The Portland daily press., 1863-12-17
The Union Prisoners.

We have before us several letters from AL
fred J. Bloor, Assistant Secretary Of Sanitar,
Commission at Washington, throwing lIghr
upon the condition of the Union prisoners a,
Libby and the other prisons at Richmond. In
a letter to DR.. Jenkins, dated Dec sth Mr.
Bloor says:
Il have just had a talk with Dr.. Wright e5th Ohio
| regiment, taken prisoner at Chckamauga and just
returned from Lbby--a candid and reasonable ma u,
apparenty-who denies the stories of the prisoners
bong deliberately starved and iitreated. lie says
that the Confederates have not food for their own
men, and that our people share the common destitu.
ton. Libby prison Is now comfortably provided
with stoves. Tho privsses on Belle Isle are now un
der shelter and stoves were being provided for them
| Our supplies reach them now steadily, las well As
goods consigned to individuals from homo afor ding
them the greatest comfort and producing visible
change IN their appearance and morale. They are
in good spirits and have no longer the old feeling
that their people and Government have forgotten
them. The boxes sent them have been made into
cupboards, &C., greatly increasing their comfort
Ihedoctor was confined Elk weeks in Atlanta, Ca
where the Federal prisoners supplied by sever
Aid Society fthe place. One of the ladies Whose
husband, Southernef-she lankee-is Q strong
unionist. and though man OF wealth, drives team
10 the Confederate army rather than be eligible for
CONSUMPTION and bear musket against the FEEDER.
Ais drew up paper in regard to the wants Of the
Federal prisoners, and read It aloud to her society
but after while was Kissed down. Nevertheless,
the ladies of the society las also tho military authori
ticsl winked at supplies being furnished to our men.
and sometimes accompanied the Union ladies in their
ministrations. Her husband sent them 800, and
another Union man barrel of -four. There are be
thinks, 1000 Union prisoners In Richmond and be
thinks about 1900 more elsewhere In the Confeders.
cy The day he left he received sos Confederate
money In exchange for IS greenbacks--over twenty
to one
Mr.. Bloor communicates letter ffom the
Sanitary Commission Agent at Norfolk dated
Dec. 18th, in which he says:
I called on Gen Meredith again this morning and
was shown by him letter which he had received
from Judge Oud-the rebel commissioner of ex.
chAnge-in which he informs the General that the
supplies sent by the government and other parties
are distributed among the prisoners who have been
taken 10 Darsille and other places outside of Rich
nond. This information Is given in answer 10 an
inquiry from Gen Meredith on the subject and h
couchcd in very cautious terme, very dierentind
from Dir. 'susual tone towards Gen. N. Enclosed
send you note which received this NOR ming from
q poor fellow in Libby.
1t shows that soa,ethisg is known of the Sanitary
Commission among the Richmond unfortunatcs. ]
will send box to this poor sergeant. with supply
of such articles as we can furnish I have also re.
ceived another letter from Gen. Dow, bat as II Is
only repetition Of the Others, viii not forward 1t.
The "poor sergeant alluded to Is Sergt. A.
X. Smith, of the 22d Michigan regiment, who
writes from Libby prison to the Sanitary agent
at Norfolk, forwarding by the flag of truce
boat, asking for few indispensable articles.
He has been prisoner since Sept. goth. When
captured he was on heavy march to reach
the field Of conflict, had had no change of cloth.
ing then for two weeks and none since his inn
prisonment; he took of his shirt when first
taken to bind up the wounds of comrade,
and when writing had been eight weeks desti.
tute of such an article of apparel. OF course.
among the articles asked for are shirts and
drawers, pair of socks and writing materi ais.
1t is hoped the poor fellows wants have, ere
this, been supplied.