Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1863-11-21
Our Starved Soldiers.

A visitor at the Hospitals at Annapolis, de
scribes the forlorn condition Of our soldiers and
the suffering, privation and wrong to which
they have been subjected by the rebels feuds
at Richmond, and the terrible consequences Of
that suffering. 1t seems US if their recital
might move even the sympathies of copper
head. The release from Richmond was on the
goth ultimo.
The men landed at A. NJ, in the chilly
dawn, and it seemed fitting time for 30
mournfu a procession. They numbered
lS0 men, brought from Belle Island, near
Richmond. Many were unable to walk,
aud we're carried to the hospital. Those
that could walk must have presented u
sight never to be forgotten; for, before
leaving the rebels not only stripped them
of socks, shoes and blankets, but took from
them their shirts aud pantaloonS except
where the rags could scarcelyhold tog ether
Men came without hats or caps, with th' n
cotton drawers, and bodies barred 10 tie apdist
their nakedness aud bleeding feet covered
, ouly by what tatters their cruel captors
had left them, not from mercy, but because
they were too filthy 10 keep. These men
had been on Belle Island (Which seems to
be barren wastel without any protection
against the weather, except what they had
themselves constructed They had lain on
| the sand, which was to them boh bed and
covering, exposed, both sick and well, to
all extremes of heat and cold, witbOIt
clothes, without food, (txcept small por.
tions of the most repulsive. kinds, for weeks
and months, many having been taken pris-
oners at or before the battle of Gettysburg.
Many were suffering from what are called
sand sores, and the surgeons 10 vain at
tempted 10 produce general circulation Of
blood. the cuticle in many instances seem
ingly dried on tha bone from exposure, and
nearly the color aud consistency of parch-
ment.
On entering the frst room, some sick
men, sitting in silence near the FIRE lifted
their hands 10 show US, that with US was
entering the unseen, but not unexpected
Visitor-death Before US 10y Young man
ust breathing his last, mere skeleton,
whose dying throes seemed 10 place in
stronger relief frame which must once
have belonged toa strong aud vigorous
life. We turned away in our horror, only
to look upon another who would soon fol.
low bis martyred comrade. Near them
stood two male nurses, who, after witnessing
horrors of oil kinds, both on the battle.
field aud 10 the hospitals, stood perfectly
subdued and heart wrung, in witnessing
that most fearful of all deaths-dsath from
starvation.
10 another room was poor Young boy,
equally squalid in eppearauee, a network
OF bones perfectly crszed aud tossing his
arms about and talking wildly and iudis.
tiuctly; be too could live but few hours,
and most probably never be seen again.
The next patient was O respectable luoking
middle aged German, with the bed clothes
drawn tightly over his head, moaning aud
writhing 10 his agony. My friend begged
me to listen. l could only distinguish
these words:"I am so tired, something to
eat what torment, and then the ejaculation.
Oh, Holy CAris! Then we saw others,
; emacialed to the last degree, several OF
whom were trying to eat-their kind
nurses tempting them with decaces aud
: such feod as they could bear. Some, after
, taking the longed for article aud putting
it to their lips, would turn away with MI
agonized loathing expression, as If eager tc
swallow but incabable Of the effort. Others
after eatiug With fsmshed haste, would
T. after a few moments. eject it all, theiI
stomschs being too much weakened to
, bear nourshment, either solid or liqnid.
Could anything be more fearful than thii
living death--this furnishing with food be
fore their eyes and within their reach
!. There were other patients who were better
4 they could digest light food, aud had som'
hope for life. 1t was thcu the sixth dal