Americus times-recorder., 1904-04-29
AMERICUs, Ga. APRIL 29. 1904,
PRISONERS IN sEcEssIoNs WAR

In recent article contributed to The
Macon Telegraph by Mr. James Gala
way are contained many historic facts
bearing upon the treatment of prls-
of war by the governments during the
Civil War. At this time, Just at the
close of Memorial Day, the article is
of peculiar interest, particularly to
those at that time too young to remem
ber the difficulties under which the
stricken South labored
Referring to Memorial Day Mr.. Cal
laway writes as follows;
''On this occasion it is proper to re-
call the efforts of the Confederacy to
alleviate the suffering3 of federal
prisoners. The English government
II appropriating 500, 900 for re-
building the Boer homes destroyed by
its armies was never more magnani-
nous than the Confederacy in its un-
ceasing efforts to release aud relieve
the prisoners.
''No subject is so little understood,
not only in the North, but by cur own
people of this generation.
When Ben Hill delivered his Ander-
sonville speech in the United S ates
senate in reply to Blaine, it was
thought he had for all time spiked the
guns that had shot forth such calum
MES aud misrepresentation against the
South concerning treatment of federal
prisoners. But not so. The South is
yet criticised,
1.-The states went into the compact
in order to form ''a more perfect
union, and now that we are united
again, 1t would seem that the truth
should be told. The Confederacy al
ways advocated release of prisoners.
It urged this policy with persistency,
and deeply regretted Mr.. Stanton's
order annulling the cartel for ex
change and ease of prisoners on
parole.
"On July -, 1862, the cartel was
adopted All prisoners were to be re-
leased in ten days after capture
The very day sitter this cartel was
signed Major Gen. John Pope, on
July %. 1862, issued orders that allow
ed his soldiers to shoot as spies and as
enemies of the United States all Vir
ginia farmers who were found tilling
the soil or sowing grain or cultivating
crops on their farms within his rear,
even outside his lines
Hundreds we're shot down in their
fields before the Confederate govern
ment got the order rescinded. It is
thought by many that the Spanish
General Weyler in his wicked orders
IN Cuba took his cu9 from Gen. Pope,
finding In him an illustrlous American
example.
''By persistent effort the cartel was
continued to be recognized until July,
3, 1868, lasting only one year-when
Mr.. Stanton issued order No. 209,
breaking the cartel By this order 209,
federal prisoners were not permitted
by their own government to be ex
changed, or paroled. If paroled they
had to go back into the federal army.
'This order, so unexpected, caught
the Confederacy Hnprepared for the
prison problem But the emaciated
condition of such Confederate prison
ers as had been exchanged intensified
the desire of the Confederate authori
ties for prompt action,
every effort was made to induce
exchange. Col. Ould, Confederate ex-
change agent, was given the largest
authority and he stated the case fully
to Major Mulford, United States agent
emphasizing the fact that the Confcd-
eracy had no medicines, nor physi-
clans, and scant fuod-not prepared to
hold the captives. Col. Ould further
insisted, if exchange refused, that sur
geons and medicines be sent. No re-
ply ever made to the request for doc
tors and medicines.
'fThus every effort was N ade to abate
prison-suffering. Where rests the
responsibility
In the summer of 1854 the Confeder-
ate government offered to deliver 49,
900 sick and wounded at Savannah
without exchange-withouta any equity
slent. It was the last of November,
1864, before the offer was accepted, al
though the condition of prisoners was
urged as reason for haste. Federal
ships came and carried off 1900,
among them 5000 well men, and
brought us not a single ''old reb.
after the cartel was violated, and
so many prisoners to care for, and no
medicines nor food, except the rough,
unbolted meal and cowpeas and sour
syrup, such as were issued to the
guards, the Richmond authorities Sc
lected Alexander q. Stephens, the
vice-president of the confederacy, and
personal friend of Abraham Lincoln,
to repair to Washington on mission
of mercy, and lntercede for exchange
OF prisoners, and failing In that, to
offer to buy medicines and secure doc.
tors for the federal prisoners
mir. Stephens was much chagrined
at the failure of his mission, which re-
suited only in harder terms being put
on our prisoners-under excuse of re
tahaiion.
"dr. Davis, in bis letter borne by