The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-21
READS LIKE A PAGE
FROM WAR HISTORY
Senator Swanson Introduces Bill for Relief Of
Confederate Officers Improperly imprisoned
by Federal Forces,
Especial to The rimes-D,spatch.,

topeclal to The Times D1spatch.b
Washington. January Ex-senator
Swanson. has introduced resolution
for tho relief OF certain Confederate
cfTlcers for improper and illegal in
Juries received, during the year 1864.
by being confined By the Federal
forces near Charleston which reads
like page from the history of the
war now nearly hfty years ended. In
fuli this resolution, which 4. ulost In
teresting, Is as follows: s
Whereas, upon the le;i day OF juno
1864 upon tho demand OF Major Cen
cral j. G. Foster, commanding the
Union forces of the Department of the
South, nifty Confederate officers were
sent to him by the order of Major Gen.
eral fIalleck. United States Army, for
the purpose of retaliation. the said
Major General Foster. assuming from
certain correspondence between him
and Major General Sam Jones, of the
Confederate Army. that certain Union
officers held as prisoners OF war In the
city OF Charleston. South Carolina
were so located In said city that they
were In danger of being injured from
the explosion o fshells fired from Bat
teries Waggoncf, Gregg. and other
land batteries, and from tho United
States ilcet Smelling the aforesaid city;
and
Whereas. after mutual csp,anation
between the aforesaid United States
and Confederate generals, tho said
Misunderstanding resultea In the cx-
change OF the fifty Confederate onicers
sent to Major General Foster, az afore.
said. for an equal number OF United
States officers: and
Whereas, Notwithstanding after said
explanation and mutual exchange. to-
Sether with evidence that the facts
charged were false. the said General
Foster again called for SIX hundred
other Confederate officers OF different
ranks. who were: being held az prison.
ers of war at Fort Dlaware, 70 be sent
TO Norris Island as subJectn for special
retaliation. Notwithstanding no charges
We're, made against them other than
prisoners of war captured In battle
BY order 81 Major General Halleck.
United States Army, on tho Goth day
of August, 1864. tho, said coo Con-
federate officers were placed aboard
tho steamer Crescent at rort Della
ware. to DO TRANSPORTED to Morris
Island, South Carolina. TIE capacity
of the Steamer was inadequate for
such number; and all being required
to remain below deck. the suffering
from heat and filth and thirst FOR
water was unbeatable. and the voyage
which should have been made In three
days was leng thensu out to eighteen
days. SO that upon arrival at Morris
island they were in a famtshed condi-
aon, hero they wore confined from
!he 9th day of September. 1861. to tho
goth day OF November. In stockade
built between Batteries Gregg and
Waggoner of the Union forces on Nor.
Eris Island. with no protection from
the burning rays of the Gun save small
fly tents and within immedlats range
of the fire Of tho guns from tile Con-
federate battris replying to the bonn
harding of the city OF Charleston,
whilst also endangered by tho prema-
tpre bursting of shells fired from the
Union batteries Immediately over their
heads. The daily rations issued dur
Ing this term of forty-two days con-
sisted of four bareback army crack
ers. frequently wormy; one ounce of
fat picked pork and half pint of
bean soup. alternnted at times with
half a pint of mush made from meal
that was old and wormy; and the only
drinking water was impure. being OBJ