New-York tribune., 1867-08-01
EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS.

As the question of the proper placing OIL the re-
bpOuSlby for the sufcTngs OF Union prisoners III Ieoei
Srsons because OF faithessRess in carrying Ou' 'o o
bhange system customary in all wars attracts so much
attention, we give below the answer from Two msh
hOurces- Gen Benz f. Butler, Federal COMMISSIONS
kf Exchange and Robert Ould who held the same posi-
iion I'm the Confederate Army The latters statenon
are IA the words Of Pollard the Rebel Historian put MI
tOuld ln his letter published In THE IRiBUNEol
Apdorses them and says they correct Cen BuueT, ~
Mis- speech In the House OF Representative on VI
uy reply TO paragraph IN NE a''ot s t6e
Sea cause Of suffering of Union prisoners Decusv S no
would rot agree to an exchange as propose" y! |0
This charge takes three distinct forms or branches
Jirst that the Confederate Commissioner OF Exchange
Olade an offer TO give up TO our Government ZOuUV SICK
Rnd wounded OF abebOded prisoners without any equiv
fact was distinctly admitted by Gen. Butler In TINS
Iouse third, that instead Of accepting the oner cen
Recossary caused mdetDite delay The writer then
sEs ~ no gave y ~ Sow have to say That each and
ll OF these allegations arc untrue III Iact m se1t, @
Sess They will add to the ufamy OF the cha ei ana
ephets by means describe tine author lheieIOre
showinc the proof And the first proof offer s that the
supposed fact Of the offer Of exchange OF OVV SICK anu
wounded prisoners without egmVaIchJ mas U nU
foundation in truth. No such offer was ever
made On the eSry cae Ine from CmST mySe and was
addressed TO the Rebel Commissioner Judge Ond as VIII
IISSEs. DEFIITrES1 VIRGINIA ASD NOHTu CaRSo5S'
ss propO. that tie pass waving al other question:,
shai hoa time time eaLlre al :k & a1 , nvad 90 , y bSS
for and @ Iu9n 50 for GO days make Ike t1l. 5
Confinement incident to Of war and whose s9rSa & nst %
tr and believe that Of obvious humanity VII meet your
ssrremen as am sal sea mo 1 fb S evidence me st,oHg
part Of this Government to expose their soer to as little
70 .sLe 70 observe Gh pledged alike 70 all soldiers although
Il w involve Government in very considerable expense yet to
sick and ssrss long and tsog; san,Poi,ilos oy -
Fot roash near s''aEss9 and and T s .'P' 1n sy oay
poSesso who be easily carried ther oheI yad prs
Mssppi River as may hereafter agreed upon the Aid soldiers
o. Se 4S "a. sSSs SS F & the ayss SO eau to be kept
that the equivalents NAY be adjusted heIeaiteI % bv ,b.
honor 70 be your Obe,9 .sra5i BtMS G
% bs hOs Sn Butler did not receive any formal answer
but was informed OiCally that the proposition 10 eX
change invalid prisoners would be accepted and hat at
isski Consequently ne informed the Secretary of War
that had begun to make all possible for the
comfort OF our soldiers and requested that II his ac
ton was approved COnmissary General Of Prisoners
be aSa 10 son be q e 3 many IRE
so that they could be down in the ships which were
ted number Of kilograms TO Col Hoffman, Commissary,
s:Srs Of Prisoners telling HIM to gather M an tne nESa
Showing that Gen Butler most anxious TO exchange
the prisoners possible On October 2d sixteen
days aferward, Gen. Butler notified that the Rebels
had prisoners ready to deliver up our feet Major
6OOO invalid Confedcrates exchange In his letter of
missioner that there between 1850 and 5000 prison
ers OF the kind ready for delivery on the Mississippi
a. soon as point o exchange should be designated The
Soowinr Instructions were in the letter
which has been discussed between the UIted states
tive prisoners authorized offer the Confederate military G
sics complain Of Their BY those having hm charge
saeT oq & foO9s & ana % s T1itJ sta. w" Mi % & oi @
cOrg discretion to the prisoners held BY tbe Conese sdor
are held s ConfIrte authorities 10 furnish transportation from tie
S,nd Of s Confederate Authorities. delivered ia Ike manner
articles Of clothing and other necessary articles including tea sose 70
inSSsr The United viii furnish such hospital they
Ike aaHsr 'n II. GSts States P
ss sss o & & Csf@ & sd Win permit the coIate .dSoes e.
