The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-28
THE RUTH.

General MerCdith, the United states
Commissioner for Exchange of Pri-
sOners, Disproves the Rebel OuId's
late ISLANDERS.
From the Bs0dio Commercial Advertiser Aug. 26.
We are fortunately able to interpose prompt
and absolute denial of all Mr.. Ouds material
statements OF facts, coming from a source at
once dsinterested and unquestonabe. Brga-
oier-General s. A. Meredith, whose military
record during the war stands deservedly high,
and who is now sojourning in our city, was for
many months on duty near Richmond as United
States Commissioner Tor the exchange OF prt-
soners. He was in constant communication with
MIR. Ould in regard 10 this very business. The
official correspondence between them Is nov
before us, and fully corro oorates what General
Meredith says. Up to the time when he was
relieved by General Butler. and ordered TO
another field OF service, General Meredith speaks
OF his own personal knowledge. Since that time
be has had very natural interest III the sub
iect, ard has kept himself thoroughly nIsted,
He voluntarily furnishes us with the following
statement, which, to our mlGG, very effectually
demolsbes MIR. Ould's statement, and couvicts
him OF partisan duplislty, If not of absolute
falsihcation:-
GENERAL MEREDITH's STATEMENT.
Editors Buffalo Commercial Aduatiser:- My
attsntlon has been called to q sensation story
published in the New York World entitled "a
Terrible Revelation" purpori0g to be a state
mtnt OF Robert Ou!d concerning the exchange
OF prisoners. Were the matter not 50 serious,
fishing his romance might be considered the
best joke OF the season, to witt" To correct the
many Misrepresentation of the late Confederate
authorities IN relation to prisoners" and chat
he ieels 1t due TO the truth OF history, to bring
the facts set forth to the attention of the
country"
When an unrepentant traitor like Robert Ould
has the unblusbing impudence TO attempt to
impose on Northern ireemen his viudcation of
the truth of hlsory,n as connec.ed with the
late rebellion, or the treatment of our SOL
ders, intentionally starved aud slaughtered in
rebel pens, l also ieel 1t incumbent on me Gas he
Iemarks) to make a statement
The first interruption OF the car ell was caused
by JEFF, Davis message to the rebel Congress,
January IL, 1868, wherein he announced his
F, determination to deliver all officers of the
United States captured after that date, to the
State authorities, to be dealt with according to
the laws OF those States providing Tor the pun
ish ment of criminals engaged in melting servlle
insurrection." That is, our officers captured in
battle we're to be handed over to the State
authorities TO be hanged.
The second difficulty occurred in relation to
negro troops and the officers commanding them,
whom the Rebel authorities promised to treat in
the same manner, but without taking the trouble
to deliver them TO the State authorities. 10
many instances no quarter was granted to that
class OF troops, or to the officers com mandiug
them. Some were executed without trial. though
that mere form would not have benefited them
in the slightest degree.
When, in August, 1863, demanded that negro
troops and their officers should be treated as
other prisoners Of war, aud exchanged, this
'vlndicator OF the truth" peremptorily decllued,
with this remark:-"We (he Reoels) will die in
the last ditch before giving up the right to send
slaves back to slavery"
Another cause of The susp, p,nson of the cartel
was its constant violation by the Rebels, in
making illegal declarations of exchange, for the
purpose of putting men into the deld; and there
is no doubt whatever that all prisoners paroed
by the United States authorities were imme-
diately returned to active duty in the Rebel
Nftn and ,,onN mt, sad, 90
Vlcks burg were in the battle of Cllckamauga.
Thus the Rebels were making use of our well
conducted prisons as recruiting depots for their
| army.
| AEother insuperable obstable to returning
| exchanges was in the matter of paroles. Mr..
| Ould had some eighteen or twenty thousand
which be claimed as valid. Most, if not all, o
these paroles were taken by guerilas, bush
| whackers, and detached commands in the
| West. No possession was ever had, no delivery
was ever made, and no rolls were ever fur.
| nished. On the capture of town by a Rebel
cavalry raid, the command remained LONG
| enough to take the parole OF uDarmed citizens
| there, and then decamped, leaving the paroled
| men behind, and rWarding the paroles tC
| Richmond. And the Rebels had the assurance
| TO require the United States Government to eX
change prisoners legitimately captured in battle
| for such paroles as these.
On the 25th OF November, 1863 offered to
| send Immediately 10 City Point $4,000 or more
! Confederate prisoners to be exchanged for Union
soldiers confined IN the South. THIS PROPOSE
| ton was distinctly and unequiyocaly reuse1
by Mr.. Ould. And whyY Because the damna
ble plans of the Rebel Government in rela
tion 10 our poor captured soldiers hIC
not been tttltg carried ou'. Let Mr. Ould leave
the truth OF history to take care of itself, and
| vndicate, If he can, the Intentional premeditS
| ted, and barbarous treatment by the Rebe
authorities of our soldiers in the Rebel priso1
| pens. When in 1864 the helish plan was almos
| consummated, and they held as prisoners thou
sands of loathsome skeletons, let him conte :
that then his emasculated Government was williu-
10 let the United States authorities bIrY its dead
in exchange for a fresh and healthy army o
60, COO men, to be Immediately put in the fell
against General Grant.
| To conclude, Messrs Editors, these and thest
alone were the causes which prevented the eX
change of prisoners, and these causes were il
| operation until the close of the war. The diff
ficulties in the way we're insurmountable. anC
were so looked upon by the United States an
thoriiies. General Grant had no more power t,
overcome them than any officer who preceded
him. He took tbe only means in his power tC
effect the release of our prisoners, and in 1856
succeeded in accom- plishing his purpose, muct
to the disgust, no doubt, of such patriotic vindI
Gators of the truth OF history" as Mr.. Robcr
Ould. Yours, very truly,
| S. A. MEREDITH,
Late Brigadier-General and United States Com
siouer for Exchange of Prisoners.
Buffalo, Aug. 20, 1868.