The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-10-01


Colonel ". ". Wood, ST. Louis, NO.:
My Dear Sir,-Yours OF the 1G.h instant
and papers received. Some time in August,
1865, there was published In The St. Louis
Times Il think that was the paper q long
changes, treatment Of prisoners, ETC., in
which I set forth certain facts damaging to
the Federal authorities. and offered TO prove
every allegation by Federal testimony. |
wish you would hunt up that paper and
have it republished. 1t is COMPLETE answer
to "S.," in the Globe-DemOcrdt 1t was q
very carefully prepared statemen. (publishe!d
at the same time by the National IntelH
qeucer), and has never been denied or con-
Iroyerted in one item. 1t puts the reSpon-
sibllity for the suffering of Federal prisoners
on the Federal butterflies. and proves it.,
and sho rs also that every one Of the many
propositions for the relief Of Federal prison.
ers, which not only made but pressed upon
the Federal authorities, was unanimously
disregarded. These propositions did not re-
late only to exchange, but to medicines and
food for the prisoners, also.
AS to the Andersonvllle prisoners, offer
ed them for nothing-tbat is, without re-
during delivery Of eqnivalents-to the
Federal authorities in August, 1854, and
urged them TO send transportation Tor them
quickly. The offer was acco ppanied by an
official statement OF the monthly mortal
ty then, and set forth our utter inability to
provide for the prisoners. 1t was after that
time that the principal mortality occurred.
The prisoners were not sent for until the
following December, and then they were
promptly delivered, without our ever re-
ceivng the equivalents for them. These and
0ther facts about their refusal to send med-
clnes, in charge Of their own officers, to their
own people, and at our cost in gold or to-
hacco, are all set out in that paper which
please Get, ard use as you think best.
As to my letter, portion of which is
quoted by "S.," it is an old matter which
uas been repeatedly explained in print. 1t
has no relation of any sort to the treatment
of prisoners of war. IS" gives it the date
Of August /, 1864, but | am quite sure it was
written in 1868. and long before the date he
gives it. 1t was written certainly long be-
tore Andersonrille was established as a
prison. 1t was directed TO General Winder,
while be was provost of Richmond, and be-
fore he WAS put in charge Of prisoners in the
South. The two sets of prisoners named in
the letter were received at and sent from
City Point before that place fell into the
possession Of the Federals, which was early
in 1864.
Iu 1863 We bad in Castle Thunder mot in
Libby number Of political prisoners from
Southwest Virginia, most of whom were
thieves, who preyed upon both beligerents
as their country was alternately occupied.
SoRle few of them had been arrested for dis
ioy9lty TO the Confederate Government, and
it is probable tia. % ost OF them professed to
be Union in their sentiments. Not one of
them was military prisoner. Their place
Of confinement. proves that. About that
time a Federal steamboat brought 10 the
" eXchauge-grouud," on James river, lot
OF ~'rebel sympstbiz ,rs," as they were
called, mostly from Kentucky, none OF whom
belonged to any Confederate com nind. 1t
WAS agreed between the Federal agent and
myself OF the spot that one lot should be
exchanged Cor the other, and accordingly
wrote the letter u part Of which is given in
SIS" comWunicationS to General Winder,
then provost u RichmoGd, to send the DO
Hticdt prisoners confined in Castle Thunder
TO me ut the exchange greand. In the letter
took occasion To- express sNy satisfaction a.
the proposed exchange, staGrg that we were
getting rid of u set Of miserable wretehes
and receiving some Of the best material I
ever saw. Both facts were literally true.
Ii "S." himself b2d knows the men
shipped he would have justified the use of
die phrase. 1t was not applied to their
bodily condition, but 10 their character and
stsuding. Such, indeed, Is the nsu,ral i'm
port of the words.
But the rascaity q S." IS shown in gar
bling my letter Is well as in changing The
date. ID the whole of the letter had appeared
it would have shown just the state OF facts |
have here detailed. You will perceive that
only an extract from the letter j. given. Ii
The whole had been given, 1t would have been
show that the lelter did Dot relate to sol.
iiers at all, or 10 the physical condition of
hose who were sent. Whether the change
IF dates was accidental or purpoSej, l cannot
'ay. II would hardly be uncharitAble 10 as
'ert, 10 view Of the use to which the letter
las been put, that il was the latter. Ii it bad
)orne lis true date it would have shown Oh
Is fee that 1t could have no reference TO An.
ersonvlle, or the prisoners there confined
or, as have before stated, Andetsonyille
nd not been established as prison deEO:
'hen the letter was written.
"S.," 10 bis communication, Quotes Colo.
ell Chandler's report, and strives to show |
lat it was seen by Mr.. Davis. And yet |
olone Chandler, In his testimony in the
VlrZ trial, with which "S." seems familiar,
vore that "he had every reason to know
at Mfr. Davis had not seen that report"
'hy did as" keep back Chansler's tes:i-
onyS $50
You can make any use you think proper
this letter, or any pals lhcrc0l-eSpe-
Ills so much Or il as relates TO the commit