Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-11-21
ATHENS Ohio, Nov. Il.

Rebel ATROCITIES at Columbia Prison,
south Carolina.
The recently escaped Union officers from
Columbia make revelations that are truly
sickening. a correspondent from the vi
cinity Of Savannah, thus writes
By every investigation the evidence ac-
cumulates of the brutality Of the rebel au-
thorities towards the Union prisoners in
their hands. The first statements of star
vation, robbery, neglect, murder, insults
worse to bear than even death itself,
seemed incredible. But corroborstion
after confederation, from officers aud pri-
Yates, from descrters and refugees, from
men whom we know to be truthful, who
tell the same story time after time, with
only new variations, drawn from new ex-
periences, leave no longer room for doubt
that our brave officers and men have been
starved, insulted, robbed and murdered
beyond all precedent in civilized warfare.
If they agree to conditions with the hope
of an amelioration of their condition, they
are held to their agreements, and refused
the benefits they we're promised. They
are deprived of their clothing; if fthey es-
cape they are hunted with bloodhounds;
if they venture near the dead line they
are shot. Such are the repI Iesentstions
made by these escaped officers, and their
statements are but corroborations Of Oft
told tales.
Formal statements of Captain PASTOR
! and other prisoners to me, on some Of these
! daints, are to the effect that after their re-
movql TO Columbia their treatment was
| horrid. From the time of their removal
to Charleston they did not taste meat but
twice, their usual food being corn meal
and sorghum, OF 8 very inferior quality Of
molssses. They were allowed no cooking
utensils, but occasionally got opportunities
to partially cook their food with improvis-
| ed utensils, manufactured from pieces of
tin and iron picked up on the route. On
arriving at Columbia they were taken to
an open lot, where trees had been felled.
with woods about. An officer of the con-
valescent corps, in charge of the camp, Of
| fered to provide them with tents and vs.
rious conveniences and privileges, if they
would give their parole not to attempt to
escape; but they all refused, for three rea-
sons-because they wished to escape Il
they could, because they wished to require
as large g guard as possible, and because,
from experience, they had learned
TO dstrust rebel promises
The consequence was they have
remained to this day, except those who
have escaped, without shelter, other than
brush booths they constructed themselves
They were robbed when captured, of every
thing that could be taken, sven 10 then
buttons. The Adjutant General on Cla.
bornes staff snatched hat from the head
of Union Adjutsnt, saying il was just
what he needed, Not night passed that
officers did not escape, and only about hal
were captured on an average. Blood
hounds were constantly used in pursuing
them, and one officer was so badly torn By
them that he died.
DETAILS OF 4 WITNESS OF THE FORT Pill
Low MASSACRE
Captain PASTOR was captured at For
Pillow. He says the affair was very cor
rectly stated in the New York Herald. bu
thinks the intention was 70 discriminate
between the white troops and negroes
Only few white troops and their Officers
wese massacred after the surrender. Cap
tain Patson is now the only surviving Of
hcer in his battalion who was in ths
fight One was captured with him, bu
died.