Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-02-13
Our Prisopgrr at RIehmond.

endesvorins to inaugurate system for tn
supply Of the wants of our soldiers VIII
are in the rebel prisons, furnishes in
letter to the BaItimoreAmerioan ofW ednes
day, very interesting account of tht
trip, and Of his interview with the rebe
commissioners. Mr. Fulton, being al cid
political friend OF Judge Ould, enjoyed
extra facilities for coming to an under.
standing but he failed, although some
good may result from this interview. We
append extracts from his letter
The time Of both Of us being limited, pro.
ceeded directly to the business on which
had sought the interView-the deVising Of
some feasible means Of relieving the suf-
ferings Of our prisoners at Richmond.
remarked to him that the purposes Of
my visit to City PoiDt was to obtain Z per-
sonalinterVieE with J. C. CowsrdiR, ESQ
proprietor Of the Richmond Dispatch, with
the hope that We might, in our capacity as
private citizens, having no official connec-
ton with either Government, effect some
arrangement that would be satisfactory to
the friends Of the prisoners on both side.
He replied that in the present condition Of
affairs it would be impTacticable to have
such en- interVieW-ibst the utmost rigor
had been adopted with regard 10 the in,
terviews Of citizens generslly-lhat such
| privileges could not be accorded to one and
| denied to another. Valuable information
he said might thus be unintentionslly
communicated, and that ss e matter Of
preCsution it Was deemed bes. to res!rict
| all intercourse on the trueeboats to the
officers specially delegated to look after
| the interests Of tie two Governments,
Finding that an interview with Ms.
CovGrding was not practicable, l then
stated to Judge 0ald that the proposition
had to make TO Mr.. CoHsrdin l would
make to him, which was that would agree
TO give my time and services 70 tho amel-
ioration Of the condition Of the Confeder-
ste prisoners in cur hands, and promptly
and faithfully attend any commission that
might be intTusted to me by Mr.. Cowardin,
reporting directly to him, provided that he
would act in the same capacity toward our
prisoners in their hands That I would
undertake to deliver to them whatever our
Government permitted to come through
the lines, provided he would take charge
of and deliver such articles IS his Govern
ment would consent 10 receive from US by
flag Of truce.
Judge Ould replied that he Was now and
always had been ready and anxious 10 do
all in his power to smeliorate the condition
Of the prisoners on both sides, and to make
concessions to the cause Of humanity that
might not be advisable under other cir
cumstances. With this view he had some
two weeks since made q proposition to our
Government which he thought, IL accept
ed, would accomplish the same purpose as
thai l proposed in 8 more extended and
satisfactory manner. This proposition, he
said, was to allow 3 number Of our sur.
geons, selected by our Government for
lhst purpose, to pass through their lines
and TO visit and remain with our prisoners
wherever they might be, having full lib
erty Of the city and to pass from point to
point as they might deem necessary in the
performance Of their duties. They would
even be allowed 10 act as eommissaries for
our prisoners, and 70 order through the
lines such stores as they might deem neces.
ssry, and to receive and distribute them.
He presumed that net less than fifty would
be required, and he had contemplated re.
csising st least that humber All that he
had asked in return was that they should
also be permitted to send such number
Of their surgeons within our lines
as might be deemed necessary, witt
similar powers. To this proposition hi
expressed great surprise that he had no
yet received any reply from our Govern
ment. So long as this proposition was IN
der consideration he could not consent Il
entertain any other
The reason why this proposition o.
Commissioner 0uld has not been entertain
ed, Is presumed to be that he persists in re
fusing to acknowledge Gen. Butler as tbs
Commissioner of Exchange, and direct
his communications 10 the authorities a.
Washington, although officially informed
that the whole subject is in the hands c
General Butler
Finding that could net effect any di
rect arrangement Informed Judge Oult
that I had in ny possession several thou
sand dollars, contributed for the relief Q
our prisoners on Belle Isle, with regard {
whom the most intense anxiety was felt
They were known TO be exposed to the iu
clemenoy Of The weather, and the most G
them had no friends ct home able to SEN
them supplies, as was the case with the OF
fcers in the Libby Prison. therefor
asked if be could not grant mespeeisl pei
mission to forward general supplies fc
their use, TO the extent Of the fund 1 ha
in hand for them.
In reply, was assured that nothln
could bemore erroneous than the ststameai
that these men were exposed to the Weath
or snd brutRlly treated. He would IA
prefer to take their place than be cnnfne
in any Of the tobacco warehouses. The
were all, he said, provided with tents, an
as we'll sheltered es the soldiers who guard
ed them. In addition TO which they er
ijoyed the free air, we're lees troubled b
yermip, had room for exercise, and Wer
less troubled By vermin, had room for e1
ercise, and were not subjected to the COZ
+. fned atmosphere inseparable from hosp
tai OF prison life. BE did not allude
!. the character or extent Of thsir ration
: or to the character Of the shelter provide
! them. With regard TO fuel, he assured 4
/ that an abundance Of it was supplied to q
men on Belle Island, and that they wel
4 not crowded there without regard to sheltt
: that when any number Of them had bet
taken away a similsr number was eddie
and that the Island was covered TO its fu
: capacity with tents, and no more .hs
could be accommodated in those tents We
= at any tims placed there.
The health of those On the Island "
, better than those in The prisons, and th'
Jared as well as their own soldiers in 4
field.
who are meClelIan's Friendsf
The New York DsilT News, which neT