The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-05-23

ment concluded between belligerents du.
ring the war, or in consequence Of a war
Hostages are rare in the present
%. If a hostage is accepted, ne is
treated like prisoner of war; according
TO rank and condition, az circumstance
may admit.
%. 4 prisoner Of war is subject TO nc
punishment for being public enemy,
nor Is any reveGge wreaked upon him by
the intentional iniliction of any suffering,
or disgrace, by cruel punishment, want
of food, by mutilation, death, or any
other barbarity.
o.. SO soon as q man is armed by n
sovereign Government and takes The
soldiers oath Of fidelity, he is a bellig-
erent; his killing, wounding, or other
warlike acts are no individual crimes or
oilenses. No belligerent has a right to
declare that enemies of certain class,
color or condition, when properly or
gained as soldiers, will not be treated
by him rs public enemies.
oS The law of nations knows of no
distinction of color, and if an enemy Of
the United States should enslave and sell
any captured person of their army, it
would be a case for the severest retalia-
ton, ii not redressed upon complaint.
The United States cannot retaliate by
enslavement; therefore death must be
the retaliation for this crime against the
law of nations
80 a prisoner Of war remains an
swerable for his crimes committed
against the captor's army or people,
committed before he was captured, and
for which he has not been punished by
his own authorities.
All prisoners of war are liable TO the
infliction Of retaliatory measures.
60. It's against the usages ofmodern war
TO resolve, in hatred and revenge, to give
no quarter. No body of troops has a
right to declare that it will not give,
and therefore, will not expect quarter
but commander is permitted 20 direct
his troops 70 give no quarter, in great
straights, when his own salvation makes
it impossible to cumber himself with pris-
oners.
81. Troops that gives no quarter have
no right to kill enemies already disabled
on the ground, or prisoners captured by
other troops.
81. All troops Of the enemy known or
discovered 10 give DO quarter in general,
or Go any portion Of the army, receive
nome.
90. Troops who fight in the uniform
sf their enemies, without any plain,
striking, and uniform mark of distinct
ion of their own, can expect no quarter.
Cd. Ii American troops capture train
containing uniforms of the enemy, and
the commander considers it advisable TO
distribute them for use among his men,
some striking mark or sign must be
adopted TO distinguish the American
soldier from the enemy.
60. The uso Of the enemy's national
standard, flag, or other emblem Of nation
atty, for the purpose of deceiving the
enemy in battle, is an act of per1dy by
which they lose all claim to the protec-
ton of the laws of war.
&C. Quarter having been given to an
enemy by American troops, under mis-
apprehension Of his true character, he
may, nevertheless, be ordered to suffer
death il, within three days after the bat
tie, il is discovered that he belongs to a
CORPS that give no quarter.
G7. The law of nations allows every
Government 30 make war upon another
sovereign State, and, taere fore, admits of
no rules or laws different from those of
regular warfare, regarding the treatment
Of prisoners of war although they belong
TO the army Of Government which the
captor may consider as a wsnton andfn
just assailant.
GO. Modern wars are not internecine
wars, in which the killing of the enemy
is the object. The destruction of the en-
envy in modern war, and, indeed, modern
war itself, are means % obtain that OBJ
Jet of the belligerent which lies beyond
the war.
Unnecessary or revengeful destruction
of life 10 not lawful.
Co. Outposts, sentinels or pickets are
not to be fred upon, except TO drive them
in, or when a positive erder, special or
general, has been Issued TO that effect
70 The use of poison in any manner,
be it to poison wells, or food, is wholly
excluded from modern warfare. He that
uses itputs himself out Of the pale of the
law and usages Of war
II. Whoever Intentionally inaicts adj
ditional wounds on an enemy already
wholly disabled, or kills such an enemy,
on who orders OF encourages soldiers TO
do so, shall suffer death if duly conyic-
ted, whether he belongs to the army Of
the United States or is an enemy cap
tured aztec having committed his mis-
deed.
~. Money and other valuables on
the person of q prisoner, such as watch
es or jewelry, as well as extra clothing,
are regarded by the American army as
the private property of the prisoner, and
the appropriation of such yaluabl6s or
money is considered dishon9rable, and is
prohibited.
Nevertheless, if large sums are found
upon the persons Of prisoners, or in their
possession, they shall be taken from
them, and the surplus after providing for
their own support, appropriated for the
use Of tho army, under the direction of
the commander, unless otherwise ordered
by the Government. Nor can any priso-
ners claim as private property large sums
found and captured in their train, al
though they had been placed in the pri-
yaie luggage Of the prisoners.
73 All officers, when captured, must
surrender their side arms 20 the capior
They may be restored to the prisoner, in
marked cases, by the commander, to
aignalize admiration of his distinguished
bravery, OF appreciation Of his humane
treatment of prisoners before his capture
The captured officer TO whom they may
DO restored cannot wear them during
captivity.
a. A prisoner Of war, being a public
nn.uuu h the urIaInunr OF The LnEnrn.