The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1864-09-10
FURTHER REVELATION.
From the :, w South, August goth.

lcIe the TACT that Gen. ostef had caused to I
be transferred to this Department Fifty reb- |
ell officers, to be placed under rebel FIRE at |
Cummings Point, 10 retaliation for sim
liar measure adopted by the enemy at
Charleston. Since that time We have g;V-
en- the details of the exchange of those pris-
oners-an exchange forced upon Jef. Da-
Wis by the prompt aud determined stand Ia
ken By Gen. Foster the mou.ent be heard of
the cowardly aud outraged us act perpetrated
by the despicable anGa insignificant rsbsl
leaders in Richmon.d. Now, as to the ex-
change itself. The rebels doubtless con-
graduate themselves upon having achieved
very nice thing. They perhaps felicisate
themF- ELVES upon having forced our Govern
mc.nt into an exchange of the fifty rebel
prisoners. The fact of the case is, the boot
is on the other leg. It was JEFF. Davis,
Who, frightened at the base and ignoble
stride he had made in the history o. chival
ry, and aware of the bold opposition of the
people 10 his bastard conduct, sought to
smooth the matter over by negotiating for
an exchange. 1t was Gen. Fosters inten-
ton not to resort to extreme rigid meas
ures, if the rebels evinced disposition to
have our men removed from Charleston.
Sam Jones did evince disposition, the mo-
ment he heard of the arrival of the fifty reb
Ell officers at Hilton Head, to enter into an
arrangement whereby the Union officers
should not be kept under FIRE, and il was in
good faith that Gen. Foster acted when the
terms Of the exchange were agreed upon.
But with the per6dious Jeff. Davis the case
is otherwise. Thinking to exact from our
Government another exchange, he sends to
Charleston. two days before the fifty Union
officers are placed on board the Cosmopol-
itan, 600 other Union officers to take their
place. We are told that the cutting Of the
railroad communications between Macon
and Charleston was the only circumstance
that prevented the number of 900 from be-
| ing l6, 900 How is this barbarism 10 be
met? For the 600 Union officers under
fire at Charleston, 600 rebel officers are to
be placed under fire at Cummings Point.
Their arrival may be expected within few
| days. And when the prisoners once get
here, they will not have the happy privilege
of remaining off Port Royal in a comfort
able brig. but will be dispatched Immediate
ly to Morris Island, where they will be
placed In a position to receive the full ben
eft of their comrades FIRE. Measure for
measure is the rule to be observed in the fu-
ture. It is understood that tents have been
ordered 10 be placed on Morris Island, SO
that no delay may be occasioned on the plea
that there are no quarters ready TO receive
them. Of course it cannot be expected
that the 600 will be accommodated with
nice barracks. Do the rebels think of pla-
cling our men in nice barracks at Anderson
vile? Ask those who have recently come
from there, and you will be told that in a
small area thousands of our men are penned
without particle of shelter. Besides that
they are subjected to the most brutal treat
ment: and if one should happen to ap-
proash the fence which bounds the limit of
the area sufficiently near to touch it, he is
shot by the guard. The rebels may mag
inc that only Union soldier will be so treat
ed, but the time is fast approaching when
the northern spirit will cease its wonted for
bearance, and demand that prisoners in our
hands shall be treated as Union PRISONERS
are by the rebels. The step has already
been taken, and ere many days shall have
elapsed the GOO will be on Morris Island.
It appears that while in Charleston, the
officers were confined in the city Jail. AL
though they were under FIRE all the time, it
fortunately happened that none were iniur-
ed by the Smelling. The shells, for the
most part. passed over the jail and struck
some distance above, or else went very far
to the right. Only one shell exploded il
the Jail yard, and that happened the day
preceding that of the exchange. During
the first week of their imprisonment in
: Charleston, the officers were subjected tC
the most iahuman treatment. They were
kept on short rations of hoe cake and wa
ter; and were not allowed the privilege o.
making purchases outside. After the frs
week, for some cause-probably the knowl
edge Of Gen. Fosters intention to retaliate
. the rebel authorities became more lenient
and made an effort to lesson, to eotne exteut
, the inconveniencies and hardships of pris
on life. The treatment usually imposed or
5 Union prisoners throughout the South i
+ horrible in the extreme. Il would appea
\ that the rebels adopted the course of starry
2 ing and otherwise killing prisoners for tn,
=. purpose of dec;mating our army as muct
as possible. At Hendersonville thousand
are packed together in one Enclosure with
? out particle of shelter. If one should
: happen to come IN contact with the fence
r which encircles the prison ground, he
!, shot instantly. The guard for the mos
part consist of old men aud young boys
: Similar guards we're also placed over th
I fifty officers in Charleston at the time o
!. the expedition to Johns Island. As to til,
4 Union sentiment in tae South, no doubt il
entertained of it's existence. Nearly all tn
!. people desire peace, and large party at
3 willing TO see the Union restored st almos
A any sacrifice to themselves. Of course
: will not do for people to openly avow thei
!. Union sentiments, but for all that number
of them manage to aequaint the prisoner
of lheir kindly feelings toward them. 1t i
Is stated az fact that hundreds of Union me-
[ may now be found in Charleston aud So
rannah RnsinAsa "a AntireIR snenended i