Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1863-12-31

ma soon nunted up our Boys VINO were
hid in the bfnsh. He put them in his cart
aud fastened the cover down carefully and
closely so that nobody could see what was
inside. and took them down the road to-
wards Williamsburg where our troops
were stationed. When he had driven
them as far as be could, safely. he told
them where to 60, and low, and at two
o'clock tina. night they were received by
orr pickets at Williamsburg safe and,
whole. 1t was bold and dangerous trip,
but it was made without single accident,
or even delay that could be considered
dangerous. From Richmond !. TO Will
iamsburg as the prisoners travelled it. was
about seventy-three miles. aud they made
il from 10 o'clock on Friday night. the
llth to Tuesday night at2 o'clock. q.
In regard to the. feelings and condition
of the people. Capt. anderson says he had
abundant opportunities to form correct
opinion. and ho is satisfied that nobody.
or very few, has any hope Of the success OF
the repetition. Nearly all. citizens and
soldiers, speak OF it as a failure, and ap-
pear TO base all their calculations for the
future on that view Of the result Not on
ly in direct discussions, but in their indi-
rect illusions, they speak of the rebellion
as hopeless. 1t seems to be ground into
their hearts and to stick to them as an ac-
cepted fact about which there can be no
dispute. Still there are very few who
insist that the rebellion will succeed. but
they are too few, and speak now with too
little authority to affect the general opin.
ioH to any visible extent. The condition
Of the people Capt. A. says. we learn bat
family from the reports in the rebel pa
pers. Prices are not correctly published.
and these quiet expressions which drop
out of mans heart in the agony of fear
or despair cannot get to the public ear
On the day before he left Richmond the
rebels were paying freely t,oenty four Con
federate" for one "greenback" dollar :
Flour quoted at $50 barrel could not be
bought for less than 1920. The guards Of
The prison. composed almost entirely OF
conscripted citizens Of Richmond, said re-
peatedly that their "families were starv-
ing" that they got nothing from the gov
eminent. and could do nothing in any 9TH
err business. and they did not know what
would become OF them. Starvation seem
ed to be the general dread. and the people
longed for the triumph of the Government.
which had row become sort Of fact with
them. that their sufferings might be soon
over. Our prisoners, Capt. Anderson
says. are usually fell as well as the rebels
have means to feed them. but are frequently
treated with gross and needless cruelty =
The statement published in the telegraphic
report from Baltimore, of what he said
there, was incorrect in so far as it alledged
that there had been great deal of exag-
ton Of our men. There has been but lit
tie exaggeration. The food is bal scanty
and disgusting. Often there is no meat at
all, and never enough. This is the case
with the officers in Libby. 1t is still worse
with the privates on Belle Island. Their
food is not only meager. rare and bad. but
they have no other personal comforts to
compensate for the want of it. or make its
absence tell with less damaging force on
the system. The whole Island is alive with
vermin. and the men who could easily,
and would gladly keep themselves clean.
by bathing in the river which runs within
few yards Of the camp. are never allowed
to approach the water at any time. upon
any pretext. Nothing would be easier or
safer. for escape is almost impossible. but
it is not allowed. The result is that the
very sand Of the shore is thckened with
vermin. Men die, and on the sheet from
which their dead bodies are lifted. a quart
Of lice can be scraped. Aud in this hor-
rible filth. with poor food. and bnt little Of
it. our noble soldiers have to live. and too
often. die. There are still, though the
recent donations from home have supplied
nearly all with clothing and necessary
comforts, about fifteen hundred men who
have no tents, aud no shelter from rain,
sleet. snow or cold. Rain or shine. sick
or we'll. they have to take the weather as
God tempers it to them. Our Indiana
men. through Governor Morton's ceaseless
watchfullness. have all that, as prisoners,
they conld expect or would be allowed to
use. At City Point Capt. Anderson met
Mr.. Moniort, our Agent, who said he had
shelter tents enough for all the Indiana
men, and had been promised by MIR. Ould
that he should go to Richmond and dis
tribnte them. and by this time it is presum-
ed that ell have reached their destination.
The food and clothing sent down were
very faithfully distributed by the rebel
authorities. so far as Capt. A. has any
knowledge. What was sent to him was
given to him entire. and in as good condi-
ton as possible. and be presumss, very
naturally, that others were treated as fairly
as he.
The rebel forces in Richmond. and
around there. as far ont as the Chicka-
hominy. do not exceed 5000 men. and
they are chiefly Home Guards from the
city and vicinity. II cavalry raid like
Kilpatrick's should occur again. or any
event that would draw off the prison guard
for an hour. Captain a. says that the
prisoners would make themselves masters
of the city easily. Arms and ammunition
can be obtained. and once at liberty. moth.
ing less than stripping Lee would provide
force to put them down. The rebels fear
this constantly. and have lately, since the
discovery Of plot to liberate the prisoners.
trebled the guard. Mobs and perils from
mob violence are frequent in Richmond
Capt. A. says he has seen artillery stationed
in the street several times since he was 3