The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-01-15

TO purchase nothing whatever in the eating line from the
suffer- and have known Lieutenant sanky, Provost
Marshal Of the prison-who by way OF depression,
10 be the very personcaon Of tyranny and
embodiment Of meanness, whose vindictve bearing
and despoc rule are only eQuaIed by his frauds decep
plications 70 this functionary for the privilege
Of Buying little pepper or mustard refused,
and have known as much a. g 50 In Unitea
States currency offered from prisoner TO another for
single penny loaf Of bread We were each furnished
one blanket which served the purpose Of both bed and
covering Annongh application was made TO the amino
rites at Washington for the privilege of purchasing
daily even occasionally any one paper they might
designate, the request was denied u.s. and during my
soourn Of forty-four days kept in utter gno
rance of tho current events OF the day except
ceved light through prisoners who every few days
arriving heard announced from the parapet the fact
that the confederacy "had gone up
Among the prisoners several cergymeE and a
number OF pro essors OF Christianity who nightly en-
gagged In religious exercises These wishing TO celebrate
the Lords supper made application for the liberty OF
buying the elements necessary for the performance OF
this sacred duty, and TO the Christian believer dsn
guished and highly esteemed privilege; yet this simple
request addressed TO an official in the employ OF that
boosted Christian people, the ''best government the
world ever saw" was denied
Colonel Richardson, commanding the post, exhib
tied bandness OF manner and effected kindly feel
ing for u.s. but az heart we had reason to believe felt
NO concern for our welfare, as was evinced by his
refusal, when addressed upon the subject, TO adopt
immediate hvgeinic measures, the neglect of which
gave rise 10 several cases OF smallpox in the officers
prison. say nothing Of the many that occurred
among the seven thousand i've hundred and thrtysix
beS1ueS
not only highly censurable, but most damnaby out
rageous our soldiers have been repeatedly fired upon
their limbs broken, and in several instances killed for
violation Of the simplest prison rules the existence OF
which, ut least on one OCCASION had not been announced
70 the prisoners
From this prison. after spending two nights in tho
Columbus Ohio, and Philadelphia barracks, in COM
pany with a large body Of federal prisoners, CON-
posed of bounty jumpers muatto negro and Yankee de-
serters penientiary convcts, jalbrds and lunatcs,
was taken to Fort Delaware, where confined for
thirty two days Here found eleven hundred and fifty
officers and upwards of six thousand privatos and al
though the most miseraby poor the rcgula
tons rigid the grounds are capacous and the prisoner
advantages, such as reading the daily papers,
lights at night and the privilege OF writing many let
ters he may choose
General Sheopf, commanding ~ f.. ,eiaware, is con
sdered by the prisoners being humanely disposed and
inclined to melorate their condition so iar in his
power lies Our officers and soldiers here, as at Camp
Chase, are exceedingly anxious to be released from
prison life yet unwilling TO embarrass the Confederate
government by their murmurings suggestions, and
would not have 1t compromise single principle. Yet
say for Gods sake and humanity's sake, govern
men shculd IL possible, effect exchange Of the thou
sands half starved, half Naked brave Confederate
soldiers who are new suffering and dying in Northern
prisons.
From Fort Delaware ] was transferred to Fortress
Monroe spent thirty days; and here for the
Alst time during my imprisonment was treated as non
cobatau and as the spirit and letter Of the cartel d.
In fact courteous and gentleman like, although
rigid in exercising constant vigilance over US that VIC
might ape the bearing Of Captain j. A. Blake
aud Lieutenant Martin toward the thirty five surgeons
two chapans and other officers Of special exchange who
had congreRacd AT TINS point, tnat we naruy elt rs
though we were in an enemy's land Among other
Injuries ate at the table, and had chairs to sit upon
and aluding to the table reminds me Of Christmas
dinner consisting of bountlul supply of turkeys,
ducks and chickens besides many other decaces fur
nished through the kindness Of some lady friends
Never was more gallant charge made on table, nor
its good things despatched with greater aacrty
and when forced TO retreat the unanimous exclamation
was God bless the Virginia ladies.
In concluding this truthful yet incomplete nara
tive Of my prison experience, feel that, although
that respect due surgeon ordered to remain within
federal limits and look after the wounded Of his
army, was not such it should have been, would
not 1t in my power have like treatment visited on
any federal surgeon for the imprisonment of medical
officers result in the neglect Of the poor wound
ed soldier the field, who certainly deserves bette
fate; and in closing this communication would humbly
suggest that the commissioners Of exchange arrange
matters that the surgeons Of either government when
through with his duties, be at transferred TO the
depot of exchange and not be compelled to travel
thousands Of miles, and spend months in prison before
reaching his command. Respectfully
w. A. MULKEY,
Surgeon C. $. A., Wheeler's cavalry.