Edr S=canbdy to Hpers. TENTH REGIMENT VETERAN RESERVE CORPS, March 4, 1865

March 4, 1865.

Respectfully returned.

I admit that it is not “a legitimate work for prisoners of war” to employ them in the removal of torpedoes, except as a measure of retaliation. I recollect distinctly that Major-General McClellan claimed in his report that he had made prisoners of war, &c., move our torpedoes at Yorktown, and all the Federal letter writers allege that MajorGeneral Sherman resorted to the same illegitimate measure at Fort McAllister. In view of this it was that I made the within requisition – and legitimate act of retaliation.

G. T. BEAUREGARD, General.

ADJUTANT AND INSPECTOR GENERAL’S OFFICE, March 14, 1865. Respectfully resubmitted to the Secretary of War. Please see preceding indorsement. H. L. CLAY, Assistant Adjutant- General.

PRISONERS’ BARRACKS, Hilton Head, S. C., January 9, 1865. Hon. JULIAN HARTRIDGE, Richmond, Va.:

My DEAR Sir: You will see from where this is written that I am a prisoner of war, captured about a month since at my home by General Sherman’s forces on their advance to Savannah. I reached this place about two weeks since with about 600 prisoners. With the officers I was sent to the prison on this island, where 200 Confederate officers are confined and upon retaliatory treatment. Having shared their privations, hardships, and sufferings for two months, I propose to give you, and through you to the authorities of the Government, somewhat in detail what we have been called to endure and what these 200 officers are stillenduring. (Sherman’s prisoners are now drawing better rations, in other respects the same treatment.) The prison bounds embrace about fifty square yards. Upon this stand two buildings, lightly weatherboarded, about seventy-tive by twenty-four feet in size, one small kitchen, and fifteen tents. The remainder of the ground is

CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.—UNION AND CONFEDERATE. a

used for cooking place and exercise for about 260 men; about 100 of these are lodged on one floor of each of these buildings; remainder (privates) occupy the tents. Cells are arranged on both sides of these buildings, about seven by six feet, and are occupied by from four to nine officers. But one door opens to the buildings and no windows, consequently the larger portion of the building [is] too dark even at midday for either reading or writing. No fire is allowed in these buildings. At about 5 p. m. is roll-call, when the inmates are all locked in until 7 a. m. next morning. The cold here is severe. Once since my arrival water would be ice in a moment after it touched the floor. Many of these officers are in rags, scarce enough clothing to cover their nakedness. Many, well nigh shoeless, lay at nights upon a rough, naked board, and in some instances two cover with one blanket, with their hips covered with a rough, horny scab from their nightly contact with their bedless bunks. To avoid freezing to death when the weather is cold much of the night is spent running up and down the building to keep up the circulation. “lhis is done by almost the entire prison. The daily allowance to each man is one pint of stale meal, about two spoonsful of which is husk and weevils, four ounces of bread, and one-fourth pint of pickles. Three camp-kettles are allowed to each prison as cooking utensils. One stick of green wood about eight feet long and eight inches in diameter for fuel. The cooking is done in the open yard by the prisoners. Old coftee pots, tin kettles, frying-pans—in a word, everything upon which a hoecake can be baked or in which water can be boiled is brought into requisition and used thus. Two or three of a mess pick up their bunch of chips, cup of meal, &c., select a place, open a hole in the sand, pile it around the edge to keep off the wind. Into this the chips are deposited, the fire applied, down drops an officer, his mouth near the coals, and blows until sufficient fire is kindled to prepare his mush or hoecake. From the scanty supply of provisions and wood only two meals are taken per day. It is not uncommon for officers to cut the wood for the hospital for the privilege of picking up and using the chips. I have seen a little piece of dirty grease carefully picked out of the sand, carefully cleaned and put away for use. So perfectly ravenous are the cravings of nature for meat by men thus circumstanced that every cat about the prison has been eaten, and rats are eaten as readily as a chicken would be at home. The officers and privates garrisoning the prison are kind and courteous, and although a portion of the troops are negroes, still we have no cause of complaint, as they confine themselves strictly to a performance of their duties. I write this letter by the consent of the provost-marshal of the department, who, whilst he enforces with fidelity the orders of his Government, is deeply anxious that Federal prisonexs in Confederate prisons might be better treated, so as to bring about an amelioration of the Confederate prisoners both here and elsewhere. May I hear from you? Write via Charleston. : While I remain, as ever, your friend,

HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF WEsT MISSISSIPPI, New Orleans, La., January 10, 1865. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Chief of Staff of the Army, Washington, D. O.: SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt by mail of copy of your telegram of the 29th ultimo in relation to the shipment of certain

cotton from Mobile, the proceeds to be applied for the benefit of prisoners of war in our hands, and, referring to my dispatch of the 4th instant, to call your attention to the inclosed copy of report of Colonel Dwight, agent of exchange,* who has just returned from Mobile Bay, and who confirms the previous statement that the delay in the shipment of this cotton is solely the fault of the authorities at Mobile.

Very respectfully, sir, your obedient servant,

EDR S=CANBDY;
Major-General, Commanding.
Hpers. TENTH REGIMENT VETERAN RESERVE CORPS,
Camp Fry, Washington, D. C., January 10, 1865.
Major BLAGDEN,
Assistant to Commissary- General of Prisoners, Washington, D. O.:
MAJOR: I have the honor to inclose herewith an extract from a letter
written by John Brusnan, a rebel prisoner at Elmira, N. Y., to a sister