Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-03-05
Farragut Reported to Have
Opened On Fort Morgan.
Gen. Meade's Conduct at Get
tysburg being Investigated,
The Rev. 7. Starr King Dead.
FROM WASHINGTON.
Especial to the Cleveland Leader.l
WAuH1Saroz, March 4.

A letter from Colonel Streight to the
House Military Committee gives some new
items in the indictment civilization brings
against the bsrbarians, who have control Of
our prisoners at Richmond. The follow
ing are some OF his statements "Ratiens
furnished both officers and men by the
rebels consist Of about one pound Of corn
bread made from unbolted meal and q
quarter pound Of poor fresh meat per day.
Meat has been issued to prisoners tut
about half the time since the first Of last
December. In addition to rations Of bread
and meat, prisoners draw about two quarts
Of rice to one hundred men; q sufficient
quantity Of salt is furnished and very
small quantity Of vinegar, and in 8 few
instsnces-six or eight times at most
g small quantity Of sweet potatoes has
been issued instead Of rations.
The above is the sum total Of rations
given to our prisoners Of war, and the
condition Of our men now in the hands
Of the enemy has been much worse than
that of officers. From early in last May
when arrived in Richmond, until about
the first Of December, all enlisted men
were taken to what is called Belle Island,
and turned into an enclosure like so many
cattle into slaughter-pen. Very few of
them had tents or shelter Of any kind, and
the few tents furnished we're SO poor and
leaky, as to render them but little better
than none at all. The prisoners are taken
to Libby prison, when they first arrive in
Richmond, for the purpose Of counting
them aud enrolling their names, oonse-
quently he'd fair chance to see their
condition. when they errived, fully ore
half Of them taken since May Last, were
robbed by their csptors Of their shoes,
and nearly all were robbed Of their over
coats, blankets and hsVersaoks, and at
least aue-hslf Of them had been compelled
to trade their pants and blOuses for mere
rags that would scarcely hide their naked
ness. Many Of them were bsre-hesded
and not few ss late as the middle Of De-
cembsr were brought in who had nothing
on but parts Of ragged pants and shirtF
being bsre-hesded, bare-fOoted, and with
out blouse, overcOat, or blanket. have
seen hundreds Of our men taken to th'
hospital thus clad, rnd in dying condi
tion. have frequently visited hospitals
and conversed with large numbers Of dy
ing men brought there from the Island
who assured me that they had been com
PEELED to lie out in the open air withou
auy medical attendance. though fer seT
ersl days they had been unable to walk
though destitute of anything like quarter
and nearly naked. During cold, stormy
and chilly fall seasons, the first chic
complaint Of sll ] ssB and talked with wa
insufficient qusntity Of food.
In no instance have the rebel authori
ties furnished clothing and blankets t
our men. During the winter large mum
Der Of our men were frozen. ! have hear
ret Lel surgeons say that there were owe
twenty Of our men who would have t
suffer smputstion from the effects Q
frost. This was before the coldest Westhe
hsd commenced. Some time in the frs
part Of December 8 portion of our me-
we're removed from the Island to som
large buildings, where they we're NOR
comfortably Qusrtered, but there has bee
no time since May last, but more or les
men have been kept on the Island in tn
open sir, and without blankets or over
coats. It is common thing for the rebel
to keep our men for several days withou
food. This was particularly the case wit
9 portion Of the Gettysburg prisoners, som
Of whom went IS long as six days withou
food and were compelled to march durin
the time. Officers who were captured 9
Chicksmaugs, assure me that their me
were robbed Of Everything and that man
Of them lOst their costs, hats nd beOts 9
soon as they we're captured, and they wsr
nearly starved and frozen on the night Q
the 1ssb Of December. received com
municatiOn, purpOrting to come from on
in authority, stating that for 500 i
greenbaeks, and two silver watches ny