Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-03-16
Rebel Treatment of Union Prisoners.


Rebel Treatment of Union Prisoners.
Col. STREIGHT, who recently escaped from
Libby Prison, has published a letter at the
request of Mr. KELLOGG, of the House Mill
| tary Committee, in regard to the treatment OF
| Union prisoners by the rebels 1t fully con-
| firms the statements of Col HOBART, and
! gives some additional details. When in May,
| 1868. Col. SrREIGHT surrendered TO FORREST,
| it was expressly stipulated in writing, prior
to the surrender, that his regiments should
| retain their colors; the officers their side
arms; and both officers and men their haver-
sacks knapsaeks, blankets and all private
| property. No SOONER, however, had they ar
| rived at Atlanta than these terms were violat-
| ed the men were stripped of their blankets,
[ knapsacks &c; they were robbed of nearly all
| their money and most of their oyercoats were
| taken. The colors and side-arms Were also
taken. Tn, men were turned into enclos-
ure without shelter, destitute of blankets,
| overcoats or any protection from the inclem-
ency of the weather, for four days and nights
while cold storm prevailed.
On arriving at Richmond their money was
taken. For few days the officers were al
/ lowed to draw small sums of their money to
purchase food. This, however, was soon de-
| MED Subsequently the officers obtained per-
mission to write home for money, food and
| clothing The food and clothing were gen.
| orally delivered, but in no instance, within
the knowledge of Col. STREIGHT, was the
money handed over. Col. S. very justly
characterizes this detention of the money
after expressly agreeing to deliver it, as " an
act of perfdy that beggars all description"
| When he called the attention of the rebel
authorities to the stipulations under which he
surrendered, which he had in his possession,
| duly signed by the rebel General FORREST,
Gen. WNDER, the commandant of the prison,
/ took them from him.
| Col. STREIGHTs description of the rooms in
| Libby prison, their filth, and the misery en-
| dured there, corresponds with that gSen by
| Col HOBART. They suffered greatly during
the winter from cold. The condition of the
| privates on Belle Island is yet worse. They
| have nothing to project them from the wealth |
er. Col. S. says:
| An the prisoners are taken to LIBBY |
| when they first arrive in Richmond, tor the |
| purpose of counting them and enrolling their |
names: consequently l had a fair chance TO |
| see their condition when they arrived. Fully |
| one half of the prisoners taken since May |
| last were robbed by their captors OF their |
| shoes and nearly all were robbed of their |
| oyercoats, blankets and haversacks. Atleast |
one-third of them had been compelled to |
| trade their pants and blouses for mere rags |
that would scharcey hide their nakedness.-
Var of
ed and not few as late the middle of /
December, were brought in who had nothing |
on but pair of old ragged pants and shirt,
being bareheaded barefooted, and without
blouse, overcoat, or blanket.
Il have seen hundreds of our men taken
to the hospital thus clad, and in dying con-
dition. | have frequently visited the hospital
and have conversed with large numbers of
diving men, brought there from the Island,
who assured me that they had been compelled
to lie out in the open air, without any med
ical attendance, though for several days they |
had been unable to walk. Though destitute
of ANYTHING like quarters, and nearly naked |
during the cold, stormy, and chilly fall season,
the first and chief complaint of all those |
saw and talked with was on account of an IN
sufficient quantity of food. l will here re-
mark that in no instance have the rebel au-
thorities furnished clothing or blankets 10 our
men. During the winter large numbers of
our men were frozen l heard one of the
rebel surgeons in charge say that there were
over twenty of our men who would have 10
suffer amputation from the effects Of the
frost This was before the coolest weather |
had commenced"
Under Libby prison is a large cellar, with
several cells partitioned of, some without
windows. Here in the midst of filth indie
scribable, in darkness, damp and hunger, some
of our men are kept confined on one pretext
and another, some from fear that they viii /
attempt to escape, others for giving some
imagined offence perhaps to some petty prison
official. Lieut.. Reed, of the Sd Ohio volun-
teers, was thrown into one of these cells and /
kept there for forty-eight hours, without any /
thing TO eat or drink during the time. He |
was not allowed any blankets nor his overcoat.
The weather was very damp and cold, and |
be- at that time, was suffering from most |
severe wound in the hip.
Col STREIGHT and Capt. REED Of Ohio at
tempted to escape in December last For
this he says:
1--WE were taken back to the prison. put /
in irons, and thrown into one of these filthy |
holes called cells, where We were kept for /
three weeks on bread and water. The /
weather was very cold during the time, and |
we nearly persisted There was large |
amount of filth in the cell which could not /
induce them TO remove, nor could l ge: them /
TO permit me to remove it. / asked for pa /
per, pen and ink, 10 write to the rebel au- /
thorities. | also asked for a box to sit on. of |
which there large number In the cells |
But everything was denied me. At the time |
| was taken to the cell there were six of our
men confined in one of these cells for at /
tempting to escape. They had been there for |
six days without blankets, and two of them |
were very sick. The were released at the |
end of seven days of their confinement.
" / might continue to enumerate instances |
Of a similar character, but these will answer /
TO give you an idea of what is daily taking |
place. / cannot describe TO you the loath- |
Il IL III