Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1864-05-19

The following Is a copy Of letter from officer,
prisoner Of war, 20 his father il this State
YANKEE BAsT1LE, JoHEsoE's ISLAND,


YANKEE BAsTILE. JoHssoE's Island,
April O. 1864.
DxAR FATHER; have had but
ons opportunity Of communicating with you freely
since my long imprlsonmsnt--thsis my secondhand
shall be frank, slhough cannot be full as wouie
like acquainting you with the facts connected with
prisoners of war. Up to the month Of
January lsst guarded BY the Hoffman bsttaI-
ion, commanded by Lieutenant ni-CoioneI " S. P;erson
more appropriately they might be styled Barnsdss
scuousrs ihs department of Ohio this precOuSset
ase noneombaiant soldiers, except when they exhibit
their Sighting qualities in firing uuaImsd men, then
apparently thsy are very brave. They have scented
the breeze of battle star off, have been within the
sound Of hostile cannon, bat have beea employed
solely gusrdng unfortunate prisonrs and carrying
into eff Ct the cruel death DEGREES Of the Infamous
Burnside. They recruited from that part Of Ohio
commonly knows the 'Weztern Reserve" Abo-
IRl0nists, by nature cowsrds and therefore, cruel
With the exception Of Major ScOviIls and DR.. Wood
bridge not an officer Of this body of 5Tigandg have
awarded to u.s. The most common eourteses due gem
,ssmen ami Ofhess The guard have frequently curEel
prisoners, without the slightest provocaton and shot
II them without any excuse.
last SUMNER prisoners from ths west siaieed with
En.npox were brought hsre aud placed among u.s. At
that free from thst contagious disease,
- toVA ioUtf hpieao prison.
ers aud carried off number TO that bourne whence
no traveller relnras.' This loafhsOme disease was
planted among knowingly and willfuIly, by those
miserable miscreants, but by interposItcn of PROV
idenes is made slow progress through the
mer zndf fall when, lag the authorities here per
hsps conscience smttenif they pOssess eonscisnces-
caused The patients to be removed beyond the prison
grounds, and the disease disappeared. The ratons
wsce barely sufficient 10 make comfortable, with
what could buy the suffers shop but, during
several months Of the year. wh,n this Of supply
was eut OF of the prisoners have frequently
lled to bad hungry
Not the least feature of the heartesnssS Of these
seoundres was the supply of water they allowed
We wero compelled most Of the time, to water
from three holes in the centre Of the prison grounds
surrounded By thirtY-siK sinks although inszhsu,
bic supply of the pure water of Lake Erie stood
more than hundred yards distant. This treatment
crested ohrcn'e disrrhea caused many die But
shall not proceed further tn tis unpleAsant subject
as it is sickening to me- and doubtless viii be to you
So tist this battalion may lose it's identity hereaf
ter and may be recognized if ever proceeds the
ont viii that It has been iaised to regiment
and is now called the l2slh Ohio and is commanded
by Col Hnl.
During the month of January, soldiers from The army
Of tbs Potomac came here reinforce the garrison
when Immediately everything assumed for better
aspect. There men had met US before the battle
field and knew how to appreciate and treat a soldier.
/ We get good water and ratlons, but not that
bountful suppy Of the latter which the Fedsrals al.
I legs in their neTspspers We would not have sufh-
cheney, but for the supplies we enabled buy
the suilers do not complain, however on shat score
for say it to the credit Of these old soldiers and their
officers that treated better than we have
been before and that they merit humane treatment at
tho hands Of hores should the fortunes Of war
make them cspives.
Personally, have not suffered any indignles at the
hands Of the Yankees for the that have far
possible avoided giving them the least Gauss to vent
their spleen upon ne. Even tn preesutlOn does not,
hoWzver sometimes save To give you two In
siances:
AT Fort Henry, we were placed in the oft Of a house
formerly livery stable in a hfty feet by twenty
I've In the corner Of the was placed swi tub.
the contents Of which was carried by details made
from the prisoners. Fifty st least here con-
insd, and allowed go out under strict guard,
and then only when nature rendered this absolutely
necessary. AT Night allowed to go for no
purpos4. So much for that dsleetsbe place, which
under the Supervision Of Gen Sehenek, the gallant
knight who has exhibited such prowsss the bat
te-feId. but in waging the ladies and children
Of Baltimore.
At Fort Delaware, I was confined with thirty-Rvs
other officers in hs latter part of July 1862 Before
departure for Jobnsons island, Capt Hill, Of Brig.
Gen. sehOes staff, presented parole for sigma
lures pledging ourselves attempt escape OF
our transit the Island. We commended that II h'
event Of sgniog we should be allowed the usual prvi
eges Of pLroled men, and requested that be give
ssrance hat effect. He declined, and said that VI
/ "a L., fha
must be signed. Later in the day Gen. Sehosff mad
his appearance, producing telegraph dispatch, pur
porting be from Secretary Stanton. directing, in tn
event Of continued refusal, that We should be hand
cuifed.- Col A. W. Harmon, of the 18th Virginia cav
airy, remarked: We are in your power, but vii
state that parole is voluntary matter, and neve
compulsory with prisoners when given, It Is for th
consideration that he shall receive certain privileges
these you deny us and dec ine." ThsrsupOn Gen
Ssho A, very much sRrsged, cured the whole party
blending his native tosgus with broken vulgar English
uaing ths following language Got You, tye yoi
10 chair, buck and gag you till you too in
BY the way this ignorant shoudsrstrsppsd brute.
am informed formerly performed the duties OF ne
| gro acting As common waiter IN fashionabie hoie
lsorth; and. therefore, a 81 instrument Of tyranny
the hands OF The rail pitter Of Illinois,
MY prison life has not always been snysltPed VIII
elouds oftentimes We receive ray Of sunshine. 4
acts ana kind words from isnds. Bat wha. does ihi
, avail u.s. deprived Of liberty, OF from home an
lends standing idle spectators Of the grss
eoLIot now raging for the indspendence Of our com
: Etys 1 regret exceedingly that my sword has bee
slsathed 80 long In dear to as life. As 4
things human mus. have termination. trust that th
|. end Of imprisonment Is not very far distant.
, No blame is attached to our authorities for Ion
!, confinement Tor We know full well that to great
tent it the result OF bad faith the part Of the Unite
if States Government. Yet it not be improper 1
state that the Confederate States have lost many ga
+ ant eifeer who would have lived to Asht her ba
e Ties, had they not been Imprisoned long in this u
Congsrial climate To save. the rest the GOvernmel
would not do wrong sacrificed everything connecle
>, with The exchange, except its honor