Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-11-19
Southern Prisons.

Rev. Il Clay Trumbul, chaplain OF the 10Th
Connecticut volunteers, who has been IN prison
at the South for several months, reached Fortress
Monroe Friday. and passed through New York
yesterday OF his way TO visit his family for few
DAYS before reioining his regiment, TOW before
Charleston Mr. Trumbul was captured near
Fort Wagner on the 18Th of July. and at once
conveyed to Charleston, Here the malignity OF
man connected with the Charleston press in
duced the publication OF statement that Mr..
Trumbull bad acted as spy yer previous
when In service in North Carolina. The state
ment was false. being basel on the fact that he
was sent with flag of truce into the enemy's
lines at that time. IL was stated 10 Beauregard
that Mr.. Trumbul WAS not chaplain. On this
account he at once placed in close confne-
ment and subjected TO gross indignites at Charles
ton, until be was removed TO Columbia. At Co
lumbia he was placed in jail with numerous other
Federal prisoners, and has remained there until
the presen, time He reports that during the
period of nearly four months that he has been
confined AZ Columbia, the prisoners there have
been well treated, receiving ordinary rations of
food aud permitted 10 purchase whatever they
pleased, which they did constantly and were thus
enabled 10 live in tolerahle comfort The state
of affairs there was very different from Richmond
Mr.. Trumbull's long detention has been owing
probably to the absurd story that he was not
chaplain Commissioner Ould at last becoming
satisfied that he was wIat I've proiessed 10 be. or
dered his discharge, and he was brought on 10
Richmond. reaching there on Monday last. We
learn from particulars of the condition of SOL
diers in Richmond which will be OF general in
terest and may be relied on a. accurate.
He reached the Libby Prison on Monday and
re mained there I'LL Wednesday
The prisoners in Richmond are divided. the
officers being in Libby Prison. and the soldiers in
hnii-fp.ss mar tia nrtsor aud IN Relio .lapd
There are nearly a thousand Union officers in the
Libby Prison On Belle Island there are several
thousand soldiers. The fact that the utmost suf
fering and absolute starvation prevails among
them is beyOnd dispute \ Confederate officer
remarked to Mr. Trumbull on the ears coming
north to Richmond. 1T is hard 10 sly IL 10 you.
but your soldiers are diving OF starvation in
Richmond" Belle Island. said another Con-
federAte officer, us i perfect slaughter pen for
your men" large part of the men on the IL.
land are without any shelter, sleeping uncoyetei
on the sand ia all weathers. The exposure with
the want Of food i killing them by hundreds.
An officer who had seen them frequently, lie
scribeS them a. generally emsciated and perish
ing from exhaustion. The difficulty IN procuring
food In Richmond seems 10 proceed from the
Imperfect facilities OF transportation ihi;her IL
i comparatively plenty IN other parts OF
tho country. sweet potatoes for instance beng
plenty N Oolumhia a. cneoottaF I . uttcncfi
per bushel. /, is suggested as possible that the
commlssary who has charge Of che prisoners in
Richmond may not have sufficient facilities at
torded by the rebel authorities. to collect food.
The army officers seize ), everywhere for their
men. but ne possibly has DO force TO DO this.
Whether this be the correct explanation or not.
the result is the most horrible state Of Affairs
among our soldiers. No words are sufficient 10
describe the terrible suffering they arc enduring
Ga Wednesday last. The rations which we're
served TO the officers in Libby Prison consist