The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1864-03-17

any light, but some have windows below
1 the pavement These cells are used for
| the purpose Of conining securely such of
the prisoners as the authorities may fear
will attempt to escape, as we'll as such as
nay chance to offend some one of the
many petty officials and attaches. Some
d our unfortunate men are continually
confined in these filthy holes on one pre-
text or another. 1t is the uniform prac-
tice to feed any and all persons sent to
these cells on bread and water only. Lieu
tenant Reed, of tie Sd Ohio volunteers,
was thrown into one of these cells aud
kept there for forty.eight hours, without
aDyt1aisgn n g sat er drink during the time
overcoat. The weather was very damp
and cold, and he, at that time was suffer
ing from most severe wound in the
hip.
On the night Of the 10Th December,
received communication, purporting to
come from one in authority, stating that
for one hundred dollars in grecnbacks
and two silver watches, myself and friend
would be permitted to pass the guard -
Some days previous to this one of my
officers succeeded in making his escape
in this way, and although | was not with
out apprehension that it was trap, new
ertheNess resolved to try the experiment.
Accordingly, Capt. B. G. G. Reed, of the
Sd Ohio, and myself, went to the desg
mated place at the appointed hour, where
we were assured that it was all right
We complied with the terms and passed
out, but no sooner were we outside the
guard lines, than Lieut.. La Touche, the
Adjutant of the prison, and seven men,
sprang out from concealed place and
commenced firing upon US before hating
US. We were unarmcd, and could do
nothing but surrender We were taken
back to the prison, put in irons, and
thrown into one Of these filthy holes
called cells, where we were kept for three
weeks on bread and water The weather
was very cold during the time, and we
nearly perished. There was a large
amount of filth in the cell which l could
not induce them to remove, nor could |
get them to permit me to remove it. |
asked for paper, pen and ink, to write to
the rebel authorities. l also asked for a
box to sit on, of which there was large
number in the cells. But everything
was denied me. At the time was taken
to sssp Is there SsS s5 jssa H g men osn %
days without blankets, and two of them
were very sick. They were released at
the end of seven days of their confne-
ment.
| cannot describe to you the loathsome
ilthiness of these cells. They arc in
tested with an innumerable number of
rats and mice, and they have no mark of
having been cleaned since they were first
butt. 1t is needless for me to say that
no man can survive long confinement
in ap'ace Of this kind; aud although |
am acquainted with several persons who
have been confined there, | do not know
one who can now be called we'll man.
| have endeavored to give you a sam.
pie Of such acts of barbarity as will ena-
bic yol to form a correct conclusion rela-
tive to the treatment our unfortunate men
are receiving at the hands of the inhuman
people with whom we are at war. They
seem lost to every principle of humanity,
ano it is my candid opinion that their
brutality to our prisoners is only measur-
ed by their fears.
| have the honor to be, most respect
fully, your obedient servant,
A. D. STREIGHT
Col. 51st Indiana Volunteers