The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1863-05-08
An ustfian Smong the Conf.derates-Hl
onlineme It In Libby Prison

OnI1neme Il In Libby Prison
Baron Rudolph Wardener, formerly an Off.
Ger IN the Austrian service, who was captured
with Gen. Sseu <h'on a. Fairfax C .urt House
on the 8 h of March last, and taken to tho
Libby prison, in this city, aud shortly after.
wards released, has recently arrived North.
He gives the following account of bis cap
tu.e and subsequent treatment while in Rich
mond: a.
As hs was not In the military service Of the
United S ates, he, as we'll as the other citizen
pis0n-rs, " ere, bys an arrangement between
Commits toner's Onld aud LUDLOW, released
from the parole which they at first gave pre-.
vious to their release.
A ter their capture they were taken to the
headquarters of Gen. Fitzhueh Lee aud were
,rea,ed very k indy both by him and by Capt
Wosby. On their arrival in Richmond, how
ever, they were throw n into the Libby prison
and treated very ha.shiy.
Soon astsr reaching Richmond he wrote to
Gen Windsr demanding his release. as he
was not citizen OF the United States and not
In tae service If the United States Govern
ment, and asking for an interview with him
t a. he might explain Lis position more fully
Receiving no ans Ter to his anplic itiOA, he
then wrote TO tae rebel Secretary of War t.
the same eifsct bat this was slso not noticed
rithY, ne 4pS1le0 20 Mr DtFOsS, tine Aus.
trian Consul, who called on Gen Winder iu
regard to his case Getting no satisfaction
from him, he then called upon the Secretary
of War; who said that there was great suspi-
~ciop aims Baron Wardener, a. he had been
with Col. Wyndhan, snd was suspected of be-
ing commissioned ffiser urou Col Wynd.
hams staff He finai'y referred his case to
Jaege BAKER for examination. He was sent
O the JuiRe, with tour deseg feIs under
guard. Tae Judge questioned him very close
~ as TO his business in the camps Of their
-nsmiee. The Bar n explained to him thai he
was by profession military man, and sag
visiting and examining he camps and military
organization of the L lifted ates caval,y as Il
matter of professional interest The Judge
expre ssad regret that he lad been 60 unfortu-
nate as to bs captured. He further said to-
him that if it was his desire to see tha military
ap rationH IN matter of protest. 1naf iuter~st
the Confedsrate Government. would invite
D. IN 70 examine TnBir si,lr. TO tiiu tho Baron
rspied that he had already bean foa teen ndays
IN the Libby prison, and that he had ssen
enough of Their side of the contest.
At sc cond interview with Judge Baxter
he informed Barren Wardensr thas 1nsess he
would sign 4role they shouli not treat him
either as q citizen, soldier or officer, but as an
ineter Of insurrec' ion among the -lavss.
To tais he replied that they coald treat him
as they pleased; but that he thought the Aus
AT this ihe Judge BE- came or. atty excited, and
jumped up from his chair, say ing, 'What do
you Say about your Government What do
we know about your Government We have
never acknowE dyed y ur Government
Finally, after consultation with a number Of
Union officers who were in prison with him.
as to what course he had better take under the
circumstances, by their advice he s'gaed the
parole uIder protest, and was ralaas. d, as be.
fore sta,ed, although he had previously repeat
edy .efus. to do 30.
judge Baxt-r said that Colonel Wyndham.
when in the Austrian service, might ssib Y
have been & ntieman, but that he was no y u
robber, mu- de err iDcendasy, &c and they
wou hang him and his staff aitoge her if they
should catch them.
The treatme Of ihs ion officers at the
Libby prison is most outrageous. They are
confiaed N The garret OF the prison, most Of
them with mt even wo den BIKES to sleep in,
and only filthy blankets for bed clothe.. Tho
ilthls muss di'gu dug, and tn whole acs
alive with vsrmn. There are nearly $50 off,
GERS c. n6ned there. TIE bread SUPP lied to
them il decent bur the meat ia decayed and
etinking-nuch Of it mule meat. Capt Tur-
ees, the P.ovos. Marshal, who as charge of
the Libby prison, ls a perfect brute in human
shape, Who delights in hesping abuse upon the
unfortunate victims wh0 fall into his hands.