Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-09-29
Gen. Hood to Gen. Sherman.

HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF TENNESSEE,
In the Field, September H. 664.
Major Gen. w. T. SHERMAN,
Commanding United States forces
Sir had the honor the 9th instant to propose to
you exchange of prlsoners-ocers and captured
by both armies since the commencement of the present
campaign.
On the same day you answered my communication
stating that you accepted my offer exchange prison
of in hand this moment" There being no condi.
ton attached to the acceptance your part of my offer
to exchange prisoners regard it obligatory to the
tent OF the number of prisoners represented by you to be
within your Jurisdiction.
At the meeting the 18th instant between our respec
tive staff officers Major j. b. Eustis and Lieut. Col War
g., intended to arrange such prelmnares az the
time and place Of delivery &c. communication wa. re-
ceived from you rendering regret to inform you an ex-
change Of prisoners impossible.
Your refusal to receive exchange your soldiers belong
ing 10 regiments whose times and who have been
discharged dscloses fixed purpose the part of your
Government to doom hopeless captivity those
whose terms of service hare expired will soon Ell
The principle which you seek 10 nterpolate on the
cartel OF our respective Governments well upon the
laws and customs Of will not be sanctioned by me-
ALI captves taken In who obligations to the
captors, must stand upon the equal footing The du-
ration Of these terms of service certainly impose no
duties obligations the csptors The volunteer of
day and the conscrpt for the who may be cap.
tured In war equally subject to all the burdens and
equally entitled to all the rights secured by the laws of ma
tons This principle is distinctly conceded n the cartel
entered into by respective Governments and b sane
toned by honor Justice and the public law of all civilized
nations
My offer to exchange the prisoners captured during the
campaign precludes gu intention my part 10 the delivery
TO discriminate between your prisoners all would have
been delivered and had it been intended this dis
elimination between your men, whose terms of service
had aud had not expired would have been impossible and
could not have been effected, had reliable means
Of ascertanDg what proportion of your entitled
to their discharge.
Your avows that this class of your soldiers will not be
exchanged but will be rewarded by the suerngs and pr
thar
bodness and courage subjected them capture although
their terms OF service had nearly expired deeply re-
GREETED by me- as have the earnest desire of my Goyern
ment to release from prolonged confinement the large
number of prisoners held by both parties.
Permit to hope that this declared policy of your
Government will be recondered it 10 ubiusty oppres
sve 70 those whom the hazards OF military service have
rendered prisoners and voave of the well understood
obligations OF Government toward those who enlisted
in its service.
Al was proper, notified my Government Of my offer
TO you to effect exchange of prisoners captured during
this campaign and not only my action approved bur
my Government placed at my entire disposal for mme
date exchange, man for man. all the prisoners at Ander-
sonville.
have the honor 10 renew my offer to exchange prison
ers a proposed in my first communication and remain
your obedent servant, j. b. HOOD General
The Richmond papers comment with some severity on
this correspondence The following paragraph from an
article in the Richmond Enquirer:
Sherman has declared he will not exchange our SOL
ders for Yankees whose term Of enlistment expired
Here 10 even worse violation Of aith than the other
Whose fault that the term Of these soldiers has ar
pred Certainly not that of the soldier. He has com
piled with his contract; his Government has violated
theirs They owe him protection. They have guaranteed
him the right OF civilized warfare They have exaoted
om the soldier the last day Of that was due than
they abandon him to the horror Of prison life wbont
hope of release until the end Of war that daily
more ntermnapc NoWnere are the rights feelings OF
white men outraged and dsregarded az among the Yam
KEGS"