The National tribune., 1904-08-11
some private property was taken from

some private property was taken from
them.
July 19.-The first lot of prisoners
left for Richmond, 1916 miles by rail, at
which place they arrived on the morning
OF July 20. The prisoners were marched
TO tobacco warehouse opposite prison.
The prisoners told our men, through their
grated windows, that since the battle Of
Gettysburg all deserters and other pris-
oners held there who would volunteer to
go to the front. had been liberated.
BELLE ISLAND.
"On the afternoon of July 20, the pris-
oners who had arrived at Richmond were
taken from the tobacco warehouse to Belle
Island. Before they were taken they were
searched, and everything of value, which
could be found was taken from them.
The rations at the Island consisted of
half loaf of bread, weighing a half
pint of water called bean soup. This was
all a man received for his rations for one
day. Tn Aug. 20 the Lieutenant of the
Island had 500 men paroled for the pur-
pose of being sent to Annapolis, Md. Aug.
p. 721 We're marched from the Island to
Libby's Tobacco warehouse in Richmond,
and the following morning took the cars
for City Point.
'The following are the most important
facts which occurred during our six
week s SOJ0urn there:
Private Blass, 4th Regiment, Fx-
celsior Brigade, took the oath of allegiance
to the rebel government and shipped in
their bogus navy.
Sept. is a lot of prisoners arrived.
They had been taken at Charleston, s. c.
These men, before leaving for Richmond,
had their good clothing taken from them
and old rebel suits given in exchange.
This was the way the rebel government
equipped its men in our uniforms around
Richmond.
'tsOn the night of Aug. - large party
escaped, with a few OF the guards, who
belonged to the 42d N. C.
AT noon Aug. IA, private John Don
nelly, 91st Pa, who had that morning
come to the Island, was standing near the
bank that incloses the prisoners; the
guard told him to go further back, and
as he was in the act Of turning to comply
the guard raised his gun and shot him
down. This act was a cold-blooded MUIR
der. Donnelly lived in Philadelphia. The
same ball that killed Donnelly struck VIM.
Bayne SD Ohio. The ball entered the
breast of Bayne. His wound was pain
| full one, but not dangerous. The guard
| was taken off his post for the day, but in
two days he was back again, ready to shoot
| more unarmed Yankees.
"On the morning Aug. 10 John Ma
honey, 18th Mass, was shot dead by the
| guards. He was hurrying to the sink,
Delhg SICK, Wnen ne was Hreu On anu
killed.
'It was the custom to give each morn
| ing to every 100 men a little salt. Aug.
10 this was stopped, and the rebel Quar-
| termaster gave the salt to a miserable
prisoner to sell in camp at % cents for one
small spoonful.
"a number Of the prisoners went to
work for the rebels, outside the prisoners
| Enclosure. Their pay was extra rations.
This they. would bring inside, among the
half-starved and sell. The most notorious
individual at this business was n Sergeant
by the name of Gavitt, LIST n. Y. Art.
This Gavitt, when squad was to be sent
away. would select those who could give
| him So or $40.
'sThere are still $500 men on the Is<
land: some of these men are Tennesseans.
taken as long ago as September, 81.
Others have now been held over Is months.
"A search was made among the men
for money, in August, each man being ex-
amined separately. The result was that
the Provost-MarShal of Richmond got a
bucket full of greenbacks, watches, etc.
| No money was returned to the men on
| their departure.
| "The nights were very cold. and the men
had nothing to cover themselves with. /
am not capable of describing all the suf-
| ferings and scenes that l witnessed while
on the Island.
"The Stars and Stripes looked good,
| flying over the Steamer New York, that
brought us safely to this place. Those who
were able to go to College Green Bar
racks were taken there; the sick to st.
Johns College Hospital. i was among
the latter. Here we got well washed up,
received good, clean clothes-the old ones
were thrown away. We felt like a set of
new men after we got cleaned up and got
rid of our Belle Island graybacks. They
were very numerous in Richmond. The
prisoners who have arrived here within
the last few days state that the suffering
of the prisoners increases daily"