The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-04-17
Monday Morning, April II, 1866.
Letter from the Southwest Rebel Treat
ment of Union Prisoners.
VIcKsBURa, MISS, March %, 1866

NAChS6Ohd, nAlSos, march zOy 1000.
To the Editor Of tbs Press:
Since coming to this part OF the country
have often thought of writing back to my ma
tive State some of the varied experiences
through which we are here passing, hoping il
might be OF interest to your readers; but not
being accustomed to corresponding for a pa
per, I have reirained from making the at
tempt till now. And l am induced to do so
at the present time only from the fact that
am deeply interested in some events now
taking place here. refer to the exchange OF
prisoners. This post has been made regular
point of exchange, Brig. General Morgan L.
Smith, commanding the post of Vicksburg,
acting as commissioner OF exchange on the
part of the United States, and 1t. Col. II. A
M. Henderson as commissioner for the G. 5
A. Negotiations have been going on between
them ior some time, which have at last result I
ed in an arrangement for the exchange of ali
Federal officers and soldiers now confined int
the States OF Georgia, Alabama and Mississip-E
pi-about IA, 900 In all.
The first to be exchanged were those con-
fined at Cahawba, Ala, numbering in all about
$500. The first battalion came in on Thurs
day, the 10Th; the second on Sunday, 10Th Il
and the last on Tuesday, 2lst. 1t was heart
rending TO look upon those noble, brave menI
and see to what wretchedness they had beenl
reduced by the southern rebels.
The tales of woe, want and misery which
they relate are truly shocking to hear. SomeI
have been confined for eleven months, othersI
tour, six or eight. Their rations have beenI
one pint of corn meal, ground without she'll
ing, and one third of a pound OF meat perl
day.
The meat was generally tainted and the
meal always musty. Much OF the wood for
cooking was obtained by those who were tax |
en- out 10 labor on the railroad, and when they
returned at night were allowed to carry into
the prison certain number OF old railway
ties or car timbers. This they would have to I
work up into splinters eight or ten inchesE
long and as big as mans finger, in order to-
have enough to 'sgo round"
The only tools afforded tt em for doing this \
were railroad spikes. No soap was issued TOT
them. At the time of capture they were gem
orally robbed of every thing they had. even toE
their hats and boots, and often times the. rebsk
would compel them give up Jnelr sniIts.
Judge then from this of the condition efe
their clothing now. During the last five days /
of their stay the water was from eighteen
inches to eight feet deep throughout the rls-n
on and the yard. In this they were obliged toS
stand. here they washed, and with such wa
ter, did what little cooking they had to do, /
fastening the cover of their bake pans againstk
the wall and building, the fire on them. All
one time they were kept seventy-tWo nonrsE
WlLuOub ulOicCl w oob hO AAoe ~ sNA~N D. e
out retained their blankets, but before the
others were released a new Gensfal was put (
in command of that department, who issuedy
orders to take from them their blankets endI
then he told his men to take anything theyl
wanted from the id Yankees, saying 4
"they will get new blankets and clothes when
they get to Vicksburg." Thank God that
they we're furnished these things as the reb
had toretold.
l have spent all my time since the first lot
arrived, in collecting and distributing among
the men such articles as the government
could not furnish, such as towels, pocket mir
rors, writing materials, tobacco, pipes, DC.
There were some men who had not seen
themselves in a glass for eleven months. These
articles are received with thankful hearts, and
/ can truly say that it has been more blessed
for me to give than for them to receive.
found four of the I'd maine Cavalry, viz
James A. Dunton, Lincolnville; Alvin d.
Lane, North Anson William w. Paris, Pitts
ton: William A. Austin, South Vassalboro.
These men were captured in the rear ol
Mobile. They are in good spirits and anxious
to join the regiment and avenge the suflerings
and cruelties from which they have just been
released. We have news that some OF the
Andersonvie prisoners are at jackson, Miss.
and will be here Monday next.
If you deem this worthy place in your pa
per, please use it SO, and il you wish viii
give you an account of the Andersonville pri
soners as soon as they arrive. Yours,
he II. r. FOSTER.