Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1864-04-18

have been nducted into the mysteries and varieties
Of my Of the Northern military pTisOns-Columbus,
Ky; Alton, Johnson's islsnd, Fort Delaware Point
Lookout and ohsrE-dsem it duty give our Coy
erument and country the benefit of our observations
and experience while sojourning In Yankss land.
Although treatment from Federal officials was much
diversified; frequently tainted with Insults and abuse
sOnstines treated with that consideration to which
hsmsn being entitled dive win not s1tenuate or set
down Sughf in malice.
Commencing a. Columbus, Ky: Tbs prison yard S
about afty by hundred and afy feet inclOsed with
very high and strong plank fsnes, which is strongly
guarded BY soldiers outide and in. Ths prison or
guard house il a tHo-story building, about eighty by
twenty feet with but room In zach story except
cell At one end where those charged with crime at
tempt escape are confined aHd lroned The rooms
have door and two three very small iron grated
windows Into this little pen crowded frequently
four five hundred men, Of al grades and coorS
The disobedent, drunken and worthless Yankee sci.
ders black and white, thrust ia there among Con-
fsderse prisoners Of and srrsSed citizens for al
Legged disloyslty So that Is cften perfect JAM and
with great diculy and sometimes it is impossible, to
get room the floor lie at night. In warn weather
In summer il Is almost mpossible to get breath With
two hundred Of the molly character above
mulste bsggar description Into this Wrstchsd dssrsd-
ing and almost intOiersbls bastTs almost daily
crowded Numbers Of the very choicest spirits Of South.
srn frssmen FOR other crime than daring undsmaysd
tread their native heath and breathe the air Of free
dsn- Not unfrequsnty ten twelve respectable
citizens arrested and confined pretended hostages for
some vile degraded wretch who had turusd traitor to his
OwI country and bad hidden himself In the wcUdS been
captured by Confsdsrstss disappeared These citi-
zenE sre-O often kept Tor months without even pre-.
tended charge being brought against them. Some Of
whom had passed the allotted period II three score
yssrs and ten whose heads slvsrsd with age
and whose trembling limbs attested thsr nespaeify for
such physical endurance, and ensn sank under over
burthsnsd nature and sealed tksr devotion to the holy
cause Of freedom BY offering their lives upon the altar
Of Liberty. The prisoners have about hundred and
ffty by ten twelve feet to walk and exercise.
On side Of the building adjoining the wall, Is
Ehsd sbsut ten feet wide and forty long used kich
"a and dining There generally from four to
six tables full to eat the Yankees always having the pre-
ference. No cleaning of ID done un all have eaten
and very little then. There neither knives forks
or pIstesl Tin cup Is the oHy table furniture The
meat Of which . very se1nty portion is served once
day thrown into large caldron and boiled without
cleaning no matter how dirty; It is then into small
pieces and laid with slice Of bread for each man with
cuu Of pot-lIquor for dinner. For breakfast bread
with cup Of something esIsd coffee For supper
bread and water The TafI0ns though too scsnty for
common man, muca the worst Of all il the dizziness
At which Southern dsrksy would turn up his ness in
Disgust and walk away, lssying 1t untouched.
At Alton, H. there is q slight Improvement in rstIOns
and quarters especially for officers who are kept sep
srais from the privEtes in smsl rooms which they in
vain try keep clean This is the Old State peniten-
sry, which removed account Of the unheslthI.
