Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-04-29
CLEARFIELD. Pa WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1863
BARBARITY OF THE REBELS.

| bAhbARlTY OF THE REBELS.
There have been many denials on the par
of sympathIzers with the rebels that the,
have manifested any unusual barbarity toward
loyal men who have fallen into their hapd
elther by arrest or as prisoners of war
| Unfortunately for the credit of the insurgen,.
/ these denials have been made in the face o.
| the most irretragable evidence continually
formulating. Citizens of unqucstioned hon
| or and vcracity have published narratives OF
thelr personal sutlerings at the hands of South.
ern rebels, and no responsible person has ever
| contradIcted their statement. Thay have beer
| guilty OF atrocities and blrbarities at which
| even savages might revolt, and which have no
parallel In history of civilized nations. and
when the veil is lifted as in process of time
1t most assuredly will be, from the horrible
crueities that have been practiced in Southern
states since the rebellion comm enced their per
petrators will receive what they pre- eminent
iysdeserve, the bitter scorn and execration of
the whole civilized world. Their treatment
OF prisoners of war has been Infamous. the
latest development on that subject being made
by the prisoners who have lately returned to
ashington, who We're part of the military
expedition despatched last year by the late
Gen. Mitchell to destroy the rebel commun j.
cations on the Georgia State Railroad. These
men were subjected to thorough examination
by Judge Advocate Holt, and the facts djscIos.
ed by them are enough to make one blush that
their captors and tormentors were countrymer.
Their capture was effected by hunting them
down with bioodhoundS. When captured, one
OF them, yet but eighteen years of age. was
immediately stripped and logged to the ex-
tent of more than a hundred lashes. the tor.
ture being employed to make him bet1ay
the secrets and objects of the expedition in
which he was engaged.
Rebel officers robbed the prisoners of all
their money, ,and then thrust them into negro
jail, hlthy and loathsome beyond description.
he prisoners were twenty-five in number.
The only entrance to the place was trap
door, through this spoiled food was lowered
TO them in a bucket Part had to stand while
others slept, and the heat was so oppressive
that they had to strip themselves naked to |
endure 1t Here they were kept for three |
weeks, bound together with chains around !
their necks, and handcuficd, their leader hav !
ing in the meantime been hung. Subsequently,.
seven others were hung under circumstances
OF most revolving barbarity. The suferings of
the remainder through the winterwere terrible.
But the record of their treatment is too re-
7olt ing for minuter statement. Ii was but
repetition, however, of iiendfsh cruelties and
atrocities to which Union citizens and soldiers
nave been subjected in.the rebel States since
he rebellion broke out. And yei il is towards
nen OF such natures that the hearts of some
Americans and some foreigners yearn with
1t is with reference to such bar.
'aric cruelties that Northern sympathizers
'th the rebellion can keep unbroken silence,
'hIfe they are loud in their denuncations of
he Government if a known traitor is tempo
arIiy incarcerated in clean and wholesome
uarters, with a supply of all the necessaries
nd many OF the comforts OF life. ,
A. rebel must not be punished his property I
iust not De confiscated and he must be treat 6
with the most ssdistinguished considera- {
on," or loud are the denuncations against q
he President and his minions.' But Union /
'ldier may be stripped and tortured !; all his k
omrads robbed and then thrust INF a iail worse b
ian the Black Hole Of Calcutta notoriety. t
anacled and chained like runaway horses or d
aves, hung without hour for prayer or re- S
'ction, and be the subjects OF the grossest fl
roclties, but not word of condemnation b
we the Northern sympathizers with the re- C
llion for such barbarities. And yet they call il
emselves patriotic. Thank Heaven such II
triots in the loyal States are few and far p
tween. d