, 1863-02-04
SCENES AT CAMP DOUGLAS,
ConrersationsH with the Prisoners
TIE MESS ROOMS, 1IosPITAL
ETC., ETC.

We paid visit to Camp Douglas yesterday.
The camp ground, as nearly every one knows
In this city, covers alasgc area, md is crowded
with more wooden buildings In the shape Of
hospitals, barracks, and store houses, and
Just now With even larger population
thnn many Of our Western cities posscss.
We were introduced first Of all to the Con
erals Headquarters, md found the General
himself a very humane and intelligent gentle
man; ample proofs Of which transpired be-
fore VIC took our leave. lie was sitting at bis
desk as We entered, amidst pile Of official pa
pcrs, and received us with suayity and kind
ness. When our object wns made known to
him, he offered every assistance In his power
and politely requested his Adjutant to con-
duct us through the camp, and rurnieA us
with every information which VIC might re-
quirc.
Whilst be was speaking, prisoner who de-
sired to spenk with him was ushercd futo the
room; and wc wcrn about to retire,
when the General invited us to re-
main and hear what the man had to
say. He was probably about forty. NE yca:-
Of age, but was go cmaciated that it was diff
b,
age really was. His face was as gli,stly as
that Of corpse, and the terror * it was
heightened by the contrast which stlH-yliug
black beard flung over Its aincaulcnts. The
forehead WIS high ard broad, but rctrcatlag,
and his Eunken eyes wcro b1ack, but !.stre.
less. He wore ! sort Of cape CLOAK. Incl
with rusty rcd, and almost 4hrcadbare. His
pants, which we're tight; aud fitted him like
second skin, were of the grcasiest desesiptlon-
His shirt was Of the dirtiest and two or three
small keys and other trihes were suspended
from his neck He had on1y onf 9oe1; sI;nnar aap
We have been thus precise In enunerating
This nerbon's wearing gear, because hc turned
nr1f fn he better dressed than nine-tenths Of
the prisoners in camp.
"Well,'' eaid the General. kindly, s.what Is
It you would say to me?" He replied in
mild and subdued voice, that he was very
anxious 10 take the oath Of allegiance and re-
turn to his friends. "Is there any chance for
me, Gcncrals' he added and the reply WAS
that no answer could be givca to him at pres
cnt. "Bnt could not be set at liberty on
parole :" be Inquired, with look Of great
anxiety; and the General gnye him the same
reply, which he had given him Just before
The man looked terribly woe-begone at this
destruction of his hopes; and then asked per
mission to say something about the prison
Joindcr. ~ want ali the prisoners to be kept
warm, and we'll fed, and treated as kindly as
Is consistent With military discipline: Let me
p]aint," he replied, (which or any Of the
boys can make, is that We are without blank
cts, and that we are not allowed sufficient
fuel. Ne hare plenty to cat, and good coffee
GERS, but VIC suffe1 from cold"
VERY WELL" said the General, Il will sec
to these matters personally, and have already
done NIL can at present, to obtain blankets
for the men. You will have them soon, and
will see that you have plenty Of fuel"
camp, a nntiyc Of West Tennessee. He Was
very respectful, and seemed broken down in
pluck and heart. We nsked him whether he
Joined the Southern army Of his own free
will, or whether lie was forced into the ranks.
He was not exactly forced, he said, but the
bis enlistment was almost an net Of compul-
sion; and he said that more than half the
Confederate army was raised in this manner.
We asked him whether the mass Of the South
ern soldiery were really aware for what they
were called upon to tight. He replied, "Very
few ofthem THE neEspape1s aud dcmagogues
had crammed them with the most atrocfous lies
about the policy and objects Of President Lin
coin, and the feeling Of the North towards the
South. We were told" he said, ssthat you
wnnted to conquer us, and turn nil our slaves
sadrift, and encourage them TO deeds Of dread
full inhunanit ity-torapc and murder, and fire,
and these statements deceived the people,
WHO knew no better than they we're told, and
they enlisted to fight the North, US their dead
hest and most implacable cnemy.''
