ers, who had encountered the hardships of the fields of many battles, and
had had w^ounds, there were many of delicate physique — many of respect-
TUE ANDERSONVILLE PRISON. 627
ability, to whom such fellowship, such self-created filth, and such atrocious
ruffianism, would of itself cause desjiondency, disease, and death ; and
when, in addition to this, was the conviction that the Federal War De-
partment, perfectly cognizant of all this, liad deliberately consigned
them indefinitely to this condition, a consuming despair was superadded
to all their other sufferings.
The merits of Andersonville may be summed up by saying that it was
of unquestioned healthfulness ; it was large enough and had water enough,
and could have been made tolerable for the number originally intended
for it. It appears that the increase of that number was apparently a mat-
ter of necessity for the time ; that other sites were selected and prepared
with all possible despatch ; that the provisions were similar in amount and
quality to those used by Confederate soldiers ; that deficient means ren-
dered a supply of clothing, tents, and medicines scanty ; that the rules of
discipline and sanitary regulations of the prison, if complied with hy the
prisoners^ would have secured to each a supply of food, and have averted
almost, if not altogether, the filth and the ruffianism, which two causes
outside of unavoidable sickness, caused the great mass of suffermg and
mortality.
But the history of the extraordinary efforts of the Confederate authori-
ties to relieve the sufferings of Andersonville, through some resumption of
exchanges, does not end with the proposition referred to as made by Com-
missioner Ould to exchange man for man, and leave the surplus at the
disposition of the enemy. It was follow^ed by another more liberal and
more extraordinary proposition. Acting under the direct instructions of
the Secretary of War, and seeing plainly that there was no hope of any
general or extended partial system of exchange, Commissioner Ould, in
August, 1864, offered to the Federal agent of exchange. Gen. Mulford, to
deliver to him all the sick and wounded Federal prisoners we had, without
insisting upon the delive'^'y of an equivalent numher of our prisoners in
return. He also informed Gen. Mulford of the terrible mortality among
the Federal prisoners, urging him to be swift in sending transportation to
the mouth of the Savannah River for the purpose of taking them away.
The offer of Commissioner Ould included all the sick and wounded at
Andersonville and other Confederate prisons, lie further informed Gen.
J\[ulford, in order to make his Government safe in sending transportation,
that if the sick and wounded did not amount to ten or fifteen thousand
men, the Confederate authorities Avould make up that number in well men.
This offer, it will be recollected, was made early in August, 1864. Gen.
Mulford informed Commissioner Ould it was directly communicated to his
Government, yet no timely advantage was ever taken of it.
This interesting and important fact is for the first time authoritatively
published in these pages. It contains volumes of significance. The ques-
628 THE LOST CA.USE.
, tion occurs, who was responsible for the sufferings of the sick and wounded
and prisoners at Andersonville, from August to December, 186i ? The
world will ask with amazement, if it was possible that thousands of pris-
oners were left to die in inadequate places of confinement, merely to mako
a case against the 8outh — merely for romance ! The single fact gives the
clue to the whole story of the deception and inhuman cruelty of the au-
thorities at Washington with reference to their prisoners of war — the key
to a chapter of hojTours that even the hardy hand of History shakes to
unlock. To blacken the reputation of an honourable enemy ; to make a
false appeal to the sensibilities of the world ; to gratify an inhuman re-
venge, Mr. Stanton, the saturnine and malignant Secretary of War at Wash-
ington, did not hesitate to doom to death thousands of his countrymen, and
then to smear their sentinels with accusing blood.
It was the j)urpose of Commissioiier Ould to keep open the offer he
had made, and deliver to the Federal authorities all their sick and wounded,
from time to time, especially if the straits of war should deny the Confed-
erates the means of providing for their comfort. To show how honest and
earnest he was in his offer to Mulford, when the transportation did arrive,
he did deliver to him at Savannah and Charleston thirteen thousand men,
large numbers of wdiom were well, and was ready to deliver as many as
his transportation could accommodate, and that too under the difficulties
and pressure of Sherman's invasion of Georgia, when nothing but tempo-
rary shiftings were our expedients.
