The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1868-09-10
which was hurrying SO many federal pris-
oners at Andersonville to the grave.

al E. A. Hitchcock, commissioner of ex-
change, covering copy Of the foregoing
letter to Gen. Milford, and requesting an
acceptance of my propositions.
No answer was ever received to either
of these letters. Gen Mulford, on the
3lst day of August, 1864, informed me in
writing that he had no communication on
the subject from the United States author
lties, and that he was not, at that time.
authorized to make any answer.
This offer, which would have instantly
restored to freedom thousands Of suffering
ca ptives which would have released ev-
cry soldier in confinement in confederate
prisons-was not even noticed. Was that
because the officials did not deem it worthy
a reply; or, because they feared to make
one! As the federal authorities had at
that time large excess of prisoners, the
effect of the proposal l had made, if car
ried out would have been to release all
union prisoners, while a large number of
confederates would have remained in pris-
On, awaiting the chances Of the capture of
their equivalents.
II.
In January, 1864, and, indeed, some
time earlier, it became manifest that, in
consequence of the complication liz rela-
tion to exchange, the large bulk of prison.
ers on both sides would remain in captivi-
ty for many long and weary months, if not
for the dura tion of the war. Prompted
by an earnest desire to alleviate the hard
ships of confinement on both sides, I ad-
dressed the following communication to
Gen. f. A. Hitchcock, United States
commissioner of exchange, who, on Or
about the day Of its date. delivered the
same to the federalauth ority:
COME DERATE STATES OF AMERICA, }
War Department
RICHMOND, Va, January "a, 1863.
Malor General f. A. Hitchcock, Ageat of
Erchange:
SrR-In view of the present difficulties
attending the release aud exchange of
prisoners, propose that all such on each
side shall be attended BY proper number
of their own surgeons, who, under the
rule. to be established, shall be permitted
to take charge Of their health and COM
fort
also propose that these surgeons shall
act as commissaries, with power to receive
and distribute such contributions of money
food, ,-ctsshng aud medicines as may be
forwarded for the relief of prisoners.
Further propose that these surgeons be
selected by their own governments, and
that they shall have full liberty at any and
all times, through the agents of exchange,
to make reports not only Of their own acts,
but Of any matters relating to the welfare
of prisoners.
Respectfully,
Your o5edieHt servant,
ROBERT OULD,
Agent of Exchange.
To this communication no reply of any
kind was ever made I need not state
how much suffering would have been pre-
toI L. Al
spirit in which it was dictated In addi-
ton, we would have had truthful accounts
of the treatment of prisoners on both sides
by officers Of character, and thus much of
that Misrepresentation which has flooded
the country would never have been poured
forth. The jury box in the case of Wirz
would have had different witnesses, with q
different story. 1t will be borne in mind
that nearly all of the suffering endured b.
federal prisoners happened after January
1864. The acceptance of tho proposition
made by me, on behalf Of the confederat,
government would not only have furnished
to the sick medicines and physicians, but
to the well an abundance of food ant
clothing from the ample stores Of the Uni
ted States.
| The good faith Of the confederate gov
ernment in making this offer cannot bt
successfully questioned, for food ant
clothing without the surgeons) were sen
in 1865, and were allowed to be dlstribu
ted by federal officers to federal prison er.
III.
When it was ascertained that exchanc
es could not be made, either on the basi
of the cartel, or officer for officer, or maj
for man, 1 was instructed by the confedel
ate authorities to offer to tn United State
j, government their sick and wounded with
out requiring any equivalents. Accord
ingly, in the summer Of 1864, 1 did ofre
to deliver from ten to fifteen thousand {
the sick aud wounded at the mouth of til