March 27, 1863, The New York Herald
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, March 26, 1863.
Four hundred and eighty-four rebel prisoners were sent South tonight by the flag of truce boat State of Maine, under charge of Captain Mulford. The number was made up of two hundred and forty prisoners that reached here last night from Sandusky, Ohio, captured mostly in Missouri, and two hundred and forty-four from the Old Capitol and Carroll prisons of this city. Among the prisoners were twelve officers captured prior to the proclamation of Jeff. Davis and the interruption of interchanges of officers caused thereby; also Dr. Wilmer, of rebel smuggling notoriety. The steamer State of Maine takes the place of the regular flag of truce boat New York while the latter is having her boilers repaired in Philadelphia.
Something of a scene took place as the prisoners were being marched on board the boat, in consequence of a party of rebel sympathizers, mostly females, making so demonstrative a display of their affection for the prisoners as to cause the guards to require them to vacate the wharf. The females seemed inclined to hold their ground, waving their handkerchiefs and kissing their hands to the prisoners, who replied by noisy cheers and shouts. The Union soldiers were greatly excited by this impudent demonstration, and expressed their indignation by groans and warm expressions of feeling. In view of the inhuman treatment of Union prisoners at Richmond, nothing restrained them from pitching into both Butternuts and sympathizers but the fact that the first were prisoners in their hands and the latter were women.