Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-09-10
fARTLINa REVELATION |
Ne Exchange Of Prisoners.

<nt Responsible for ali the Horrors
ndersonviIle - Hntier's Testimony
xfie--crant orders ne Exchanges 10
&Isde--A full History Of Exchanges
Ffisoncrs.
RICHMOND, Va, Sept, IL, 1868.
Ikf editors o. ne Nofi lnteliigenccr !:
<<rLEMES have recently seen so
~ Misrepresentation Of the action
c late Confederate authorities in
Non TO prisoners, that | feel il due
~ truth Of history, and peculiarly
bbent upon me as their agent Of
&nge, TO bring TO the attention of
ountry the facts set forth in this
The cartel of exchange bears date
~, 1862. Its chief purpose was
sure the delivery of all prisoners
.r To that end, the fourth arti-
divided that all prisoners of war
|1 be discharged on parole in ten
1fter their capture. From the
1f the cartel until the summer of
he Confederate authorities had
cess of prisoners. During that
M deliveries were made as fast
- Il Federal Government furnished
ortation. Indeed, upon more
no occasion l urged the Federal
||lI|Ities to send increased means of
tren1rcrta.ion. 1t has never even
ottn 1[Ieged that the Confederate au-
tho<i<les failed or neglected TO make
prQmpt deliveries of prisoners who
wtfe bot held under charges, when
they 1ad the excess. On the other
band, dnring the same time, the cartel
wos openly and notoriously violated
bF Ehe Federal authorities. Officers
and ncn were kept in confinement,
something in irons, or doomed to cells,
wlthoGt charge or trial. Many officers
wers kept in confinement even after
chs n0tices published by the Federals
had declared them exchanged.
In tho summer of 1868 the Federal
4uthorities insisted upon limiting ex-
changes TO such as were held in con-
6nemenf on either side. This l re-
sisted, rs being in violation of cartel.
Sues 4 reconstruction not only kept in
condnement the excess on either side,
ou< lgnored all the paroles which were
hs1d by the Confederate Government.
Ihese were very many. being the pa
r4-a8 U officers and men who had been
released on capture. The Federal
government at that time had few or
no paroles They had all been sur
rendered, the Confederate authorities
giving prisoners as equivalents for
tAt'N. Thus it will be seen that as
long IS the Confederate Government
h4t nc excess Of prisoners, matters
went o. smoothly enough; but as soon
49, tho posture of affairs in that respect
waa thanged, the cartel could no Ion
ger be observed. So, as long as the
Federal Government held the paroles
OF 0c1federate officers and men, they
W3<t respected and made the basis of
an e<ehange; but when equivalents
wcre obtained for them, and no more
WON - hand, the paroles which were
hold oy the Confederate authorities
could not be recognized. In conse-
nf tho position thus assumed
NM <10 Federal Government, the no
Qairoz1ent of the cartel that all pris-
<@e<1 should be delivered within ten
61gn vas practically nullified. The
dcliT9ries which were afterwards made
Vt<c the results of special agreements.
I&1t Confederate authorities adhered
10 <&1r position until the 10th of Au-
k11< I664, when, moved by the suf-
1erin1s Of the men in the prisons of
each tolligerent, they determined TO
aneIc heir just demand. According
b, ou the last named day, addressed
t1a Moving communication to Brig.
4sn. 1ohn Z. Milford, (then Major
ass|s<ant agent Of exchange
RIcHxoSD, August IS, 1854
Nal Tons Z. MuLFoRD, Asst Agt Of Exchange
4I<< Iou have several times proposed to me to
1<eh1H The prisoners respectively held BY the two
BELLY @<<nts-ofhoer for officer, and man for man.
IH< I1*e ofer has also been made by other officials
1&<1H< <harge Of matters connected with the ex-
c1a1<<<[ prisoners. This proposal has heretofore
ott1 1<Iined by the Confederate authorities, they
ia4tfI'<x upon the terms Of the cartel, which re-
4~'E1< Ne excess either side on parole. In
xIe~ &oeever, Of the very large number Of prison
>1s N4# held by each party, and the suffering con-
~ @1@< Npon their continued confinement, now
rnt1>E y the above proposal, and agree to deliver
N <1@ <ne prisoners now held in captivity by the
4@4I*<9<1te authorities provided you agree 10 de-
E<# ~ cquAl number Of Confederate officers and
1A1R. A. equal numbers are delivered from time
y '1'< they viii Be declared exchanged. This
F<1{111I 4 made with the understan ding that the
t1=teE< ND men on both sides who have been the
I>ar<| n captivity win be first delivered where il
u tf1f'1nhls- shall be happy to hear from you
Ne Xee4'F as possible, whether this Arrangement
can N c&rried out
Fe|J respectfully, your obedient servant,
R0. 0ULD, Agent Of Exchange.
Ih> delivery of this letter was ac-
c1g1p4nied with a statement of the
osos<a|ity which was hurrying so many
f<34r1l prisoners at Andersonville TO
tAe Nfnve.
kfs the 22d Of August, 1854, not
having heard anything in response, /
aI.Iressed a communication to Major
Ue1fral Hitchcock, U. S. Commits
tI1nt< of Exchange, covering a copy
pfttt toregoing letter to Gen Mulford,
Ana requesting an acceptance of my
I,r1r1eitions.
NJ 1aaOeT rds ercr received to either
6f tts@< lefters. Gen. Mulford, on the
1Lst NJ August, 1864, informed me in
HrI<|Hr that be had no communication
'on <te subject from the United States
au<1cfities, and that ho was not at
<tst <ime authorized to make any an
Itt offer, which would have in
stss'iIf restored to freedom thousands
~ tH|Isring oaptives-which would
have pleased every Federal prisoner
'c1tI11d in Confederate prisons-was