The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-12-10
Humanity in the North and south
CONTRACTED.


Ia compliance with this arrangement 95
Union surgeons were released from Lib
6J and other rebel prisons, and one hun
oFed aud twenty rebel surgeons re-
leased from our military prisons. By
an order Of the Secretary Of War, these
released surgeons have = leave Of ab-
sence for twenty days, 10 visit their
homes, when they will all return to TIE
service.
Yesterday we received call from S.
b HaEley, Surgeon Of the S5th Illinois,
(frOm AurOra0 Thomas. L. Msgee, sur
geoa Of the 5lsl Illinois, residence Peo-
ris;) and j. w. Brown, Assistant Sur
geon, I'D Illinois, (rssidence Sparta, H.
linOis,) who were released from Libby
Prison on the oath of November, and
passed through the city yesterday, nome
ward bound
THE TRANSITION.
These gentlemen say that words are
inadequate to convey the impressions up-
on their minds, as they left the barren,
Impoverished and devastated South,
where all is turmoil, dissffection, beggsr-
ly poverty :. Tretehednss s, and in many
cases starvation, and marked the con-
trsst as they passed into the loysi, pros
porous, thrifty North, where business Of
all kinds is brisk in every department
where every avenue Of commerce and
trade is taxed 10 its utmost, and every
body appears busy, prosperous, and hap.
py-confdent in the success Of our arms
ct an early day, in crushing out the re
bellion JOreVsT. The transition was 10
them as from darkness 10 MONDAY sun
Lighter, IS one Of them said there
could be no strong er comparison in the
EDglis language from Libby Prison 10
their homes in The Norihwesi
Their description OF the treatment OF
Union officers and soldiers 10 rebel pris
oRs, fully corrobOrate the most vivid and
heart sickening accounts We have seen
published.
PRISONERS RATIoNs NORTH AND SOUTH
CoMPARED.
These gentlemen We're taken prisoners
st ChickamAuga on the 10th of Ssptem-
Der, and left under guard in charge OF
our wounded men, for two weeks when
they were taken 70 the Libby Prison,
arriving there on the 11th Of October
While on the battle field all they had 10
eat was received under flag of truce by
order Of Gen. ROsecrsns, and for a few
days this supply failed them, they lived
on boiled wheat. While at Raleigh, n
G, and en- route to LIBBY, their ratlons
csnsisled of four Raleigh crackers" per
day. These crackers are made Of pea
foar, water and a little salt, are as hard
as a soft brick, and about the size of a.
ordinary soda c,acker, and weigh ! Il
ounces each, 81 that our men subsisseu
for days upon Ssven ounces Of Raleigh
erackers"-similiar to "hard-tacks" per
"A hours
Ia Libby Prison the regular daily
regulation ra,ions" for Federal officers
consist Of half q pound Of corn bread,
two ounces of meat, and two ounces OF
rice. frequently small, sh'iveIled re
fuse sweet potatoes we're substituted for
the meat. Tue prison,rs sent out for
coffee aud paid for il themselves at the
rate of 50 per pound, for what proved 10
be either rye or rice roasted and ground
We have specimens Of the bareback"
and corn -pOne" before us. The crack
or we have already described as abou'
the size Of an ordinary soda cracker,
aud so hard that 1t cannot be broken
with the teeth. The bread (Of which 2
pieces per day are alloWed) are 3 inches
square, about an inch thick, aud weigh
u lb-making half a pound Of com
bread per day. This mouldy specimen
before Us is as hard as q kiln dried grain
Of corn, and unpalatable TO any one saw
. starving man. These are the rations
to off Sers.
Below we present, in contrast, q list Of
rAtions (as obtained from Maj jr HOsford,
in charge Of the Commissary ID partmeni,
at Camp Douglas, )-sctually issued 70
prisoners Of war daily 81 said camp:
q D pork or bacon, frst quality, and
all inspected.
l b Fresh Beef three times . week,
first quality.
1 d Fresh Corn Meal and superfne
Wheat Flour, divided generally u meal
and u aour.)
10 bs HOminy to each 100 ratiOns.
10 lbs Coffee
IL lbs Tea
Is b Sugar
4 as Vinegar
~ rs AdAmandns Candles to each
100 rstiOns.
Al, Soap to each lOorntiOns.
33<Salt
u Blk Pepper
30 b Potatoes
ar Molassss
These articles are Issued regularly be
tween the hours Of III .. N aud p. u.
10 prisoners, and the commisssry is op
at all times to the inspection Of ihs Com
mandant Of Post aod her fie rs Eg
cry article cOmpiising the rsuOns is IN
speeted and all Inferior or unsOund Grti
cles are rejected.
There is = smsll amount OF Prisoners
Savings" $50 calls5) saved on q article
OF rice beef, &c. Dot The am mt tho
saved is appiop lated for ihe piisole,
benefit. in makiag their quarters cem
Portable and supplying their wants il
various ways.
Our readers can easily contrast the diff
fereDes between the treatment II Ulion
officers and soldiers in southern pnisJEs
and our treatment Of rebel prisoners
The above named Surgeons Assure Us
that there is no doubt about The pFOmpl
receipt Of supplies sent 70 the officers IA
Libby Prison; bat that there il less sys
TEN in the msnsg, ment OF the depart
ment for private soldiers, and IL 10 ques
tionabls whether suppli,s for them would
be sure Of reaching any particair indi
viduals, as they are frequently changed