The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-30

able burning OF Atlanta and Columbia ana tho
destructive marcn OF General sherman through
Georgia and South Carolina, whose track was
marKed Ivy smoking ruins and blacSened c Inn
neys; 70 the suggestion Of General HallecE 70
destroy Charleston and sprinkle salt IT'S site
that not even grass should grow thereon, TO
which General sherman replied that no salt would
be needed, rs one OF his most reliable
corps formed the right wing OF ms army aud
that IL always did IT'S work thoroughly; to the
devastating march OF General Sheridan through
the Shenandoah Valley, relative 10 which he re-
ported TO the Generaln- Chief of the United States
armies that "a crow dying over the country
would have to carry its own rations;m but he did
not say what became OF the old men. women ana
children who then lived in that fertile valley
With regard TO the mortality Of prisoners both
sides, the Washington Uaton Cradlca) OF October,
1868, contained the following article tin reply
TO q resolution or the House OF Representatives
calling upon the Secretary OF War Tor the number
OF prisoners OF either side held, and that died
during the war. he makes the following report:-
Number OF Union prisoners South, 26J,9i0; died,
22,595. NUMBER OF Confederate prisoners North,
100000; cIed, 26,4S5. That IT, two OF the former
OUT of every twenty-five and TWO OF the latter out
of every flteen.r
Comment Is here unnecessary, in view of the
conaiton ana resources OF those two sections OF
practised by the coniederates when they invaded
Maryland and Pennsylvania under their great
commander. General r. l.. Lee. When saw the
emacialed forms ana wretehed condition OF our
returned southern prisoners / again advocated
tne hosting OF the black dag, willing at any time
to forfeit my life in the deadly struggle. Notwith
standing these views always treated my prison.
ers with humanity and proper consideration.
had the fortune OF taking many thousands Of taem
al Manassas, shiloh, Charleston, Drurys BlnD,
Bermuda Hundreds and Petersburg, most or whom
are, suppose. stu alive and can and certainly
would testify 20 the fact.
After the lan Of Fort sumter, in Aprii, 1861,
granted 70 the garrison the considerable
terms which | had offered before the attack.
Through my intercess0n the federal surgeons and
ministers OF tho Gospel taken at Manassas were
released, wlthous exchange, by the Confederate
government. Tne day alter that battle one OF the
federal officers, whose friends | knew New
YORK, applied TO me for a small loan for himself
and friends, which furnished ut once from my
private funds. 1t was faithfully returned.
shortly after the battle OF Shiloh sent, under a
cartel certain number or aDle-bodied federal
prisoners 10 General Halleck who, several weeks
after, returned an equal number OF convalescents
from st. Louis TO Fort Pillow. The officer in CON-
mand there refused TO receive them, because sew
eral of them were just rom a smallpox hospital.
General Haneck failed afterward TO make good
the exchange.
At Charleston | authorized Admiral Dahlgren
TO send supplies OF clothing, &C., TO the prisoners
we had taken from him. These supplies were
scrupulously issued TO them.
AT Bermuda Hundreds, in May, 1854, when pass
ing in 'front.' OF large body OF federal prisoners
who had CALAMITY defended a position which
considered indispensable to US, took OF my nat
to them, and they answered this salu tation with
cheers.
Terribly as desired the effects OF the war TO
fall on all armed invaders Of our country, wanted
exempted from them the non-comoatants-that
is, the old men, women and children. and ished
also that private property, not contraband OF war
ana not needed by the conten ilng armies in the
field. should be entirely protected IRON seizure or
destruction. Sucn would have been my course
had penetrated with sn army into federal terri
tory unless 1t in strict retaliation for mate
rial departures by the federal forces from this
civilized mode OF carrying on the war. remain,
dear sir, yours most truly,
G. 7. BEAUREGARD..
To His Excellency Governor JAMES D. PORTER,
Nashville, Tenn.