Year: 1863

gestlon through your paper that an agent be ap-
pointed to visit military prisons and ascertain the
condition and treatment of the prisoners North
Carollnians) there confined and report the same to
the Governor or Legislature, &c. This is certainly


most judicous, useful and appropriate suggestion,
and hope will at once receive the proper attention
from the Legislature. Probably it is impracticable
for the Legislature to make any lap pertaining to
the discipline and treatment of Confederate troops
just now but it is only desired that the law wmaking
power ofthe State of North Carolina lJok into the
treatment of her citizens, to the end that Justice
proper redress and the good Of the service may be
secured.


This agent should be one who duly appreciates a
wholesome and lawful exercise of discipline among
our troops and also one who knows the rights Of
private soldiers, and would, under all circumstan-
ces, do every thing possible to give justice and
fair and speedy trial to all North Carolina prison
ers. The Legislature should authorize this agent
to ascertain and report the of all prisoners
thus confined in North Carolina, and of all North
Caronians confined elsewhere in the OonfederacY.
Much of the duty Of this agent would depend on
the courtesy and discretion of Confederate military
authorities. President Davis would 1 think, read
lily order all the necessary facilities and privileges
extended to this agent. 1t would be proper to
tinue him year or more as may be thought neces-
sarv. Fhis measure is entirely practicable and
more wise humane and necessary mission could
hardly be provided by the Legislature There are





State confined within the limits of the State under
guard and without trial Some of these men
knoto to have been thus confined nearly months,
and have never had any trial, and do not know the
charges against them. Some of these prisoners
are subjected to the most cruel and inhuman treat
ment by the military commander in charge of them.
am more familiar with the management Of the
military prison at Weldon, under charge of Gen. NJ.
W. Ransom. The military prison at Weldon is
log hat 16 by 20 feet One small door is the only
opening and the cracks are stopped tight with clay
and chnks, and there is a chimney to one end In
this place 40 and 30 persons of all classes and ages
are kept constantly. Very few have blankets, and
not more than one or two have change of clothes
All have to stay inside this hut the whole time
From morning till night and from night till morn
ing these men cranmed and packed together,
in lice and 6th with neither to sit lie and
thus they have been for weeks and months. They
are not allowed to get newspapers to write letters
or have any communication whatever with the out
side world. If they attempt to do so, the guard is
ordered to shoot them They are fed on half ra-
tions-that is half OF the rations given troops in
the field


These prisoners get ehalf pound of beef, or
one fourth pound of bacon for ttoo days, and from
four to seven crackers day. This is absolutely
all they are allowed to have, and thev prohibi
ted from buying or getting any thing else to eat
whatever The beef furnished them is sometimes
rott0n carrion and very often the crackers are full
of worms cohwebs and mouldy Many Of these
men are starving and becoming weak and lean from
continual hunger. They often eat up all the morsel
allowed them at time and do without for two
days-t next draw day. The guard are subject to
severe penalties if they allow the prisoners a mouth
ful to eat, except what is drawn from the commits
sary. These prisoners not allowed to wash
themselves or their clothes, or get their clothes
washed They are not allowed to speak to any
person outside under any circumstances, unless a
permit oe given by the Provost Marshal to visit
the guard house Very few are allowed to visit the
prisoners even the counsel employed In
their case.


While on their way to the court martial room IN
Weldon, they must not speak to their witRess or
friend on penalty of being bayonetted or shot down
on the spot. They are not allowed to vote at the
State elections and made to do all species OF Ia
Dor continually-to clean around the streets and
hotels of Weldon; to build and clean out the quar-
ters and rooms of officers; to make their fires and
cut their wood, &c Some of these men have been
very sick. aud on requesting an employee in the
Provost office for DOCTOR were informed that they
might die and go to hell" This same employee,
a vulgar renegade Marylander-took all letters TOR
the prisoners from the post Office and opened them,
and detained them also, if he thought proper with
or without orders When his conduct was brought
to the attention of the post office department the
commander of the post comes in and screens him
from merited punishment.


None of these letters thus opened were for traitors
or alien enemies The money OF these prisoners Is Ia
ken from them, and they are not allowed to have any
writing implements as is alleged because things
have been written to Gov. Vance, Holden, &c"


Citizens, deserters, Yankees, are all huddled to.
gether even negro prisoners have been sent in, but
the prisoners unanimously determining not TO SUD-
NIT to such amalgamation, the guard allowed the
negroes to stay outside No pots vessels or conVe,
niences are allowed. The prisoner is not allowed
to 90 or to send to the Provost Marshal or com
manding officer to about his case Some OF tneSe
men have recently been tried by court martial, but
tS.-sentences are not ordered or promulgated yet;
Nearly all these men are North Caronians, and
some of them are innocent of any crime, and many
of them are as good soldiers as the army contains
and deserve but little punishment These facts can
be proven by hundred witnesses These prison,
ers style themselves the Reserve Battallon; ana
the name given the prison is Fort Ransom The
guard is generally kind. NEMESIS


Weldon, Nov. 26, 1868.