New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-06-29

from forbiddng this rater encouraged It, and made 10
2 subject Of sportive remark This charge wholly
appended to the deposition Of Major Thomas p
Turner expressly provide "Nor shall any Sprissner
be fred upon by q sentinel OF other {RsEon, OK.
six cases have occurred in which prisoners have been
fred and killed or hurt; but every case has been
made the subject Of careful investigation and report as
this charge your committee report that the practice of
firing prisoners by the guards in the Northern
prisons appears to have been INDUCED In to most
OF G. q. Herrington VIM. !. Gordon. r.. j. b.
MoCreary, DR.. Thomas p. Holloway and John p.
Fennell At Fort Delaware cruel regulation
firing on and numbering several Of our men and officers
among them Lieut.. Col Jones, who was lame, and
shot down by the sentinel while helpless and feeble
and while seeking to explain his condition Yet this
sentinel not only not punished but promoted
for his act At Camp Douglas as many as eighteen Of
our men reported 10 have been shot in single
the candid observer that il is the North and not the
South that Is open 10 the charge Of deliberately and
wull destroying the lives Of the prisoners held by her.
MEANS FOB SECURING CLEANLINESS.
The next charge Is, that the Libby and Bell Isle
prisoners were habitually kept In o filthy condi'
ton. and that the officers and men confined there
were prevented from keeping themselves, sufi-
ciently clean to avoid vermin and similar discoIn.
forts Tho evidence clearly contradicte this
charge. 1t is proved by the dispositions OF Maj:
Turner, Lieut. Boisseux. the Rev. DR.. McCabe and
others. that the prisons were kept constantly and
systematically policed and cleansed; that In the
Libby there was an ample supply of water conducted
to each floor by the city pipes, aud that the prisoners
not only not restricted in its USE but urged to
keep themselves clean At Belle Isle. for brief sea.
son (abou three weeks). In consequence Of sudden
increase in the number Of prisoners, the police was In
terrupted but IL was soon restored, and ample means
for ASKING both themselves and their clothes were at
all times furnished to the prisoners. 1t is doubtless
true that Notwithstanding these facilities, many OF
the prisoners lousy and filthy; but the re-
suit OF their habits and not VI neglect In the dsc
pne or arrangements Of the prison. Many OF the
prisoners were captured and brought in woe in this
condition. The Federal Gen. Neal Dow well expressed
their character and habits. When he came to DIS
tribute clothing among them. he was met by profane
abuse and he said TO the Confederate officer IN charge,
"You have here the scrapngs and rakings OF Europe
That such should DO filthy In their habits might be
expected
CHARGE OF WITHHOLDING AND PILLAGING BOXES.
We next notice the charge that the boxes of pro-
visions aud clothing sent to the prisoners nom the
robbed end pundered bv permission Of the Confederate
authorities. The evidence satisfies yonr Committee
that this charge u.s. in all substantial points untrue.
For PERIOD Of about one month there
caused by report that the Federal au-
thorcs were forbidding the delivery OF similar sup
plies to prisoners. But the boxes were put In
warehouse and aiterward delivered. For some time
no search was made Of boxes from the Sanitary Com
mittee" intended for the prisoners hospital. But
letter intercepted. advising that money should be
money was to be used in bIibing the guard and thus
releasing the prisoners. After this 1t war deemed leces
sery TO search every box which necessarily produced
delay. Your committee are satisfied that If these
boxes or their contents robbed the prison officials
are responsible therefor Beyond doubt robberie
often committed by prisoners themselves to whom
the contents delivered for distribution to thei
owners. Notwithstanding all this alleged piuage TIT
supplies have been Sufficient to keep the quar-
tiers OF tho prisoners well furnished that they FIRE
quently presented. In the language OF witness, 9TH
appe arsnce Of n large grocery store
THg FEDERAL oiovEr. sssD--7cr's TESTIMONY.
Ia connection VITA ms point yoor colnnittec reiei
to the testimony vi etsesAi ofcer tol. james NJ
SandersoD whose letter 10 annexed ~ the deposition
Mai Turner. lie testihes 10 the full delivery Of th'
clothing and supplies from the North and TO the humanity
and Kindness OF the Confederate officers specially men
tionng Lieut. Bossieux. anding the Belle Isle III
letter was addressed the President Of the United
States Sanitary Commission. and was beyond doubt re
ceived by them having been forwarded by the regula
flag OF truce. Yet the scrupulous and honest gentle
men composing that Commission have not found 1t con
venient for their purposes to insert this letter In the
publication. Had they been really searching for th
truth this letter would have aided them In finding 1t.
NINE UNDER THE LIBBY PRISON.
Your committee proceed next 10 notice the allegation
that the Confederate authorities had prepared mini
under tho LIBBY Prison. and placed in IT quantity o
gunpowder for the purpose Of blowing up the buildings
with their inmates. In case OF an attempt to rescue
them After ascertainng all the facts bearing on THU
subject your committee believe that what was done
under tho circumstances will meet verdict Of approya
from all whose prejudices do not blind them TO tn,
truth. The state Of things unprecedented In his
at work. and the result accomplished. large
body Of Northern raiders. under one Col
Dsghrcn was approaching Richmond. IL wa.
ascertained by the reports OF prisoners captured
from them. and other evidence that their design
was to enter the city, to set fire to the build
ings public and private, for which purpose turpen
tine balls In great number had been prepared "a
murder the President OF the Confederate States and
9TH prOm No men. In
then numbering 5000 10 500; to put arms into their
hands. and to the city TO indscrimpate pill
age rape and slaughter. At the same time plot wai
discovered among the prisoners to cooperate In this
scheme and large number Of knives and slung shot
(made by putting stones into wooden stocknss were
IN ass SO
ly the sternest means were justified IL II would have
been right put death any prisoner attempting
certain that 1t would have been equally right to put TO
death any number making such attempt But In truth
the adopted those Of humanity and proven
ton rather than Of execution The Confederate gu.
thorties felt able TO meet and repulse Dahgren and
his raiders, they could prevent tho escape Of the
prisoners.
The real object was to save their lives a. well as
those Of citizens. The guard force at the prisons
small and oil the local troops In and around Rich.
mond needed TO the threatened attack. Had
the prisoners escaped the and children of the
city as wen as their homes. would have been at the
mercy OF 5000 outlaws Humanity required that the
most summary measures should be used deter them
from any attempt at escape.
A mine was prepared under the Libby Prisons suifi.
Client quantity of gunpower was put into It, and pains
taken to inform the prisoners that any attempt
escape made by them would DO efectually defeated
The plan succeeded perfectly The prisoners awed
and kept quiet. Dahlgren and bis party defeated
and scattered. The danger passed away. and in few
weeks the gunpowder removed. Such the facts.
Your committee do not hesitate to make them known.
feeling assured that the conscience Of tho enlightened
world and the great law OF self preservation viii justify
all that was done by our country and her officers.
CHARGE OF INTENTIONAL STARVATION AND CRUELTY.
We now proceed to notice, under bead. the last
and gravest charge made in these publications They
assert that the Northern prisoners In the hands Of the
Confederate authorities have been starved frozen, in
humaney punished. often confined in foul aud loath.
some quarters deprived Of fresh air and exercise and