The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-01-28
CAMP DOUGLAS VS.. ANDERsoNvILLE.
To the Editor of the Chicago Tribune:
CHIcAoo. January 1S. lS7t

W
the late war; nor does he desire to stimulate
controversy which should have naver take
place. Open, however, to censure as MIR. Bla
may be considered In his recent action on tn
Amesty bil some statements advanced by Mr.
Hill. OF Georgia, are so gloss a perversion O
the facts OF history. that neither the provoca
ton given 10y Mr.. Blan, nor the excitement o
debate, can be accepted as an excuse for thei
utteraDce
Mr. Hill is reported to have said, - that tn,
atrocities OF Andersonvlle.do not begin to com
pard with the atrocities OF Elmira, Camp Doug
las, or Fort Delaware"
1t is surprising that gentleman OF MIR. Hill'f
iespeCtabllltv and character should have al
yanced a charge so infamous and groundless ;
and II 1t Is still more surprising that the repre-
sentatyes OF Chicago should have listened IN
silence TO this horrid imputatOn on the Gov
eminent. the officers OF the camp, and the citl-
Zeus OF Chicago generally. Mr. Caulfeld espe-
cially owed it to his constituents and 10 MS
own manhood, 10 have met the charge WIN
prompt and emphatic denial, and not with re-
luctant, equlvccal explanation.
10 refresh the recollection OF some gentle
men. and to enlighten the minds or others, 1t
NAV not be out OF place to present few facts
bearing upon the question at lssue,-tacts
which cap be verified by public records, aud the
testimony of many witnesses.
without doing injustice 10 Mr.. HI, or fore
ing an undue construction upon bis language,
his assertion NAV be considered as advancing
two separate charges, viz
/ That atrocities were committed On Con-
fedsrate prisoners confined IN Camp Douglas.
That these atrocities were so much greater
u number and character than those committed
Cpon Union prisoners at Andersonvllle, as to
put comparison out OF the question.
Groundless as must appear the last and most
serious charge. il ia not more so than the first
Whatever errors were committed by Mr.. LIn-
coln or his then Secretary OF War; Mr.. STAN
ton. cruelty to Confederate prisoners was not
one OF them. Never IN the annals OF warfare
was so much kindness shown to prisoners as
was exhibited 10 the Confederate soldiers who
we're brought within the mon lines. SO much
70 was this the case, that distinguished men,
Der of the Canadien Parliament, on visiting
Camp Douglas, remarked. " Did not know to
the contrary, l would suppose the inmatis of
the Camp to be your friends and allies, rather
than your enemies and prisoners"
IL atrocity to the prs oners at Camp Douglas
were perpetrated, where are we to look for the
roofs? DO we find them
!. In the location of the Camp! Situate
upon the shores of Lake Michigan, on ground
now covered with many OF the most elegant
residences to be found in Chicago, a more
heslthful location could not have been chosen.
Police regulations were rigidly enforced. Wa
Ter in lnexhaustlble supply was provided. The
squares in front Of the different quarters
originally laid out for drill purposes-afforded
ample scopefor exercise and recreation. There
was certainly no "atrocity" there.
?. In the excellence OF the quarters! The
Confederate prisoners we're, on their arrival.
placed in barracks which were built for, and
mad been occupied by Illinois troops. The
rrsoners from Fort Donaldson we're installed
n the quarters from which the Forty-tifth,
rifty-frst, and Fifty-seventh, and other Illinois
regiments had but flew days previously march
ed to the field. Upon an exchange OF prisoners
taking place. the barrcks we're again occupied
by Union troops, and go were alternately ten
anted during the greater period OF the var
There could be no atroclty IN this.
3. The quality of rations! The rations sup
Piled to these prisoners were, IN quantity and
quality. the same as the ratlons furnished to
the United States troops. They were purchas-
ed from the same contractors, and paid for by
the Government at the same prices. They
were issued directly to the prisoners, upon
morning reports made out by non commission
I'd officers in the Confederate service, appoint
cd for that purpose. 1t can be safely asserted
mat the prisoners at Camp Douglas were better
fed than they had been previously, or we're sub
seQuently in their own service. None can
cha4 ge that there was ''atrocity" in this.
4. In the stores funshedI The same
amount OF fresh strw for bedding; OF fuel for
cooking and heating the quarters; OF soap and
other essential articles supplied to the troops in
garrison. was supplied to these prisoners. All
who we're destitute OF clothing and bla nkets
we're provided Herewith at Government ex-
peEse On one occasion a thousand uniforms,
which failed to come up TO regulation standard,
were distributed among the prisoners, by order
OF the Government,-an act which connot be
classified az an - attrOclty,
J. In the hospital accommodations and med
zeal assistance provided! The hospital espe
clelly set apart for the use OF the prisoners
we're equal in all respecte 10 those occupied by
our own troops. They we're inspected steadily
" Medical Board, and by tue Medical lnspec
tor General of the Department. Medicines
which could not be obtained at the south were
freely furnished: and corps OF skilled physl-
cans we're specially employed and paid by the
Government to wait upon the Confederate
sick. ghe diving we're allowed the consultations
o. religion, and were attended by clergymen or
her own faith Nurses from the prisons
Wer. detailed for hospital duty; and the visits
Of relatives and sympathsing friends were
nler certain restrictions, allowed. In what
ever the atrocity consisted, 1t certainly was
not ia tie treatment OF tae sick.
q. 10 the general care and kindness shown:
The prisoners were permitted 70 interchange
eorresuoudenca wi. their friends. North and
south. letters treasOu-JIe character Oily
being excluded from the mails. kenlttances
of money were placed to their credit at mead
ua tels. aud they were authorized 70 draw
.aeiccu in proper amount and .or necessary
.urposes Visitors. under the survllance OF
an officer. OF an officer were permitted to call
upon them at stated intervals, converse with
them and minister to their comfort. surely
40 one Will say IuaV tueIS was any "'ANNi'y
L all tnis.
Nor is 1t true that any cruelty was prac-
tced. unless nv sympathising friends, it was
sdiudged " cruel to disarm these men upon
he battle fied. bring them within the Unon
lines, and hold them as prisoners until res'o-
ration OF peace or an exchange should set them
free.
By Disappearing the first OF these charges,
the second necessarily falls to the ground
This charge, is Of too serious character,
and has been put forth by too high Southern
authority to be disposed of in 80 summary and
general a mauner. In sense IN which Mr..
ill means 1t not it is becoming to show that
comparison Gin the treatment OF prisoners)
between Camp Douglas and Andersonville
cannot indeed be Instituted.
!. There can be no comparison between
these Camps in the number OF their military
executions Mr.. Hill, before delivering his
next speech, can, by reference to the testimony
taken IN the Wirz trial, and by an examination
4 the records of Andersonvele, inform him
self az to the number OF Union prisoners. who
summarllv or after mock trial, met their death
az unreasonable. At Camp Douglas no mill
,ary executions ever took place; although ma
ny Offences were committed, some OF them
grevioUs ones the death penalty was never, In
single instance, passed or executed upon
single Confederate prisoner.
2. In Camp Douglass but three Confederate
prisoner were reported shot by the guards
-. H.