Owyhee semi-weekly tidal wave. [volume] (Silver City, Owyhee County, Idaho Territory) 1868-1869, 1869-06-29
Federal Prisoners.

toriaD, In bis Secret history OF the |
C0nlederacy gives the following !
peep into the management and treat |
ment Of prisoners at Richmond:
There was an officer, OF the rank Of lieu
tenant, who had charge OF the unfortunate
creatures, who subsisted them by irregular
purchases in the Richmond markets, and
who was left TO determine, as OF his own dis
erection, the measure and article Of food
Having had q drunken quarrel with the
quarterInaster az 10 who should bury the
dead OF the prison, he left two corpses in
front OF the Office Of the latter, in a wagon
halted in one Of the most public streets near
the Capitol, and, unhitched the horses in
sight OF a hOrriied crowd, and had abandon
ed the dead Yankees - 10 take their chanc-
~s OF burial as the authorities, other than
himself might determine. II was days
scandal in Richmond, and the brutal officer
was removed But for forty eight hours
nearly two thousand prisoners were without
a mouthful Of food, until subordinate OF
the prison, moved by their cries or alarmed
by their mutlny, found some barrels Of corn
meal In the stores Of the prison, and fed II 10
them in buckets Of mush.
II was through this humane diligence that
man, became afterwards charged with the
subsistence of the prisoners The Captain
often told in Richmond, with great emotion
his experience with the prisoners mutinous
and savage for want Of food F; for surely there
is no iierrcr devil In the human composition,
none that dares more than hunger. He was
walking In the prisoners galleries OF the
I,ihby, explaining that difficulty had oc-
CURED in their supplies OF food, but that
they should have illimitable stores on the
morrow, when an immense Yankee boat
swain clutched him by the collar and bragg
ed him into n circle Of angry faces, desper-
ate from hunger You are good commits
sary,n said Jack, land ] am 4 good prison
or; am the best prisoner you ever saw in
The world; but d---n me, II | had not
rather face one hundred OfJeh Dayis's can
non than be starved like dog" IL felt
rather unhappy for a few moments said
Captain Warner, but promised the fellow,
who shook me, heavy M ] was, as II was
no more than a baby in his hands, that II he
would let me go, he should have some grub
In half AN hour. found nothing In the
store house Of tho prison but thrce bar
rcls OF meal | made il into hot mush filed
some buckets with II, and had 1t passed in to
the priso nerS but you may bet didn't go
inside ! called 10 Jack through the rate
that had got him the healthiest supper
could and not 10 let the men burn their
mouths. The next day Captain warner
represented 10 Gen. Winder, the principal
ofIicer in charge Of the prisoners, that there
was no subsistence for them, and that they
we're In the actual pangs ofhunger. He was
directed al once 10 make n requisition on Col
Northr0p, the cross grained and eccentric
Comm iasary- GeDeral--an officer whose idef
Of importance was 10 have flt OF insolencs
whenever be was approached, and who wal
gruff or hysterical in his official intercourse
al know nothing Of Yankee prisoners,
he said throw them all into the jane
riVenr
AT least" said Cap. Warner. "tell nj
how ! am 10 keep my accounts for the prs
oners' Subsistence"
"sir said Northrop, slightly inclinini
his eyes 10 the ANXIOUS inquirer, l have
not the will or the time 10 speak with you
Chuck the ec0undrels into the riverl"
Here was n quandary There was no la'
70 charge the C0mmissary General with IN
subsistence Of prisoners; he insisted that
belonged 10 the qunrtermaster's department
the latter denied IL, and, in dead-loc 9
bubbles the prisoners might be lett !
starva. The ingenuity OF lawyer wa
required ~ solve the dispute Cap. warner
had been nppointed Commissary OF Prison
and vet Northrop refused 10 acknowledge n
authority or TO all his acquisitions, and wa
completely obscure and impracticaDle on
question OF humanity. Commssiary Nortt
r0p opposed all purchases of supplies outsio
Of his department; he complained that Cal
Warner paid larger prices than the cover
ment maximum: he insisted that as the TN
care wins 10 provide for the troops ia n
field. he should have the iirst option OF a
marketable supplies and at last be assume
10 "impress ~ the subsistence purchased L
the prisoners and to divert II TO his own q
partmenl A herce var WAS wagcd oet"e'
him and Warner: rival committees OF lnVc
,iyst,ou were raised In Congress; ana "
.nnnlics Of the Libby became bone OF co
,aniion On one occasion warmers asen
ga hroaght down from Augusta county
arovc IN one hundred and scVentysn'
h.,cves. and Northrop had performed COZ
Psfat Nv i.npressing them ON inc ssir's
Richmnnd. Not 10 be entirely outcome; "a
tain warner. In tho Winter OF 1908, ioau
sixty three cars in N1rth Caioiiha W
sweet potatoes, brought thern 70 iau.
pounded them and then siteu sleu, J.
the wire nets he tore rom ,i'e "al,'o ~ -,
,n ,rosed a curious bread made OF coy
.nsssurcs Of mash OF potatoes, Hour ana g
800, a. II WAS the best bread ever Az
- ca,,ain Warner but even TINS INV
ION was spoiled by Nor,hrop. He had a e.
n,,nea 70 lake control Of all the suos'slel
ns s'ls' Confedcracy, and to interdict all spe'
~ ,,sl for the consumption OF prison'
fss, As, result was a regulation requlr
~. cn,nm,ssary OF Prisons 10 purchase y
,hc Inc Commissary .eenerali and ultimate
in the Spring OF 1854 a law wa, S Ia.s ss =.
,uaIy abolishing the former once ana ~ We
terring the subsistence OF prisoners 70
tender mcrcics Of the man VINO mao We y,
,he thousands OF them In Ricnmohu :"
bottom OF James river ,.,,r.xtr
For whatever there was o. l .s.s,,',i,,
OF Northern prisoners INC lesl, ne, nf
Mr.. Davis is TO be measuIr .,, ~ Thc p