Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-10-01
RETURNED FROM THE SOUTHERN PRISONS

RETURNED FROM THE SOUTHERN PRISONS
Yesterday morning, DIR William J. Cragen,
surgeon OF the I'd ID. q. regiment, who was
captured on the oath of May near Fairfax sta.
ton, about the time the regiment was moving
back on train Of cars, arrived home after
pretty extensive tour through several of the
Confederate States.
DR.. Cragen was captured by DR.. Powell, OF
Prince William county, Va, and Geo. Slick
Court Houte, and from thence on the cars TO
GOrdonsville, where he was delivered over to
the provost marshal, Maj. Boyle, who proved
to be no less a parsonage than Dr. Cornelius
Boyle, formerly of this city. Boyle seems to
have lost none of his flesh, and was in perfect
health, and w hen DIR. Cragen was ushered into
to task for joining 'sthe internal Yankees"
From Gordonsville he was sent to Lynch
burg, where he found Robert Shinn, OF Alex
andria, lieutenant and provost marshal, and
he was Kept here two weeks. Here the pris-
oners received cooked rations consisting OF one
small corn dodger and quarter Of a pound of
bacon per day. .."
They were taken from this place to Dan Vile,
Va, and from thence on the 9TH of June, twelve
officers and 500 prisoners were dispatched to
Macon, GA, where they arrived on the 10Th.
Here they were placed in the stOckade at the
Fair Grounds, in which were two buildings
only, but the prisoners built sheds for shelter.
This stOckade covered about three acres Of
ground, and in it 1000 prisoners were confined,
health OF the prisoners was generally good.
The rations were here served out every four
days, and consisted Of five pints of meal, fifteen
ounces Of bacon cured in ashes, six tablespoons
OF worm eaten beans, four do. rice, two tea
spoons Of salt, one gill of molasses, half gill
of vinegar, and one tablespoon of soft side.
They remained here until the latter part Of
July, when Stoneman was making his raid
On the 2Sth, about 600 prisoners were sent to
Charleston, and the Doctor left with 600 others
On the following day for Savannah, where they
We're placed In the yard OF the Marine Hos piial
in tents, and renamed until the Sd OF Septem.
Der. receiving pound of fresh beef per day,
with plenty OF meal and rice and little vim
egar. At that time the medical officers were
removed to Charleston. ,:tis ~atp 2fFF
The prisoners on the train from Macon to
Charleston were to have made an attempt to
capture and burn the tram at Poeotaiigo on
the 2Sth, and had agreed that at a given signal
they would seize the guards, set fire to the
train, and make for the Federal line5 but the
plan was discovered, and an increased number
of guards placed on the train. Some seventy.
five, however, did Jump from the train, but
they were mostly recaptnred.
At Charleston they found a ls ge number of
prisoners, who are quartered at the Roper Hos.
pital, Marine Hospital, jail, and wOrkhouse.
They are said to be under fire, but in reality
they are in very little danger, and the Doctor
did not hear of any on OF our men bein njured
except Lieut. Foote, of General Vessels staff,
W hose arm was graZed a few weeks since by q
piece OF shell. while he was sitting at dinner.
The discipline is not very severe, and the pris.
oneIs have some little room for exercise, and
the general treatment is much better than at
other places. There are some Washingtonians
here, among them Lieut. Caustin, (Tom Caus-
tin,) who is well, and Engineer Ellis, (son of
j. B. Ellis, Esq, OF this city,} who is suffering
with scuryy, brought on by imprisonment but
Is rot seriously i'll. DR.. Cragen was released
on the 23d, with other officers, and exchanged
the same day, and Immediately set out for
home. . '---.-' '''.'...'s 80. "a 5,g-tzi RI