The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1863-11-19
fiow the Rebels Treat Union Prisoners

HOW NHt AlCDcis
The following letter will gives some il
Illustrations of the treatment experienced
by the Union prisoners at Richmond
Thnnns Taf. --------~i 80
New York volunteers, who was wounded
and taken prisoner at Gettysburg, and
has bat recently been released from pris
on at Richmond, says:
"From the time We crossed TIE (poto.
inac) river, it was three days before they
gave US anything to eat again. Tie sec.
ond day after we left Nartinsburs we
arrived at Winchester, thirty. four miles
frol- the Potomac, where we halted for
cue day. Here they gave US one guar:
Of flour and half pound Of fresh beet fer
two days. The next day We started for
Staunton, ninety two miles distant, which
We reached in five days, arriving there
on the 18th Of July. We were then
taken two miles south Of the t-wn, where
we were marched in single file up to a
pair Of bars; here We found two officers
surrounded hy guards, to search US !;
they took all arms, large knives, tents,
rubber blankets and caDtceDs, then turn.
ed Us into the field like lot Of cattle.
Here re were exposed to q Virginia sun,
for there was but one small tree, 10 the
field OF about two acres. For five sue
cosslvo days we had heavy shower ia
the afternoon; each time | was wet to
the skin, and had TO remain so until the
sun rose the next morning and dried my
wet clothes. The nights were so cold
tnat VIC could not sleep on The wet ground
without blankets, SO We were obliged to
walk all night to keep warm. They gave
us one pint of flour and piece of bacon
about enc and half inches square, all
covered with yermin, which, with little
salt, constituted our daily rations. We
suffered in this manner till the 4tk
OF August, vixen they searched US for
"greenbacks,' and took all the money
they could find about u.s. TLcn We were
shipped for Richmond on some dirt cars,
with an old cattle box Of al engine to
haul US
eve arrived at Richmond on the
morning Of August 9th we were march
cd through the city to the tobacco ware
house, where we We're slowed away.
about three hundred men on a floor, with
four small windows at each end to let
IN the light and air, and were kindly told
by the guard that the first man who put
his lead out of the window would be
shot. We were kept here two days and
a night, when We were taken to Belle
lIsn, about half mile flom the city
Here they had an carthwork thrown up,
about as large as that formed by rifle
pit this enclosed about an acre and a
half, and in this small place they had
over four thousand prisoners. They had
tents for about three thousand: the re.
maindet had TO lie on the round between
the tents. Here at 70 0 clock 4. N. they
gave US quarter Of loaf CT bread the
loavcs weighing twenty ounces. This
gave each man five ounces Of bread. Their
they gave fifteen pounds of meat, bone:
and all, for one hundred men; this, whe,
divided, gave each man about two ounce.
of meat, making in all seven ounces
This was our breakfast and dinner to-
gethcr. At 4 o'clock p, IN. We receive,
five ounces more Of bread and one pint q
soup, beans and rice alternately. II
bcs; that | ever had of either did no
have in it.throc spoonfuls of rice CT beans
and tie soup was so thin that if yor
blew tt scum from the top you coul
sec the beans or rice at the bottom.
1t was no uncommon sight to see ,w
men holding up a colnrode, lie being to
weak to walk alone. A number die
while | was there. Some of the me-
would pick up the bones that lay in III
streets, pound them Up with stone, al,
then suck the pieces to get what littl