less Of the place. The privstes crowded Into the
I'D workshops which more filthy than The worst
asgro cabins in the South, and they have
10 way TO remedy It. Water is scarce and very bsd
,lsAOugh the upper Eississipp is flowing within one
hundred yards yet it is far beyond the reach Of
prisoner II it Was thousand miles of. The hos
,lts Is the center, where smallpox and almost
very other contagious and yrulent disease RACES with
1nbridsd fury and TO go to the hospital Is almost
ure passport to another world. There, as In mort
shsr Northern prisons death and burial have become
daily matter Of transaction and the wretchsd
aniors Of Lincoln, Ike their degraded chief the
1anEed population of bis own dominlons, seem to |
float over it with idiOtle laugh. Humanity shud,
srs siekens and reeos st The reckless slaughter hy
es' sct, and we weep the many noble South. |
who snd their days in these slaughter pens Of
Iorthern fanatcism. In transporting prisoners from
prison to another, there is generally strong guard
to every two three prisoners, with the most
igd instructions prohibiting prisoners from buying
ny neeessaries on the way, or speaking to a
isizsn, old young male or femAlsi a violation of
rbeh would incur the risk OF instant death so fearful
they Of the sympathy Of their people with the
altering South. It will not be overlooked In this con
ectOn, that officers baggage is generally placed In
ePArAts car, and guard placed over 1t. When ar
wing at ths place OF destination It is very common
ind almost every trunk and vslize broken open snd
fled of their most valuable contents express boxes
nd money packages often share the same fate. AL /
hoagh, when complaint Is made, somstlmss = mock |
sATch is Instituted. have known detection
nd punishment follow. Letters are suppressed to
nd fro they breathe the least sentiment Of sothern
yzpEthy Of Northern rule; in short cor
apt ard irresponsible dynasty resns throughout the
rhoIs North.
We next come to Point Lookout in General Buffers /
e pzrtmePt-s who has rendered hlnselflufsmous
lrOuShOut the civilized world except In Ysnksedon)
his inhuman, brutal and devilish conduct in New
rlesna. Bat be Is now evidently endeaYoriDg to re
ssm himself In the opinion OF the officers ever whom
. has rule as we were treated with much more con
derAiOn there than al any ether priEon for the very
Orabe report thereby in degree wipIng out the
,al stain, tndelsby fxsd upon his nsme 1t is sn In
ain, It viii follow him TO his dshOnorsd grs7e though
Il he may look back with shame and regret, and cry
the bitterness and anguish sf his soul, "out damned
pot" bat 1t viii still be there.
But we wish most particularly to call the attention OF
NJ Government and people the suffering condition
our unoFtunats private soldiers In Northern prisons
no are suffering and dying with hunger, disease and
Did without the that Southern man would give
: hound dog. Some irozs 20 death during the past /
-ater and many nueh hrcst bitten that they
IN be crippled for life. SONS quArtered In tents
nd durIBg the extreme cold weather had no wsod or
res for two weeks 81 time.
The Federal presses make great to DO about the sa
eress Of prisoners to take the cath Of allegiance to the
sdsral Government. 'Tis true thesS are some who
ever were very sound, and others being deprived Of
information sxespt such suits the interest Of the
lrthern Government are Induced 70 bseve thst the
sbsnon is at end and the only wey to Life is
0 rellnqush thsir adherence to the Southern cause
lbe few Others from want and suffering, lose their
tnhoOd and yield in despair But notwithstanding ali
ss appliances Of Yankee ingenuity and cunning that
40 brought 70 bear to the honor and credit Of the
onfsAersis soldier be it said he bears his suerinss
lith manly fortituds prsfsrring death to dlshonor
moug the TWO tneusahu seven hund ca onoers comm
4 on JohHsOns island, but two cases to our
noulsags Of applications to take the oath, and they
rers kicked al the prison yard. nat the Yam
ees had to take them out TO their lives. Even a
egrO, who was brought there with bis master when
D piled to take the oath with the promise Of freedom
-Iih abundant weAth and happiness replied that he
sd a respectable family at homs aud he not going
disgrace his wife and children by taking The Yankee
sth Although 70 be rsleaaed from their cOphuemept
IN object dear 10 El snd their most tsrvent DESIRE
ct they 40 not wish the Government to compromise
s honor So far cur knsUledge extends the Confed
ats soldiers new In prison de e5mined than
YER live die with the independence Of the South
Is for ourselves. and think ne bHt express the al
,osf unanimous sentiment Of the officers with whom We