UNION AND CONFEDERATE
CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, ETC., RELATING TO PRISONERS OF WAR AND STATE FROM
JUNE 11, 1863, TO MARCH 31, 1864.--#22
CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, WAR DEPARTMENT, Richmond, Va., November 21, 1863.
Brig. Gen. S. A. MEREDITH, Agent of Exchange:
SIR: I herewith forward to you Major Carrington's report upon
the condition of the prisons in this city, two abstracts of provisions
issued for the quarter ending September 30, 1863, and Surgeon Wilkins'
report on the prison hospitals. I hope the evidence furnished by these
papers will be sufficient to show the utter falsity of the representations
of the returned chaplains. I know Major Carrington to be a gentleman of the
highest honor and veracity. I am confident that every statement in each of
these papers is strictly true.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
RO. OULD, Agent of Exchange.
[Inclosure No. l.]
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF HENRICO, Richmond, Va., November 18, 1863.
Brig. Gen. JOHN H. WINDER:
SIR: I have the honor to report that in obedience to orders received
from you on the 16th instant, I have proceeded to inspect the military
prisons in this city occupied by prisoners of war.
On the 17th instant there were--
In Libby Prison
building, all commissioned officers
1,044
In Crew's Prison
453
In Pemberton's
Prison
1,115
In Smith's Prison
928
In Scott's Prison
1,082
In encampment on
Belle Isle
6,300
In hospital
728
Total
11,650
In the Libby Prison there are eight large rooms occupied by the prisoners,
of which one is used as a hospital. These rooms are 103 by 42 feet. There is
a water-closet on each floor. There is an ample supply of water on each
floor, and there is also facility afforded for bathing, <ar119_545> of which
each prisoner can avail himself at will. The prison is thoroughly policed
daily and is in a cleanly condition. The officers are allowed to purchase
such articles as they wish, not prohibited by the rules of the prison, and a
competent person is employed whose sole business it is to make these
purchases.
The other buildings, used as prisons for the privates, are comfortable, are
policed thoroughly each day, and are in a cleanly condition. Scott's Prison
and Pemberton's Prison are at present crowded somewhat beyond their capacity
for health and comfort, if the number now confined in them were kept any
considerable length of time. This evil is temporary, arrangements having
been made to remove a portion of these prisoners to quarters now in course
of preparation. The men are generally comfortably clad. I observed some few
of the privates who were suffering for clothing. The supply of clothing and
blankets sent for them from the United States is now being distributed by
officers of the U.S. Army selected from the prisoners. The encampment at
Belle Isle contains 6,300 prisoners, all privates and non-commissioned
officers, who are quartered in tents. The tents are pitched on an island,
upon a dry knoll, from which the surface water is thoroughly drained. The
contiguity of the river renders the police of the camp easy. There is an
abundance of excellent water, afforded by eight wells within the encampment.
The camp is thoroughly policed daily. I observed that some of the tents were
dilapidated by weather and some injured by carelessness in building fires. A
supply of tents has been sent to the island to supply these deficiencies.
I return a report made by Surgeon Wilkins on the condition of the hospitals
occupied by the prisoners. The buildings occupied are comfortable and well
furnished, the supplies are ample, the attendance fully equal to the wants
of the patients, and my inspection fully confirms the report of Surgeon
Wilkins.
I file a copy of abstract of provisions furnished prisoners of war in this
city for the quarter ending September 30,1863. The average number of
prisoners during this quarter was 4,933. The abstract shows the actual
amount of provisions issued. In addition to this an additional amount was
issued as "extra provision" to the hospitals, an abstract of which is also
filed. It will be seen from these abstracts that the prisoners received
during this quarter within a small fraction of the army ration. If the extra
issue be included, the amount is fully made up. Upon full inquiry and
examination not only of the officers in charge, but of the subordinates, I
learn that during the present quarter there have been issued full rations of
all the articles mentioned in the abstract, excepting meat. Owing to the
large number of prisoners suddenly consigned to their care without notice,
the officers have not always been able to provide a full ration of meat. The
deficiency has never existed but for a short time, and whenever it did exist
it was remedied as far as possible by extra issue of other articles.
The ration now being issued consists of one pound of bread, half pound of
meat, half pound of potatoes, rice or beans, vinegar, soap, and salt,
according to the regulations. The bread is baked at bakeries and weighed to
the commissaries of each prison. I inspected the bakeries and found them
well conducted. The meats and other articles are cooked at the prisons. The
provisions are weighed and measured to messes of 100 men each, and are
delivered to one of their own number selected to receive and distribute it.
