The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-12-01

recently made by surgeons released from rebel
prisons:
WASHINGTON, Nov. q, 1868.
We, the undersigned, surgeons of the United
States Army, and r, Gently prisoners in Richmond,
Va, consider it our duty to publish few facts
that came to our knowledge while we were in
mates Of the hospital attached to Libby Prison.
We enjoyed for several months daily access to
the hospitals where the sick and wounded among
our Union soldiers received treatement AS re-
alt of our observations, we hereby declare our
belief that since the battle of Chlcka manga the
number ofdeaths per diem has averaged fully fifty.
The prevailing diseases are diarrhoea, dysentery
and typhoid pneumonia. OF late the percentage
OF deaths has greately INCREASED, the result of
causes that have been long at work-as insufficient
food, clothing and shelter, combined with that
depression OF spirits brought on so often by long
confinement. 1t may seem almost incredible
we affirm, of our personal know edge, that in the
three hospitals for Union soldiers the average
mortality is nearly forty per day; and upon the
most reliable testimony we are forced to believe
that the deaths in the tobacco factories and upon
the island will raise the total mortality among all
the Union prisoners to fifty per day, or fifteen
hundred monthly
The extremely reduced condition of those
brought from the island argues that hundreds
quite sick are lett behind who with US would be
considered fit su 'Cts for hospital tr29tement.
SUCH too is the fact, as invariably stated by
we have conyersed with from that camp The
came to degree holds true of the prisoners u
the city. IL would be reasonable estimate to
put the number who are fit subjects for hospitals,
but who are refused admittance, at FIVE hundred.
Il 10 ~
hospitals, and the rebel surgeons themselves say
the number Of patients is only limited by the
small accom- odAtions provided. Thus we have
over ten per cent Of the whole number OF prison
ers here cassed as sick men, who need the most
as,iduous and skllIful attentions yet, in the es-
sentlal matter Of raIons, they are receiving moth
ing but corn bread aud sweet potatoes Meat is
no longer furnished TO any class of our prisoners
except to the few officers IN Libby Prison hosplt-
al, and all sick or well officers or privates are
now furnished with very poor article of corn
bread in place Of wheat bread, unsuitable diet for
hospital patients Frustrated with diarrhoea, dysen-
t4ry and fever, to say nothing Of the balance Of
startinL instances OF individual suffering and nor
rid pictures OF death from protracted sicnness and
sem-staryation we have had thrust upon our OBJ
servauou
The first demand of the poor creatures from
the island was always for something TO eat. Self
res Ject gone, hope and ambition gone, half clad
aud covered with vefmln and filth, many of them
are too often beyond all reach OF medical skill.
10 one instauce the ambuances brought sixteen
to the hospital, and during the night seven of
them died. Again, eighteen were brought, nd
eleven ol them died in twenty four hours. AT
another lime fourteen were admitted, and in a
singh day ten OF hem died. Judging from what
we have ourselves seen AMI do kGow, we DO not
he,it4ts 10 say that, under treatment of system
etic ABUSE, nes lect and semi starvation, the mum.
beers who are becoming permanently broke do~r