Maryland free press., 1866-12-06
The sBsys I'm Blus" who Died in prison

They stood 'gainst leaden hail:
And though at last constrained to yield.
Their spirits did not quail;
They safely passed their battles through.
And yet they "died for me and you.'
They pined for home, sweet home,
And for their daily bread;
Alas assistance did not come;
And now-they're with the dead7
Fen hardened rebels felt their grief
And yet could furnish 20 relief.
The rebel leaders burst
Not do what we have done;
Though many hearts with anguish burst
At tales from "Anderson.
For still they let our brave men share
Their own coarse food and scanty fare.
The sad tale must be told:
The brave, the true, the good,
While we were busy coming gold,
They died for want of foodl
Those fifteen thousand boys in blue,C
As victims died-s'for me and you.
The rebels In their need
Once, twice, and again,
Did all thai they could do to plead
For justice to these men;
But deaf, alas! the nations ear,
The peoples servants would not hear.
Even Davis felt their grief,
And sent his message forth,
BY prompt exchange to grant relief
To prisoners South and North.
And why, alasl was not this done?
There was no heart in Washington!
The rebels gave us leave ..
To send down loyal men, ...
Men good and true, who might receive
Aid for that prison pen;
And tend the suffering inmates there
With a whole nations love and care.
But no, these gallant men
Were left to starve and die,
That Northern banners might again,
Mid Southern breezes fly.
And bold recruits might rush to save
Their comrades from prison grave.
A wise, sagacious move!
A stroke of policyi
So called by those who know not love.
Or honest sympathy.
tu't 't thoSS AOoIo UOyb III Dlue-
Their blood now rests on ''me and you.'p
The rebels, pinched and pressed.
Offered to send them home s>''
without exchange-you know rest,
For home they did not come.
Our ships could not be spared to save
Cur soldiers from Southern grave.
Who did such grievous wrong,
In this sad, gloomy hour2 ..
Men who were anxious to prolonga
Their influence and power,
Who cares for fifteen thousand men,
lfw we the helm of State retain
Bow down, my soul, in grief
Before the God of IIcaven;
We failed TO grant our men rolief
That rebels would have given.
And so those soldiers, good and true.
Died of neglect from ''me and you.''
Too late we feel their woes,
Deludcd now no more;
But withering blight shall rest on those
Who kept these men in store,
AS capital, TO aid their schemes,
And realize ambitions dreams.
Adown times stcepest path
Their names with scorn shall 20,
The objects Of a nations wrath
Those ministers Of woe!
They killed the fifteen thousand men
Who perished in that prison pen.
oIn January, 1864, the Confederates prone 90
allow the Federal authorities TO send II 3
m surgeons to look after the health and ce m
t of the prisoners at the South. 1t was RI
sed, also, that these surgeons should act {
and distribute whatever either Il
lifted States government or private benevol, n,
ould furnish. OF course the Confederate wouI
We desired similar opportunity for their su
ons to minister TO Southern prisoners at Il
nth. The United States authorities, howeye
yer gave any reply to the proposition, tho ug
war continued for more than year after
IS made.
'AIn August, 1864, when the mortality W.
'rcasing at Andersonv lie, the Confederates O
ed to give up from ten to fifteen thousand me
except that the United Stat,
thorities were to send for them. After d,
: of three fearful months-ths most sickly ,
year-they did send for them, and took awa
rteen thousand, leaving in their place thrt
,usand Southerners, who were even NOR
ia!id and sickly than the poor fellows the
,k homo.