The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-02-04
Statement of an Exchanged Prisoner.
Lon lhe w..h.lrlon chnnIele.

From the Washington Chronicle,
Mr.. j. Wiser, an old citizen Of this
city, who resides Sol Pennsy lvania,
fully confirms the accounts already made
public in reference 10 the terrible suf-
ferings Of our loyal citizens who are
now dying in the prisons OF Richmond
and Salisbury.
Mr.. Wiser has just returned from an
imprisonment Of fifteen months, a large
portion Of which was passed in Rich
mond. While there he was transferred
to five different tobacco warehouses which
were used IS prisons. There the allow
ance of food was In the morning pint
Of liquid they called "soup" halfa loaf
Of bread; and every other day from an
ounce TO an ounce and half Of meat
In the evening a half loaf Of bread,
and another pint Of soup" They all
slept upon the bare boards, with 40 COW
sring and no clothing, except what they
had upon their backs when taken.-
Some few were fortunate enough to have
little money, or friends, who were al
lowed TO send them clothing, but large
proportion Of them wore their ragged
clothing, unchanged throughout their
imprisonment.
Mr.. Wiser by chance picked up cot,
which prize he enjoyed for about two
weeks, when il was taken from him to DO
used in the hospital as he was told. In
one of the Richmond warehouses for a
short time, the tobacco chewors and
smokers "lived high" In one end OF
the building was stored large quantity
Of the "weed," and only board partition
separated il from the prisoners. A uni
versal demand for the article led TO the
discovery of its locality. Some lucky
fellow happened to possess table knife,
which was soon converted into a saw,
| aud at night q small hole was made, an
entrance effected, and all abundantly
supplied for several days, the place Of en-
trance icing ingeniously concealed from
view. But they did not long enjoy this
their only prison luxury The guards
were mystifsd aud amazed at the pro-
fuse expectorations Of this particular
prison, which led to a scientific research,
and that research led to the hole in the
wall. In June, 1861, Mr.. Wiser, with
several hundred of his fellow prisoners,
was sent to Salisbury, aud there they
were confined in a cOtton-nAill. Their
meat and rice were sent into them by
the quantity, and parcelled out to them
in messes of three or four. They cooked
their meat and rice in an open lot which
was enclosed, adjoining the building
Each man received daily about two oun-
ees Of meat, two spoonsiul of rice, \ tea
spoonful Of salt and ono loaf of bread.
They bad no yeast, and their bread was
genera ly sour.
The long confinement in Richmond be-
gan to tell sadly upon them there. The
rags many had worn unchanged for more
than year filled with vermin, and dis
ease in various FERNS appeared among
them-typhoid fever, erysipeas, inaam-
matory rheumatism, hideous sores and
insanity. As the season advanced their
condition became sti more wretch
ed from the cold The building had
some twenty or mere windows, without
glass, aud with no protection from the
cold November and December night
drafts that, TO the weak and feeble, rem
dered sleep impossible. The pris IN was
alive with vermin, and very many of
the poor inmates were covered with
sores where vsrmin had actua ly eaten
into their bodies The sick and dying
could receive but little attention, for
there was no medicine, and nothing TO
do with. 1t was said that there was a
hospital, where the sick would be taken
if they desired; but they had heard
enough Of that hospital aud the atten-
ton given to the a" Yankees" and most of
the sick preferred to remasn with their
friends, where they could receive, if
nothing else, kind words and sympathy.
There were some few who kept their
health and spirits to the last, cheering
and encouraging their comrades among
these was Mr.. Wiser. Mr., Wood says
when he went to Salisbury to.elfrct the
exchange Of prisoners he found Mr., V,
was distinguished as one Of the most
unrelenting and determined of all the
Union political prisoners. This is prob
ably the reason he was held 30 long,
The authorities did not relish his tart
responses to their interrOgatories. There
was a Mr.. Pancoat, from Hampshire
SouRty, Virginia who was another Of the
"invincibles" He was a man Of wealth,
and over eighty years Of age. He could
have been released had he taken the oath
Of allegiance. His daughters were per-
mitted to see him, and with tears and
Sntreaties they bssought him TO " take
the oath rather than suffer, and perhaps
die in that horrible place" But their
AffectiOnate appeals did not avail. lie
said il his property, liberty, and even his
life we're TO be sacrificed, it should be
ain the cause Of the Union aud no
other"
Mr.. Wiser thinks he is still in prison
One Of the sAddest cases Of The war
was that Of Mr.. Bishop, who lived in
Fairfax county, near where Mr.. Wiser
was taken. Mr.. Vesser was most re-
spectacle, amiable, and venerable old
gentleman, living in the most retired
manner with his Son, away from the pub
lie roads, and seldom leaving his home.
He was seventy five years of age, and his
sight was considerably impaired lie
was confiding, generous, and hospitabe
Rebel soldiers, under the guise Of Unior
men, partook Of his hospitality, betrayed
his confidence, and he was dragged of
, 10 prison All that was proved against
him was that his face frightened wher
be thought Union soldiers were under
his roof" aud that he said, "Whos'sr yoI
are, u you are hungry, y0u are pelc0me b
pa,take Of my poor fHe, but y you an
Unisa boys, cd b. sss y0u and your cause !
biR 1 am old notv, and young mn must d
the cork" He, with Mr. Wiser, and Sc
veral others in the vicinity Of Draines'
, vile, were taken OF at the same time L
Faiafax Court. House. This was some
time in August, 1861. From FairfAl
Court. House this venerable old man wa'
hurried through the deep mud on foot all