hands the same treatment that their own soldiers in the field have received, they are evidently but the most glaring and unblushing falsehoods. No one can, for a moment, be deceived by such statements, who will reflect that our soldiers who, when taken prisoners, have been stout, healthy men, in the prime and vigor of life, yet have died by hundreds under the treatment they have received, although required to perform no duties of the camp or the march; while the rebel soldiers are able to make long and rapid marches, and to offer a stubborn resistance in the field.

There is one feature connected with this investigation to which your committee can refer with pride and satisfaction; that is, the uncomplaining fortitude, the undiminished patriotism exhibited by our brave men under all their privations-even in the hour of death. Your committee would close their report by quoting the tribute paid these men by the Chaplain of the hospital at Annapolis, who has ministered to so many of them in their last moments, who has smoothed their passage to the grave by his kindness and attention, and who has performed the last sad offices over their lifeless remains. He says:

All the

"There is one thing I should wish to state. men, without any exception, among the thousands that have come to this hospital, have never, in a single instance, expressed a regret (notwithstanding the privations and sufferings they have endured) that they entered their country's service. They have been the most loyal, devoted, and earnest men. Even in the last day of their lives, they have said that all they hoped for was just to live and enter the ranks again, and meet their foes. It is a most glorious record in reference to the devotion of our men to their country. I do not think their patriotism has ever been equalled in the history of the world."

TREATMENT OF PRISONERS CAPTURED AT THE BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA

DIARY OF A SOLDIER.

STEWARD'S HOSPITAL, September 20th, 1863.

AT nine o'clock this morning, I was wounded and captured by the rebels; was hurried to the rear as fast as possible, with quite a number of our wounded. We were taken to the Steward's Hospital, some three miles from the battle-field; were put out upon the ground, with no shelter whatever, and a great many of us had no blankets. There were some eighty of our wounded at this place. Dr. Hamilton (rebel) came round and examined our wounds. Some of the worst cases were washed, and partially dressed. Toward evening, all that were able were marched off-Captain McWilliams and Lieutenant Cole, of the Fifty-first Illinois Infantry, were among them; about sundown we were forced to believe our troops were falling back. The rebels are jubilant; they say they have captured half of Rosecrans's army.

September 21st.-To-day the rebels have been so jubilant on what they term the "Yankee rout," that they have taken no notice whatever of the men lying weltering in their blood, suffering beyond description.

September 22d.-To-day we had a man die. Dr. Story (rebel) has been put in charge of all the Yankee wounded. He appears to be a gentleman, but as yet there has been nothing done for the-wounded, who are suffering intensely.

September 23d.-To-day the doctors dressed most of the wounds. Many of the men have shattered limbs, and are suffering beyond description. We have had nothing to eat since we came here.

September 24th.-Two of our men died to-day. They had shattered limbs, and the worms had got into their wounds. Had they had proper attention they probably Icould have been saved.

September 25th. The rebels say they have driven Rosecrans over the river, also Burnside out of East Tennessee. The doctors are having a spree over it-no attention has been paid us to-day; there are two or three hundred rebel wounded here that have to be attended to first. One man died to-day.

September 26th.-To-day we drew the first rations we have had since we came a ration consisting of half a pint of corn meal and two ounces of beef, a miserable pittance for a hungry man. No doctor has been near today. Some of the men are suffering intensely; the rebels don't seem to care how many of us die. Heavy firing heard in the direction of Chattanooga.

September 27th.-We lost one man by death to-day. Two of the boys have had limbs amputated--both will probably die. The boys are suffering a great deal from their wounds; mortification has taken place in many instances, while some have worms in their wounds. Many are very sick; no medicine to be had.

September 28th.—We lost two by death to-day; arteries burst, surgeons absent-bled to death! We have nothing to eat to-day. I believe they mean to starve us to death. It is a pitiful sight to see the haggard countenances of the men. To-day they have sent two hundred rebel wounded to the hospitals.

September 29th.-Dr. Hamilton told us, this morning, that arrangements have been made to send all through our lines. We drew rations to-day.

September 30th.-To-day our boys are trading their pocket-knives and everything they can for rations.

There is scarcely five dollars among us. The miserable thieves robbed us of everything we had. To-day has been a day of intense suffering among our men. It has rained all day, and we have no shelter.

October 1st. It rained all last night; we look like a set of drowned rats. Some of the boys are very sick; many must die with such treatment. The sergeant of the guard procured a tent for eight of us. Dr. Story does all he can for us. We drew our pittance of corn meal to-day.

October 2d. We expect to leave here to-day. I sin cerely hope we will; I long to be in God's country once more, and behold the good old flag again. The lice and filth here are intolerable.

October 3d.-No signs of leaving yet. Dr. Story is doing his best to make us comfortable, but we have no bandages with which to dress our wounds. Two deaths to-day.

October 4th.-To-day is very cold; we have no blankets, hence there is a great deal of suffering from cold. Our rations have run out, and taking all things into consideration it would be hard to embitter our condition.

October 5th.-Heavy cannonading has been going on in the front all day. The Rebels say they are shelling Chattanooga. We learned to-day that the armistice was over, and that we would have to take a trip to Richmond; the trip will doubtless kill quite a number of us. We got our mush to-day. Intense suffering from cold nights.

October 6th. We expected to leave here to-day for Atlanta, but for some reason the ambulances have not come. All we have to eat is mush, with little or no salt in it. Many are suffering from diarrhoea.

October 7th.-To-day we drew rations of flour. Cap

tain Foster, Forty-second Illinois, is baking bread. One of our men died to-day. We have lost fourteen by death since we came here.

October 8th.-At nine A. M., this morning, we were stowed in lumber-wagons and hauled to Ringgold, a distance of eight miles, over the roughest road I ever travelled; many of the men were so sick that they could not raise their heads.

October 9th.-Last night they put one hundred and eighty of us into box-cars and brought us to Dalton, where we stopped for the night. We had to sleep in the cars; and they gave us no supper. The night was very cold; it was heart-rending to witness the suffering among the sick and wounded. This morning, we left for Dalton without breakfast, and arrived at Atlanta, Georgia, at six A. M. We were then taken to a military prison, where we now lie upon the ground, with no shelter and no fires. Our wounds have not been dressed for three days. The stench is awful.

October 10th.-We are under the charge of our own doctors here, but the rebels won't furnish bandages to dress the wounds. I never suffered so from hunger in all my life. They have been promising us rations all day, and now they tell us it will be here early in the morning. The boys are selling their rings and everything they have for something to eat.

October 11th.-We are a little more comfortable today; the surgeons have amputated several limbs, and dressed all the wounds. One man died this morning. On the 7th instant, one of our men was shot by the guard for going too near the fence. One of our officers is here, carrying around a thirty-two pound ball and chain. Several of the men are handcuffed.

October 12th.-Two men died last night; the wounded