Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-08-26
The Horrors Of Andsrsonville.

|
The Horrors Of Andersonville.
nNfl RIcHMoSD. Va, August II. 1868.
To the editors Of the National Intslligencer:
have recently seen so many misrep-
reservations ofth action Of the late Con
federate authorities in relation to prison
ers, that / feel it due to the truth of his
tory. and peculiarly incumbent on me,
as their agent of exchange, TO bring to
the attention Of the country the facts sci
forth in this paper:
/.
The cartel Of exchange bears date July
| %, 1862. Its chief purpose was to se-
cure the delivery of all prisoners Of war.
To that end the fourth article provided
that all prisoners Of war should be dis
charged on parole ten days after their
capture. From the date Of the cartel nm
til the summer of 1868, the Confederate
authorities had the excess of prisoners
During that interval deliveries were made
as fast as the Federal Government fur.
nished transportation. Indeed, upon
more than one occasion, urged the
Federal authorities to send Increased
means of transportation. 1t has never
been alleged that the Confederate author
tiles failed or neglected 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 notoriously
violated by the Federal authorities. OFF,
GERS and men were kept in confinement,
sometimes in irons, or doomed to cells,
without charge or trial. Many officers
were kept in confinement even after the
notices published by the Federal authori-
ties had declared them exchanged.
In the summer Of 1868 the Federal
authorities insisted upon limiting ex'
changes to such as were held in confne.
ment on either side This / resisted, as
being violation of the cartel. Such a
construction not only kept in confine-
ment the excess on either side, but
ignored all the paroles which were held
by the Confederate government. There
were very many, being the paroles Of
officers 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 pris.
opers as equivalents for them. Thus it
will be seen that as long as the Coufede-
rate government had the excess of pris-
oners, matters went on smoothly enough
but as soon as the posture of affairs in
that respect was changed, the cartel
could DO longer be observed. So, as
long as the Federal government held the
paroles of Confederate officers and men
were they respected and made the basis
of an exchange, but when equivalents
were obtained for them, aud no more
were in hand, the paroles which were
held by the Confederate authorities
could not be recognized. In consequence
of the position thus assumed by the
Federal government, the requirement of
the cartel that all prisoners should be
delivered within ten days was practically
nullifed. The deliveries which were
afterward made were the results of spe-
cial agreements.
The Confederate authorities adhered TO
their position until the 10th of August,
1864, when moved by the sufferings of the
men in the prisons of each belligerent,
they determined to abate their just de-
mand. Accordingly, on the last named
1s
cation to Brig, Gen. John Il. Milford
Chen Msjor), Assistant Agent Of Ex-
change:
RICHMOND. August 10. 1888.
Msjor John Z. Mulford. Assistant Agent Of
Exchange:
. SIR: You have several times proposed
TO me to exchange the prisoners respect
lively held by the two belligerents-ofi-
Ger for officer, aud man for man. The
same offer has also been made by other
officials having charge of matters con-
nected with the exchange Of prisoners
This proposal has heretofore been de-
clined by the Confederate authorities,
they insisting upon the terms Of the car
tel, which required the delivery of the
excess on either side on parole. In view,
however, Of the very large number OF
prisoners now held by each party, and
the suffering consequent upon their con-
tiuued confinement, now consent to the
above proposal, and agree to deliver to
you the prisoners held in captivity by the
authorities, provided you
agree to deliver an equal number OF Con-
federate officers and men. As equal
numbers are delivered from time to time,
they will be declared exchanged. This
proposal is made with the understanding
that the officers and men on both side.
who have been longest in captivity will
be FIRST delivered where it is practicables
. | shall be happy to hear from you as
speedily as possible, whether this ar
rangement can be carried out.
Respectfully. your obedient servant,
RoBERT OULD.
anf Agent Of Exchange.
The delivery of this letter was &C
eompsuied with statement OF the NOR
taliiy which was hurrying so many Fed
eral prisoners at Andersonville to the
rrave
On the 22i day Of August, 1864, not
having heard anything in response, l
addressed q communication TO Major
General K. A. Hitchcock, United States
Of Exchange, covering a
,opy offhe foregoing letter 70 Gen. hul-
ord, and requesting an secepiancs Of my
No answer was received TO either Of
hese letters Gen. Mulford, on the 3lst
4 August. lec-. informed me IN writing
hat he bad no Communication on the
utject from the United States auihori- I