Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-03-06
PRISONERS FARE AT RICH
NHOND. "a
Letter fronn Col streight.


Letter frcm Col streight.
- II ttft .-a
Aletter from Col. Streight to the House
Military committee, contains some new
items in the Indictment which civilization
brings against the barbarians who have
control of the prisoners at Richmond
The following are some of his statements:
The rations furnished both officers and
men by the rebels, consist of about one
pound of corn bread, made from unbolted
meal, and one-fourth of pound of poor
fresh meats per day. Meat has been issued
to the prisoners but about one-half the time
since the 1st of December last. In addition
TO rations of bread and meat, prisoners draw
about two quarts Of rice to one hundred
men. An insufficient quantity of salt is
furnished, and very small quantity of vim
egar. In few instances, say six or eight
times at most, small quantity of sweet po-
tatoes has been issued instead of rations of
meat The above is the sum total of rations
issued to our officers and men, now priso-
ners of war. The condition of our unfor-
tunate enlisted men now in the hands of the
enemy, is much worse than that of the Of
ficers. From early in May last, when ar
rived in Richmond, to about the 1st of De-
cember, all enlisted men were taken to what
is called Belle Island and turned into
an inclosure like so many cattle in a
slaughter pen. Very few of them had
tents or shelter of any kind, and the few
tents furnished were so Door and
leaky as to render them but little better
than none at all. The prisoners are taken
to Libby when they first arrive in Rich
mond, for the purpose of counting them
and enrolling their names. l had fair
chance to see their condition when they ar
rived. Fully one-half since May last were
robbed by their captors of their shoes, and
nearly all were robbed of their overcoats,
blankets and haversacks. Atleast one-third
of them had been compelled to trade their
pants and blouses for mere rags, that would
scarcely hide their nakedness. Very MANY
of them were entirely bareheaded, and not
a few as late as the middle of December
were brought in, who had nothing on but a
pair of ragged pants and shirt, being bare
headed, barefooted, and without blouse,
evercoat or blanket. ] have seen hundreds
of our men taken to the hospital thus clad,
and in dying condition. have frequently
visited the hospital, and have conyersed
with large numbers of dying men brought
there from the islands, who assured me that
they had been compelled to lie out in the
open air without any medical attendance,
though for several days they had been una
BILE to walk, destitute of anything like quar-
ters, and nearly naked during the cold,
stormy and chilly fall season; the first and
chief complaint of all those saw and talk
ed with was the insufficient quantity of
food. In no instance have the rebel author
tiles furnished clothing or blankets to our
men. During the winter large numbers of
our men were frozen. l heard one of the
rebel surgeons say that there were over 20
of our men who would have to suffer am
putation from the effects of the frost. This
was before the coolest weather had COM
menced.
Some time in the fore part of December,
a portion of our men were remanded from
the Island to some large building where
they were more comfortably quartered, but
there has been no time since May when
more or less men have not been kept on the
island in the open air, and without blankets
or overcoats. 1t Is common thing for the
rebels to keep our men for several days
without food. This was particularly the
case with portion Of the Gettysburg pris-
'oncrs. Some went as long as six days
without food, and were compelled to march
during the time. The officers captured at
Chicamauga assure me that they and their
men were robbed of everything. Many of
them lost coats, hats and boots, as soon as
captured, and then were nearly starved OF
frozen. On the night Of the 10th Of De-
ceInber, received q communication, pur-
porting to come from one, In authority,
stating that for 500 in greenbacks and two
silver watches, myself and friend would be
allowed to pass the guard. anc
Some days previous to this, one of my
officers succeeded in making his escape in
this way, and although l, without appre-
hension that 1t was a trap, resolved to try
the experiment. Accordingly Captain B. G. |
G. Reed of the Sd Ohio, 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 passed out,
lines than Lieut.. Latouche, Adj. of the
prison, and seven men sprang out from
concealed place and commenced firing on
us before halting us. We were unarined
and could do nothing but surrender. We
were taken back to prison, put in irons and
thrown into one Of those filthy holes called |
cells, where we were kept for three weeks |
on bread and water. The weather was very |
cold during the time, and we nearly perish
ed. 5Ii = Te. VS. ~ s..,'. q ~ Il &
There was alarge amount Of filth in the |
cell, which could not induce them to re- |
move, nor could / get them to permit me to |
Remove. l asked for paper, pen and ink, to |
write to the rebel authorities; also for box |
to sit on, of which there were large num-
Der in the cells; but everything was denied |
me. At the time l was taken to the cell, |
there were six of our men confined in one
Of these cells for. attempting to escape.--
They had been there for six days without |
and two Of them were very sick. |
They were released at the end Of seven
daye of conffnrnaut .'tt't HN ff.tl IA