Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-09-21
tHE EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS,

1.-THE following correspondence was pub.
shed in Richmond for the satisfaction OF
DO friends and relatives of Confederate G
cldiers now held as prisoners of war in
Northern prisons. Believing that the in.
brmation it contains is of equal impor.
ance TO the friends and relatives of Fed
fa' prisoners of var now held in South
Prn prisons, we transfer it to our columns,
ooping that our authorities at Washing
Jon will be able to make g counter state
ment showing that this long continued
imprisonment of brave soldiers is not en-
lirely their fault.
M The Richmond Sentinel of September lst
contains the following important cores
Il pondence:
80 THE RELATIVES AND FRIENDS or coyrEp-
N gRATE SOLDIERS CONFINED IN NORTHERN
"a PRISONS:
On the 22d of July, 1862, the Cartel of
A Exchanges was agreed upon. The chief,
4 If not only, purpose of that instrument
was to secure the release of all prisoners of
Z war. To that end, the fourth article pro-
fsidcs that all prisoners of war should be
&diScbarged on parole in ten days after
Ntbeir capture, and that the prisoners then
held, and those hereafter tax en-, should be
Transported TO the points mutually agreed
fupon, at The expense ofthe capturing par
Ety. The sixth article stippulates that all
[prisoners, Of what ever arm of service,
ksre TO be exchanged or parolled in ten
[days from the time of their capture, if it
be practicable to transfer them TO their
own lines in that time; if not, as soon
thereafter as practicable.
From the date of the cartel until July,
/ 1868, the Confederate authorities held the
'excess of prisoners, During the interval
deliveries were made as fast as the Feder-
Ial Government furnished transportation.
AS ready as the enemy always has been to
bring false accusations against us, it has
never been alleged that we failed or ne
elected to make prompt deliveries of pri-
soners who were not under charges, when
he held the excess. On the other hand
during the same time, the car tel was O.
3penly and notcriously violated by the
Federal authorities. Officers and men
were kept in cruel confinement, some
. Times in irons OF doomed cells, without
charges or trials.
In July, 1868, the enemy for the first
|sime since the adoption of the cartel held
The excess of prisoners. As soon as that |
'fact was acoe .taiond uha,a-@~ y anl;rn-r
WAS made by the Federal authorities, they
demanded an equal number in return.
|endeavored frequently TO obtain from the
Federal agent Of exchange distinct a.
|vowal Of the intentions OF his Government
|as to the delivery Of prisoners, but in vain. !
LAT length on the Goth Of October, 1868. | |
addressed to Brigadier-General Meredith
the following letter, to-wit;
RICHMOND, Oct. 90, 1868 -Brigadier- Gen
sray s. A. Meredith, Agent cf Exchange: Sir:
hfore than month ago | asked your ac-
Quiescence in q proposition, that all Off !
GERS and soldiers or both sides should be
released in conformity with the provis-
IONS OF the cartel. In order to obviate
the difficulties between US | sugges-
ted that all officers and men on both sides
shoud he released, unless they were sub
feet So charges, in which event, the oppo-
BIT Government should have the right OF
} ling one or moro hostages if the re-
ION was not justified. You stated to
,, in conversation, that this proposition
3 very fair, and that you would ask the
consent Of your Government to it.
Asusual. YOU have a. vet made no res
ponse. tell you frankly, do not ex-
rc,t my. Perhaps you may !disappoint
~, and tell me that you reject or accept
my proposition. / write this letter for
the purpose Of bringing to your recollect-
ion my proposition, and of disspatng the
idea that seems to have been purposely
encouraged by your public papers, that
tho Confederate Government has refused
or objected to a system Of exchanges.
In order to avoid any mistake in that
direction, now propose that all officers
and men on both sides be released in con
formity with the provisions Of the cartel,
the excess on one side or the other to be
on parole. Will you except this? | have
no expectation of an answer but perhaps
you may give one. If it does come, hope
1t will be soon.
Respectfully your ob't serv't.
Ro. OULD, Agent of Exchange.
On the Goth OF October, 1868, receiv-
ed from Gen. Meredith communication
|informing me that my proposal OF the ~.
was mot accepted" | was insultiugly
4 told that if the excess of prisoners was
delivered they would he wrongfully de-
|clared exchanged by me and put in the
field. To show how groundless this I'M
|putatlon was. it is only necessary for me
30 state that since then have repeatedly
Offered to give ten Federal captives for
|every Confederate soldier whom the cne-
4 nv will show 10 have been wrongfully de-
clared exchanged.
From the last nahed date until the pre-
sent time there has been but few deliver
lies of prisoners, the enemy in each case
demanding like number in return.
1t will be observed that the Confederate
{au,horities only claimed that the provis-
Ions of the cartel should be fulfilled. They
ony asked the enemy to do what, with
but any hesitation, they had done during
the first year of the operation OF the car
tel. Seeing persistent purpose on the
Part of the Federal Government to violate
i.s own agreement, the Confederate au-
2lhnr;,;o. ,,oyad bv Tho eufTarinps of the