s.'S @ s1 ssSo S TS .Sss S a oSs Sss BLANKET. Sd
aop, stores s ~ sss d'Tetoa s St, e nyh s0' ts
United states S R, the co1isd1 s1s snsG to pu r.
Uud such food and clothing neang blankets the Con
the United States ioT s9ea sTte except ihs uniform Of The soldiers
der,te pnpsr.; Uni win permit be purchased in
iSs Tsise o. ne To I Si 9 t , s 70 1 cf,s p
al be a for the legal currency q TIE United stats
uPOa conditions which pledged
ssn RON any port in The United States whether ports are
,sch cotton payment any port designated B. Confederate
authorities IN we United States or whether s p "a n ile possession
sIe. D o Ss b. r s ip rs States hf m P'e. shr The s 6dD s
crate prisoners bed By them upon tie sane T, and eons
Furnished opoa Tie same me condition By hs as;hois All
.s o sS soe - I & I 3 N h M I e 'S,e s s 9e & aTs o.
Ssnge Confederate tie United oen
Ssst.Ss % ", .. JS Y & @ @ s m Ss % SP' & & s pr O. %
surplus Of furnish 81 By the United states b he Coad
authorities 70 be returned the place where received by either
party pat the disposal Of the party furnishing ths Any other
minor details nS' PrS,1ga % 10 ths.e instructions "a T be The 'aee. %
ned tt either party shall have the privilege Of puilg 'ugeon
To- be equitable and just parry plants
S.pS say minor points any oeetoHS are made on the part Of the
C"SIS M 5 !o SSs ss v I lI he ; TO- IL as nav be
the objected tie COderate Authorities iat ta United
Coaeae authorities hold taken from the Of The United
upon the erate authorities greater than TIA, assumed BY ths United
fs Und Og very snIoas to relieve
L. they their prisoners Of war ioa what 'hFy are nueel
than the negotiations shah be broken II EPoH h pou that The
S Sss s s Sss STAT sa seoSg % the uyleH BY the
S S o 1E "oDer a s s m s @ precisely e same a.. ny, other sni
Ssssut clothing food aud medicine vita Which the cqDfds
rate authorities supply equal number Of their lcd by the
United SiaIesi proposition made r the Parpoe Of
,nOiiVs, q 6sasny United should baI any portion Of The
eSSse which P0PGy Pc ~ os s s 20 ss in eaDto5H var All
propositions received upon this sute from The COniee authorities
the several po involved aud settlement but
SsG % :Ss o S sl @ rot SS ff zee b osse @ 70 ed S % is
I.Is sSS soe 9 I s SBgee5 upon tie basis Of these
Hseas for the and treatment Of prisoners Of war which seem
have ihs bOu0r be respectfully your os,sn s .sTT,ai
MaorGoaeral and Commissioner fof Exchange
Colonel Milford
Mr. Butler continued thus:
Thus you see, Mr. Speaker the Government OF the
United states hot only offered 10 take care Ol All INC CO
Yedeate prisoners had but also offered TO take charge
Of shelter warm, cOhe aud feed all our prisoners IN the
hands OF the COnfederacY and that offer continued
open long rs had anything TO do with the matter or
exchange think that these documents will satisfy the
country that there is truth whatever in the charge
made by those who say Government only always
wrong and the Rebels only always right that any officer
having charge Of the exchange OF prisoners failed in any
respect in our duty 10 sick and wounded soldiers
The remainder Of the speech devoted by Gen But
Ger show how the COnfederates treated the cOlored
Union soldiers who fen into tneIr hands.
Mr. Pouard's Lost Caufe" has chapter giving the
Confederate history OF the exchange prisoners and
from this eondense the statement side Of the
question: