Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-03-17
Rebel Treatment of Union Prisoners.

Rebel Treatment of Union Prisoners.
Col. STREIGHT, who recently escaped from
Libby Prison, has published letter at the
request of Mr.. KELLOGG, of the House Mill
tary Committee, in regard to the treatment Of
Union prisoners by the rebels. 1t fully con-
firms the statements of Col. HOBART, and
gives some additional details When in May,
1868, Col. STREIGHT surrendered to FORREST,
it was expressly stipulated in writing, prior
to the surrender, that his regiments should
retain their colors the officers their side
arms: and both officers and men their haver-
sacks, knapsacks, blankets and all private
property No SOONER, however, had they ar
rived at Atlanta than these terms were violat-
ed the men were stripped of their blankets,
knapsacks &C.; they were robbed Of nearly all
their money and most of their overcoats were
taken. The colors and side-arms were also
taken. The men were turned into an enclos-
ure without shelter, destitute of blankets,
overcoats, or any protection from the inclem-
ency of the weather, for four days and nights
while cold storm prevailed.
On arriving at Richmond their money was
taken. For few days the officers were al
purchase food. This however, was soon de-
MED. Subsequently the officers obtained per-
mission to write home for money, food and
clothing. The food and clothing were gen.
eli hut in
the knowledge of Col. STREIGHT, was the
money handed over. Col. S. very justly
characterizes this detention Of the money,
after expressly agreeing to deliver it, as g an
act of perfdy that beggars all description"
When he called the attention of the rebel
authorities to the stipulations under which he
surrendered, which he had in his possession,
duly signed by the rebel General FORREST,
Gen. WINDEE, the commandment Of the prison,
took them from him.
Col. STREIGHT's description of the rooms in
Libby prison, their filth, and the misery en-
dured there, corresponds with that given by
Col. HOBART. They suffered greatly during
the winter from cold. The condition of the
privates on Belle Island is yet worse. They
have nothing to protect them from the wealth
er. Col. S. says:
Cali the prisoners are taken to Libby
when they first arrive in Richmond for the
purpose of counting them and enrolling their
names; consequently had fair chance to
see their condition when they arrived. Fully
one half of the prisoners taken since May
last were robbed by their captors of their
shoes, and nearly all were robbed of their
overcoats, blankets and haversacks. Atleast
third of them had been compelled to
trade their pants and blouses for mere rags
that would scharcely hide their nakedness.-
Very many of them were entirely barehead-
ed, and not few, as late as the middle of
December, were brought in who had nothing
on but pair of old ragged pants and shirt,
being bareheaded, barefooted, and without
blouse, overcoat, or blanket.
81 have seen hundreds of our men taken
to the hospital thus clad, and in a dying con-
dition. | have frequently visited the hospital
and have conversed with large numbers of
dying men, brought there from the Island,
who assured me that they had been compelled !
to lie out in the open air, without any med
ical attendance, though for several days they
had been unable to walk Though destitute
of anything like quarters, and nearly naked
during the cold, stormy, and chilly fall season,
the first and chief complaint of all those l
saw and talked with was on account Of an in
sufficient quantity Of food. l will here re-
mark that in no instance have the rebel au-
thorities furnished clothing or blankets to our
men. During the winter large numbers of
our men were frozen. l heard one of the
rebel surgeons in charge say that there were
over twenty of our men who would have to
suffer amputaton from the effects. of the
frost. This was before the coolest weather
had commenced"
Under Libby prison is a large cellar, with
several cells partitioned off, some without
windows. Here in the midst of filth indie
scribable, in darkness, damp and hunger, some
of our men are kept confined on one pretext
and another, some from fear that they will
attempt to escape, others for giving some
imagined offence perhaps to some petty prison
official Lieut.. Reed, of the Sd Ohio volun-
teers, was thrown into one of these cells and
kept there for forty-eight hours, without any
thing 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 tnaL Time, was SUFFERING IRON most
severe wound in the hip.
Col. STREIeHT and Capt. REED of Ohio at
tempted to escape in December last. For
this he says:
owe were taken back to the prison, put
in irons, and thrown into one of these 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 I could not |
induce them to remove, nor could get them
to permit me to remove it. l asked for pa
per, pen, and ink, to write to the rebel au-
thorities. l also asked for box to sit on, of |
which there was large number in the cells |
But everything was denied me. At the time |
was taken to the cell there were six of cur |
men confined in one of these cells for at |
tempting 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.
Il might continue to enumerate instances |
of similar character, but these will answer |
to give you an idea OF what is daily taking |
place. [ cannot describe to you the loath- |
some flthiness of these cells. They are in /