The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-09-05
33Olitiral.
TIE EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS.
Es o-,a ~
Con. Grant Responsible for all the HORROR
~ Ofindersonville.
Richmond, Va, Aug. II, 1858.

To Tle Editors OF lie -Nal1oIldl luttlllgtIlCeT.
GENTLEMrN--I have recently seen so many
misrepresentations OF the actions of the late Con-
fe5erate authorities in relation to prisoners that
feel it due to the truth OF history, and peculi-
arlv incumbent on me is their agent of exchange,
to bring the attention OF the country the facts
set torthin tn: paper:
l.
The cartel OF exchange bears date July -, 1867.
It's chief purpose was to secure the delivery OF
all prisoners OF war.
10 llst end, the fourth article provided that
all prisoners of war should be discharged on pa
role in ten days after their capture. From the
date of the cartel until the summer OF 1868 the
Confederate authorities had the excess of prison
ers During the interval deliveries were made
Ms fast rs the Federal government furnished trans
,oortation. Indeed. upon occasion urged
The Federal authorities to send increased means
Of importation. Tt has never even been alleged
that the Confederate authorities failed or neg
lected 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 VIGOROUSLY vio-
lated by the Federal authorities Officers and
men were kept in confinement sometimes in
irons, or doomed to cells without charge or trial.
MANY officers were kept in confinement even at
ter the notices published by the Federal authori-
ties had declared them exchanged.
In tie summer Of 1869 the Federal authorities
insisted upon limiting exchanges to such as were
held IN confinement on either side. This resisted
Is being in violation of the cartel Such con-
st1ucti0I not only kept il confinement the excess
on either side, but ignored ell the paroles which
we've held by the Confederate Government.
These were very many, being the paroles of Off
GERS and men Who had been released on capture.
The Federal Government at that time held few
or no paroles They had all, or nearly all, been
surrendered, the Confederate authorities giving
prisoners as equivalents for them. Thus it will
be seen, that as long as the Confederate Govern
ment had the excess of prisoners matters went on
smoothly enough but as soon as tho posture OF
affairs in that respect was changed, the cartel
could no longer be observed. So long as the Fed
eral Government held the paroles G. Confederate
officers and 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 Con-
federate authorities could not be recognized. In
consequence Of the position thus assumed by the
Federal Government, the requirement of tho car
tel that all prisoners should be delivered within
ten days was practically nullifed The deliver
les which were afterwards made were the results
OF special agreements.
Tho Confederate authorities adhered to their
position until the 10th of August, 1864, when,
iuONcu ny ll' SulltrlllSs w klcu III
ons Of each bolligerant, they determined to abate
their just demand. Accordingly, on the last
named day. addressed the following oommuni.
cation to Brigadier-General Jshn L. Milford
,Qhen Maori Assistant Agent OF Exchange:
RICHMOND, August 10, 1864.
MAJOR John E. Milford Assistant Agent of Elk.
CHANGE
SlR-You have several times proposed to me
to exchange the prisoners respectively held by
the two beligerents-ofiicer for officer, and mar
for man. The same offer has also been made by
other officials having charge Of matters connect
ed with the exchange OF prisoners
This proposal has heretofore been declined BY
fhs Confederate authorities, they insisting upor
livery of the excess on either side on parole. II
view however, of the very large number of pris
oners now held by each party, and the suffering
consequent upon their continued confinement
now consent to the above proposal, and agree t.
deliver to you the prisoners held IN captivity by
the Confederate authorities provided you agree
to deliver an equal number of Confederate officers
and men. As equal numbers are delivered from
time 70 time, they will be declared exchanged
This proposal is made with the understanding
that the officers and men or both sides who hav'
been longest in captivity will be first delivered
where il is practicable.
shall be happy to hear from you as speedily
as possible, whether this arrangement can be car
ried out.
Respectfully, your obedient servant
ROBT. GUILD, Agent of Exchange.
The delivery of this letter was accompanied
with statement of the mortality which was hur
rying so many Federal prisoners at Anderson
vile to the grave.
On the 22d day of August, 1864, not having
heard anything in response, addressed com
munication to Maj. Gen. E. A. Hitchcock, Uni
ted States Commissioner OF Exchange, GOVERN,
copy of the foregoing letter to Con. Milford
and requested an acceptance of my propositions
No answer was ever received to either of thes
letters. Gen. milford, on the 31st of August
1854, informed me in writing that he had M
communication on The subject from the United
States authorities, and that he was not at tina
time authorized to make any answer.
This offer, which would have instantly restor
ed to freedom thousands of suffering captiyes-
which would have released every Federal sol
der in confinement in Confederate prsons--wa
not oven noticed. Was that because the FEEDER
al officials did not deem it worthy of replp; o
because they feared to make one? AS the Fed
eral authorities at that time had large excess O
prisoners, the effect of the proposal which hat
made, if carried ont, would have been to releas
all the Union prisoners while large number o
Ihe Nohlederates would have remained in prison
awaiting the chanches of the capture Of thei
equivalents.
IT.
IL january, 1864, and, indeed, sotae time ear
ier, 1t became manifest, that in consequence o
the complication in relation to exchange, tn,
Large bulk OF prisoners on both sides would re
main in captivity FOR many long and weary
months, il not Tor the duration of the war
Irompted by an earnest desire 30 alleviate the
hardshps OF confinement on both sides, adj
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