The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-02-11
JEFF. DAVIS LETTER ANSWERED
Statement by the President Of the National
Union of Andersonvillo Survivors The
Death Rate in Rebel Prisons Thrice that in
Union-The Promotion Of Winder.

|
Bulletia by Mr.. w. L Gross, president of
the national union of Andcrsonville sur
vivors, replying to jefferson Davis asser-
tion that the mortality Of the confederate
prisoners IN union hands was in greater
proportion than that of Union soldiers in
rebel prisons
Mn. EDITOR Much has been and writ
ten of late of the treatment of Union prs-
oners of war at Andersonville and other
rebel prisoners, and at last Jefferson Davis
has written in his own defense a letter
dated Jan. 27, 1876. agree with the clos
ing words of that letter: "'rhe public
welfare demands that truth should "trip
| falsehood OF its power for evil :" and, with
this purpose in view, allow i1e to present
- few facts to disprove the falschoods of
I faat letter.
Though l was a prisoner Mt Anderson
| vOle.and the sworn testimony of thousands
was published in 1869 by the committee
appointed by congress to show the treat
ment of prisoners OF war by rebel author
tiles, yet it will not be necessary for me to
appeal to this overwhelming testimony to
show that union soldiers were brutally
murdered under pretcnse of treating them
as prisoners of war. Mr.. Davis says at
is admitted that prisoners in our hands
were not well provided for ms VIC would
have wished, but it is CLAIM cd that we did
| as well as we could" In Tins assumption
| Mr.. Davis gives the lie to lis own officers
| and to the report of the confederate inspec-
| tor of prisons. Lieut.. Col. ID. II. Chandler,
made July 5, 1864, to the confederate gov
ernment and which contains most signf-
cant evidence to show it was the policy of
| the confederates to render worthless as war
material the defenceless prisoners which
/ providence had thrown into their hands.
| Col. Chandler says: "No shelter what
1, ever or material for constructing any has
been provided by the prison authorities, and
the ground being entirely bare Of trees,
none IS within reach of the prisoners, each
man has been permitted to protect himself
as best he can, stretching his blanket on
such sticks rs he can procure" The pris-
oners "are furnished with so limited a sup
ply Of fuel that they are compelled to dig
with their hands in the filthy marsh before
mentioned, (this marsh contained the eX-
crements of 30, 600 men, for roots with
| which to cook their food" This was ac-
i cnmpanied by the report of the post sur
geon, Isaiah White, from which | will only
note the statement: "The acl; of barrack
accommodation exposes the men to the
heat of the sun during the day and to the
dew at night, and is a prolific source Of dis
| case" Now what necessity existed Of
Withholding wood to cook with, and shelter
for the sick and dying prisoners, when
within 700 feet of the prison there was a
virgin forest ? The prison was situated in
the midst of the great pine regions of Geor-
gia. There the forests stand to-day, as
witnesses against the heartless cruelties
under which union prisoners fingered and
died.
i To further show that shelter was much
needed, will simply cite the fact that, al
though situated in a southern latitude, the
climate of Andersonville showed a wide
variation of temperature. ranging from Is
deg. to 112 deg. Fahrenheit in the shade.
In the year 1864 were counted los rainy
n days, in n ch there fell more thSl four
u and "a haN feet of rain.' DR.. John 9. Bates,
confederate surgeon at AndeTsonville,says :
81 feel myself safe in saying that seventy
five per cent of those who died (at Ander-
sonville) might have been saved had these
r unfortunate men been properly cared for"
which | think is as significant as any fact
that the papers of DR.: Stevenson may fur
nish, to which Mr.. DAVIS alludes but does
not produce.
, To further show the inhuman treatment
of our men at Andersonvlle and the spirit
which actuated those in command of the
prison, ! will quote from supplementary
report of Lieut.. Col. ID. T. Chandler, dated
, Aug. 8, 1864, which was indorsed by the
assistant secretary of war (of the c0nfed-
racy,) j. a. Campbell, saying "These
reports show condition of things at An
Jacksonville which calls very loudly for in
, terpostion of the department in order that
a change may be made" Col. Chandler
, says "My duty requires me respectfully
to recommend change in the officer in
command or the post, Brig Gen. J. Ii.
Winder. and the substitution of some one
in his place who unites both energy and
good judgement with some feelings of hui
manity, some one who at least will not ad-
vocate deliberately and in cold blood, the
proprety of leaving them in their present
condition until their number has been suffi-
clently reduced by death to make the pres
ent arrangements suffice for their accom-
mediation who will not consider it mat
Ter OF selt-laudation and boasting that he
mas never been inside the stockade, q place
of horror which it is dflicnlt to describe,
and which is disgrace to civilization"
The only notice ever taken Of this report
by Jefferson Davis was that shortly after
he promoted Gen. Winder as commissary
general OF all the prisoAs of the confedera-
cy. Other evidence is not wanting from
, confederate sources to show that the rela-
tlons OF Gen. Winder with Mr.. Davis were
of the most confidential and friendly ma
ture, but your space will not admit it,
In regard to the mortality of those con-
hned in our prisons compared with rebel
prisoners, the report of the war department
shows the following captures by the con-
federate forces; Federal officers, 1902 /;
enlisted men, l79O01; union citizens,
1862 total, 1873, 145. OF these there were
legally paroled and exchanged 154, $3.50, and
illegally paroled, 1,l43 in all 155, ,473, be-
ing ~, ,612 to be accounted for.
AS the statement of the war department
consolidates the federal prisoners paroled
and exchanged, we are unable to determine
from this source what proportion of priS-
Oners were actually confined in rebel pris-
| Ons. But the federal authorities parOled
, 1854 in excess OF one half of their prison
ers. Taking this proportion of one-half as
: the basis of cur calculation, assuming (al-
: though it gives undue advantage to the
rebel side OF the statement) that the rebels
, paroled One-half of their prisoners, this
would leave us the following result Total
I number of captures by rebels, 1888, 145
9 number paroled estimated at oDe-half, "a =.
/ 072 number actually confined in prison,
04,O72 number of deaths in confederate
drisons, ~, ,4Ol per cent of mortality in
: rebel prisons, 3S. 20 ; per cent of mortality
g of entire rebel captures, 10 30.
10 Let us compare this with the mortality
of rebel soldiers captured by the fedora
+ armies Total number of captures by
a federals 47G, ,l59 paroled, 2S4 500, leav
8 ing the number actually confined or left as
prisoners of war on our hands, 227, $40
g mortality of confederate prisoners, 30. 1852
g per cent of mortality in federal prisons
8 10 25i difference per cent in favor of unior
9 authorities (38.70, less 13 25) 25.45 pei
y cent of mortality of entire union captures
d 33 difference per cent in favor of unior
IS authorities 90 35, less 33) 13,020
n If the mortality of rebel prisoners cap
y tured by the Union forces had equaled, a,
Mr.. Davis assumes, that Of the Union sol
diers captured by them, taking the whole
number of captures as a basis of calcula.
iinn the dnatha amnnn the A1G IGn nnnfnh