The national Republican., 1862-08-14
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE G. s..
Near Richmond, Va,
A. 1910

I'd August, lSG2.
To the General Commanding U. States Army,
Washington:
GENERAL: In obedience to the order Of bis
ExcelleHcy, the President of the Confederate
States, have the honor to make you the fol-
lowing communication:
On the 22d Of July last cartel for o general
exchange Of prisoners Of war was signed by
Major General John A. Dix, on behalf Of the
United States, and by Major General D. II.
Hill, on the part Of this Government. by III,
terms of that cartel 1t Is stipulated that all
prisoners Of war hereafter taken shall be dis--
charged on parole until exchanged.
Scarcely bad the cartel been signed, when
the military authorities Of the United States
commenced practice changing the character
Of the war from such as become civilized Da-
tions into campaign ofindiscrimiuate robbery
and murder. A general order, Issued by the
Secretary Of War Of the United States, in the
city Of Washington, on the very day that the
cartel was signed in Virginia, directs the mill
tary commanders Of the United States to take
the property Of our people for the convenience
and use Of the army, without compensation.
A general order, issued by Major General
Pope on the 23d Of July last, the day after the
date Of the cartel, directs the murder OF our
peaceful citizens as spies. II found quietly till
Ing their farms In his rear, even outside of his
lines.
And one OF his brigadier generals, Steinwehr.
has seized innocent and peaceful inhabitants.
| to be held as hostages, to the end that they
may be murdered In cold blood, IL any Of his
soldiers are killed BY some unknown persons,
whom he designated as bushwackers"
Some Of the military authorities seem to
suppose that their end will be better attained
by o savage war, In which no quarter is to be
given, and no age or sex to be spared than by
such hostilities as are alone recognized to be
lawful in modern times. We find ourselves
driven by our enemies by steady progress
towards practice which we abhor, and which
we are vainly struggling to avoid.
Under these circumstances, this Government
has issued the accompanying general order,
which am directed by the President to trans
NIT TO you, recognizing Mojor General Pope
and his commissioned officers to be In the posi-
ton which they have chosen for Themselves
that Of robbers and murders, and not that OF
pnblic enemies, entitled, IT captured, TO be
treated as prisoners Of war.
The President also instructs me to inform
you that we renounce our right of retaliation
/ on the innocent, and will continue TO treat the
private enlisted soldiers Of Gen. Pope's army
as prisoners Of war but II, after notice 10
your Government that we coniine repressiv-
measures to the punishment Of commissioned
officers who are willing participants in these
crimes, the savage practices threatened in the
orders alluded TO be persisted in, we shall re-
luctantly be forced to the last resort of accept
Ing the war on the terms chosen by our en-
, emies, until the voice Of on outraged humanity
shall compel respect for the recognized
usages Of war.
While the President considers that the facts
referred to would justify refusal on our pal I
, to execute the cartel, by which we have agret d
to liberate an excess Of prisoners Of war in our
hands, sacred regard for plighted faith,
which shrinks from the semblance Of breaking
promise, precludes resort to such an ex-
tremity. Nor Is 1t his desire to extend to any
other forces Of the United States the punish
ment merited by Gen. Pope and such commits
stoned officers as chose to participate in the
execution of bis infamous order.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully
| your obedisnt servant,
Il X. T.. LEE,
I'll General Commanding.