Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-11-19
Few Tzisn Prisoners are Treated In Rich.
E0nd-ln Interesting Narrative.

I -
lneeres.lng though painful character. With
regaro 10 MS capture, he says:
@ captured at Winchester, Va, June
40, 1000, WIN SIX other Chaplains and quite a
number OF Surgeons, sharing in the contnmalv
ana privations heaped upon the officers snd
men OF Mllroy's command. have soon mo-,
angry with passion, but never have 7 babaId
such maooened nendlshness of feeling as that
poured out upon US. DC 'n"'
Under the sanetity of flag of truce two
of our Chaplains mot then capturedl 49,; s"9
the held OF slaughter to gather up the wound.
ed, administer to their wants, hear thair -
whisper, and bury the dead. They had barJI1-
entered the field before they were insnItej
and from one of them a valuable watch ~
taken by force, and himself Threatened with
violence.
We were marched on foot to Stanton
nlnety-six miles, under June sun, and over
road every contact with which seemed to
burn the foot to blister. Half-clad. many
shoeless and hatless and unfed, the cayalcade
was sorrowful one. The sufferings of the
trip | cannot express. Nothing to eat but
what we begged or bought of citizens who
hated US intensely, shut their doors in our
faces, and from appe frances would have beer
tar better pleased with a visit from even his
Satanic majesty himself
After arriving at the Libby prison every
thing of value was taken from us-canteens,
haversacks, gum blankets, in some cases our
WOODEN blankets, our money and valuables.
private papers and pocket diaries, lists of
dead and wounded, and even last messages
from some brave MARTYRS to their friends
nothing being retained but the few things
that seemed to oe a part of ourselves and
necessary to conceal our nakedness. The
surgeons, whose private property is always
respected IN war, were likewise stripped of
their effects. Their green sashes as badges
OF their profession were taken from them.
their pocket cases of instruments distracted.
their pocket medicines coniscated, so that
upon our Introduction into the mysteries of
Libby we had few things to care for, fewer
still to lose.
Of the food and its effect upon the health
of the prisoners he ys:-Many sink under it
and falling away into living Skeletons were
passed over to the hospital, in the other end
of the building, where they lived or died as
circumstances might declare. How often
have | seen this so often that it had long
ceased to call forth special attention. Did
men fall down exhausted upon the floor, those
stronger picked them up and strove to have
them removed to the hospital. Did they die
their bodies were thrown to one side until
convenience suited them to bury them under
ground.
During this time the heat was intense. and
the suffering from this cause alone was very
very great. Often have | felt as though NV
very blood was on fire, and my brain a caui-
dron of heated, kissing metal Add to this
the fact that, from diet and other causes, the
prisoners suffered greatly from dysentery, ag-
gravated by the disagreeable water we were
obliged to drink, and | know not, indeed, how
we passed the summer, or bore up under the
accumulated woes of our situation With
no chauge-nothing but the everlasting hash.
soup and bread-no wonder disease made
such ravages among us and scorbutic affec-
tions became quite prominent.
| have seen a captain of cavalry, for the
simple offence Of missing the spittoon and
splitting upon the floor, thrown into dark
damp dungeon for two days and nights on
bread and water, causing a serious infamma-
ton of the lungs. At this time it was re-
quired that the officers should perform the
most mental service connected with cooking,
washing, scrubbing, and the cleanliness of the
room. Lieut. Welch, of the S7th Pennsyl-
vania infantry, lay for six weeks in a dungeon
under the building, because, as an orderly
sergeant, acting under appointment as lieu
tenant, he had rightly classed himself with
the enlisted men.
clothes, shoes, &C., were covered with green
mould. 1t. Dutton, of the 9th Pennsylva-
MIA infantry, has been doomed to a dungeon
until the close of the war, and is now suffer
ing therein for similar offence, with the adj
ditlonal fact that he assumed the name of
another. Capt. Litchfeld of the 9th Penn
sylyania, was confined in dungeon for five
or eight days on bread and water for form
ing plan of escape which was frustrated.
Col. Powell, of the 18th Virginia Union
Cavalry, wounded in the back from a window
IN Wythevile, and left behind was carried
to Richmond and placed in the hospital A
few days after, one Of the Richmond papers
rallied out against him in most brutal man
ner and suggested that he be executed. The
prison Inspector entered the hospital, and
without the knowledge of the rebel surgeons.
ordered him up from his bed and to follow
him. He was placed in one of the dungeons
spoken of, and upon asking what were the
charges against him, was answered, CD
d-n you, you will soon find out"
Here, with a ball in his back, he remained
five weeks and four days, part of the time
without blanket, rarely receiving any medi-
cal care, and sometimes his rations withheld.
A guard was stationed constantly at the door
of his cell, to prevent either escape or COM
munication with others. While confined
there, the entry way was frequently blocked
up with dead bodies, and this too during the
heat of summer. This entry performed an
other important part, being the place where
men and women were daily brought to re-
ceive their lawful allowance at the hands of
the prison Inspector.
A letter was sent to General Winder by the
Colonel, asking the charges against him, and
protesting 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 He de-
MED any knowledge of the matter, and coolly
asked to know the charges.
He was released | know not how, or won't
say, and placed among US. This officer was
the victim of irresponsible authority and
fendish cruelty as welded by this prison in
spector. While confined in the cell, the Col.
onel asked in writing twice for Bible, but
no notice was taken of the request. One Off
Ger taken at Gettysburg, was slapped in the
face by this inspector, for saying that he
thought he had no right to take from him a
small fragment of shell which he had in his
pocket as a relic.
There are also there about one hundred
free negroes from the North, officers servants
rom the army and navy One of the many
nights spent in Libby prison is deeply engrav-
ed upon my mind. A free negro of Philadel-
phia, captured in the navy, nearly white, re-
ceived three hundred and twenty-five lashes
in room Immediately beneath US, his loud
cries and pleadings penetrating every part of
the building, as blow followed blow. He was
then wrapped in blanket saturated with salt
water, and cast into one of the dungeons for
a month or more. Such scenes and cries
were frequent Those of our number who