The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-04-28
The Released Prisoners.

from Tuesdays Baltimore American.
While we have, in common with all
who are loyal to our flag, and loyal to
the interests and instincts of common
humanity been pouring the walls OF
our wrath on the heads of the recreants
and murdersrs at Fort Pillow, we have
enough to engage our attention and ar
rest our sympathy at our own doors.
We noticed the arrival of five hundred
and sixty-6ve released prisoners from
Richmond on Monday, and commented
briefly upon their. condition. Such a
pitable set Of poor Wretches was never
seen in this city. Their emaciation
was extreme, their feebleness was al
most at the last gasp, their detection
was painful to behold, and their squalor
was frightful They we're starved to
the verge of the grave, and what was
left was nearly devoured by vermin
Some Of them, from hope too long de-
ferred, had fallen into a state of utter
listlessness and apathy which bordered
upon idoGcy. The deepening pal
Tor, the dropping jaw, and the
glaring eyes told that others had
only come to dis-that il was too late
for outstretched arms to sRve-too late
to dispel the evening shadows that
were gathering around them-too late
IT alarm the long nj E1t Of The lonely grave,
Or check the headloRg haste Of Deaths o'erWhelm-
ing WsTe;"
and saddest of all, and most to be de-
plored, too late TO die in the arms of the
weary watches and the broken-hearted
ones at home, or to wake from their
lethargy long enough 10 know that they
we're once more under the protecting
folds of the Stars and Stripes
Compared with this, the massacre at
Fort Pillow was = blessing and mer-
cy. II is sweet and deoorous, says the
old sdage, to die for ones country. but
when the hour comes for the surrender
of life, let US rather court the swift
winged messengers Of death-let US
rather welcome the speedy ballet us
rather hail the friendly bayonet, as
did the iron-hearted defenders of that
fort, than wear the crown of martyr-
dom as these patient sufferers have
done Look at their hollow cheeks,
listen 70 their sepulchrai voice, peer
under their dropping eyelids, and you
viii read plainly q story of gnawing
hunger, Of Pinching cold, of wasting
fever, or days Of WEAKNESS and nights
of pain, Of buried hope and submission
to despair They are our friends and
brothera They were facing the thick
" hurting missiles Of death in defence
Of US when We were sitting by our fire.
sides. They we're suffering every pang
and every privation, while we were
comfortable; they were sick and in
prison, while We we're well and free.
Can We do too much for them in re-
ouitali Never Can we be too gener-
Gus or too gratefuli We trov not
But while We are Iickened and shock
ed by the evidence Of such barbarian
and brutality, and while our hearts are
wrung by wrongs inflicted and the suf
ferings endured, what are We 70 think
Of the inoarnate hends who thus brave
the scorn of mankind, haunt their
diabolism in the face of civilization, de
~ the plainest teachings of Christiani-
/ ", court the execration of the ages TO
/ come, and display degree of ferocity
and malignity that would disgrace =
/ Camanchs7 We used to associate our
/ ideas Of the reGnements ofcruelty with
/ the Bastile, the Vehme, OF the Inqui-
ltion, but that ls all past and gone
Hsnceforth the RishHoRd prisons