Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-03-04
gLx ROETHs IN YAYYRgDOH.


Cspajn in the Confederate ssrVss, who hhI lstlly
returned BY hlg of tSoe, ga Beverly, Va, from ihe
A her IN" prison q! Wheeling, Va, where he had
been leld prisoner since August last gives us the
following particulars
The "AlhsL Slm" prison at Wheeling 10 used as q
rIcS tlslS Tor prisoners of al -OonfsdSrAIs
COIierA,S de erters citizens arrested for alleged
disloyally" Yankee soldiers, Yankee dsser.Srs and
convicted criminals, who generally have appended 10
one Of their legs chAil and ball All prisoners tax,
in the Department of Westera Virginia taken o he
Ashensum. They are there examined, and those who
rsfS4s to take the oath of allegiance to ths United
States Government plrOsd but not discharged from
imprisonment and lhsn sent to Camp Chase, Ohio and
tbs oiosrs are sent from there to Johnsons Island
Thsrs are generally from so to $50 prisoners there, all
in the same room.
The Ahe: plm was formerly the Theatre Of the city,
bus has been purchased by the bogus Government Of
Western Virginia FOR Pentsn.iary. The building is
very large and makes comfortable prison.
Captain w. O. Thorpe, the Mil airy Commander at
Wheeling, eISrted himself to make prisoners comfort
able, but he otsn failed in his object on account of
sucaent aud urpsps pied subOrdnases who delight in
seeing the "rebel," suffer-. Captain Thorpe permitted
the ladies Of Wheeling 10 visit ths prison daily TO at
lend the SICK ani bring the needy clothing Toe Sisters
OF St JOsephs (CAiholic) together with many other
kind ladies, have placed the Corfedoracy under the
most gsered obligations to them Every squad Of pris
onsrs that pass through Wheeling well supplied With
every kind of c'Ohing by thess ladies' And they are
also almost daily sending age boxes of clothing to oar
prisoners in Camp Chase, Johnsons Island and other
PAGES. By their kind Illustrations and generous con.
duet they merit the payers aud gratitude OF all chris
tiAn and civilized people,
ClpEii Thorpe, on sceouant Of the clemency and
justice with which be treated cur prisoners aud BY his
granting permission to VIA. the Yankees call "rsJsl
y1pa!issrS" to visit the prisoner was so 6ercely
denounced and msrepsesentel by the mi.creant abO-
ton pOPulAco abou: Wheeling, that he was induced to
retire from his pes ion shout week before our inform
ant LEFT, with the conviction, he expressed it, that
no gent oman could hold the Office" Captain Over, a
Duchmsn. Who had formerly been porter for Esme Of
the Wheeling hOel', now ho'ds bis position. No one
is now permitted to visit the prison to suppy4he wants
Of the prisoners.
Toe guard at the prison is made up of old men from
30 TO rs years Of aga Irish and Datch principally who
picked up about the city, and who, with few ex-
Sspions account Of drunkenness or laziness we're
unable 10 supper. themselves otherwise. The officers
Of this company, with Lieut. Moore as an honorable ex.
cepsiOn very Lttle better. All the blankets which
prisoners take there with them are taken from them
when they lsAve; and any ct them have blue pants
hs Confederate uniformly with them, they are also ia
ken from them, ard when told that they are our uni
form, the officers say must get different uniform
for our soldiers. Toe ratons furnished generally
Of sufficient quantity but inferior quality The beef Ia
equal TO the Riohuond 'mule meat" so much talked
abca. in the North.
Our informant on parole a part Of the time he
spent in YA1keedOm, and during that time visited Gum
berlAnd, Nd, where Gen Kelly the Department Com
mander, has his headquarters. The General treated
b N with kindness and csurtesy. He met in Cumber-
land great many Yankee officers, and among them
the famous DR.. Fucker, who lately escaped from the
Danvills Jail The Yankees assert tina; be permit
ted to escape by the Virginia authorities, but Ruoker
denies that such was the ease He admits that he was
adSd in bis escape but not at the instance Of the au
thOres. Notwithstanding he is with the Yankees and
has taken sides with them, STILL informant thinks, he
would prefer being rsiustAedn Virginia and away from
the Yankees. He regards hmseh as exile, and not
Willrg refugee or traitor to Virginia
As soon as the Yankees find one of eur deserters
within their lines they him, pAcs him in prison.
then administer the oath prescribed by LincOn's Pro-
claDaiOn to HIM, and then, if he viii volunteer in the
Federal army, they assign him to regiment and tend
him 70 is he refuses he is sen. to Camp Chase, Camp
DOuga or some ether military prison. and kept there
until be does volunteer is drafted for The u g. SEQ