The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-06-13

cation had called forth upon him bitter de-
nunciation from Northern writers. who also
questioned his veracity.
In response TO this appeal DR.. wyeth has
received number of communications fully
substantiating his statements, and one ofthese
Recently published is sufficient to show that
be was more than justified in his charges. IL
is from Captain p. A. Chisholm. OF Oakland,
MARYLAND. and is enough TO make the blood
creep with horror Says Captain Chisholm
II do not know whether the prisoners who
were confined in Camp Morton INDUCED IN
rat-eating or not, but / do know that the
Confederates who were imprisoned in Fort
Delaware ate rats and were glad to get them.
have seen the poor, hungry creatures along
the walls with clubs waiting for rat 10
appear. and oftentimes / have seen man
who was lucky enough to capture one have
to fight to keep it. ID. Nj. Mason. who IS now
ticket agent of the Baltimore and Ohio at
Oakland, and | were together, and we were
captured on May r. 1864, and were reieased
on June 90, 1865. Many of the prisoners were
afflicted with scurvy and died on account OF
the prison fare. The suferings Oh otnefS
were beyond description"
II to be hoped that other Southern VIC
tins of Northern prison treatment during the
war may likewise give in their experiences as
matters of history. Not for the purpose OF
reyiving old animosities or keeping alive sec
tional hate, but only that the South may be
indicated in the eyes of the world.
Ever since the war the South has been sit
ting passively by, allowing Northern writer's
and Northern malignants to make her his
tory for her, and what is the result? We have
been held up 10 the execration of mankind as
the most barbarous of barbarians, treating
Northern prisoners like dogs and shooting
them down in cold blood upon the slightest
provocation. Libby prison has been transported
to and erected in Chicago as monument
to Southern cruelty. while the falsehoods
have grown as they have been, time and time
again, reiterated by the Northern press,
Northern stump-speakers and Northern Con-
gressmen Yet it is matter OF tact
that the South treated prisoners OF
war with more consideration than her
prisoners received, notwithstanding that
she was unable even to take proper
care of her own gallant soldiers fighting IN
the field to defend her against her invaders.
And moro than this. responsibility for the
death and suffering of nearly every prisoner
at Andersonville. Libby and elsewhere can
be traced directly to the action Of Lincoln,
Grant. Seward and Sherman, who, despite
the appeals Of Confederate officials, refused
an exchange. This is history, and 1t ID
damning fact that poor Wirz was most
uniustly hung-murdered for the real crimes
of Northern authorities.
The South cannot afford longer to silently
suffer being misrepresented or to have her
history written by her enemies She must
assert herself for her own protection, and IN
order that the oft-repeated calumnies Of her
barbarity may be silenced forever. 1t IS
necessary therefore, that the survivors of the
horrors Of Northern prisons follow the ex-
ample of Captain Chisholm and let 1t be
known what they had to undergo at the
hands Of a Government which had the ports
of the world open to it. and was abundantly
able TO show them at least common hui
mainly.