The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-11-16
THE TREA T1IENT OF SOUTHERN PRISON
EPg AT THE NORTH

We find in the W Washington National LstslIigeaeer
private letter relative to the condition Of phi
soners at Elmira, New York. The editors Of that
paper give as a reason for its publication that sit
describes feeingy the wretehed condition of the
miserable beings confined in one Of the largest of
our military prisons and appeals so fervently and
eloquently to our common humanity for sympathy
and succor to the sufferers:
BALTIMORE, October IA, 1864.
My Dear Sir Ny short acquaintance with you
would hardly, under ordinary circumstances, war
rant my thus addressing you but know you to
be christian gentleman, and as such appeal to
you IL IN emergency of appalling magnitude.
l have Just returned from Emira. Though not
permitted to go inside the prison enclosure, saw
The condition OF the fifteen hundred who were taken
away for exchange, many Of them in a dying con-
dition. There ten thousand prisoners at Elmira
great number have been in confinement since the
battle OF Gettysburg They have bean kept at Point
Lookout have contracted disease from the unwhole-
some water there; We're transferred to Elnira scan
tly clothed 10 face the cold Northern climate no
tea or coffee is allowed them; variation Of their
scanty prison fare. No wonder that the mortality
has been, and Is, f1lghtru that the sick number f
teen hundred. Sleeping the ground under tents,
four blankets for five men, many without socks or
Shoes when, at last taken 10 the hospital they tod
far gone 70 be restored 10 life. Several Of those
taken away for exchange died on the cars Happy
they to be az rest No more cold or hunger pangs
70 snifer. Only think Of it! Never to be warm,
nave iuli cup OF COflee, land
of plenty TO die of lingering torture.
Il Is Useless TO appeal 10 the Secretary OF War.
II rests with the men Of the North TO remove this
foul stain from country The officers in charge
OF the prison at Elmira are kind and humane, but
the condition Of things is beyond their power to
Inedy. quantity OF coarse, warm clothing Is inn
| media.ely required. Socks, under-ciothing. blan-
kets and thick KNIT jackets wanted for hospital
use and effort ought at once TO be made, such
MIR. Stanton cannot withstand, 10 have them al
lowed coffee, tea and sugar. cannot, viii not, be-
heye that my countrymen of the North viii psrmit
this state OF things 10 continue ~
i know, sir, how nobly you have responded to the
calls made upon you In the past, and inplore you
to help me now. My voice is too feeble 10 reach the
ears OF the thousands who ought to be willing as
they able To give 10 this holy charity, From
every prison in the North, last and West, from
Rhode Island TO Fort Warren, goes out this wall Of
suffering humanity--clothing and blankets TO ksep
warm, food ant coffee 10 save us from perishing
Woe 10 the people, dwallsrs in land OF plenty, 10
whom these calls made in vain These msn are
| oar brothers There Is not hamlet in the far
West, village IN my own native New England, not
mining town IN California, but shelters some gray
head soma bleeding, anguished heart, whose hearts
go night up 10 heaven for pity on these prisonsrs
| their own kindred, blood OF blood.
Mr.. -, cannot write OF these things Those
fifteen hundred pale faces are before me as saw
them pass me at the depot. Those ghastly, plead
| ing facss! saw them here again-saw the pile Of
dea3-dead nom want Of nourishing feod-a cup u
coffee. saw in city whose church steeplss tower
toward Heaven gentle women, VINO would have gwen
this nourislnent, driven by brutal police and dsssc
nsssnr ,o san as af Mssy Mos tears of shame
| countrymen who permit these outisgss spon
! manity and chr1srianity-tears VI pity Tor these
| poor s,iffsrers blind my eyes cannot write
4 Helm me Mr. -, and plead with others also TO
rive of their abundance. they hops Tor mercy in
| tha- avail hour when must all Fivs, an account
of our stewardsp. would plead for all tbs prisons,
| though have only seen the horrors Of Eluaira.
With great RESPECT. yours,
L