Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1865-11-10
rREATmENr OF PRISONERS.
Documentary Evidence.
HEADQUARTERS Confederate STATES
MILITARY BRlsONs, Z
MACON, Ga, March u, 1855. J

le MILITARY BRlsoNs,
ID MACON, Ga, March d, 1855.
te Untted States o5Hmissayy General Of Prisoners
II 1t is a high Christian duty of Govern
Of ments 10 atprisOnersOf war with kind
ness, and 10 make them "a cOmfOrtabl
l. as the hardships Of war win allow.
n / propose the adoption OF a mutual sys
tenn of kind treatment Of prisoners 0
war.
d Circumstances beyond the control O
: my Government prevented proper pro
e vision for the great number of prisoner
e accumulated on itshands. This produced
evaporation OF the part of your Govern
i ment in the treatment Of our men.
/, 1t would be productive Of no good re-
suit TO attempt 10 discuss the question o.
G responsibility. l am persuaded that both
Governments would be pleased with q
change Of practice, and the adoption of q
mutual system of kind treatment OF
prisoners. With this view, Iaddress you
this communication.
The principles upon which the armies
. of the United States conduct their war
within the territory Of the Confederate
States-burning its dwellings, devastat-
ing the country, destroying mhaTvested
crops and supplies of every description,
with railroads leading to and supplying
military prisons, make il difficult, if not
impracticable, for the Confederate Gov
eminent to treat prisoners of war as it
desires to.
Nevertheless, to effect results 80 impor-
tant to the health, comfort and lives of
men who may become prisoners of war,
l feel it my duty TO make the effort, and
therefore propose for the adoption Of the
two belligerent Governments the follow
ing s%tipulations, viz:
First Zach EoVprDmnpt eliminates 10
select healty localities for its military
prisons, 10 build comfortable barracks
with ample prison grounds and hospital
accommodations, and to issue to their
prisoners the same rations in kind and
quantity, Ito be agreed upon hereafter by
the Commissary -General Of prisoners Of
the two armies, and to provide them
With such articles of clothing, blankets,
hats and shoes as may be necessary, cor
RESPONDING as nearly as practicable with
the uniforms with which each Clothes its
soldiers in the field.
Second. That the armies, soldiers and
citizens of each Government shall not
modest or in any way interfere with mill
tarv prisons when established and the
Governments notified thereof. 1t must
be obvious that, if this is not agreed TO,
upon the approach of either army, threat
ening the safety Of the prisoners, they
will be removed, and ali the arrange
ments made for their comfort and health,
at great expense, will be lost, and, as a
consequence, the prisoners must suffer.
ThirT. That the Confederate Commits
sarv General of Prisoners be allowed, if
necessary, to ship cotton to the markets
| Of the United States, or other foreign
markets, to purchase for Federal priso-
ners in our hands, subsistence, clothing,
blankets, shoes, hats, hospital and medl-
| cal stores, in quantities sufficient for
Federal prisoners, and to provide IL
advance, TO be kept in pris on depOts, such
supplies for ten thousand prisoners.
TO give this stipulation practical value,
the supplies must not be interfered with
while in transitu or in prison depOts; nor
must railroads leading from the ports OF
entry to the prisons be broken up, or the
running of cars inUerfered with, while
engaged in the transportation of such
supplies. I
The Confederate Commissary General
must have authority to appoint an agent
in the United States to dispose of the
cotton and purchase and ship the supplies.
The shipments Of cotton TO the markets
of the United States, and the export OF
the supplies above specified, on their
entry into Southern ports, must be free
lIbll AlllHllL anu GAH1Ab aaAANr ~ ~ {
are made for the exclusive benefit of Fed
eral prisoners of war.
Fourth. The Confederate Government
~stipulates that, through its Commissioners
General Of prisoners, it will apply all the
supplies purchased to their wants, and to
no other use.
Without adequate preparation for the
reception of the large number OF pris-
oners Unexpectedly accumulated IN the
hands Of the Confederate Government
owing to the suspension Of the exchange
Of prisoners-it IS probable that, with
every effort on its part to provide ade-
quately for them, there was suffering.
II is equally eertain that, without appre-
ciating the embarrassments thus ocea-
stoned my Government, yours, by harsh
retaliatory measures, had inflicted great
suffering upon our men in your hands.
The events of this wal in the future
may repeal these sufIerings, if some such
system as that o proposed be not
adopted.
These brave men are but doing what
they consider their duty TO their respec-
tive governments and il * n duty alike
to the cause of humanity, TO the charac-
ter of both governments, andtO the Great
Ruler Of nations TO whom both Govern
ments appeal for the rectitude of their
actiOn-tO put m end to a practice they
both condemn.
If any other plan can be suggested
effacting the object sought, of mutual
kind treatment Of prisoners ofwar, il win
receive the support and approval Of the
Confederate Government.
As both Governments are now empty
ing their prisons by exchange, the present
is favorable for the adoption
of the system proposed. In the hope,
General, that this communication viii
receive your respectful consideration, l
am o Il obedient servant,
IDEOS J. PILLOW,
Brigadier General, C.. s. \.
COmmisSary General Prisoners.
Brigadier General, c. s. y.
Comfy General PRISONERS.
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY PRIsoN,l
March 2, 1865.
Col GIBBS, Commanding Prison and Post, AHdey-
s0RriUc, Ga:
Arrangements have been made to send
of all the prisoners at AndersOnviile
prison at the rate of eight hundred per
day, commencing on Friday next, with
fifty men in each car. / transmit you
herewith a copy of General Oder number
one, also a copy of instructions to Capt.
Rutherford, in regard TO the treatment Of
prisoners en- route.
The prisoners should be furnished with
three DAYS cooked ratiOns. At Selma
they will be furnished with rati0ns for
the trip through to Nicksburg. Each
car should have two armed men rs a
guard, under the command of a commits
stoned officer. This guard will go
through to Vicksburg, unless remOvedOn
the route. Water buckets have been or
dered for the purpose Of furnishing water
for the prisoners. You will furnish a
copy of these instructions, also g copy of
General Order number one, TO each Off
Ger having prisoners inchargei in trdRSitU,
with instructions to allow prisoners an
opportunity ofsupplying themselves with
water.
A Surgeon will accompany each train,
and if the number Of sick require it, al
additional Surgeon will be directed to ac-
company the train. The Surgeons will
go through to NiokshUrg.
You will report any violation of these
orders to these headquarters.
You viii furnish a copy OF these orders
to Cant. John G. Rutherford, who is
charged with the special duty of seeing
them carried out.
kespectfGhy,
GIDEON J. PILLOW,
Brighten. C. $. ~,
Of Prisoners.