Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-11-27
A Terrible Picture.
Obseroations Of Visitor to the Hospitals
at Annapolis-How Union Men are Treat
ed in Richmond.


Observations Of a Nis.tor to the Hospitala
at tAnndpolis-Hoso Union Men are Treat.
| ed in Richmond.
Correspondence Of tho New York Tribune.
BALTIMORE, Nov. 6.
Three days since went to Annapolis, de-
termined to hear and see for myself if such
things could be in the Nineteenth century
First let me say, am person no longer
young, one who has seen much suffering of
all kinds, in all ranks of life, both in this
country and Europe, and therefore not likely
to exaggerate either from ;nexptr:ence or
first impression. l have also been constant
visitor, for year or more, to the hospitals in
and around Baltimore, witnessing the most
intense suffering among our sick and wound
ed soldiers-enabling me to estimate the
amount both of mental and physical pain
which men are capable of enduring.
On arrival at the hospital at Annapolis, we
found the matron just starting on her tour Of
inspection, and she kindly allowed my friend
and myself to accompany her. Wishing to
prepare US for what we we're to see, she gave
US an account of the arrival of the prisoners
by boat, on the 29th ult. The men landed
at A. NJ, in the chilly dawn, and it seemed
fitting time for so mourn.ul procession.-
They numbered 180 men, brought from Belle
Island, near Richmond. Many were unable
to walk, and were carried to the hospital
Those that could walk must have presented a
sight never to be forgotten for, before leav-
ing, the rebels not only stripped them of
socks, shoes and blankets, but took from
them their shirts and pantaloons, except
where the rags could scarce hold togcther.-
Men came without hats or caps, with thin
cotton drawers, and bodies barred to the
waist-their nakedness and bleeding feet oov-
cred only by what tatters their cruel captors
had left them, not from mercy, but because
they were too filthy to keep. These men had
been on Belle Island, (Which seems to be
barren wasteO without any protection against
the weather, except what they had themselves
constructed. They had lain on the sand,
which was to them both bed and covering,
exposed, both sick and well, to all extremes
of heat and cold, without clothes, without
food, Except small portions of the most re-
pulsive kinds,) for weeks and months, many
having been taken prisoners at or before the
battle of Gettysburg. Many are suffering
from what are called sand-sores, and the sur
geons in vain attempting to produce general
circulation of blood, the cuticle in many in.
stances seemingly dried on the bone from ex-
posure, and nearly the color and consistency
of parchment. If food was denied them, it
would seem as if the veriest barbarian would
have given them shelter to die beneath.
With this preparation we visited the wards.
On entering the first room, some sick men
sitting in silence near the fire, lifted their
hands to show US, that with us was entering
the unseen, but not unexpected visitor
death. Before US lay young man Just
breathing his last, mere skeleton, whose
dying throes seemed to place in stronger re-
lief frame which must once have belonged
to strong and vigorous life. We turned
away in our horror, only to look upon anoth.
er who would soon follow his martyred COM
rade. Near them stood two male nurses,
both on the battle fields and in the hospitals,
stood perfectly subdued and heart.wrung, in
witnessing that most fearful of all Deaths
death from starvation.
In another room was a poor young boy,
equally in appearance, a net work of bones,
perfectly crazed and tossing his arms about
and talking wildly and indistinctly he, too,
could live but few hours, and most proba-
'biy never be sane again. The next patient
was respectable looking middle aged Ger
man, with the bed clothes drawn tightly over
his head, moaning and writhing in his agony.
My friend begged me to listen. I could only
distinguish these words: 81 am SO tired,
something to eat, what torment" and then
the ejaculation, "Oh, Holy Christ r' Then
we saw others, emaciated to the lest degree,
several of whom were trying to eat-their
kind nurses tempting them with delicacies
ard such food as they could bear. Some,
after taking the longed for article and putting
it to their lips, would turn away with an ag-
onized loathing expression, as if eager to
swallow, but incapable of the effort. Others,
after eating with famished haste, would, af-
ter few moments, eject it all, their stomachs
being too much weakened to bear nourish.
ment, either solid or liquid. Could anything
be more fearful than this living death-this
famishing, with food before their eyes and
within their reach. There were other patients
who were better they could digest light food
and had some hope of life. It was then the
sixth day since they came, and out of 180
men, So had died of i'll treatment and actual
starvation. The surgeons said at least two
thirds of the $50 would die, and if any re-
covered it would be with broken constitu-
tons, utterly Incapable of supporting them
selves. Many had died on first arriving, un-
conscious, from their suferings, that they
were among friends and in the land they had
died for. Others were too far gone to say
much, but thankful to feel that they might
die under the old flag and be taken home to
be buried with their kindred.