Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-11-21
The Exchange Of Prisoners at sa
Vannah.


byterian church, the steeple Of the State
House, the roofs Of the houses-bright in
the sunset glow that rested over them
made picture which we watched for
time with deep interest"
One very striking feature Of the scene
was the rebel steamers, they being OF
very nondescript shape, especially the two
called the swan and the General Lea, A
correspondent describes them thus:
The Swan is like anything but 4 swan
in appearance She draws but eighteen
inches of water when laden is some two
or three stories in height, and was facetious-
" Ifkened to 8 steam cotton factory as she
came wheeling, putting, snorting and
smoking down the muddy stream She
was built in Wilmington, Delaware, some
years before the war began, and, picking
her weather and her way along the coast,
was eighteen months, it is said, in getting
from that port to her destination Very
similar TO the Swan In appearance Is the
General Lee, only that the latter seems
ike an older boat Each is propelled by
side wheels whose paddles are scarcely
visible, and each is steered by three enor-
nous rudders, swinging like huge barn
doors at the e.ns Of the grotesque crafts.
Many were the laughs and queer expires
sions that went up from our men at the
sight of this curious rebel feet. But it
was because the enemy had no better
means of transportation that our govern
ment had humanely sent its own feet t.
this point to be used in making the ex-
change.
The rebels that were transferred to these
two boats were very hilarious. The Times
correspondent says of them:
A spectator at 3 distance, without being
blessed with lively imagination, might
have supposed these queer specimens of
naval architecture to be floating hearses,
the illusion being fOstered by the funeral
like plumes of Cimmerian smoke which
waved from their slender chimneys. But
the crowds inside showed uprosrious life,
instead of death. A merrier set of inva-
lids were never got together than those
freed rebels who were crammed on board
the steamer, and fringed the low guards of
the vessels with dangling legs, almost dip
ping into the water through the hilarious
csrelessness Of their owners. They went
of up the river, yelling their peculiar mule
like cry which passes for s cheer, with their
ill-omened flag waving over them, leaving
the proud banner of freedom behind, the
love If which, for time, at least, they have
rejected. We then returned to Port Royal
and to-day the remainder Of the rebels will
bo sent home.
The transfer of Union prisoners was to
to begin the next day, but the rebel means
of transporting them, both by land and wa
ter, being very inadequate, it will take to the
first of December before an entire transfer
is made. The rebel prisoners as they land
ed we're cared for by Sanitary COMMITTEES
called the Richmond Ambulance Commit.
tee. The members are thus described
The members of this ambulance com.
mittee," as they are termed at Richmond
wore broad orange colored ribbons upoI
their hats on which were printed tht
the words: " Committee for our wounded.
They manifested CREST concern for the
comfort of their quests" preparing no
coffee for them as soon as they came on
board. The latter, of course, seemed over
joyed at the prospect of soon reaching theil
homes after so long an absence.
The Mayor of Savannah issued proc
lAmation TO have the people ready to re-
ceive the rebel prisoners. The Savanal
Ne,0s thus commented upon the exchange
We ask special attention to the import
ant proclamation by our patriotic Mayor
to be found in our paper this morning
. Let there be hearty response to this hu
name appeal. These heroes have beer
confined in Yankee prisons, and many Q
them have suffered long and severely
They are weary, wounded, and sick, anC
must be met with refreshments on landing
Savannah will do its full share in this goot
work and the government will do all i
. can; but with a thousand men per dal
landing among US to be taken care OF, i
will require more assistance than the gov
ernment agents here and the city can dc
We, therefore, earnestly solicit the patri
otic people in the country to pack up some
, thing for these suffering heroes to eat, AM
forward it here at once, by express or 9th
erwise Packages may be sent to the car
Of the Morning Nei0s or the Republican,
They will be taken charge of and faithful
" distributed. Send bacon, fresh meat
r Of sll kinds, poultry, eggs, butter, potatoe
and other vegetables, bread, cakes, &c -
Send US as much as you can ready cooked
2 Don't be afraid 10 send too much or TO
, often, but contribute as literally as you
means will justify, Let US do what W
can to cheer and comfort the hearts of OF
suffering heroes. The gratitude of on
soldiers will richly repay the patriot
4 heart for any outlay.
The rebel prisoners testified to the goo
/ treatment they had received at our hand
D They admitted that they had received be
: ter usage than they had any right to e.
i pect, and frankly svowed that if the 70
J, tunes of war should ever throw any of OIL
men into their hands they should endeavc
by all means in their power to reeiprOcst
It the kindnesses they had received viii
y prisoners in Union hands.
= Thousands of anxious friends in Il
e North will look with great interest to Il
l. exchange of Union men.