The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1864-04-15
Rebel Ikascnlifv.

Libby, has addressed letter to tbs
Militari Committee, giving an acl
count of the capture of his com.
mand, etc.
In May last, Col Straight and his
command, near Rome, Georgia, were
obliged to surrender to Forest. IL
was agreed that each Regiment sbo'd
retain their colors; that the officers
were to retain their side arms, and,
officers and men retain haversacks.
knapsacks. blankets, and all private
property. When the surrender had
been made, however, they were rob.
bed of every thing o: value in their
possession, and the men, at Atlanta,
turned into an enclosure, without
shelter, and destitute Of blankets, or
orercoats, and there kept for four
days.
When the officers arrived ut Rich.
lnond, all were searched, and money
found on them was taken away, and
has never been returned. When
Straight complained of these robber.
les rs n breach of faith, that internal
Gen. Wilder took from him the arti.
cles of capitulation, as signed by
Gen. Forrest.
Col Straight confirms the former
accounts Of the inhuman treatment
the Union prisoners receive, and gives
a description Of tho fnte that awaits
any who attempt to escape.
ITMflar fl,n bpi1,1;r
by prison is large cellar, in which
they have several cells partitioned
of. Several Of them are without any
light, but some of them have win.
dows below the pavement. These
cells arc used for the purpose of con-
timing securely such of the prisoners
as the authorities may fear will at.
tempt to escape, as woll ne such as
may chance to offend some one of tho
many petty officials and prison at.
taches. -ts
Some of our unfortunate men aro
continually confined in these filthy
holes, on one pretcxt or another. II
rs the uniform practice, to feed any
and all persons sent to these cells on
bread and water only. Lieut.. Reed.
of the 81 Ohio Volunteers, was
thrown into one of these cells, and
kept there forty-eight hours, without
any thing to eat or drink during the
timo. He was not allowed any blan.
kets, nor his overcoat. The weather
was very damp and cold, and lie at
the time was suffering from most
severe wound in the hip. On the
night Of the 10Th of December l re.
ceived communication purportine
to come from one in authority, stating
that for 800 in greenbacks and two
silver watches, myself and friend
would be permitted to pass the guard.
Some days previous to this one Of
my officers succeeded in making his
escape in this way; and although I
was not without apprehensions that
it was n trap, nevertheless / resolved
to try the experiment Accordingly,
Capt. c. G.. Reed, 3D. Ohio Volunteers,
and myself, went to the designated
place at the appointed hour, where We
were assured that it was all right
We complied with the terms and pass
ed out; but no sooner were we out.
side the guard lines than Mqjor La
truche the Adjutant of the prison,
sprang ont from concealed place
and commenced firing upon us before
chatting us. We were unarmed and
could do nothing but surrender.
t,l. l. Il. Al.
put in irons, and thrown into one OF
those filthy holes called cells, where
we were kept for three weeks on bread
and water. There was large amt :
of filth in the cell which I could not
induce them to remove, nor could I
get them to permit Inc to remove It.
| asked tor paper, pen and ink to
write the rebel authorities; also ask.
cd for box to sit on, of which there
was n large number in the cellar, but
everything was denied me. At the
time l was taken 10 the cell there
were six Of our men confined in one
Of these cells for attempting to es-
cape. They had been there for six
days without blankets, and two Of
them were very sick.
They were released Mt the end OF
seven days of their confinement. ]
might continue TO enumerate instances
of similar character. but these Viii
answer to give you an idea of what -
daily taking place. l Icannot describe
to you the tllthincss of these cells.--
They are infested with a great mum.
Der Of rats and mice, and they have
no marks of having been clcansed
since they were built. 1t is needless
for me TO say that no man can survive
a long confinement in place Of this
kind; although l Mn unacquainted
with several persons who have been
confined there, / do not know one
can be called well man.