The Washington herald., 1907-06-09
CIVIL WAR QUESTIONS.

members in refutauon OF Mr.. Hin when
he quoted Il I'm the House of Representa-
tives in 1876. And with no intention Of
rejecting on DR.. Joseph Jones. # is also
strange that he makes no mention OF
either the report Of Mr. Stanton or that
Of DR.. Barnes in his most valuable report
as Surgeon General Of the United Con-
federate Veterans in 1892.
What the Records Reveal.
Having endeavored 10 make a frank
and plain statement Of the mystery sur
rounding the report said to have been
made by Surg. Gen. Barnes, and its
absence, the writer will attempt 10 show
that the number Of Federal prisoners in
the hands Of the Confederate authorities
must have been substantially as is said 10
have been stated in that report. and sub
mits the following facts as to the dispo-
sition Of Federal prisoners Of war held IN
Confederate prisons.
"Gl In Report No. 45. House Of Repre-
sentatiyes, Fortieth Congress. third ses-
sion commonly known as Shank's re-
porO July l0 1851 10 February S. 1852,
pages 742 10 755. is 10 be found a detailed
statement showing the number OF Federal
prisoners Of war exchanged, illegally pa
rolled, escaped. recaptured, and enlisted
in the Confederate service during the war
of 1Ss1-lS65, as shown by records Of Fed
eral prisoners Of war filed in the Adiutant
Generals office, at Washington, amount
ing in the aggregate TO 1871
"(2l In the same volume. page 15l, is 20
be found detailed statement Of Federal
prisoners Of war who died in the hands
Of the Confederate authorities during the
war. 1s6l-1sf5, amounting In the aggre-
gate 10 25,3zS
THE two Classes mentioned aggregate
1sSf45-being less than the 10000 given in
the Barnes report by I.s55.
1T is reasonable 10 suppose that the
large number of Federal prisoners. re-
naming i'm the hands II the Confederate
authorities would he sufficient 10 supply
the deficiency. Accordingly. the War De-
partment was requested in writing 20 aid
in ascertaining. If possible the number
Of Union soldiers held In Confederate
prisons. which were released az the end
Of the war. The reply was that Be
cause Of the total absence Of returns Of
Union soldiers in the hands Of the C1nfed-
crates during the last few months Of the
war. il IS impossible 20 determine the
number Of Union soldiers held in Coufed-
crate prisons, who were released at the
close Of the war.
1T then seemed that m further prog
ress could be made il clearing up the
matter, when there appeared The Public
Life and Correspondence Of James n.
Mason. Confederate States Commissioner
% England In a letter therein addressed
% A. Coolidge. esq. Boston. Mass, Jan
usrv o. 1855 Mr.. Mason writes. AT last
accounts there were fomo 0f your coun-
trvmen prisoners Of war IN the Confed-
crate States, and remaining there solely
because Of the refusal 0f your govern
ment 10 take them back.
Thus. 20 the number already obtained,
10 is warrantable % add "."a more,
making an increase Of she number 10 2S.-
l45 Still there remain 2LS55 20 be aC-
counted for to meet the figures i'm the re-
port OF Surg. Gen Barnes.
IT is 10 be noted that the accounts re-
ferred 20 by Mr. Mason must have been
made up some considerable time-perhaps
the writing % Mr. Cool
dge. In the meantime there was great
activity in both armies. and many en-
zaEemeuts. so that before the surrender
the number Of Federal prisoners in the
hands Of the Confederate authorities must
have been greatly in excess Of that
stated by Mr. Mason-greatar than the
p $40 necessary 20 bring the figures in
accord with the report Of Surg. Gen.
Barnes.
To recap.tulate. these appear as fol-
lows:
The number under statement N7. I........... -- SIT
The number under statement So 2............. -5.s
The number estimated as remaining on hand
az the end 1f the var....................... Ss55
0w
Which sum agrees with that Of Dr.
Barnes report.
IT would. therefore. seem 20 no clear
that. even though the report said 20 have
been made by Surg Gen. Barnes may
never De found there is abundant evi-
fence. as above given. that The Confed-
rates captured of Union soldiers. and
held I'm Southern prisons. in round num-
1ers. 271,o[J men,
And. therefore is the historical state
nent made bv Nr stephens sustained.
sven without the presence Of the mislaid
'r lost report of Surg. Gen. Joseph X.
Barnes
Interesting Exhibits.
With his paper. and forming an i'm
'0rtant part OF it. he submitted a NUM-
ler Of exhibits. as follows:
Firt-A report ~ Secretary rf War Edwin n.
stanton. July To- 1855. In which h- said That
;l5 deaths Of r-hel prisoners e war ore reported.
bar @5-5 Uuin soldiers are reported 1s having
lied iH Southern prisons. The reports also show
bat G0 On rebel prisoners were held i1 thr North
nd about l15 Ai' Union prisoner I'm the south
his r=U-r- r. 'he Secretary q War was addressed
o SCHUYLER Colfsx then Speaker # the House t
representatives.
Sec7nd-Au editorial from the National Ir-sl'i-
HUCer. June E. i'f' I'm which a s'HHt denial g
'ade cf The statement that $500 Urirn prisoners
led in southern prisons during the war. The Ir-
'lligcrcer, in this editorial. cites as C--s. erie
ence 70 the contrary the following. surgeon
encral Barnes. n fhe United States army and
Var ofca. year before last made @ fu'i report .l
bis subject. showing these startling srats--=-'lrt
Cm first 80 last. during the war the trE'rirr--s
}ptErCd r. Union soldiers and held On Southern
rIs'us ir round numbers go G0 mon. and thar -ra
nionis's captured q Confederate soldiers and held
: Northern prisons In round numrers 2l5 Pm man.
et. that there died In Northern prisons f~ round
umb7rs- q l0 soldiers and I'M Southern prisons il
'und numbers. 900 Although the Cr1feiars'ss
lpturcd and held 900 more men than che Union
mleS captured and held re' in Northern prisons
no more men died from alleged ill-us7zs. Cz-
ls'lre, and deprivation than died from the same
iuses in Southern prisons. lr is a striking fact
this regard that the average Tercr0taca rf NOR
lly m Northern prisons was greater because
ttttltF- sLl-'.iiNLH were ~TI. ffaEE toward H.H
Csc e the way. and were therefore the shortest
me in confinement
Ihud-An extract from Alexander Il Stephens
'ok entitled War Between the states .1i rr-
TO- PIP 5Fsl. Mr. stephens accepted as very
sh authority the statement i'm the National Iu-
IligeuCer as % The surgeon generals
fo1rth-An extract from Hon BENJAMIN H. Hills
1nesty speech in Che Hurc Of Representative,
uuarr H. ls7s in which hc usei the f-5res czed-
ID % Surgeon General Barnes and asserted r1z-
Ter cent Of the Confederstes in Federal hands
ca. and less than 9 per cent of the tsd-rals I'D
'ufeiCIate hands died
Fifth-An extract from Mr.. Davis Rise and FAN
the Confederate Government" ga vol, p7Ea ST..
which he used the 0me figures and reached The
me conclusions as those adopted hy Mr.. stanton
ID Mr.. Hill
'Uth-A detailed statement showing the ds1-s,-
IN Of Federal prisoners Of war held IN Ceu'-l.
itc prisons. as shown bv government documents
Cd in the Aduiaut Generals office az Washing
SUeu'h-A -,tailod statement e Federal prisoners