The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-07-11
Jhe Aurfalk gust.
TUESDAY, JULY IL, 1866.
Letter from Henry s. Foote.
THE BARBAROUs TREATMENT OF UNION
PRISONERS.
Starvation Recommended and Officially
Endorsed.

an EDITORIAL, Ill WHICH,, dlteT Ttlllitih Mig
upon legislative report which seems
recently to have gained publication,
emanating from committee OF the
House of Representatives of the Con-
federate Congress, relative to the treat
ment of prisoners of war, you say: I'VE
take it for granted that the report now
the committee of the rebel Senate, OF
which Henry S. Foote, once of Missis-
sippi, but now of parts unknown, was
member That gentleman, after coming
through into the Union lines, stated to
his own son-in-law that, during the in
vestigations of the subject, they obtain
ed positive facts and data, proving be.
yOnd shadow of doubt that the system
of inhuman treatment and starvation of
our prisoners was decided upon in a
Cabinet meeting at Richmond, for the
express purpose of breaking down the
constitutions of the men, and making
them useless as soldiers when exchang-
ed.n ! regret to say that there are sew
eral errors in regard to matters of fact in
the sentence quoted, which l feel bound
at once to correct.
Ny son-in-law, who is referred to, Is
the Hon. William M. Stewart, one of
the United States Senators from the new
State of Nevada. He Is one of the most
conscientious and correct men in the
world, and has evidently been misun-
derstood by your informant, whoever he
may be. The alleged ill treatment OF
prisoners of war by the Confederate au-
thorities has been with me for some time
past most painful and disgusting sub
ject, and have endeavored, as far as l
could do so, to steer clear of it in CONVEX
sation altogether. 1 have been especial
ly DESTROYS of being silent in regard to
this distressing affair since the arrest of
several of those persons who have been
| charged with being officially RESPONSE
bic for such maltreatment of military
prisoners as may have occurred. have,
though, on various occasions, some time
ago--and doubtless did to my own SOIL
in-law, Senator Stewart-stated that
among the numerous causes which in
duced me openly and formally to give
up my official connection with the Con-
federate Government (such as the meas
ure of CONSUMPTION, confiscation, the
suspension of the writ of ha6eds corpus
the tyrranical arrest and confinement of
citizens entertaining and expressing
Union sentiments in prison; the displace-
| meut of meritorious military command
ers, and the substitution of incompetent
ones in their place; the obstinate Oppo-
sition to all measures looking to the re-
storation of peace; the obvious tendency
of every branch of the government to-
ward the organization OF an irresponsi-
bic despotism) had been powerfully in
tluenced by what had been compelled
to learn OF the cruel and barbarous treat
ment of detenceless prisoners of war.
Ny exposition of facts relative to this
subject was principally connected with
the dreadful suiferings reported to have
been inflicted upon prisoners confined
at Andersonville, in the State of Geor-
gia; authentic information in regard to
which reached me just before left Rich.
mond last winter.
Touching the Congressional report re-
ferred to, have this to say: A month
or two anterior to the date of said re-
port, | learned from Government of
iicer of responsibility, that the prisoners
of war then confined i'll and about Rich
mond were suffering severely for want of
provisions. Hetoldme further thatitwas
manifest to him that q systematic scheme
Was on foot for Su6jecting these u7yortun-
atemeR to stdrpdttOn; that the COm1aissary
General, Mr.. NorthrOp Ga most wicked
and heartless wretch,) had addressed q
communication to NJ. SeddOa, the Sec
rotary Of Var, proposing to Withhold
meat altogether from military prisoners
then in custody, and to give them moth
ing but bread and vegetables, and that |
Mr.. Seldom had endorsed the document
containing this recommendation a6irm-
dtively. l learned further, that, by call
ing upon Major Ould, the commissioner
for the exchange of prisoners, Would
be able to obtain further information on
this subject. | went to MAJOR Ould
Immediately, and obtained the desired
information. Being utterly unwilling
to countenance such barbarlty Tor mo-
ment, regarding indeed, the honor OF |
the whole South as concerned In the af- |
fair, proceeded without delay to the |
hall of the House of Representatives,
called the attention of that strangely
constituted body to the subject, and in
sisted upon an Immediate committee of
investigation. / grieve to say that this
,Oas at first refused, and was most ac-
tremendously censured by several MEM
bers for introducing the subject in the
House at all. But L resolved to have an
investigation, and to puba stop to such
vandalic atrocities if could, or at
least to rescue my own character
from menaced infamy by withdrawing
from all further connection with the
Confederate cause at once. L introduced
a second resolution next morning, and
finally succeeded in getting the commit
tee raised. You will find, in addition to
the, report made by the committee, a
mass of testimony of va
rioss kinds reported with it, and among
other documentary proofs, the Official
Of the COmD,isSary Gen
erdt, above referred to, and the endorse
Dlent Of Mr.. Seldom thereon, in which
he substantially says that, in his judg-
ment, the time had arrived for refaha-
ton upon the prisoners OF todr o. ne
enemy.
Having such assurances as thousns
I could rely upon, that all proper regatu
to the health and comfortable accohino-
dation of prisoners of war Wouie oe IA
future exhibited, was content 10 re-
frain from the further discussion OF a
matter which had given me great cha-
grin and modification, and ala not
Deem il necessary even to move for the
notification of the report Of the commit
rec and the voluminous evidence ap-
nenSed This is all know on the sub
iect and this is a,good deal more than
IL is at all pleasant to remember. 1t is
but Justice, though, to subjoin that
Richmond was constantly filled with
~. 81 Of