From the Richmond Sentinel, 8/27/1864, p. 1
Four Prisoners Shot. - During the prevalence of the storm Thursday night two Yankee prisoners attempted to escape from Belle Isle by jumping into the river. As they swam off they were fired on by the guard, and one of them killed and the other seriously wounded. Undeterred by the ill luck of their comrades, at a late hour of the night two more attempted to escape by the same method and met with a similar punishment, one of them being killed by the fire of the guard and the other wounded. This is a lesson to restless prisoners which it is hoped will have a good effect.