New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-05-10
OUR MEN ROBBED, STARVED, FROZEN, SHOT.
The Rebels Mean to Make all Prisoners Unable
TO Fight After Exchange.
Wicked Lies Of their Newspapers.
EEROIC PATRIOTISM or Our SUFFERERS.
WASHINGTON. Monday. May 9. 1864.

Mr.. Wade, from the Committee on the Con-
duct Of the War; in the Senate and Mr. Gooch. in the
House. submitted Il report upon the condition OF the
returned prisoners at Annapolis From an examination
made at the request Of the Secretary Of WaI. it is
proved beyond all doubt in the estimation Of the Com
mittee that the Rebel authorities have determined
subject our soldiers and officers who fall into their bands
10 physical and mental suffering impossible TO describe.
many presenting now the appearance OF living sEe.e-
tons literally little more than skin and bones some
manned for lfc and some frozen by lying without tent
OF covering on the bare ground At Belle Isle.
The general practice is shown 10 BIO the robbery OF
prisoners as soon as taken of all money vnnahrs and
good clothing. The food allowed totally Insufficient
To preserve the health Of a child. IL consisted usually
Of two pieces of bread made Of corn and cob meal.
badly cooked with about two ounces of meat unit to
eat and occasionally few black, worm-eaten beans.
They were obliged to sell clothing received from home
to buy food to sustain life Those In the hospitals
little better fed. Worn and neglected. wounds remained
for DAYS undressod. One witness when sked II he was
hungry. replied: Hungry i could eat anything IN
the world that came before u.s." They were submitted
to uumeroiul ami murderous treatment iiom those in
charge Of them They shot and killed for violating
rules of which they had no knowledge.
when they arrived at Annapolis their clothing was
filed with yermin that IL had to be destroyed. and
repeated washngs failed to relieve their heads and
bodies Il the pests They now dying daily and the
physicians in charge entertain no doubt that hoir ema.
citation and death directly cnused BY the b. utal ana
mcrcilcss treatment received while prisoners OF war
The testimony shows that the treatment received at
Columbia and Dalton was far more humane than at
Richmond.
The Committee cannot resist the conclusion that
these irhumau pI ecccs the result Of deter'ina
ton on tie part Of tie Rebel authorities 10 rcduce our
soldiers by pryatons and exposure 10 such condition
that the, never viii Doe able to render effective service
in tho hold-the result like the massacre Of Fort Pillow
Of predetermined policy.
Tley deem il evident that tho Rebel newspaper state
merits claiming Tor The prisoners the same treatment
received Is their soldiers are glazing ard unblus
Ing fil.choUds. and say no one can for moment be
deceived by such statements who vii reflect that our
-olerr who when taken prisoners were stout, healthy
men in he Prime aud ygur Of life, but they have dled
by hundreds under the treatment they have received.
Although required TO perform no duties Of camp or
mgrch while tie Rebel soldiers are able 70 MAKE long
aud rnpd marches and 10 osr stubborn resistance IN
the hed they with pride and satisfaction to tho
urcoup planning forttude and undiminished patriotism
exhibited by O4r brave under al their pft atoms
even In the hour of death. The Chaplain says:
There IL another thing ! would wish to state. All
tho men. without any exception, among the thousands
That have come this hospital have never IN single
instance expressed regret. Notwithstanding the pr
yatons and suffering they have endured. that th,y
entered their countrys service They have been tho
mos, Ia, al devoted and earnest men, even on the last
DAYS of their lives They have said at all they hoped
for Wns lust t. live and enter the ranks again and meet
their foes II g. most glorious record IN relation TO
the devotion of 10 their country do not think
their patriotism has been equacd In the history OF
the world"