The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-09-01
Question Of Exchanges.
. the Relatives and Friends of Confederate
diers confined IN Nmtheya Prisons

dtcfS todJHfu ~ NmEAtyW fJ1SoHs
On the 22d Of July, 1863, the Cartel of Exchange
was agreed upon. The Chief il not only, purpose Of
that instrument was to secure the release Of all
prisoners Of To that end the fourth article
provides that all prisoners of war should be dis
charged parole in ten days after their capture
and that the prisoners then held and those thereaf
ter taken, should be transported to the points mu
tuaiiy agreed upon ut the expense of the capturing
party The sixth article also stipulates that " all
prisoners, Of whatever of service, to be
changed or paroled in ten days from the time OF
their capture ii be practicable to transfer them to
their own lines in that tie If not, thereaf
ter as practicable.
From the date of the cartel until July 1863, the
Confederate authorities held the Of prisons
ers. During that interval deliveries were made as
fast as tho Federal Government furnished trarspor-
taton. Indeed, upon more than occasion /
urged the Federal authorities to send increased
means OF transportation. As ready as the enemy
always has been to bring false accusations against
Us, 1t has never been alleged that We failed or
neglected to make prompt deliveries Of prisoners
who were not under charges when we held the ex-
cess. On the other hand during the same time, the
Federal authorities. Officers and men kept in
cruel confinement, sometimes in irons or doomed
cells, withou. charges or trial.
In July, 1868, the enemy, for the first time since
the adoption of the cartel held the of pri-
sOners. AS that fact ascertained, When
ever delivery was made by the Federal authori-
ties they demanded an equal number in return. I
endeayored frequently to obtain from the Federal
Agent Of Exchange distinct avowal Of the nteaa-
tons Of his Uovernment to the delivery of pri-
soners, but in vain. At length, the 20th Of Oc-
tober 1868, addressed to Brigadier-General Mere
dith the following letter, to wit:
"RIcHMoND, Va, October 20, 1863
" Byi2adteY- General s. H. Meredith
"Agent If Exchange;
Sir: More than month ago 1 asked your acqui-
ina s1..A
diers on both sides should be released in conformity
with the provisions ef the cartel. In order to OBJ
vlate the difficulties between us suggested that all
officers and men on both sides should be released
unless they were subject to charges in which event.
the opposite Government should have the right Of
holding one or more hostages, if the retention was
not JuStihed. You stated to me, in conversation,
that this proposition very fair, and that you
would ask the consent of your Government to it,
" AS usual, you have as yet made no response.
tell you frankly LIDO not expect any. Perhaps you
may disappolnt me, and tell me that you reject or
accept the proposition. 1 write-hs letter for the
purpose OF bringing to your recollection my propo-
stlon and of dissipating the idea, that seems to
have been purposely encouraged by your public pa
pers, that the Confederate Government has refused
or objected to q system of exchanges.
In order to avoid any mistake in that direction,
now propose that all officers and men on both
sides be released i'll conformity with the provisions
OF the cartel the excess on one side or the other to
be on parole. Will you accept this have no ex-
pectation of answer but, perhaps, you may give
Oiies II IL uOeS cOint, L nope II Will De
p" Respectfully, your obedient servant,
ko. OrLp, Agent of Exchange"
On the 29th OF October, 1868 received from
General Meredith a communication informing me
that my proposal of the Goth mot accepted"
was insutngly told that if the excess Of prisoners
was delivered they would be wrongfully declared
exchanged by he and put in the field To show how
groundiess this mputlon was, it is only necessary
for me to state that since then l have repeatedly
offered to give ten Federal captiyes for every Con-
federate solder whom the enemy will show to have
been wrongfully declared exchanged.
