Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-02-16
INTERFERING STATEMENT FARICHMOND
PRISONER.

The following experience Of an officer who
was confined over year in the different
Southern prisons at Richmond, Salisbury, ana
Danville, Will give our readers some idea of
The treatment received at the hands OF the
chivalry-premising however, that the en-
listed men always receive worse fare and
quarters, and are more crowded than our
officers, and have not the same facilities for
fixing themselves comfortably.
Our Informant helng sick was Obliged to ride
in an ambulance, and the rebels, contrary to
the custom OF civilized warfare, fired into it
without ordering halt. The officer of course
surrendered, but the rebels have reversed the
order of accepting prisoners The men hrst
grab the oVercoat ana hat; watch and pocket
book go next; and If the unfortunate victim is
upset by this jostiIng, he will not regain his
One OF our officers, brought in from the valley,
mad nothing left him but drawers and under
shirt. The rebel officer who was appealed to
sald. mat as our officer was going to prison he
could better do Without it than his men. On
nearing village, however, he was generously
furnished with cas.-of rebel suit, out at the
seat knees and elbows, and lined plentIfully
with live stock. II the prisoner is taken some
distance from station, he is generally brought
IN by forced marches, and remains from 2f 10
- nours without food. The first two days
prisoners seldom seq rations, while the frat
Thing the rebels ask for on being taken by us is,
"Havnr You got some thing to eats' On arriving
at the Llbbey the prisoner Is again searched,
and everything that eluded the captors. if it
can be turned into moDey-even Confederate
moneys seized for the benefit of Major Thos
z. Turner, the keeper. Money is rarely if ever
returned
While in Libby our informant was for while
confined AS hostage with three others in base
ment room or cellar 66 XlU, OF which Colonel
Jacques speaks. sink and water bucket in the
same room. The rations then. consisted of
scant s ounces corn bread-cOb ground e the
meal-barely ounces rotten bacon, including
the maggOts, which were gently removed to
lose none Of the meat and a scant half pint of
black pea soup. with good proportion OF for
eign ingredients; no fresh meat was given out
no vegetables occasionallya a little rice in lieu
OF pea soup.
When fitzpatrick made his raid about Rich
mond 5000 enlisted men and 1850 officers were
confined at Richmond. The men captured
from that Riding party were confined with
negro soldiers and their officers. Our negro
soldiers about that time were hauled over BAR
rels and given 50 lashes for the most trivial
offense. Dick Turner, formerly porter Of the
Eutaw House, Baltimore, is said to have been
one OF the shining lights in that business. He
must not be contounded with Major Thos F.
Turner, OF Virginia, the keeper Of the prison,
The meanest scoundrel and thief unhung in the
South, according to the report of the prisoners.
He hauled wagon loads OF books and contribu-
TONS to our con fined soldiers to his hOuse-in
TACT he ought to be the richest man in Rich.
mond. When our prisoners were sent to Sails
bury, July l9, 1s6i, the contents OF the boxes
they had re ceiyed were mixed by the prisoners
after the most promiscOns sort in order that
Turner should derive no benefit theretrom, as
he would not allow them to take the things
along. Salt and sugar, sour kraut and honey,
tobacco and butter, vinegar and condensed
milk were essentially conglomerated.
at Salisbury better treatment and rations
were received. While there plan for escape
was drawn up, hut the paper containing the
plan and which was Intended to be thrown
over from the officers quarters to those of the
priyates fell short and got in possession of the
guards. This caused the removal OF the Off.
GERS 10 DanVille, Va where they were placed
In an OLD tobacco factory, where, as the win
dOWs were all broken and most of the officers
wianout blankets, with barely enough wood
and coal for cooking purposes, many OF them
bad 70 keepin motion all night 10 VOID freezing.
The soup here was SO miserable that the Off
cersw ould not receive il. Several times in.
stead of meat, soup Was sent in made of Iiyers
lungs entrails, and parts OF beeves never of.
tered for sale, wera fished out OF the sosp and
shown about the prison. On the 5th of No.
yember our infoTIaant was returned to Rich.
mond, arriving there on the eth. The rail-
roads were rickety and unsafe, and the trains
ran very slow. The rations were sonew what
better than formally, but still there was not
enough of them for sound man, and they
were totally unfi tfor a sick man.
Bradley Johnsoa is in charge of Salisbury
prison-he being removed from command for
allowing Averill 20 thrash him at Moorefield.
General Echols a4eo came near sharing his fate
for q like reason Colonel Smith is in charge
of Danville prison. An old negro by name OF
General Jackson, gho is formerly said to have
made speeches al fittsburg, and was captured
by the rebels some: three years since. is en-
ployed as a kind Of prison sweep at the Lib
bey: p.o. ~
mond, is composed entirely or foreigners
aIiens-but are compelled to do guard duty,
can transact no business and receive no pay or
clothing for their services-mostIy all have
families living thers.
There is now no foreign consult except a
French Vice Consul in Richmond. Anumber
of English. Italian and French residents are
confined in Castle Thunder for refusing to do
guard duty.
A rebel Chaplain some time ago yisitad Lib
bey and became acquainted with one of our