The transfer of the entire matter of the exchange of prisoners from the
control of Secretary Stanton, who had been averse to all arguments of
justice, and to all appeals on this subject, to that of Gen. Grant, offered
to Commissioner Ould another oportunity to essay an effort of humanity.
On the 11th February, 1865, he proposed to Gen. Grant, to deliver with-
out delay all the prisoners on hand, upon receiving an assurance from him
that he would deliver an equal number of Confederate prisoners, within a
reasonable time. This was accepted, and every energy was used to send
immediately through Wilmington, James Kiver, and other practicable
ways, all the prisoners we had. This was very speedily consummated, so
far as all in prisons in Yirginia, and ISTorth and South Carolina, were con-
cerned. The presence of the enemy, and the cutting of our communica-
tions, only prevented the immediate execution elsei^here. Orders to that
efiect, and messengers to secure it, were sent to Georgia, Alabama, and
the Trans-Mississippi. A return number of prlsonei's, to the amount of
about five thousand per week, were sent to E'chmond, until the fortunes
of w\ar closed all operations, even down to the matter of an adjustment of
accounts. The adjustment has never been made.
The general subject of the condition and treatment of prisoners, on both
Bides, in the war, is involved in much we have already written of the
CONT'EDERATE KEPOKT ON PKISONS. 629
history of the exchange question. But in order to make a proper case for
posterity on a special and deeply interesting topic, Commissioner Ould
urged and succeeded in raising a joint Congressional Committee at Rich-
mond, to take the testimony of returned prisoners as to their treatment by
the enemy. That Committee was raised, and a large mass of testimony
was taken, which was unfortunately lost by fire. This Committee, how-
ever, made a report in February, 18G5, a copy of which was preserved.
It is a document which should be road with care ; the space it occupies
could scarcely be tilled with a narrative more just and condensed ; and
we therefore annex it, in full :
EEPORT OF THE JOINT SELECT COJIMITTEE OF THE COXFEDERATE COX'GRESS, APPOES'TBIJ
TO IXVESTIGATE THE COXDITIOX AXD TREATMENT OF PRISONERS OF "WAR.
The duties assigned to the committee under the several resolutions of Congress des-
ignating tliem, are " to investigate an:l re2)ort upon the condition and treatment of the
prisoners of war respectively held by the Confederate and United States Governments
upon the causes of their detention, and the refusal to exchange ; and also upon the vio-
lations by the enemy of the rules of civilized warfare in the conduct of the war." These
subjects are broad in extent and importance ; and in order fully to investigate and pre-
sent them, the committee propose to continue their labours in obtaining evidence, and
deducing from it a truthful report of facts illustrative of the spiiit in which the war baa
been conducted.
But we deem it proper at this time to make a preliminary report, founded upon evi-
dence recently taken, relating to the treatment of prisoners of war by both belligerents.
This report is rendered especially important, by reason of persistent efforts lately made
by the Government of the United States, and by associations and individuals connected
or co-operating with it, to asperse the honour of the Confederate authorities, and to
charge them with, deliberate and wilful cruelty to jirisoners of war. Two publications
have been issued at the North within the past year, and liave been circulated not only
m tlie United States, but in some parts of the South, and in Europe. One of these is
the report of the joint select committee of the Northern Congress on the conduct of the
war, known as " Report No. 67." The other purports to be a " Narrative of the priva-
tions and sufferings of United States officers and soldiers while prisoners of war," and is
issued as a report of a commission of enquiry appointed by " The United States Sani-
tary Commission."
This body is alleged to consist of Valentine Mott, M. D., Edward Delafield, M. D.,
Gouverneur Morris Wilkins, Esq., Ellerslie Wallace, M. D., Hon. J. J. Clarke Hare, and
Rev. Treadwell Walden. Although these persons arc not of sufficient public importance
and weight to give authority to their publication, yet your committee have deemed it
proper to notice it in connectioii with the " Report No. 67," before mentioned, because
the Sanitary Commission has been understood to have acted to a greater extent under
the control and by the authority of the United States Government, and because their
report claims to be founded on evidence taken in solemn form.
