The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1906-09-05
SOME FACTS
About the Nu nber Of Prisoners
Held During the War
BY NORTH AND SOUTH

be Read With Relish by Those
Who Want to Keep the Rec.
ord Straight In Such
Matters.
A great deal has been written about
the treatment of prisoners North and
South during war. The responsible
ity for the harsh and cruel treatment
Of prisoners is not easily to fix in any
specific OF definite degree, aud must
always be considered as general, ex
cept in some special and Individual
cases. AS to which side vas more to
blsne than The other can only be fair.
IL considered and estimated by taking
q comparative view Of the means,
powers and resources OF both sides for
the proper treatment Of prisoners.
In view of the superior advantages
Of the United States government, it
seems that fair and just judgment OF
true and impartial history must be
rendered in favor OF the Confederate
States government. The Confederate
government, at best vas but prov1s'
ionsl, and was not we'll established IS
: permanent and reliable government
us credit was not well established
snd could not be counted on for any
more than It's inmedistely tangible
and visible resources in hand at that
time. It's only available asset for ere.
1t was the production OF Gotten, ano
at this period OF war the raising CT
Gotten was curtailed and limited SO as
to make an increase in substantial
supplies for cur armies. The property
In negroes at this time was uncertain
as to it's permanent character OF Of
duration sEd was not available as Sc
curisy for credit.
Prisoners we're simply so many par
asttes Of the enc ny on the Codleoer-
soy. They were lot Of idle. non pay
ing, turdensone boarders, who had to
be constantly fed and guarded and
who did nothing to contribute to
their own support They we're sn in
cubus upon government alreSdy too
4eak to carry its own burden, having
q population OF slaves who did not 60
into the armies to help fight the bat
lies for constitutional principles Of
government wherein they were inter.
ested as to the whole number OF slaves
and counted for hree.hfths Of
their number OF representation.
Our women and children had to be
supported while our men wers engs'
ged in the var. Then to take on s1
increase Of hearty, hungry men OF
more tban s quarter OF 2 million was
a great tax and undertaking fer e
people OF limited means and resources
Such was the condition Of the Sou bh
ern confederScy when taking 50 many
orisonsr rs.
With the United States govern
nent matters we're different, q govern.
nent which the south helped to or
gsniz, and establish, government OF
means, q government OF prestige and
power, and with unlimited credit anc
immense resou. css. The United States
could afford to maintain as many pris
oners as it would capture OF the Con.
tederate armies. They could draw
rom the, whole world for both mer
aud money to meet their demands in
eme .gency They could and did hire
foreigners IS soldiers for bounty,
shile native southern men went to
war without hire.
The total number Of federal prison
ers captured by the Confederate was
270, 900 by the report OF Surgeon Gen
srsl Barnes, as quoted by Congress
nan Hill In bis famous re ply to Blaine,
as shown by the official records IN the
var department. at Washington.
The hole nu ober of Confederate
prisoners ca ptursd by the fedarals was
22O, 600 At once it is seen that the
tederals were $4,000 more than the
Uonfederates.
The number Of fsderals who died in
Confederate prisons was % SIS ano
the number OF Ccnfsderates who dice
In federal prisons was 26. 436. So i.
appears bYs ficial records that more
shan y par cent OF the Confederate
prisoners In federal prisoners died
and less than 9 per cent CT th.
Confederate prisoners in federal
prisons died, notwithstanding the
a>f renee and disparity In means
and resources between the north snd
south, considering the superior advan-
seeo OF the north ever the south for
the p oper care Of prisoners.
In the north were numerous PLACES
Tor p isoners. They We're located a.
point, as follows:
Allegheny, Pa, Alton, IL, Canr
Butler, HI, Camp Chase, o., Camp
D.uglas, ILL.,, Camp Morton. lod.,
Ginira, N. Y, Fort Columbus, N. 2,
FORT Lafayette, n. Y, F ;rt Warren
Nd {. rort Wood, N Y, Fort P;ckens:
Fla, Point Lookout, Md, Rock Is.
and, HI, Johnson's Island, 0 Louts'
lille, KY, Memphis, Tenn, Nash
lille, Tenn.
In this essay 1t is unnecessary to
pecify the number Of prisoners IN
sch station, as they were distributed
0 suit the wishes and conveniences
4 the government, presumably for
heir own convenience for supplies,
yards, and facility for keeping.
In the south prisons were located at
Americus, Ca, Camp Sumter, Ander-
onYiIle, Ga !; Cahaba, Ais; Camp