The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-01-05
THE WAR FIFTY
YEARS AGO

'coAtiAH'H lAblli tll'h hANi
destroyers, while in the eyes OF nortn
erners the Confederates were rebels
and outlaws. Up to the battle Of Bull
Run the number of prisoners on either
side was not large. BY that disaster
TO the Federals the Confederates cap
tured some | 400 of them, a fact which
put an end to all idea Of punishment
The Confederates released numbers At
matter was compromised in various
ways. Thus ffty-seven wounded SOL
diers were voluntarily released from
Richmond and sent home. In response
twenty Confederate soldiers, mostly
North Carolinians, were released from
Bedloe's Island, New York, and sent
to Fortress Monroe to be discharged
on taking the oath not to bear arms.
In this informal manner numbers were
from time to time discharged. At
Washington the oath was administered
to thirty-seven prisoners Of war who
were confined in the military prisons.
The entire number took an oath not to
bear arms against the United States.
Under the Laws Of War.
The matter of military prisoners is
regulated under the laws Of war. but
the United States hesitated to recog
nize the Confederacy as belligerent.
General Grant, who was appealed to
by General Polk Confederate to ex
change certain captives, replied, 81
recognize no Southern Confederacy
myself" but he consented to pass the
matter on to army headquarters
Exchanges were sometimes made by
officers acting on their own hook.
General Fremont went so far as to
arrange treaty with his opponent
General Sterling Price, for the regular
exchange of captives taken in their
operations. Appeals from prisons and
from the homes Of captives poured
into Washington. The captlves them
selves naturally chafed under confne-
ment, and there were numerous es-
capes from the prison guard, especial
ly at Richmond. Such fugitives were
usually recaptured and made to suffer
In Richmond the captives were con-
fined in empty warehouses, the most
noted of which was that of Libby &
Sons. In few weeks these quarters
became overcrowded, and the anxiety
of northern friends as to the welfare
of the captives was increased by the
tone Of the radical southern press.
Harsh treatment was advocated, and 1t
was suggested that the unfortunates be
sent to Pensacola and New Orleans.
Describing a fresh arrival at Rich
mond, the Dispatch of that city said
THE crowd about the depot convers-
ed freely with the prisoners, but no
rudeness was exhibited toward them.
They were very soon marched Off to
the factory to join their comrades in
captivity. There are now nearly 1000 !
prisoners in Richmond. and the sooner
some hundreds are sent south the bet
ter. We are in a situation not unlike |
the man who got the elephant as |
prize in lottery and didn't know what |
to do with ii.
Finally, on Dec. Z. negotiations open
ed and soon led to the exchange on
James river Of 240 from each side, the
chiefly from North Caro-
ina and the Federals from Bull Run.
Slaves In Union Camps
The extra session Of the Thirty-sey-
NTH congress, which closed in August,
1861. took no decided action with re.
gard TO slavery, except that u includ
VI slaves as property, which the United
states might con1scate II the enemy
.oud make use OF II In war II was
Issumed By some people that this net
4 congress gave warrant for inter-