The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1863-11-24
The chtta ify

E agrpas a 9
~ tacfrse .asaesr 9
BE dr ml D. rr
visl aliratey ue H
gr.af rs. has born urAej
iAa ra O. esamert oaBa ries
ihs ralmem Sd. purel Union
l.sf IS ge p,sns 3 Richmond
0u llg 21d y OaobsE lso ranl
~ prioast. seu laalsi 81 Aaaapo
D.. soeb spectacle gi lauan mis-.
crs BIAS prabaly never BEEN witness
"a 81 uis c9al4y b lcs.t, never
nnre ,he Iajaa egn Z oa- ear'y bit.
tors. Al il.set $50 men were ii
tiu ast ftsges ~ clml starvation. 4
lsfee portion 81 iban we're unable TO
SSH. and vfrc cauicd 70 Obs ho.pi-
ial Tie rel ofpej % moauful
procession, aha drarsd llien feeble
limb. slosly along Bot hasearl
conferences md exhausted frame.
were uo' he worst features Of this
wrelehed gh None q them lad
covering f,r lhe bead Or feet, and
many 81 them had bui a single gar
mtut Those who had tbet c.otaes
lcd upon lbcm Owed their good for
tune e the fact that their garments
were 50 filthy aid ragged that the
rebels had no desire to possess them
OF these Is0 men, G1y-lhree died IN
ax days from tig date Of their return
--mosi Of them Of actual starvation,
their systems having become, from
long deprivation, tog weak 10 bear
naurishment sufficient 10 sustain life.
AZ least one half Of lltc remainder, 10
the opinion Of the surgeons, can never
recover, and of those who DO live,
some viii be raving maniacs, AID all.
too much shattered IN health and con
stilution 10 be ever ALE 70 support
themselves. And these soldiers upon
wbon cruelty has made such fearful
marks, were prisoners Of war capiur-
cd IN honorable couhji, and Hose
from whom tbs treatment was receive
cd claim 10 be the posscssois Of the
best civilization u the Nineteenth
century, engaged in cause which
challenges the respect, tic admiration,
and lie sympathy, Of al Chrsiendom.
Il appears hat Belle Island, from
which these soldiers came, contains
some 10000 Federal prisoners, IN no
letter condition dian tho.e WHO arri,-
cd at Annapolis. Every day some Of
them die from hunger and exposu e,
and still 10 attempts are made TO bet
ter their condition, or relieve The wants
OF the sick. This rebel prison house
is nothing but barren waste Of sand,
upon which the prisoners sleep with
out led or covering, with no shelter
from tie holempncy Of the weather
except such as they eau erect lorthem
sokes. Sleeping and living upon
these unhealthy sands, they contract
diseases which, without medical treat
mcnt or any amelioration Of THEN
hardships, aided by foul food in small
quantities, soon hurry them TO their
graves. We read, in the history Of
centuries gone BY, Of tie horrors o.
private dungeons in which powerful
Lords took revenge upon their person
nj enemies, bot they arc more than
equaled by the manner in which these
prisoners Of war are treated by the
chiyalrous Soulherner..
But tic treatment d the Union sol
diers, disgrareful as il is, Is surpassed
by The brutality with which the Rich
mond press referred 10 the departure Of
the hundred and eighty victims Of their
cruelty. While these poor wrecks of
humanity were marching half naked
from the wharf 10 tie hospital aud dy-
ing OF starvation by scores, tie Rich
mond public Mss RECALLED With sucl,
delicious bits Of humor as the follow
ing
eThe Yankee Government. under the laws
az civilized warfare and the carel, are enti-
tied to ihess nen, and II they sill Hut take
them. lei tkes tt PIT rhsrs ne cold scsaihcr
and seaaf fare rlH ttta then oai u accor-
daaet VIII tie laE, q Hatpre"
And again;
"From the observations u tie ambulance
cemmitsce, il appears that there was very
IuArkoi ooutrast between the tno SEES Bfpris-
eatrs ,hus crossing gseh other under precise
Il the Ssne circumstances. The Yankees
xerx desg0Rdent, suikk, helgisss, raa pi9ecis
gar men sefe gay, CHEEKY, apa hppfia., and
Sch load cheers snd gaaDiuoas stamping
III cruschee, hailed the land e. Dxie"
and. If possible, Still more acndish
ard malignant.
"Me xuala ASSURE 'h0ss Yankee sglliers
sb.t death Ia ts,e asld werv far it,tqr than