Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-12-01
same, to degree, holds true Of the pris-

same, to degree, holds true Of the pris-
oners in the city.
Ii would be a reasonable estimate to
put the nnmberswh6 are dt subjects for
hospitals, but who are refused admittance,
at five hundred. A Thousand are already
under treatment in three hospitals. andthe
Confederate Surgeons themselves say, that
the number Of. patients is only limited by
the small accommodations provided. Thus
We have over ten per cent. of the whole.
number of prisoners held classed as sick
men who need the most assiduous saldi
skillfll attention. Yet in the essential
matter of rations they. axe reeeiFing moth
ing but corn bread aud sweet potatoes
Meat IL NO longer furnished to any class OF
our prisoners, except to the few officers In
the. Libby hospital, and all sick OF well Of
fioers or prfYates, are now furnithed with q
gyerylpoof article ofcosn bread, in place OF
wheat bread, an unsuitable diet for hOspi:
tai patients, FRUSTRATED with dfsrrhea,
dysentery and fever, 10 say nothing of the
balance of startling instances ofindiyidual
suffering and horrid pictures of death from
iprotracted sickness, and semi starvation
We have had thrust upon our attention.
The fret demand of the poor creatures
from the Island was always for something
to eat-their self respect gone, half clad
aud covered with vermin and filth. Many
| of them are, too, often beyond all reach OF
medical skill. In one instance the ambu-
lauces brought sixteen to the hospitals,
and during the night seven of them died.
Again, eighteen were brought and eleven
of them died in twenty -four hours. At
another time fourteen were admitted, and
In a single day ten of them died. Judging
from what we have ourselves seen and do
know, we ao,not hesitate to say, that nh=-
der q treatment of systemized abuse, me-
elect and semi. starvation, the number who
are becoming pEemALurely broken down 10
their Constitutions, must be reckoned by
thousahds. We leave II for others 70 say
what Is demanded by this state OF things.
The confederate daily papers, in general
terms, acknowledge the truth of all we
have affirmed, but usually close their abus-
i've editorials by declaring that even such
treatment is better than the Invading Yau-
KEGS deserve.
The E1assiner, in a recent article, be-
grudged even the little food the prisoners
did receivs, and the boxes sent from home,
and closed by eulogfsing the system of
seni.staryation and exposure, as well cal
cnlated to dispose of us ali. This is true,
and yet cold weatHer Il hardly Commenced.
We are Mortified when we picture the
Wholesale misery aud death that will come
with the biting frosts of winter.
Recently several hundred prisoners per
day were being removed to Danyille. In
two instances wc were standing in view Of
them as their ranks FLED. pact. It,was,a sad
sight to see the attenuated features and
pallid faces of men, who q few months
since, were robust and 10 vigorous health.
Numbers were without shoes, and nearly
all without blankets or overcoats, and not
a man did we see who was well and fully
clad, but to the credit of the prisoners in
Richmond, of ali ranks be 1t recorded. that
all along they have shown heroic fortltude
under suffering, and spurning the idea that
their Government had torgotted them, they
have held fast their confidence in the final
and speedy success of our cause.
In addition to the above statement, We
wish it to be distinctly understood that the
Confederate medical officers, connected
with the hospitals referred TO, Surgeons
wilkins, Simmons and Sabal, and ,the
Hospital Stewart ballet are not in any
way, SO far as our observation has extend
ed, responsible for the state Of things ex-
listing, there, but, on the other hand, We
are bound in justice to bear testimony to
their Kindness and. faithful performance of
their duties with the limited means at
their disposal. Signed by Daniel Meeken,
Surgeon q. S.iN.; q. u. Sinners, Assistant
Surgeon 9Th Reg,t, Vols.-;i Us. Brown,
Assistant Surgeon llbtha OWL; A. II.
Parker, Assistant Surgeon LIST Maine Cav
airy. &C stii layo els9