Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1864-04-09
From the Cincinnati Gazette.
Prisoners Fare at Richmond.

letter from Col. otreght to tho House Military
COMMITTEES, contains some new items in the indict-
ment which civilization brings against the barba-
rams who have control of the prisoners at Rich
nond. The following are some of his state
ments -
The rations furnished both officers and men by
tho rebels, consist of about one pound of corn
| bread, made from unholted meal and one-fourth of
pound of poor fresh meats per day Meat has
been issued to the prisoners but about one-haf the
time since the LIST of December last. In addition
to rations of bread and meat prisoners draw about
two quarts OF salt to hundred men. An in
sufficient quantity Of rice is furnished and very
small quantity of vinegar. In few instances, say
| SIX or eight times at most small quantity of
sweet potatoes has been issued instead of rations
OF meat. The above is the sum total of rations is
sued to our officers and men, now prisoners of war
Inc condition of our unfortunate enlisted men now
in the hands Of the enemy is much worse than that
of the officers From early in NAV last when
arrived in Richmond to about the first of Deem
Der, all enlisted men taken to what Is called
Belle Island and turned into an enclosure like so
many cattle in a slaughter pen. Very few of them
mad tents or shelter of any kind and the few tents
furnished were SO poor and leaky as to render them
but little better than none ut all The prisoners are
taken to Libby when they first arrive in Richmond
Tor the purpose Of counting them and enrolling
their names had fair chance to see their con.
dltlon when they arrived. Fully one-half taken
since May last robbed by their captors of their
shoes and nearly all were robbed of their over
coats blankets, and haversacks At least one-tAird
OF them had been compelled to trade their pants
and bouses for mere rags that would scarcely hide
their nakedness. Very many Of them were entirely
bareheaded, and not few as late ms the middle of
December were brought in, who had nothing on but
par OF ragged pants and shirt, being bare-h eaded
bare-footed, aud without blouse overcoat or blan.
ket. l have seen hundreds of our men taken TO The
hospital thus clad and in dying condition have
frequently visited the hospital and have conversed
lyIfh lnrr II, z i
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 davs thew
had been unable to walk, destitute Of anything like
quarters, and nearly naked during the cold stormy
and chilly fall season the first and chief complaint
OF all those saw and talked with was the INSULT
cient quantity of food. In no instance have the
rebel authorities furnished clothing or blankets TO
our men. During the winter large numbers of our
men were frozen. heard one of the rebel suroeona
say that there were over twenty of our man who
would have to suffer amputation from the effects of
the frost This was before the coolest weather had
commenced.
Some time in the fore part Of December a nor.
ton OF our men were remanded from the island TO
some large building, where they were more COM
forably quartered but there has been no time sines
May when more or less have not been kept on
the island IN the open air and without blankets or
oVercoats. 1t 10 common thing for the rebels to
keep our men for several DAYS without food Thi,
was particularly the with portion of tho Get
tysburg prisoners. Some went as long as six DAYS
without food and were compelled to march during !
sure me that they and their men yyera rohlnd' ~ |
everything. Many of them lost coats mats
as soon captured and then were nearly starved OF
frozen On the night Of the 10Th of December
received communication purporting to come from
some days previous to this ons Of nv officers
succeeded in making his escape in this way. and al
though L. without apprehension that it was tran.
resolved to try the experiment. Accordingly Capt
Il q {, Reed Of tba
the designated place at the appointed hour where
we were assured that it was all right We com
piled with the terms and passed out but no sooner
We're we outside the guard lines than Lieut. La
teuehe, Adiutant Of the prison, and seven men
sprang out from concealed place and commenced
firing on us before hating us We were unarmed
and could do nothing hut surrender. We were ia
Ken back to prison, put in irons, and thrown into
one OF those filthy holes called cells where we were
kept three weeks on bread and water The weather
was very cold during the time, and we nearly per-
ished. F
There was large amount Of filth in the cell,
which could not induce them to remove nor could
L get them TO permit me to remove. | asked for
paper, pen and ink, to Write to the rebel authori
ties also for box to sit on, of which there werp
q large number IN tue cells bit everythinr was
denied me. At the time 1 taken TO the cell
there were six of men confined in one of thesa
cells for attempting 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 confinement.
cannot describe to you the leathsome flthiness
Of these cells. They infested with an innumer-
able number Of rats and mice and have no mari,
Of having been cleaned since they were first built
1t is useless for me to say that man can survive
long confinement in place of this kind, and al
though am acquainted with several persons who
have been confined there, / do not know one who
can now be called well man.
He also confirms the statement that every pledge
made to them to return their money was violated,
and that after the notice was sent North that the
money forwarded them would be delivered every
penny spent was stolen