The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-06-29


ter, Rousseau, and score of others whose
praise was sounded during the war by these
same radical papers? The fact is, vas
majority of the most worthy, capable and
efficient officers of the army are opposed tt
the election Of Grant, while most of the ''po
liticsl generals" like Banks, Sickles, Schurz
Sohanek, and Logan, are the military men
of note" who support him.
Exchange of Prisoners-Gen. Butler on Cen
Grant.
According to the testimony of B. F. But
Ter, there can be no doubt that Gen. Grant
is the person upon whom the responsibility
rests of failure to exchange prisoners dur
ing the latter part of the war. Gen. Butler,
in his report made in December, 1868, upon
the state of negotiations for an exchange OF
prisoners with Gen. Ould, the confederate
commissioner, says:
Mr.. Guild left on the 31st of March, with the
understanding that would get authority and in
formation from my government, by which all dig
putsd points possible could De adjusted, and would
tten confer with him further, either meeting him
at City Point or elsewhere for that purpose. In
the meantime the exchanges of sick Gnd wound
ed, and special exchanges, should 60 on.
acknowledgement Grant visited Fortress Mon
the 1st of April being the first time I
had ever met him.
To him the state of the negotiations as to ex-
change was verbally communicated, and most
emphatic verbal directions were received from
the lieutenant general not TO take any step by
which another able bodied man should be ex-
changed until further orders from him.
Or the 18th of April Gen. Butler receiv-
ed telegram from Gen. Grant, at Washing
ton, stating that the whole subject Of ex-
change of prisoners had been referred to
him, as follows:
"WAsHISGrog, II p. m, April ii, 1854.
MAJOR GENERAL Butler: Your report re-
spsosing negotiations with Commissioners Ould for
the exchange of prisoners of war has been refer
red to me for my orders.
Until examined by me, and my orders are re-
ceiyed thereon by you, decline all further nego-
tiations.
"U. 8. GRANT, Lieutenant General"
Six days later, after general Grant had
examined" he sent long telegram to gen.
ersl Butler stating that he had been empow-
cred to "give such instructions as / may
deem proper" and he gave instructions of
which general Butler says:
OF course, these instructions, in the then state
of negotiations, rendered any further exchange
impossible, and retaliation useless.
General Butler says he then made an eff
fort to have the sick and wounded excepted,
30 that they might be exchanged, and he re
ceived the following telegram in reply:
"WAsu1zaroN, $50 p. n, April 80, 1854
MAJOR GEEFRAL B. T. BUTLER: Receive all
the sick and wounded the confederate authorities
will send you, but send no more in exchange.
"U. s. GRAFT, Lieutenant General"
Upon this extraordinary instruction" Gen
eral Butler remarks as follows;
To obtain delivery of even sick and wounded
prisoners without any return would be . somewhat
difficult operation save that the enemy, by giving
us our sick and wounded in their hands,
tanning all the rebel sick and wounded in ours,
burdened us with the care and cost of all tbs sick
and wounded of both sides--an operation of which
it 10 difficult to the stragetic vsiue, and only to
be defended because of its humanity in fescuing
wounded from the destituton and suffering
permitted to them by the confederates. i
In August the question of exchanging
prisoners was again up, the rebel commits
sioners having renewed the offer to give man
for man, and officer for officer. But General
Grant interposed, and in q telegram to Gen
eral Butler, dated City Point, August Is,
1864, said !
On the subject of exchange, differ from Cen
eral Hitchcock; it is hard our men held in
southern prisons not to exchange them, but it ia
humanity to those left in the ranks to fight our
battles Every man released on parole or other
wise, becomes active soldier against us at onoe
either directly or indirectly. If we commence q
systam Of exchange which hberatee all prisoners
taken, we will have to fight on until the whole
10 nvfa tod vva hold NJ
they amount to NO more than dead men. At this
particular time, 10 release all rebel prisoners north
would insure Sherman's defeat, and would COM
promise our safety here.
U.S.. GRANT,
Lieutenant General.
The conclusion Of the report of General
Butler is most significant. Il is couched in
strong language, and we give it in full. He
is the great leader of the radicals ct this
time, and what he says in regard to this re-
fusal to exchange prisoners by the present
candidate of the radicals for the presidency,
General Grant, is most earnestly commended
to their attention
have felt it my duty to give an account with
inns particular carefuness of my participation in
the business of exchange of prisoners the orders
under " hich acted, and the negotiations attempt
cd, which comprises faithful narration of all that
was done, SO that all may become matter of his.
tory. - !
The great importance Of the questions the fear.
1ui responsibility for the many thousands of lives
winch, by the refusal TO exchange, were sacrificed
the most cruel form of death, from cold, starva
non' and pestilence of the prison pens Of Raleish
ana Andersonviie, being more than all the British
:oidiers killed in the wars of Napoleon the anx-
icy Oh fathers. brothers, sisters, mothers wives,
NOV the exigeney which caused this terrible
snd perhaps. asit may have seemed to them, 'usel
less ana unnecessary destruction of those dear To
.ssm ny horrible deaths, each and all have com
me 20 this exposition, SO that IL NAV be seen
s1a. .nese lives were spent apart Of the system
OF a1tack upon the rebellion, devised by the wis
aom OF the general-in-ohef of the armies, to de-
s s.roy y depletion, depending upon our supe-
Fi1r numbers to win the victory as last.
Inc loyal mourners win doubtless derive aolsca
from TINS fact and appreciate ell the more hiahlv
.ne genius which conceived the plan and the euc.
cess won at 90 great cost.