The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-07-30

ana saw rather own 5000 prisoners received
The list showed that Q large number had died on
the passage from Baltimore to Savannah. The
number sent from the federal prisons was $500,
and out of that number they delivered only 3,02S,
to the best Of my recollection. Capt. Hatch can
give you the exaet number. Thus, about z52
died on the passage. was told that 81 dead
bodies had been taken from one train of cars be-
tween Elmira and Baltimore. After being re-
ceived ut Savannah, they had the best attention
possible, yet many died in few days, In oar
rying out the exchange Of disabled, sick and
wounded men, We delivered ut Savannah and
Charleston about II 600 federal prisoners; and
their PHYSICAL condition compared most favora-
bly, with those We received in exchange although,
OF course, the worst cases among the confederates
had been removed by death during the passage
Orchard H. DibreIl, merchant of Richmond,
and q member of the Ambulance committee
whose labors in mitigating the sufferings of the
wounded have been acknowledged both by con-
federate and northern men, thus testifes concern
ing our sick and wounded soldiers at Savannah,
returned from northern prisons and hospitals: 4
have never seen set of men in worse condition.
They were SO enfeebled and emaciated that we
lifted them like little children. Many OF them
were like living skeletons. Indeed, there was
one poor boy, about II years old, VINO presented
Il
ever saw. He was nothing but skin and bone,
and beside this he was literally eaten up with
vermin. He died in the hospital in a few DAYS
after being removed thither, notwithstanding
the kindest treatment and the use of the most
judicions nourishment. Our men were in so re-
duced condition, that, on more than one trip
up on the short passage of ten miles from the
transports to the city, as many as five died. The
clothing of the privates was in q wretched state
OF tatters and filth. The mortality on the pass
age from Maryland was very great, as we'll as
that on the passage from the prisons to the port
from which they started. / cannot state the
exact number, but think heard that $500
were started, and we only received about 3,027.-
have looked at the photographs appended to
Report No. 81 of the committee of the federal
congress, and do not hesitate to declare that sew
eral of our men were worse cases of emaciation
and sickness than any represented in these pho
tographs.'
'The testimony of Mr.. Dibrel is confirmed by
that of Andrew Johnston, also merchant of
Richmond, and member of the ambulance COM
mittee.'
~. II. Holman thus testfes The federal
authorities did not furnish to the sick prisoners
the nutriment and other articles which were pre-
scribed by their own surgeons. All they would
do was to permit the prisoners to buy the nutri-
ment or stimulants needed; and if they had no
money they could not get them. I know this,
for / was in the hospital sick myself, and had
W Ivy sell sucH aTtlCieS rs eRRS, milk uOur,
chickens, butter, after their doctors had preserib
ed them. And know this was generally the
case, for we had to get up fund among ourselves
fer this purpose, to aid those who were not well
supplied with money This statement is con-
frmed by the testimony of Acting Assistant Sur
geon John S. Miller, who was at Johnson's Is
land for more than eight months. When it is
remembered that such articles as eggs, milk and
butter we're very scarce and high priced in Rich
mond, and plentiful and cheap at the north, the
contrast thus presented may well put to shame
the sanitary commission and dissippate the
self-complacency with which they have boosted
of the superior humanity in the northern prisons
and hospitals"
Do the radicals want more of this testi-
timony. Ifso, We shall CRAFTY them by
quoting from report made to the con-
federate congress in the winter Of l664-5,
which makes the charge so Enthusiastically
and responsibility, based upon sworn testimony
that the New York Tribune fears that the
fact may "glide into history, if not met and
refuted." The report of that committee has
necer get been coatradicted, and the Tribune
suggests that the refusal of the federal con-
gress to investigate the charges will be cited
90 S'AuShSS siioe TIC ctfC StOt luahc u luli
and fair investigation of the treatment of
prisoners BY each party in our late civil war"
NOT even before committee of their own
choosing-and adds 'sthe impartial world
viii be likely to agree with Them" The re-
port of the committee above referred to al
leges that large numbers of confederate
prisoners were reduced to mere skeletons be-
fore they were exchanged, and that many oil
them died on the passage to their homes,
some on the steamers, some as they were
carried on itters from the landing, or from
emaciated that they had to be lifted like
children. Some of them were literally eaten
up with vern,in, and their clothing was in
the most wretched condition possible. Saws
one surgeon, s'the federal authorities did not
furnish to the sick prisoners the nutriment
and other articles which were prescribed by
their own surgeons" "In nearly all the
prison stations of the north" the report says,
"our men have suffered from insufficient
food" and "have been subjected to ignomin.
ious, cruel, and barbarous practices" At
Point Lookout, Camp Morton, and Camp
Douglas, witnesses testify that they have
often seen our men picking up the scraps
and refuse thrown out from the kitchen, with
which to appease their hunger" At Fort
Delaware "unwholesome bread and water
produced diarrhea in numberless cases. and
their sufferings were greatly aggravated by
the regulation of the camp which prevented
more than 20 men at time to go to the
sinks" A surgeon says he saw "as many
as 500 in a row awaiting their turn, and the
consequence was they were obliged to use
the places where they were." "Our men
were compelled to labor in unloading fedora,
vessels, and in putting up buildings for fed.
eral officers, and if they refused were driver
to the work with clubs" Some of their of
ficers were treated as felons, confined in fel
on's cellsi in mid winter, "without blanket o.
overcoat, fire or light with fosted ant
poisonous air to breathe, and when the,
came out blood was oozing from their hand
and faces" Two, whose names are given
said they were kept during the nights il
sleet and cold, hand-cuffed to post, from