The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1863-11-27
The HeIIs of Richmond.

The arrival Of our braves, from Richmond,
IN an emaciated state by Starvation, naked
ness and abuse in the prisons of that capital,
has created thrill of horror throughout the
lengthand breadth Of the loyal States. The
history of the sufferings of these poor fellows,
details systematic course by the minions of
jeff. Davis toward them, that puts fan in the
background all the horrors which in the past
age have shocked humanity, of the suferings
inflicted upon prisoners. in the Jersey Prison
Ship, Dartmoor Prison, and the Calcutta
Black Hole. 1t would appear that a wretch
who halls from our State, a. renegade to every.
principle of honor and humanity, and whose
demoniac countenance displays the blackness
OF his vile heart, is the chief instrument of
the demons who reign at Richmond, in the
lnfiction of these tortures upon our poor UNI
tortunates who fall into his hands-fully is
the saying verified in his case,that,the g ten
der mercies of the wicked are cruel" Not
only personal abuse to defenceless prisoners
is committed, not only are our poor fellows
suffered to starye, and to wallow in the filth
OF his Internal tobacco holes, without part-
Gle of bedding to rest upon, and nothing but
the bare floor or the grayelled earth upon
which to sleep, but their body clothes are
taken from them, and their money, either in
possession when captured, OF sent by sympa-
thizing friends from home, has been stolen
from them, and by recent correspondence
with General, Huger, rebel officer in Vir-
ginia, the robberies areatraced to- the keeper
of the Libby Prison, old Winder, and fully
believed by the evidences presented, that the
funds thus stolen have, been appropriated to
his private use The Philadelphia inquirer
well describes this fend, when it says, that
"the head jailor has been well chosen cold.
cruel, phlegmatic man, quite up to his work,
and fit for nothing else. As long as the war
lasts, Gen. Winder, the son of the man who
lost the battle Of Bladensburg, win never face
our fire, but will remain to Cypress, revie and
torture our prisoners. OF course the staff of
such man win be like their master, and do
his bidding with intense alacrity."
The staff of this wretch, is probably com
posed of the well known bullies, and black
guards who comprised the Empire Club, in
the Eastern section of our city, and which was
a kind of adjunct to the Rynders club of the
same name in Ner York; these fellows were
professional thieves, protectors of houses
of infamy, and cut-throats of the vilest char
acter, who were believed to be mainly in the
paysof the Custom House worthless in the DAVIS
of Pierce and Buchsnan, for the services per-
formed by them in support Of the "party .
during election times. The most Of them de-
parted for Richmond, and are exactly the
class who are fitted 10 be the staff of General
Winder, as they arecapable Of anything how
ever vile and crusl3i1eN griG pgiTs
Propositions are being made ia various di-
rections, as to the best means of counteractine
these monstrosities-but we hope Gen. Meade
is now on the right track to accomplish th at
end--and we trust the Government will push
forward every man in the whole country east
of Virginia, to strengthen our army, in its
movements now making towards Richmond.
The War Department has just ordered Gen.
Butler 10 the command of the district south
Of Riehmond-we hope the General will BE-
permitted to gather in all the troops in his
department. so oooperateon the southernisid,
of Richmond with Gen. Meade, 50 as to pre-
vsntthe removal ofthaprison srsfurthcr South
~ 10 now believed . h septsmplassd al Rich
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