Middletown 150 Yrs. Ago: Gettysburg Cemetery To Be Dedicated

From The Constitution, Wednesday, November 18, 1863 (volume 26, number 1351)

Prisoners At The South.

From the reports which are coming to us, and from the tone of the southern journals, we are beginning to awake to the fearful truth that to the horrors of captivity and the established inhumanity of the southern chivalry towards the unfortunate men who become their prisoners, are now to be added the terrors of a slow death by starvation. The food question has become the great problem. A letter dated in April last, and written by the rebel commissary general to the rebel Secretary of War, predicted that unless “something was done,” starvation would exist among the people and army. At the date of the letter, the crops, in a large portion of the south, were so far advanced that no change or improvement could be hoped for. Since then, “something has been done,” but it has not bettered the condition of the southerners; the trans-Mississippi states have been severed from the confederacy and no more furnish supplies of food or men; East Tennessee, with its stores of grain and meat, has fallen into our hands; a large part of Alabama and Mississippi are of no practical value as a source of supply to the rebels, and other changes have been made, all of which tend to narrow down the food-producing limits of the “southern nation,” while the process of “crowding the mourners” is still going on to an alarming extent.

The rebels confess that they are reduced to the last extremity, and in the full belief that “charity begins at home,” its inhuman policy in regard to the unfortunate prisoners is stated. They do not propose to parole them; and there is but one other solution; they are to be deliberately starved! The Richmond Enquirer, with a bold face, says :

“There is here, if not a scarcity, at least a great dearth of provisions, and not less of fuel; while as to the medicines, they are contraband of war, and our enemies use extreme diligence in keeping them from us altogether. We would assure those Yankee soldiers that death on the field of battle were far better than captivity here this Winter, and would accordingly counsel them also not to be taken alive.”

Nearly two hundred prisoners arrived at Annapolis a few days ago, in a most terrible condition from the want of food, and from ill treatment; several had died on the voyage, since then forty-five have died, and many more are so low that they cannot recover; they were a detachment from the Libby prison, the condition of which is represented as most horrible. Putting this and that together, what other conclusion can be arrived at than that there is a scarcity of food. It is not because the price is high, that makes a scarcity, for the abundance of paper money would remedy that. The rebels in justice to themselves should parole these prisoners; but they will neither do this nor exchange them. While no civilized power will recognize them, they stand upon their dignity as a “power,” and upon some foolish technicality keep these brave men in suffering and want. The Richmond Examiner says, the government will not agree to exchange them, and it has but one solution of the difficulty, and that is to “thin them out with scant fair.”

It is hoped there will be wisdom enough at Washington to find a remedy for this evil. Immediate action is necessary; let it be prompt and decisive, and pay at least one installment towards the debt it owes to the brave men who have volunteered to sustain its national honor.

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The inauguration at Gettysburg, of the Soldier’s Cemetery, takes place on Wednesday. Edward Everett will deliver the oration. The President will be present.

Quota For Middletown.

The quota for Middletown to raise on the last call for three hundred thousand men, is 116. Until the 5th of January is given to volunteer. Then comes a draft. It would seem to be for the interest of ALL to aid in raising the volunteers. New recruits receive in state and national bounty, six hundred dollars! Veteransone hundred dollars more. Let Middletown promptly raise her quota.

Death of Geo. E. Goodspeed.

George E. Goodspeed, of the firm of G. E. & W. H. Goodspeed, died at his residence at Goodspeed’s landing, East Haddam, on Monday. Mr. Goodspeed was well known in the State, having, in connection with his brother, been engaged in mercantile and shipping interests many years. He has been President of the Bank of New England since its existence. His funeral will be attended from St. Steven’s church, East Haddam, on Wednesday afternoon, at 2 o’clock.

Apoplexy.

Edward P. Camp, of Durham, and a member of the Legislature, was prostrated by a stroke of paralysis on Thursday night last, at the City Hotel. He lingered in a state of apparent consciousness, but totally unable to move muscle or limb until Sunday morning, when he breathed his last. His death will be severely felt in the community where he lived, as he was a man of a noble, generous mind. He was 55 years of age.

Narrow Escape.

Mr. Nathaniel Smith and his family, residing in College street, had a narrow escape from fire on Sunday morning. About four o’clock they were awoke from a sense of strangulation, and found the room filled with smoke. The floor and ceiling of the room were found to be on fire, ready to break out. By energetic and prompt action, it was extinguished. The gas pipes had been repaired on Saturday, and it is supposed that fire had been communicated to the wood work at that time.

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The Alert Club, composed of young ladies has been organized, and the following officers chosen. President, Mrs. Nellie Douglas, Secretary, Miss Hattie Woodward, Treasurer, Miss Nellie Tobey. The club has a large number of members. We understand that they propose having a course of lectures this winter.

The Weather.

The past week has exhibited many changes in the atmosphere. It was a stirring together of the elements, apparently preceding settled winter weather. Friday morning the thermometer was at 30, at noon at 58. Tuesday and Wednesday cold winds prevailed. Saturday and Monday were very rainy. The average temperature for the week at sun rise was 36.

McDonough Hall.

We would call the attention of our readers to the advertisement of Ellinger & Newcomb which appears in another column. It is not often that such a rare combination visits our city. The three little pigmieswhich form a part of their exhibition, if we may believe the flattering notices given them by a host of contemporaries, are actual wonders. They discount the Tom Thumb party thirty per cent, the little commodore being two inches shorter and six years older than the famous $30,000 Nut of Barnum’s. In conjunction with these big little people, is the parlor opera troupe of Mons. Lavallee, prominent in which we may mention the names of W. B. Harrison, who is too well known as the great extemporaneous poet, delineator and humorous lecturer, to need any remarks of ours. Mr. Murphy, the great tenor, is pronounced by musical critics the best tenor singer on the American stage. Mons. Lavallee, the world renowned pianist, and Miss Ellinger, the charming vocalist. These two companies appear in conjunction, making a combination that is equaled by few and excelled by none. Look out for a rush at McDonough Hall.

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For more articles from The Constitution, go to the Middlesex County Historical Society blog.