The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1864-04-26
REBEL HUMANITY
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n portion Of The North, At least, was
vel aware that The institution Of sla-
very, iaaded by ia friend, as the ioua-
daiga d tic tue ciriIizatian, the
seliool u chisairy, and ibe nurse Of all
manly qualities was ii reality arelic q
lhrlarism aud Tie fruitful source Of
crimes aid inhumanily. When the war
commenced and an opportunity was
afforded ioF obtaining = greater knowl-
eige Of the effects Of their peculiar
institution upon the Southern people,
il became apparent TO all except those
who would BOT see, that we were in
raih dealing with those whom the
irresponsible exercise Of power over
lAeir fellowmen lad made insensible
70 every claim Of justice, honor, aud
humanity. II Is established by neon
tesssble proof that IN the first great
battle Of the contest, tho rebels fred
upon those who bad surrendered as
prisoners Of war and brutally murder
cd the wounded who we're left upon
the Geld. Ind rebel history of the
war by Pollard, Of Richmond, there
is inserted a Letter written by one Of
the Il. L. VS. who took part in
tie battle 81 Bull Run, in which lie
says be lad vowed 10 take no prison.
ers, aud relates as an instance Of great
moderation and proof Of his rcmarka-
bic humanity that he spared on sec
ond thought beardless youth, not
seventeen years Of age, who begged
piieously FOR his life. This violation
Of the requirements Of civilized war;
fare, Of which the chiyalry as well as
the poor whites. the officers as well as
the priyates, have been guilty, begun
thus carly il the conflict, has been
continued TO a greater or less extent
to the present day. A member of
the House Military Committee has
prepared report covering the first
year and a half Of the war, of the
treatment Of our wounded soldiers
and prisoners Of war by the rebels
II is soon 10 be published, and if the
genlleman's inquiries have been ex-
tensive, il will present record
which might easily be mistaken, if told
without dates or names, for a history
Of some barhapons war Of the middle
ages. The North viii not soon forget
that rings made from the bones of her
sons who fell in battle, and drinking
cups cut out Of their polished skulls,
we're for a long time the subjects Of
jesis aud congratulations at the South.
But insults TO the dead have been no
more frequent than cruelties 10 the
hyins. Priso. err who ame TO the win
dow TO ina relief IN breath Of fresh
air from the unhealthy atmosphere Of
their confined rooms, were shot with
out waning by the sentinels, and the
gallan, people Of Richmond applaud
cd their vigilance and patriotism
More lately the country has been
shocked TO hear Of starvation OF our
prisoners aud the continued and in.
creasing cruelty 81 their jsilors, and
las read comments q the Richmond
press upon tie conduct Of their gov.
ernmeni officials even more disgrace
fnl 10 the South. than the acts them
selves. But little has been said about
this matter lately, but il is well to
keep before the country the fact that
the inhuman treatment Of our prison
ers Of war by the rebels Is not abaied
in The least. The only prisoners ex-
changed during the past two months,
arrived in Baltimore last week and
The American thus described their ap-
peaanee:
Their emaciation was extreme,
their foeblehess Mss almost nj the last
gasp their detection Was painful to
behold. and their sQualor was fright.
ful They were starved TO the verge
q The grave, sud Nhai was left ef
them Was rearly drsoured by rermin.
Some Of them from hope too long de-
ierred had Fallen info q state Of utter
lisilcssness and apathy which border
Ga gpon idiocy, TIC deepening pal
lof, The dropping JAS, and the glazing
eyes told that others hsye only come
20 de-
And mes sei9ge We hsyc gpite rs.
covered from Tie horror thai )ell upon
" when se beard of ihe saekiag Of
Lawrenoa and the indescrimlnais
murder e men women and children.
We are ffuialeI - another fearful