The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-02-11
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general Of all the prisons of the confedera-
CIV. Other evidence Is not wanting from
confederate sources to show that the rela-
tions 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-
fined 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, 119 09l union citizens,
1,062 total, 1888, 1q5. Of these there were
legally papoled and exchanged 154, 1870, and
Illegally paroled, LAB; in all 155, 473, be-
ing 1872 to be accounted for.
As the statement of the war department
consoldates the federal prisoners paroed
and exchanged, we are unable to determine
| from this source what proportion of pris-
oners were actually confined in rebel pris-
one. 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 our calculation, assuming (al-
though 1t gives undue advantage to the
rebel side OF the statemenD that the rebels
paroled one-hslf of their prisoners, this
would leave US The following result Total
number Of captures by rebels, lSS, Jas
number paroled estimated al oue-half, o.
|
94,072 number of deaths in confederate
drisons. SO, 401 per cent Of mortality in
rebel prisons, 3s70 per cent of mortality
of entire rebel captures, 10 30.
Let us compare this with the mortality
of rebel soldiers captured by the federal
armies Total number Of captures by
federals, 476, l50 paroled, 2S4 500, leav-
ing the number actually confined or left as
prisoners of war on our hands, 227,570;
mortality of confederate prisoners, 30. 1872
per cent of mortality in federal prisons,
10 2j difference per cent in favor of union
authorities. (3S.7O, less - POI 25.45 per
cent of mortality of entire union captures,
6.33 difference per cent in favor of union
authorities 90 35, less 6 33) 1900.
If the mortality of rebel prisoners cap
tured by the Union forces had equaled, as
Mr.. Davis assumes, that of the Union SOL
diers captured by them, taking the whole
number of captures as a basis of calcula-
ton, the deaths among the 47G, 100 confed
crates in our hands would have been % 900
instead of 80, 1872; or, calculating it upon
the reduced basis of the prisoners retained
in custody on both sides, to witt 221 80
confederate prisoners in our hands, TO o.
072 prisoners in their hands, the mortality
would have been $4,000 instead of 80, 1872.
Instead of this the mortality is reversed,
and out of 94,012 prisoners in confinement
by the rebels, 81, 40l died, while out OF 227,-
| $40 in the hands OF the Federas, only 3d.
, 1862 died In other words. nearly two out
of FIVE, or thirty-nine of each hundred,
died in their hands while one In eight, or
thirteen of each one hundred, died in ours.
This shows the mortality to be about three
times as great among the prisoners in their
I hands as among the prisoners held by the
federal authorities.
As Jefferson Davis has appealed to the
records, let him be judged by them. Is it
Q not lust that this crime against humanity
r and common decency be fastened upon its
proper authors rather than great, brave,
though mistaken people should longer bear
the stigma of these crimes, which surpass
: in needless inhumanity all and any cruelties
: recorded in history?
r If it be urged that the passion and ex-
Q elements which are incidents OF war caused
r this cruel treatment of the living, this ex
l. PLANTATION does not apply to the dead, ant
C does not explain the malignant manifests
p tions of hatred displayed toward the dead
b l have no space to enter upon the discus
1t sion of this subject at large, but it is SUI
# ficient to say that the total number of un
known dead buried by the United State
J. authorities of rebel soldiers held by then
Is was only 72G, while the total unknowi
e Union soldiers dying in rebel hands wa
+ 2O,5S5. These facts and figures show
r more plainly than any mere rhetoric ca'
o diers lIhgereil0rias under which Union sol
" In addition to this might add testimon
m from rebel sources to show the needless
1t crowded condition of the Andersonvill
is prison, and that there was no necessity 70
ID the starvation Of prisoners but have al
I'd ready trespassed too much upon your col
IN umns in thus dlsproving the position o.
RS sumed by Mr. Davis, by testimony to whic
c. he himself has appealed.
n, WARREN LEE Goss.
v President "Natiopal Union Andersonvill
IL Survivors