The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1865-09-13
Letter from Lieut.. Col. Free
mantle ON Union Prisoners.


Lieut.. Col. Freemantle, of the Cold.
stream Guards, writes as follows to the
London Times on the treatment OF Union
prisoners in the South:
In the Times of last Friday your cores
pondent writing from Saratoga, states that
public feeling IN the North still Graves for
vengeance on Mr.. Davis, in consequence Of
the " incredible and Infamous treatment
which Northern captured soldiers received
in Southern prisons"
AS Travelled throughout the entire South
ern States during the heighth of the war, ]
had many opportunities of seeing Northern
prisoners under variety of circumstances
/ always observed they were treated with
generosity and humanity, and not with
barbarity.
can quite believe that they must have
suffered dreadfully, and been often almost
starved at Andersonville- hardships which
they had to endure in common with Conled-
crate soldiers, women and children in many
parts of the South: the superior Number
and resources of the enemy at The latter
period of the war having enabled him to lay
waste the crops and destroy the means Of
sustenance, as we'll as railway communica-
ton. The cruelty Of keeping vast numbers
of men confined 10 places where they could
only be fed with much difficulty must re.
main with Mr.. Lincoln, and not with Davis
for it is notorious that all objections to ex-
change prisoners came from the North, not
from the South. Mir. Davis would have al
ways been delighted to exchange the fifteen
thousand starving Felerals at Andersonvilc
for a similar Number of Confelerates who
were at the same time rotting at JoLnson's
Island.
With regard to the starvation and cruelty
alleged to have gone on at the Libby Prison,
you, sir, had fortunately correspondent
at Richmond during nearly the whole war.
This gentleman has often been able, after
personal inspection of the Libby Prison, to
expose in your own columns such odIous
calumnies.
I have seen tie disgusting sensational
photographs Of Federal prisoners to which
your correspondent alltdes. Copies Of
them were sent to ME and to many other
persons unsolicited "a novel and horrid
manner CT raising public feeling aoainst the
South. As well might the elnaciated, make d
bndiss Of dying guardsmen be phothograph-
ed in London and then published as exam
pies of the manner in which England treats
her scillers.
With the deepest regret see for the first
time a widely holnrcd rame mixed up with
these allegations. lfany respectable North.
erner really believes Gen. Lee capable Of
eountenancing cruelty to TIC unfortunate, ]
wish he could have overheard tie mannerin
which that officer, soon after the battle OIL
Gettysburg, lameutcd to me the necessity lie
| was nnder of marching several thousand
Federal prisoners to Richmond. He deep.
iy regretted that no exchange con|d he Ct:
fectei, az he derlored the haraships they
would have to encounter at that particular
time.
May ask, in justice to Mr.. Davis, that
you will insert this letter, as he is now place.
in q position peculiarly unfair, for, probably
his iirmness and determination alone pre-
vented the Confederate Government from
listening to the ciamors for retaliation
black flag etc, which often poured int
Richmond from different Parts of the South