Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-03-10
prisoners, Eara al Richmepd

control Of the prisoners at Richmond. The
following are some or s'ststssashts, ,1Tq
The rations furnished both officers and
mes by the rebels. consist of about .ene
pound Of corn-bresd, made from. unbolted
meal, aud onefourth Of 9 pound OF poo,
fresh meats per day. Meat has been Issued
to the prisoners but about one-half the time
since the lst Of December last. In addi-
ton to the rations Of bread and meat, prs.
onefs draw about Two quarts OF rice TO one
hundred men, An insufficient quantity oi
salt Is furnished, aud . very small quantity
Of vinegar. In q few instances, say six or
eight times at most small quantity Of
sweet potatoes has been issued instead oi
rations Of meat. The above is the sum total
Of rstions issued TO our officers and men,
now prisoners Of war. The condition OF our
unfortunate enlisted men now in the hands
OF the enemy, is much worse than that oil
the officers From early in May last, when
arrived in Richmond, to about the LIST Of
December, all enlisted men were taken to
what is called Belle Island and turned into
an inclosure ike SO many cattle In q slsugh-
ter pen. Very few Of them had tents or
shelter Of auy kind, and the few tents fur
uished we're so poor and leaky as to render
them but little bettersthan none at ALL The
prisoners are taken to Libby when they first
arrive in Richmond, for the purpose Of
counting them aud enrolling their names. l
had a fair chance to see their condition,
when they arrived. Fully one-half taken
since May last were robbed by their captors
Of their shoes, aad nearly all were robbed
Of their overcoats, blankets and baversacks.
At least one third of them had been COM
H. l. L.. g.
mere rags, that would scarcely hide their
nakedness Very many of them were en-
tireIy bareheaded, and not few as late as
the middle Of December were brought in,
who had nothing on but pair Of ragged
pants and shirt being bareheaded, barefoot
ed, and without blouse, oyercoat or blanket.
| have seen hundreds Of our men taken to
the hospital thus clad, and in dying condi.
ton. Ihave frequently visited the hospital.
aud have conyersed with large numbers OF
dying men brought there from the islands,
who assured me, that they had been, com,
PEELED to lie outi the open air without any
medical attendance, though for several days
they had been unable to walk, destitute OF
anything like quarters, and nearly naked
during the cold, stormy and chilly fall sea.
son; the first and chief complaint of all
those / saw and talked with was the insult
Acient 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 surgeons say that
there were over 20 Of our men who would
have to suffer amputation from the effects
of the frost. This was before the coldest
weather had commenced.
Some time in the fore part Of December,
. portion of our men were remanded from
the island to some large building where they
were more comfortably quartered, but there
has been no time since May when more OF
less men have not been kept on the island
in the open air, and without blankets OIL
overcoats. 1t is q common thing. for the
rebels to keep our mentor several days with
out food. This was particularly the case
with q portion of the Gettysburg prisoners.
Some went as long as six days without food
and were compelled to- march during the
time. The officers captured at Chicarnauga
assure me that they and their men. were rob
bed Of everything Many Of them lost coats
hats and boots, as soon as captured, anc
then were nearly starved or frozen. On tht
night of the 10th of December. l receivet
q communication, purporting to come fon
one in authority, stating that for $lOO II
greeubacks, and two silver watches, mysel
and friend would be permitted to pass tn
guard. Ifra
Some days previous to this, one Of m!
officers succeeded In making his escape II
this way, and although not without apprehen
sion that il was trap, | resolved TO try tn,
experiment. Accordingly Captain b. u. y
Reed of the I'd Ohio, and myse went Il
the designated place at the appointed hour
where We we're assured that it was all right
We complied with the terms and passe'
out, but no sooner were we outside tn
guard lines than Lieut.. Latouche, Adjt o
the prison, and seven men sprang out from
concealed place and commenced firing on u
before hating u.s. We were unarmed an
could do nothing but surrender. We wer
taken back to prison, put in irons an
thrown into one Of those filthy holes calle
cells, where we were kept for three week
on bread and water. The weather was yer
cold during the time, and we nearly perish
ed.
There was large amount of hlth IN tn
cell, which could not induce them TO r,
move, nor could get them 10 permit me
remove it. asked for paper, pen and lnl
to write to the rebel authorities; also for
box to sit on, Of which there were g larg
number in the cells; but everything VI
denied me, At the time was taken to Il
cell, there were six Of our men confined
one of these cells for attempting to escap
They had been there for six days witho,
blankets, and two Of them were very sic
They were released at the end of seven da
of confinement.
J., I cannot describe to you the loathson
, fithiness. of these cells. They are infestt
with an innumerable number of rats al
mice, aud have no mark Of having be'
, cleaned since they were first built. 1t
: useless for me to say that no man can ~
: tive long confinement in ,aplacs OF II
kind, and although am acquainted wi
, several persons who have been confin
: there, ] do not know one who can now
called we'll man. He also confirms &
statement that every pledge made to the
8 to return thoir money was violated, and th
q after the notice was sent North that I
I money forwarded them would be deliyere
:, every penny SO sent was stolen. a'''a
2 Democratic Literature. !,