Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-12-04

TIE DEsTITUTIoN or The SoUTH.-1he y
Y. Ere. Posi-. on the authority Of refugees
from the South, for whose responsibility it
vouehes, makes the following statements
In one Of the principal cities Of Mississippi,
for the last y months the Weather families have
suffered almost every privation excepting sctual
starvation. For more than SIX months they have
had no -four; No soap for family washing, except
ing such an imitation Of soft-soap as they could
make themselves; no starch but Of their own
manufacture, extracted from corn meal; and no
means Of lighting their rooms but such tallow
candles as their own ingenuity could produce
from the fat meat bought Of their butcher. In
many, in fact in the great majority Of instances,
the ladies Of the families have been compelled 10
wash their own clothes, because their slaves have
all deserted them; and concurrently with the
privations here specified are scores Of others in
evitably connected with those, and which need
not be particularized for the information Of any
one who knows the multIfarl0us wants and neces-
sites Of housekeeping; and it is altogether e.
sential for the reader note that this is the con-
dition Of the Weather people in the southern
States Any one can see for himself what must
therefore be the plight Of the poorer classes, who
necessarily form the majority Of all communities
condition Of the rebel currency-its value being
about eight cents on the dollar, and every article
of food, as well as every thing that is the sub
jet Of sale and purchase, being exactly proper
toned 10 that yaluauon-and let the most hope
ful OF northern sympsthiLers say how far from
realization Is the prediction Of Mr.. COmmissary-
General Northrop, namely: that E" the rebel ar
my and the rebel people must starve next win
ter, that is to say, the winter just at hand.
WHAI THE REBELS SAY ABOUT PRISONERS
RATIoSs IN RICHMOND.
From the Richmond Examiner, Nov. 2l.1
As the Yankee press and people are just now
drerdfully exercised in regard to the quality and
qusntity Of the food furnished the Yankee pri.
oners, we append the bill Of fare served daily st
the Libby and Castle Thunder. furnished US by
the commandants Of these two posts
At the LIBBY, one pound Of fresh bread or
crackers and half pound of fresh beef 1.-THE fat
ted COW killed daily for their feasting), varied
daily by sweet potatoes and nutritious soup.
The same ration Is also served on Belle Island.
and is the identical food that the lying, vndict-
i've, Puritan chaplains stigmstize as putrid and
unit to eat upon every occasion Of their return
to the North.
Oar greatest regret Is, that the soldiers in Gen.
Lees army are not furnished with the same ration
the Confederate prisoners and several hundred
Yankee deserters and Union men, the rations
consist Of half pound of fresh meat and
half pound Of bread for breakfast, and
for dinner and supper combined half a
pound of bread, with a pint or pint and
half Of excellent soup-cshbage 1.-THE best
we ever saw, turnips and sweet potatoes FORM
ing the ingredients. If prisoners are discomfort
Cd with such fare as we have enumerated, boned I
turkey, pound cake and wine would find them
grumbling still.
The he. general and particular, is given to
the above statement of the Examiner, BY re-
turned Union prisoners of every grade, whose
emaciated forms confirm the truth of their
testimony. As the Richmond papers are fl
led with lies on every other topic, it is no
wonder that they lie on this one also.