Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-03-08
Our Returned Prisoners.

The people of Richmond are very undemonstraiVe
They do not follow the Yankee fashion of ting an
tics, ringing joy-5els and blowing steam whistles
every little event. They take things c,Oly. Victory
and defeat find them alike silent. The most distip.
guished Generals arrive here, and their arrival causes
hardly sensation Sometimes sernAae is given, and
tina. is all Column after column of the brave men who
have defended the city for three long years march
through our streets, ard there is not hurrAh. TIE
troops cheer but the people do not respond to their
cheering
This is not apathy, or indifference to the feelings Of
our defenders. We appreciate their SERVICES and time
and again have eVnoed that apprec by liberal COR
trbu:ions Of money and clothing whenever there VAS
special suffering among the troops. five Go not cheer
them and thrON up our CsP as they pass through the
streetP Is because did enough cheering in the be-
ginning of the war and have learned not "hoer before
We are out OF the woods" When peace comes, and
veterans come here on their way home, We will give
them soyAl reception aud rend the heavens with cur
huzzn
But we agree with the Sentinel that exception
ought to be made In favor OF returned prisoners We
ought to show them tina. We heartily glad to see
them back again. We ought to give them well
come and make them feel that they tread another soil
and breathe another atmosphere. When the prisoners
taken at LssSburg were sent down to Newport News,
toe writer accompanied them. The Yankee boat which
came to receive them had on board a splendid band
and as soon the boats were In contact the prisoners
we're received with loud cheering and the baud struck up
the well-knoW Yankee air. "Home Again" Then me
sounds from HOms," "Hll Ooumbis, 4" yankee Doc
de-" aud 6nAy "Dixe," 10 compliment 10 the 'rebel"
ocerj In charge OF the prisoners number of Indies
came ap from Fortress Monroe and greeted the cap
tves with waving handkerchies and other manifesto
lions Of pleasure.
Can We not DO as much fer our returned prisonersi
The Arnory Band might go down 10 City Point and
uaroh at the heal Of the prisoners they pass through
the city few rou'iDg cheers would warm the hearts
Of the poor fellows AID when they get to Camp Lee
they ought to fad the brst cheer the land affords Tot
forgetting bountiful supply of genuine coff.e, well
mads and served hot.
Averse as We all are to fuss and idle noises we
can sill do this much without Overlapping the bounds
Of decorum and good order. 1; is sorry comfort to
boys to BIO gaz,d q; in silence. l. looks too much
like giving them the cold shoulder. A few rousng
cheers would not only them, but warm ourselves.
And We need warming up. There is sense as well as
virtue in hearty greetings aud jo Gus popular demon
STATIONS Tie Yankees have kept alive the spirit
by dnt of continual hurrAhng. We need not initiate
their toomOOleres, but may be little less sober
and silent THAI have been loud shout is a GER
tain cure fer dependency, and succession of hearty
cheers when the next nsalment of prisoners arrive,
will put all In good humor cay nothing of the 6ne
effect Ii will have on the prisoners themselves.
II the Yankees not lying and it will be marvel
II they are not, We may expect ak or eight hundred
more of our noble fellows time this week. and
must give them joyful welcome. Let have music,
general turn out Of the citizens, windows and poches
full of smiling ladies', and laundering three times
three" from one end Of Main street the other. 1t
will brig back the old times and the old feeling Il
will do US ell deal Of good-Ievive enthusiasm and
klnds confidence So satisfied of the benefit of
lively public denomination that should be glad 10
see ths people greet any and every considerable body of
soldiers passing through the town with few genuine
Confederate yels little indulgence of this sort
from time to time, viii be very refreshing to the ami
NAL spirits. We have played dummy go lOng that we
have become cold and stupid. The next good chance
We get let US all open on the "boys" like pack of
hounds. Il will brighten up set the blood going,
and cure the melancholy which stagnant circulation
always produces. We need shaking up, and have put
It CT too long already.