The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-06-15

in sufficient quantity Is issued them.
Only two days have they been WITHOUT
il and then unavoidable circumstances
prevented its issue. The issue OF wood
IS regulated in a measu by the wealth
or. In extreme days they receive more
than when the weather is mild. AS ev-
idence that they have plenty, they offer
TO sell and do sell. to the sutler wood
for his store. in exchange for tobacco.
He informs me that more is offered him
than he buys or has use for The mat
ter OF food receives the earnest atten-
ton of the commanding officers. The
prisoners regularly receive one pound
good bread, one pint soup. besides small
issues Of meat or sorgum-some
times small quantities OF both AS 10
clothing their condition is truly deplor-
able, most of them having been prison
ers some six or nine months. The con-
Tolerate government cannot issue 10th
ing to them. and none has been re-
ceived at this post from the north Cen
eral johnson in a communication TO
commissioner of exchange Ould. in the
early part of January, called attention
to their condition in this respect. which
he set forth in the fullest terms and re-
uuested that his letter be forwarded to
the federal authorities. Your generous
proposition will no doubt be readily
agreed TO by the federal government.
AS soon as General johnson returns /
will lay your communication before him
and he will do all he can to effect its
contamination. Ten wells are in the
prison, which afford them water. In
addition they are permitted every day
to bring water in barrels from a neigh
boring creek. No stream of water runs
through the prison. This is unfortu-
nate. But a removal of prisoners to
Columbia is contemplated and all i'm
provements. buildings, etc, ave been
prohibited by General Winder. Gener-
al York, who has visited most of the
prisons south. recruiting, assures me of
the superiority of this. In consequence
of the lack Of transportation and the
damages to the railways of late the en-
ergy Of the officers Of the commissary
and quartermaster's departments has
been subjected to no mean tests. but
the prisoners have not suffered for
wood or rations. An inspector from
your excellency will receive every facil-
ity to visit the prison." There is a post
script to this letter, which Since
writing the above a telegram has been
received saying that shoes. blankets,
etc, have been shipped from Richmond
federal officers are now on their
way here to superintend their distribu-
ton" The guarding Of these prisoners
was done by Senior Reserves. Captain
Booth says the duty is OnerOus on
them but is caused by the frequent and
numerous assertions"
February 18th General Bradley T.
Johnson, commanding Salisbury prls-
on. wrote the governor this letter: Il
acknowledge personally your liberal Of
fer. No one can feel more acutely than
I the condition of the prisoners Of wal
here. 1t is disgraceful to u country.
Captain Booths letter showed you they
were we'll supplied as to food and fuel,
but they suffer for clothes and shelter.
General Winder proposed mOVl
them before Christmas and therefore
forbade any buildings to be erected
here. A large per cent have therefore
lived in holes in the ground. Were l
to attempt to erect barracks, spring
would come on before they could be
finished. 1 must therefore try to get
tents. Can o lend me or procure for
me in Raleigh $50 or 200 wall tents? If
so pray SEN them on at once. l re-
emily visited Richmond for the main
purpose Of pressing on our authorities
our duties to ourselves and these peO-
pie, laying before them the terrible suf-
fering and mortality among them. I
have purchased from the federal Off
Ger for distributing goods in Richmond
$500 blankets, which will be here to-
morrow. With the tents their condition
will be tolerable, but nothing can re-
lieve it save speedy exchange. | have
from Vice President Stephens hat Gen
eral Grant is willing to receive from us
$500 a week. I urge the immediate de-
livery of all prisoners in North Car
Dina Il South Carolina. If not the
prisoners of Florence will AVE to be
marched through the country to Ra-
leigh, which will expose your people to
more d~epredatiOns than from the march
Of a hostile column. l beg you to join
with me in urging the confederate au-
thOritieS to consent to an immediate de-
livery Of these prisoners at the most
convenient point. Grant proposes to
take his men and deliver ours, both par
ties to be On parole. l think he
intends to exchange them so as to al
low our men to go back to our army.
On this our authorities may stick, but
we ought to agree to it at once. The
prisoners here eat our ratiOnS n keep
men out Of the field to guard them.
They are a terrible burden. 1t would
be better to send them home at once on
parole. But the men We get back will
go home, reinvigorating the population
for the war, work, help to raise pro-
visions and in case Of emergency de-
fend themselves by guerilla war, of
which right no parole can deprive them.
1t would be better to have them in our
own army, but falling that let US have
them at the pillow, with the rifle in the
fence corner. I press this upon you, for
if these people are not turned i've to
their own authorities they will be press
ed back into North Carolina, which will
have to subsist three armies, the con-
federate, the federal and the neutral,
more terrible than either"
The last twenty pages of this letter
back of 1864-5 are crowded with impOr-
tant things. February 20, 1866, General
calls on Governor Vance to give
General Bragg every man possible. The
governor ~telegraphs hat he has called
out every man liable to duty in the
state. General Lee calls on him to de-
stroy provisions. Vance replies that he
can't do this without a cavalry force.
He t~elegraphs to General Bragg on the
25th at Magnolia, Please inform me Of
progress Of enemy. I desire to move
stores and am waiting for information"
February 14th Vance issued his proc
Ia m q finn anpn,1ncinO tho foil ~ vii