The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1863-08-14
From the Richmond Enquirer.
Fort Delaware.

i On Sunday last we went through all the sis
; hospitals of Petersburg-very excellent insti-
tutions of the kind, admirably kept and at
tended. They were crowded with the sick
and wounded soldiers who had arrived on Sa
} turday from Fort Delaware by the flag of truce
boat They had been selected, as we said
yesterday, as the most hopeless cases of sick
and wounded, and, of course, our commission
err sent.in exchange prisoners in similar con-
dition.
Nine; of those who were shipped at Fort De-
laware for City Point died before they arrived
at Petersburg. More are by this time relieved
of their tortures by death. Very many Of them
were in such extremity that to move them at
all was simply to murder them. By far the
greater number were chosen because of the
manifest improbability Of their ever bearing
arms again.
4 We do not dwell upon these facts by way of
! complaint or remonstrance; the time is long
mast for that. We have to do with a people
! who trampie under their feet every conside-
ration of GOOD faith, as well as of common hui
manity: ana as the President has stated in
his address to the soldiers, the rulers of that
people ..refuse even to coufer on the subject
! of putting an end to outrages which disgrace
our age, or to listen to a suggestion Tor con.
Quoting the war according to the nsages of
ciyilization." Of course they refuse, and we
might have known all along that they would
refuse. Remedy, there is none, unless we can
retaliate in kind, and make them suffer as
much as they inaict
But the reason why we again refer to these
prisoners from Fort Delaware, is that our sol
diers NAV understand to what misery they
doom themselves bv surrendering themselves
prisoners to our enemies. They ought to know
this beforehand, and ponder on it. We have
conyersed with many Of these poor dying sol
diers, and learned the conditions of the horri-
BILE place from whence they have just come.
Fort Delaware occupies marshy island in
the river below Philadelphia. 1t contains at
present from eight to nine thousand Confede-
rate prisoners; and is, for a month or two
past continually kept oyercrowded. The soil
is soft and marshy: there is no provision for
cleanliness; and the prisoners are always an
kle-deep in the most abominable filth. For
water the fort depends on the rain, which is
caught and conducted into tanks, which are
ALWAYS in foul state. Sometimes, an addi-
tional supply of muddy water is brought in
water boats from the Brandywine creek; but
the water is kept and used in so careless a.
way that it is totally unfit for drinking, or for
cooking; and cannot be touched without dis
gust. On this account the unfortunate cap
tiyes, scorched by thirst and perhaps by fever,
! are fain to drink very often the water of the
Delaware itself, when the tide is out though
| even then it il salt.
The discipline Is extremely harsh and in
tended to be humliating; and the slightest
disobedience of orders, or irregularity, is pun
ished on the spot by bullet.
In consequence of the overcrowding, the
nauseous water and want of cleanliness, and
of all means of cleanliness, at this season of
| the year especially, cannot be doubtful Di
arrhoea, dysentery and fever rapidly thin the
| devoted ranks; but as it is the most unwhole-
some of all the Yankee prisons, and therefore,
fttest for their purpose, it is always kept full,
| inso1nuch that the Flag of Truce Boat may al
ways hereafter be expected to come freighted
with dying wretches from Fort Delaware,
whose PLACE will be Immediately filled up with
an equivalent number from other prisons
1t is thus our enemy prepares his prisoners
for exchange.
The wasted and writing shadows of men,
now lying on the clean white beds in those
airy hospitals of Petersburg, happy to find
1 themselves once more among friends, cannot
speak of their cruel experiences at Fort Dele
ware, without strong shudder and sup
[ pressed imprecation. Many Of them, on en-
! tering that foul den, had been in good health;
many others very slightly wounded; but they
unanimously declare, that no man, however
healthy, can endure imprisonment there long.
without being attacked by some dreadful
disease The deaths, which are very nu-
merous, attract no attention.; and the impress
! sion upon the mind of our soldiers is, that
the intention of the Yankee Government, in
/ crowding its prisoners into such place, is to
| kill or hopelessly break down, as many OF
| them as possible.
/ Returning from Petersburg, after visiting
the ruins Of our noble soldiers, while you
| pass over the James River. you have a full
view of Belle Isle, our principa! place Of de-
4 tention for Yankee prisoners; d lovely and
picturesque isle, diversified with hill and
lawn, robed in green sward and adorned with
magnificent shade trees; Astounding IN springs
of purest water, and cooled by the constant
current of air which is kept up even IN the
closest weather. by the rushing current OF the
James river all around it--this Belle Isle is
the pleasantest and lovelest spot Of ground
which can be seen around the pleasant city Of
Richmond. It is an island for picnics, for
long summer days .tetes, with dancing on the
green grass, and gentle slumtering IN the shade
Of trees, lnlled by the murmuring river
Here in this island paradise you may see the
long rows of white tents, charming domicile
. at present for fat and lazy Dutchmen. and
/ Yankees who have flung down their arms,
and rushed into our ranks, begging US to re-
ceive their surrender. There they loll at their
ease, or play games on the level ground near
the river Seeing these creatures in such
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