Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-08-14


publishes the following letter from Captain
Sawyer to Mr. Joseph Il Leach.
LlBRY PRIsOS, Richmond, Va, July 90
ls63.-My Dear Friend You mus, have
heard Of my solemn condition before this
time, but, notwithstanding, | will give YOU
the particulars. WAS severely Wounded
and taken prisoner on the 9Th Of June
near Brandy Station, Virginia, and arrived
10 Richmond on lath Of June.
The Confederate Government claims
that Burnside EAS executed two of their
officers, for recruiting In Kvntucky, OF
which know nothing, nor OF the Circum i.
stances attending them.
On the 9th Of July, all the Federal CAP.
taIns now prisoners drew lots for two 10
be executed ia retaliation, and Il tell upop
rne for one. This is my present situation,
and you can imagine my feelings upon so
serious matter.
! have been upon many bard. fought
fields Of battle, where death seemed 10
stare me in the face; but, sir, all that is
nothing to compare with what expert.
ence every hour, Itis q great inconveui.
encc to which prisoners Of war are in all
cases subjected, to have their letters In.
spected but this is the rule in all coup.
tries A third person, cold. .blooded Al
best II not what is worse, with an iuclina.
ton TO hold up to ridicule the expression
or grief or affection, is permitted 10 have
the review ota mans heart towards be.
loved wife aud children. dear old mother
or friend. The correspondence losses liz
value, and forces me to keep within bounds
Of discreet caution.
| cannot iu justice complain OF those
who have me in their charge. Gen. Win.
der, Military Commander at Richmond, has
treated me With great consideration. Can.
tain Turner, commanding the prison, has
treated me with courtesy and feeling, also
the res: Of the officers with whom | have
come in contact, have all treated me with
uniform kindness. Aud let me here SAY
that, should the fortunes Of war smile upon
me in this my severeSt hour Of trial, and
compromise this matter between the two
governments, (fOr | have nothing what.
ever to do with il, should ever b. 10
position TO return this act OF kindness to.
wards me, | should feel myself under OblI.
CATIONS TO do il.
! have strong hopes, and shall hope TO
the last, although 1t may be vain; but |
cannot think it Just that should suffer for
the otTeusts committed in different de.
partmeut than in the one in which sery.
ed, nor is there the least similarity between
those two cases.
received letter from my dear WIFE,
Truly It's enough to kill her, aud my two
children, who are both old enough 10 rea.
lie my situation, and all the rest of our
family. It is hard thus to part with all Of
them.
have only the consolation that Il. is not
through anything had done, OF anything
that could eVade doing, to bring this Sc.
we're ntlictiOu upon my family. Again, I
say, ! have strong hopes yet that the bitter
cup may pass from me; butit will always
be lesson in life should get out Of it,
But you must not understand me that |
Am broken. hearted with my trial. Nay, |
am resigned 70 anything that God in Ills
mercy may put upon me. feel that
have done nothing wrong. nothing more
than my duty towards my country, my
God, my friends, in the hour Of my coun.
try's trial. / have stood by her to preserve
her noble rank among nations, and to per.
petuate her noble institutions to the inher-
itNnce Of my children.
Ny dear friend, should suffer death,
look to my children. By law my family
will be entitled to one half Of my actual
pay, which will he thirty.six dollars per
month. See to them, aud let friend Ma.
EOnaEle know all about me, aud the rest Of
my friends.
viii you send this letter or its copy to
John 7, Nixon and John +. Starr, to enlist
them iu my case to procure for my wife
aul children their just due.
Hoping you are all well. | remaiu yours
truly, HESRY ". SAwYER,
Captain First New jersey Cavalry.