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The first feature is the assignment to the command of the prisons of
〃General〃 John H。 Winder； the confidential friend of Mr。 Jefferson Davis；
and a man so unscrupulous； cruel and bloody…thirsty that at the time of
his appointment he was the most hated and feared man in the Southern
Confederacy。 His odious administration of the odious office of Provost
Marshal General showed him to be fittest of tools for their purpose。
Their selectionconsidering the end in view； was eminently wise。 Baron
Haynau was made eternally infamous by a fraction of the wanton cruelties
which load the memory of Winder。 But it can be said in extenuation of
Haynau's offenses that he was a brave； skilful and energetic soldier； who
overthrew on the field the enemies he maltreated。 If Winder； at any time
during the war； was nearer the front than Richmond； history does not
mention it。 Haynau was the bastard son of a German Elector and of the
daughter of a village； druggist。 Winder was the son of a sham
aristocrat； whose cowardice and incompetence in the war of 1812 gave
Washington into the hands of the British ravagers。
It is sufficient indication of this man's character that he could look
unmoved upon the terrible suffering that prevailed in Andersonville in
June； July； and August； that he could see three thousand men die each
month in the most horrible manner； without lifting a finger in any way to
assist them； that he could call attention in a self…boastful way to the
fact that 〃I am killing off more Yankees than twenty regiments in Lee's
Army；〃 and that he could respond to the suggestions of the horror…struck
visiting Inspector that the prisoners be given at least more room； with
the assertion that he intended to leave matters just as they werethe
operations of death would soon thin out the crowd so that the survivors
would have sufficient room。
It was Winder who issued this order to the Commander of the Artillery：
ORDER No。 13。
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY PRISON；
ANDERSONVILLE； Ga。； July 27； 1864。
The officers on duty and in charge of the Battery of Florida Artillery at
the time will； upon receiving notice that the enemy has approached within
seven miles of this post； open upon the Stockade with grapeshot； without
reference to the situation beyond these lines of defense。
JOHN H。 WINDER；
Brigadier General Commanding。
Diabolical is the only word that will come at all near fitly
characterizing such an infamous order。 What must have been the nature of
a man who would calmly order twenty…five guns to be opened with grape and
canister at two hundred yards range； upon a mass of thirty thousand
prisoners； mostly sick and dying！ All this； rather than suffer them to
be rescued by their friends。 Can there be any terms of reprobation
sufficiently strong to properly denounce so malignant a monster？ History
has no parallel to him； save among the blood…reveling kings of Dahomey；
or those sanguinary Asiatic chieftains who built pyramids of human
skulls； and paved roads with men's bones。 How a man bred an American
came to display such a Timour…like thirst for human life； such an
Oriental contempt for the sufferings of others； is one of the mysteries
that perplexes me the more I study it。
If the Rebel leaders who appointed this man； to whom he reported direct；
without intervention of superior officers； and who were fully informed of
all his acts through other sources than himself； were not responsible for
him； who in Heaven's name was？ How can there be a possibility that they
were not cognizant and approving of his acts？
The Rebels have attempted but one defense to the terrible charges against
them； and that is； that our Government persistently refused to exchange；
preferring to let its men rot in prison； to yielding up the Rebels it
held。 This is so utterly false as to be absurd。 Our Government made
overture after overture for exchange to the Rebels； and offered to yield
many of the points of difference。 But it could not； with the least
（consideration for its own honor； yield up the negro soldiers and their
officers to the unrestrained brutality of the Rebel authorities； nor
could it； consistent with military prudence； parole the one hundred
thousand well…fed； well…clothed； able…bodied Rebels held by it as
prisoners； and let them appear inside of a week in front of Grant or
Sherman。 Until it would agree to do this the Rebels would not agree to
exchange； and the only motivesave revengewhich could have inspired
the Rebel maltreatment of the prisoners； was the expectation of raising
such a clamor in the North as would force the Government to consent to a
disadvantageous exchange； and to give back to the Confederacy； at its
most critical period one hundred thousand fresh； able…bodied soldiers。
It was for this purpose； probably； that our Government and the Sanitary
Commission were refused all permission to send us food and clothing。
For my part； and I know I echo the feelings of ninety…nine out of every
hundred of my comrades； I would rather have staid in prison till I
rotted； than that our Government should have yielded to the degrading
demands of insolent Rebels。
There is one document in the possession of the Government which seems to
me to be unanswerable proof； both of the settled policy of the Richmond
Government towards the Union prisoners； and of the relative merits of
Northern and Southern treatment of captives。 The document is a letter
reading as follows：
CITY POINT； Va。； March 17； 1863。
SIR：A flag…of…truce boat has arrived with three hundred and fifty
political prisoners； General Barrow and several other prominent men among
them。
I wish you to send me on four o'clock Wednesday morning； all the military
prisoners （except officers）； and all the political prisoners you have。
If any of the political prisoners have on hand proof enough to convict
them of being spies； or of having committed other offenses which should
subject them to punishment； so state opposite their names。 Also； state
whether you think； under all the circumstances； they should be released。
The arrangement I have made works largely in our favor。 WE GET RID OF A
SET OF MISERABLE WRETCHES； AND RECEIVE SOME OF THE BEST MATERIAL I EVER
SAW。
Tell Captain Turner to put down on the list of political prisoners the
names of Edward P。 Eggling； and Eugenia Hammermister。 The President is
anxious that they should get off。 They are here now。 This； of course；
is between ourselves。 If you have any political prisoners whom you can
send off safely to keep her company； I would like you to send her。
Two hundred and odd more political prisoners are on their way。
I would be more full in my communication if I had time。 Yours truly；
ROBERT OULD； Commissioner of Exchange。
To Brigadier general John H。 Winder。
But； supposing that our Government； for good military reasons； or for no
reason at all； declined to exchange prisoners； what possible excuse is
that for slaughtering them by