The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1864-12-22
HORRORS OF REBEL PRISONS.


Prisoners Horrible Barbarities of
the Rebels. f...H
The special correspondent Of the New
York Times, who accompanied the feet
that went to Savannah to bring back ten
thousand Of our exchanged prisoners
who have been conf fined by the rebels AT
Andersonville, has furnished that journ-
al with an account that makes the blood
run cold--an account substantiated by
the appearance Of the prisoners, the Off
ciul documents from their prison house,
and by the records of mortality. The
Times says il appears that the worst had
not been told--that the rebels had ac-
tually been attempting to realize hell on
earth, with Union soldiers for their vic.
Tins. H .. ..... ...
The rendezvous for exchanges was a
Venus Point, on the Savannah River,
within sight of the city Of Savannah.
Col. MulfOrd had charge of the ex-
changes on the part of the United States
and Capt. Hatch was the rebel agent.
Of the transhipment OF the poor fellows
from tho rebel to tho Union steamer,
and the subsequent scenes, the Times
correspondent writes .,. - ...v rrr
Those of them who are able to move
without aid pass to the protection of the
old flag first then come those (alas !
there are many of this class who hob
BILE on crutches, and last the few whose
helplessness requires that they should
be carried on stretehers. In all this
operation the greatest fOrmality is OBJ
served. A number Of rebel civilians,
with bands round their hats, labeled
COMMITTEE for the wounded" whose
position corresponds with our own SAM
tary Commission, accompany the boats
from Savannah to attend on the sick
and assist in the traDshipmcnt, but sell
dom on either side is a word spoken ex-
cept on the subject of the matter in
hand. A different course is forbidden,
and if on either side there happen to be
a disposition TO engage in conversation
wa,chful guards step up and ask tha
the conversation shall cease. 1t is NJ
uncommon thing to see a man who ba,
been so crippled by scrofula that crutche'
we're necessary to his loconotion, under
the influence of his ecstacy at again be-
ing free, spurn from him his artificial
supports and walk, for time, as cree
and as instantaneously as he whom the
Savior miraculously cured by the heal
ing waters of Bethesda. When the re.
bel boat moves off and the men are hud
! died together on the decks of our own
vessels, all fully understand that the
last link which bound them to robeldom
has been severed, then rises hearty
shouting and cheering, which only can
he given under these circumstances. -
There is the music of intense grateful.
ness in it. Three cheers and tiger fol
the old flag; three more and tiger foi
Col. Mulford ; then comes burst o
song, most often the words being Rally
round the flag, boys, from near aud frOu
far, down with the traitor and up witt
the star" the rebels still within hearing
probably guashing their teeth at tht
pointed personal allusion, but every bod
else feeling that the bad taste of tn,
happy fellows is excusable, even though
exhibited under the sacred folds of
Aag of truce. -.0
Then vermin.i infested rags, till nov
highly priced as the only cover 70
max edness, are rudely torn off and funj
into the water or cast with glee into th
flaming furnaces of the steamers, an,
new clothes are issued, and a genera
cleaning.timo inaugurated. But tn
bathing has long been needed, an
scarcely CONES soon enough. Many G
the men, through illness or carelessncs'
are so begrimed with filth, that, were
not for the dead color of the bloeke
!, epidermis, they might be taken for tn
sons Of Ham The steamer Eliza Han
COX, one Of the exchange feet, has
/ spacious deck, affording room fc
| dancing, and Terpsichore finds her VI
taries, even though they are tatterdC
malions, who dance not ungracelully i
their streaming rags, As soon as pos
siblc, barrels of hot coffee are prepared
and hams are cooked, and boxes of hard
bread opened, for the refreshmcnt {
these men, to whom decent food ha
been for a long time unknown. It is
touching sight to see them, each wit
his quart can, file by the steaming CO.
fee barrels, and receive, the reIreshin
draught whose taste has long been uu
familiar. 1t seems scarcely possibl
(, that men should feel such childish jO
as they express in once more receiVin
his common stimulant. And then, ii