Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-11-12
Our Friends IN southsm Prisons.
E1th sin.d 1ron Runor.


So many aud narrowing have been the
statements made by individuals with regard
to the treatment ct our soldiers while pris-
ouers in the hands of the rebels, that the
United States sanitary commission have
appointed six responsible men a. commits
siouers to give the subject thorough IN
vestigation- After months passed in in
spectlng the condition aud receiving the
testimony of many thousands of exchanged
prisoners, chiefly from the Libby aad Belle
Isle, the carefully prepared report is given
to the public, with an appendix of I26
pages of sworn evidence, fully sustaining
irs most rsvulring statements. We give the
following extracts from the report =
The fEst fact Developed By the testimony
of both officers and privstes, u that priso-
ners we're almost invariably Pohbed of
everything valuable 10 their possession,
sometimes on the f=ld, AZ the instant Of
capture, sometimes by the prison authoHi
ties IN q quasi official way" With the
promise of return Wneu exchanged or pa
roled; but which promise was never full
filed This robbery amounted often 70 8
X
ciothIng. Blankets and oVercOats we're
almost always taken, acd sometimes other
articles; IN which case damaged or ragged
ones were returned in their stead. This
preliminary over, the capuiVes we're taken
to prison
In the Libby, twelve hundred officers
were confined IN space which averaged
for each mAa ten feet oy tWo. At one
time they were not allowed the use of
benches, chairs 0r stools, nor even 70 fold
their blankets and SIT upon them, bat
those who would rest were obliged 70
huddle On heir haunches, "a one OF them
expresses It, Like so many slaves In the
middle passage After awhile this So
we're restrictioa was removed, and they
were allowed 70 make chairs aud stools
for themselves cut Of the barrels aod boxes
which they had received from the North.
They were oTeFrua with Vermiu. IN spite
Of every precaation and constant ahlu-
tons Their blankets, which averaged
aue % a nan. and sometimes less, had
nor been issued by the rebels, bat lad
been procured in different ways; sometimes
bv purchase, somstimes through the sRni-
tary commission. The prisoners had to
help themselves from the rafuse aceumula-
ton Of these articles, which having seen
similar service before, we're often ragged
and full of Vermin- In these they wrapped
themselves at night, and lay down on the
hard plank Ennr IN close and srIdiuG con
tact, s+Worued aud dovetaiIed together"
"a one of them testifes, ''lfke dah IN s
basket The fOors we're recklessIY wash
ed iats in the sfteFuOon, and vera theIe-
fore damp and dangerous to sleep upon
Almost every 6ne had cough In coase-
Quence.
Ii vas amoug the rules that no one should
60 within three feet of the windows, 3 rule
which seems 70 be general in all Southern
prisons of this character aud which their
frequently eroadsd state rendered pecult-
arly severe and difficult to observe. The
manner in which the regulation was
enforced was uuiustifabiy and WantonIy
cruel. Often by accident, or unconscious
Iy, an officer would go near = window,
aud be instantly shot at without warn
ing. The reports of the seutry's muskes
we're heard almost every day, and fire.
dueutly q prisoner fsil either killed or
wounded. So careless as this were the an
thoEities a. 70 the effect of placing their
nrisnneraa in the power of the rude aud
brutal s0IdisFy IN guard It hecGme mat
ter of sport among the latter $40 shoot q
Yankee" They were seen in attitudes Of
expectation, with guns cooked, Watching
windows for . ah0t. But someumes they
did not even wait for an infracti0n of the
rnIa. LisuEenanE Hammond E8s s10E Bs
while in small boarded enclosure where
thera Tas moi window only al aperture
between the boards The guard caught
sight Of his hat through this opening, And
aiming lower, 90 as 70 reach his heart, fred.
A usil InFRsdz the bullet upward, Gud Il
passed through his ear and hat brim- The
OdiceFs reported the ourr age to Maj Turn
eF, who merely replied, l'Fhs boys are IN
want Of practice" The sentry said, He
had made a bet that he would Kill . d-u
Yankee before he came OR guard" No
notice was taksn Of the oeGuusuGs By the
authorities.
The daily ration IN the O1fcsEE q1SEfsr
Of Libby prison, was = small loaf OF bread
about the size of . mans fsE, made Of In
dian meal. S0metimes it vas made from
wheat hOur, bat Of variable quality. Is
weighed littls over half . pound. With