Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1868-09-10

Statement Of Robert 0uld Concern
ingthe Exchange Of PrisOners---
Grant Responsible for the Suffer-
ings at AndersonVille -OOnfed-
crate Offers to Exchange Repeat
edly Rejected, &c.
IFrom'the National Intelhgencer, August 20.
RIcpMnND, Va, August IL.
To the editors Of the National Inlellirsncer
GEErLEMEE have recently seen 60
many Misrepresentation Of the action Of
IL e late Confederate authorities in relation
to prisoners that Ifeel it due TO the truth
Of history, and peculiarly incumbent on
me as their agent Of exchange, to bring
70 the attention Of the country the facts
set forth in this paper.
/. 4
The cartel Of exchange bears date July
%, 1862 Its chief purpose was to secure
The delivery Of All prisoners Of war; 10
That end, the fourth article provided that
all prisoners of war should be discharged
on parole in ten days after their capture
From the date Of the cartel until the SIM
mer Of 1868 tho Confederate authorities
had the excess Of prisoners. During that
interval deliveries were made as fast as
the Federal Government furnished trans
poraIion. Indeed, upon more than one
occasion | urged the Federal authorities
to send increased means Of transportation
II has never even been alleged that the
Confederate authorities failed or neglected
to make prompt deliveries Of prisoners
who were not held under chrges, when
they had the excess. On the other hand
during the same time the cartel was openly
sud notoriously violated by the Federal
authorities. Officers and men were kept
in confinement, sometimes in irons, or
doomed to cells, without charge or trial
Many officers we're kelt in confinement
even after the notices lblishsd by the
Feleral authorities had declared them ex.
changed. e
In the summer Of 1868 the Federal au.
thOriti insisted upon limiting exchanges
10 such as were held In confinement on
either side. This ] resisted, as being in
violation Of the cartel Such q couslruc-
tion not only kept in confinement the
excess on either side, but ignored all the
paroles which we're held by the Confeder.
ate Government. These were very many
being the paroles Of cificers and men who
hOd been released on CAPTURE. The Fed.
eral Government at that time held few OF
no paroles. They had all, or nearly all
been surrendered, the COME leraie author
ities giving prisoners as equivalent fol
them. Thus il win be seen tat, as long 81
the Con 'edsrate Governm. n had the OK
cess of prisoners, matters W uton smooth
ly enough; but as soon as the posture O
affairs in that respect was changed, th,
cartel could no longer be observed.
80 long as The Federal Gogernment helt
tie paroles Of Confederate officers an,
meE, they were respected, and made ih
basis Of I'm exchange ;,but when equiva
lents were obtained for them, and no NOR
were in hand, the paroles which were held
by the Confederate authorities could no
be recognized. In consequence of tn
position thus asaumRd by tha FadoHAl- Co.
ernment, the se4uirement of the carte
that all prisoners should be delivered with
in ten days wSs practically nullifed. TIL
deliveries which were afterwsrd mad
we're the res hits of special agreements
The Confederate authorities adhered Il
their positibn until the 10th of August
1864, when, ,emOved by the suffe,ings Of th
men in the prisons Of each belligerenl
they determined To abate their just de
mand. Accordingly, on the last name
day, l addressed the following commuRi
cation 10 Brigadier general John Il. Mul
ford (then MajOr), Assistant Agent Of Ex
change:
RICHMOND, August 10th, 1861.
Major John l. Mulford, Assistant Agent
Exchanges:
SIR: You have several times propo ed to m
toeXchange the prisoners respectively held
the two belligerpnts-ofliccr for Off 'er an
mnn for man. The same officer has ais bee
, made by other officials having charge of ma
ters connected with the exchange OfprisOner
This proposal has heretofore been decline
by the Confederate authorities, they insistin
, upon the terms Of the cartel, which reqaire
, the delivery of tho excess ON either side o
parole. In view, however, of the very larg
, number OF prisoners nos held by each part!
and tine suffering consequent upon their COZ
tinued confinement. | now consent to tf
above proposal, and agree to deliver to yo
the prisoners held in captivity by the Confet
! crate authorities, provided you agree to deli'
. en- an equal number of Confederate office
nom G time to time they will be declared 81
changed. This proposal Is made with II
nnfh ides @ , bae, se anu n eh
will be drst delivered where il is prlcticabI
Ishall be happy to hear from you as sspeedill
cs P1sS,of pi tn von ohedienf c 80
want. Ro. oULD, Agent of Exchange.
The delivery of this letter was sccon
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