The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-01-20
sABoT HILL, December 20, 1875.

sABoT HILL, December 90, 1875.
Mr. ~. ). Uinder, Baltimore:
Dear Sir,-Your letter reached me some two
weeks since, and have been prevented by serious
iudispostion from giving it an earlier reply.
take pleasure In rendering my emphatic tesu-
mony to relieve the character and reputation OF
your father, the late General John I'll. Winder, from
The unjust aspersions that have bsen cast upon Them
i'm connection with the treatment OF the Federal
prisoners under his charge during our late civil
"Ir had privately and of,ciay the fullest oppor,u.
nifty of knowing his character and judging his DIS
position and conduct towards the Federal prisoners
for those in Richmond, where he was almost daily
in official communication with me, often In respect
to them, had been some time under his command,
before IN large measure from the care and kiHl-
sent South to have the supervision and control or
the large number there being aggregated.
His manners and mode OF speech were: perhaps,
naturally somewhat abrupt and sharp, and his mill
tary bearing may have added more OF sternness and
imperiousness; but these were mere superhciai
traits, perhaps as sometimes thought, assumed t 10
ness Of his nature.
thought him marked by real humanity towards
the weak and helpess-such as women and chill,
dreu for iDstance-hy that spirit Of protection a9d
defence which distinguished the really gallant SCI
der.
f sted strorg ire provide for the wants and
comforts OF the prisoners under his charge. very
frequent ly from the urgency of his claims In behalf
or Inc prisoners while in Richmond controversies
would arise between him and the Commiss1ry Gene.
raj, which were submitted 10 me by tnem Ii person
for my decision, and ! was struck by his earnest
ness and zeal in claiming The fullest supplies the
law of the Confederacy allowed or gave color OF
claim to. This law required prisoners 10 have the
allowance provided for soldiers In the Geld, and
constituted The guide 10 the settlements Of such quts
tons. Strict ipiunctioDs were Invariably given
from the Department for the observance OF this
law both then and after wards In the South, and no
departure 10 be tolerated from II except under
the direst straits of self-defence. Your father was
ever resolved, fnr his authority allowed To acn
upon and enforce the Iule In behalf of The priset-
ers. :,
When sent South know be was most solcitous
In regard 10 all arrangements Tor saubrity and con-
yeuience Of location for the military prisons, ana
for all means that could facilitate the supplies and
comforts OF the prisoners and promote their health
and preservation. That afterwards great sufferngs
were endured by the prisoners In the South was
among the saddest necessities " the war; but they
due in large measure, to the cessation OF ex-
change, which forced the crowding OF numbers,
never Contemplated In the limited prison bounds
which could be considered safe In the South, to the
increasing danger OF attack on such places which
made southern authorities and commanders hostile
to the establishment of additional prisons IN con-
yanieni ocaiIies. and 10 the daily straits
ana deficiencies Of supplies OF the Confederate GSv-
ernment, and not to The want or sympathy or hu-
manty on the part of !our father or his most earn
est efforts te obrate and relieve the inevitable evils
that compressed the unfortunate prisoners. know
Their sad case and his impotency 10 remedy II
caused him keen anguish and distress. r.5ts
Amid he -passi ms and Outraged feelings yet sur
wing our terrible struggle IL may be hard still &c
have Justice awarded the true merits and beols
Qualities Of Your father, but IN future and Eappel