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OR, Ser. II, Vol. VI, pp. 241-242 |
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UNION AND CONFEDERATE CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, ETC., RELATING
TO PRISONERS OF WAR AND STATE FROM JUNE 11, 1863, TO MARCH 31, 1864.--#10 LIBBY PRISON, Richmond, August
30,
1863. Brig. Gen. S. A. MEREDITH, U.S. Army, SIR: I have the honor to call your attention to the inclosed copy of a
communication to the Hon. James A. Seddon. I, as well as others of my
fellow-prisoners, have repeatedly appealed for relief to the subordinate
officers having us in charge, but have as often been assured that our situation
as to rations, quarters, and treatment generally was much better than their
officers received at the hands of our Government. It is needless to add that our
treatment as officers, prisoners of war, is entirely contrary to all civilized
usages, and it is my earnest hope, and, so far as I have been able to ascertain,
it is the unanimous desire of the officers here that such measures be taken by
our Government as will insure proper treatment to both our officers and men
while prisoners of war in the hands of the enemy, no matter who that enemy may
be. I have the honor, sir, to be, your most obedient servant, A. D. STREIGHT,
[Inclosure.] LIBBY PRISON, Richmond, August
30,
1863. Hon. JAMES A. SEDDON, Secretary of War: SIR: I take the liberty of addressing you in behalf of myself and
fellow-prisoners in relation to our situation. About 600 of us are confined here
with an average space of nearly twenty-eight square feet each, which includes
our room for cooking, eating, washing, bathing, and sleeping. Our rations
consist, as nearly as I can judge as to quantity, of about one-fourth pound of
poor fresh beef, one-half pound of bread, and one.half gill of rice or beans for
each man per day. The above amount has been found insufficient both as to
quantity and quality to«16 R R--SERIES II, VOL VI» <ar119_242> sustain life and
health in our close prison confinement. Scorbutic diseases have already
appeared, proving fatal in one case--Major Morris--and impairing seriously, if
not permanently, the health of others. Our sanitary condition would have been much worse than it now is but for the
large purchases of vegetables and other provisions, amounting to nearly $1,000
per day, which we have been allowed to make but as nearly all our money was
taken from us when we entered the prison the daily expenditure of this large sum
has at length about exhausted what was left us. We have also been notified that
we will not be allowed to receive any portion of the money taken from us here,
nor even such sums as have been sent us from home since our imprisonment, though
before writing for these moneys we were expressly assured by your officers
having us in charge that we would be allowed to receive them. It will be
perceived from the above statement that our immediate prospective condition is,
to say the least, that of semi-starvation. The rations furnished by your
Government may be as good and as much as it can afford under the circumstances,
but in that case it does seem that we should be allowed to purchase the
necessary amount to sustain us. It cannot possibly be that it is intended to
reduce to a famishing condition 600 prisoners of war. Humanity cannot
contemplate such a thing without feelings of the deepest horror, saying nothing
of our rights as prisoners of war. Even criminals guilty of the blackest crimes
are not, among civilized people, confined for any length of time on insufficient
food. I wish further to state to you that previous to my surrender I made a
stipulation with General Forrest, to whom I surrendered, that all private
property, including money belonging to my officers and men, should be respected.
This stipulation, in the handwriting of General Forrest over his own signature,
is now in the hands of General Winder, having been taken from me here.
Notwithstanding this, my officers, ninety-five in number, have been notified
with the balance that their money has been turned over to the Confederate
authorities. For the purpose of avoiding further loss of money or misunderstanding and, if
possible, to obtain relief from the unhappy situation in which we are placed,
you are most respectfully asked to state, in your answer to this communication,
the manner in which we will be allowed to obtain necessary food and clothing to
render us comfortable. I have furnished Hon. Robert Ould, Confederate commissioner for exchange of
prisoners, a copy of this communication, and will also send a copy, if permitted
to do so, to General Meredith, the U.S. commissioner for exchange of prisoners,
in order that the whole subject may come up for discussion at the next meeting
of said commissioners. I have the honor, sir, to be, your most obedient servant, A. D. STREIGHT,
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