North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1867-08-07

Prisoners.
Gen. Robert Ould has written the follow
ing letter to one of the editors of The Ma
tional Lntelligencer:
RICHMOND, July Is, '67.
NY DEAR SIR-l have read the remar-
kable discussion in the House. Mr.. Ed
ridge is substantially right in what he said.
l offered early in August to deliver all the
sick and wounded prisoners we had, with
out requiring equivalents for them. VOID
have made the offer earlier, but for the fact
that some considerable time before, ! had
made an offer of exchange, man for man,
to which l got no response. l waited for
response until early in August, and fail
ing to receive one, then made the offer
haste on the part of the United States gov
eminent, MS the mortality among the Fed
eral troops was very great. During the
Fall l again.and again urged haste, giving
the same reason. l informed the federal
authorities that if they would send trans
portation for $4,000 men to the mouth of
the Savannah river, would furnish that
number of sick and wounded, and that
would fill up any deficiency with well pris-
oners. did not require corresponding
delivery of our prisoners, though express.
ed desire that they might be sent. From
early in August we were not only ready,
hut anxious to make this delivery. 1T was
our purpose, as well as our offer, to contin-
ue the delivery of the sick and wounded
at all the dcpots Of prisoners, and upon
the terms mentioned that is, without re-
curing equivalents. Transportation was
not sent until December. The United States
authorities brought, in that month, some
5000 prisoners to the mouth of the Savan-
nah river, and received over $4,000 in re-
turn, many were well men. The 5000 de-
livcrcd presented as melancholy a specta-
Gle as And rsonville ever disclosed. Most
| if not all of them had been brought from
Elmira. Some died between Elmira and
altimore-many between Baltimore and
savannah. l do not believe 10 per cent
Of the number are alive now. All these
| acts are known to federal officers. Rebels
may lie, but yet the fact is fully establish
ed by other evidence that the federal au
thorities sent 5000 and received 10000
They would have received more if there
had been accommodation. Why was trans
portation sent to Savannah for the prison
ers unless had agreed to deliver them
There is nothing in the published cores
pondcncc referred to by Gen. Butler which
in any manner, contests any on of the
fact nave mentioned. Gen. Milford will
sustain everything have herein written
lie is man of honor and courage, and
do not think will hesitate to tel the truth
think it would be well for you to make
an appeal to him, as it has become ques
ton Of veracity. Gen. Butler says the pro
position was made in the fall, and that !, !
900 prisoners were delivered. 1t was in
August, and over $4,000 were delivered. -
If you will get Pollard's ''Lost Cause,
and refer to the chapter on exchange, there
you will find the whole question accurately
stated. Every word of the chapter is true
so far as it pretends to give facts. The
book was published by subscription, by
Trent & Co., New York. You can make
public any portion of this letter. ! defy
contradiction as to any statement have
made, and challenge scrutiny. will prove
every word by Federal testimony. Who
then, is responsible for the suffering a,
Andersonville during the period of its mos
deadly mortality, from August to Janua
ry? Ro. OrLD.