Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-12
TUESDAY. AUGUST ~. 1890.
Treatment Of Prisoners.

We are glad TO hear that DIR. j. WILLIAM
JOKES will ask the Century for space to re-
ply TO the recent articles in that magazine
setting forth. under the guise OF state
ment of personal experiences and adven-
lures. the alleged inhuman treatment OF
the Federal prisoners held by the Confede-
rates al Andcrsonville and Florence.
IL il difficult to imagine why twenty-five
years after the close of the war the Century
wishes to revive this unpalatable discus
sion, but since IL has opened its columns
to a prejudiced Federal view, surely it will
not deny simple justice 10 the Confede-
rates. DR.. JONES can and will present our
side with dignity. courtesy. and ability,
and we hope his contribution VIII be ac-
cepted by the editors.
II Is false and damnable history which
attempts to teach that the Confederates
desired to hold in prison the captives they
took in battle. They had not enough food
for their own soldiers, and hence it was
their desire-their wish well known to all
the world-to empty their prisons 10y ex-
change. General GRANT took advantage OF
orr necessities; refused TO continue ex-
changes, and deliberately planned to ex-
haust the Confederate commissary by COM
pelling us TO feed some $4,000 Federals.
Had he permitted us. the rations we served
to his officers and men in the Libby and at
Belle Isle, Salisbury. Andersonviile, and
Florence would have been given to $4,000
fighting Oonfederates released from Point
Lookout, Camp Chase, Johnson's Island,
Tlmirs, Old Capitol, and Governors
Island.
Perhaps the policy adopted by General
GRANT was the one best adapted to exhaust
Us, but however that may belt was cruel he
and those who advised and sustained him
in this determination and not the Con-
federates are answerable for many If not
most of the lives lost at Andersonville.
Let the Century give DIR. JONES chance
and he will tell the North facts that have
been concealed from them during all these
years.
The mortality in Federal prisons, ac-
cording TO the official figures of Secretary
of-War STANTON and Surgeon-Generai
BARNES, was about per cent. greater than
that in Confederate prisons.
The Confederates were always ready 10
carry out the cartel" for the exchange OF
prisoners, while the Federal authorities OBJ
served il when il suited them and grossly
violated it when it was to their advantage
to do so.
After the exchange was definitely stop
ped the Confedsrates did everything IN
their power to smeliorate the condition OF
prisoners on both sides, and every propo-
eitlon they made was refused. They sug-
gested that surgeons and nurses with sup
plies from each side should be allowed to
visit and care for the men in prison.
They offered to allow Federal surgeons to
come with supplies TO their prisoners
without granting the Confederates the
same privilege. All were refused. They
offered to buy medicines and supplies,
(paying for them with gold, cotton. or to-
bacco) to be used exclusively Tor Federal
prisoners. This was refused.
Finally President DAVIS instructed our
commissioner, Judge OULp, to say to the
Federal commissioner that as they had re-
fused every proposition for exchange. or
for ameliorating the condition of prisoners.
that if they would send transportation TO
Savannah there should be delivered them,
without equivalent, $1,000 Andersonville
prison ers.
This proposition was made the LIST of Au-
gust. 1864. accompanied with report of
the fearful mortality at Andersonville
from causes beyond the control of the
Confederates. but IT was not accepted un-
til the middle of December, and the Fed
eral authorities are responsible, of course,
for every death that occurred during this
period. and the greatest mortality at An
Jacksonville was in these four months.
We should have been content to ig-
more the Andersonville articles in the
Century but for the fact that they are
published at O time when all possible effort
is being made 10y the Radicals to arouse
northern sentiment against the South.