The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-05-07
The Bu9efinga of Prisoners On

prlv0te properly. WO !0uA!ueu n INC
were nut on Belle Isie with the other pris-
ouers whom they had confined at that place. |
There were nearly four thousand there
then. The camp covered space Of about
three acres, surrounded by deep ditch,
outside Of which the rebel guards tread
their beat. Tents were struck thick over
inQ very boOr shelter from tho cold and
storms Of winter. The prisoners were very
destitute Of clothing; some had no coats, |
some no shirts, others NO shoes, and many |
without blankets. We had no blankets,
and only what clothing We had ON when |
captured, and the tents were full, 30 that
We bad to lie out on To ground for . week
or two. The rebels parOled several humid |
red prisoners, and sent them to our lines. |
We then got tents and also bought some old |
blankets, paying from two to ave dollars
for them.
Yon have doubtless heard much about
the starvation of Union prisoners there
we got you will be inclined to believe there
is some truth in it. We were allowed only
two meals day. For breakfast . quarter
of q loaf Of wheat bread, probably four or
i've ounces, and q ANAL piece of fresh beef,
to the man. For supper, same amount of
bread and pint of bean or rice soup. By
the-way, the beans were not such as are
pea, and raised in some of the Southern
States. These peas were old and buggy,
and frequently when the soup was brought
to us, the top would be covered with bugs,
and We would have to skim them of before
eating the soup. At first, such soup went
rather against the grain, but our keen APP
petites soon brought us to, and We were
glad to get even that. In fact, the rations
were hardly sufficient to sustain life. In
November the wheat bread played out,
and corn bread was substituted. This was
better for Ne, ID it contained more heat and
strength, though We did not get half enough
to satisfy our appetites. About this time
the meat played out, and from that time
on we got but very little meat. | do not
believe we got so much as pound Of meat
to the man, from the first Of January till
We reached our lines. Hundreds of men
were sent to the hospitals in Richmond,
and died, their deaths resulting purely
from the effects Of stnrvdtjom.
During the last month OF our stay, the
bread was Of most miserable quality, being
made from very coarse meal, un1ifted, then
not half baked, nor sailed. This some
times had to be toasted before it could be
eaten; and this bread was all We got, ex-
cept occasionally . few raw beans or little
rice. Another circumstance will illustrate
the cruelty and inhumanity Of the rebel
leaders,. About the LIST Of January, the
Confederate authorities caused all the con-
valescents and other prisoners who were
in the buildings in Richmond, to be placed
on the, island, SO that at one time there
were nearly ten thousand there. The camp
was enlarged, but then great many had
no tents, and had to lie en- the ground and
in the bitches. In November and Deem
her we we're supplied with clothing and
blankets which were sent from our inee.--
II we had not received them, God only
knows what would have become of. u.s.
Again, we hac no stove in our tents and
got but very little wood; some day: Ne
bed all day to keep warm. Some who had
to lie out, froze to death. It was quite a
common thing TO find, when the morning
light appeared, several poor wretches
stretched jim death. II was sad to see the
suffering that existed there. CHASTITY faces
and walking skeletons greeted the vision
daily. Starvation, exposure and filthinees
almost destroyed their bodies, and their
minds enfeebled, and, az itwere, Gagged up.
Our bodies not only suffered, but our minds
and mental faculties suffered in view OF
our coalition But men who had plenty
Of money could buy provision. The guards
would bring provisions from Richmond
exorbitsns prices. Bot pefhaps I am wee-
ryiug you With this long detail. Sufhce II
to say that language can not describe the
sufferings and hartships Of the Union
prisoners in tho prisons OF Htchmon0.-
Imagine our. joy, when, on tho 1Ssa q
March. 1854, about 100 ofu. were Salled ool
to be sent 70 the Federal linee. That day
We had long looked for and long prayed
for. With agonixing hearts did No wait tol
that day.. A. last w bohold IL. & With feel
ings of joy and gratitude We took our de-
parture from that den of h0rro.D and God
1orsaken capital. We reached ADnapoais
Maryland, on the 16th Of March. We I'm.
SSlnA
ments for an entire new uniform, but -.
fore we. donned It we give our bodies Z
good scrnbbin4 IN .. warm bathroom. Yor
neyer saw such . change in the looks q
men, and indeed there was change In III
feelings ALSO; q seemed that We we're y
enjoyed another blessing; it was that VI
had all we wanted to eat. This II glori
ous country yet. Would to God the las
traitor WA made TO bite the dust. The H
carnatA llem6ns Of the South. May they
soon be swept from the land. want (
see our Government adopt principles b
retaliation-6m fetaiiation. Why ts i
almost exactly the 19me amount Of rationi
that our own hard. working soldiers get
Who, in perf0rming lSborious marches, en-
during eeyefe hardships, and In nghtinl
the great battles, afe riSklng their liveS ant
all "a the cause of our pountrys while tn,
Union prisoners ID tie South are suhjectee
to the severest privations, made to live ex
posed to the cold storms Of winter, witt
hardly food enough to sustain Life : Wins
contrast! These things ought not % =
be. Our Government n too humane; II
afraid Of hurting the feelings Of our South
ern brethren. But nrm retaliation u need
ed TO open their eyes, and . Vigorous pros
ecution Of the war, until tho hast armed
rebel il subjugated to the authority Of thu
United States. These are my principles.
Yours truly, J. w. 8.
Thaddeus Stevens, Of Pennsylvania, WHIT
has worn a wig twenty years, was lately
applied to In behalf of the st. Louis Sani.
tary Fair for lock Of his hair to put in
Congressional wreath. 80
John G. SAKE, the Poetical joker, is seri'
ously i'll at Albany. N. Y, from the effecta
ofinjuries received while riding on rail. .
.'seset - g. as a5 Js 3+
III - as $3.50 r~lE