The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1863-11-19


around when wanted, he was rudely
aroused, his blanket taken from him and
carried down stairs, to be given to some
needy rebel or placed under the saddle for
one of these rufians to ride upon. IF by
any means we offended his supreme high
ness, the eommandant, our supply Of wa
ter was cut off for half day and night,
and this during the suffocating weather of
summer; or to vary the punishment and
add zest to the regimen, we would be left
without wood for three-fourths of day
wherewith to cook our food, but then we
saved our rations and had more the next
day.
~ have seen captain of cavalry, for
the simple offense of missing the spittoon
and splitting upon the floor, thrown into a
dark, damp dungeon for two days and
nights, on bread and water, causing Sc
rious Inflammation of the lungs. At this
time it was required that the officers
should perform the most menial services
connected with cooking, washing, scrub
bing, and the cleanliness of the room.-
Lieut.. WEIGH, of the Eighty-seventh Pa.
infantry, lay for SIX weeks in dungeon
under the building, because, as an orderly
sergeant, acting under appointment as
| lieutenant, though not yet mustered in,
and of course not recognized as such, he
had rightly classed himself with the enlis-
ted men. When brought up among the
other officers, his clothes, shoes, &C.. were
covered with a green mould. Lieut.
Dutton, of the Sixty-seventh Pa. infantry,
has been doomed to dungeon to the close
of the war, aud is now suffering therein,
for similar ohense, with the additional
fact that he assumed the name of another.
Captain Litchfeld, OF the Sixty-seventh
Pennsylvania, was confined in dungeon
for five or eight days on bread and water
for forming plan Of escape which was
frustrated.
"Jolonel Powell, I think, of the Twelfth
Virginia Union cavalry, wounded severely
in the back from window III Wythc-
vile, and left behind, was carried to
Richmond and placed in the hospital. A
| few days after, one of the Richmond pa
pers rallied out against him IL most
brutal manner, and suggested that he be
executed. The same Prison Inspector
entered the hospital, and without the
knowledge of the rebel surgeons, ordered
him to get up from his bed and follow
him. He was placed in one of the dun
geons spoken OF, and upon asking what
were the charges against him, was an
swered, God - you, you will soon find
OUT Here, with ball in his back, he
remained five weeks and four days, part
of the time without a blankets rarely
receiving any medical care, and sometimes
his rations withheld. A guard was sta
toned constantly at the door of his cell,
to prevent either escape or communication
with others. While confined there, the
entry way was frequently blocked up with
dead bodies, remaining there several days,
and this during the heat of summer -
This entry performed another important
part, it being the place where men and
women were daily brought to receive their
lawful allowance of lashes at the hands of
the Prison Inspector. A letter was sent
to Gen. Winder by the colonel, asking
the charges against him, and protesting
against his treatment. He denied any
knowledge of the matter, and suggested
that, perhaps, Gen. Jones was acquainted
with the facts.
"The Colonel was released, [ know not
how, and placed among us. This officer
was the victim Of irresponsible authority
and fendish cruelty as welded by this
pEson inspector While confined in the
cell, the colonel, who is Christian, asked
in writing twice for Bible, but no notice
was taken of the request. One officer,
taken at Gettysburg. was slapped in the
face by this inspector for saying that he
| thought he had no right to take from him
small fragment Of shell which he had IN
his pocket as relic.
81 have SO far only given an outline of
| the treatment and condition of the officers,
which, In comparison, was d favored one.
[ cannot describe the condition of the
enlisted men, as seen by the officers, and
learned from sources at present nameless-
Hunger, bad treatment and exposure have
done their work too surely for many brave
souls, who have gone up to testify at the
bar Of God to the barbarities practised on
them. Many of them, also, were shot by
the guard upon the most frivolous preten-
ces. Belle Isle, our place of confinement,
is supplied with tents only sufficient for
part of the men; the rest were compelled,
during the cold nights, to pace up and
down the island and keep warm, and while
the sun was shining during the day, they
would sleep. have seen them marched
| through the city, barcfooted, bareheadod,
without coats, and with on.y the remnants
of other articles of clothing.
81 have seen them brought from this
island in the evening, to ship them in the