I inspected the kitchens and found the arrangements for cooking good and in
good order; care is taken to lose nothing from the rations,«35 R R--SERIES
II, VOL VI» <ar119_546> and once each day each prisoner has soup, made from
the water in which the meat is boiled, with the addition of rice and begins.
I doubt not but what there are cases of individual hardship and suffering;
they are unavoidable in the management of such a number of men; they may
proceed from accident, from the abuse of authority of a subordinate officer,
from the neglect of the prisoner himself, or from the cruelty of his fellow
prisoners.
On the day I made this inspection a prisoner complained to the officer in
charge that he had had nothing to eat since the day before, and that lie was
starving. On investigation it appeared that the sergeant who was intrusted
with the distribution to his mess, and who was also a prisoner, had refused
to give him his ration. In another case, one of the prisoners was found
badly beaten and robbed of his clothing by some of his fellow-prisoners.
Some among them are in a very filthy and disgusting condition, simply
because they will not avail themselves of the opportunities for cleanliness
accessible to them.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
ISAAC H. CARRINGTON, Major and Commissioner.
[Inclosure No. 2.]
Abstract of extra provisions issued to
C. S. military prison hospital and bakery for the quarter ending September
30, 1863, by J. Warner, captain and assistant quartermaster.
Date.
Voucher.
Wheat, rye, or coffee.
Sugar.
Carrots, potatoes, turnips.
Snaps.
Meal.
Butter crackers.
Cabbage.
Lard.
Milk.
Yeast.
Mutton.
Beets.
Lbs.
Lbs.
Bush.
Bush.
Pk.
Lbs.
Heads.
Lbs.
Gal.
Qt.
Lbs.
Bunch.
1-Jul
2
Hospital
....
....
1
....
....
....
279
....
....
....
....
20
13
6
Bakery
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
18
12
Hospital
....
....
74
....
....
....
308
....
....
....
....
77
22
14
do
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
104
....
....
....
....
Sept. 30
17
do
....
....
....
....
....
....
70
....
....
....
....
....
30-Jul
20
do
....
1,302
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
31
22
do
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
15
1/2
....
....
....
31
23
do
....
....
....
....
....
....
880
....
....
....
....
403
31
24
do
....
....
4
1/2
....
....
....
530
....
....
....
....
108
31
25
do
....
....
13
1/2
....
....
....
524
5
....
....
....
191
31
26
do
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
104
....
....
....
....
Aug. 1
27
do
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
52
....
....
....
1
28
do
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
178
....
....
....
1
29
do
56
....
....
....
....
....
....
2
....
....
....
....
8
30
do
....
....
....
....
....
....
1,260
....
....
....
....
150
15
31
do
....
....
5
....
....
....
590
....
....
....
....
108
23
32
do
....
....
8
....
....
....
1,310
....
....
....
....
213
31
36
do
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
294
....
....
....
....
31
37
do
7 1/4
33 1/2
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
31
38
do
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
186
....
....
....
31
40
do
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
15 1/2
....
....
....
Sept. 1
41
do
....
....
10 1/5
....
....
....
850
....
....
....
....
114
1
42
do
....
....
11
....
....
....
1,510
....
....
....
....
....
1
43
do
98
....
4-Mar
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
2
45
do
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
62
....
....
....
7
46
do
....
....
3
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
10
49
do
....
....
11
....
....
....
1,835
....
....
....
35
....
15
50
do
....
....
10
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
16
51
do
....
....
43
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
19
52
do
....
....
5-Feb
....
1
....
....
....
....
1
....
....
21
54
do
....
....
8 1/2
....
....
....
430
....
....
....
....
120
22
55
do
....
....
....
....
....
20
....
....
....
....
....
....
24
56
do
....
1,080
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
25
58
do
....
....
45
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
25
59
do
....
....
9
4-Mar
....
....
4
....
....
....
....
20
25
60
do
28
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
26
64
do
....
3,600
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
Total
189 1/4
6015 1/2
184 1/10
4-Mar
1
20
10,380
509
509
1
35
1,524
[ActualTotal--Ed.]
508
<ar119_547>
Abstract of extra provisions issued
to C. S. military prison hospital, etc.--Continued. 1863. July 1
