The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-03-05
INTERESTING REPORT BY COLONEL sTRtHRT.
Rebel Treatment OF Union PrlsomeTs-
fragrant Violation OF His Terms 81
1urrendcr-Tho Outrages to which HIS
Mem were Subjected, 80.
WMLARD's HoTgL, WASHINGTON, D. Q. Il

s.rT.ndsr.Tne oatr:sss TO which Has
wnLARD's HOTEL, wAsmNoros, ?: Cd
Hon. r ". KnIoee, House Committee on Military A.
DEAR srH-Asresabs 70 your request have the honor
TO report the following facts In relation 70 the treatment
OF our officers and men by the rebel aushoritiee:.
impossible for me TO give you an account Of oil the
acts Of barity, nhumany and bad faith have wit
messed during my captivity but win endeaver TO men:
ton such instances 8 will give you as correct an dea Of
the true condition Of our men az possible.
On the Sd OF May last near Rome Georgia, my com.
manG having become 50 reduced Dy nara nsnns ana
evident 70 me that about fifteen hundred officers and
mem would fall into the hands Of the enemy and after
holding council OF war with my regmental command.
ers IL decided capituate, and thus TO the
best terms possibefor the command IS condition Of
surrender. In accordance with this decision met the
rebel commander General Forrest under nag or truce,
when stipulation entered into between him and
myself whereby was agreed .nas my Command should
tons, 70 witt
], Each regiment should DO permitted 70 retain IL
2. The officers were 10 retain their side arms.
8: Both officers and men we're to retain their havev
sacks knapsac.s and blankets and al private % property
The above terms were in measure respected while
we remained with General Forrest but no sooner were
we turned over 70 the rebel authorities than system
robbing commenced which soon relieved Us Of every
nd taken from ny men
a. Atlanta. They were also robbed Of nearly
M IL above named pos sm Hs
the colors and side arms were taken from us. Ny men
were turned into enclosure without shelter Of any
kind, destitute OF blankets and overcoats, have be-
fore stated and kept under guard for four days. during
which time most dsagreeable cold storm prevailed;
after which they we're sent forward 70 Richmond and
MY officers were sent to Richmond, after a stay Of
about ten days in Atlanta On our arrival 81 the rebel
capital we were all searched separately and al moneys
found In possession were taken from US For few
days thereafter were allowed 70 draw small sums Of
our money for the purpose Of purchasing food But this
then asked and obtained permission from the rebel
clothing and provisions The clothing and provisions
were generally delivered TO the parties ordering them,
providing the package or box containing them was not
Its destination, which was frequently the CASE but In
case within my knowiedge has the money been de-
after expressly agreeing to deliver II, is an act OF
perhdy that beggavs description. have repeatedly
called tho attention Of the rebel authorities to the
terms of my surrender, and demanded that It's pro-
visions BIO complied with; but General Winder, COM
mandant Of the prisoners took from the stpuatons
signed by Geners Forrest which he still retains and
fuses to be governed by its provisions My officers TO-
geher with something near one thousand other United
with average space OF about twenty Eve square
each man. This includes all for washing, cooking,
chairs seats Of any kind furnished them consequently
they both Sit and sleep on the floor. The windows Of the
building were entirely open until about the middle OF De-
cember last when pieces OF canvass furnished for the
purpose OF closing them to keep the cold OUT but this
would leave US in the dark, we were compelled to leave
portion OF them open and endure the cold
Many Of the officers entirely destitute Of blankets
until our government sent quantity to us in the fore
part OF the winter The supply Of blankets is now ex
usted and officers who have been captured during the
last Blk weeks have none furnished them.
The ra,ions furnished both officers and men by the
rebels consist Of about one pound Of bread made
from unboted meal, and one!ourh Of pound Of poor
fresh meat per day The meat has been issued to the
cember last In addition to the bread and
meat as above stated the prisoners draw aboustwo quarts
Of salt furnished, and very small quantity OF vinegar.
will here remark that, in few instances, say six
has been issued Instead Of the rations OF meat
The above is the sum total of the raons issued TO
se 81
the hands Of the enemy much worse than that Of the
!; From early u May last when Rich
taken 10 what 10 called Belle Island, and turned into
o% Of e aS or na
the few tents furnished poor and eaky TO
der them but little better than none
All the prisoners taken to Libby when they first
arrive in Richmond for the purpose Of counting them and
enrolling their names consequently had fair chance
to their condition when they arrived Fully half
Of the prisoners taken since May last were robbed by
their capors Of their shoes, and nearly all robbed
Of them had been compelled to trade their pants
and blouscs for mere that would scarcely hide their
nakedness Very many Of them were entirely barehead
ed, and not few, AZ late as the middle OF December
were brought 10 who had nothing but pair OF old
ragged pants and shirt. being bareheaded barefooed
n
have seen hundreds OF men taken to the hospital
thus clad and in dying condition have frequently
r. nH sn% ra Nun large mum
assured that they had been compelled 10 lie out in
the open air. without any medical attendance though for
several days they had been unable TO walk Though des
ttute Of thing like quarters and nearly naked dunng
the cold stormy and chilly fall season. the FIRST and chief
complaint Of ali those saw and talked with was on
count or insufficient quantity OF food. will here
remark that in no instance have the rebel authorities
furnished clothing or blankets TO- our men. Dur
fN0 ba INIT tnpU nharo nf mp
Frozen heard OF the rebel surgeons In charge say
that there were over twenty OF men who would have
70 suffer amputntion from the effects OF frost. This was
before the coolest weather had commenced.
Some time in the fore part OF December portion OF our
nsS where they were more Comfortably ouartered but
there has been no time since May last but what or
les: men have been kept the island in the open air
and without blankets or overcoats. II 10 common thing
for the rebels TO keep for several days without
food This was particularly the case with portion Of
the Gettysburg prisoners. Some went as long as six
days without iood were compelled 10 march during
the tme Tho officers captured nj Chckamauga assure
Many Of them lost their coats hats and boots as soon a.
captured, and then were nearly starved and frozen
trust you win pardon me for the tedious length Q,
only call your attention to few the outrages practsed
on our officers and in the prison discipline Under
which they have several cells parttioned or Several
OF Them are without any light, bursome have windows
Of coUns suos e. aa o he
authorities may fear will attempt 10 escape az well
az such 40 may chance TO offend some one OF the
many petty Official and prison dtdcke. Some OF
our unfortunate men arc constlnuaiy confined in
these nlthy holes on one pre,ext another. II is
the Uniform practice TO feed any and oil persons
sent TO these cells bread water only. Lieutenant
Reed OF the Third Ohio Volunteers thrown into
OF these cells and kept there for hours with
out anything to eat or drink during the time He was
not allowed any blankets nor his overcoat The weather
was very damp and cold and ne at that time suffer
Ing from most severe wound In the hip.
ON the night OF the 10th OF December received com
munication purporting 10 como from in authority,
two silver watches myself and friend would DO permit
ted 70 the guard Some days previous TO this o.
my oncers succeeded IN making his escape In this way,
ana although was NOT without apprehension that vas
trap, nevertheless resolved 70 try the experiment.
Accordingly Cart q. Reed, OF the Third OHIO and
myself went to the designated place at the appointed
hour where we were assured thatt all right. We
complied with the terms and passed out but sooner
were We outside the guard lines than Lieutenant Ia
Touchc, the Aduant OF the prison. and sprang
out ~, m concealed place and commenced firing upon
US without hating US We unarmcd, and could do
QOllilQ a xrosa fax hack