New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-01-13
Description of Rebel Prison by "a Rebel.

Description OF IN kteDct FCSou ny hsD'A
A correspondent of The Raleigh, On. c. Stand
ard gives the following account of the manner in which
the military prison at Weldon is mauaged
Mr. EDITOR. I see some one makes suggestion
through Your paper that an agent be appointed 70 sf
military prisons and ascertain the condition ana treat
Inent of the prisoners North CaronaDs there confined
and report Tie 10 the Governor or Legislature &c
This Is certainly most udicous. useful sld approp
arc suggestion and hope win at receive prop
attention from the Legislature. Probably IL Is I'M
practicable for the Legislature to mako any ia pertain
ing to the discipline and treatment o. Confederate
troops just now, but il is only desired .ta the la" ak.
ing power of the State u North Carolina look into the
treatment OF her citizens. 10 the end that justice proper
redress and the good Of the seric nsy be secured
This agent should he who dnis appreciates q
Wholesome aid lawil exercise Of discipline among
troops. and also knows the rights of private
soldiers. and would under I'll circumstances, do every
thing possible 10 give Justice and lair and speedy
trial all North Carolina prisoners. lie Legislature
should authorize this agent 10 ascertain and report on
the Of all prisoners thus confined in North Caro-
lima, and OF all North Carolsns confined elsewhere IN
the Coniederaoy.
Much Of the duty Of Ibis agent would depend tie
courtesy aud discretion VI Confederate military suthorI.
ties President Davis would. think readily order all
tbs necessary facilities and privileges extended to this
agent 1t would be proper 10 cont nue him year or
more as may b. thought necessary. This measure j.
entirely practicable. and more wse; humane. and
necessity mission could hardly be provided by the Leg
sleur. There are e inis moment oYfr one Thousand
citizens Of the State confined within the Limits Of The
Stale. under guard AMI Niihofi frltl
Some of these men know t. have be- iGas confined
nearly months and have never bad any trin and %
not know the charges against thes Some 81 these pris
oners subjected TO the most cruel mi inhnDan
tiea. INT b. the military cora3nGerin chprge ut then
familiar witlthe management OF the mill Try
prison 40 Weldon. under charge of Gen NJ. VI Ran
som. The military prison a, Weldon J. ioS M. sx-
teen ty twenty fse one small door j. the or bp.n
and tie cracks and chinks aIs stopped tight th el'y
ond tLer- is chimney al one end Ia this zoe, ,o.
and tfy persons Of AL classes end arer. are sp con
fanl ~ sfsfl
or two have change OF clothes Al have TO sand in
nile this hut ths Whole time.
From morning iii night .ni from MS II iu morning,
thess mon are crsinm.d anu pJci tog-fer IL lice and
6lth, wth nefier tc and thus thev have
been tor weeks ant mobl-s They ~. not allowed 10
set newsI pele 10 write letters or have any comruui
cation whsfeyer with the outside world. III they az
temut 10 do so lilo guard is ordered 10 shoot them.
Tbey arc half gatiols that IL, ls Of the raohs
given 10 troops IN the held
These prisoners got one half pound Of bee, or ore
fourth pound Of bacon for two dsys and from four 10
soyen crackers day. This is absolutely oil shey are
sowsd to have, ana they prohibited r0l buying OF
getting anything sss 70 cat whatever The beef mr.
hished them IL sometimes rotor carbon and very often
the crackers igll o! worins, cobwohs AID no.dy
Many " these starving an1 becoming weak and
lean hon continual hnagsr Ibe. often eat up al The
m0ssel allowed them AZ tune, and 20 sLogt rwu
dsye--fli next draw day.
4hs guard arc ssh.sef =, ss.ae rstS,i.,r II he,
allow ne prisoners nouthul ear. except what Il
dynxr frln the commissary These prisoners are not
slows 10 wash Themselves their clothes or get their
clothes washed They are not allowed 70 speak 10 say
person on'sdc under any circumstances unless rer-
nit BE- gwen by the Msshai TO yist rae guard
house Very few are allowed 10 visit tie prisoners
hardly eye en- the council employed Sc theiT casc.
While their way 90 the court martial rom m Wei
dol they must not speak to their wies or friend, on
renalty of being bssOne'ed shot down on tic spVt.
They are not allowed 20 vote 20 tho State ele.ons and
are made 10 do all species 81 labor coifnusly-to
clean around the streets and hotels ~ Nrloa; 10
build and clean oct the quarters ana rooms o. %" ces
10 make their fires end cut thor wood, &C.
some 1T these men have been very sick and or re-.
quesiiug employee in the Provost office Tor docicr
were informed that they might dle aod ~ 70 sei
This same employee, vulgar renegade Na4yhd.l-
took all the letters Tor the prisoners rom the
and opened them. aud detaiEed the also u BE thonfh.
proper with or without orders hcn ms snnduct a.
brought 20 the attention OF The Pos Office Department
the commander OF he post comes in and screens am
from mefited punishment.
None Of these eteTs thus opened FOR treiors or
alien enemies. The money oi these Prisoners Is tsksn
from them and they not allowed 10 nave a.E WIZ
ING implements. ms is alleged because " tfin,s Rave
been written 10 GOV. Nsnce, Holden, aud offers
Citizens desorters Yankees are all ludged tognsher
even negro prisoners have been sem n DIV inc pts'
oners unanimously determined not 10 submit 20 such
ams.auftion and the guard allowed tho bsgioes 20 so
outsdc No pots vessels ol con enielce' -. al".eo
The prisoner is net allowed to & or send 20 he FRO
Mnrslal or commanding ornccr 70 go abe y his
ease some OF these men have recently besl tied ny
Cont Martial but their sentences are LOT o'efec LOr
promugated yet Nearly sll these men are North Caro-
hnans and some OF them are Innocent o. any CRIME
and many of them are 81 good soldiers the army con
tans and deserve but little punishment These facts
can be proven by hundred witnesses. I'os. pr sonss
style themselves the Reserve Battalion eno TIE anne
given the prison is Fort Ransom" The suard gen
orally kind. Nh"'fD'
WiIdoa Nov. 96. 1867.
from the Raleigh q. c. : --niA1 Dee. J.
NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE,
The brief communication we pablish today,
,., thu Slgnntur, of On, of the People tlnresse ~