The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1868-09-18
STARTLING REVELATIONS
The Exchange Of Prisoners.
STATEMENT OF ROBERT OULD. ESQ.


[From the National Intelligen2er, Aug, 29l
R1cHuoyD, VA, Aug. Il, 1868.
To tie Editors oftde
National Liteiigsncsr
GENTLEMEN Il ha We recently seen
50 many Misrepresentation Of the ac-
tiOn of the late Confederate authorities
in relation to prisoners that | feel 1t
due to the truth of history, and pc
culiarly incumbent on me as their a
gent of exchange, 10 bring to the at
tenti0n of the country the facts set
forth in this paper:
/.
The cartel Of exchange bears date Ju
ly 22d, 1862. Its chief purpose was to
secure the delivery Of all prisoners of
war.
To that end, the fourth article pro-
vided that all prisoners Of war should
be discharged on parole in ten days al
80. tIr-ir stFytvsre. From tho date Gf
the cartel until the summer Of 1863 the
Confederate authorities had the excess
of prisoners. During that interval de-
liyeries were made as fast as the Fed.
eral Government furnished transpOrta-
ton. Indeed, upon more than one Oc-
casiOn | urged the Federal authorities
~ otAiN iiiNLNtA0GA4 iLtCdl4o VI Il lOt
ton. 1t has never even been alleged
that the Confederate authorities failed
or neglected to make prompt deliveries
of prisoners who were not held under
charges, when they had the excess.
On the other hand, during the same
time the cartel was openly and notOri-
Ously violated by the Federal authOri-
ties. Officers and men were kept in
~.
doomed to cells, without charge or tri-
al. Many officers were kept in con-
finement even after the notices pub
lished by the Federal authorities had
declared them exchanged.
In the summer Of 1868 the Federal
authorities insisted upon limiting cX-
changes TO such rs were held in con-
finement on either side. This resisted,
as being i'm violation of the cartel.
Such a construction not only kept in
confinement the excess on either side,
but ignored all the paroles which were
held by Confederate Government.
These were very many, being the pa
roles Of officers and men who had been
released on capture. The Federal Gov
ernment at that time held few or no
paroles. They had all, or nearly all
been surrendered, the Confederate au-
thoritles giving prisoners as equiva-
lents for them. Thus it will be seen,
that as long as the Confederate Gov
ernmcnt had the excess of prisoners
matters went on smoothly enough
but as soon as the posture of affairs in
that respect was changed, the cartel
could no longer be observed. So, as
long as the Federal Government held
= r. i
men, they were respected, and made
the basis Of an exchange; but when
equivalents were obtained for them,
and no more were in hand, the paroles
which were held by the Confederate
authorities could not be recognized.
In consequence Of the position thus as
sumed by the Federal Government,
the requirement of the cartel that all
prisoners should be delivered within
ten days was practically nullified. The
deliveries which were afterwards made
were the result Of special agreements.
The Confederate authorities adhered
to their position until the 10th of Au-
gust, 1864, when, moved by the suffer
ings Of the men in the prisons Of each
belligerent, they determined to abate
their just demand. Accordingly, on
the last named day, addressed the fol-
lowing communication to Brig. Gen.
j. Z. Milford, lthen Major, Assistant
Agent Of Exchange:
RICHMOND, Aug. 10, 1864.
UQjOr John T.. -HafOrd, assistant Il
gent Of EGchdnge:
SIR:-NOu have several times pro-
posed TO me to exchange the prisoners
respectively held by the two belliger-
ents-oiiicer for officer, and man for
man. The same offer has also been
made by other officials having charge
of matters connected with the exchange
of prisoners.
This proposal has heretofore been de-
clined by the Confederate authorities,
they insisting upon the terms of the
cartel, which required the delivery Of
the excess on either side on parole. In
view, however, of the very large num-
ber Of prisoners now held by each par
ty, and the suffering consequent upon
their continued confinement, / now
consent to the above proposal, and "a
gree to deliver to you the prisoners
held in captivity by the Confederate
authorities, provided you agree to de-
liver an equal number of Confederate
officers and men. AS equal numbers
are delivered from time to time, they
will be declared exchanged. This pro-
posal is made with the understanding
that the officers and men on both sides
who have been longest in captivity
will be first delivered where it is prac-
ticable.
l shall be happy to hear from you as