A candid reader of these publications will not fail to discover that, whether the
statements they make be true or not, their spirit is not adapted to jjromote a better fee]
ing between the hostile powers. They are not intended for the humane purpose of
630 THE LOST CAUSE.
ameliorating the condition of the unhappy prisoners held in captivity. They are de-
signed to inflame the evil passions of the North ; to keep up the war spirit among their
own people ; to represent the South as acting under the dominion of a spirit of cruelty,
inhumanity, and interested malice, and thus to vilify her people in the eyes of all on
whom these publications can work. They are justly characterized hy the Hon. James
M. Mason as belonging to that class of literature called the " sensational " — a style of
writing j)revalent for many years at the North, and which, beginning with the writers
of newspaper narratives and cheap fiction, has gradually extended itself, until it is now
the favoured mode adopted by medical professors, judges of courts, and reverend clergy-
men, and is even chosen as the proper style for a report by a committee of their Congress.
Nothing can better illustrate the truth of this view than the " Report No. 67," and
its appendages. It is accompanied by eight pictures, or photographs, alleged to
represent United States prisoners of war, returned from Richmond, in a sad state of
emaciation and suffering. Concerning these cases, your committee will have other re-
marks, to be presently submitted. They are only alluded to now to show that this re-
port does really belong to the " sensational " class of literature, and that, prima facie,
it is open to the same criticism to which the yellow-covered novels, the " narratives of
noted highwaymen," and the " awful beacons " of the Northern book-stalls should be
subjected.
The intent and spirit of this report may be gathered from the following extract :
" The evidence proves, beyond all manner of doubt, a determination on the part of the
rebel authorities, deliberately and persistently practised, for a long time past, to subject
those of our soldiers who have been so unfortunate as to fall into their hands, to a sys-
tem of treatment which has resulted in reducing many of those who have survived and
been permitted to return to us, to a condition, both physically and mentally, which no
language we can. use, can adequately describe." — Report, p; 1. Ana they give also a
letter from Edwin M. Stanton, the Northern Secretary of War, from which the following
is an extract : " The enormity of the crime committed by the rebels towards our prison-
ers for the last several months is not known or realized by our people, and cannot but
fill with horrour the civilized world, when the facts are fully revealed. There appears
to have been a deliberate system of savage and barbarous treatment and starvation, the
result of wliich will be that few (if any) of the prisoners that have been in their hand?
during the jjast winter, will ever again be in a condition to render any service or even
to enjoy life." — Report, p. 4. And the Sanitary Commission, in their pamphlet, aftej
picturing many scenes of privations and suffering, and bringing many charges of cruelty
against the Confederate authorities, declare as follows : — " The conclusion is unavoid-
able, therefore, that these privations and sufferings have been designedly inflicted by the
military and other authorities of the rebel Goverment, and could not have been due to
causes which such authorities could not control." — p. 95.
After examining these publications, your committee approached the subject with an
earnest desire to ascertain the truth. If their investigation should result in ascertaining
that these charges (or any of them) were true, the committee desired, as far as might ba
in their power, and as far as they could influence the Congress, to remove the evils com-
l^lained of, and to conform to the most humane spirit of civilization : and if these charges
were unfounded and false, they deemed it as a sacred duty, without delay, to present to
the Confederate Congress and people, and to the public eye of the enlightened world, a
vindication of their country, and to relieve her authorities from the injurious slanders
brought against her by her enemies. With these views, we have taken a considerable
amount of testimony bearing on the subject. We have sought to obtain witnesses Avhose
position or duties made them familiar with the facts testified to, and whose charactrm
CONFEDERATE EEPOKT ON PRISONS. 631
entitled them to fall credit. We have not hesitated to examine Northern prisoners of
war upon points and experience specially within their knowledge. We now present the
testimony taken by us, and submit a report of facts and inferences fairly deducil)le from
the evidence, from the admissions of our enemies, and from public records of undoubted
authority.
