Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-12-10
MORE TESTIMONY TO THE REBEL
BARBARITIES.

----- BARBAR1IlEo.
The Rev. Mr.. D. G. Eberhart
Chaplain of the s7th Pa. Vols, ha
been released by the Rebels, and give
.his experiences st Castle Thunder ant
Libby Prison. They were the same a
shose related BY many others. Bu
.ws cannot resist copying bis closing
remarks:
OF the nanner Of our fare, rstiops
&c.. enough may have been said b.
others. yet even then the hall, has no
been told. I would adviss al ouI
officers to run q most fearful risk rather
than to throw themselves upon the hos.
pitaIities Of hesrtless Rebels, and ex.
penence the realities of this vile and
losthsome prison.
While in the hospital, and able to 20
about, I was permitted IS favor from
the Doctor to visit the hospital situated
in a lower room Of the same building,
where our citizens and private soldiers
were brought. Here l couversed free.
ly and received the testimony ofmany
poor fellow, whose vital energies
had almost eked out at the cruel treat
ment received. ! have seen as high
as twenty brought in at 9 time from
Belle Isle, and seated on benches while
they. would take their names, but be-
fore they we're half through with this
ceremony one:third or more OF the
nember would be fallen 10 the door.
and many of them insensible. and
some only 20 wake up in eternity. Ny
heart bss sickened at the sight, and II
uowsmeke these statements, hot with q
reveDgeiul feeling, but only to warn our
noble soldiers from falling into such
hands. IL when closely pressed and q
Thought Of surrenderiDg crosses your |
mind. pass in review before you the
gsInt, hslf-famished forms Of those
unfortunstes, and il will stimulate you
to q desperate effort to escape, or even
to die on the field Of battle rather than
to falIinto such hands.
Our citizen prisoners seem even to
fare worse. il possible. than any others.
Some were taken forcibly from their
peaceful homes in Pennsylvania and
Marylsnd, and without moments
warning. or an opportunity Of chang
ing their working apparel. or supply
ing themselves with q little needful
change or giving q word Of COM
fort or advice to their weeping fami-
lies, we're hurried of on foot. in front
of the bayonet, and travelled thus
for Eve days. The only rations is-
sued to them during that time was
pint Of -four per day; and not until
the evening Of the third day were they
allowed 10 make snything like dough
and bake it in the asbes--thus being
compelled to eat raw -four. Ike beasts,
and this BY the boasted chivalry of the
South; / have seen these same men
begging like children even for crust
of bread to satisfy their appetites-
men who had. perhaps, never known
what it was TO want for anything.
For some six weeks several hun.
dred occupied lower room in Libby,
and in the night the officers would pass
down through the cracks in the floor s
ell The surplus bread that could be pro
cured througbthe savings of the Off
GERS, and I was told BY one Of our
doctors, that he had actually seen j
them fish bread out OF the sinks where
all the flth from the rooms shove
passed through. and, wash 1t off and eat
1t. so near were they to starvstioni--
/ have seen citizen prisoners in Castle
Thunder, over 7s years Of age. sim !
ply for clinging in their old age to
he time.benored flag OF their coun- Z
.ry.
Friends at home, II you can do any. :
hing for our poor prisoners at Rich.
nond, either through your personal
effort or through the agency Of our no. c
Bile Christian Commission, rest not
aniil you have done your duty in
mitigating their sufFerings and cheer =
ing their sinking spirits, and a kind +
Providenee aud many grateful hearts \
will bless you.
D. c. EBERHART, 3
Chaplain 87th Regt. Pa. Vol. Iafantry,
Army of the Potomac.
=