Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-09-08

Confederate Commissioner for the exchange of pri-
soners, which is interesting as showing the present
position of the negotiations on that subject
To the Relatives and Friends of Confederate Sol
diers Confined IN Northern Prisons
On the 22d of July 1862, the Cartel of Exchange Yves
agreed upon The chief il not the only purpose OF that
instrument the release OF all prisoners OF
war To that end the fourth article provides that all pr
soners Of war should be discharged parole in ten days
after their capture and that the prisoners then held and
those thereafter TAKEN should be transported to the points
mutually agreed upon at the expense Of the capturing
party The sixth article also stpulaes that all pri-
soners of whateyer of service to be exchanged
or paroled within days from the time OF their capture
If be practicable to transfer them to their own lines IN
that time if not, thereafter as practicable"
From The date Of the cartel until July, 1863 the Con-
ederate authorities held the Of prisoners During
the interval deliveries made fast as the Federal
Government furnished transportation Indeed upon more
than one OCCASION urged the Federal authorities to send
increased OF transportation As ready as the enc
my always has been to bring false accusations against u.s.
IL has never been alleged that failed to
make prompt deliveries Of prisoners who were not under
charges when we held the On the other hand,
during the time, the cartel was openly and noto-
riousy viola ed by the Federal authorities Ofcers and
men were kept in cruel confinement sometimes IN irons or
doomed cells, without charges or trial
In July, 1868 the enemy for the nrss nme SINCE Inc
soon as the fact asceraned whenever delivery was
made by the Federal authorities they demanded az equal
number in return endeavored frequently to Obtain from
the Federal agent of exchange Distinct avOwa OF the in
tentons his Government to the delivery PRISONERS
but 10 vain At length, on the goth OF October 1863
addressed to Brig Cen Meredith tho following letter. TO
"RIcHMosn, VA OcroHER 20, 1868.
"Brig Gen. A. MEREDITH, Agent Of Exchange
"SIR More than month ago asked your acqnescence
in proposition officers and soldiers on both sides
should be eased in conformity with the q the
eested that officers and beth sides sh mid be re-
leased unless they subject to charges ~ which eysst
hostages the entlon was not astnrd lou
me- in conversation that this was very
fair that you would ask the consent Of Government
As usual, you have yet made no response tell you
ffanky do not expect any Perhaps you may disappoiD
me- tell that you reject accept the proposition
write this letter the purpose Of 20
have purposy encouraged by public paper that
the Confederate Government has refused or objected to
la order to avoid any mistake in that direction now
propose that all ocsrs and on both sides be released in
other to be parole Will you accept this
Of an hp perhaps you may
g 70. OuLD, Agent of Exchange
On the 29th of October 1863, received from Gen.
Meredith communication informing me that my proposal
of the Goth WAS not accepted" was nsutDgy told
that If the Of prisoners delivered they would be
wroppuy declared exchanged by and put in the field
10 snow how grouDdess this imputation it is only
for me to state then have repeatedly
offered to give ten Federal capves for every Confederate
soldier whom the enemy will show to haye been wrong
fully declared exchange.
have been but few deliveries of prs The enemy in
each case demanding like number in return 1t will be
observed that the Confederate authorities only claimed
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
PRESENT POSITION OF THE QUESTION.
Seeing persistent purpose the part Of the Federal
Government to violate its agreement the Confederate
authorities moved by the suerngs Of the brave who
are unjusty held in Northern prisons determined to
abate their fair demands and accordingly the 10Th Of
August 1864 addressed the following communication to
Msjor John E. milford, Assistant Agent of Exchange, in
charge of the flag oftruce boat which the day
delivered to him at Varina, en- James river:
>"WAR DEPARTMENT,
Richmond, (Va.) august 10, 1864.
Major JOHN E. MILFORD,
Assistant Agent of Exchange
"SIR You have several times proposed TO me to ex-
change the respectively held by the two bege
rents officer for officer and man for man The same offer
also been made by other officials having charge of
matters connected with the exchange of prisoners This
proposal has heretofore been declined by the Confederate
authorities they insisting upon the terms of the cartel
which required the delivery of the of either side
upon parole In vew however OF the very large number
OF prisoners held by each party, and the suffering
consequent upon their continued confinement, now con
prisoners held in captivity by the Confederate authorities
provided you agee to deliver equal number Of CO.
lederate officers and As equal numbers deliver
ed, from to time, they will be declared exchanged
This proposal is made with the understanding that the
officers and who have been longest captivity will
be frat delivered where it practicable shall be happy
to hear from you speedily possible, whether this
rsngement be carried out.
Respectfully, your obedent servant,
"Ro. GUILD, Agent of Exchange"
accompanied the delivery Of the letter with state
ment Of the mortality which hurryiDg many Fede
raj prisoners at Andersonvie to the grave
On the Goth of the month Major Milford returned
with the flag of truce steamer but brought
my letter of the 10th of August In conversation with him
asked him if he had any reply to make to my commun
cation and his was that he not authorized to
make any So deep the rolcitude which felt for the
fate of the capves in Northern prisons that determined
make another effort In order to obviste any objection
which technically might rise the person to whom my
communication addressed, wrote TO Major Gen E. A.
Hitchcock who lie the Federal Commissioner Of Exchange
residing 10 Washington city the following letter. and de-
vered the to Major Milford the day Of its date
Accompanying that letter copy Of the communica.
ton which had addressed to Major Milford the 10th
of August:
RICHMOND, (vA.) AUGUST %, 1864.
- Major Gen. +. A. HITCHCOCK,
United States Comm sioDer of Exchange
"SIR; Enclosed 10 a copy Of communication which,
the 10th instant addressed and delivered to Major