The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-07-08
sketch or Edward spangler.
sARsAaous TREATMENT OF UNION PRISONERS.


Important Letter from Henry 8. Foote-
4 The Rebel Commissary Northup Pro-
posed to withhold Meat from the Fed-
eral Trisoners-RcbcI Secretary Of War
Seldom Endorsed tho Proposition-Mass
OF Testimony Still Dack-Mr. Foote Dis
gustcd, dc.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK HERALD.
MoSraEAI, June 81, 1885.
In yorr paper of yesterday have read editorial in
which, after remarking upon Legislative report which
recently to havo gained publication, cmanating
from committee of the House of Representatives Of the
Confederate Congress- relative treatment of Union
prisoners OF war, you say:we take for granted that
tho report published is that which made by the
committee of the rebel Senate, Of which Henry Foote,
once Of Essssippi, but now Of parts unknown, wasa
member That gentleman, after coming through into
eho Union lines, stated TO his own son-in-aw
that, during the Investigations Of the subject,
they obtained positive facts and data proving beyond
sladow Of doubt that the system Of inhuman treatment
Sand starvation of prisoners decided upon in
Cabinet meeting Richmond FOR the express purpose
breaking down the constitutions OF the men, and making
chem useless soldiers whom exchanged" regret to
say that there several In regard to matters OF
Sact in the sentences quoted which feel bound at once
70 correct.
My son-in law, who is referred to, Is tho Hon. william
n Stewart, ono Of the United States Senators from
Che now State Of Nevada Ho is ono Of tho most
conscientious and correct in the world, and
has evidently been misunderstood by your In
Dormant, whoever he may be- The alleged i'll treat
mont OF prisoners Of by tho Confederate author
ities has with for time past painful
and disgusting subject and have endcavored far
could do go clear Of In conversation altogether
Ihuve bccn especially 6csrous Of being silent in regard to
shs distres ing tho or several Of those
persons who have been charged with being officially re-
nav have "ccnrrsd. i have though. on yaricos occa
sons Some time ago-and doubtless did to my son-inaw,
Senator Stewart that among tho humorous causes
my ofc nj connection with the Confederate government
fsuch the Of conscrp ton connscation, the
suspension Of the writ Of habcas corpus, the yrnnncal
arrest and confinement OF citizens en rita ming and
pressing Union sentiments In prison; the displacement
OF mettorio1s military COMMANDER and the suesttu-
opposition to all looking to the restoration OF
peace; the obvious tendency OF every branch
OF the government towards tho organization
OF an irresponsible dcspotsml had boon powerfully
influenced by what had been compelled to learn Of
defonc loss prison OF My exposition OF facts
latng 10 this subject was principally contested with tho
prisoners confined at And,rsouvillc in tho State IT
Georgia, authentic information In regard to which
reachcd me just before left Richmond last winter
Touching the Congressional report referred TO have
this TO say:--A month OF two anterior TO the date
OF said report ! learned, from government
officer OF rcspectability that tho prisoners OF
then confined in and about Richmond wore
suffering severely for want OF provisions. He
cold me further that was NANTES. to him aa ,ss.
6, aa,vaton; that tie Coin,nis a'y General Mr..
Norhvp IA most wicked and hcarfless wresoh had adj
dressed commyniotIn 10 M Sedion, the Secretary #
War prcpo leg to pihhoid meal ct crier fem military
Prtmnrs hsH IN cmt dy, and TO Five them nothing but
bread and vegetables, and that Mr.. Seldom had
endo sd tho doz mem containing nj, mmcnd7fisn
sdrmativy. learned further that by calling upon Major
Isd the eSmmlsso1sr FOR sSchoIse Of prscner woad
won't to Major Ould Immediately, and obtained the dcs red
informa; on. Being utterly unwilling TO conntenancs
or The whole South - concerned in tho affair pro-
cecdd without delay the han OF the House Of Repre-
oeutaiivcs called the attention Of that strangely
euted body TO tho subject and insisted upon an
fmmcd ate committee VI investigation I gricve
60 ny ia, @ a a ~. and was most
ducins the subject in the House at all But resolved
Y ave an investigation and TO PVT stop to such Van
character FROM menaccd intamy by Withdrawing from
all further connection with the Confederate
cause ct once. / introduced second resolution
morning. and finally succeeded in getting the com
miitee raised. You will find, N addition to the report
made BY tbs committee, considerable mass Of tcst
documentary proofs, tAe eciot Of ne Com
~.say Ge.d above referred 70, and the enforcement
Of Mr. Scdd 6sreeS, in which he substantially says
chat In his Judgment the time had arrived for refdIio
= upon ne prisou "a Of ,cor cfne enemy.
Having such assurances as thought could rely upon,
chat all proper regard the health and comfortable
COMMUNICATION OF prisoners OF would be In future
hbiicd was content TO refrain from the further discus
modification, and did not deem II necessary
to move for the publication Of the re-
port of the committee and the voluminous evil
dcnce appended This Ii all know on the subject.
and this Is good deal than IA at oil pleasant TO
remember Its but justice, though, to subjoin that
Richmond was constantly filled ramors OF the cruel
Treatment Of Confederate prisoners OF in Northern
prison houses Whether oil Of these rumors were true
any part thereof never had the means Of knowing,
and II Is. perhaps not very material now to inquire
You will see from this frank and explicit statement OF
fats that the Ia not bad so far ut least Mr.
Davis and his Cabinet concerned as would seem
90 have supposed certainly heard Of any Cabinet
meeting the subject and never spoke OF one There
was man In Richmond who, for the three years OF
suy deporabe stay there, knew 20 little OF the views
of Mr. Davis and the unfortunate Cabinet by whom he
was surrounded as did. I commenced my opposition
20 them and their schemes principle, on the day Of
my first taking my seat In the Confederate Con-
gress and kept Il up actively and zealously, day by
day and hour BY hour, until took my final leave Of
chem last December and within the military lines
OF the United States In order TO aid, n In my power, In
enectng peace IN dspife Of Mr. Darts and ne Confede
rate Cngrcv by OF which the unfortunate people
Of the South might be saved from portion Of the
Dunerings which they enduring with such exem-
plsry and commendable fortitude.
Having nov corrected the mistakes which your inform
ant has no doubt Inadvertently committed regard to
myself TAXA leave Of this nauseating subject hope
fbr ever.