From the ast-named date until the present time
there have been but few deliveries Of prisoners,
the enemy III e,r.h case demanding a like number III
return
1t will be observed that the Confederate alithori-
ties only GAINED that the provisions of the cartel
should be fulfilled They only asked the enemy to
do what, without any hesitation, they had done
during the first year Of the operation of the cartel
seeing persistent purpose Oh the part Of the Fcde
raj Government to violate its own agreement the
Confederate authorities, moved by the sutferngs of
the brave ncn who are ullj Justly held in Northern
PRISONS determined to abate their fair demands and
accordingly, OIL the 10th Of August, 1861 addressed
the following communication to Major John f.
Mulford, Assistant Agent of Exchange i'll charge Of
the fiag-of-truce boat which the same day de-
hyeled to hum at Narllla, On JaInes river:
"WAR DEPAgrMExr,
RICHMOND, Va, August 10, lS6i.
-KcUor Johs Z. 4Na!fotd,
"Isststant 4geHt of Ercha,4ge !:
"Sir: You have several times proposed to me to
exchange the prisoners respectively held by the two
beNgerentS, officer for officer and for man.
The same oiftr has also been made by other officials
having charge Of matters Connected with the ex-
change of prisoners. This proposal has heretofore
been declined by the Confederate authorities they
insisting upon the terms of the cartel, which re-
quirel the delivery of the either side upon
parole. IN view, however, of the very large mum
Der OF prisoners now held by each party, and the
Suffering consequent upon their continued con1ine-
ment, now consent to the above proposal, and
agree to deliver to you the prisoners held in cap
tvlty by the Confederate authorities, provided You
agree to deliver an equal humber OF Confederate
officers and men. As equal numbers deiyt Fed
from time to time, they will be declared exchanged
Thus proposal Is made with the understanding !
that the officers and who have been longest f
captivity will be first delivered where it is praeti
cable shall be happy to hear from you, speedily
as possible, whether this arrangement can be ear
red out.
"Respeetfuly, your obedent servant,
Ro. OeLD, Agent of Exchange"
L accompanied the delivery Of the letter with a
statement of the mortality which hurrying SO
MANY Federal prisoners ut Andersonville to the
grave
On the 20th of the same month, Major Mulford
returned with the tlagoftruee steamer but brought
no answer to my letter Of the 10th of August In
conversation with him, asked him if he had any
reply to Eake to my communication, and his an-
swer WAS, that be was not authorized to make any
So deep the solicitude which felt i'll the fate of
the captives i'll Northern prisons that l determined
to make another effort In order to obyate any OBJ
lection which technicalty might raise us to the per-
son to whom my communication was addressed, I
wrote to MajorGenerdl Z. A. Hitchcock, who is the
Federal Commissioner of Exchange, residing i'll
Washington city, the following letter, and delivered
the to-hialor Mulfotd on the day OF its date
Accompanying that letter Was a copy of the COM
munication which had addressed to Major Multord
On the 10th of August
"RIcHMoSD, VIRGINIA, August y, lSGi.
" Najo,- Geherai9E d. Rsteheoek
- 1" United States Commissioner Of Exchange
s. Sir Enclosed is a copy of a communication
which, the 10th instant, addressed and delivsI
cred to Major John 4. Muiord Assistant Agent OF
Exchange. Under the circumstances vi the case,
deem proper to forward this paper to you III order
that you may fully understand the position which is
taken BY the Confederate authorities. l shall be
glad if the proposition therein made is accepted by
your Government.
Respectfully your obedient servant,
"Ro. OcLD, Agent of Exchange. +"
On the afternoon of the 30th of august, / was no.
titled that the hlg-of-truce steamer had again ap-
pearcd at Narina. On the following day sent to
Major Mulford the following note, to wit
'RIeHMoNn, August 81, 1891
s. 'lEajor John E. 4Hatfora,
''Asssstaat Agent Of Exchange.
''Sir: On the 10th Of this mouth addressed yoa d
communication, to which / have received no an
swer. On the 22d instant, also addressed a COM
manieatioh to Majof-General Z. A. Hitchcock
United States Commissioner Of Exchange, enclosing
i, copy of my letter 10 you Of the 10th instant. /
you have any reply to either OF said communities
tioIs; and, If not whether you have any reason To
give why no reply has been made!
"kespeettully, your obedient servant,