John Ogden Murray

“ We want only the truth, we ask for nothing else. We want to refute the slanders against the South and her people. Jefferson Davis, Peresident of the Confederate States, nor General Robt. E. Lee, were never cruel to any human being. But Secretary of War Stanton and his colleagues in power at Washington, 1861-65, were and they were guilty of all prisoners of war suffering on both sides, by stopping exchanges of prisoners of war. ”

“ And it is a fact, proven beyond all question of doubt, that notwithstanding the South had no medicines, and could get none, to cure the sick, and keep men in health, that only nine 9) in each one hundred Union prisoners of war died in Southern prisons, while twelve (12) in every hundred Confederate prisoners of war died in the prisons of the North, where medicine and food were abundant to keep men in health. ”

“ He recommends, as a necessary sanitary measure, that they be at once put on full prison rations; and, also, that they be allowed to receive necessary articles of clothing from friends. I would respectfully endorse the surgeon's recommendation, and ask authority to take such steps as may be necessary to relieve actual sickness and suffering. ”