The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1868-09-09

that these surgeons be selected by theil
own Governments, and that they shall
have full liberty at any and all times
through the agents of exchange, gtc
make reports not only of their own acts
but of any matters relating to the wei
fare of prisoners.
Respectfully, your obedient servant
Ro, GUILD, Agent of Exchange.
To this communication no seply OF
any klnd acas euer made. I need not
state how much suffering would have
been prevented if this offor bad been
met in the same spirit in which il wa
dictated In addition, the world have
had truthful accounts of the treatment
of prisoners on both sides by officers of
character, and thus much of that mis-
representation which has flooded the
country would never have been poured
forth. The jury box in the case OF
Wirz would have had different wit
nesses with a different story. 1t will
be borne in mind that nearly all the
suffering endured by Federal prisoners
happened after January, 1864. The
acceptance of the proposition made by
me on behalf of the Confederate Gov
ernment would not only have furnished
to the sick medicines and physicians,
but to the well an abundance of food
and clothing from the ample stores of
the United States. The good faith Of
Confederate Government in making
this offer cannot be successfully quest
iened, for food and clothing (without
the surgeons) were sent in 1865, and
were allowed to be distributed by Fed
eral officers to Federal prisoners.
Why could not the more humane
proposal of January, 1864, have been
accepted?
III
When it was asceItained that ex-
changes could not be made either on
the basis of the cartel, or officer foI of
fcer, and man for man, I was instructed
by the Confederate authorities to offer
to the United States Government their
sick and wounded, Without requiring
any equivalents. Accordingly, in the
summer Of 1864, 1 did offer to deliver
from ten to fifteen thousand of the sick
and wounded at the mouth of Savannah
without requiring any equivalents,
assuring, at the same time, the agent of
the United States, General milford,
if the number for which he might
send transportation could not readily be
made up from sick and wounded, I
would supply the difference with we'll
men. Although this offer was made in
The summer of 1864, transportation was
not sent to the Savannah river, until
about the middle or last of November,
and then I delivered as many prison
ers as could be transported-some
thirteen thousand in number, amongst
whom were more than five thousand
well men. More than once I urged the
mortality at A~ndersoville as a reason
for haste on the part of the United
authorities. know, personally,
that it was the purpose of the Confe-
Government to send off from all
its prisoners all the sick and wounded,
to continue to do the same, from time TO
lime, without requiring any equivalents
Tor them. 1t was because the sick and
wounded at points distant from Georgia
could not be br ,ught to Savannah
a reasonable time that the five
thousand well men were substituted.
Although the terms of my offer did not
the Federal authorities to dc
iyer any ten or fifteen thousand which
promised, vet so Ne three thousand
lex and wounded were I1HllVered by
hem at the mouth of Savannah lVer'
call upon e cry Federal and Confe-
crate officer and man who saw the
areo of living death, and who is FAM
Jar with the character OF the deliv-
RIGS made by the Confederate author
to bear witness that none such
vas ever made by the latter, even when
he very sick and desperately wounded
7ere alone requested. For, on two oc-
at least, such were specially aSl :
d for, and particular request was made
Ut those who were so desperately sick
hat it would be doubtful whether they
,ould survive a removal a few miles
own James River. Accordingly, the
nspitals were searched for the worst
asses, and after they were delivered
hey were taken to Annapolis, and there
photographed as specimen prison ers.
he photographs at Annapolis were ter
ible, indeed, but the misery they por-
rayed was surpassed at Savannah. The
rolls showed that some thirty.
We hundred had started from Northern
risons, and that death had reduced the
lumber during the transit to about
hree thousand. The mortality amongst
hose who we're delivered alive during
ne following three months was equal
: ftightful. But why was there this
clay between the summer and Nov
.ber in sending transportation for
ok and wounded. for whom no equiv
Ients were asked? Were Union pri.
,ners made TO suffer in order to aid
lie photographs Gin firing the popular
cart of the North?"
" +
In the summer of 1864, in eonscqu-
ice Of certain information communi-
tied to me by the Surgeon General OF
le Conf 'derate States as to the deficit
.cy of medicines, I offered to make
urchase of medicines from the United
tates authorities, to be used exclusive
, for the relief of Federal prisoners. 1
fered to pay gold, cotton, or tobacco
them. and two or three prices. If re-.