New-York tribune., 1868-08-29
REBEL TREATMENT OF UNION PRISONERS.


LETTER OF GEN. S. A. MEREDITH.
Editors Buffalo Commercial Advertiser: d: My
attention has been called to sensation story pubsheu
The Ne,o York World entitled Terrible Revelation
purportng TO be statement OF Robert Oud concerning
the exchange OF prisoners We're the matter not so se
ous the reasons given by this noble patriot for publish
ing his might be considered the best Joke OF the
season. 10 witt o correct the many Misrepresentation
OF the late Confederate authorities IN relation 20 prison
er and that ne feels 1t due TO the truth OF history 10
bring facts set forth 10 the attention OF the country
unbushng impudence attempt TO impose on Northern
his vinGicatlon OF the truth OF history IA
of our soldiers intentionally starved and slaughtered
in Rebel pens also feel t incumbent on me as ne re.
narKsl 10 make a statement" The first interruption OF
the cartel was caused by JEFF Davss message to the Rebel
Congress. January u. 1868, wherein ne announced
states captured after that date 20 the State au-
thores 10 be dealt with according 70 the laws OF those
gsged in inciting serve instruction" That is Off
GERS captured in battle were to DO handed over 10 the
The second dificuity occurred in relation 10 negro
troops and the officers commanding them. whom the
but without taking the trouble to deliver them TO the
state authorities In many instances no quarter
Officers commanding them. Some were executed with
out trial. though that mere form would not nave peneht
demanded that negro troops and their officers should be
treated other prisoners OF war ana e1ehahgea' tms
this remark: "We he Rebels viii die In the last ditch
before giving the right to send slaves back to slavery
stant violation by the Rebels In making illegal decars-
of exchange for the purpose OF putting men INTO
the field and there is no doubt Whatever haI al PTls
oners paToled by the United States authorities were @
mediatey returned to active duty III tn9 depet
army. Many officers and men captured at
Vioksburg we're IN the battle OF CmckanauGa'
Thus the Rebels were making use t vi ,bi or og wGtG
conducted prisons recruiting depots ior ther army
Another superable obstacle 70 returning exchanges was
in the matter of paroles hr onId haa soe en- io 90 to o
paroles taken by guerras, busWDdckers ana de-
tached commands In the West No possession was ever
I,,1, da1fu avar m
furnished on the capture OF q town by Rebel cavalry
raid, the command remained long enough TO take inc
parole OF unared citizens there and then decamPcd,
paroles TO Richmond And the Rebels had the assurance
TO require United States Government To exchange
prisoners etmatey captured in battle for suc paroles
as these On the 25th Of November 1855 offered osend
Immediately 60 City Point 1890 or more Confederate
prisoners he exchanged for Union soldiers confined IN
The South THIS proposition distinctly and unequN-
damnabe plans of the Rebel Government IN relation 10
poor captured soldiers had not then been fuy car
red out Mr. Ould leave the truth OF history To take
care of itself and vndlcate, II he can. the lnteh-
tOna premeditated, and baTbarous treatment by the
Rebel authorities OF soldiers IN the Rebel prison pens
When, IN 1864. the hellish plan was almost cOsuinaeu
and they held prisoners thousands o. lOathsoDe ske
etOns him confess that then his emasculated Govern
ment willing 10 let the United states anthOrlues
bury ts dead exchange for fresh and healthy arm OF
1000 men, to be immediately put In the neld against
Gen. Grant We conclude Messrs. Editors, these, ana
these alone, were the causes which prevented the e1
change OF prisoners ana these causes We're III operation
until the close of the The difficulties In the way
we're insurmOHntable, aud so looked upon by the
United States authorities Gen. Grant had no more
power 20 overcome them than any officer who preceded
him He took the only III his power 20 effect the
release OF prisoners and In 1865 succeeded in accom-
such patriotic indicators Of the truth OF history as
Mr. Robert Ould Yours, very truly. s A. MEREDITH.
Late Brigader General and United States Comms-
sIOner for Exchange OF Prisoners
Btt0QlD,