The National tribune., 1910-01-27
ADDRESS OF
Gen. HARRY WHITE.
Commander of the National Ass0.
Ciation of Union ExaPrisOners
of War, Delivered at the En-
campment at Salt Lake City,
Utah, Aug. 9, 1909.


the ranks to be the Commander OF the
National Prisoners of War Association
that 1 at first refused to consider or
accept the great compliment OF unani-
nous election.
Private employments of life were
such that hesitated to assume the re-
sponsibilities of Chief Executive of your
organization. But the assemblage at
Toledo, O., in August, 1908, was so
large, respectable and enthusiastic ana
the arrangements and conveniences for
the meeting and the general parade so
complete and satisfactory that / could
not refuse to accept your call to duty.
Soldiers and Sailors National Union.
When the war of the rebellion was
over, and the men who carried the nag
10 victory were again the business cll-
zens of the country, soldiers assocIa-
tionS and periodical meetings naturally
came from the friendships and common
memories formed among those who had
camped and marched and fought and
endured years together in a great war.
While soon after their muster-out the
boys in blue had their companies, regi-
mental, brigade and, indeed, division
Reunions In different parts of the coun-
try to tell of their hairbreadth 'Scapes
and imminent perils,' yet the first eff
forts to form a National organization of
soldiers was held in Washington City,
Feb. %. 1866. which resulted in the
formation of what was named The Sol
diers and Sailors National Union" Your
present Commander, now addressing
you. had the honor to be Chairman of
the committee that prepared and
reported a Constitution and By
laws, which were adopted for the
government of the organization. To
this first National meeting of the
surviving soldiers after the war, with
the view of forming a National organ
ization, the House of Representatives
of the United States extended the COM
plinent of the use of the hall of the
House for public meeting on the night
of Feb. %, 1866.
This meeting was addressed by Gen.
B. F. Butler and other distinguished
men of the country. This organization,
not providing for exclusive secret meet
ings for its business nor binding its
members together for recognition by
each other by grips, countersigns and
passwords, lacked an attractive mys-
terry, and was soon succeeded by the
great organizations of the Grand Army
of the Republic the Legion of Honor,
the Union Veteran Legion, the Union
Veteran Union and other organizations
with membership in different parts of
the country. The first meeting after
the close of the war of the prisoners to
form a National organization was held
in the old United States Court room in
the city of Pittsburg, in September,
1872, 81 years ago, at the time of
great National Soldiers Reunion and
National Encampment of the Grand
Army of the Republic.
The Prisoners of War Association was
a conspicuous part and made long
march, all on foot. in the grand parade
of the occasion. At this first meeting
Col. r. S. Northcott, of the 18th Va.
Union regiment. many months a pris-
oner in Libbey Prison, presided.
OF the many annual meetings since
Its organization we will not here make
extended remarks: but as a matter of
convenience to the comrades who were
SO unfortunate in the casualties of war
to fall into the hands of the enemy the
annual meetings have been held at the
same time and place as the National
Encampments of the Grand Army Of
the Republic.
This Association came 20 bring to-
gether in periodical meetings as COM
rades those soldiers of the Republic
who have survived seventies indeed,
often cruelties, while in the captivity of
q then bitter, very bitter enemy. We
come not TO rejoice that we were so
unfortunate as to be prisoners, nor to
herald and narrate past sufferings, to
excite public sympathy, to gain favor.
In such war as that of the rebellion,
fought over vast country, SO often,
indeed, by improvised armies, with
changing fortunes. the capture of pris-
oners was inevitable. War, indeed, is
death. desolation and destruction to
men and property.
Purpose of This Association.
This organization, this meeting to-
gether of the surviving Union Prisoners
of War, is for no merely selfish purpose.
Every member of this Association is an
honorably discharged soldier, went TO
war not merely for gain and glory, but
to do the best he could to battle for his
country. They fell into the hands of
the enemy without fault or desire of
theirs. They became prisoners because
they were Overpowered by the enemy
in the line Of duty. They do not want
to resurrect the skeletons of hate and
the war of rebellion. They are Ameri-
can citizens desiring the peace and con-
tentment of their country. The irritat-
ing wounds of the past must not be
opened. But with malice toward none
and charity to air the truth Of history
must be written. While partisan con-
troversy and prcjudiccd testimony at
this lapse of time after the war may not
serve any good purpose to settle the
truth of important events, but results,
recognized record results, establish
facts which ARE confirmation strong as
proofs of Holy Writ"
Prison Statistics
In such formal address as the prac-
tice of this organization requires the
Commander to make at the opening of
each Annual Encampment, we may not
grow tedious with confusing statistics;
but some reliable official figures, such
As are recognized in the War Depart
ment of our Government, may be quot
ed to establish that our comrades who
died in rebel prisons were martyrs in
the great battles for the Union and VIC
Tins of hostile prison management, con-
Quoted in violation of the rules of mod
ern civilized war
To epitomize: The statistics of the
United States War Department show:
Union soldiers captured and act
ually in Confederate prisons. "a, ,072
Deaths there as shown by graves. SO, 072
A percentage as shown by
graves OF ....3S.33
To this statement The War De-
partment estimated that there
should be added 20 per cent,
making ........ ..... 1880
To this add 13 per cent not
counted by graves. but in
graves not marked, who never
reached their homes .... 7497
Making total of deaths in
prison as near as can be
aScertaincd of ........ 30 Si9
1t may be thought that this total is
not precisely correct, because of i'm
perfect prison rolls, yet there is no
doubt it approaches correctness. What