The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-12-08

prisons, prefsrrns to exchange all pris-
| oners on the fed.
| Sscond-The south srst proposed to en-
ter into cartel for echange of prisoners,
| and at time when she had thousands
more prisoners than were held by the
| north.
| Third-She carried out this cartel faith.
| fully, delivering thousands of prisoners
| on their parole, because the north did
| not have prisoners to exchange for Their
Fourth-The north, then having many
| of her paroled prisoners at home and on
| the eve of the SURRENDER of Vicksburg,
| knowing the ConfedeIatss to be captured
| there the next day would give her
a preponderancs of prisoners, an order
| was issued by Secretary Stanton disallow-
ing and revoking all paroles by other
| than the commander of the army, of
either sick, we'll or wounded, ordering
| them back into the ranks TO be punished
for disobedience OF orders.
Fifth-The north, after getting an ex-
| cess OF prisoners on hand. proposed to con-
| tinue the exchange, confining 1t to prls-
| oneIs tfen in confinement, thus ate mpt-
| ing to evade an honest compliance with
| the cartel by declining TO exchange pa
| rolled prisoners for those of the Con-
federstes then in their prisons.
Six:t-The south umiliated herself By
! parading before the United States govern
ment the unhappy condition of northern
| prisoners and which she was powerless to
mitigate.
Seventh-The south after confessing her
inability to furnish northern prisoners
with proper food and medicine, and not
wishing them to die in prison, submitted
to Major-G eneral Hitchcock. the Federal
agent for exchange, the following propo-
sition
Confederate War Dept, Richmnd, Va.
January "a, 1864.
S,r:-In view of the present difficulties
attending the exchange and release OF
prisoners, propose that all such on each
side be attended by a proper mum Der OF
their own surgeons, wto, under rules to
be established, shall be permitted to take
charge of their health and comfort. |
also propose that these surgeons snail act
as com M ssaries with power to distribute
such contributions of moneys, food,
clothing and medicine as may be for
wardsd for the relief OF prisoners. FUR
ther propose that these SUI geons be
selected by their own governments. and
that they shall have full liberty at any
and all times, through their agents OF
exchange, to maks reports, not only OF
their acts, but of any matters relating to
ROBERT GUILD,
Confederate Commissioner of Exchange.
When Judge Ould offered the United
States government the right to send by
her owh surgeons medicines Tor Union
prisoners, the medical supplies in the
oOulIl AltQ lOllS UccH 3uihihS
was then worth in the south $50 PER
ounce, while it was only worth So in New
York. AS thousands of Union prisoners
died from E-alarial diseases jncident to
the southern climate who might have
been saved with proper medicines, doas
not the refusal to finnish such medicine
Fl K the responsibility of their deaths upon
the United States government?
This broad Christian offer was never no.
ticed by toe Federal government. Find
ing that the United States government
paid no attention to this Christian prop
osition, then the Confederate government
ordered Judge Ould to propose to the
United States government o furnish with
out equivalents Is, 600 of their sick and
wounded at tho mouth OF the Savannah
river as soon as they would furnish
transportation. This offer was made |
reached the mouth o. the river to receive |
these prisoners till late in the following |
Dsce m Der, thus allowing death to reap its |
greatest victories during the months of |
September. OCTOBER and Novem ber. The |
South turned over to the North On the |
arrival of its first ship $4,000 sick and |
wounded, and many strong, healtny men,
receiving only 5000 sick soldiers in lieu
thereof.
Prompt acceptance of this humane
proposition would have returned to their
country and families thousands of those
Andersunville.
Eighth-Tha South, moved by the
sufferings of Union prisoners, and being
utterly without medicine, proposed to
the federal authorities to buy medicines
from them, paying in gold, cotton or to-
bacco, at even two or three prices for the
same for the Union prisoners, pledging
the honor OF the South not to use one
ounce of 1T for Southern soldiers. This
was declined or mover accepted.
Was it Christian to refuse to sell medi.
cine to their own men who were dying
for the want OF il? II it was the Sermon
on the Mount ought to be relegated to
the land of fable.
4 Ninth-We now come to the hnal rea
son why it was best that Union prisoners
should die in prison, rather than to be
released to their homes. 1t is the argu-
ment of military necessity. 1t was
question of the few uying for the many.
General Grant had said in his dispatch
to General Butler August Is. 1854:
ut lie hard on our men held in South
ern prisons not to exchange them, bnt 1t
is humanity to those left in the ranks to
fight our battle. At this particular .ims
to release all rebel prisoners north
would insure Sherman's defeat, and
would compromise our safety here"
Did any one ever think that if the 95,-
900 Confederate prisoners then In north
ern prisons had been released, that it
al so released 90, 900 Union prlsonersP
Ii General Grant regarded CHI north
ern soldier equal on the field 20 each
southern soldier, what difference would
this exchange have made In the relative
numbers OF the two armies? The truth
Is, General Grant never hoped for sue
cess except in overwhelming mum bers.
As general he was wise, prudent and
brave, and knew that the greater mill
stone must ultimately wear away the
lesser. The refusal to exchange prison.
ers and the enlistment of negroes were
m ilitary necessity, and this won the
light.
The battle Of Gettysburg ended on
July 8, 1863. On the next day General
Lea, finding himself eucum bered by
many thousands of prisoners, addressed
General Meade, proposing TO exchange
them. To this note General Meade re-
piled by telegram to Maj General Hal
leck:
"a proposition made by General Lee,
| under flag of truce, 10 exchange prison.
ers, was declined by me.
(Slgned) GEO. C. MEADE,
Major-G General"
Gettysburg, July 4th, 10 p.m."
Was this not the day Of all the DAYS in
the year when general who, for three
days, on inaccessible heights, with 80,
600 men, had hardly held at bay an army
of IS, 900. should, knowing his inability
to prevent General Lee marching these
prisoners to Libby or Andersonvlile, have
gladly accepted an opportunity to ex-
change them on the field. and thus save