Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-05-25
Horrors of the Richmond Prisons.

The testimony of our released prisoners at
Annapolis, before the Committee on the Con-
duct of the War, goes TO show that it is the
practice of the rebel authorities to subject
our soldiers and officers who fall into their
hands, to physical and mental suffering inn
possible to describe.
Many of those released from Richmond
present now the appearance of living skele
tons, little more than skin and bone, some
manned for life, and some frozen by lying
without tent or covering, on the bare ground
at Belle Isle. The general practice is shown
to be the rObbing Of prisoners, as soon as ia
ken, Of all money, valuables and good cloth
ing. The food allowed, was totally INSULT
cient 70 preserve the health of a child. 1t
consisted usually of two pieces of bread made
of corn and cob meal badly cooked, with
about two ounces of meat unfit to eat, and
occasionally a few black, worm-eaten beans
They were obliged to sell clothing received
from home to buy food to sustain life. Those
in the hospitals were little better fed. Worn
and neglected wounds remained for days I'M
dressed One witness when asked if he was
hungry, replied: Hungry? | could eat any
thing in the world that came before US"
They were submitted to unmercifuI and
murderous treatment from those in charge
over them They were shot and killed for
violating rules of which they had no knowl-
edge.
When they arrived at Washington their
clothes were so filled with vermin that they
had to be destroyed, and repeated washings
failed to relieve their hands and bodies of
the pests. They are now dying daily, and the
physician in charge entertained no doubt that
their emaciation and death are clearly caused
-,y the brutal treatment received while priso-
ners of war.
The testimony shows that the treatment re-
ceived at Columbia and Dalton was far more
humane than at Richmond.
The committee can not resist the cOnclu-
sion that these inhuman practices are the re-
suit of a determination on the part OF the
rebel authorities to reduce our soldiers by
privations and exposure, to such condition
that they never will be able to render etfec-
tive service in the field. 1t IS the result, like
the massacre effort Pillow, of predetermin-
ed policy They deem it evident that the
rebel newspaper statements, claiming for the
prisoners the same treatment as their own
soldiers, are glaring and unblushing false
hosds, aud say no one can for moment be
deceived by such statements, who will reflect
that our soldiers, who when taken prisoners,
were stout, healthy men, III the prime ana
vigor of life, vet they have died by hundreds
under the treatment they have received, al
though required to perform no duties OF camp
or march. while the rebel soldiers are able to
make loIiS anu AapLu ma 40 60 "
stubborn resistance in the field. They refer
with pride and satisfaction to the uncom-
planning fortitude and undiminished patriot
ism exhibited by our brave men under all
their privatons, even in the hour of death.
The chaplain says " There is another thing
would wish to state. All the men without
any exception, among the thousands that
have come to this hospital, have never in a
single instance expressed a regret, notwith-
standing the privations aud sufferings they
have endured, that they entered their coun-
trv's service They have been most loyal,
devoted and earnest. They said all they
hoped was Just to live and enter the ranks
again, and meet their foes. 1t is glorious
record in the relation of the devotion OF our
men TO their country. l do not think that
their patriotism has ever been equaled in the
history of the world.