Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-06-18
|olrors or .fndsrEon-
NJ The fs.nlh df last.

have for a few days past bccn
m1&|nt ftilhml inquiry into tho qucs
1Ico a< 10 Nhoorginaicd and enforced
1h> policy of leaving Federal soldiers,
tnkcn hl The enemy, to staryc aud
ro< II rr1tl prison pens, and have at
last sI>4lk upon evidence that ap-
ucnr> to remove all doubt This ov-
Iic0cc. Nc are glad TO say, is of of a
chnr11lor and comes from source
that Al oncc carrys conviction aud
rc||cF<a rs Of any liability 10 suspi.
oI0n of nnlairncss that might other
vie1 tc Entertained by our Republi-
con Friends. We fird il in the docu-
m<n(nry record of that immaculate
uu(1ority. the "Committc on the Con
duct of the WARN report made
% that body by the chief of the I'M
peachmcnt Managers, Maj Gen. b.
y Butler. The position occupied by
Gen. buller at this time, ia the eyes
Of The Radical party of the country
respectfully, adds great weight TO his
testimony and serves to give addi-
tionaI Importance and interest to the
subject nnder consideration.
III hir report Gen. Butler recites
tho facts concerning the disagree
mont about the exchange of prisoners
existing when he was entrusted with
the duties of Commissioner by the
Secretary of War; in December, 1863
He succeeded during the following
thrcc Months, after much trouble, in
arranging the basis of an exchange,
Inan tor man aud officer for officer,
with The rebel Commissioner, Mr.
Oulj, Will whom he held conference
at Foriress Monroe lie then SAYS
"NrsOuld left on the 3lst of March,
with the understanding that would
get authority and information from
Iuy eorernment, by which all dispu-
ted points possible could be adjusted,
andruouid then confer with him fur
therscithcr meeting him at City Point
or eIscwhcre for that purpoeo. In the
meantime the exchanges of sick and
wounded and special exchanges should
20 on.
"Licut Gen. Grant visited Fortress
Monroe on the lst of April, being the
first time had ever met him
"I'o him the state Of the negotia-
tialions ns 10 exchange was verbally
eommunicated, and most emphatic rer-
Je< HrccfionS irere receiued from the
L<cxleHanf General mott 10 take any step
" .ohscf another dJic bodied man should
&c csckanged until further orders from
kimr
On DC 18th of April, General But
Ter received a telegram from General
Crsat AZ Washington stating that
the whole subject Of exchange Of pris-
oncrs had been referred to hnn as
ioliows,
H&<nixoroN, II p. m, April / &, 1894
Ma. HrE. DVrLER; Your report respecting ne
rct1ilen. niih Commissioner Ould for the ex-
shanrf ~ rrisoucrf Of war has becn referred 10
- ~ - ~'<rrs.
lzf0 c<srincd by me. and my orders thereon
arz stctlttt by yea, decline ai further de@oHstra-
tiorr. U. :. GRASI, Lieut.. Gen.
SIX &>ss later, after General Grant
lirf 'cxxmined," /" he sent long tcle-
gtxm 10 Scucral Butler, stating that
hc bad been empowered to "givc such
ia<sTsrticns as may deem proper"
snd Ne gave instructions of which
Scncr<i Butler says
;~9f toRrse these instructions, in the
t,ou state of negotiations, rendered
any i0rtkcr exchange impossible, aud
rctaliataon useless"
GNcrei Butler says he then made
eE effort 10 have the sick and wound
cd excepted, so that they might be
exchanged, and he received the fol-
iovins ts'cgram in reply:
WtfniSeroS $50 p M. April 80. 1850.
NAL tkF j. !. BrrtEn; Receive all the sick
n11 rtnn1sd the Confederate authorities will
fcnt ysn. VI send NOR. in srchangc.
L. 8. GRASr, Lieut.. Gen.
+ Upon ihis extraordinary ''instrUc-
ton General Butler remarks as fol-
lows
ITO obtain delivery of even sick
and wounded prisoners without any
return would be somewhat difficult
operation, save that the enemy, by
giving Us our wounded aud sick Ia
their hand, we retaining au the rebel
sick and Wounded ia ours, burdened
us with The care and cost Of all the
sick And wounded of both sides--an
operntion of which il is difficult to
see the strsgetic value, and only to
be dcicnded because of its humanity
ia rcscuing our wounded from the
dcslitution of sufierings permitted to
them BY The Confedcrates."
In August the question of cxchang.
irk rrisoncrs was again up. the rebel
COMMISSIONER having renewed the
offer % givc man for man and officer
for e''ictf. But Gen. Grantintcrposed,
and n a ielegram to Gen. Butler, da-
ted City point, August Is, 1864, said:
un ,he snticci 5f exchange, differ with Gen.
IiirAe1tk n N bard on our men held in southern
priepA6 n4' ~ exchange them. but s humanity
@ thpsN 'tA 10 the ranks to dght our battles. y,
cry man Uicfsci on parole or otherwise becomes
an active Sqllier against as ~ once either direct
w of indInotly. II We commence - stem Of o1-
change which libcratcs all prisoners taken, wc
will htVt 70 frht on until the whole South Is es-
ttfm|nnic4 III we hold those men caught, they
amount - % morc than dad men. At this fsr.
ticu'ar t'ne 10 release all rebel prisoners North
would insar Shcrman's defeat, and would com
promise ont tafcty here.
L. 5. GRANr, Lieut.. Gen.
Here NC have a full and free avow.
al thai ihe leaving Of tcns of thou
sands of poor Federal soldiers, whose
patriotism and bravery carried them
10 the front of battle, to starvo, and
sot, and die IN rebel prison pens was
a matter of studied policy--a part of
tho tnlIic4 by which Genearl Grant