Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-03-31
THE EXPERIENCE OF CONFEDERTE OFF
THE NORTH.

THE NORTH.
from the Richmond Examiner
The experiences OF this war have afforded many
ampIes of Yankee cruelty which have produced i'm
preston or less distinct upon the enlightened por
tions of the world But the statement which we proceed
to give takes precedence Of all that has ever yet been
narrated of the atrocities OF the enemy and 1t Is SO re-
markable, both account OF its matter and the credit
that must naturally attach to ts authorship, that
doubt whether the so called civilzd world of this gen
GRAFTON has produced anywhere any well authenticated
story Of equal borrow
The statement we gave TO our readers is that we
have lust taken from the lips of Capt. Calvin q. Nor
gan brother of the famous Gen. Morgan, who arrived
in Richmond under the recent flag OF truce, which
cred the return of several hundred of our prisoners
1t appears that, after Gen. Morgan escape suspi.
cion alighted on the warden, certain Capt Merton,
who it is thought might have been corrupted. To al
eviate the suspicion flor which there really 10
grounds wbateVer), the brute commenced system OF
deviish perse cution OF the unfortunate Confederate
prisoners who remained in his hands. One part OF this
system solitary confinement IN dungeons. These
dungeons were closed cells, false door being drawn
the grating, as to exclude light and air. Tie
food allowed the occupants OF these dark and nosom
places three OF bread and half pint OF
ter per day. The four walls bare OF VCrythng.
He was denied blanket, deprived OF his overcoat fife
had any, and lett standing stretched, with four dark
cold walls around him, with not room Enough to walk
in to keep up the circulation of his blood, stagnatcd
with the cold and the silent and unuterabe horrors
his abode.
Confinement in these dungeons was the warden
sentence for the most trivial offences On occaCiDn
OF the prisoners thus immured because be
fused to tell Merton which one of his companions had
whistled contrary to the prison rules But the most
terrible visitation OF this demons displeasure occurred
not more than six weeks ago.
Some knives had been discovered in the prisoners
cells, and Merton accused the occupants Of medtatinE
their escape Seven of them, all C0icers and among
them Capt. Morgan taken TO the west end OF tie
building and put in the dark cells there. They
not allowed blanket or overcoa, and the thermomc
ter was below zero. There no room to pace Each
prisoner had to struggle for lfe the cold bcuumbri
him. by stamping his feet, beating the walls, catch
ing few minutes of horrible sleep the cold foo"
and then starting up to continue, in the dark, his
tie for life
had been suffering from heart disease" says Cap.
tain Morgan. 1t was terribly aggravated by ~
cold and horror of the dungeon in which was placed
had wet towel, one end of which pressed TO my
side the other would fret re and l had to put it,
frozen folds on my naked skin. stood this way all
night pressing the frozen towel to my side and keeping
my feet going up and down. felt l was struggling
Tor my life.
Captain Morgan endured this confinement for
eighteen hours, and was taken out barely alive. The
other prisoners endured it sixteen days and nights 10
this time they visited at different periods by the
| physician of the pententiary-Dr. Loring-who hl'
their pulses and examined their condition. to ascertain
how long life might hold out under the exaciiug tyr
| ture. 1t was awful, this ceremony Of torture thu
medical examination of the victims.
The tramp of the prisoners feet, up and down CLce
was no room to work. as they thus worked .sr IIir
was necessarily going on. This black tread mill Of the
dungeon could be heard all through the cold and dca
~ hours OF the night. DIR. Loring, who compare
lively humane person, besought Merton TO release Tx
unhappy men, said they had already been taxed to tc
| point of death. The wretch replied, "They did not
talk right yet" He wished them to humble themsIvcs
to him. He went into the cell of one OF them, Major
Weber, to tauut him. "Sir, said the officer, 81 deg
you. You can kill me, but you can add nothing to the
suferings you have already inflicted. Proceed TO Aa
me; it makes not the slightest difference"
AT the expiration of sixteen days the
leased from the dungeons. Marion said abe would take
them odt this time alive, but next time they offended
they would be taken out feet foremost" Their appear
ance was frightful they could no longer be recognld
by their companions. With their bodice swollen AID
discoored, with their minds bordering childshues
lettering OF them talking fooishly these wrctce
men seemed to agree but in thing-a d.
sire for food.
al had known Capt Coles" says Capt Morgau
" as well as my brother. When he came out OF BIZ
dungeon, swear to you did not know him. His fac.
had swollen to two or three times its ordinary size and
be tottered SO that had to catch hin from falling
Capt. Barton in awful state. His face wa
swollen and the blood was bursting from the skin. Al
Of them had to be watched, to check them in ea
ing, as they had been starved go long"
Captain Morgan fortunate az to obtain
transfer to Johnstons Island, whence, after being
ried to Point Lookout, he was exchanged. lie say
that when "he got into Beast Buffers hands he felt
if be had been translated to paradise"
Is there any authority in Richmond that will crook
thumb to save these men, who are not only flesh Of
our flesh, but the defenders of those in this capital
who not exactly disowning them, undertake the ba%
and cowardly pretence of ignoring their fate }?
What is the Confederate definition of "TetalatiOl
Captain Morgan says that on his way down the bog
to Fortress Monroe he met Col Streight, that this l
nous "hostage was fat and rubicund that be spoke
freely of his prison experience in Richmond and com
planned only that he had to eat corn bread This ap
peared to be the extent of bis sueriDgs eul the limit
of Confederate retaliation.
RETURNED OFFICERs.-Among the list of retlr.a
officers at Richmond on Sunday last, we find tie o..
lowing names Of North Carolinans: Capt. NJ j Il an
don. A. O. M, 59th Regiment; Lieuenants r. y. q
Askew and w. q. Caldwin 10th n. @. "a. j. B.Ow.
38th; S. M. Buxton, End N. @. cavalry; j. A. CAD
wei 23d; w. r. Covington, 38th; j. b. Cabarr.