The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-01-01
Our Prisoners at Richmond.
WHAT A WOMAN WOULD DO.

1t may be- some say, that these reports
are exaggerated" we are sending them
| food, say others, mplacentiy folding their
hands, ga and they get it." o yes , they ge,
it-I believe that. know something OF the
tender mercies Of those people nave been
| in rifed hospitals, where even the surgica
instruments We're stolen or DESTROYED, that
| our doctors might he rnw4raSs. | have
Seen rebel soldiers feed on stolen wines and
jellies, and strengthening food of our OWE
poor fellows, AID seven men dying for the
want of little stImulaEt. Ye,, ard they
did die, not seven, but score; and the high
born chivalry Of the proudest State in that
compact with hell, chuckled as they heard
the complaints Of our soldiers. and fed on
their pitered daintes. hardly know how
to keep my indignation under proper re-
straint.
Our poor soldiers who nave periIed every
thing, staryinG-and our prisoners-Gol and
man Gefying rebels living almost in luxury
and receiving pay in gold while they teas;
contentedly at our expense. Why, where
are our men, Are they ali dead? Has the
common feeling of humanity vanished from
among US? Can we still eat, and enjoy our
comfortable homes, loli on our couches, sing
| laugh, dance, dress, and thousands of our
countrymen lying in filth in the agony oi
slow staryation-lheir lives draining drop by
drop through the filter of southern malgni-
ty? DO you see them there some helpless
with great staring eyes gray and dead as
ashes-with fallen Jaws and vacant glances
so far gone that they have almost lost the
recollection of their blessed homes? Dc
You see the hands hanging, their shrunken
slnews and bloo0iess veins standing ont like
yithered vines upon dead branches ? d.
YOU hear the dreadful monotone of their hol
low voices that brave doom with forced
laughter no longer? voices that have gont
down into the tomb Of hope and wait onl,
! he shutting OF the door, the turning of tht
! key. to sink in eternal silence Do YOU SEE
them so spiritless that fire leaps to the ey.
no longer, when the insulting foe taunts with
cruel questions? If you do not do
/ Floors, 0cde>s and boardlesS men VIII.
stood erect niue months ago and would hav,
scorned you if sou had told them they couiC
/ fall 50 low-l see them in their anguish, tn,
walls of their hearts written all over viii
bitter memories. | can almost hear the
frantic cries that never oyerleap the lips, bu
like yoceless prayers go up The throne OF ths
great God Aud can men talk calmly O
these things? meet each other With the com
mon place" treating our men badly il
Richmond while NY blood boils and m,
teeth set-whie every pulse in my bod,
leaps to the fiery Indignation of my soul
Great heavens. Why does Richmond stand
Why does patriotism 90 begging, bruised
and starving? Why does not every wifi
say 70 her husband, Go. without pay bu.
your own gun; beg your way there; bu; g
and tear down the walls Of those accurse,
prison houses !" look round the street
and see scores on scores Of healthy youn!
men go leisusely about-and wonder Rich
mond )" is not written on their foreheads.-
But them am woman-why should
speak Of such things? Why should | fee
anv anxiety about those men who a>e al
strangers to me ?-.Nrs Denison IN Bosto
Transcript.