Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-05-10
FROM NEW YORK.

NE" AOAA1 hHg q
The draft in the Southern district of
New York has been postponed ill Wednes-
day.
The Posts Washington special states
that Grant sent letter to t5e President
before moving, assuming whole RESPONSE
bility of the present movements.
The Commercials special states that Lee
and several prominent rebel officers are
wounded.
No communication yet between Alex
sndris and the army.
The rebel authorities have determined
., subject cur soldiers and our ofhcsrs who
fsll into their hands to suffering, impos-
sible to describe. Many presenting now
the appearance Of q living skeleton, 1T
orally little more than skin and bone,
some MANNED for life, lying without tents
OF covering on the bare ground at Belle
Isle.
The general practice is shown to be the
robbery Of prisoners ss soon as taken, Of
all money, valusbles and good clothing.
The food allowed was totally unsufic cient
to preserve the health Of g child. 1t con-
sisted usually Of two pieces of bread made
of corn and oat meal, which Was badly
cooked, with about two ounces Of meat
unfit TO eat, and occasionally few black
Worm-eaten beans. They we're obliged to
sell their clothing, received from rome, to
buy food to sustain life. Those in tn e
hospitals were better fed but their neglected
wounds remained for days undressed.
One witness was asked if be was hungry.
He replied, l could eat anything in the
world that came before me. They we're
submitted to unmerciful and murderous
treatment from those in charge of them.
| they were shot and killed for violating
the rules, Of which they had no knowledge.
When they arrived at Annapolis, their
clothing was so filed with vernon that
they had to be destroyed, and repeated
wsshings failed to relieve their heads and
| bodies from pests. They are now dying
daily, and the physicians in charge enter
tsins no doubt but that their emacistion
and sth are clearly caused by the brutal
treatment received while prisoners Of war
Ths testimony shows that the treatment
received at Columbis and Dalton was far
more humane than at Richmond. The
committee cannot resist the conclusion
that these inhumsn practices are the re-
suit Of determination on the part Of the
rebel authorities to reduce our soldiers, by
privations and exposure, to such condi-
tion that they never will be able to render
| effective service in the field. The result,
like the massacre of Fort Pillow, Of pre-
determined policy, they deem it evident
that the rebel newspaper statements
claiming for the prisoners the same treat.
ment received by their own soldiers, are
| glaring and unblushiDg faisehoods, and
say no one can for moment be deceived
by such statements who will reflect that
cur soldiers who when taken prisoners were
stout, healthy men, in the prime and the
vigor Of life. and yet they dill by hund-
reds under the treatment they have re-
ceived, although required to perform no
duties Of camp and march, while the rebel
soldiers are able to make long and rapid
marches and to offer stubborn resistance
in the field. They refer with pride and
satisfaction to the accomplishing ssori-
| fees and the unoomplaining spirit exhib-
tied by our brave men under all their pri-
Vstions, even in the hosr Of death. The
Chaplain says: there is another thing /
would wish 70 state, "sll the without
complaint among the thousands that have
come to this hospital have never in
a single instance Notwithstand. iDgthe
Privaticn and suffering, they have entered
their cOuhtry's service. They have been
the most loyal, determined and earnest Of
men. Even in the last days Of their lives
they have said that all they hoped for was
just to live and enter the ranks again and
meet their foes.
Itis most glorious record in relation
70 the devotien Of our men. do not think
their patriotism has ever been equAlled in
the history Of the world. To the friends