First in order, your committee will notice the charge contained both in " Report
No. G7," and in the " sanitary " publication, founded on the appearance and condition
of the sick prisoners sent from Richmond to Annapolis and Baltimore about the last of
April, 1864. These are the men, some of whom form the subjects of the photographa
with which the United States Congressional Committee have adorned their report. The
disingenuous attempt is made in both these publications to produce the impression that
these sick and emaciated men were fair representatives of the general state of the pris-
oners held by the South, and that all their prisoners were being rapidly reduced to the
same state by starvation and cruelty, and by neglect, ill treatment, and denial of proper
food, stimulants, and medicines in the Confederate hospitals. Your committee take
pleasure in saying that not only is this charge proved to be wholly false, but the evi-
dence ascertains facts as to the Confederate hospitals in which Northern prisoners of war
are treated, highly creditable to the authorities which established them, and to the sur-
geons and their aids who have so humanely conducted them. The facts are simply
these :
The Federal authorities, in violation of the cartel, having for a long time refused
exchange of prisoners, finally consented to a partial exchange of the sick and wounded
on both sides. Accordingly, a number of such prisoners were sent from the hospitals iu
Richmond. General directions had been given that none should be sent except those
who might be expected to endure the removal and passage with safety to their lives ;
but in some cases the surgeons were induced to depart from this rule, by the entreaties
of some officers and men in the last stages of emaciation, suffering not only with exces-
sive debility, but with " nostalgia," or home-sickness, whose cases were regarded as
desperate, and who could not live if they remained, and might possibly improve if car-
ried home. Thus it happened that some very sick and emaciated men were carried to
Annapolis, but their illness was not the result of ill treatment or neglect. Such cases
might be found in any large hosjjital, North or South. They might even be found in
private families, where the sufferer would be surrounded by every comfort that love
could bestow. Yet these are the cases which, with hideous violation of decency, the
Northern committee have paraded in pictures and photographs. They have taken their
own sick and enfeebled soldiers, have stripped them naked ; have exposed them before
a daguerreian apparatus ; have pictured every shrunken limb and muscle — and all for the
purpose, not of relieving their sufferings, but of bringing a false and slanderous charge
against the South.
The evidence is overwhelming that the illness of these [Federal] prisoners was not
the result of ill treatment or neglect. The testimony of Surgeons Semple and Spence,
of Assistant Surgeons Tinsley, Marriott, and Miller, and of the Federal prisoners, E. P
Dalrymple, George Henry Brown, and Freeman B. Teague, ascertains this to the satisfac-
tion of every candid mind. But in refuting this charge, your committee are compelled,
by the evidence, to bring a counter-charge against the Northern authorities, which they
fear will not be so easily refuted. In exchange, a number of Confederate sick and
wounded prisoners have been at various times delivered at Richmond and at Savannah.
The mortality among these on the passage and their condition when delivered, were sc
deplorable as to justify the charge that they had been treated with inhuman neglect by
the Northern authorities.
632 THE LOST CAUSE.
Assistant Surgeon Tinsley testifies : "I liave seen many of our jDnsoners returned
from tlae North, who were nothing but skin and bones. They were as emaciated as a
man could be to retain life, and the photographs (appended to ' Rejjort No. 67,') would
not be exaggerated reiDresentations of our returned prisoners to whom I thus allude.
[ saw t\yo hundred and fifty of our sick brought in on litters from the steamer at
Rockett's. Thirteen dead bodies were brought ofl" the steamer the same night. At least
thirty died in one night after they were received."
Surgeon Spence testifies : " I was at Savannah, and saw rather over three thousanc
prisoners received. The list showed that a large number had died on the passage from
Baltimore to Savannah. The number sent from the Federal prisons was three thousand
five hundred, and out of that number they delivered only three thousand and twenty-
eight, to the best of my recollection. Capt. Hatch can give you the exact number.
Thus, about four hundred and seventy-two died on the passage. I was told that sixty-
seven dead bodies had been taken from one train of cars between Elmira and Baltimore.
After being received at Savannah, they had the best attention jjossible, yet many died
in a few days." " In carrrying out the exchange of disabled, sick, and wounded men,
we delivered at Savannah and Charleston about eleven thousand Federal prisoners, and
their physical condition compared most favourably with those we received in exchange,
although of course the worst cases among the Confederates had been removed by death
during the passage."
