Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-11-13
Respectfully, you: ob't serr't
Ro. OrLD, Agent Of Exc! au:c.
OFFICE COMMISSIONER FOR EXCHANGE, |
Fortress MoSgos, Va, Oct %, 1868.

OFFICE COMMISSIONER FOR EXCHANGE,
FORTRESS M0Ngog, Va, Oct. %, 1868.
Hos. II. CuLD,
Agent Of Exchange, Richmond, Va :
Sir: lam in receipt OF Jour communica>
ton OF the Goth Instant, the tenor of which in
luacs me 10 make some explanatory state
ncnts ot facts, with which, i! would seem,
von need to be reminded.
The system of exchanges Of prisoners of
war, determined in the existing cartel, was
first interrupted By the declared purpose OF
the Confederate Government to mako certain
distinctions in the treatment Of q particular
class Of troops, officers AMI men, in viola ton
of tie. provisions of the cartel. This appears
- hare been the first step towards the lrreSn-
,;,.:,cs which have c;ilminnt@d in ycur uAe-
o,:ivoral declaration, reported by me to my
...;rcrHmcnt On Tho Ssh instant, that 'you Will
proceed to declare exchanges whenever you
roasc:cntiou2iy feel that yCu have the right to
10 SO. for the purpose of putting men into the
Ecll."
There can be no objections to your acting
c3nscientiou7ly in any given case so long rs
voar conscience is enlightened and guided by
those laws Of war which require obedience be-
tween bcligerents to solemn agreements, en-.
tered into by authorized commissioners acting
in the name of their respective superiors.-
Ru:, If yau mean hy the expression, your
considerations sense Of right to substitute
:Nis sansa CT right for the requirements o! an
existing cartel, can by no means concede to
vou ....at right: and ie you do not mean this,
cannot understand villa. you do.mean by so
:a-ue and general n declaration. Judging
*. vnur recent proceedings, it seems that you
bare declared exchanged all Confederate OIL
GERS and soldicrS on parole within what You
claim rs yonr !!acs mp to very recent date,
without having any proper rich: so to dc,
either under the cartel or uEaer the laws oi
var.
The history of this matter, as understand
It. is briefly this: While my predecessor, on
dary Il; this place, was here, in discharge .!
the duties nov committed 70 me. you. c. c:'e
time, made declaration Of exchange emtra
c;n- no great numt-sr Of prisoners Of war
nos il accordance with the requirements o
the ca? cl. and you invited Col. Ludlow, my
predecessor, 70 maze q corresponding dccll
rss;nn Of equivalents. Such y declaration
| was mass V Col. Ludlow, doubtless without
| anticipatirs the magnitude Of the evil, wE!cl
aon.ars row as the result Of that depar
| ,;:Te from t:.n cartsi first inauguratcd by your
self. Subsequently, 10 ms coming on dnt,
| nero. the events of .he war threw upon you
hands large body Of parn!ci officers ar:
men io7er 300C0), captured BY Gen. GraE: a
V:cksburr. and no. long afterwards som
c.000 OF more captured byGep. Banks ct PoE
Hudson.
Suddenly. and without. any proper confs
renee or understanding with me, and hut
| few days ?rior to the important cven.s {
| ChIEa,nanga 20, ns If for the express purposet
Increasing the force Of Gen. Bragg again:
G,;;. Rosecrans, you gave me notice that. 0
/ tie neg. day after the date of hat notice, 20
world declare exchanged large portion
tAs troops which had been captured By Ge
GRAFT.