The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-11-11
wednesday Morning. November II. 1863
Brutal Treatment OF Union Prisoners in
Richmond.

4*OscnAOSs AAs hCOOs
--------7----------- --
Brutal Treatment OF Union Prisoners in
Richmond.
Rev. George ii. Hammer, Chaplain Of the
Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry, who was re-
Gently released from Libby Prison, furnishes
the Philadelphia Inquirer a long account of
his captivity and of the sufierings of our SOL
ders who iall into the rebel clutch. In refer
ence to their treatment in Libby Prison, he
says:
AMOUNT OF FOOD ALLOWED TO PRISONERS
Do you ask me as to the amount of food re-
ceived daily by each officer? The question
is easily answered. One-fourth pound o: very
tough raw beef and bones, very little over ten
ounces Of bread tvery heavy and souri,, little
rice, and infinitesinal quantities OF salt and
vinegar. This was the amount of rations re-
ceived, though will do the authorities the
justice TO say that 1t was hardly the amount
allowed, the remaining part being appropria-
ted by officials. However small the appetite
of the prisoner, if well he could eat the whole
OF his days ration at one meal, and look
around for more. AT the time of which
speak, the officers were not allowed to pnr-
chase or receive any food but that furnished
by the authorities as the daily ration. The
bread was very unpalatable and unwholesome;
the beef oftentimes tainted, aud sometimes
evidently diseased, as we could see where tu-
mors had been extracted. Ii in lieu of rice
We obtained beans or peas, we received with
them no small quantity of animated life, in
the form of worms, fat and plump.
UNION PRISONERS STARVED TO DEATH.
Many sank under it, and falling away into
living skeletons, were passed over to the hos
pital, in the other end of the building, where
they lived or died as circumstances might de-
clare. 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
stroye TO have them removed to the hospital.
Did they die, their bodies were careiessly
thrown to one side until convenience suited
them to hurry them underground. During
this time the heat was intense, and the suffer-
ing from this cause alone very great Add to
this the fact that from diet and other causes
the prisoners suffered greatly from dysentery,
aggravated 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.
INHUMAN TREATMENT OF OUR MEN.
The treatment received by the officers dur
Jug this trying time was bad and only bad
continually. One seemed to vie with the 9TH
er in their endeavors to annoy us and make
our situation intolerable. Did one under this
debilitating process stretch himself upon the
floor during the day upon his blanket, unless
he had first obtained the consent of the prison
inspector to spread his blanket, and he was
never present when wanted, he was rudely
aroused, his blanket taken from him and car
ried down stairs to be given TO some needy
rebel or placed under the saddle for one Of
these rufiians to ride upon. II by any means
we offended his supreme highness, the COM
mandant, our supply of water was cut off for
half day and night, and this during the suf-
locating weather; or to vary the punishment
and add zest to the regimen, we would be left
without wood for three-fourths of day where
with to cook our food, but then we saved our
rations and had more the next day.
OFFICERS CONFINED IN DUNGEONS.
have seen 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 serious inflamma-
ton of the lungs. At this time it was re-
quired that the officers should perform the
most meni al services connected with the cook
Ing, washing, scrubbing and the cleanliness of
the room Lieutenant Welch, of the STth
Pennsylvania infantry, lay for six weeks in a
dungeon under the building, because as an or
derly sergeant, acting as lieutenant though
not yet mustered in, and of course not recog-
nized as such, he had rightly cassed himself
with the enlisted men. When brought up
among the other officers, his clothes, shoes.
DC, were covered with green mould Lieut..
button, Of the 67th Penn. infantry, has been
doomed TO a dungeon until the close of the
war, and is now suffering therein, for similar
offence, with the additional fact that he as
sumed the name of another. Capt. Litchfeld,
am not certain Of the name) of the 9th
fenn, was confined In a dungeon for five or
eignt DAYS. on bread aud water, for forming a
plan OF escape, which was frustrated
Colonel Powell, l think, of the 18th Virgin
ia Union cavalry, wounded severely in The
back from window in Witheville and left be-
hind, was carried to Richmond and placed in
the hospital. A few days after, one of the
Richmond papers rallied out against him in a
most brutal manner, and suggested that he be
executed. The same Prison Inspector en-
tered the hospital, and without the knowledge
OF the rebel surgeons, ordered him to get M
from his bed and follow him. He was placed
In one OF the dungeons spoken Of, and upon
asking what were the charges against him
was answered, "God - you, you will soon
hnd OUT. Here, with ball in his back, he
remained five weeks and four days, part of
the time without blanket, rarely receiving
withheld.
A guard was stationed constantly at the
door of his cell to prevent either escane or
communication with others. While confined
there the entry way was frequently blocked
up with dead bodies, remaining there several
days, and this during the heat of summer
This entry performed another important part
being the place where men and women were
daily brought to receive their lawful allowance
of lashes at the hands of the Prison Inspector
letter was sent to Gen. Winder BY The
Colonel, asking the charges against him, ant
protesting against his treatment. He deniet
any knowledge of the matter, and suggested
that perhaps Gen. Jones was acquainted will
the facts. He also denied any knowledge o
the matter, and coolly asked to know th,