Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-11-24


remnants of his shattered army than of capturing any
forif cities
The duty that lies before rs plain and may be per-
ceve1 at a single glance. Let the iorc hich can
concentrate in front OF She7mans army 10 few days
at farbest, sroy everything, upon which be SUB
sst they cannot carry out oil bis way and az he has no
tother meaus of subsistence army of 10 900
less Than fifteen days, force them to surrender; If
they cannot DO this they hold them in check until
su ent forces arrive from accessible points, thereby
rendering hopeless aoy event the Utility OF their
escape
We can see notbirg for which the people may be-
come alarmed bat much to hope for. firm, unfal-
terng heart and determined resolution is all we want
at present, and few weeks will perhaps suffice to
drive the last vanda from the soil OF Georgia.
1t is true many may return to the place where their
homes once stood but to f1d them marked alone with
smoulderug ashes, yet better that as reemen, than
under the hated rule of the invading foe. :
Report o ederats Agent Exchange.
The following document was referred 10 in the Re
port of the Secretary of War, recently published in
this paper
RICHMOND, VA, Nov. 2, 1854
Hor. James A. Sedden, Secretary of War:
On the 81 of May last, had the honor to submit to
you de allied report not only of the operations OF the
Bureau of Exchange up to that date, but also full
statement OF the principles that had COVER Led its &C
ton. Since that date there have been several deliveries
of prisoners both Sides embracing chiefly, but by
means exclusively, sick and disabled men. have
that further and larger deliveries of this class
of prisoners will be made during the fall aud winter
AT the time of my last report, insisted upon the
release Of all prisoners, the to be parole
The enemy refused to comply with this plain require
ment Of the cartel, and demanded, when delivery of
prisoners was made, an equal number in return See
ing persistent purpose On the part of he Federal Gov
ernmen TO violate lis agreement, authorities moved
by the suerings of tie brave who are so unjusty
held in Northern prisons, determined to abae their
just demands, and, accordingly on the 10th Of August
last, offered to exchange the prisoners respectively
held by the Two belgerents officer for officer and
Tor man. only stipulated that the officers should be
the first Delivered where it practicable. Although
this Offer Was substantially what mad often been pro-
proposed by tie Federal authorities and would have
left 10 their hands whatever excess OF prisoners they
might have h ad, yet it was not accepted.
Some time in September following, received re-
ply from quarter to which had not drec ed my com
munic alton, iuqairng whether the Confederate author
tiles intended treat recapured slaves prisoners OF
war, and suggesting that favorable answer would
remove principal difficulty 10 efac,ing exchanges"
Ny own firm CONVICTION is, that even If were to
agree to the demands of the enemy 10 this respect
would not secure general exchange. While the
reason for their refusal truly stated in the let
Ter Of Gen Sherman 20 Gen Hood, yet blink very
doub full whether they would agree to en,ra ex-
Change if we consented to treat reeaptured slaves
as prisoners of and delivered those whose term
service had not expired | listed their is
Of the war that a Confederate soldier is Valuable
than a Federal. Th miseres of rs OF thousands of
their people noti ing when weighed agains
a calculation. We only hope that the pre- sure
brought TO bear upon the FEDERAL authorities by the
friends relatives of PRISONERS held oy US may force
chat g. of policy
| caunot state with any certainty the relative pro-
portion of prisoners sptctively held by the Gov
ernments. the Federal anthc rites have Yet failed
to furnish me with any reliable lists although often
a. hy>I i
hnk l can safely assert we have exc,ss OF the
iauk and file.
Lately, have consummated arrangement for the
release and exchange of all naval prisoners. partial
delivery has already been made and another is daily
pected, which will fully carry ont the .agrt ement-l
the trans Mssi sppi country, through the agents of
this Office They vii! probably again occur, whenever
the enemy has any prisoners 10 that region TO give as
equivalents. An error respecting special exchanges
seems to prevail both amongst people and captive
soldiers The Federal authorilits, with e magnity
eongenia to tben in the hope of causing irritation
the part Of prisoners towards their Cover have
basey and falsely ed 20 them that special
changes are being constantly proposed by u.s. A long
time ago communicated to you the many grave o.
jections any such system. My your entire
approval, and have accordingly constantly iefrained
from making special exchanges though frequently ur-
ged to do The officers and soldiers delivered US
were in all selected by the enemy, and those OF
theirs who sent 10 return desgnat by u.s.
This not system of special exchange in any sense
of the term II officers and soldiers sent to US had
been specially asked for if their return had ke9n
caused by any special action of the Confederate author
tiles their individual cases. there would have been
ground for the belief that special exchanges being
made.
The efforts of the Government have been directed to
the release OF all prisoners, without any dscrmina
tlOn III favor OF particular persons 10 have pursued
any other plan would not only have showed partiaty
and favoritism, where all have tried to do their duty
faithfully but would have given 10 the enemy the OPP
pOrunity OF making seecl Jns from their prison.
10 hands to such extent would have pre-
Guided all hope ola general exchange. With very rare
EXCEPTIONS have naver known what officers men
were on the flag of boat until visited it. I'm
der your Instructions all of prisoners have been
considered occupying the position, and each
his return has been received with as much wei
any other repeat, therefore, that special
ts have been used to secure the release exchange
of particular PERSONS and every line of policy which
would put any of our prisoners in favora-
Die position than that occupied by the Others has
carefully avoid lie published correspondence Ci
this office shows the entire readiness of Govern
ment to return equivalent for any Confederate Off
Ger and soldier sent within lines. Who that equiv
alen shall be have reserved the right to determine,
and when the selection is made and the party delivered
to the Federal authorities it is simply the return of
equivalent and not special exchange. 10 refuse to
return the equivalent would be to doom the officer or
soldier to hopeless captivity, after liberty had dawned
upon him.
I am happy to be able to announce that an agree
ment has recently been made with the Federal author
ties, by which each Government may send contribu-
lions OF food and clothing to the prisoners held by the
adverse party. We are at liberty to make purcha.
yes either in Europe Northern city. When the
"details have been fully arranged will communicate
them to you.