New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-06-29
TREATMENT OF PRISONERS OF WAR.
Rebel Version Of their Cruelties.
Report Of the Rebel Com.
mitee Of Investigation.

pointed by the Rebel Congress nonay ~ investigate
the treatment of Union Prisoners Of War by the Rebel
authorities. Early in March they made report which
after being printed by order of the House. adopted
by the Congress- and 900 copies ordered TO be
printed together with the testimony. Accordingly the
dispositions and other evidence with the Report
placed in the hands Of the Superintendent OF Public
Printing. whose Office on the west side Of Twelfth
st.. between Main and Cary. In the great connagra.
ton of April this building destroyed and with 1t
burned the dispositions and other evidence above
mentioned. A few printed copies Of the Report, as
presented by the Committee. were preserved.
REPORT
OF THE JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE OF THE con-
PRDERATE CONGRESS, APPOINTED TO ISvEs-
TIGATB THE CONDITION AND TREATMENT OF
| PRISONERS OF WAR.
The duties assigned TO the Committee under
the several resolutions Of Congress designating them
TO investigate and report upon the condition and
the Confederate aud United States Governments; upon
the OF the detention and the refusal exchanges
and also upon the violations by the enemy Of the rules
Of civilized warfare the conduct Of the war" These
subjects broad in extent and importancej ard In
order fully to investigate and present them the Com
mIee propose 10 continue their abors in obtaining
evidence, and deducng from 1t truthful report Of
facts Illustrative OF the spirit In which the war has been
conducted.
NORTHERN PUBLICATIONS.
But We deem ii proper at this time 70 make pre-.
liminary report founded upon evidence recently TAKEN
relating the treatment OF prisoners OF war by both
belligerents This report Is rendered specially impor
Government Of the United States ana by associations
and individuals connected or cooperating with IT, 10
asperse the honor OF the Confederate authorities and
70 charge them with deliberate and wilful cruelty 10
prisoners Of Two publications have been issued
tie North within the past year. and have been cir
cuated not only In the United States but In parts
OF the south and in Europe One Of these Is the report
Of the Joint Select Committee Of the Northern Con
mtec of the Northern Congress on the Conduct OF the
War, known as Report No. b." The other pgrports
10 be Narrative OF tho pryations and suierings OF
United States officers and soldiers while prisoners u
war; and IL issued as report OF commission OF In.
curry appointed by The United States Sanitary Com
mssion.'s
Ibis body IL alleged to consist OF Valentino Mott NJ
ID, Edward Deafed, NJ. D.. Gouycrneur Morris Will
kins esq ElleTslie Wallace. NJ. d.. Hon. j. j. Clarke
Hare, and Rev. Trcadvcn Walden. Although these
persons are not 81 sufficient public importance aud
weight - give authority 10 their publication yet your
NIT, m, have or No before rome Mentioned be-
csuse the Sanitary Commission has been ude 70
have "Sssd 70 g"sd States GoTsrn%en and
because their report claims 10 be founded on evidence
taken In solemn form.
THER SPIRIT AND INTENT.
candid reader Of these publications will not fall 10
discover that whethe! the statements they make b.
true not their spirits not adapted 10 prunoo bet
ter feeling between the hostile powers They are not
intended for tho humane purpose OF aneorating the
condition Of the unhappy prisoners held In captivity
They are designed to nfne the evil passions OF the
North; 10 keep the spirit among their own peo-
pe 10 represent the South acting under the domin.
ION of a spirit OF cruelty nhumanty and interested
malice and thus TO vihfy her people In the eyes OF all
on whom these publications can work They are Justly
characterized By tie Hon. james 81 Mason az belong
ing to that class OF literature called the sensational
"A style Of writing prevalent for many years at the
North and which, beginning with the writers Of news.
paper narratives and cheap fiction, has gradually eI.
tended itself until 1t Is now the favored mode adopted
by medical professors judges OF courts and reverend
IL. "a 1. pshne us A
report by Committee 81 their Congress-
PHOTOGRAPHS.
Nothing can better illustrate the truth OF this view
than the Report No. g." and Its APPENDICES IL Is
by eight pictures photographs alleged
10 represent United States prisoners u war; returned
from Richmond in sad state Of emacation and suffer
ing Conce ming these your committee viii have
other remarks TO be presently submitted They are
only alluded 10 10 show that this report does really
belong 10 the sensational class OF literature and that
'pra facic" II is open 70 the same criticism to which
the yellow covered novels the narratives OF noted
hiehwaymen" and the awful beacons" Of tho North.
ern book stalls should be subjected.
The intent and spit OF this report may be gathered
from the following extract; The evidence proves be-
yopd all manner Of doubt determination on the part
Of tho Rebel authorities. deliberately ana Perstenty
practoed for long time past to subject those OF our
soldiers who have been 70 unfortunate as to fall into
their hands TO a system Of treatment which has re.
suited IN reducing many Of those who have survived
and been permitted return to condition both
physically and mentally which no language we can use
can adequately describe. REPORT p. l.. Aid they
Secretary OF War; from which the following Is
tracts 1.-THE enormity OF the crime committed by the
Rebels toward prisoners for the last several months
il known realized by our people and cannot but
I'll with horror the civilized world when the facts
fully revealed. There appears TO have been de-
berate system Of savage and baroarous treatment and
the result Of which will be that few ar any)
of the prisoners that have been in their hands during
the past Winter. will ever again be In condition TO
And the Sanitary Commission, IN their pamphlet after
picturing many scenes Of privaton and suffering and
bringing many charges OF cruelty against the Confed
crate authorities declare rs follows:
The conclusion therefore, that these prva
tons and suerngs have been desgnedy inflicted by the mill
,yy and Other authorities Of the Rebel Government and
cond not have been which such authorities
''N'N TRUTH To BE SOUGHT.
After examining these publications. your committee
approached the subject with an earnest desire ~ ascer
tain the trnh II their investigation should result In
ascertaning that these charges 0 any OF them were
true the ommitee desired far as might be In their
power and far they could influence the Congress-
10 remove the evils complained OF. and to conform
10 the most humane spirit OF civhnaheni ana n
these charges unfOunded and false they deemed
IL sacred duty. without delay to present TO the Con.
ederate Congress and people, and to the public eye Of
the enlightened world vindcation OF their county
and to relieve her authorities from the injurious Sian
ders brought against her by her enemies with these
views we have taken considerable amount OF tsti
mony bearing on the subject Wehaye sought 70 Obtain
witnesses whose position dntics made them familiar
with the facts testified TO- and whose characters entitled
them 10 full credit. We have not hesated To examine
Northern prisoners OF war upon pOnis huu exPericnco
specially Within their know Wedge We now present the
Testimony taken by and submit report OF facts ana
differences fairly dedueibe from the evidence from the
mission of enemies and from public records Of
undoubted authority
FACTS AS 10 SICK AND WOUNDED PRISONERS.
First in order your committee will notice the charge
contained both in Report No g." and in the SAM
tary" publication founded ON the appearance and con-
dIton Of the sick prisoners sent from Richmond TO An
napols and Baltimore about the last OF April leoi:
These are the men, OF whom form the subjects OF
the photographs with which the United States Con-
ON have adorned their report. The