Well" Eafd nc, Do you find the North
ern men such monsters as they were repre-
MO- be replied, stand If it were possible
for tho real truth to bc made known to the
Southern army, there would be IN outburst
| there which neither JEFF. Davis nor Beaurc.
gard could put down in hurry"
| Now this short dialogue is not reported in
the exact words which the prisoner used, but
the spirit and nth Of it arc truthful render.
ipgs.
| As tue man rose to depart, Colonel G. H
! Cln1k, Of the 9th Iowa regiment; was an
nounccd and tho General introduced him
He is q tall, stalwatt, handsome man, aud las
fought III several battles. lie was at Pitts
burg Landing, and looks rs il the indomitabl
courage and battle-ynlor+of old Thor himsel
: were dormant in his hc:It and sineW6. Til
Is the officer who brought the last prisoner
to Chicago, and We subsequently saw his regi
ment leave the Camp for st. Louis, exrectin,
10 be sent to Gen. stcelc's division, at Vlcks
burg.
| Both tho officers and priratcs belonging t
the Union army. in camp, gave. vent to th
strongest dcnunciations Of the Chicago Times
which was characterized By one cxcecdingl,
intelligent person rs "sink and
Government, and aid TIC secessionists t,
bring confusion and ruin upon the Republic
"Be sure continued he, 1'that the traitor
ous articles Of tho Times meet with no sympa
thy from the army; only ite deepest loath1n;
and abhoHenee.' A gentleman who VA
sanding by and heard this speech said to us
II nm Democrat, and have always voted til
straight Democratic ticket; but I do not re
cognize the Times rs representative Of Dr.
moctacy. believe it Is the wickedcst slice
published in the States; and no other than
strong Government, confident Of the atfectio
and secure in the support Of the people, conl
afford to tolerate it. Sand this, my opinion,
he added, sis backed by great majority
Democrats through tue State and the West.
Nc passed out Of the Office to IN aule-roo1
where half dozen Southcrners, wrapped
Southern blankets, were crouching over th
store. These men were also 1csiruus of tai
ing the oath Of allegiance, and said there WEI
fourteen out Of their squad who were ready
, | do the same. As we walked over the grount
, the General told us there were more than
hundred Of fthc prisoners who were waiting
9 nf TsRs 9st Or ocs to gss ths1 par r"r ri
+ physician Of tho camp, and as we walked t.
wards one of the mess rooms. the Iog
c regiment was marching out The basEa.
i | wagons were being loaded with trunks nj
e cloaks, and the usual impedlmenta Of q
!. army. Officers were hurrying to and fro, n,
: the seutinels continued their lonely ronud
The camp WAS dry and tolcrab1y clean, nj
). | there was nn air Of hustle and activity or
= the whole scene. We found the mess room
and cur account Of this must stand for Il
T. whole-not very comfortable, and 4 scrap
Ii and broom would have improved the foe
4 Some tlirty prisoners we're ranged around Il
J. fire, or its immediate neighborhood, and tv
Of then, were experimenting the cooking
; tho mess, which consists Of SIX
). men. Piles of hams and beef al
a bread loaded one end Of the 10,
- Tine tables, which reached from one end
tho room to the other; tin enps, cooking po
and pans were also there, and the smell
it the reeking yiands was particularly inri,in
r But the men! What a tqualid, worn on
;, sick1y batch Of human beings they WERE
clad, dirty, covered with yerrnin, and many
:, them much out Of health. We were pain,
y TO find 60 much ignorance, amounting to
almost absolute barbaris1n. Amongst tho
l. persons capable Of conyersing at a
r. and the rest stood round It's and thcs
;. with vacant stare, and mouths open, wca
ing an aspect Of appalling Ignorance.
We asked ono Of them what he thought
II The late act authorizing n0,0oo negroes to |
e organized as ,nilitarI, force, and otaccred
:, think of white officers who would lead :
IT army Of negroes against white men. ~ :
could whip whole regiment Of ntggers
said tue other man. But you have no bu
n ness to make soldiers Of niggers.' 'W
r army Of 500, COO Indians and hurl them again
re us-do you not think they would do 1t, d
n fell that they bad the right because they h
- the pc wcr-s L. had never struck him in tt
II light, and he acknowledged that probably til
= Ne Visited the hospital, where some twen
ID lay SICK on conehes, mostly suffering fto
| IT. -.