The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-03-12

or overcoats. 1t is common thing for the
rebels to keep cur men for several days
without food. This was particularly the
case with q portion Of the Gettysburg pris.
oners. Some went as long as six DAYS with
out food, and were compelled to march dur
ing the time. The officers captured at
Chickamauga assure me that they and their
men were robbed OF everything. Many OF
them lost their coats, hats and boots as soon
as captured, and then were nearly starved
and frozen.
trust you will pardon me for the te-
dious length of this communication. II
you will bear with me / will only call
your attention to few of the outrages
practiced on our officers and men in the
prison discipline. Under the building
known as Libby prison is large cellar, in
which they have several cells partitioned
Oft. Several of them are without any light.
but some have windows below the pave
ment. These cells are used for the purpose
Of combining securely such Of the prisoners
as the authorities may fear will attempt
to escape, as we'll as such as may chance to
offend some one of the many petty official
and prison attaches. Some of our unfortu-
nate men are continually confined in these
filthy holes on one pretext or another. 1t
is the uniform practice to feed any and all
persons sent to these cells on bread and
water only. Lieutenant Reed, of the third
ONO volunteers, was thrown into one OF
these cells and kept there for forty ight
hours, without anything to eat or drink
during the time. He was not allow ed any
blankets nor his overcoat. The weather
was very damp and cold, and he at that
time was suffering from most severe
wound in the hip.
On the night Of the 10th of December
received communication purportng To
come from one in authority, stating that
for one hundred dollars in greenbacks and
two silver watches myself and my friend
would be permitted to pass the guard
Some days previous to this one of my of
fcers succeeded in making his escape in
this way, and although was not without
apprehension that it was a trap, neverthe-
less resolved to try the experiment. Ac-
cordingly Capt. B. {. u. 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
but no sooner were we outside the guard
lines than Lieut.. La Touche, the Adjutant
of the prison, and seven men sprang out
from concealed place and commenced
firing upon us without halting us. We
were unarmed and could do nothing bat
surrender. We were taken back to the
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 persisted. There
was large amount OF filth in the cell,
which / could not induce them to remove,
nor could get them to permit me to re-
move it. / also asked for box to sit on,
of which there was q large number in the
cells. But everything was denied me. At
the time ! 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 blankets, and
two of them were very sick. They were
released at the end Of seven days Of their
confinement
might continue TO enumerate instances
Of y similar character, but these will an
swer to give you an idea of what is daily
taking place. cannot describe to you the
loathsome tlthiness of these cells. They
are infested with vn innumerable number
OF rats and mice, and they have no mark
Of having been cleaned since they were
first built. 1t il needless for me to say that
no man survive q long confinement in q
place Of this kind; and although am ac-
Quainted with several persons who have
been confined there, do not know one who
can now be called a we'll man.
AS have before remarked, it is inpossi-
BILE for me 70 enumerate in this communi-
cation but few Of the many acts of bar
barity which have come under my notice,
though have endeavored to give q correct
conclusion relative TO the treatment our
unfortunate men are receiving at the
hands OF the inhulnan people with whom
we are at war. They seem. lost to every
principle of humanity, and it is my candid
opinion that their brutality to our prison
era is only measured by their fears.
] have the honor to be, most respectfully,
your obedient servant,
A. d. STREI0HT,
Colonel 5lst Ind. Vols.