, 1864-05-12

.... H4bHIH8Foaf Ih1 "
The testimony Of our relieved prisoners At
Annapolis, before the Committa on the Con-
dUct Of the War, goes to show that 1t ID the
practice Of the rebel authorities to subject
our soldiers and officers who tall into their
bands, to ply sical and mental suffering i'm.
possible to describe.
Many Of those released from Richmond,
present row the appearance OF living ske1e-
tons, little more than akin and bone, some
niaimefffor life, and Some frozen BIZ lying
without tent or covering, on the bare ground
at Belle Isle. The general practice is shown
to be tbs robbing Of prisoners as soon as
taken, Of al. money, Taluables and good
sufficient 10 preserve the health of child.
It consisted usually Of two pieces of bread
made OF corn and cob meal badly cooked,
with about two ounces Of meat unfit to eat,
aud occasionally 4 few black, Worm-eaten
beans They were Obliged to sell clothing re-
ecived from home to buy food to sustain life.
Those in the hospitals were little better fed
Worn ard neglected wounds remained for
daya undressed- One witness, when asked II
he II rs hungry, replied: Hungry: could
eet anything in the world that came before
u.s. They rero submitted to unmercifal
charge over them. They we're shot aud kill
Cd for violating rnlcs of which they had no
A'S' When isey arrived at Washington their
c1cthss we're so nllod with vermin that they
hld to be destroyed, and repeated washlnE1
failed to relieve their hands and bodies Of the
pests. They are now dying daily, and the
ph. sfcian In charge entertained no doubt
tLat thair cmaci2tion and death arc clearly
CARED by the brutal treatment received while
prisoners Of Wat. ...
Tie testimony shows that the treatment
received At Columbia and Dalton was far
more humane than at Richmond.
~ -E.L
sicn that these tnhuman practices arc the
result Of 8 dch rminatfon on the part of tho
rebel authorities to reduce our soldiers bY
priTatfons and exposure, to such condl-
tion that they never will be able to render
effective service In tho field. It Is the result,
Ike the massacre Of Fort Pillow: Of pre-
determined policy. They deem 1t evident
that the rebel newspaper statements, claim-
ing for the prisoner the same treat
ment az their own, soldiers, are Rlar-
ing and unblusbing falsehoods, and SAY
no ore can for. moment b. deceived By
srcA statements who will reflect that our
soldiers, who when taken prisoners were
lite, yet they have died By hundreds under
the treatmeet they have received, although
required to perform no duties of camp Or
march, while the rebel soldiers are; able to
make long and rapid marches aud to offer
stubborn Iehiatance in the field They refer
| planning fortttude and undiminfshed patriot
Ism exhibited by our brave men under all
their privatfons, even in the hour Of death.
The chaplain says: "There is another
thing I would wish to state. AL tho men
without any exception, among tle thou
.ands that have come to this hospital, have
never in single instance expressed regret,
Notwithstanding the privations and suffer-
incs they havo endured, that thaY entered
their, countrJ's service. They have been
most loyal, devoted and earnest They said
ranhs sesip and meet T. the foes en'fF
glorious record III. the relation In the de7o-
tion Of eur men to their country. I do not
think that their patriotism has ever been
equaled tn the history Of the world