The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-09-11
Ex-PRIsoNERs OF WAR.
The View Taken by an officer who was Confined
II Months.

II Months.
The following letter was written 20 Senator
Hawley July IL. 1t explains itself:
Louisville, KY, July IL, $780,
Hon. JOSEPH Z. HAwLEY. Washington, ID. Q.
My DEAR SENATOR: YOu will recall me "a
a Member 30th and 10th Congresses, from this
State and Us having actively aided you in
your State in your first fight and victory for
! Governor. In the Senate debates some time
since and also recently at Il Fourth Of July Gel
ebrntlOn, have seen you quoted as hostile to
the bill reported in the House 10 pension pris-
oncFs OF war. strong admirer and friend Of
yours, have greatly regretted this. / was IA
months in Libby Prison, from March. 1863 to
May, 1851. / have personal experience, but
my own was surpassed in misery in many re-
spects by thousands. Could the Senator'S and
Members only believe they cannot realized the
stories OF mental aud physical agony told Of
those prison pens of torture and death; picture
only one-half the actual 5uHerings we endured,
/ am sure everyone OF you would reject upon
yourselves every night before you retire, so
long you fail to pass this BILL
am quite sure you cannot find a survivor Of
robol prisons, who was in their hands after
June, 1868 who will not tell you he would
| have gladly charged the enemy in the field
every day of the year and taken his chances
/ for life, iu preference TO remaining day as
the situation was in rebel prisons.
Grant aud the War Department may have
been right in refusing 70 exchange prisoners
on the theory that by so doing we gave TO the
other side an army Of strong men in exchange
for our starved soldiers, a2d that TO allow US
10 starye and suffer and die saved thousands Of
soldiers who were in our armies in the field !;
and rendered new recruits not needed. That
Is we were thus weakening the enemy. So We
were.
War Is always cruel This was the cruelty
Of Cruelties. Ii was most extraordinary pO-
sliou u most heroic suferngs. which our Gov
ernment compelled rs % undergo. and il entj-
ties as 70 extraordinary consideration, aud
special honOrs. Aye, II you wish to put il so,
rewards"
Ii Is the basest of ISLANDERS to say that any
soldiers in our armies after June 1863. when
the cartel wRs suspended lyes and before], was
voluntarily prisoner The history Of our war
aud its battles shows that the men who went
farthest to the front, fought feTcest IN the
fight, remained longest on the field, Rud were
last 10 retreat Tro the men who were captured.
/ cannot think, my dear General. you have
looked at this matter in Its proper light.
knew you were brave soldier, aud 1 think
you are Christian man. i believe you have
uRmeaningly done the prisoners Of war an
injustice, aud appeal to you 10 correct it,
That 65.00O.GOO with more wealth aud
luxury than Solomon in all his glory ever
thought of, and all this. and this magnificent
country and its marvellous splendors, with its
glorious freedom, should stop to count the cost
of pensions; all figured up, even to two thou
sand millions OF dollars. paFeeled and doled
out until we are all gone-and We survivors are
old men now-is 20 write down this great peo-
pie as inexCuSably meau and wholly wanting
in gratitude 10 those who took their lives in
their hands and made this mighty people what
they are.
! am sure you will pardon my writing you
and my hope is to cause you to use your power
and influence to help rs many soldiers who sur
vive as possible to carry a certificate of pension
not as q beggar or paUper. but paper bearing
the seal Of his country that he is one Of those
who saved the Republic.
SAMUEL MCKEE
Captain, l4th Ky. Cav, 2l6 Fifth street,
Louisville, Ky.