Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-06-09
Rebel Barbarity.

Condition of tie Returned Prisoners at Anuap
oils Report Of the Committee on the Conduct
Of the War.
The committee On the conduct of the war,
made a report to Congress yesterday, on the
condition of the federal prisoners, returned
from Richmond, who have arrived at Annap-
oils From an examination made at the re-
quest Of the Secretary of War, it is proved
be sond ali doubt in the estimation of the
committee. that the rebel authorities have
determined to subject our soldiers and Off
GERS who fall into their hands to physical and
mental suffering impossible to describe, many
presenting now the appearance OF living shel-
etous literally little more than skin and
bones, some MANNED for life, and some frozen
by living without tent or covering on the bare
ground at Belle Isle.
The general practice is shown to be the
robbery of the prisoners, a. soon as they were
taken, of all money, vaiuables and good cloth
ing The food allowed was totally insufficient
TO preserve the health of child. 1t consist
ed usually of two pieces Of bread made OF
corn and cob meal, badly cooked, with about
two ounces Of meat, unfit to eat, and occa-
sionally few black, worm eaten beans
They were obliged to sell clothing received
from home to buy food to sustain life. Those
in the hospitals were little better fed. Worn
aud neglected wounds remained for days un-
dressed. One witness, when asked if he was
hungry, replied Hungry: l could eat any
thing in the world that came before me"--
They were submitted to unmercifu and mur-
derous treatment from those in charge of
them. They were shot and killed for volat-
ing rules of which they had no knowledge
When they arrived at Annapolis, their
clothing was so filled with vermin that it had
to be destroyed, and reps atcd washings failed
to relieve their heads and bodies of the pests
They are now dying daily, and the physicians
in ch arge entertain no doubt that their ema-
citation and death are directly caused by the
brutal and mcrciess treatment received while
prisoners of war.
The committee say that they cannot resist
the conclusion that these inhuman practices
are the result of q determination on the part
of the rebel authorities to reduce our soldiers
by privations and exposure to such :; condi-
ton that they never will be able to render
effective service in the tield-the result, like
the massacre Of Fort Pillow, of predeter-
mined policy. They deem it evident that The
rebel newspaper statements, claiming for the
prisoners the same treatment received by
their own soldiers, are glarins and unblushing
falsehoods; and say no can for a moment
be deceived by sucii statements who viii re-
fleet that our soldiers, who, when taken pris-
oners, we're stout, healthy men, in the prime
and vigor of life, have died bv hundreds un-
der the treatment they have received.
The Washington Re?uJ!tcaa adds this state
ment:
I'VE learn from conversation with one of
the members of the committee that the scene
witnessed by them at Annapolis beggars de
scrptiou. OF the four hundred men return
cd-ofcers and priyates-~ho arri7 at
Annapolis few days since, one hundred have
since died of rebel starvation, and one hun
dred more, it is believed By medical men, cau-
not live. SO emaciated are many oE the men
that photographic artists were employed by
the committee to take pictures of them, for
the purpose of showing their actual condition
and appearance to both Houses Of Congress-" "