The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-10-10
The Prisoners Of War.
From the Charleston Nelos and Courie


The Inter Ocean,. in an article on the old
Libby prison, which has been removed 10
Chicago, where it is TO do duty as museum,
INDUCES in customary northern structures
on the treatment of federal prisoners at the
south. The facts in the matter should be
constantly repeated, so as to remove the
erroneous impressions which northern mis-
statement is apt to create.
Whatever hardships prisoners on either
side suffered were the direct result of hold
ing the men as prisoners instead Of exchang
ing them.
At first the federal government held
southern troops TO be insurgents and not
proper subjects of exchange.
But soon the generals in the field made
exchanges on their own authority: and
presently a cartel or arrangement for
general exchange was definitely entered
into. No prisoner was to be held for more
than thirty days, at the end Of which time
he was paroled, and then the exchange was
to be effected as soon as possible. The
cartel went into operation, the confederates
holding at that date the greater numb9r of
prisoners. Shortly afterward, however,
a large number of confederates we're capt
ured at the west, and the federal authori-
ties broke the bargain.
After that they exchanged slowly, where
they could gain an advantage, until at last
The confederate government made every
effort to exchange, without avail. Vice
President Stephens, we think, went to
Washington city to solicit new arrange
ments, but the federal government was firm
in its denial.
One of the points on which Mr.. Stephens
approached President Lincoln at Hampton
Roads was a resumption of exchanges, but
Mr.. Lincoln merely said that was a matter
for Gen. Grant.
The position Of the northern government
was that it was a question of mathematics.
Lee had say, 10000 men; Grant 1870. 900
men; three to one. If 40, 900 should be ex-
changed on each side, Lee would have So
900 and Grant but 100, 000-only two to
one. Humanity, duty to the soldiers who
were confined in hostile hospitals, did not
weigh against the mathematical incon-
venience.
So whatever sufferiugs fell to the lot of
the prisoners are to be laid at the door of
the northern government.
But then the northern statement is that
the south was cruel to her prisoners The
north had made medicines contraband of
war-and the south had no medicines to
supply to either her people or her prisoners:
nor had she rations for her own troops in
the field
No wonder, then. that the federals in our
prisons suffered in health and from dep
rivation of food.
The southern authorities regretted the
necessity of these sufferingS, but could sup
ply no remedy.
The federal prisoners at Andersonyille
realized this and passed resolutions on
Sept. %, 1854, addressed to their own gov
eminent, in which they fixed the response
bility where it belonged. while allowing
the confederate authorities all due praise
the resolutions declare, ''for the attention
paid to our prisoners, numbers of our men
are daily consigned to early graves, in the
prime of their manhood, far from home and
kindred, and this is not caused by the con-
federate government, but by force of cir
cumstances." The next resolution adopted
by the federal prisoners at Andersonville is
as follows:
Resolved That, whereas in the fortunes of
war it was our lot TO become prisoners we have
suffered patiently and are still willing to suffer
II by so doing we can benefit the country; but
we would most respectfully beg to say that we
are not willing to suffer to further the ends of
any party or clique to the detrinent of our
honor, our families and our country And we
would beg this affair to b. explained to u.s. that
we may continue to hold the government in the
respect which it is necessary to make a good
citizen and soldier.
So not only was the north responsible for
the fact that there were prisoners uuex-
changed, but that government was also
responsible for the sufferingS the federal
prisoners experienced.
Southern skirts are clear.
But the record does not stop there.
Surgeon General Barnes of the United
States army reported the federal prisoners
held by the confederates at 270, 900, and the
confederates confined at the north 22O, 900.
Secretary Stanton reported in 1866 that
of the federal prisoners %, $40 died out of
100000, aud of the confederates held at the
north 26,436 died out of 220,01O. These
figures show that out of twelve federals
held at the south one died, and out of eight
| contederates held at the north one died.
Where two federals died at the south, three
| confederates died at the north.
| The mortality among the confederates
was SO per cent greater than among the
| federal prisoners. And yet the north had
| unlimited means; no end of men to qua d
her stockadeS; no want of provisions; no
want Of medicines. The northern authori-
| ties, by unnecessary ill usage, sacrificed
the lives of the confederate prisoners who
| surrendered to them, aud wantonly, cruelty
| and heartlesSly refused to relieve their I'M
| fortunate soldiers from their unhappy con.
| finement.