| The Exchange Question - Another Letter from
Judge Ould
[We propose to continue, from time to time, to ventilate this question, and to pile up the evidence which acquits the Confederacy o fall blame and convicts the authorities at Washington of the entire responsibility in this matter. The following letter of our Agent of Exchange is worth preserving:] RICHMOND, July 18, 1867. MY DEAR SIR: I have read the remarkable discussion in the I offered early in August
to deliver all the sick
During the fall I again and again urged haste, giving the same reason.
I informed the Federal authorities that if they would send transportation
for fifteen thousand men to the mouth of the Savannah river I would furnish
that number of sick and wounded, and that I would fill up any deficiency
with well prisoners. I did not require a corresponding delivery of our
prisoners, though I expressed a desire that they might be sent.
From early in August we were not only ready, but anxious to make this delivery.
It was our purpose, as well as our offer, to continue
All these facts are known to Federal officers. Rebels may
lie, but yet the facts is fully established by other evidence that the
Federal authorities sent three thousand and received thirteen thousand.
They would have received more if there had been accommodation. Why
General Mulford will sustain every thing I have herein written. He is a man of honor and courage, and I do not think will hesitate to tell the truth. I think it would be well for you to make the appeal to him, as it has become a question of veracity. General Butler says the proposition was made in the fall, and that seven thousand prisoners were delivered. It was in August, and over thirteen thousand were delivered. You can make public any portion of this letter. I defy contradiction as to any statement I have made, and challenge scrutiny. I will prove every word by Federal testimony. Who, then, is responsible for the suffering of Andersonville during the period of its most deadly mortality, from August to January? Yours truly, ROBERT OULD. ![]() |