Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-11-28

when his coffee was brought to him, and
he was lifsed so that the fragrant cup
might reach his lips, broke out "How are
you, Java? You put me in mind Of how
l love Georgian" Still another, recog-
nizing an old friend across the cabin, cried
out: "I say, Jim, what dye think when ye
saw the old flag {" ~ didn't think, only
hollered, was The response. And another.
answering the same question, said, in his
weak and quiet voice, II thought 1 was in
Paradise, and couldn't aay word.
A correspondent of the Times thus des-
cribes the exchange, and the scene follow
ing:
As l have informed you in q former let
ter, the rendezvous for the exchanges is at
Venus Point, on the Savannah river,
bend of the stream whence the spires and
many Of the houses of the city of Saw
annsh are visible. Our boats are invaris-
bly the first at the rendezvous, anchored
in mid.river awaiting the rebel vessels,
whose tardiness proceeds from the fact that
it is only at the proper tide certain OBJ
structions of the channel above can be
crossed. Finally they appear over the low
marshes, belching their tuTgid clouds OF
dense black smoke, and in half an hour
their uncouth, grotesque, towering shapes
are putting and Rheezing near US. Col
Mulford Immediately goes in yawl boat
to the Gen. Beauregsrd, q small steamer
used by Captain Hatch, the rebel agent, as
the flagship of his transport squadron, and
after few moments consultation, during
which the rolls of the prisoners are trans
ferred, the two agents go together on board
oF Il, obf lod h,
released men, and she is at once laid along
side neat Union vessel, and the poor fel-
lows are transhipped.
Those of them who are able to move
without aid pass to to the protection Of the
old flag first then come those (slas there
are many of this class who hobOle on
crutches, and last the few whose helpless
ness requires that they should be carried
on stretchers. In all this operation the
| greatest formaIity is observed. A number
of rebel civilians, with cards around their
| hats, labelled Committee for the wound
ed," whose position corresponds with our
| own Sanitary Commission, accompany the
| boats from Savannah to attend on the
sick. and assist in the trsnshipment, but
/ seldom on either side is q word spoken ex-
cept on the subject Of the matter in hand.
A different course is forbidden, and it on
either side there happen to be disposi-
tion to engage in conversation, watchful
guards step up and ask that the conver-
| sation shall cease.
1t is no uncommon thing to see man
who has been so crippled by scrofuls that
crutches were necessary to his locOmotlon,
under the influence of MS ecstacy at again
being free, spurn from him his artificial
supports and walk, for time as erect and
and as instantsneously as he whom the
Savioar mirsculously cured by the heal
ing waters of Bethesda.
| When the rebel boat moves on and the
men are huddled together on the decks of
eur own vessels, all fully understand that
the last link which bound them TO rebel
dom has heen severed then rises hearty
shouting and cheering, which cnly can be
given under these circumstances. There
is the music of intense grstefulness in it.
Three cheers and tiger Tor the old flag I;
three more and tiger for Colonel Null
ford then comes burst Of song, most of
ten the words being Rail !. round the flag,
boys, from near from far, Gown with the
traitor and up with the stsr," and the rab-
els still within hearing, probably gnashing
their teeth at the pointed personal ALA
sion, but everybody else feeling that the
bad taste of the habpy fellows is excussble,
even though exhibited under the sacred
folds of flag of truce. Then vermin-in-
tested rags, till now highly priEed as the
only cover for nskedness are rudely torn
off and flung into the water or cast with
glee into the flaming furnaces of the stea-
mers, and new clothes arG issued, and q
general cleaning time inaugurated. But
the bathing has long been needed, and
scarcely comes soon enough.
Many of the men, through Illness or
earslessness, are so begrimed with flth
that were it not for the dead color of the
blaeked epidermis, trey might be taken for
the sons of Ham.
The steamer Eliza Hancox, one Of the
exchange feet has 8 spacious deck, afford
ing room for dancing, and Terpsichore
finds her votaries, even though they are
tstterdemslions, who 1anoe not ungrace-
fully in their streaming rags. As soon as
possible barrels Of hot coffee are prepared,
and hams are cooked, ard boxes of hard
bread opened, for the rsfreshment of these
men, to whom decent food has been for a
| long time unknown. It is touching sight
to see them, each with his quart can, file
by the steaming coffee barrel and receive
the refreshing draughtwhose taste has long
been unfamiliar It seems scarcely posi-
bic thst men should feel such childish Joy
I as they express in once more receiving this
/ common stinulant. And then, the hugry
glare which their CLASSY eyes cast uponthe
chunks of han, ssS they clutch and devour
their allowan ce With aiwolf-ike sViditylbs
These facts can only be understood by
the spectator In Terlemb bering that for
months they have been deprived Of suf1-
cient quantity of palatsble food, and that
the little they have received has been rare
! " cooked, because in country abounding
! with fuel, and gloomy with immense pine
forests, their jailors forbade them the poor
privilege of adequate fires AT the prison
pen near Millen, Georgia, for some weeks
! there has been no meal or -four given to
the prisoners, and the sweet potatoes issued
in lieu thereof, have been eaten raw, be-
cause there was no opportunity of getting
fuel for cooking purposes.
Such is the condition of the men whom
we are now receiving out Of chivalrous
Dixie. These the sons, brothers, husbands
and fathers of the North. Men reduced to
! living Skeletons men almost naked; shoe
less men, shirtless men, hatless 1aen; men
with no other garment than an overcost;
men whose skins are blackened with dirt
and hang on their protruding bones loosely
as bark on a tree; men whose very presence
is simply disgusting, exhsling an odor so
l-0~4l, rF go