Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1868-10-08

Exchange of Prisoners

Exchange of Prisoners
! rFfomthe Washington Express!]ID l.
The following communication
from a gentleman of unquestiona
bile truth and honor will startle
the country, now having its atten
tion drawn particularly to the sub
ject of the exchange of prisoner
during the late war. p The facts
stated by him, as of his own knowl
edge, may be implicitly relied up
on: - ,s's-e - d99''
To the Editors of the Erpress:: q
About one year ago, witnessing
the agitation in Congress upon
the subject of exchange of pris
oners of war, I drew up general
views of my own in relation there
/ to. Fef certain reasons they
were not published. l always
held. Secretary Stanton and Gen.
Butler responsible for these flag.
rant wrongs. H - a3
Until / read the expose of Judge
Ould, one of the Commissioners
Of Exchange. published last week,
I was not aware of the completely
of other generals in the perpetra-
tion OF gross, unmitigated, and
heartless conduct in the exchange
of prisoners during the last two
or three years of the war. ]
wish the facts elicitcd--all who
participated in the slow murder
of the unfortunate sick and wound
ed soldier and prisoner of war
exposed, that, if for no other OBJ
ject, history may be made right.
For one who suffered the penalty
of a horrible wrong, ] thank
Judge Ould for his leaf of truth
full events. The half has not yet
been told. By-and-by, in sober
moments, when the public mind
is less excited, these revelations
will be garnered up, and woe be
unto the wrong doer. Public in
dignation, like an eternal fat, is
sure to come.
Twill allude to one or two facts
connected with these gross official
wrongs. From them theI public
can Judge, and ,oi9 judsel correct
ly. HiT ~ % ,7bS
The day after my exchange,
and after | had left Richmond,
three of my associates in prison
were released and sent home.
Their exchange aoas negotiated and
arranged an Washington city, and
cost them in all 81, 500. To whom
the money was paid was a mystery
to me. The cash was, however,
paid, and theyswere promptly ex-
changed. On the fiag.oftruce
steamer New York, on our return
to Annapolis, l ascertained that
secret negotiations were going on
for the exchange of the remain
ing prisoners in Libby, and the
individual participating in the
matter expected to realize S1O,-
600 for the job! This notable
and humane operator was the
agent or correspondent of'.the
New York lines. Arriving in
Washington, + communicated
these facts by letter to Col. Eud-
low, at Fortress Monroe, and at
his request, gayeHthe names, date,
and facts to Col. Hoffman, who
had charge of the Exchange Bu-
reau, conditioned that | was, not
to be called as a witness, owing
to nv feeble health, Itwas report
ed that tho Times eagent was ar
rested. Soon after | Joined my
regiment near Falmouth, and new
er heard the result. 8HIII.lF.J
Aware of many vultures in
human form lowering about the
army, .robbing and plunaeringI in
discriminately. it is possible that
these deep-dyed rascaIs, having
access to officials of easy virtue,
were, making money by whole
sale out of. the sad condition OF
prisoners of war. .a.s,.es. IA. ..A5.
/ wish to see the whole subject
ventilated. Let the odium fall on
the guilty or. unfeeling, whether
in high or low standing The liv-
in ing prisoner yet feels the sting
If the. tens of thousands of graves
could open and let the silent - dead
speak, the Vengeance Of wrath
would be terrible. -sass szBsao
GEoRGErowN, DC, Aug. rs, 1868.