The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-04-04

island were lodged in similar tents that fire was
furnished IN each of them that the prisoners Jared
as we'll as their guards; and that only one of them
was ever frozen to DEATH and he was frozen by the
cruelty of bis own fellow prisoners, who thrust
him out OF the tent in freezing night because he
was infested with vermin. The proof as to the
healthiness of the prisoners on Belle Isle and the
small amount of mortality, is remarkable and pre-
sents ht comment on the lugubrious pictures
drawn by the SANITARY commission" either from
their own fancies from the fctiOns put forth by
their false witnesses. Lieutenant Bosseux proves
that, from the establishment of the prison camp on
Belle Isle, June, 1852; to the l0tl of February
1865, more then twenty thousand prisoners had
been, at various times, there received, and yet that
the whole number of deaths during this time was
only one hundred and sixty four And this is con-
frmed by the Federal Colonel Sanderson, who
states that the average number of deaths per
month on Belle Isle was "from two to fve-more
frequently the lesser number" The sick were
promptly removed from the island to the hospitals
in the city.
Mine Under the Libby Prfson.-Your COM
nlttce proceed next to notce'thc allegation that
the Confederate authorities had prepared mine
under the Libby prison, and placed in it quan-
tlty OF gunpowder for the purpose of blowing up
the buildings, with their inmates in case of an at
tempt to rescue them. After ascertainiug all the
lieve that what was done under the circumstances
will meet verdict of approval from all whose pre-
JUDGES do not blind them to the truth. The state
of things was unprecedented in history, and must
be judged of according to the motives at work and
the result accomplished. A large body Of North
ern raiders, under one Colonel Dahlgren, was ap-
preaching Richmond. 1t was ascertaned, by the
reports of prisoners captured from then and other
evidence, that their design was to enter the city,
cot fra fnf fhah h,,ila
which purpose turpentine balls, in great numbers,
had been prepared; to murder the President of the
Confederate States and other prominent men; tc
release the prisoners Of war; then numbering five
or'siX thousand; to put into their hands, and
to turn the city to indiscriminate plage rape
and slaughter: At the same time, plot was dis.
covered among the prisoners to cooperate in this
scheme, and large number of knives and slung-
shots (made by putting stones into wooden stock
ings) were detected in places of concealment about
their quarters. TO defeat plan diabolical, as
surcdly the sternest means were justified. If it
would have been right to put to death any one
prisoner attempting to escape under such circum-
stances, 1t seems logically certain that it would
have been equally right TO put to death any num-
der making such attempt. But in truth, the
means adopted were those Of humanity and pre-
rentiOn, rather than of execution. The Confeder-
ate authorities felt able to meet and repulse Dahl
gren and his raiders if they could prevent the es
cape of the prisoners.
The real object was to save their lives, as we'll as
those of our citizens. The guard force at the
prisons was small, and all the local troops in and
around Richmond were needed to meet the threat
ened attack. Had the prisoners escaped, the
women and children of the city as well as their
homes, would have been at the mercy of FIVE thou
sand outlaws. Humanity required that the most
summary measures should be used to deter them
from any attempt at escape.
A mine vas prepared under the Libby prison.
sufficient quantity of gunpowder was put into it,
and pains was taken to IN form the prisoners that
any attempt at escape made by them would be
efectually defeated. The plan succeeded perfectly
The prisoners were awed, anG kept quict. Dahl
grcn and his party were defeated and scattered
The danger passed away, and in u few weeks the
gunpowder was removed Such are the facts
Your committee do not hesitate to make them
known, feeling assured that the conscience Of the
enlightened world, and the great law Of elf-preser
vation, will justify all that done by coun-
try and her officers.
Means for Securing Cleanliness next
charge is, that the Libby aud Belle Isle prisoners
were habitually kept in filthy condition, and that
the officers and men confined there were prevented
from keeping themselves sufficiently clean to avoid
vermin and similar discomtUrts. The evidence
clearly contradicts this charge. 1t is proved by
the dispositions of Major Turner, Lieutenant Bos-
sieux, Rev. Dr. McCabe, and others, that the pris-
oners were kept constantly and systematically
poced and ceansed; that in the Libby there was
ample supply of water conducted to each floor
by the city pipes, and that the prisoners were not
only not restricted in its USE but urged to keep
themselves clean, At Belle Isle, for brief season.
(about three weeks,) in consequence of sudden
increase in the number of prisoners the police was
interrupted, but it was soon restored, and ample
means for washing both themselves and their
clothes we're at all times furnished to the prisoners
1t is doubtless true that, notwithstanding these
facilities, many of the prisoners were lousy and
filthy; but it was the result Of their own habits,
aud not Of ect 10 the discipline or arrangements
of the prison. Many of the prisoners we're captured
and brought in while in this condition. The Fed
era General Neal Dow we'll expressed their char
acter and habits When he came to distribute
clothing among them, he was met by profane abuse,
and he said to the Confederate officer in charge,
"You have here the scropings and raktngs Of
Europe" That such men should be filthy 10 their
habits, might be expected.
4 Neo Ddy to make Cdlicoes rash tceH-In-
fuse three gills of salt iD four quarts Of boiling
water and mt the colicoes in while hot and leaye