The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-23
A. w. cumins. Esq. Woodstock. Ill.

q. w. CumIns, Esq. woodstock. ILL.,
Dear Sir--I think I am amply paid by the new
phrase which find in your letter describing the
war of the rebellion as a dispute between the
States for any pains that might take IN an
swarlng your question.
The cause of the stoppage Of exchange of
prisoners was twofold: First, because the con-
federates refused to exchange the colored sol
diers, claiming that they would keep them
property TO be returned to their masters and at
first putting them in the trenches to work un-
der fire. stopped that by putting lot OF
Richmond confederate prisoners to work under
fire in Dutch Gap until Lee had the colered men
released from such work, but they would not
exchange them.
The second. strategic reason. why Gen.
Grant desired 60 put end TO the exchange
was this: We had a larger army in our hands as
prisoners of war than any other army of the
IN proper manner, well clothed, well fed, well
cared for well treated. we'll warmed, and with
all proper hospital service that we
gave our own men, so that every
man substantially that we had was tit
to step right into the ranks the moment he was
excha nged On the contrary, you, il You
w ere IN Anderson vile, as you say. know rs well
anybody else. in their view of policy,
of the methods of arguing their side of the dis
pute,n they did not cothe. did not feed. nay. did
not even give water and wood to the prisoners
of Andersonville when there was plenty to
both of those that might be had do
not take so much stock in the food question
some people, because food was pretty scarce
in the Confederacy, and them our soldiers would
sIarve on about what confederate could live
on. The consequence was, you know. that
our men, in the hands of the confederates, were
none of them fit 10 go into service on exchange
until three months recruitment, and a great
many of them q much longer time than that,
and many of them were never fit to return to
duty. Therefore. If exchanged man for man,
we put IN 60 the field another larger army than
the confederates could then recruit even by con-
scription. ard in the very best condition to
fight us, and got nobody that we could use
in return TO meet them.
the wisdom of that policy you must discuss
with those who enacted it. With it could have
nothing to do in my position But while it was
very hard on the poor fellows who were in And
ersonvlle, Libby, Salisbury, and else where as
prisoners, yet they even, IN their sufferugs.
were aiding their country more In the war of
the rebellion than they could have done il fight
ing the ranks IN the condition they were put in
by the other side in the dispute"
I perceive you have fully overcome all feeling
in regard TO the conduct of the men toward you
in Andersonville by the use of that term. But
If you use it IN discussion with your Republican
friends. unless they different from the class
of men we have here who call themselves Re-
publicans. you will be likely to hear some pretty
hard language and perhaps some not justified
by all of the Ten Commandments. Very
spectfully your obedient servant.
BOSTON, March 49, BENZ. F. BUTLER.