Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-09-04
FIxTYC TITT EFSPONsTBILITY


A great deal has been said about the
suferings of the Federal prisoners IN the
hands of the Confederates, and Wirz has
been hung for alleged bad treatment of
prisoners under his charge. No small
amount of capital has been manufactured
out Of this question of the treatment of
prisoners in the South, A great deal of
the bitter feeling manifested toward the
people Of the Southern States had its
origin in the exaggerated stories setahOat
by interested parties in regard to the
treatment the Federal prisoners received
during the war at the hands of Southern
men, The history connected with these
transactions is being gradually developed,
and will fix the responsibility for the
prolonged sufferings of Federal prisoners
upon high officials in the United States.
The following important letter on the ex-
change question was made public in
Richmond on the 3lst ult. The reply to
this proposition, if any was received, is
not given. We presume no reply was
made In the light of this letter. the au-
tnorities of the United States cannot be
held b&ameless for the suferings of Fed
eral soldiers while in Confederat prisons.
They were offered the opportunity of
sending physicians with medical and
commisary stores, without limit, TO the
relief Of their prisoners who were rep
resented as "langishing in Rebel prisons,
and if they neglected to do it are they to
be held blameless for the lives of the
brave men who persisted, as is repre-
scented, for the want of proper attention
1t has been shown by the letters of Col
Ould that he offered to send home the
sick prisoners without an equivalent in
exchange, if ships were sent to Savannah
for them The officials who should have
shown some regard for these sick and
disabled prisoners, did not send
the vessels to convey them to the North,
but left them to die at Andersonville and
other points. 1t now appears that Col
Ould proposed to Gen. Hitchcock to allow
the Federal authorities to send physicians
South to look after and attend to the
wants of their prisoners, but this pro-
position was not accepted. The truth is,
these sick and disabled prisoners were
not wanted in the North. 1t was a part
of the policy of the political party then
having control Of the government to keep
them in the South to die in order to fire
the Northern heart by repeating harrow
ing tales as to their sufferings. And it
was done efectually History will yet
fix the infamy of this transaction where
it properly belongs
The following is the letter to which we
have alluded
CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA,
WAR DEPARTMENT, RICHMOND, VA,
January "a lS64.-To Maj. Gen. Z. A.
Hitchcock, Agent Exchange.-Sir In view
of the present difficulties attending the ex-
change and release of prisoners, / propose
that all such, on either side, shall be at
tended by proper number of their own Sur
geons who, under rules to be established
shall be permitted to take charge of their
health and comfort.
also propose that these Surgeons shall
act as Uommissaries, with power to receive
and distribute such contributions Of money,
food, clothing and medicines, as may be
forwarded for the relief of the prisoners.
further propose that these Surgeons
shall be selected by their own government,
and that they shall have full liberty, at any
and all times, through the Agents OF Ex-
change, to make reports, not only of their
OWN acts, but of any matters relating to the
welfare of the prisoners.
Respectfully, your ob't servant,
ROBERT GUILD,
Agent of Exchange.