United States Navy, we have also gai
xes, SolaO tHoeieSlihS inioI IlAdIohi "Hose
ges | ratlVe we regret to he pOmOel led