The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1865-03-31
Treatment OF Prisoners.

received in exchange at Wilmington
was 1892. The rebels explained their
failure to make up the 10000 agreed
upon, by the escape of many and the
death of still more. Many were left
dead by the wayside The rebels
say that within two years G4,000 of
our men have died as prisoners. -
This is incredible, though the number
has been very large. -Erchange.
The physical condition in which
Union soldiers return after confnc
ment in rebel prisons, indicates the
degree of cruelty to which they have
been Systematically subjected. AL
most every mail brings sad accounts
of fearful sufferings which our prison
ers have endured II perchance any
one has strength or constitution left
to reach home. after they have boon
paroled, there to receive the kind
treatment and careful nursing which
family and friends only can supply,
he may, possibly, survive the privations
Of his prison life at the South. If
not, he may linger while at the
hospital and, after short interval
OF suffering, delirium and death, re-
ceive at the hands of strangers de-
cent burial.
Two OF our townsmen have died ut
Annapolis, Maryland, within a few
days past-victims of rebel cruelty
Other cases OF murder Of our towns.
folks occur to us which excite the in
dignation of oil who become familiar
with the circumstances. One of these
late victims at Annapolis, young man
of &c years of age, of robust con-
stitution and excellent health, was in
tered at ST. Adams on Sunday last,
with military honors, while hundreds
Of friends and acquaintance mani
tested their respect and sympathy
with surviving relatives by attending
his funeral. The other, reduced by
starvation to the extreme point of
emaciation, died at the hospital at
Annapolis before wife or friends
could reach him and minister to his
dying wants. The fact seems to be
indisputable that the rebels intend by
their treatment to their prisoners
either to compel them to enlist in the
rebel army or to SO injure their health
and constitution MS to unfit them for
active life or duty elsewhere. Early
in this month, nine steamers arrived
at Annapolis bringing about 3,ooo
Union prisoners, most of them in q
sad state of emaciation, and nearly
destitute Of clothing. Several died on
the passage, and five dead were tax
en- from one boat. Some 1900 of the
poor fellows had to go to the hospital.
More than fifty were buried from the
hospital Mt Annapolis in one day
On the same day that the Union
prisoners arrived, a large number O.
rebel prisoners passed through Bal
timore, to be exchanged, all in goot
health and well clothed. Many o
them had carpet-bags full of clothing
Surely there is o meaning in THU
striking contrast. 1t shows where tn,
inhumanity is exercised and full,
confirms the statements which have s,
repeatedly been made in regard t,
the tender mercies of those who art
in rebellion against our Government
While such great contrasts are FIRE
quently brought to our notice, man,
are disposed to think that the Unite,
States government has been too care
full and tender of the rebel prisoners
They claim that if the government
had treated the rebel prisoners will
like severity, much suffering among
the Union prisoners might have BEEF
avoided. 1t is possible that with
different policy a more desirable re
suit may have been accomplished
and yet we regard it as highly honor
able to our government that its histo
ry during the progress of this rebel
lion has never been stained with
solitary instance of cruelty to pris
oners.
1t appears from review of passing
events that the upas tree of secession
is well nigh uprooted and is totterinl
to it's fall. A few months, perhap
weeks more. and. we trust, peace vii
be conquered and those who are pin
ing in rebel prisons will be set free
The darkest chapters in the history O
the rebellion will be those whicl
give full and truthful accounts of tn
manner in which the prisoners of tn
Union army have been treated b
rebels who have sought to subvert tn
wisest and best form of government
the world has ever seen.