The New York herald., 1864-08-23
The Memorial or tho Union Prisoners to
the President.

CoSFspERArx sSATEs PRIsoy,
CHARLEsroS, s. G., August -, 1894
10 THE PRESIDENT OF tux UNITED SrAr4s:--
The condition OF tho enlisted belonging to the
Union armies, prisoners TO the Confederate rebel
forces is such that becomes duty, and duty
every officer, to make known the facts
the to the government OF the United States and
every honorable crt % secure general exchange
prisoners thereby relieving thousands Of comrades
from the horrors now surrounding them.
For past there has boen q concentration Of
all parts the territory
OF Georga-tne commissioned officers being confined
Macon and the enlisted at Andersonvile. Recent
OF the Union armies under General Sherman
have compelled the removal Of prisoners other points,
and 1t Is now understood that they will be removed 10
Savannah, Georgia. and Columbus and Charleston South
Carolina But no change this kind holds out any pros.
pect OF relief 10 poor Indeed, the localities
selected far more unhealthy, there must be
Provost Marshal General Confederate States Army at
Atlanta stated OF the undersigned that hore
thirty hve thousand prisoners at Andersonvls, and by
oil accounts from the United States soldiers who have
been confined there the number is not by him
These thirty Eve thousand confined 10 Geld OF
thirty acres enclosed BY board fence heavily guarded
About third have various kinds OF indifferent shell
ter; but upwards OF thirty thousand wholly without
the storms and rains which are Of sImos daily occur
renee the cold dews OF the night and the more terrible
oU hs %n ns
and crowd each other up and down the limits Of their
enclosure 70 storm or sun aud others lie down upon the
clothing upon their backs, few OF them having
Upon entering the prison every man is deliberately
stripped OF money and other property and clothing
or blankets supplied TO their prisoners by tho
rebel authorities the condition OF the apparel Of the sol
dters, just from active campaign, can be easily
imagined. Thousands are without pants coats, and
nakednees
10 these men, as indeed to oil prisoners there issued
three quarters Of pound OF bread or meal, and one
4
ration, and upon IL the prisoner must live die. The
meal is often unsed aud sour The meat such as in
the North consigned to the soapmaker such the
ratious upon which Union soldiers ted by the rebel
authorities sud by which they are barely holding onto
o. But TO starvation aud exposure, to aud storm,
add the sickness which prevails to most alarming aud
terrible extent On an average one hundred die daily II
facts pertaining to this terrible mortality, they ere
not paradcd by the rebel suthores SUCH statement as
timony Said he: or twolve Of us WHO were captured.
six Died four are In the hospital and never expect
s. fes5s sE' s% ei Ss ,' II sS2
from hundred and nfty to two hundred were sick
from darrh0a snd chiIls out Of seven hundred. The
same percentage would give sevon thousand sick ~
Antcrsonvile needs no comment, no efforts at word
painting 70 make such picture stand out boldly 10 most
horrible colors.
Nor is this all. Among the ifa,ed OF the many who
have suffered amputation In consequence OF Injuries re-
ceved before capture, scut from rebel hospitals before
their wounds we're healed there eloquent witnesses
tho barbarties OF which they are victims II to these
Iactb fs hdceu this, tbat notnink more uemcrhl2es
soldiers and develops the evil passions OF than STAR
vaton the terrible condition Of UuIon prisoners at
Anderscnvlo can be readily imagined. They are fast
losing bope. and becoming utterly reckless W lie.
Numbers crszed by their suneripgs. wander about 10
state Of idocy others deliberately cross the dead
line" and are remorsclesslv shot down
In behalf OF these mon we most earnestly appeal to
The President Of the United States Few OF them have
been captured except In tho front OF battle, 10 the
deadly encounter, and only when overpowered by mum
bers They constitute gallant portion OF our armies
carry our banners anywhere II rseased they would
soon return 10 again do vigorous battle for our cause
We are told that The only obstacle In the way OF ex-
change ~ the OF enlisted negroes captured from
our armies, The United States claiming that the cartel
covers al who scrye under m nag, aud the Cooederas
states refusing to consider the ooored soers hereto
Tore slaves, az prisoners II war.
We beg leave 70 suggest some facts bearing upon the
question OF exchange. which would urge upon this
consideration. IL not consistent with the national
honor, without wavng the claim that the negro soldiers
shall be treated prisoners OF war, 70 effect
change the white sodierss The two classes treated
differently By the enemy. The whites are confined In
such prisons ~ Lbbg and Audsrsouvie, starved aad
Eeats@ With barbAhm uakuown 10 civilized nations.