Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-09-12
Exchange of Prisoners.

"
The following communication from O
gentleman of unquestonable truth and
honor will startle the country, now having
its attention drawn particularly to the
subject of the exchange of prisoners du.
ring the late war. The facts stated by
him, as of his own knowledge, may be
implicitly relied upon:
To the Editors of tho Express:
About one year ago, witnessing the
agitation in Congress upon the subject OF
the exchange of prisoners of war, drew
up general views of my own in relation
thereto. Forocertain reasons they were
not published. / always held Secretary
Stanton and Gen. Butler responsible for
these fragrant wrongs:
Until read the expose Of Judge
0uld, one Of the commissioners of ex-
change, published last week, | was not
aware of the completely of other gene
rails in the preparation of gross, unmiti-
gated and heartless conduct in the ex-
change of prisoners during the last two
or three years of the war. l wish the
facts elicited-all who participated in
the slow murder of the unfortunate
sick and wounded soldier and
prisoner of war exposed, that, if for no
other object, history. may be made right.
For one who suffered the penalty of a
horrible wrong, / thank Judge Ould for
his leaf of truthful events. The half has
not yet been told. By and-by, in sober
moments, when the public mind is less
excited, these revelations will be gar
nered up, and wee be unto the wrong
doer. Public indignation, like an eternal
fiat, is sure to come.
will allude to one or two facts con-
nected with these gross official wrongs.
From them the public can judge, and
will judge correctly.
The day after my exchange, and after
| had left Richmond, three of my associ-
ates in prison were released and sent
home. Their exchange was negotiated
and arranged in Washington city, and
cost them in all $500. To whom the
money was paid was a mystery to me.
The,cash was, however, paid, and they
were promptly exchanged. On the flag.
of truce steamer New York, on our re-
turn to Annapolis, / ascertained that
secret negotiations were going on for the
exchange of the remaining prisoners in
Libby, and the individual participating in
the matter expected to realize $4,000
for the job This notable and humane
operator was the agent or correspondent
OF the New York Times. Arriving in
Washington, communicated these facts
by letter to Col. Ludlow, at Fortress
Monroe, and at his request, gave the
names, date, and the facts to Col. Hoff-
man, who had charge of the Exchange
Bureau, conditioned that was not to be
called as a witness, owing to my feeble
health. 1t was reported that the Times
agent was arrested. Soon after / Joined
my regiment, near Falmouth, and never
heard the result.
Aware of the many vultures in human
form lowering about the army, robbing
and plundering indiscriminately, it is
possible that these deep-dyed rascals,
having access to officials of easy virtue,
were making money by wholesale out of
the sad condition of prisoners of war.
| wish to see the whole subject venti-
lated. Let the odium fall on the guilty
or uufeclng. whether in high or low
standing. The living prisoner yet feels
the sting If the tens of thousands of
graves could open and let the silent dead
speak, the vengeance Of wrath would be
terrible. b.