Richard H. Dibrell, a merchant of Richmond, and a member of the " ambulance com-
mittee," whose labors in mitigating the sufferings of the wounded have been acknowl-
edged both by Confederate and Northern men, thus testifies concerning our sick and
wounded soldiers at Savannah, returned from Northern prisons and hospitals : " I have
never seen a set of men in worse condition. They were so enfeebled and emaciated that
we lifted them like little children. Many of them were like living skeletons. Indeed,
there was one poor boy, about seventeen years old, who presented the most distressing
and deplorable appearance I ever saw. He was nothing but skin and bone, and besides
this, he was literally eaten up with vermin. He died in the hospital in a few days after
being removed thither, notwithstanding the kindest treatment and the use of the most
judicious nourishment. Our men were in so reduced a condition, that on more than
one trip up on the short passage of ten miles from the transports to the city, as many as
five died. The clothing of the privates was in a wretched state of tatters and filth."
" The mortality on the passage from Maryland was very great, as well as that on the
passage from the prisons to the port from which they started. I cannot state the exact
number, but I think I heard that three thousand five hundred were started, and we only
received about three thousand and twenty-seven." I have looked at the photographs
appended to ' Report No. 67 ' of the committee of the Federal Congress, and do not hesi-
tate to declare that several of our men were worse cases of emaciation and sickness than
any represented in these photographs."
The testimony of Mr. Dibrell is confirmed by that of Andrew Johnston, also a mer-
chant of Richmond, and a member of the " ambulance committee."
Thus it appears that the sick and wounded Federal j^risoners at Annapolis whose
condition has been made a subject of outcry and of widespread complaint by the North-
ern Congress, were not in a worse state than were the Confederate prisoners returned
from Northern hospitals and prisons of which the humanity and superiour management
are made subjects of special boasting by the United States Sanitary Commission !
In connection with this subject, your committee take jjleasure in reporting the facta
ascertained by their investigations concerning the Confederate hospitals for sick and
wounded Federal prisoners. They have made personal examination, and have taken evi-
CONFEDERATE KEPORT ON PRISONS. G33
dence specially in relation to " Hospital No. 21," in Richmond, because this lias been made
subject of distinct charge in the publication last mentioned. It has been shown, not only
by the evidence of the surgeons and their assistants, but by that of Federal prisoners,
that the treatment of the Northern prisoners in these hospitals has been everything that
humanity could dictate ; that their wards have been well ventilated and clean ; their
food the best that could be procured for them — and in fact, that no distinction had been
made between their treatment and that of our own sick and wounded men. Moreover,
it is proved that it has been the constant practice to supply to the patients, out of the
hospital funds, sucli articles as milk, butter, eggs, tea, and other delicacies, when they
were required by the condition of the patients. This is proved by the testimony of
E. P. Dalrymple, of New York, George Henry Brown, of Pennsylvania, and Freeman B
Teague, of New Hampehire, whose depositions accompany this report.
This humane and considerate usage was not adojated in the United States hospital on
Johnson's Island, where Confederate sick and wounded officers were treated. Col. J. H.
Holman thus testifies : " The Federal authorities did not furnish to the sick prisoners
the nutriment and other articles which were jirescribed by their own surgeons. All
they would do was to permit the prisoners to buy the nutriment or stimulants needed ;
and if they bad no money, they could not get them. I know this, for I was in the hos-
pital sick myself, and I had to buy, myself, such articles as eggs, milk, flour, chickens,
and butter, after their doctors had prescribed them. And I know this was generally
the case, for we had to get up a fund among ourselves for this purjDose, to aid those who
were not well supplied with money." This statement is confirmed by the testimony of
Acting- Assistant Surgeon John J. Miller, who was at Johnson's Island for more than
eight months. When it is remembered that such articles as eggs, milk, and butter were
Tcry scarce and high-priced in Richmond, and plentiful and cheap at the North, the
contrast thus presented may well put to shame the " Sanitary Commission," and dissipate
the self-complacency with which they have boasted of the superiour humanity in the
Northern prisons and hosj^itals.
Your committee now proceed to notice other charges in these publications. It is said