Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-03-11
REBEL TREATMENT OF UNION PRis.
ONERS
Narrative OF col. .rRE1onr.

Congress, Col. Streght gives the following
account Of the treatment Of Union prisoners
in Richmond:
My officers, together with mme,hiug neM one
thousand other United States oAicers fined in
large warehouse building, with Of about
twenty-five feet square TO each man This includes all
room for washing, cooking eating, sleeping aud exer
osnR They have no hunks chairs or seats Of any Kind
furnished them consequently they both at and sleep on
the floor The windows Of the building were entirely
open until about the middle Of December last when pieces
Of canvas furnished for the purpose Of closing them
to keep the cold out, but this would leave us In the
dark compelled to leave portion of them open
destitute Of blankets until our Government sent supply
70 us in the fepa u the winter The supply Of blank
cts is eShau. ed, and officers who have been captured
during the last sir weeks have furnished them Tie
Tatons funs ed both ocefyand men by the rebels
sts " about pound Of corn bread, made from
botsd meal and one fourth OF pound Of poor fresh
per day. The has been issued TO the priso-
but abou, half Of the time since the lst Of December
last In addition to the raons Of bread and meat,
above stated the prisoners draw about two quarts OF rice
to hundred men There is sufficient quantity Of
salt furnished aud very small quantity Of vinegar |
will here remark that 10 few instances say six or eight
times at most, small quantity Of sweet potatoes has
been issued instead Of the ratons Of meat The above Is
the total ofthe rAtons issued 70 officers and
men now prisoners Of The condition Of our unf1f
tunac enlisted men In the hands Of the enemy l.
much than that ofthe officers. From early 10 May
last when arrived at Richmond TO about the LIST u
December, all the enlisted taken 20 what is
called Belle Isle, and turned into enclosure like 50
many cattle into slaughter pen Very few of them had
poor and leaky to render them but little bet
ter than none.
An the prisoners are taken to the Libby when they
first strive in Richmond, for the purpo'e of counting
them aud enrolling their nAmes, consequently had
flit chance 70 see their condition when they arrived.
Fully one half ofthe prisoners taken since May last
robbed 10y their captors Of their shoes and neatly all
robbed " their oycrcnats blankets and hayersacks Al
least third 81 them had compelled trade their
pants and bouscs for rags that would scarcely hide
their nakedncss very many Of them entifey bare
headed and not few late the middle Of Dccem her
slp uN LrtF auA ~
ragged pants ard shirt being bNehcaded, bareooted,
aud without blouse, overcost = blanket have seen
huudeds u Aktn to the h1spitd thus clad aud
In dying cVndiuon have fec entity visited the hos
pitAl and have contersed with large numbers 4 dying
brought there from the Island who assured me that
they bad been compel, to lie out ia the open ait with
out any medical attendance though for several days they
had been unable to walk though destitute Of anything
like quarters and nearly naked during the cold, stormy
aud lily fall season, the hrstAnd chief complaint Of all
those say and talked with account Of an insult
hceni quantity Of food will here remark that In no
instance have The rebel authorities furnished clothing
blankets To our men.
During The winter large numbers Of our were fro
zen heard one Of the rebel surgeons in charge say
that thte over twenty OF our men who would have
10 FER amputaion rom the effects " frost This
before w. eodrst weather commenced. Some time in
the fore Of December, portion Of our men we're re-
moved from the island to some large buildings, where
they more oomfor ably quartcred, but there has
on no time since Msy last but what more or less our
have been kent in thu open air, and withou' blank
cts overcoas 1t is comm thing for the eb Is TO
cp several days entirely without food This
prisoners. Some long six days Without food,
and were compelled 20 march during the time he OH
captured at ChickamAuga that they and
their mcn we're robbed Of eyuyihi Many Of them lost
their coats hats and boots captured and then
early starved aud fruzen trust you will pardon
me fr The tcdi a. length of this communicate n fyuu
sll bear vi me will only call your atteuuun 70 few
uf the ouragcs praciced officers aud men ia the
prison Discipline Under the bui ding known Libby
Prison large cellar, ia which they have several cells
part oued a Several Of them without any light,
bot somC Of them have windows below the PayemtnL
\ IA. 81 Too "a 80
such OF the prisoners as the auihonlles NAV tar WI
attempt 10 etape, vel as such a. may chance 10 Of
| tachcs Some ut our uni1ttunaie men ae continually
confined In these filthy holes, preteHt another
1t is the uniform practice to feed any and all persons sent
to these cells bread and water only Lieut. ecd, u
the Third Ohio Volunteers, thrown int Of these
cells aud kept there for forty eight hours without any
thing 10 cat q drink during the time lie was not al
lowed any blankets his oyercoat The weather
very damp aud cold and he at The time suffering
from most wound in tie hip. On he night "
the 1911 VI Dece Der received communication put-
parting to come from one in authority stating lhat Tor
500 in greenbAcks aad silver watches, SELF aud
friend you'd ne permitted 10 pass the guard
some day previous this ono OF my officers succeed
cd in making his escape in this way and although
was not Without apprchensons that it was trap, re
solved 10 Try the experiment. Accordingly, Capt C.
Reed Third Ohio Volunteers, and myself went 10 the
desguNu place at the appointed hour where We were
assured that IL was all right We complied with the
| terms aud passed out, but outside
the guard lineslhAn Major Lauouche, the hdJutan Of
the prison, and seven men sprang out from concealed
]
US. We unarmed aud could do nothing but
der We were taken back 70 the prison, put in irons
and thrown into Of those filthy holes called cells,
where Kept for three weeks on bread and
The weather very cold during the time, and
] ly persisted. There large smount n fin in the
cell which could induce them remove could
get them 70 permit IL. | asked fIr pa.
per- psu and ink to write the rebel authorities also
asked for a box sit on, Of which there large
number in the cellar, hut everything denied me At
the time was taken to the cell there six Of our
men confined In 81 these cells for att mptng 70
cape They had been there for six days without blank
ITS, Of them very sick They released at
the end II seven days Of their confinement might
inue to enumerae instances Of similar character,
but these will TO give you idea Of what is dai
y taking place cannot describe to You the ioathsome
hlthness Of these cells They infested with great
number Of rats and nice aud they have marks Of
hay ng been cleaned since they fret built II is
ne edless for cay that no survive long
confinement, In place + this kind and although am
acquainted with several persons who have been confined
there do lot know Who can be called well man.
As have before remarked, it is impossible for %
enumerate in this communication but lew Of the many
acts Of bArbArity which have come under my notice,
though have eEdeAyoed to give you sampe Of such
will enable you to form conclusion relative
to the treatment our unfortunate receiving at
'hC hands I the inhumAn peol lie with whom
war. They lost 70 every principle Of humanity,
and il is my candid conviction that their brutality
prisoners is only measured by their fears "