The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-06-17
Federal and Confederate Prisoners.

Editor The Washington Herald;
In your issue Of Sunday, June O. IS
found a suggestive article based upon
data furnished by DIT. Lewis, touching
the number Of Northern soldiers confined
in Southern prisons and the number Of
Southern soldiers confined IN Northern
prisons during the civil war, and the
percentages of deaths North and South. q"
This was once a burning" question, and
il was only necessary TO ask 10 which side
the statistical writer belonged to discount
his figures for all who were on the OPP
posite side. To-day It is possible 10 look
at the question from an impartial stand
point, and TO ask simply, What are the
facts in the case?
Regretting. as I think all fair-minded
readers must, that Dr. Lewis praise
worthy attempt 10 get at the facts should
result in failure 20 produce the report Of
Surgeon General Barnes, on which the
ratios of captured men in Northern and
Southern prisons and the percentages OF
deaths are based. let us look a little at the
probabilities I'm the case. Now, as TO this
alleged report Of Surgeon General Barnes.
which puts the number of Confederate
prisoners in Federal hands during the
war at 0.000. and the number Of Federal
prisoners In Confederate hands at 10000,
and the number Of deaths al %. 900 among
Fcderals as against $500 among Con
federates Cor and 70 per cent, respective
lyl, Il is necessary TO remember and 10
observe that the authority for this state
meut is, according to DR.. Lewis, practi-
cally noneXistent. That is. it is not found
except as @ notice of and citation from
the National IntelligeuCer Of June 2, 1869.
and so far as yet appears the authority
then and there cited stands absolutely
alone and uncorroborated by any other
official and well-authcnticated document
whatsoever.
The archives of every department of
the government, including the library of
the War Department, the Army Medical
Museum, the Library Of Congress, the
document rooms OF the United States
Senate and House Of Representatives, &C,
have been searched in vain. The denial
at the Surgeon Generals Office OF any
knowledge Of such a report having been
made by Surgeon General Barnes. would
seem to be conclusive on the face of II
against the existence of any such report.
Il may be that some other document or
statement was issued in substitution of
such report from which the Intelligencer
drew its figures; and this appears the
mors probable, because If any official re-
port Of that character had issued from
the Surgeon Generals Office and with
the imprimatur of the War Department.
the fact itself could hardly be concealed.
And supposing the fact to be as stated
and that every copy of Surgeon General
Barnes report had persisted, and even
every trace Of 1t had vanished from the
archives Of the government, still there is
not an important newspaper In the coun-
try that either did not or would not have
published an abstract or synopsis Of this
report at the time, concerning which, in
deed, the Intelligencer of June 2. 1859. is
sufficiently explicit, TO wit: Surgeon Gen
eral Barnes, Of the United States army
and war office, year before last q. e.,
1860 made a full report on this subject"
It is now up TO those who quote the
as a dependable authority
on this matter to show from what source