Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-05-13
THE CONDITION OF RELEASED UNION
PRISONERS.


Mr.. Wade, from the Committee on the Conduct
Of the War in the Senate, and Mr.. Gooch in the
House, submitted report on the condition Of
the returned prisoners from Richmond at An
napols, from an examination made at the re-
quest of the Secretary Of War. The evidence
proves beyond all doubt, in the estimation of tho
committee, determination on the part of the
rebel authorities to subject our soldiers and off.
GERS who fall into their hands to physical and
mental suffering impossible to describe. They
now have the appearance of living skeletons,
literally little more than skin and bones, some
MANNED fer life, and some frozen by lying with
ut tent or covering on the bare ground at Belle
Isle.
The general practice is shown to be the rob-
berry Of prisoners, as as taken, Of all money,
valuables and good clothing. The amount Of
food allowed was totally insufficient to preserve
the health of child, consisting usually Of two
pieces of bread made of corn-cob meal, badly
cooked, with about two ounces of meat unfit to
be eaten, and occasionally few black worm
eaten beans. They were obliged to sell the
clothing received from home to obtain food to
sustain life. Those in the hospitals were little
better fed, and were neglected, their wounds
remaining for days undressed
One witness, when asked if he was hungry
said: "Hungry l could eat anything in the
world that came before me. Some of the boys
NOuiu Rbt DOAtb lIuln tnb nOFlu Win uthL Ol
different kinds in them, and after they had picked
the meat off would throw the bones into the spit
boxes, and we would get them out of the spit
boxes and gnaw them over again" They were
submitted to unmerciful aud murderous treat
ment from those in charge of them shot and
killed for violating rules Of which they had no
knowledge.
When received at Annapolis, their clothing
Was so filed with vermin that il had to be de-
Il Had - tl,nss
heads and bodies OF the pests. They are now
dying daily, and the physicians in charge enter
tain no doubt that their emaOiaiion aud death
are caused by brutal and merciless treatment
received while prisoners Of war.
The testimony shows that the treatment at
Columbia and Dalton wRs far more humane than
81 Richmond.
The Committee cannot resist the conclusion
that these inhuman practices are the result of
determination on the part Of the rebel authori-
ties 10 reduce our soldiers by prvatons and
exposure to such condition that they never
shall be able to render effective service in the
hed-a result like the massacre Of Fort Pillow,
predetermined policy.
They deem it evident that the rebel newspa-
per statements claiming for the prisoners the
same treatment as received by their soldiers are
hagrant and unblushing fasehoods, and say -
"No one can for a moment be deceived by suoh
neuicueulb VIM Will iuul uuE hOluleFb
when taken prisoners were stout, healthy men,
in the prime aud vigor of life, yet have died by
hundreds under the treatment they have re.
ceived, although required to perform no duties
Of camp or march, while rebel soldiers were able
to make long and rapid marches and to offer
stubborn resistance in the field. They refer with
pride and satisfaction to the unoOmpaining for
titude and undminished patriotism exhibited by
our brave men under oil their privations, even
in the hour of death.
The Chaplain says;-There is another thing
would wish to state: none Of the men, among
the thousands that have come to this hospital,
have ever, in a single instance, expressed o re.
greet notwithstanding the privations and suffer.
ings they have endured, that they entered their
nountry's service. They have been the most
loyal, devoted and earnest men. Even in the
last days Of their lives they have said that al
they hoped for wes Just to live and enter the
ranks again, and meet their foes. 1t is a mos
glorious record in relation to the devotion Of oui
men to their country. ! do not think their pa
trlotism has ever been equalled 10 the history o
the world.