American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-08-14
Gen. Buffers Report.

Gen. Buffers report to the Committee
of Congress in regard to the exchange of
prisoners during the war is document
of unusual interest. We find that in
1868 the Rebels held Is, 900 of our men
who were dying of cold and starvation,
while the $4,000 Rebels held by the
United States were we'll taken care of.
Gen. Butler and the Secretary of War
proposed to treat the Rebel officers in our
hands precisely as our men were treated
in Libby. But this plan was abandoned d
after consultation with General Grant
Gen. Butler, in December, was appointed
Commissioner of Exchange, and found
the Confederate generals anxious to ex-
change, man for man, but that the Con-
federate Government refused to treat with
Gen. Butler, on the ground that he com.
manded negro troops. Notification to
that effect was sent to our Government,
which refused, of course, to admit the
right of the Confederate authorities to
outlaw our officers. Exchanges continued
till March, 1864, when Gen. Butler had
an interview with Mr.. Ould, which con
vinced him that retaliation would compel
the Rebels to abandon their refusal to ex-
change colored soldiers. The Govern
ment, informed of these facts, referred the
matter to Gen. Grant, who, in April, di>
rected Gen. Butler to decline, until 9TH
erwise ordered, all further negotiations,
and shortly afterward instructed him to
consider the determination of the Rebels
to make distinction between white and
coored prisoners, as refusal on their
part to agree to further exchange. Gen.
Butler was also instructed to receive all
the sick and wounded the Rebels would
give up,bu 70 send no more in exchange
In August the Rebels offered to renew
the exchange, man for man Gen. Grant
then telegraphed the following important
order: 1T is hard on our men held in
Southern prisons not to exchange them,
but it is humanity to those left in the
ranks to-fght our battles. Every man
released on parole or otherwise becomes
an active soldier against us at once, eth
er directly or indirectly. ,oe commence
a system Of e.rchange which liberates all
prisoners taken, we will have to fight on
until the whole South is exterminated -
If we hold those caught, they amount to
no more than dead men. At this partic'
ular time, to release all Rebel prisoners
North would insure Sherman's defeat,
and would compromise our safety here"
In the meanwhile, Gen. Butler, learning
that colored prisoners were employed as
laborers by the Rebels, notified their
Commissioner that an equal or greater
number of their men should be so en-
ployed in our service, and this action was
approved by Gen. Grant. In October,
1864, Gen. Butler directed Col. Mulford
to proceed to Savannah with feet to
carry the Rebel sick, and bring back our
own-an exchange of about $4,000 of
our men. In November, Col. Mulford
informed General Butler that he was de-
tanned at Fortress Monroe by the want of
transportation, and that the sufferngs Of
our men at Savannah were fearfully iu>
creased by the delay. Gen. Butler in re.
ply ordered him to start at once, to yield
to no subordinate interference-to yield
to nothing but armed force, and not to
that if he could meet it. These are the
main facts which the report presents in
regard to the responsibility Of the fail>
ure to exchange prisoners, and they will
certainly command no ordinary attention
". Y. Tribune.